Blue Skies

Blue Skies by Robert Fromberg is an excellent story that tells about the life of the speaker and how it relates to his son, David, who has autism. With easy to read sentences, and understandable topic, Blue Skies is a great read for those interested in autism.

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

Staying in the Game

Staying in the game: providing social opportunities for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities by James Loomis is an in-depth guide for parents looking to improve the social skills of their children with autism. The book is arranged methodically, beginning with identifying appropriate social opportunities, then progressing to the nitty gritty of interventions and the role of adults and peers in the process.

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Treating Eating Problems

Treating eating problems of children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities: interventions for professionals and parents is a two-part book written for caregivers and professionals who work with children who resist normal eating patterns. The first half explains the basic origins of eating problems to parents, teachers and caregivers, while the second offers advice to professionals looking to apply behavioral assessment and design individualized interventions.

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Autism: The Search for Coherence

Autism: The Search for Coherence discusses the causes and treatments for autism by the leading experts in the field. They look at these factors through various sides such as psychology, medicine, education, and biology. In the book, the reader will also find the latest scientific and clinical research for autism.

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Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism?

Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism? was written by the leaders in the fields of autism and asperger syndrome. Within the book, the reader will find discussions of diagnoses, interventions in autistic spectrum disorders, assessment of the conditions, issues people might encounter, and treatments.

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Helping Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Helping Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Step-By-Step workbook for Families is an excellent source for parents who have children on the autism spectrum. Within the book, readers will learn how to enable their children to interact better with others, teach your child how to be more independent, help your child participate in community activities and much more. Helping Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder also includes exercises, assessments and suggestions to help identify your child's needs, find and develop sources of support for you and your child and learn when and how to find professional help.

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Gifts for Kids with Autism

The trees are up, the houses sparkle, and the big day is fast approaching. Shopping for gifts can be stressful, and particularly difficult if you're looking for toys for a child with autism.

Julie Bick of the New York Times wrote an article to help. Bick offers several resources from toy companies like the Differently-Abled Toy Guide by Toys 'R Us or the spectrum-friendly gift ideas at Neurodiversity.com. She also covers recommendations from parents and professionals for main-stream toys and options off the beaten path. For example, the author of Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew once gave her son "a tissue-lined wicker basket containing 10 cans of shaving cream, to be dispensed at will in the bathtub, sink or wading pool."

You can read the original article here.

Military Family Autism Equality Act

The Tricare health program, the Pentagon-issued insurance for veterans and active-duty personnel, may soon cover autism therapy for children of retirees.

Republican Representative Jeff Miller of Florida has proposed the Military Family Autism Equality Act, which would allow veterans the same access to autism care as active-duty service members. This would provide "up to $2,500 per month for training, rehabilitation, special education, institutional care and sometimes transportation." Legislators and advocates hope that the act will help take the sting out of costly therapies that, thanks to low Medicaid reimbursements, ex-military families must often pay for out-of-pocket.

You can read more about the proposal in the Army Times.

When Snow Turns to Rain

When Snow Turns to Rain: One Family's Struggle to Solve the Riddle of Autism tells the story of Craig b. Schulze's family's experience while trying to understand their son's autism. In When Snow Turns to Rain, the reader will see the transformation that happened from when Craig's son Jordan was a "happy engaging toddler to a progressively disconnected child with autism." The reader will also discover the struggles that came with trying to understand autism and the determinations to find treatments and educational programs for his son.

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Autism: Information and Resources

Autism: Information and resources for Professionals and Parents by Richard L. Simpson and Paul Zionts is an excellent guide for parents and professionals who experience on a regular basis the frustration that can come with living and working with children who have autism. In the book, the reader can discover answers to some commonly asked questions what the most effective interventions and treatments for someone with autism and what can happen to their child once he or she has become and adult.

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Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere: Breaking Free from the world of Autism by Donna Williams describes her life after writing her first book, Nobody Nowhere. Within the book, the reader will discover what it was like for Williams to continue trying to complete her education, continue on with her psychiatric treatment and more. Williams describes what it was like beginning to teach children with autism, while still trying to work with her own.

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Autism Fact Sheet

Last week, CeDIR updated the collection of Fact Sheets available on our central website. Among these was the Autism Spectrum Disorders fact sheet, which serves as a starting point for parents, teachers or individuals facing a new diagnosis of autism. The sheet also makes a good handout for students or basic information for the general public.

