Advocates for autistic slam Angle

Sen. Harry Reid's supporters and advocates for the autistic Wednesday called on GOP challenger Sharron Angle to apologize for her remarks opposing government-mandated health insurance coverage for the developmental disorder.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a Washington, D.C.-based group that led a Las Vegas news conference to denounce Angle, also launched a petition to support the apology request.

"I don't really know how or why her comments were made," said Bradley Anderson, a local 25-year-old with autism who spoke for the network. "But I'm here to ask that Mrs. Angle apologize."

Angle's autism remarks came last year at a Tea Party rally in Winnemucca. Democrats distributed the video. Like many Republicans, Angle believes government shouldn't require specific health insurance coverage, but instead let companies offer basic policies with add-ons to spur competition and cut costs.

High School Football Team Gives Opponent With Autism a Thrilling Touchdown

MENOMONIE, Wis. -- Menomonie High School senior Sam Kolden has been a member of the Indians football team since the 8th grade.
He also has autism.
So when Menomonie's coach asked Superior to let Kolden catch a pass in a game that the Spartans were trailing 46-14, the answer was clear.
"There was no indecision whatsoever," Superior head coach Bob DeMeyer said. "The guys in the huddle with me just chimed in and said, 'Let's do it, Coach.'"

Sports Teams Provide Opportunity for Children on the Spectrum

BOYDS, Md. -- Blue skies, green grass, laughter and high fives surrounded dozens of children that jumped, ran and played without hesitation.
Children went through sprints, obstacle courses and other track and field mainstays on the first day of the Sports Plus track and field practice at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds this month.
Sports Plus is geared toward children with autism, a developmental disability that often excludes them from group interactions.

Rutgers Students Mentor Peers with Asperger's Syndrome

NEWS BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center has a new peer mentor program for Rutgers University students with Asperger's Syndrome.
"One of the biggest challenges students with Asperger's face while at the University is becoming connected with its social fabric," said David Fischer, coordinator of the Asperger's Disorder College Program as well as the peer mentor program.
The goal of the program is to make students with a peer mentor feel as if they are integrated into the community at the University as well as any student, Fischer said.
"The ability to make a connection with somebody else close to them in age can help them adjust socially," he said.

Students mentor peers with Asperger’s syndrome

The Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center has a new peer mentor program for University students with Asperger's Syndrome.

"One of the biggest challenges students with Asperger's face while at the University is becoming connected with its social fabric," said David Fischer, coordinator of the Asperger's Disorder College Program as well as the peer mentor program.

The goal of the program is to make students with a peer mentor feel as if they are integrated into the community at the University as well as any student, Fischer said.

"The ability to make a connection with somebody else close to them in age can help them adjust socially," he said.

The program was developed to provide additional support to students with Asperger's syndrome through the Douglass Outreach College Program, said Rita Gordon, director of Outreach Services at the DDDC.

Children Bring Playground to Life

BREMERTON, Wash. — When two shy 11-year-old girls said they wanted to build a $30,000 playground to help autistic children, more than a few adults questioned whether they could possibly raise that much money.
But on Sunday, after having raised that amount — and another $8,000 to boot — Alanna Nixon, now 13, and Paris Harrison, 12, could barely contain their excitement as a crew of adults installed the huge playground at Kitsap Mental Health Services in East Bremerton.
"It still doesn't seem quite real," Paris said, as pieces of colorful steel and plastic were fabricated into a structure that kids will use to climb, spin, swing and slide.

Empowering Self-Advocates

HEATH, Ohio -- Shena Lemons wants her voice to be heard.
And as a person with a developmental disability, she has a lot to say about improving the lives of disabled Licking County residents.
"I want people to know how to help people with disabilities in the work place, in church and in the community," she said.
So Lemons jumped at the chance to join People First, a new self-advocacy group sponsored by the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Learning Autism's Tough Lessons

Seven years ago, I wrote a piece about life with my son, who had recently been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and the challenges we faced. Little did I know that in the course of researching that article — and upon learning about the huge (epidemic) number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders — my life's path was about to be forever altered.

