Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Los Angeles: Bonnie Yates IEP Law Clinic to help parents prepare for their annual IEP meetings

From: @SpecialEdLawCA
Sent: Mar 3, 2010 1:26p

Los Angeles: Bonnie Yates IEP Law Clinic to help parents prepare for their annual IEP meetings http://bit.ly/cGOgyN

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On Twitter: http://twitter.com/SpecialEdLawCA/status/9941436302

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Dr. Temple Grandin's Official Autism Website

Temple Grandin Library
Six books and her ninety minute presentation on Autism. Savings of over $60.00 and shipping is FREE on the library!
2010 Autism Conferences:

March
12 - Philadelphia, PA <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
April
2 - Nashville, TN <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
April
16 - Richmond, VA <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
May
6-7 - Nassau, NY <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
May
28 - Phoenix, AZ <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
June
11 - Portland, OR <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
July
15-16 - Denver, CO <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
July
8-9 - Seattle, WA <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>
July
22-23 - Dixon, IL <http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx>


Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. Now her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes is being brought to the screen. HBO has produced the full-length film Temple
Grandin <http://www.hbo.com/events/templegrandin/video.html> , which premieres on Saturday, February 6th on HBO. She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio) <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5165123> , major television programs, such as the BBC special "The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow" <http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband/tx/temple/> , ABC's Primetime Live <http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Technology/story?id=570376&amp;page=1> , The Today Show, Larry King Live, 48 Hours and 20/20, and has been written about in many national publications, such as Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and New York Times. Among numerous other recognitions by media, Bravo Cable did a half-hour show on her life, and she was featured in the best-selling book, Anthropologist from Mars.

Dr. Grandin didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. She tells her story of "groping her way from the far side of darkness" in her book Emergence: Labeled
Autistic <templegrandinbooks.html> , a book which stunned the world because, until its publication, most professionals and parents assumed that an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence to achievement or productivity in life.
Dr. Grandin has become a prominent author and speaker on the subject of autism because "I have read enough to know that there are still many parents, and yes, professionals too, who believe that 'once autistic, always autistic.' This dictum has meant sad and sorry lives for many children diagnosed, as I was in early life, as autistic. To these people, it is incomprehensible that the characteristics of autism can be modified and controlled. However, I feel strongly that I am living proof that they can" (from Emergence: Labeled Autistic <templegrandinbooks.html> ).
Even though she was considered "weird" in her young school years, she eventually found a mentor, who recognized her interests and abilities. Dr. Grandin later developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer, one of very few in the world. She has now designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States, consulting for firms such as Burger King, McDonald's, Swift, and others.
Dr. Grandin presently works as a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also speaks around the world on both autism and cattle handling. At every Future Horizons conference on autism, the audience rates her presentation as 10+.
Dr. Grandin's current bestselling book on autism is The Way I See It: A Personal Look at
Autism and Asperger's <templegrandinbooks.html> . She also authored Unwritten Rules of Social
Relationships <templegrandinbooks.html> , Animals Make us Human <templegrandinbooks.html> , Animals in Translation <templegrandinbooks.html> , Thinking in
Pictures <templegrandinbooks.html> , Emergence:
Labeled Autistic <templegrandinbooks.html> and produced several DVDs. All books and DVD's available through Future
Horizons <http://fhautism.com> .

Temple Grandin's work continues to inspire millions, drawing superlative reviews such as these:

"Temple is my hero. She has my vote for the person who has provided the greatest advance in our understanding of autism this century."
-Dr. Tony Attwood, world renowned expert on autism spectrum disorders
----------------

On The Way I See It:
"Every library, large or small, needs this book on its shelves. Every school, large or small, with the responsibility of educating children with autism or Asperger's needs the guidance this book offers. . . . Last, and certainly not least, every parent will find within these pages golden nuggets of advice, encouragement, and hope to fuel their day-to-day journey through their child's autism. . . . The wisdom she offers through this book and its personal reflections on autism will, I'm sure, ring true for many more decades to come."
-Ruth Christ Sullivan, first elected president of the Autism Society of America
----------------

On Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships:
"I wish I had this book when Sean was a child. It would have helped me understand Sean so much more."
-Judy Barron, mother of author Sean Barron and co-author of There's A Boy In Here
 
"If you've ever wondered, 'What is going through my child's mind? Why can't he get social interactions?' then this book is for you! 'A-ha!' moments abound."
-Veronica Zysk, managing editor of award-winning Autism Asperger's Digest
----------------

On Thinking in Pictures:
"An insight into autism that very few people have been able to achieve."
-Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., Institute for Child Behavior Research, San Diego, CA
 
"What emerges in Thinking in Pictures is the document of an extraordinary human being, one who, in gracefully and lucidly bridging the gulf between her condition and our own, sheds light on the riddle of our common identity."
-Deborah Tannen, author of You Just Don't Understand
 
"Remarkable. . .Displaying uncanny powers of observation. . .[Temple Grandin] charts the differences between her life and the lives of those who think in words."
-Philadelphia Inquirer

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Saturday, February 27, 2010

George Herbert

"Storms make oaks take deeper root."