For more disability-related facts, visit the Disability Information section of our website.

Preparing Your Child for Santa

Santa-America, an organization that provides volunteer Santas to visit children with special needs in homes, hospitals or hospices, has put together a very useful video to prepare children with autism to meet Santa Claus.

The video, which you can view on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YGLYeOorJM), shows Santa describing each of the elements that make him different from other people. He describes his beard, his glasses, his hat, bells, gloves, etc., as well as the events that surround Santa (like waiting in line and taking pictures). The video finishes with an example of a boy visiting with Santa, so your child will know exactly what to expect and how to behave.

For more winter holiday prep tips, visit the IRCA's article on Making the Most of the Holidays for Your Family and Your Son/Daughter on the Autism Spectrum.

Ask and Tell

Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum aims to try and help those on the autism spectrum learn how to effectively self-advocate in order to become independent, happy members of society. Ask and Tell includes advice on what to do and say by six people on the autism spectrum. Within the book, the reader will find information about how perceptions and behaviors can limit access to opportunities in education, social groups, and employment.

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Precious Treasure

Precious Treasure: The Story of Patrick by Elizabeth Matthews tells the story of her son Patrick, who was diagnosed with autism. Precious Treasure contains letters written to her son about the good, the bad, the joys, and challenges of raising a child with special needs. Within the book, the reader will also discover that through her relationship to God, Matthews gained a better understanding of her son.

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Getting Services for your Child on the Autism Spectrum

Getting Services for your Child on the Autism Spectrum by DeAnn Hyatt-Foley and Matthew G. Foley tells the story of two parents who, after their child was diagnosed PDD, searched for the proper educational care because professionals were not sure what to do to cater to their son's needs. Getting Services explains how the family went about getting educational services and information about those with disabilities, what they learned from these experiences and what other parents can do to help their child. Getting Services is an excellent source for those looking for advice on getting educational services for their children.

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Early Intervention is Key

A study conducted at the University of Washington has demonstrated that early diagnosis and intensive treatment of autism can significantly improve IQ, language, and ability to perform everyday tasks.

Pediatrics reports that in the randomized, controlled trial of 48 toddler-aged children, 24 underwent the Early Start Denver model. The treatment plan included 15 hours a week of one-on-one therapy and 16 hours of training with parents. After two years, these children successfully rose IQ scores to within normal levels. The other 24 children assigned to regular therapists throughout the Seattle area did not.

You can read a summary of the study with interviews and implications here.

Inside Out

Inside Out: What Makes a person With Social Cognitive Deficits Tick? by Michelle Garcia Winner describes how the social problems your child may have can be connected to academic problems they are having, such as problems with understanding class readings. Within Inside Out, the reader will learn about Winner's ILAUGH model. this model explains a way for parents and professionals to find specific areas that a child may find a challenge, like social interactions. At the end of every chapter, the reader will find handouts and IEP goal suggestions.

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Stress and Coping in Autism

Stress and Coping in Autism presents effective ways for people with autism and those around them to cope with stress. In Stress and Coping in Autism, the reader can see how stress manifests itself physically and emotionally in those with autism. It also describes how it is possible to lessen the impact of stress by understanding not only the science of stress and autism but also how the two are experienced.

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Autism Advocates of Indiana

The Autism Advocates of Indiana are best known for their annual September walks to raise funds for autism. But the organization is active year round:

Grants
The AAI awards grants twice a year to organizations which support its mission, which is to "increase and broaden public knowledge and awareness of the behaviors, social issues and emotional needs of individuals on the autism spectrum so that all individuals can participate in and contribute to our community without fear of bias or loss of individuality." For details, visit http://www.aaiwalk.org/Grant%20Opportunities/grant_opportunities.htm.

Speeches
Representatives visit functions to spread the word about AAI. To request a speaker, contact Patty Reed at (317)403-4308.

For more information, visit www.aaiwalk.org.

Accommodations for Students on the Autism Spectrum

On Wednesday, December 2 at 1 pm, Cathy Pratt of the IRCA will host a seminar in the Dogwood room of the Indiana Memorial Union on the IU campus. Here are the details:

IU is seeing greater numbers of students with autism enrolled in its programs. Because of this growing student population, IUB's Disability Roundtable is sponsoring an Accessible University session to create awareness of how our campus can be as welcoming and supportive as possible to this student group.

