Experts say that Autism Training for Law Enforcement in NJ Often Leads to Better Outcomes

With statistics indicating that one of every 49 children born in New Jersey develops some form of autism, prosecutors say it’s inevitable that law enforcement officers will come in contact with someone with the neurological disorder.

Whether it’s a child who wandered off or an adult implicated in a crime, law enforcement officers need to learn the special techniques to handle a person with autism to prevent the escalation of what could potentially be a field of land mines in emergency situations, prosecutors say.

To familiarize emergency responders with those techniques, the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey is holding a two-day statewide seminar prosecutors hope will go a long way toward changing how law enforcement officers deal with people with autism.

Down Syndrome: A Year of Grief and Joy From ABC NEWS

In one week from today it will be one year since I decided to become the mother of a child with Down syndrome.

It was March 21, 2013 –- World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. But I didn't know that. All I knew was I was 15 weeks pregnant, lying on a table, having an ultrasound and waiting for the tech to tell me what else was “wrong” with my baby.

Girl with Cerebral Palsy Learns to Walk with the Help of a Horse

            

PORTLAND- Four-year-old Abigail Fantz giggles and her curls bounce as she stands straight up on a moving horse. She's held in place by a team of adults, but she's not practicing a circus trick - she is in a unique therapy called hippotherapy (hippo is Greek for horse).

 

Abigail has cerebral palsy and can't walk without a walker, but standing, kneeling, and sitting on a pony named Pippin is strengthening her trunk and her left side. Eventually, she'll be able to sit up and stand up straight and eventually walk all on her own.

At Last, Hope in Colorado for Those on Adult Support Lists

Beautifully written and sensitive piece by Jeremy P. Meyer, Denver Post Editorial Writer who is also a parent of a child with Down syndrome. It's clear that he understands the issues and lives with them. Wish there were more journalists who could connect with our field and the importance of services. 

DENVER -- Angela DeBruyn didn't think she would have a problem seven years ago when she put her 14-year-old daughter Anna on a wait list for adult support services.

Anna, who has Down syndrome, cannot be left alone for long periods. She can't take a bus by herself, cannot make herself a meal or go anywhere unattended.Anna is now 21 and still on the wait list. She ages out of a day program for people through 21 this summer and her mother doesn't know what she will do.

Making a Birthday Wish Come True

PITTSBURGH

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A local mother is trying to make her 8-year-old son’s upcoming birthday one he’ll never forget.

Ange Dellavecchio said her son, A.J. Greene, who lives with autism, has developed a huge fascination with clocks.
“I like the color about it,” A.J. said as he showed off one of his clocks.

Effort to Boost Investment in Autism

The leading autism nonprofit and Google have teamed in an attempt to link private investors like venture capital, private equity and even hedge funds to inject innovative autism-related business development.Thanks to increased awareness and diagnosis of autism, it's now known that one in every 88 American children is born with some level of the disorder. That's more than those affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome—combined.

Advocates: New Jersey Medicaid Expansion Leaves Unmet Needs

In what he called an “era of fiscal restraint,” Gov. Chris Christie wants to increase state spending for New Jersey’s expanded Medicaid program by $254 million next year.The governor’s proposed Medicaid spending includes an additional $100 million to place people with developmental disabilities or mental health issues in less restrictive community settings, and a $125 million increase for assistive services to keep older adults out of nursing homes.The governor also is urging the state’s medical research institutions to find new ways to improve health care delivery and control rising expenses.