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

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.

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/.

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.

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/.

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.

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!