Dr. Pratt will share some of the characteristics of students on the autism spectrum and the issues they may face while attending college. She will also provide guidance on ways to support them in their classes, in planning their programs, and in participating other University activities and events.

Dr. Pratt is Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at IU’s Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and is a Special Education faculty member in the School of Education. She currently serves as Chair of the Board for the National Autism Society, serves on the Panel of Professional Advisors for the Autism Society, and is part of the Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs plus many advisory boards.

Bring your questions and concerns and join us for this timely and relevant discussion! Please also share this information with others who may be interested.

Requests for Accommodations
If you plan to attend this session and require a sign language interpreter, real time captioning, assistive listening system, another auxiliary aid or information in alternate format, please contact Alice Voigt, Accessibility Specialist, at the National Center on Accessibility, ajvoigt@indiana.edu, (812) 856-4422 (voice) or (812) 856-4421 (tty).

For More Information
Accessible University is a monthly series of presentations sponsored by the IUB Disability Roundtable. The purpose of the series is to educate the university community about accessibility issues and methodologies to create a more accessible university environment fully inclusive of students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities.

The Accessible University series is a collaborative activity of IUB’s Disability Roundtable, coordinated by Vicki Pappas of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community and Alice Voigt of the National Center on Accessibility. For further information about the Accessible University series or the Disability Roundtable, please feel free to contact Vicki (cpps@indiana.edu) or Alice (ajvoigt@indiana.edu).

The Autism Encyclopedia

The Autism Encyclopedia: 500+ entries for parents and professionals by John T. Neisworth and Pamela S. Wolfe is an excellent guide to the terminology related to autism spectrum disorders. In the Autism Encyclopedia, the reader can gain information about assistive technology, classification systems, interventions, early detection, medical issues, sensory difficulties and much more. Synonyms and relevant cross references are included for every term in the book and there are appendices that describe autism related centers and organizations.

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Autism: What Do I Do Now?- A no nonsense road map, to fast-tracking your child's medically necessary autism treatment is designed for parents that have children who were recently diagnosed with autism. In the video, you will receive information on how to get started with treatments for your child. You will also receive information from mental health professionals.

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

Children with Autism

Children with Autism: Diagnosis and Interventions to Meet Their Needs by Colwyn Trevarthen, Kenneth Aitken, Despina Papoudi, and Jacueline Robarts is a great guide for those looking at the autism research field. In the book, the reader can discover the latest information on the findings of brain research, the contributions of music therapy, and educational provisions for children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Children with Autism also includes appendixes summarizing medical diagnostic systems, checklists and questionnaires for identifying autism, and a glossary.

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Living Along the Autism Spectrum

Living along the autism spectrum: what does it mean to have autism or Asperger syndrome? is a video by Daniel Gottlieb, Robert A Naseef, and Stephen M Shore. The documentary shows the perspective persons with autism through a discussion with Shore, who is on the spectrum and a professional expert on ASDs. According to IRCA Director Cathy Pratt: "The DVD provides valuable insight into the range of emotions experienced in connection with an autism diagnosis and covers topics that can be used to generate important discussions."

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Making the Most of the Holidays

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has posted a useful article for parents of children with ASDs: Making the Most of the Holidays for Your Family and Your Son/Daughter on the Autism Spectrum.

Some of the tips include:
-Create Social Stories that highlight what will happen at holiday-themed events to curb anxiety
-Involve your child in shopping and decorating to minimize disruption to your child's environment
-Prepare your child for family visits by looking through photo albums
-Define clear rules about how many times a child can talk about a desired present, what decorations can and can't be touched, etc.
-Before the big day hits, practice opening gifts and taking turns with others

For the full list, follow the link above.

Straight Talk About Autism

Straight Talk About Autism:With Parents and Kids by Jeff Schultz is an excellent source for those with autism and also for professionals in the field. For those with autism, Straight Talk About Autism offers interviews with their peers combined with appealing graphics and soundtrack. For professionals, the video explains new ideas in the field and tips on how to work with children with autism.

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Souls

Souls: Beneath and Beyond Autism contains images from the book Souls set to Sara Evans song " I Could Not ask for More." Combined with Sharon Rosenbloom's words, the images from the book give the viewer a glimpse into the lives of children with autism, their family, friends and caregivers.

Interested in this DVD? Indiana resident? Email us!

