31 March 2010

Anything But Typical

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin is a work of young adult fiction and the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. The novel is told from the perspective of a twelve-year-old boy with autism as he navigates the world of "neurotypicals." It begins:

"Most people like to talk in their own language.
...But more than talking in their own language, people like to hear things in a way they are most comfortable...so I will try to tell this story in that way.
...I not he. Me not him. Mine not his.
...I will try--
To tell my story in their language, in your language.
I am Jason Blake."

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through Worldcat.

30 March 2010

Light It Up Blue

Autism Speaks has an international project for World Autism Awareness Day: Light It Up Blue.

According to their website, "On the night of April 1, prominent buildings across North America and the world including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada will be lit up blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 2."

They also suggest ways for individuals to get involved: by blogging about the event to raise awareness, wearing your Autism Speaks puzzle piece pin, advertising the event through Facebook, even baking puzzle-shaped cookies to bring to your workplace or child's school.

The webpage, lightitupblue.org, also has a slide show of buildings that have "lit it up blue" in the past. They invite communities who join the event to post their own photos on a public Flickr gallery.

Also for World Autism Awareness Day, don't forget about the Be a Piece of the Puzzle event by the Bridges of Indiana!

29 March 2010

Marcelo in the Real World

Marcelo in the Real World is a work of fiction written in the first person present by Francisco Stork, a winner of the Junior Library Guild Schneider Family Book Awards. The title character is Marcelo, a seventeen-year-old with high functioning autism. Marcelo's father, who does not "believe" in his son's condition, sends him to work in the mailroom of his law firm one summer to expose him to "the real world." There Marcelo encounters mysteries, intrigue and romance.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

26 March 2010

Super Silly Sayings that are Over Your Head

Super silly sayings that are over your head: A children's illustrated book of idioms is a colorful picture book by Catherine Snodgrass, the author of What's that look on your face? Snodgrass divides common idioms by theme, like "Hands and Feet" ("lend a hand," "I'm all thumbs," "foot in my mouth") or "Food" ("spill the beans," "apple of my eye," or "piece of cake"). Each saying is accompanied by paintings and a literal translation to teach children with Asperger's or high-functioning autism spectrum disorders to associate the phrase with its true meaning.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

25 March 2010

The New Social Story Book

The new social story book: 10th anniversary edition is the latest in the incredibly popular series by Carol Gray, the social story master. The book contains 150+ stories for social situations to teach children with autism spectrum disorders how to behave.

The stories are divided into categories like Change, Me and My Feelings, People Skills and Friendship. Children will learn how to give and receive gifts (and how to behave if they don't like them!), conduct themselves during games of luck or skill, respond to bullies, and cope with overwhelming situations like going through airport security or following fire drills at school.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

24 March 2010

Indiana Resources

Looking for resources in your community for families and individuals with autism spectrum disorders? Autism Speaks has amassed a list of 119 private and state organizations in the state.

The list includes hospitals who provide autism diagnoses, intervention and school services, advocates and lawyers, support groups...even summer camps and specialty barber shops!

You can see the array of choices here: http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/fsdb/state.php?sid=18. If you know of any organizations that aren't on the list, you can submit them to Autism Speaks through this online form: http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/fsdb/submit.php.

23 March 2010

Easter and the Spectrum

It's impossible to walk into a grocery store these days without being bombarded by marshmallow Peeps, chocolate rabbits, and pastel baskets filled with fake grass and plastic eggs. For most children, Easter (or Passover) is an exciting time. But big family gatherings, elaborate crafts and long religious services can add a lot of stress for kids on the spectrum. Here are some articles with advice on preparing for that visit from the Easter bunny:

About.com Guide to Special Needs Parenting: offers an "Easter Survival Guide" and tips for Passover celebrations

Associated Content Lifestyle: an article by a mother with a son on the autism spectrum, about explaining the significance of Easter in the Christian religion. She also links to several articles with advice on coping with big holidays and family gatherings in general.