Learning to Socialize

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The gym is festooned with balloons. The DJ plays dance songs both old and ancient, including the inevitable "YMCA." And among those who've ventured onto the dance floor, a young man named Kyle, dressed in a white three-piece suit, does a pretty mean Michael Jackson impression, complete with twirls, finger snaps and wooos!
But for the fact that most of the attendees have some type of developmental disability — autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy — the Fall Into Fall dance could have been held at any high school in the country.
But it's not the dance that's the point here. Instead, it's one more effort to get those with disabilities out into the community, where they can both learn to socialize and simply have a good time.
"There aren't many opportunities for the developmentally disabled to socialize," said Christiane Perkins-Garcia, co-founder and board member of Eva's Heroes, which put on the dance.

Adults With Autism Facing Unique Employment Challenges

WINDSOR, Conn. — Almost no one has an easy time finding workin this economy. But those with an autism spectrum disorder have a unique challenge in any job climate.
People with the disorder generally lack the "soft" skills required to fit into a work environment: the ability to connect with co-workers, to read people's signals, to understand their own place in the overall work operation and to behave accordingly.
Lois Rosenwald, the mother of an adult son with autism, is familiar with these challenges, which is one reason why, 15 years ago, she founded the CT Autism Spectrum Resource Center in Wallingford. Rosenwald is one of many advocates who say we need to figure out now how to help people with autism, in large part because their numbers are growing.

Opinon: People with Disabilities Best Served at Home and In the Community

Interesting opinion piece responding to coverage in The Salt Lake Tribune by Adina Zahradnikova, executive director of the Disability Law Center; Claire Mantonya, executive director of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council.

We share the concern for the health, safety and quality of life of all Utahns with disabilities expressed by parents in The Tribune’s Sept. 5 article "Future of State Home for Disabled Worries Parents." We also agree that " … a broad conversation is urgently needed about the future of those most seriously disabled and the future of the USDC [Utah State Developmental Center] ... "
However, we think a discussion this critical must encompass the entire service system, not just the institutional side. Instead, we need to focus on getting individuals with disabilities and their families the right supports at the right time and in the right place.
Unfortunately, the position highlighted by the article represents a short-term solution at best. Large institutions were established in the 1800s when no other options were available.

Learning to Socialize

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The gym is festooned with balloons. The DJ plays dance songs both old and ancient, including the inevitable "YMCA." And among those who've ventured onto the dance floor, a young man named Kyle, dressed in a white three-piece suit, does a pretty mean Michael Jackson impression, complete with twirls, finger snaps and wooos!
But for the fact that most of the attendees have some type of developmental disability — autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy — the Fall Into Fall dance could have been held at any high school in the country.
But it's not the dance that's the point here. Instead, it's one more effort to get those with disabilities out into the community, where they can both learn to socialize and simply have a good time.
"There aren't many opportunities for the developmentally disabled to socialize," said Christiane Perkins-Garcia, co-founder and board member of Eva's Heroes, which put on the dance.

New Jersey Seeks to Dismiss Lawsuit

TRENTON — New Jersey is too broke to move 1,850 people with developmental disabilities out of institutions in the next five years, so a lawsuit demanding it do so should be dismissed, an attorney representing the state said Wednesday.
The case stems from a federal Supreme Court ruling that says federal law protects the right of disabled people to live in "the most integrated setting’’ safely possible.

Proposed Medicaid Rule Change Could Hit Children With Special Needs

BOISE, Idaho -- Facing a shrinking Medicaid budget, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has developed a plan to change the way people spend those few remaining dollars. But it may do so by imposing on already-limited Idaho school funds.
On Sept. 1, Health and Welfare released a final version of a proposal to change the way Idaho classifies two childhood disability programs. The Developmental Therapy and Intensive Behavioral Intervention programs help Medicaid-qualified children who have developmental problems and learning disabilities. Medicaid reimburses public schools for the extra care these children need, and have allowed many such children to join their peers in classrooms.
The proposed rule would change the two programs into "waivered services," which the federal government would not fund in a school setting under Medicaid, IDHW spokesman Tom Shanahan said. Shanahan said the rule change is "cost neutral," allowing children a wider range of options, including respite care, parental education and community-service options, for the same cost. But the only way that can happen is to get less of any one program.

