AAIG

Book: School Success For Kids With Aspergers Syndrome

John Smitty — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:11:11 +0000

I received the book School Success For Kids With Aspergers Syndrome from a relative as a thoughtful gift.

The book itself is a resonable read - not too time consuming - about 175 pages of actual content. Good layout, easy to read text.

For someone (parent or teacher) just starting to learn about Aspergers, this is a decent choice. It gives some basic information on what aspergers IS, and how to recognize it.

It also has a chapter on actually diagnosing aspergers (though I would suggest leaving the ACTUAL diagnosis to a professional).

It has some good information on parent / teacher / school interactions and communications. Very important for the success of your child!

I would recommend this book for someone starting out as I like the fact that it is a reasonably easy read, but also offers useful and in some areas good detail. If you find that you need additional information in a topic area, there are other books (tomes?) that you can refer to later.

Let me know what YOU think!

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Fundraiser to benefit Summit Academy School ASD kids

John Smitty — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:03:44 +0000

The parent organization for Summit Academy School in Worcester, MA is hosting a "Fund In The Sun" fundraising event to benefit the special activities program at the school.

Summit Academy is a non-profit school in Worcester, Massachusetts that specializes in serving the needs of children with Aspergers, ADHD, PDD-NOS and high functioning autism. If you would like a non-profit letter for tax purposes, please call Summit Academy at 508-751-8500.

There are several opportunties to support this program:

Attend the fun filled tropical escape at Leo's resturant, the evening of Saturday, May 15th. Great music (live band) and raffles. Tickets are $20.00 per person (adults only). Use the donate button below and be sure to note your name, and how many people are attending. Tickets are LIMITED, if you plan on attending, be sure to purchase soon.
Donate to the cause - even if you are not attending, you may donate via paypal:

If you have services or products you wish to donate to the cause (to be raffled at the event), please call 508-751-8500 to arrange.

Thank You.

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Autism Book Review: My Child Has Autism, Now What? written by Deb Dockery

John Smitty — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:53:01 +0000

For parents suspecting or dealing with a diagnosis of their baby, toddler or child, this is a good book to start with.

Please note that this autism book is an 'eBook', which means you read the book on your computer or laptop. There are many benefits of this format over a normal book, including the ability to search the content. If you really want to print the content you may do so.

The book is intended to give advice and direction to parents with autistic children, or adults with autism - or autism spectrum (aspergers, pdd-nos).

I know it can be over wealming and frustrating to understand what is going on, what you should do about it, and there is a LOT of information out there. Just look at the statistics, depression is very common in ASD people. Information can be hard to find and confusing. I like this book, because it is a good starting point for learning various aspects of autism/ASD.

This autism book includes information on clinical definitions and advice on how to talk to doctors, and other professionals you will encounter on your life journey with autism.

There are sections discussing treatment options, medication, how to help your child have a happy life and direction on finding additional resources if needed. There are additional eBooks and resources included for screening your toddler (CHAT), NIMH book on autism, and a book specific to military families. These are included at no additional cost.

Hot topics like television, video games and appropriate school settings are covered. Very important topics!

This autism book is well written by an author that is experienced and has written other autism related titles.

Overall I am impressed with the book. If you are trying to understand autism from the point of view of a parent this is a great start, and will take you a long way. It has a money back guarantee, so it is a safe purchase. If you are looking for an aspergers book, this IS a good choice, as it covers aspergers in detail too.

Let me know what YOU think after reading it - please comment here.

My Child Has Autism, Now What?

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Host your autism blog here FREE

John Smitty — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:14:53 +0000

Host your ASD / Autism related blog here!

Free!

It's easy, create an account, then contact me (or reply here) and I will enable blogging for your account.

If you would like, after a couple posts, I can even set you up with a custom theme / skin for your blog (free)!

Lets work together to inform and educate!

--BF

BBQ For Autism This Weekend in Northboro MA

John Smitty — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:45:33 +0000

Reminder - if you are able to get to Northboro MA, there is a great BBQ for Autism at Romaines restaurant.

Event: Barbecue for Autism

Date: Sunday April 11th rain date for Barbecue Sunday May 2nd 12:00-5:00

Time: 5k Race 10:30 Start time Barbecue Festival 12:00-5:00 pm

Location: 299 West Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532

MORE HERE

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Aspergers no longer a diagonisis? DSM-5

John Smitty — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:41:55 +0000

DSM-5 Action Alert
Asperger's Associationof New England

AANE's response to the APA draft proposal for changes to the DSM-5 which excludes Asperger Syndrome as a diagnostic criteria.

A draft of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual V (DSM-5), posted in February 2010 on the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) DSM-5 web site for public comment, proposes eliminating the diagnosis of "Asperger's Disorder," subsuming it without further identification, along with Autistic Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), and PDD-NOS, into a broad new diagnosis of "Autism Spectrum Disorder" (ASD).