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A Will of His Own

A Will of His Own: reflections on Parenting a Child with Autism shares the stories of Kelly Harland and her experiences having a child with autism. In A Will of His Own, Harland expresses lover for her son but also explains that she has "dark times" that come along with the challenges of having a child with autism. A Will of His Own is a great example of the nature of hope, love and motherhood.

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The Affordable Health Care for America Act and Autism

HR 3962, otherwise known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act, was passed by the House of Representatives this week and is being reviewed by the Senate.

The act contains many components, but section 2527 is especially pertinent to professionals and parents of children with autism. The amendment, called the "National Training Initiatives on Autism Spectrum Disorders," will create multi-year grants that "provide individuals (including parents and health, allied health, vocational and educational professionals) with interdisciplinary training, continuing education, technical assistance, and information for the purpose of improving services rendered to children and adults with autism, and their families, to address unmet needs related to autism."

Individuals eligible to apply for these grants include university researchers and "service entities." You can read the text of this section of the bill at THOMAS (Library of Congress).

"Asperger's Syndrome" Potentially Removed from Medical Manual

The American Psychiatric Association is considering officially removing the term "Asperger's Syndrome" for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

The New York Times interviewed Catherine Lord, director of the Autism and Communication Disorders Centers at the University of Michigan. Lord explains that there is no clear clinical line between Asperger's and mild autism, leaving the diagnosis murky and scientifically unfounded.

Opponents of the change have concerns as to how the disappearance of the term "Asperger's" from medical lexicon will affect insurers, researchers, schools and government bodies, and contend that it might lead to a detrimental decrease in autism assessments. Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and Asperger's and Girls, among others, acknowledges that the public has a "neutral or fairly positive view of the term Asperger’s syndrome." However, many balk at the suggestion of "autism" and may refuse to offer themselves up for diagnosis and treatment.

Other changes to the manual may counter the disappearance of "Asperger's" by expanding the definition of autism spectrum disorders to include associated conditions such as "anxiety, attention disorders, gastrointestinal problems, seizures and sensory differences like extreme sensitivity to noise."

Autism

Autism: Asserting Your Child's Right to a Special Education by David A. Sherman gives the reader an in depth guide to laws and strategies to get the right care and education for children with autism. In the book the reader will find information about what types of records to keep, how to get a professional qualified to "support you in advocating for your child," and much more.

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Fighting for Darla

Fighting for Darla:The Case Study of a Pregnant Adolescent with Autism explores the troubling issues that those in the medical, education and social service professions have faced when entrusted to take care of someone with autism. The case study relates one young female's "treatment" at the hands of her care givers. Here, the reader can see that the decisions made and their incredible consequences not only on the those in care but the people who care for them.

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Succeeding with Autism

Succeeding with Autism: Hear My Voice by Judith H. Cohen tells the story of Micheal, a young man with autism. Through the use of stories told by family, friends and Micheal himself, the reader can see the struggles he faced at stages of his life and how he overcome them such as keeping teaching positions and employment problems.

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In His Shoes

In his shoes: a short journey through autism by Joanna Keating-Velasco is a work of juvenile fiction centering around a middle school student with autism. Keating-Velasco's 150 page book details the everyday life of 13-year-old Nick Hansen as he visits the beach and mall and attends his first school dance. The book is perfect for students age 11-15 with classmates or friends with autism.

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Parallel Play: Growing Up with Undiagnosed Asperger's

Parallel play: growing up with undiagnosed Asperger's is a memoir by Pulitzer Prize-winner and music critic Tim Page. The book was prompted by a popular article in the New Yorker, in which Page describes his confused and directionless childhood. Page's writing is lyrical and self-aware, with insightful passages like, "Not only did I not see the forest for the trees; I was so intensely distracted that I missed the trees for the species of lichen on their bark" and, "It would be easier for me to improvise an epic poem at a sold-out Yankee Stadium than to approach an attractive stranger across the room and strike up a conversation."

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The ECLIPSE Model

The ECLIPSE Model: Teaching Self-Regulation, Executive Function, Attribution, and Sensory Awareness to Students with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Disorders by Sherry A. Moyer is an excellent guide for those wishing to gain skills that will help improve social skills and behavioral functioning on a day to day basis. The ECLIPSE model contains helpful projects tools that allow people to understand themselves better and the world around them.

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If you've ever wanted to crawl in the closet with an OREO...