Bella Online: Easter Treats For Children On The Autism Spectrum: Bonnie Sayers recommends store-bought products from cookies to chocolates for children on restrictive diets.

Angela's Kitchen: GFCF Hot Cross Buns: scroll down for a recipe for this gluten-free, casein-free version of the classic Easter morning treat!

Don't forget to attend the Easter Egg Hunt at the Indianapolis Propylaeum sponsored by the Bridges of Indiana on April 11th!

22 March 2010

"Be A Piece of the Puzzle"



The Bridges of Indiana will host "Be A Piece of the Puzzle" on April 2nd in honor of World Autism Awareness day. A ceremony will precede a release of balloons.

The official event will take place at Deming Park in Terre Haute, but each of the five offices will conduct their own ceremony. The Evansville office will hold the event on April 1st, since the 2nd is Good Friday. You can find the contact information for your local office here.

For details and more events around Indiana, you can read the Bridges of Indiana April/May Newsletter.

19 March 2010

Movie Adaptation of The Horse Boy

In the movie adaptation of The horse boy, filmmaker Michel Orion Scott chronicles Rupert Isaacson and Kristin Neff’s very personal odyssey as they struggle to make sense of their child's autism and find healing for him and themselves in the unlikeliest of places. The horse boy will air on the PBS series Independent Lens on Tuesday, May 11, at 10pm.

The horse boy follows Rupert, Kristin and Rowan through the summer of 2007 as they traverse Mongolia on their quest. From the wild open Steppe to the sacred Lake Sharga, and deep into Siberia, they are tested to their limits individually, as a couple, and as a family. They find their son is accepted, even treasured for his differences. In a world steeped in mystical tradition, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward, astonishing both his parents and himself.

The film also includes interviews with some of the foremost experts in the field of autism, including: Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker, and Dr. Temple Grandin.

The horse boy
is part travel adventure, part insight into shamanic tradition, and part inner quest. In telling one family’s extraordinary story, the film gives voice to the thousands of families who display amazing courage and creativity everyday in the battle against this mysterious and heartbreaking epidemic.

In the month leading up to the premier, you can prepare for the movie by checking out the original text from the CeDIR Library: Rupert Isaacson's The horse boy : a father's quest to heal his son.

18 March 2010

NFPA Social Story: I Know My Fire Safety Plan

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a non-profit who has been providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896, has produced an interactive storybook. I Know My Fire Safety Plan teaches children with autism spectrum disorders what to do if a smoke alarm sounds.

I Know My Fire Safety Plan breaks down important points into easy-to-follow steps and uses the social story format. It acknowledges the apprehension children with autism may feel when a smoke alarm sounds or loud fire trucks with firefighters in turnout gear enter the neighborhood. Parents are advised to practice their fire safety plan with their children, and then read the story with them.

Participants are encouraged to use the interactive story to its full capacity by typing in their name, age, physical features, and the location of their outdoor meeting place. Children can also take part in the story by clicking on the corner of each page to turn it and they may start and stop at will.

The interactive story has been reviewed, at all stages of development, by the NFPA public education division’s Parents and Teachers of Children with Disabilities Advisory Group. It has also been reviewed by a psychologist from a school that serves children and adults with autism and by a respected author of manuals on crafting social stories.

You can view the social story book here: http://www.nfpa.org/gallery/Fire%20Safety%20Book/flip_book_r7.html. Macromedia Flash is required to run the program. For more information on emergency procedures and autism, look into this book at the CeDIR Library: Dangerous encounters--avoiding perilous situations with autism: a streetwise guide for all emergency responders, retailers, and parents

17 March 2010

PBS Documentary: "Through a Dog's Eyes"

Neil Patrick Harris is the narrator of an upcoming PBS documentary exploring the bond between service dogs and those they help. The show, "Through a Dog's Eyes," is set to debut April 21 on PBS stations.

The film details how dogs learn to serve people with disabilities and how animals and humans are paired. An Iraqi veteran who became a quadriplegic after a car accident and a 6-year-old with cerebral palsy are among those featured in the film.