NBC's 'Parenthood' Offers Look into Life with Asperger's

More than two decades ago, Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his portrayal of an autistic adult in the 1988 film "Rain Man." This year, Claire Danes snagged an Emmy for her role in "Temple Grandin," an HBO movie that chronicled the remarkable life of an autistic woman who graduated from college and became an expert in the humane handling of livestock. Movies and TV shows can be a powerful force in shaping attitudes about mental health disorders, but do Hollywood-crafted tales tell the whole story?
The NBC TV series "Parenthood" (10 p.m. Tuesdays) returns this season with a continuing story thread about how the Braverman family deals with their son, Max, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Lauren Presti, director of a program at Trellis Services Inc., which treats children with autism and related communication disorders, discussed how "real" the series is on the Baltimore Sun's Picture of Health blog

Toy Robot May Help Children With Autism

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- He's a Carolina blue color with big floppy rabbit ears, and when the furry creature is happy, those ears go straight up. When he's mad, his green eyes turn a devilish red. Equipped with a movable mouth and paws, he also can express such emotions as sad, confused, surprised and embarrassed.
He can even speak -- either via prerecorded messages and songs or through the voice of a trained therapist using a remote microphone run through the robot's "voice box." And if all goes according to plan, the children with autism who will play with him will speak back, even if it's only by pushing the proper button on an iPad app to identify what the robot is feeling.
Meet Popchilla, the working name for a toy robot that autism experts and his creators hope will enable the children with autism to recognize emotions -- in the robot and themselves.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10265/1089225-114.stm#ixzz10GCAXP8e

All Grown Up and No Place to Go

Terri Hancharick knew it would be a challenge to find a medical home for her special-needs daughter, Brigitte, in the adult health care system. But she never expected the process to be so frustrating.
Brigitte had been receiving care at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children since infancy. But the hospital limits treatment to patients younger than 21, so Hancharick had to assemble a new medical team two years ago.
Hancharick soon discovered that few doctors were taking new patients and the ones who were did not feel confident treating a patient with a medical history as complex as Brigitte's. The 23-year-old has severe cerebral palsy and seizures and is visually impaired and nonverbal.
Transitioning children from pediatric care to the adult health care system can be difficult for any family. But for the parents of a child with special medical needs, the responsibilities are greater and the challenges more complex.

School Changes Child's Life for the Better

Bravo to Dennis Hamill of The Daily News for highlighting a success story of a child on the spectrum.

She knew something was wrong with Michael when he was 15 months old.
"We'd call his name and he wouldn't answer," says Liz Corrao, of Flushing. "But our pediatrician put us off. He said he'd do a hearing test when he was 2. But I knew there was nothing wrong with his hearing because if he heard 'Blues Clues,' on the TV in the other room he'd hurry to watch it."
Corrao knew something else was amiss.
"Michael would walk endlessly around a table and couldn't be redirected," she says. "He screamed a lot. He lost language. Then he stopped talking."
Tests conducted by the city Department of Health concluded that Michael had autism spectrum disorder, a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior.
"There is no actual test for autism, but experts can detect many of the symptoms," Corrao says. "Some kids rock back and forth. Some have odd tics. Some spin. Michael was a flapper. He was considered mildly autistic. That life-changing moment came 11 years ago, in 2000. I went through hell trying to find the right school for my son."

Protecting Children With Autism From Bullying

Kennedy Krieger Institute's Interactive Autism Network (IAN) recently released a report exploring how children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are particularly at risk of becoming victims of bullying. Children with ASD may have trouble correctly interpreting social cues, especially in a bullying situation where the bully may intentionally mislead the child.
Successful anti-bullying strategies require a team effort from school personnel, early childhood professionals and psychologists, students involved in bullying as targets or aggressors, and child bystanders. Teachers and other staff should be trained on how to respond to bullying, while victims and bullies need training in special social skills that target the perceptions, misinterpretations or interactions that contributed to the bullying in the first place.

Saluting Direct Support Professionals

Wonderful to see so many organizations celebrating our Direct Support Professionals -- a workforce that is so dedicated and deserving of this recognition. If you'd like to show your support, then visit youneedtoknowme.org and click get involved.

ONEIDA, N.Y. — Morgan Jackson is an expert at multi tasking. A mother of two children, a college student, and a full-time direct support professional at Madison Cortland ARC.
A typical work day for Morgan is arriving at work at 6 a.m. at a Madison Cortland ARC residential home for people with developmental disabilities. She is a Residential Specialist and it is her job, along with her co-workers, to help 10 residents prepare for the day ahead.
"I love my job, you fall into it," she says.