If you've ever wanted to crawl in the closet with an OREO...: Tips for parenting a child with special needs- The perfect book for the parent with major challenges, but little time or energy to read a bigger book by Martha Kate Downey is an excellent guide to figuring out life's little issues and learning to see the positive side of things. In the book, the reader can learn that not everything is easily fixable, so just take things one at a time, get help when you can, doing all you can do, is what you can do, then let it go.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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Define Me

Define Me by Sondra Williams contains a presentation called "Define Me" which she gives often at conferences. The DVD also includes an interview with Laurel Hoekman, the Executive Director of the Gray Center. The Gray Center is anon-profit organization that is dedicated to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. In Define Me, the viewer can gather useful information Sondra presents about understanding and supporting people with autism.

Interested in this DVD? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

All Star Saturdays

Kerasotes ShowPlace Theaters, in collaboration with the IRCA, announce the first “All Star Saturday” sensory friendly film event in Bloomington, IN on October 31, 2009. Future All-Star Saturdays will be held on the last Saturday of the month (providing there is an appropriate movie available).

This sensory friendly environment allows families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy family films in a safe and accepting environment. Join us for a “Sensory Friendly” showing of Astro Boy.

• Cost is $6.00/adults and $5.75/children
• Doors open at 9:00 a.m./Movie time at 9:30 a.m.
• All children/students must be accompanied by an adult
• Location: Kerasotes Theater - East 11, Bloomington, IN (1351 South College Mall Road)
• Lights will be up and sounds will be down
• Families can bring gluten-free, casein-free snacks
• Snack bar will be open
• No previews

For more information, contact Pam Anderson at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail pamander@indiana.edu.

Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World

Raising a left-brain child in a right-brain world: strategies for helping bright, quirky, socially awkward children to thrive at home and at school is by Katherine Beals, a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and mother of three "left-brained children." The book examines areas like how to find friends in the classroom, how to teach children to conduct themselves on playdates and hold conversations, and how to approach "all-absorbing interests and other quirks." The tips are useful for parents of children both on and off the spectrum who have difficulties conducting themselves socially.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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Lucy's Story

Lucy's Story: Autism & Other Adventures by Lucy Blackman tells the story of how she was born with autism and how she learned to communicate to the world. Lucy's Story is an excellent resources for those who have autism,or know someone who does. In the book, the reader will discover information about sensory issues. alternative or augmented communication, and about language and the writing practice.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Chronic Schizophrenia and Adult Autism

Chronic Schizophrenia and Adult Autism: Issues in Diagnosis, Assessment, and Psychological Treatment by Johnny L. Matson gives the reader information on many things concerning autism and schizophrenia. In the book, the reader will learn about the two conditions, theories, treatment programs and services, behavior assessments, and much more. Chronic Schizophrenia and Adult Autism is an excellent source of information for those who know someone with theses conditions or if you, yourself have schizophrenia and autism.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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Confronting Autism

Confronting Autism: The Aurora on the Dark Side of Venus- A Practical Guide to Hope, Knowledge, and Empowerment by Victoria A. Beck is an excellent source of information and hope for those who have children with autism. In Confronting Autism, the reader can discover an idea of what autism is and the effects it has on the people around it. The book also gives a guide of sorts about treatments and therapies that can be helpful for your child.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Adopt-A-Dog Month

The mayor of Bloomington has dubbed October Adopt-A-Dog Month, and the local shelter is following through by offering 1/2-priced adoptions. Adoption fees, which cover "a first round of vaccinations, a free visit to a local veterinary office, heartworm testing, microchip identification and spay/neuter surgery, will be $37.50 for dogs younger than 5 years old and $27.50 for those 5 years and up."

Though the shelter is not a resource for service dogs, companion animals have been shown to be beneficial to children and adults with disabilities. Pets aid in teaching children nurturing behaviors and nonverbal communication (Beck&Myers 1996). Furthermore, the use of animals in therapy "strengthens...contact with reality" in children with autism and "[decreases] agitated and aggressive behavior" in children with ADHD (Barker 1999).

The Bloomington animal shelter is located on South Walnut, next to the Recycling Center. Its hours are:

Mondays 12-5pm
Tuesdays 12-7pm
Wednesdays 12-5pm
Thursdays 12-5pm
Fridays 12-7pm
Saturdays 12-5pm
Sundays 1-4pm

The shelter can be contacted at 812-349-3492.

