Maine Sensory Conference

Need or just want to go to Maine in October? Why not attend a conference while you're there? Future Horizons is announcing a Sensory conference in Portland on October 8th. Topics at the conference include:

• "The Out-of-Sync Child" with Carol Kranowitz, M.A.
• "Raising children with Asperger's and ADHD" with Shonda Schilling
• "Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration" with Paula Aquilla, B.Sc., O.T.

For more information and to register, go to: http://www.fhautism.com/Conferences/MaineSensoryConference/tabid/245/Default.aspx

Workshop schedule

Looking for a professional training to attend on Applied Behavior Analysis or Structured Teaching Strategies? Interested in the Behavior-Communication Link? The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has announced their upcoming workshops through the end of the year. Check out their Conferences/Events/Trainings page for details on the dates, times and locations at http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=270

Superheroes on a medical mission!

Brooke's brother, Ben, has autism, and Brooke doesn't understand why Ben would rather count the number of marbles he has than play with her and the other kids. Medikidz to the rescue! Take a trip through the brain with the Medikidz superheroes as they explain, in comic book fashion, the way the brain works in people on the spectrum. Medikidz explain autism is a fun, fast-paced read for kids interested in knowing more about the disorder.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu. Or try worldcat.org to find the book in a library near you.

Autism and vaccines

According to an article posted yesterday at Medical News Today, a new study has found no link between autism and the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used in a number of vaccines. The findings, from an article published in the medical journal Pediatrics, were that thimerosal in vaccines "does not increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD)" and, in fact found that the children in the study who were already on the spectrum had less exposure to thimerosal than the children without ASDs.

Read the entire article from Medical News Today at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/201047.php

New technique in brain assessment

According to a story from NPR, doctors have discovered a new way to scan our brains to help identify what happens in the brains of kids on the spectrum. Researchers have developed a "brain age scale" that shows a link between the age of the person and the age of his/her brain. If a 15-year-old has a brain age of 15, that person would be considered to be developing typically. If, however, that same 15-year-old had a brain age of 8, it would send up a red flag.

Read the entire article at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129754434

Autism and Asperger's Conference

Future Horizons Conference on Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Sensory Issues

Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Jed Baker will be in Evansville, Indiana, for a one-day-only Autism & Asperger’s SuperConference. If your life has been touched by one of these disorders you must plan on taking advantage of this fantastic opportunity! Dr. Grandin has been hailed as a hero by Time’s Magazine as she was named to their top 100 Most Influential People list. Dr. Baker brings a wealth of information as he tries to help families deal with these disorders.

For more information on this conference, go to: http://www.fhautism.com/Conferences/EvansvilleAutismAspergersConference/tabid/243/Default.aspx

Silly Bandz

Have you or your kids joined the silly band craze? Then check out the AutismLink's store. They have puzzle-shaped, tie-dyed silly bands to help spread autism awareness. These bands are made of silicone and are fun to collect and/or trade.

http://autismlinkstore.com/-newpuzzleshapetiedyesillybandspackof10.aspx