Folic Acid: One Answer To the Puzzle + Eat Your Spinach; Sodium Valproate Linked To Autism; Flying High With Autism Conference

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Plato

Folic Acid--One Answer To Lower Risk Of Autism

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported women who took folic acid four weeks before conception and through eight weeks into their pregnancy were 40% less likely to have a child with autism. And 27% were less likely to have a child with any autism spectrum disorder.

The results of the study confirmed earlier findings. Doctors have long encouraged women to take folic acid before and during pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects.  In addition, other findings have found that children whose mothers took folic acid were less likely to have language delays.

For these reasons, physicians recommend all women of childbearing age take 400 micrograms of folic acid a day. Folic acid (Folate) is also found in lentils, spinach, black beans, peanuts, orange juice, romaine lettuce and broccoli.

Reuters, LA Times, USA TODAY


Sodium Valproate, An Antiepileptic Drug, Linked To Autism

Yes Parents, There's An App For That; Resources I Discovered On Social Media

Extraordinary circumstances should not prevent you from living an extraordinary life.

"My Socius" An App For Parents Of Children With Autism

"My Socius," an app designed for parents of children with autism, was designed by Keith Allen, professor of psychology at the University of Nebraska.

"My Socius" is designed to be a digital tutor for parents seeking ways to help motivate their child who is uncommunicative to begin using words. Professor Allen makes it clear this app is not designed to replace professional therapies. It's designed to reinforce and add to them.

"My Socius" helps to get children communicating themselves not letting the app communicate for them. In fact, it's a coaching tool not a communication device.

Those interesting in obtaining this app should call 402-423-2444. The present cost is $24.99.


Social Media's Resources For Autism

How To Support People With Autism?; iSTAR; Can Do Canines

Never allow any diagnosis to define who you are...Jerry Komar, editor, Autism News and Views

How To Support People With Autism?

That question is often asked when any parent, teacher, advocate, etc. is faced with supporting and serving an individual or individuals with autism.  The following will help answer that question:

• Explain at every stage what you are about to do, what will happen next and why.
• Give the individual enough time to understand the information you are sharing. Wait for a response if you do not get one immediately.
• Questions must be clear and direct using language that is easy to understand. Use photos and/or pictures when needed.
• People with autism will often take what you say literally. Be careful with words that have double meanings. Be careful with using humor.
• Maintain a routine.
• Repetitive behaviors may be coping mechanisms.
• People with autism are particularly sensitive to their environment such as lighting, sounds, smell and touch.
• Try to keep the immediate environment as calming as you can.
• Always ask the person/parent or advocate what support they might need.

University of Oxford

The iSTAR Program: University of Utah

How Safe & Secure Is Your Child's School?

Ensuring Your School Is Safe From Unwanted And Perhaps Dangerous Intruders


On the heels of the tragedy at the Connecticut elementary school last week, parents have a responsibility to ask school officials how they ensure their school is safe from unwanted and perhaps dangerous intruders. This is not a debate about gun control. That issue will be debated in the public forum. This is specifically about security (or lack of security) at the school your child or children attend.  As a parent, you should do the following immediately (and don't do it alone. Approach your school's administration with a group of parents or call for a meeting with the school in a larger forum) asking your school administrator some of the following:

• Have they ever completed a security assessment.? If they haven't, ask why not? And ask them when they plan on completing one. If they have one, when was it last updated? When was staff trained in the plan?
• Do they have a school safety plan or a crisis response plan? If not, why not? And when do they propose to draw one up. I believe they are mandated by the Department of Education. Regardless, every school should have one. Make sure you ask for a copy of the security plan. If they do not have a plan, tell them you want to give input into that plan (e.g., a parent committee on school safety and security).
• Who is responsible for this plan?
• Is there a crisis response team at the school? If not, why not?And when do they propose having one?  If they do, what type of training do staff have in ensuring school security?
• Does the school have a plan in dealing with troubled youth, especially those with specific mental health issues? This should include identifying youth at risk of psychological trauma.
• Do local law enforcement authorities and First-Responders have information regarding your specific school such as a map of the school including surrounding streets, campus layout, a blueprint of the facility or facilities, keys to the entrances, phone numbers of administrators and staff security personnel, up-to-date student roster, list of students with special needs, designated evacuation sites at the facilities, etc.?
• In this day and age, schools should also give serious attention to having professional security personnel in the school (at a minimum, if I were a parent of a child at school, I would demand police presence on the perimeter of the school to ensure any dangerous intruder does not ENTER the school in the first place. Yes, there will be an additional cost associated with this, but it's a cost I am certain most school districts and taxpayers would be willing to assume).
• The school should also have a crisis-aftermath plan.

This is by no means a comprehensive approach, but it's a start. Remember: School safety is up to all of us.