Early Intervention and Autism

Early intervention & autism: real-life questions, real-life answers is written by Dr. James Ball. "Dr. Jim" walks parents of newly diagnosed children through the treatment options. He explains available services and modern treatments, as well as everyday advice on what behaviors to expect, how to react to them, and how to develop a positive home environment.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Not Stupid

Not Stupid by Anna Kennedy describes the trials, tribulations and eventual successes after she and her husband faced after their two children were diagnosed with autism. After being turned away by 26 special needs schools, the Kennedy s started their own center that would help support and care for people with autism. In Not Stupid, the reader can discover the lack of proper educational provisions that exists in the UK and well as gain hope that not giving up will end in success .

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Roadmap to Special Education: Laws and Process

On Tuesday, October 20th, at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community there will be a training combining Article 7 and IEP training on special education laws and regulations for Indiana children ages 3-21.
There will also be a section of the training dedicated to how to prepare for a case conference and how to write and IEP.
This training is a great opportunity for family members and professionals who advocate for children with a disability or serious chronic illness.
Registration for the training will end on October 16th.
For information on how to register for the event.


Want more information on About Special Kids?
Check out their website or call at 800-964-4746.

Coach Yourself Through the Autism Spectrum

Coach Yourself Through the Autism Spectrum by Ruth Knott Schroder gives helpful parenting tips for people raising a child with autism. Within the book the reader can discover how to deal with such things as doctor visits, educational decisions, sleeplessness, bullying and much more. Coaching Yourself Through the Autism Spectrum also gives information about dealing with neurotypical children alongside your child with autism. It talks about fairness, and "autism-free" zones. Not only can the reader see how to work with their children but they can also find useful information about themselves and how to work through things like single parenting, and finding your "parent-strengths."

Interested in this video? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Autism

Autism is a short but comprehensive hardcover by Jeri Freedman written for children in upper elementary through middle school. The text is sectioned into five chapters: "The History of Autism," "Genetics and Autism," "The Human Side of Autism," "Current Research," and "Future Approaches." The book also contains a glossary and suggestions for further reading. This is the perfect resource for preteens looking for scientific information or writing a school report on autism spectrum disorders.

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The Child with Autism at Home

The Child with Autism At Home: the home-life guide, 350 tips for work & play is a slim guidebook by Kathy Labosh of Labosh Publishing, co-authored by LaNita Miller. The resource focuses on tailoring every aspect of the home environment (playrooms, bedrooms, kitchen appliances, doors, etc.) to the needs of young children with autism. The text is heavy on bulleted lists, and the compact format of the book encourages conciseness.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Normal People Scare Me

Normal People Scare Me: A Film About Autism is a documentary by seventeen year old Taylor Cross. Here, Ms. Cross shows what life is like when living with autism. In her documentary she interviews over 65 people who have either autism or asperger's syndrome. Normal People Scare Me shows what living with autism is like through a unique perspective.

Interested in this video? Indiana resident? Email us!

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Act Early Against Autism

Act Early Against Autism: Give Your Child a Fighting Change from the Start by Jayne Lytel is an excellent guide for parents about the importance of early intervention in their children' s lives. In Act Early Against Autism, the reader can discover how to recognize early warning signs of autism, how to face emotional issues and financial problems that may ensue, how to find therapies that best fit your child and how to explore alternative methods of treatment. The reader can also find out about working through legal issues in schools and much more.

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

Teach2Talk WH Questions

We've been getting a lot of requests for the popular Teach2Talk DVDs. Well, they're finally here! The WH question series contains four videos:

Volume 1, Where?
Volume 2, Why?
Volume 3, What?
Volume 4, Who?

Each portrays real children modeling the use of these "WH" questions in both simple and advanced situations. The videos also "[incorporate] humor and songs to keep children engaged and provide additional reinforcement."

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Not an Indiana resident? Find these videos at your local library through WorldCat.

The Autism Checklist

The autism checklist: a practical reference for parents and teachers is an all-encompassing resource by Paula Kluth, author of Just give him the whale!, A land we can share and You're going to love this kid. In the book, the reader can find early indicators for autism and tools used for screening and diagnoses. The reader can also discover ways to modify your home safely, and how to help build your child's social skills at home and at school. The Autism Checklist gives great advice on the dos and don't s when working with a child who is autistic and much more.

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

Autism is a World

Autism is a World tells the story of Sue Robin. Sue was diagnosed and treated as mentally retarded until the age of thirteen when she was re diagnosed as being autistic. This changed her life dramatically and now communicates through the used of her computer and is in college. In Autism is a World, the viewer can see Sue's daily life, how she reacts to it and how the world reacts to her.