1) The draft language proposes diagnostic criteria for ASD be organized into two domains:

a) clinically significant, persistent deficits in social communication and interactions, and

b) restricted interests and/or repetitive patterns of behavior.

2) It stipulates that symptoms must be present in early childhood.

3) It proposes establishing scales for the measurement and characterization of "severity" of symptoms in the two domains, but the measurement criteria for these scales have yet to be published.

We consider these changes problematic on several grounds. First, the proposed language is likely to result in misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis for people with Asperger's Disorder. Prior to the publication of the DSM IV in 1994, there was no Asperger Syndrome (AS) diagnosis in the United States, and people either went undiagnosed or were diagnosed inaccurately. Since 1994, hundreds of thousands of children, teens, and adults have received the Asperger's Disorder or Asperger Syndrome (AS) diagnosis, and it has become an essential tool for them, their families, educators, clinicians, and researchers. The AS diagnostic criteria, although at times admittedly ambiguous, has created a recognizable profile enabling people to identify (in themselves or in their family members, students, clients, or patients) a distinct range of strengths and challenges, which has led patients to seek professional help and clinicians to provide a clinically useful diagnosis for patients.

This diagnosis has also helped parents, educators, and clinicians determine what interventions or accommodations are most useful.

Second, the term "Asperger's" has meaning to many individuals with AS. For people who have struggled to find their place, it seems counterproductive to completely eliminate a nomenclature that helps them identify their issues and needs. There are also many service providers, teachers, parents and siblings who have come to understand what AS means, and what daily supports are necessary for an individual with AS to succeed in the family, at school, at work, and in the broader community. Parents, educators, clinicians, researchers and adults with AS have formed a strong, mutually supportive community, united by the concept of AS. Taking AS out of the DSM would fragment this community, with unfortunate results for everyone involved. Further, the AS label and formulations have provided the public with access to an understanding of this population's journey.

Third, the criteria for diagnosis in the proposed ASD definition do not include the complete cluster of symptoms found in individuals diagnosed with AS. Common associated features of AS include sensory atypicalities, anxiety, executive function problems, and right hemisphere learning difficulties. Including a description of these associated features in DSM-5 would facilitate proper diagnosis. Mitigation in these areas is often an essential element of services, support, and accommodation for people with AS.

Fourth, the detaileddefinitions of the scales associated with the diagnostic criteria domains have not yet been released. The time period for public comment ends on April 20, 2010, resulting in inadequate time for public comments and meaningful dialogue about these issues. We would like to see the DSM-5 committee define severity in terms that are clear and unambiguous and avoid descriptive words such as "mild", since no one in the proposed ASD umbrella has a mild disorder.

Looking ahead to the 2013 publication of the DSM-5, we want to move forward, preserving the progress made since 1994, rather than regressing to the counterproductive situation that existed prior to DSM-IV. Whatever changes are made in the diagnostic categories, it is essential to ensure that any person who falls into the existing Asperger's Disorder definition will fit within the new ASD nomenclature in the DSM-5. Individuals with AS need to continue to be accurately diagnosed, and they must continue to receive the support and accommodations they need, without interruption of services.

Therefore we strongly recommend:

1. That the term "Asperger Syndrome" be retained in the DSM-5, to designate a category or subset of the new ASD diagnosis into which individuals currently diagnosable with AS fall because the AS nomenclature (i) has enabled so many individuals to be properly diagnosed and receive appropriate accommodations and support, and (ii) has provided a common, well-understood terminology for those diagnosed with AS and their support community as well as allowing the public to better understand this population's journey;

2. That DSM-5 reference common associated features, such as sensory atypicalities, anxiety, executive function problems, and right hemisphere learning difficulties.

3. That the time period for public comment on the severity scales be extended for a reasonable time after they are released for public review, and that the scales be clear and unambiguous.

Recommendations for Action

We welcome your thoughts on the DSM-5 proposal and recommend that you make your voice heard by contacting the DSM-5 committee.
Let the DSM-5 committee know what you think about the proposed changes, and how the new definition would impact you or your family member. You can contact the DSM-5 committee by going to the APA website. Register a username and password for yourself (no cost), and submit your comments.
Include brief, specific examples from your own experience in your comments.
If you agree with our thoughts outlined above, please feel free incorporate them into your comments.
Please share your comments with AANE. Thank You!

Prepared by the AANE DSM-5 Committee members: Nancy Schwartz, Phil Schwarz, Dr. Daniel Rosenn, Dr. Scott Mcleod, Jody Acford, Dot Lucci, & Dania Jekel with Lucy Berrington, & Stephanie Loo. The Asperger's Association of New England, April 5, 2010

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Caffeine : Help For Aspergers and Sleep?

John Smitty — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:27:25 +0000

Sleep, tiredness, focus and alertness are all common issues when dealing with Aspergers, Autism Spectrum, or ADHD. There are case studies and experiments where caffeine was used during the day to increase focus and to enhance sleep at night. There are studies that also cite the opposite, causing ADHD like symptoms to become worse and negatively impacting sleep.