Children With Disabilities More Vulnerable to Disasters, Study Shows

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — With National Preparedness Month in full swing, a research paper co-authored by a Texas A&M University professor suggests that children — particularly children with disabilities — are especially vulnerable to the effects of disasters.
The review that appears in the journal Child Development is co-authored by Laura Stough of Texas A&M and Lori Peek of Colorado State University. Stough is an associate professor of the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M, as well as interdisciplinary education director at the Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, where she also conducts research in special education, disability studies and disaster.
"Children with mobility-related disabilities may be placed even more physically at-risk during disasters if they are unable to evacuate in a timely manner," Stough says. "Disasters can be particularly hazardous for children with medical disabilities who rely on electricity for their medical supports or who need medical care while they are sheltering away from home."
In addition, children with intellectual disabilities might not understand or might have difficulty following evacuation and sheltering instructions.

Man With Cerebral Palsy Reaches Summit of El Capitan

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- After pulling himself up with his hands 20,000 times in six days, Stephen Wampler finished the climb of his life Friday when he reached the summit of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
"It was six days of just absolute torture and I would say awe-inspiring too," Wampler said.
Awe-inspiring not only for Wampler but for disabled children worldwide. Wampler, born with cerebral palsy and usually wheelchair-bound, became the first person with his disability to reach the top of El Capitan.

Making Life Work for Adults With Autism

Check out Laura Shumaker's piece on SFGate, the blog of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Matthew was 7 years old the first time I heard one of the many questions that haunt parents of children with autism.
"Where will he live when he's a man?"
The question leveled me, and it would be years before my husband and I could seriously consider it again.
The story of Autism's First Child by John Donvan and Caren Zucker last week in the Atlantic and the follow up piece Making The World Work For Adults With Autism on Talk of the Nation are the latest of many thought provoking articles on the topic, one that more and more parents are facing.
The editors of The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism ask me to contribute an essay about the "where will he live?" question. Believe it or not, there are a number of options to think about, including Supported Living Services:

School Uses Unique Method to Teach Children on the Spectrum

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. -- Blue's Clues is one of Jacob's favorite shows even though it's for "little kids." The 10-year-old shows a visitor his coloring that looks like the familiar notebook used on the Nickelodeon children's program.
Then he shows another coloring. And then another, all of them on the same theme.
Jacob has a mild version of autism, which makes him focus on certain subjects and exclude others.
He is one of two children at Autism Oasis for Kids who communicates verbally. The other five children attending this new private school are non-verbal, even at 7 and 8 years old.
Marie Trempe and her husband, Rob Cecil, founded the school. The couple's inspiration: their 10-year-old son, Narottam, who has autism.
Trempe said most schools in Florida use a kind of behavior improvement plan when dealing with children with autism. But she and her husband didn't like that it was based on rewards.
"We're different," said Trempe. "We use relationship therapy to figure out why they do the behavior."

Driving Inclusion in Special Education

RACINE, Wis. -- Jeff Timm has witnessed classrooms where special education and regular education students are taught together, and he's come away a believer in the practice.
In the 1980s Timm's son Kevin, who has Down syndrome, was educated in a Delaware school district that placed him in a regular classroom. The district practiced inclusion, which means instead of sending special education students to separate rooms they left them in regular classrooms to be educated alongside their peers. Timm said that kind of inclusive education made all the difference for Kevin.
"It gave him a chance to be part of a bigger picture," Timm said. "He wasn't secluded. He was included."

Michigan Dentists Providing Free Service

With thousands of Michiganders lacking dental care, an Oakland County dentist and a Macomb and Oakland county human services agency are renewing efforts to find more dentists willing to provide free dental care to people with developmental disabilities.
A new media campaign by the group aims to enhance ongoing efforts by the Michigan Dental Association to recruit dentists to care for poor people.

More Evidence Against Vaccine-Autism Link

Infants exposed to the highest levels of thimerosal, a mercury-laden preservative that used to be found in many vaccines, were no more likely to develop autism than infants exposed to only a little thimerosal, new research finds.
The study offers more reassurance to parents who worry that vaccination raises their children's risk for autism, the researchers said.
"Prenatal and early life exposure to ethylmercury from thimerosal in vaccines or immunoglobulin products does not increase a child's risk of developing autism," concluded senior study author Dr. Frank DeStefano, director of the immunization safety office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study was released online in advance of publication in the October print issue of Pediatrics.