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/George_Herbert

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HFA and Aspergers perspective - good to hear POV!

From: @a4aspie
Sent: Feb 27, 2010 7:30a

What do you think about this? >>> RT @aspieweb Could having higher functioning #autism be worse then lower functioning? http://bit.ly/7ST9Zg

sent via web

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/a4aspie/status/9733052057

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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Parent Support Group Meeting 2010.02.16, Parent Sharing Night

Though a smaller group than the last meeting, the night still flowed and even went into overtime, ending at 7:30pm instead of the usual 7pm. Since the discussion flowed from one topic to another, I have left this in outline form.


 

  • In 2013, DSM5, which defines mental disorders, will define all terms such as Aspergers Syndrome and PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) as Autism Spectrum.
  • Transitional services needed
    • A "CHiP" program was mentioned and I didn't catch any details about what it is and its connection to autism.
    • IDEA was also mentioned in group, though it was not clear if this was a federal law or a program
  • Pragmatics, living in the literal, and emotional disregulation were discussed.
    • Emotional regulation is "keeping it together" or controlling your emotions instead of emotions controlling you.
    • Emotional disregulation is "losing it".
  • Autistic brain, flexible brain, and comorbidity with other conditions such as bipolar were discussed
    • Comorbidity is having two or more (serious?) disorders. (Who originally came up with the term "comorbidity" anyway? Sounds painful! - jb)
    • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OC or OCD)
    • Adaptive behaviors (flexible brained).
      • You really don't want adaptive behaviors to get in the way of functioning socially.
      • You DO want to adapt instead of being rock or sticky brained.
    • Autistics (those on the Autistic Spectrum) are driven to look for sequences
    • Those on the Spectrum also have sensory issues.
      • lint or sock fuzzies feel like fire ants
      • sensory based: hyper- or hypo- (over or under) stimulation sensitivities
      • Stephen Shore: sensory issues and adaptation, http://bit.ly/bJGJpV
    • Amazing mind and social miscues
    • Flat affect – "this IS excited".
  • Being able to voice needs and concerns
    • "I hear you talking but I didn't understand a word you said…."
  • Maturities (developments) of the mind and age show up in behaviors. Is this behavior because of the age/brain development or the disorder?
    • Hormonal changes in response to stress, worse at certain ages.
      • Cortizol and other stress related hormones
  • The need for Special Education teachers certified in autism was discussed.
  • In California, the Letterman Act established Regional Centers to help disabled children and adults.
    • This is a good and bad thing. If you are accepted by the Regional Center system, then the state funds for programs and support are guaranteed by law. Whether or not you are not accepted, other agencies may refer you to the Regional Centers to get support.
  • Parent issues were discussed
    • Conservatorship
    • Burn out
    • IEPs
    • Adversarial education system
  • Neurotopia, a biofeedback program for autism is being tried by at least one set of parents
    • Awareness of thought patterns leads to calm or sleepy state
      • Brain maps
      • Brain waves
      • Electrodes
    • Expensive, and not usually covered
    • A checklist of behaviors may be useful in tracking progress
    • For this child, some self stimulation was reduced
    • Visits
      • 6-8 visits are suggested to see a difference
      • Recommended 20, then re-evaluate
      • Then at 30, re-evaluate
      • Then at 40, re-evaluate
    • Compared to some studies and programs at the Drake Institute
    • Teaching brain to be aware of certain areas stimulates certain brainwave activities.
    • Sleep issues: if there is not sufficient sleep pattern to fully experience REM sleep, then the brain (and hormonally, the body) will not fully recharge.
    • Biofeedback is not shock therapy. It does not deliver electrical impulses but rather senses the electrical patterns in brain.
  • Books.
    • Socially Curious and Curiously Social, Garcia-Winner -- for teens, http://www.socialthinking.com.
    • Ask and Tell, ed Stephen Shore
    • Developing Understanding, Temple Grandin, Duffy
    • Making Sense of Sex, Atwood -- sex, hygiene, sensory stuff, social aspects
    • Voices from the Spectrum, Shore
    • Can I Tell You About Aspergers Syndrome, Jude Welton -- basic
    • Freaks, Geeks, and Apergers Syndrome -- written by 13 year old, basic and fun
    • Beyond the Wall, Stephen Shore -- personal experiences with autism and Aspergers
    • Aspergers and Self Esteem
  • Resources
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