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

Refrigerator Mothers

Refrigerator Mothers tells the story how many mother in the 1950's and 60's struggled daily, believing that they were the reason for their child's autism. During this time period, many believed that uncaring and emotionally distant mothers caused children to become autistic. The movie covers the ideas of Bruno Bettleheim, who came up wit this frigid mothers theory. Refrigerator mothers tries to give the viewer a better understanding of how the medical profession plays a role in people's lives and how one misdiagnosis can change everything.

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

Multicolored Mayhem

Multicolored Mayhem: Parenting the Many Shades of Adolescents and Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and AD/HD by Jacqui Jackson talks about her life with seven children, four of which have either autism, aspergers, dyslexia and adhd. In Multicolored Mayhem, the reader can learn about these conditions, changes in their lives because of it, therapies, interventions, school, parenting, dealing with sibling rivalry, travel and safety tips, and much more. Jacqui Jackson's book is an excellent resource for a multitude of conditions, giving not only personal experiences, but also information about medical care.

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

Learn to Move, Moving Up!

Learn to move, moving up! sensorimotor elementary-school activity themes is Jenny Clark Brack's sequel to the popular Learn to move, move to learn. The book is full of practical activities and no-fuss lesson plans ideal for educators and occupational therapists. The author centers her plans around seven elements: Warm-Up, Vestibular, Proprioception, Balance, Eye-Hand Coordination, Cool-Down and Fine Motor. She also reviews recent literature in sensory intervention for elementary-aged children with autism disorders

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No an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

Social Skills Picture Book

The social skills picture book: for high school and beyond is a valuable resource for young adults with autism spectrum disorders by Dr. Jed Baker. The book contains 150+ of examples of social situations illustrated through photographs, and humorously describes both the "right way" and "wrong way" of interacting with others. The author covers situations from school settings through to home life and job interviews.

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

"Dr. Leon Eisenberg, Pioneer in Autism Studies, Dies at 87"

Dr. Leon Eisenberg, advocate and researcher, died of prostate cancer at his home last week.

Eisenberg was one of the first to connect language problems to the diagnosis of ASDs. He also participated in early research on behavioral drugs like Ritalin for the treatment of ADHD. At the time, his work was controversial because it contradicted the popular Freudian psychoanalytic approach to these conditions. A professor at Johns Hopkins University described Eisenberg as "the pivotal person in 20th-century child psychiatry who moved the field from simple descriptions of childhood disorders to actually looking at the science behind both the diagnosis and treatment."

Harvard Medical School, for which Eisenberg designed the Social Medicine program, lowered its flags to half-staff last week to honor this extraordinary man. He is survived by his wife, four children, and six grandchildren.

New Study: Autism Rates Not Increasing

It seems "common knowledge" that rates of autism spectrum disorders have increased dramatically in recent years. Some attribute the increase to MMR vaccines, which became available in the late 20th century. However, recent research suggests the apparent "increase" at the base of the anti-vaccine movement is an illusion: the prevalence of autism in adults is the same as the prevalence in children born after 1990.

These findings come from the first major study to address the prevalence of ASDs in adults. The study also found that even among adults, autism rates are steady across all age groups. This discredits the wave of concern over vaccines administered to children, first sparked by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in 1998. The British General Medical Council is currently investigating Dr. Wakefield for professional misconduct, as allegations have been made that his studies were assisted by a lawyer preparing suits against MMR manufacturers, involved unnecessary and dangerous operations on participating children, and reported autism onset dates inconsistent with the children's medical records.

You can read a press release about the study here.

Autism Frontiers

Autism frontiers: clinical issues and innovations is a compilation of expert articles edited by Bruce K Shapiro, Director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Pasquale J Accardo, a professor of Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University. The book provides an overview of autism spectrum disorders from a clinical perspective, containing articles focusing on specific disorders (epilepsy, Aspergers, language disorders) as well as the broader aspects of ASDs (parent/teacher attitudes, pharmacology, alternative medicine etc.).

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

Students with Asperger Syndrome

Three authors with extensive experience in higher education teamed up to write Students with Asperger syndrome: a guide for college personnel, which is aimed at administrators but serves as a great resource for young adults and family members as well. The book covers everything from residential housing, extra-curricular accommodations, and shaping degrees to prepare students for the work force.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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