Start Planning For Your Child's Future Now; Suicide Attempts in Adults with Autism; Facebook Autism Resources

During my entire career serving and supporting individuals with autism, I never obsessed about their disabilities. I obsessed about their abilities...Jerry Komar, Editor, Autism News & Views 

Plan For Your Child's Future Now

Parents often ask teachers and therapists a series of questions regarding transition.  Whether the transition is to secondary school or post-secondary school, the following questions need answers: "How do we start?" "When do we start?" "Who can help us?" These are but a few of countless questions I encountered over the years myself.

The key principles behind all of these questions include 1-being realistic and 2-proper planning. Interdisciplinary teams, with the input from parents, should look at the following:

• Get a head start on developing and teaching independent living skills and social skills.
• Ensure your child gets periodic assessments.
• Review evaluations of your child regularly.
• Work on teaching self-advocacy skills.
• Look at vocational educational programs. These programs are excellent pathways to independence and employment opportunities.

Autism Support Network


Suicide Attempts In Adults With Autism: Clinical Features

A recent  preliminary study out of Japan found that 7.3% of patients seen for attempted suicide had autism.

"Our results indicate that ASD's should always be a consideration when dealing with suicide attempts in adults, in particular, with males."

In addition, the study found that adults with autism not only  attempted suicide more often, they are also using more serious methods such as cutting/stabbing one's self.

Five-hundred and eighty seven (587) patients with autism were studied. All were 18 years of age and older.

Autism Science News and Opinion


Facebook Autism Resources

Are you currently looking for additional autism resources (in addition to those found on this blog)? These are the resources I regularly follow on FB, and I find most of them very informative. They are particularly useful for families.

• Families With Autism Kids
• Autism Group
• Autism Family
• Autismus
• Autism and Special Needs Action Group
• Awetism is the New Autism
• The Ultimate Asperger Supergroup
• Autism Advocacy (my group)

Recommended Reading:

You can find Aukids on Facebook. Worth a visit.






 

Making Skies Friendly For Individuals With Autism; VCU Gets Grant To Expand Work Training; Yoga Helps Improve Behavior

"Different But Not Less."...Temple Grandin

Making Skies Friendly For Individuals With Autism


Preparing for air travel and the flight itself can cause a lot of anxiety for both the individual with autism and for parents.  For many parents, it can be a challenge in parental endurance.

The good news is airports throughout the nation have recognized these challenges and are providing more assistance. To date, the major airports in the following cities provide services to help individuals with autism: Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Boston; Manchester NH; Bridgeport, Conn.; Philadelphia and Newark. The airlines participating include Jet Blue, AirTran, Continental, Frontier, Southwest and United.  These airports and airlines have offered "mock boarding" experiences, practice in purchasing tickets, walk throughs at security lines and even strapping themselves into the aircraft that does not leave the gate.

"We recognize how intimidating to some people, particularly those with special needs, a facility like this can be, " said Christopher Browne, manager at Washington Dulles airport.

In addition, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has set up a hot line---TSA Cares---to help passengers with disabilities and their caretakers.

The following suggestions will help in minimizing anxiety prior to flying:

• For the initial flight, pick a short one. Up to an hour.
• Visit the airport ahead of time to become familiar with the facility.
• Call the TSA Cares hot line---1.855.787.2227---72 hours prior to flight time to alert TSA that you might need assistance.
• Call the airline ahead of time to let them know you might need assistance.
• Tell your child what to expect such as delays or long waits.
• Pack a carry-on bag with items the individual likes.

Have a nice and safe flight.
NY Times


Virginia Commonwealth University Received Grant To Facilitate Employment For Youth With Autism

VCU announced recently they received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to determine best practices to facilitate employment for youth with autism.

The grant's duration is 5 years. "Through our partnership with VCU on this grant, we expect to learn more about the services and supports that youth with autism may need to become successfully employed in their communities, " said Commissioner Jim Rothrock, VA Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
VCU News

Study: Little Evidence Medication Intervention Helps Teens & Young Adults With Autism; Asperger's Diagnosis Will Disappear; Gross Motor Activities For Children With Autism

Don't allow disabilities to limit your life. Open up your abilities...Jerry Komar, Editor

Little Evidence Medications Are Effective For Teens and Young Adults With Autism



Vanderbilt University researchers reported there little proof medications help teens and young adults with autism.

Their report was based on reviewing over 4,500 studies focusing on outcomes, including side effect, of medical, behavioral, educational and vocational interventions. They found limited evidence that supports the use of medications such as antipsychotics to help reduce problem behaviors. In fact, the "harms" associated with the use of these medications included sedation and weight gain.

"We need to do more research to be able to understand how to treat core symptoms of autism," said DR. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, M.D.
PsychCentral



Autism Definition To Enlarge As Asperger's Disappears