Harris, of "How I Met Your Mother," says he was impressed by the strong emotional connection between the service animals and those who rely on them. He owns two dogs.

You can watch a 4-minute trailer for the show on the PBS website here: http://video.pbs.org/video/1435104301/. For more information on service dogs, check out this title from the CeDIR Library: Animal assisted interventions for individuals with autism

16 March 2010

Disability Roundtable: Student Perspectives on Accessibility

IU’s Monthly Disability Roundtable session for March will feature the voices of students with disabilities discussing life on campus, both academically and socially. Members of the student panel will highlight IU’s successes in creating a more welcoming environment on campus (such as the approval of the new student group, Hoosiers For Autism Speaks), as well as bring to light continuing concerns about accommodations and accessibility.

The presentation will be held in the Oak Room of the Indiana Memorial Union next Wednesday, March 24th, from Noon – 1:00 pm.

For more information, contact Vicki Pappas at adainfo@indiana.edu or call 812-855-6508.

15 March 2010

Autism Through the Lifespan

Erika Beras of the WDUQ radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has narrated a nine-part series entitled Autism through the lifespan. The text of each story, a combination of interviews with parents and medical professionals, is available on WHYY, a community station in Delaware.

The text of each part is also accompanied by an audio recording about 7 minutes and 30 seconds in length. You can access all nine parts by clicking the links below:

1) Diagnosis
2) Childhood
3) Education
4) The Teen Years
5) Caregiving
6) Early Adulthood
7) Adulthood
8) Research
9) Life After Autism

12 March 2010

Daylight Savings Time

This Sunday we "spring ahead" for Daylight Savings Time. While adults may need an extra cup of coffee on Sunday, for children and teenagers or individuals with autism, the adjustment is particularly hard. Here are some articles with tips on how to make the transition easier.

Helping Kids Adjust to Daylight Savings Time: http://parentingresources.suite101.com/article.cfm/helping_kids_adjust_to_daylight_savings_time

Kids Sleep and DST: http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/spring/a/daylight_svg.htm

Steps Help Brain Adjust to Daylight Savings: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=1777423&page=1

ADHD and Sleep: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/adhd-and-sleep

Don't forget to set those clocks forward on Saturday before bed.

11 March 2010

NBC's Parenthood

A new NBC series premiered this month based on the 1989 comedy-drama movie Parenthood. Airing Tuesdays at 10pm, the show follows the "very large, very colorful and imperfect Braverman family."


In one of the first plotlines of the show, Adam and Kristina Braverman come to terms with the fact that their youngest son, Max, has Asperger's Syndrome. The show's executive producer, Jason Katims, has a son with Asperger's and "wanted to portray the disorder in as accurate a light as possible." Laura Shumaker of the San Francisco Chronicle says he succeeded: "[Katims] not only [showed] the quirks of a child struggling with an autism spectrum disorder, but [also] how his parents and extended family grapple with understanding and accepting....I was so convinced by the the 8 year old actor's portrayal of a child with Asperger's that I thought he must have the disorder himself."

You can view full episodes of Parenthood by visiting the link on the NBC's official page: http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/.

10 March 2010

Providing Practical Support for People with ASDs

Providing practical support for people with autism spectrum disorder: supported living in the community is written by Denise Edwards, a mother and qualified counselor/teacher of students with special educational needs, both in mainstream and special schools. Edwards addresses the common miscommunications between families of individuals with ASDs and service providers. Drawing from her personal experiences with her son, who has Asperger's, she offers techniques for conveying needs and suggests improvements to better systems of care.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

09 March 2010

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity contains a wealth of resources for parents, individuals and educators of children with autism. The webmasters maintain a blog of news and events, a large stash of articles, and book recommendations.

Their book and video reviews are divided by subject (behavior, family, technology etc.) and audience (for parents, teachers, children, professionals, or the public). Each comes with a hefty summary of its contents and a link to its record on Amazon.com. The site authors also sift through the latest toys to make gift selection easy, and keep a running list of organizations for autism support in all regions of America as well as Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the UK and Ireland.