Cooking Up Success at Bakery

GROTON, Conn. -- The cookies were still warm, as were the pastries - fresh out of the oven, in fact. And the coffee was just brewed and piping hot.
Just the way a grand opening for a new bakery should be, with fresh pastries and customers eager to oblige in the culinary confections.
But this wasn't a commercial bakery opening to the public. Instead, it was the official opening on Thursday for the Arc of New London County's new general store and bakery here, just behind the Sacred Heart School.
The store and bakery are located on the first floor of the Arc's Thomas J. Sullivan Employment Transition Center at 52 Sacred Heart Drive. It's worth the visit, with hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily; you can grab a cup of coffee or baked goods, or browse through the jewelry, clothing items, greeting cards and crafts.
The store and bakery, managed by Allan Selserman under the leadership of employment director Kim Blair, is a hands-on, five-days-a-week training ground for those with intellectual and related developmental disabilities.

Moving Out of State to Get Autism Services

(CNN) -- Before Wendy Radcliff agreed to marry Scott Finn, she made it clear they would have to live in her home state of West Virginia.
Politically active, Radcliff loved West Virginia and wanted to spend her life there, helping to make it a better place. The couple married, had a son, Max, and built their life together in Radcliff's hometown of Charleston.
Then, just before his second birthday, Max was diagnosed with autism.

Grandin Seeking to Inspire

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Have you ever wished you could have Google in your brain? Animal handing expert Temple Grandin does.
As an autistic person, she sees everything in specific pictures, as though there were photographs catalogued by her brain.
"I think connectedly all the time. It really is like Google Images," Temple said. "The images that come first tend to be either from childhood or most recent. Followed by images from between the two then related objects."

Making the World Work for Adults on the Spectrum

Amazing story and sorry to preach but hopefully media is beginning to realize that autism isn't just about cute children on the spectrum. There are adults out there who are leading meaningful and productive lives in the community. Be sure to listen to NPR's story.


It's a question that looms for many parents of children with autism: What will happen to my child, after I'm gone?
More than 500,000 people with autism will reach adulthood in the coming decades.
John Donvan and Caren Zucker found Donald Triplett, now 77, the first person ever diagnosed with autism. His happy, independent life provides insight as to how best create fulfilling later years for adults with autism.
Donvan and Zucker wrote about Triplett's life for The Atlantic, "Autism's First Child."

$3 Million Class Action Settlement Reached for Minnesota Families

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A $3 million settlement has been reached in a federal class action lawsuit brought by three families against the State of Minnesota and other defendants for restraining and secluding residents with developmental disabilities, prior to September, 2008, at Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO), a state operated facility.
The settlement requires approval by U.S. Federal District Court Judge Donovan Frank.

More Evidence That Vaccines Don't Cause Autism

Infants exposed to the highest levels of thimerosal, a mercury-laden preservative that used to be found in many vaccines, were no more likely to develop autism than infants exposed to only a little thimerosal, new research finds.
The study offers more reassurance to parents who worry that vaccination raises their children's risk for autism, the researchers said.
"Prenatal and early life exposure to ethylmercury from thimerosal in vaccines or immunoglobulin products does not increase a child's risk of developing autism," concluded senior study author Dr. Frank DeStefano, director of the immunization safety office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study was released online Sept. 13 in advance of publication in the October print issue of Pediatrics.

N.J. Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Restore Autism Aid for Children

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey youngsters with developmental delays could see $4 million in treatment aid restored, under a bill introduced late Monday by two Bergen County lawmakers.
Funding for the Early Childhood Intervention Program, lost in the Fiscal 2011 budget signed by Governor Christie, would be diverted from an autism research account that is replenished with $1 surcharges on motorists.

Honoring Direct Support Professionals for Enhancing Lives of People with Disabilities

QUINCY, ILL. -- Ryan McChristy of Quincy has worked in nearly every position at restaurants before finding joy in a new career.
A few years ago, a family member suggested a position helping those with developmental disabilities at a group home in Hannibal, Mo., and McChristy got the job.
"I went over there and tried it at the group home, and I really enjoyed it," McChristy said. "They put you through a very in-depth training program and first aid and CPR classes."
He now works as a direct support professional who provides community-based services to adults with developmental disabilities at Transitions of Western Illinois in Quincy.
"A lot of people may go to a job that they don't like, but this job is very rewarding because I'm making a difference in these people's lives, which makes it very enjoyable," McChristy said. "The consumers need us to learn the skills that they need to be functioning individuals when we aren't around. We come into their home and work on life skills with them."
This week he is being recognized along with other direct support professionals across the country during National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.