For the average 'neuro-typical' person, it is usually safe to assume that caffeine will enhance focus during the day, but will negative impact sleep if taken at night. The ASD person however can potentially have a different reaction. Dealing with ASD means experimenting, trying to find the things that will help improve quality of life. Consider experimenting with a small dose of caffeine during the day to improve focus, or a very small dose at night. Avoid sugary drinks such as soda, and never drink diet drinks as they contain other negative chemicals. For children, you should be sure to start with a very small dose - for example, if you were to brew a standard coffee cup of green tea, you might consider giving them 1/4 cup or even less. Here are some examples of drinks with smaller amounts of caffeine:

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For adults, there are numerous options for a higher dose of caffeine. Be cautious not to drink too much, and be especially careful if you are currently taking any other medication.

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On the flip side, if you are already currently taking in a large amount of caffeine, you may need to consider if it will help to reduce or eliminate your intake. There are studies that show it is more beneficial for alertness and wakefulness in some people to take in a small cup of green tea, instead of several large cups of coffee. You should also consider eliminating or trying an alternative stimulant drink as some people are sensitive to caffeine specifically.

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If there are issues with sleep, and you have eliminated caffeine 8 hours before bed time, try eliminating or cutting back even more. If there is still no help, consider and do research on your sleep habits. If you are still struggling, try drinking some chamomile tea, warm milk and honey an hour or so before bed time.

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You should also consider the way the room is arranged - try to limit distracting objects, light level - darker the better, sheets, pillows and sounds such as from the HVAC system. You can utilize a white noise machine to help mask sounds. Make sure your HVAC filters are clean/changed to limit allergic reactions. Some people will lay with their child for a while to help them go to sleep. You must be careful here as this can develop in to a habit for the child that is hard to break.

It is common for some people with aspergers to be tired all day, then start waking up during the evening. It is easy to confuse your circadian rhythm. It helps a lot to stick to a consistent sleep pattern - at least within an hour, ideally less. On the weekends for example, get up and go to bed at the same time as usual. Melatonin is useful with sleep cycle issues, but is also commonly recommended by doctors as it has been shown to be safe to use regularly long term.

Do you have other ideas or things you have tried? Please comment!

** It is always advisable consult with your doctor or physician before making life or diet changes **

A Bean Bag Chair To Help An Autistic Child.

John Smitty — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:10:13 +0000

A Bean Bag Chair

is a useful tool to help regulate an autistic child's mood and behavior. There are a number of styles of bean bag chairs, some which provide deep pressure to the nervous system equally and others that provide pressure in specific areas.

The general idea here is that the unique physical stimulation and pressure bean bag chairs provide can help autistic children calm down during a tantrum and ideally play a role in helping them learn to self regulate future stress and return to focus.

Bean bag or other similar soft chairs are used by special education facilities as a standard tool to help kids calm down, and regain control. Imagine the difference in how you would feel if you were required to site in a hard wooden or firm chair when upset versus sitting in a nice soft, warm immersing bean bag chair.

A useful exercise is to teach your child to sit or lay in the chair and wrap the sides of the chair around their sides, sort of like a cocoon. Doing this when the child is calm and later reminding them when they are upset that they can go in to the cocoon can help greatly.

Bean bag chairs can also be used to stimulate deep pressure by having the child carry the chair around as this is most likely an appropriate weight/size for this purpose. There are many other possibilities. You may also consider using two bean bags - one that the child will sit in, the other that is placed on their lap or similar.

Many special-ed settings have multiple bean bag style chairs, one per room, or multiple in some rooms so they are able to allow several children the opportunity to calm or re-assure themselves. You should consider purchasing multiple chairs for your home. A chair for the bedroom and one for the living room for example.

There are various sizes, shapes, colors and styles of bean bag chairs available. There are chairs for young children, adult sized, over-sized and multiple person chairs available. Be sure to consider what the child prefers for color, design or patterns. This is so much more important than the decor of the room. You want your child to use it, so make sure they are happy with the way it looks.

These are examples of the classic bean bag chairs - good starter chairs - the most common:

Some additional styles, depending on what you need:

You should also consider this book to have a multi-pronged approach to working with your childs behaviors.:

Click Here

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Curt Schilling Talking About Autism

John Smitty — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:06:34 +0000

Check out this audio of Curt Schilling talking about Aspergers / Autism - via NPR.

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Health Care Reform, Sleep Apnea and Aspergers

John Smitty — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:24:24 +0000

So what do these all have in common?

Hopefull health care reform is going to improve the issues we have in getting treatment for all our ailments - whether they be sleep disorders or autism spectrum, or anything else for that matter.

Tired during the day?

look at THIS first
Feel Better!

Sleep Apnea, Snoring, CPAP

>>> A well written article HERE explains.

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