You can visit Neurodiversity at http://www.neurodiversity.com/main.html

08 March 2010

Autism's Impact on Siblings

Researchers at Syracuse University found, from a study of New York Families, that the siblings of preschoolers with autism can lean towards exhibiting autism-like behaviors themselves.

The study authors officially reported that elementary-aged children with younger siblings on the spectrum are not significantly different from typically developing children, but that teachers often notice that these children exhibit hyperactivity, fidgeting and attention problems.

A write-up of the study at redOrbit attributes the difference in behavior to mothers who are stressed or depressed by the demands of caring for their younger children. The authors highlight the importance of finding help for day-to-day care, and of finding time for parents to be individuals as well as caregivers.

You can read more about the study here.

For more information on family dynamics, check out some of the titles we've highlighted in the past here and on the main CeDIR blog.

05 March 2010

Weekend Fairs

This weekend, you have plenty of options for autism-related events around Indiana!

The Autism Society of Indiana is hosting a Disability Resource Fair in Anderson tomorrow, March 6th. The fair will take place at Bethany Christian Church from 9:30am to 2:30pm with parking available at the Highland High School across the street.

And at IU South Bend, a Special Needs Resource and Transition Fair will take place on the same day from 9am to 1pm. Tables will be set up at "The Grill" in the IUSB Main Cafeteria, in the Administrative Building. For a campus map, visit http://www.iusb.edu/maps/campusmap.shtml. Visitor parking information can be found at http://www.iusb.edu/~sbpark/visitorparking.shtml

Finally, if you're in the Fishers area, you can visit DeVeaus School of Gymnastics with your little ones for the Third Annual Fun Night. Saturday from 6:30 to 8pm, a $10 donation will allow you and your children to experience "total sensory integration" with trampolines and foam pits in a safe environment. Proceeds will go to ASI and Power Kids. For contact and more information, visit the gym's website: http://deveaus.com/blog/join-us-for-our-third-annual-fun-night/.

04 March 2010

Gravity Pulls You In

Gravity pulls you in: Perspectives on parenting children on the autism spectrum is a compilation of slice-of-life stories put together by Kyra Anderson and Vicki Forman. In Chicken Soup for the Soul style, mothers (and a few fathers) describe their experiences raising children with autism in short, 4-5 page stories and poems. Each writer provides a unique story, spanning topics from the early years to headstrong teens to awkward interactions with colleagues at work.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

03 March 2010

Think Beyond The Label

Think Beyond The Label has aired their first national TV commercial! The humorous, close-captioned 30-second slot brings attention to individual differences in all people and the silliness of applying labels:



Think Beyond the Label was formed to set the facts straight about hiring people with disabilities. They provide "expert tools and resources for businesses looking to evolve their workforce." You can visit there website at http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/.

02 March 2010

Zac Browser

Do you have a child on the spectrum old enough to show interest in the internet? Before you set them loose, check out Zac Browser, a free software package "developed specifically for children living with variants of autism spectrum disorders."

"Zac" stands for Zone for Autistic Children. The browser filters out adult content and provides access to skill-building games, stimulating videos, and news from free existing sites. The program greatly simplifies navigation of the internet, allowing more learning and less frustration. The program is also compatible with the Nintendo Wii system for added fun.

You can download the Zac Browser from the official site, zacbrowser.com. If you're on Facebook, also consider becoming a fan of the group, where parents exchange tips and experiences in the Discussion section and moderators post the latest news on autism.

01 March 2010

IIDC Open House--Save the Date!


In response to the wonderful feedback we received after our Open House last year, we have decided to do it again! Please make plans to attend our 2nd Open House and help us celebrate our 40th anniversary.

Wednesday, April 28th

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Stop by any time during these hours, and we'll be happy to visit with you and show you around. An RSVP is appreciated but not necessary:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/invitation/invitation.html.

See you there!