Facing a Massive Backlog for Services

OKLAHOMA CITY — Robin Arter struggled to find the words Friday to tell the mother of a 3-year-old with autism they wouldn't be eligible to receive state assistance through a waiver for five to eight years because of the backlog on the Department of Human Services' waiting list.
"It is just disheartening," said Arter, who is executive director of Duncan Group Homes, a not-for-profit agency that provides assistance for those residents with developmental disabilities. "Families usually have to take care of themselves, and when you are in a crisis you often have to look outside for help. But when you are in a crisis it's hard to wait five to seven years."
As of last month, there were 5,804 individuals on the state's waiver request waiting list. These residents, who have applied for assistance after being diagnosed with a mental disability, likely will stay on the list for years because a lack of state funds for the program, said Sheree Powell, director of public information and provider relations with OKDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Division.

Family to Receive First Vaccine-Autism Court Award

The first court award in a vaccine-autism claim is a big one. CBS News has learned the family of Hannah Poling will receive more than $1.5 million dollars for her life care; lost earnings; and pain and suffering.
Hannah was described as normal, happy and precocious in her first 18 months.
Then, in July 2000, she was vaccinated against nine diseases in one doctor's visit: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, varicella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae.
Afterward, her health declined rapidly. She developed high fevers, stopped eating, didn't respond when spoken to, began showing signs of autism, and began having screaming fits. In 2002, Hannah's parents filed an autism claim in federal vaccine court. Five years later, the government settled the case before trial and had it sealed. It's taken more than two years for both sides to agree on how much Hannah will be compensated for her injuries.

Hearing on Proposed Oridnance Change Draws Large Crowd in Ohio

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- Long before the public hearing began, the Strongsville City Council Chamber's atrium and parking lot were full of people who wanted to discuss a proposed ordinance that some say would restrict the developmentally disabled.
Last week, Strongsville City Law Director Kenneth Kraus said that ordinance 2010-096 is a work in progress. Kraus said it is an attempt on the city's part to update codes.
Yet many who live in the town object to language in the proposal, including sections that would require 24-hour supervision of the developmentally disabled, and restrict where people with disabilities may be able to live.

Georgians Sue Over Program Cuts

Six Georgians suffering from serious mental or developmental disabilities sued the state Thursday over the loss of benefits that have allowed them to live in homes instead of institutions.
The six people, with illnesses ranging from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mental retardation and traumatic brain injury, have been living with family or in personal care homes.
A state program called SOURCE -- Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment -- has helped cover the cost of caring for the people, who need close oversight. All six have lost benefits, or have been told they will lose them, because the state now allows only people with physical disabilities to be a part of the program, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.
The Georgia Department of Community Health, which administers the program, declined to comment Thursday on the allegations, saying it was not yet aware of the suit.

These Caregivers Deserve Praise

Hoping more media will recognize the importance of the work of Direct Support Professionals as we celebrate National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week, beginning Sept. 12. We are expecting a strong turnout in Washington, D.C., for the American Network of Community Options and Resource's DSP to DC event, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010.

DURANGO, Colo. -- In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, the U.S. Senate has designated next week as "National Direct Support Professionals Week." This begs the question, who are these direct support professionals, and why do they get their own week?
These professionals are the workers who provide in-home and community care to enable people with disabilities to live more independent lives. They provide essential and sometimes difficult services, many of which were not expected in the years when people with disabilities lived in institutional settings.

Social Networks Opening Doors for People with Disabilities

For many with developmental disabilities, Facebook and other social networks are becoming a great equalizer, advocates say.
The online medium can allow friendships to blossom in an environment where limitations are downplayed and there’s less opportunity for stigma. Meanwhile communicating via the Web can offer a self-esteem boost for a population that often falls victim to isolation.

Temple Grandin: Providing Inspiration

Temple Grandin stole the spotlight at the Emmys, standing up right in the middle of the awards show again and again, smiling far wider than the Hollywood stars beside her.
Temple is not a movie star, but an HBO biopic about her life has thrust her into the spotlight.
Long before her life made it to the small screen, Temple became an inspiration to so many. She is a renowned scientist, credited with single-handedly improving the lives of cattle. She's also autistic.

Trial to Start in Suit Against Developmental Center

CONWAY, Ark. — The federal government's lawsuit claiming the state violated the rights of residents at the Conway Human Development Center by failing to provide appropriate care is scheduled to go to trial Wednesday.
The U.S. Justice Department filed the federal lawsuit in 2009, claiming the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws had been violated because residents at the Conway center hadn't received appropriate care or education.
About 500 people with disabilities live at the Conway center, about 150 of whom are deemed medically fragile and require around-the-clock care. Another 500 Arkansans with developmental disabilities live at the state’s five other centers, including the Alexander Human Development Center, which is in the process of closing.

