Graduation, One of Many Milestones for Mark

Mark Jameson will be graduating
on May 30.

CHAPIN, S.C. -- When Mark Jameson walks across the stage May 30 to receive his diploma from Chapin High School, it will be the grand finale of an educational journey that took him from a near-silent toddler and frustrated first grader to a loquacious and personable young man.
The milestone will be cheered by his family, parents Donnie and Theresa Jameson, and brothers, Matthew and Michael, and the dozens of teenage friends Mark has come to know as he learned to master a “regular” school and take control of his autism.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/05/21/2284071/a-milestone-for-mark-after-a-diagnosis.html#storylink=cpy

Giving Child with Autism Her Voice

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- It's a dream come true for a Triad family.

Tuesday, we told you how the Kassay family is trying to raise more than $7,000 needed to buy a critical device that will give 11-year-old Emily a voice.
Emily has autism and lost her speech before she was even two years-old. Last year, she had a brief taste of independence when she was able to use a helpful machine that speaks for her when she types on it. The school district had to take it back after two weeks, though.
The Kassay family got great news Wednesday. Jack Murphy from radio station 107.5 WKZL saw her story on News 2 and offered to buy the machine through his charity, Murphy's Kids.

A Child Regresses. Is Autism to Blame?

From the Consults Blog at The New York Times, Dr. Fred Volkmar answers a reader's question on autism.

If a young child suddenly stops speaking, is autism to blame? That is among the questions recently posed by readers of the Consults blog. Here, Dr. Fred Volkmar, director of the Yale Child Study Center, explores the issue of regression in children and the diagnosis of autism.

Autism Is Nation's Fastest Growing Developmental Disability

From Boston, interview with speech and language pathologist Kara Corley from Children's Hospital

It's the fastest-growing developmental disability in the country.
More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with aids, diabetes and cancer combined.
It's estimated one in 110 children in the U.S. are affected by autism. April is Autism Awareness Month.