Autism at Work

Bravo SAP and Thorkil Sonne who recognizes the skills of individuals with autism and their talents and puts them to work. We were proud to have him as a keynote speaker at our recent 2014 International Conference.

For much of his adult life, 28-year-old Patrick Viesti has worked to keep the signs of Asperger's syndrome at bay, but even after a successful college career, finding a job was not easy."To truly be honest, I would have to say it was quite difficult," Viesti said.Viesti said he had come off stiff or monotone during the interview process, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller. However, his luck changed thanks to the software company he now works for. SAP recruited him and a number of other new hires this year because of their autism.

Independence and Dignity in the Digital Age

In a nation that values liberty and the pursuit of happiness, there are few greater tragedies than the routine incarceration of millions of individuals who suffer from mental disabilities, developmental impairments, or the debilitating dementia that affects up to 25% of our elderly population. However, recent technological advances offer the possibility of restoring independence and dignity to mentally challenged adults while easing the burden on families, for a fraction of current costs.

Word to Your Mom (or Dad)

When we hear the word communication, we most often think of speaking. This is fair and quite logical, as most of us use words to convey messages each and every day with a variety of people. We talk about our weekends and the tastes of the foods we eat and how we feel about Hurricane Sandy, Argo or the upcoming election.
But many children with special needs are often unable to effectively express even their most basic needs and desires. They do not have the words to say, " I absolutely despise broccoli," or "I'd rather watch SpongeBob," or "I need help in the bathroom."

Social Media Helps Teen with Autism Find Voice

TAMPA, Fla. -- Sometimes a picture can be worth a thousand followers too.

Henry Frost outside the Republican
National Convention.

That’s what happened to Henry Frost after he posted a photo to Facebook.
The photo shows 13-year-old Frost sitting on the steps outside a downtown Tampa building with his service dog Denzel. Not shown are the thousands of Republicans who had gathered nearby for the week-long Republican National Convention.
Frost holds a sign. It reads:
“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 granted equal rights to all people. I am a person. I want these rights.”
Frost has autism and a list of related physical problems which have so far eluded a tidy diagnosis. He communicates using an iPad app that speaks what he types.

The Special Needs of Special Education

Most would agree that you have to be a pretty selfless person to be a teacher.  The days are long, the pay sucks, and when something goes wrong, you’re the first person that everyone blames.  Never mind the fact that the only way you’re even able to stay on top of the unique needs of each of your 20 or so students is by taking your work home with you and doing it after dinner.
But Special Education teachers?  They’re a special breed of selfless.

Technology Helps Developmentally Disabled Living Alone

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two-way video cameras, motion detectors and other smart-house sensors soon could take the place of human caregivers for many developmentally disabled Ohioans who need help living on their own.

Medicaid is to begin paying for remote-monitoring services on July 15.

State officials say the service, available to about 16,000 people who have a Medicaid Individual Options waiver, is cheaper and potentially less intrusive than hiring caregivers to assist those who live alone, with a roommate or in group homes.

Ipad App for Individuals with Autism

Advances in technology can really do astounding things!


CARY, Ill. – After 25 years of working in special education, Victor Morris wanted to assist individuals with disabilities even further.

Nine months later, he has done just that.

Morris created Augie AAC (Augmented Alternative Communication), an application for the iPad that assists people with autism and their families.

“Augie provides a means of functional communication for people who struggle with language; they can’t talk,” Morris said. “This gives them a common vocabulary to communicate and express their needs, wants, likes and dislikes, in the easiest way possible. [The app] gives them a daily schedule to support self-regulation and behavioral patterns.

“This can have a real positive impact on people’s lives.”

Khan Academy Turns YouTube into Virtual Learning Tool

Susan Moffitt, a mother of a high school freshman with autism, writes about how a new educational tool can be used by students with ASD.

Sal Khan was a hedge fund manager tutoring his cousins through distance learning. He started making them instructional videos to reinforce their learning when he couldn’t be there in person and after a few lessons, his cousins told him that they liked him better on video.
Through the use of video, his cousins could repeat what they didn’t understand without suffering embarrassment, while still having the benefit of their uncle’s warm, approachable demeanor. He started making them videos for a myriad of subjects and envisioned an entire public academy of free lessons delivered via YouTube.
Children with autism naturally gravitate towards computers and online learning where the social and sensory issues of a classroom are eliminated. Although much of the information is advanced, basic arithmetic is offered and affords a perfect way to augment math learning for young children with autism. Older children with autism can find many topics to reinforce classwork, or explore their special interests.