Program Aims to Promote Healthier Lifestyles for People with Disabilities

Many people with developmental disability are sedentary and obese, have poor diet, and consequently suffer from conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Promoting healthy lifestyles for this group is the aim of a new project that teams University of Illinois at Chicago researchers with two community-based nonprofit organizations in Albuquerque, N.M. and suburban Chicago.
The goal of the program is to improve the quality of health among an underserved population, says Beth Marks, research assistant professor of disability and human development at UIC and the project's lead investigator, by developing "strong, statewide infrastructures" that bring together university and community resources to find practical solutions.

Children With Autism Find Joy in Ocean

PONCE INLET, Fla. - The churning surf was nothing compared to the emotions stirred up on the beach at Winterhaven Park Saturday.
Hundreds of children, most of them with autism, arrived quiet and subdued but came to life when they hit the waves for free surfing lessons provided by Surfers for Autism, a nonprofit organization that travels the east coast putting on these huge group events.
"I stand in the shallows and weep with joy," Mary Cancel said of watching her 8-year-old autistic son Anthony surf. "(I feel) the love and support."

If Baby Doesn't Gaze at Faces, It May Be Sign of Autism, Researchers Say

Infants frequently gaze at people's faces. It's as if they're fascinated and, perhaps, yearning for interaction with the people in their lives. Infants who don't exhibit this fondness for human faces, researchers say, may be exhibiting one of the first signs of autism.
With autism rates soaring over the last decade, researchers are seeking the earliest clues of the disorder. The sooner a child is diagnosed and begins treatment, experts say, the better the long-term outcome. In the September issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, leading autism researchers say they think infant gaze is among the first clues of social functioning. A hallmark characteristic of autism is an inability to socialize.

Ohio Families Object to Proposed Law

I had to read this several times to see if I was getting it. It's so outrageous and hopefully will not pass.

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- The City of Strongsville has proposed an ordinance some say would limit the freedoms of the developmentally disabled.
Ordinance 2010-096 will be up for public discussion in Strongsville next Tuesday, where many are expected to voice their opinions.
Attorneys for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, for one, will speak on the agency's behalf.
"As [the ordinance] is written right now, it is very restrictive. It violates the Fair Housing Act, it violates HIPAA and other provisions of federal law," said Dr. Terry Ryan, Superintendent for the CCBDD.
Dr. Ryan says the concern surrounds wording in the proposed ordinance that would restrict where people with developmental disabilities could live. It would also require those people to disclose the type of disability they have, and require 24-hour supervision, without regard to actual need for supervision.

Angie Dickinson Recounts Daughter's Struggle With Autism

Actress Angie Dickinson, 78, writes a powerful story of her only child's struggle with Asperger syndrome, in the new Los Angeles magazine, part of a package of stories about autism. Newsweek has a summary:
Nikki Bacharach, Dickinson's daughter with composer Burt Bacharach, was born three months premature in the summer of 1966. She weighed 1 pound, 10 ounces. The baby was immediately put into a preemie isolette and no one was allowed to touch her—a fate Dickinson believes was linked to her daughter's lifelong sense of isolation.

Antibiotic Promising for Children With Fragile X Syndrome

Parents of children with fragile X syndrome reported improvements in their children's attention spans and communication skills as well as decreased anxiety after the children were given the antibiotic minocycline, researchers said Tuesday. The results were strictly observational and were uncontrolled, but they suggest the drug -- which is already used widely for treating teen acne -- might also have a use for the fragile X condition. The results were sufficiently promising that the National Fragile X Foundation is now sponsoring a preliminary clinical trial.

Jordans Signs Pact With YAI Network to Help People With Disabilities

NEW YORK (AP) - HRH Prince Raad signed a contract on Tuesday with a New York-based not-for-profit group, YAI Network, to develop programmes for Jordanians with mental and other developmental disabilities.
The initial goal is to create group residences, day care facilities and job training programmes at centres in Amman and the nation's third-largest city, Karak. Services will be aimed at people with disabilities as well as their families.
Prince Raad, who visited YAI Network facilities in the US several years ago, said the programmes were "something beautiful, something that has already succeeded" in improving the lives of disabled people.