Autism Research: Finding the Cause and Cure

October 8, 20124 Comments

Autism research has come a long way, but not all of the research seems to be widely known. I recently read this great article on Immune Disorders and Autism. It states these little known facts that research has found:

Autism can be linked to pregnancy
In 1/3 of cases, it is linked to Immune Dysregulation
If a mother in the first trimester gets hospitalized for a viral infection, it can triple the odds
If a mother gets a bacterial infection in the second trimester, it can increase the odds by 40%
Inflammatory diseases in general have increased significantly in the past 60 years- As a group, they include asthma, now estimated to affect 1 in 10 children (at least double the prevalence of 1980) and autoimmune disorders, which afflict 1 in 20
A mother’s rheumatoid arthritis can elevate a child’s risk of autism by 80 percent
A mother’s Celiac disease increased the odds of autism 350 percent
Mothers of autistic children often have unique antibodies that bind to fetal brain proteins
A mother’s diagnosis of asthma or allergies during the second trimester of pregnancy increases her child’s risk of autism. So does metabolic syndrome, a disorder associated with insulin resistance, obesity and, crucially,low-grade inflammation. The theme here is maternal immune dysregulation
In population rife with parasites and acute infections, autism can be nearly nonexistent. Explaining why it seems to be growing in our civilized society
Asthma and Autism are more common in urban areas than rural; firstborns seem to be at greater risk; they disproportionately afflict young boys
Probiotics might help
More Research needs to be done
Please read the full article for more information

Reading Comprehension: Helping Kids Succeed

September 24, 20121 Comment

Reading comprehension is the skill of decoding text and then remembering what was read. This can help children to find success in acquiring knowledge and eventually lead to successful test taking and test preparation. It is an important skill that can be mastered when broken down for the child. They may need extra help along the way in order to achieve success but constant practice is the key toward finding success. Below are some additional ideas to help your child succeed in reading comprehension.

The following 8 tips can be used to help children become successful in reading comprehension:

Start Young: It is never to early to practice the great skills of reading. Whether you are reading with the child or they are reading to themselves
Audio Books: Listen to stories and then have the student become the illustrator and make the book
Summary: Break larger reading into smaller portions where the student can ask himself or herself what was this about. For example, this can be applied to early readers and short sentences to paraphrase reflectively and make sense of the larger book
Compare/Contrast: Students can reflect on what they have read by looking at what it is like from their prior knowledge and how it is different. They may also be comparing facts in the sentence or characters in the book
Clue Words: Teachers and/or parents can help students prepare for what they are reading by highlighting and defining words for them to find in the text. This can help students to greater understand what they are reading
Variety of input: Students can practice reading to themselves, in small groups, or as a class. This can help students to listen and read, and it can also help with the next point.
Discussion: After reading, children can discuss with each other or with you what was read and how it applies to the topic.
Graphic Organizer: Students can take what they read and apply it to note type format. This multi task experience can help with retention, understanding, and be used later as a reference.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Know the Facts

September 7, 20121 Comment

Alcohol and Drug Abuse are ongoing issues, especially for those with emotional disabilities. When mental health issues and substances collide, it can result in death. It is important to educate ourselves on these issues, so that we can recognize the warning signs and get help when needed. September is National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month, and in honor of this important month, here are some surprising statistics I recently read about Alcohol and Drug Abuse:

More than 3 million people use Cocaine
Nearly half of all drug-related emergency room visits involve cocaine abuse
More than 10 million people abuse prescription medication
More than 40 people per day drive from drunk driving accidents, approximately 16,000 people per year
Alcohol is the leading risk factor in deaths of males 15-59
Alcohol dependence and abuse costs $220 billion per year
17.6 million people, or about 1 in 12 adults, abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent

According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2009, 51.9% of Americans age 12 and older had used alcohol at least once in the 30 days prior to being surveyed:

23.7% had binged (5+ drinks within 2 hours)
6.8% drank heavily (5+ drinks on 5+ occasions)
In the 12-17 age range, 14.7% had consumed at least one drink in the 30 days prior to being surveyed, 8.8% had binged; and 2.1% drank heavily.

The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that:

13.8% of 8th graders, 28.9% of 10th graders, and 41.2% of 12th graders had consumed at least one drink in the 30 days prior to being surveyed
5.0% of 8th graders, 14.7% of 10th graders, and 26.8% of 12th graders had been drunk.

Americans with Disabilities Act

July 26, 2012Leave a comment

It has been 22 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, has been put in place. On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush when he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. Although there is still a long way to go, this was great progress toward helping each individual receive there full rights. This civil-rights law was put in place to help discrimination.

Here is a video that documents the speech given on July 26, 1990 by the President. In the video, President Bush speaks to a huge audience of activists, Congressional supporters, people with disabilities, and their families and friends gathered on the south lawn of the White House.

The 22-minute film, provided to the Department by the George Bush Presidential Library, is being re-released on the Internet to increase awareness of the ADA.

Intellectual Disability: Decisions of Adulthood Transition

July 18, 20122 Comments

Parents face many decisions when their child with an intellectual disability reaches adulthood. They may have to stop and ask themselves, if their child is ready? Do they have the skills to take on the responsibility of adulthood? Where will they live? Will they work? If so, where? How will they receive the support necessary to live a fulfilling and safe adulthood? These questions may lead the parent to feeling overly protective and/or all alone. It is important the family receive support as they go through this transition. It is also important to are given a realistic evaluation of the child, so that they can be directed the family to the appropriate services.

Important key thoughts to think about while making decisions for an individual with an intellectual disability include:

Capability to live alone? If they are not able to be fully independent what key skills are missing and how could these be accomplished while allowing the individual the most independents. Could they live with someone coming in just to help out for specific items? Could they live in a rental with others near by? Could they live in a group home?
Transportation: Can the child drive or will they need help? What options are available? Some locations will definitely make this easier. Public transportation, walking assistants, and local transport are all items to consider.
Job: Can the individual keep a job? If so, to what level of work can they do. Try to help them strive to reach their full potential, while also keeping their interests in mind.
Bills: Are they going to need help staying on top of monthly bills? If so, plan ahead to avoid inconveniences and possible trouble.
Cleaning: Are they good at keeping a sanitary place of living? Although some mess (to their own taste is OK), fire risks and health also need to be factored in.
Cooking: Are they capable of cooking? If so what cooking devices are they safe using. Plan an environment where they can access food when it is needed and be as healthy and independent as possible.
Shopping: Who’s getting their groceries and clothes? Do they like to shop? This could be a great opportunity for the individual with an intellectual disability to exhibit independence.
Appointments: Doctors, dentists, and the like are still necessary. Are they able to keep track of such things? Can they easily access such items? Making a plan will help to keep the individual with an intellectual disability on top of their health.

A Child With Needs

Early child development from a mom and professional.

Category: Disabilities

Autism Research: Finding the Cause and Cure

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Reading Comprehension: Helping Kids Succeed

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Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Know the Facts

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