Kate Winslet narrates Sunshine Boy

The talented film starlet Kate Winslet has agreed to provide the voice-over narration for a documentary about autism: The Sunshine Boy. The film was made by Icelandic director Fridrik Thor Fridriksson about a woman's international search for information and treatment for her son with autism. The film interviews notables like Temple Grandin, and features other families of children with autism in America.

The Iceland Review reported that Winslet had been persuaded to provide the English narration after viewing the video and with the prompting of the country's president's wife, Dorrit Moussaieff.

The movie will premier at the Toronto Film Festival in a few weeks.

For SLP's and Audiologists - Fall Conference

Indiana Speech Language Hearing Association - Fall Conference
9/26/09, Indianapolis IN

One of the speakers --
Diane L. Williams, PhD.,CCC-SLP, "Language Intervention in Autism: Appying Insights from Neuroscience".

For more information, visit: www.islha.org

Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders

The Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders is a two volume series discussing research, services provided and advocacy for people with autism and pervasive developmental disorder. Within the handbook, the reader can find information about diagnosis and classification, development and behavior, interventions, public policies, international thoughts on autism and pdd and much more. The Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders is an excellent way for people to gather more information on a personal and international level on autism and pdd.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Is your doctor prescribing Celexa?

If he is, you should find a new one. A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry reveals that the antidepressant Celexa, which doctors sometimes prescribe to children with autism because it has been shown to alleviate repetitive behaviors in individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder, is no more effective than a placebo. Furthermore, the drug puts children at risk for dangerous side effects.

The study was headed by a researcher at Seattle Children's Hospital in conjunction with six other medical centers. 149 children with ASDs enrolled in the study were administered either Celexa (a.k.a. citalopram) or a placebo for twelve weeks. One third of the children taking the antidepressant showed signs of improvement in repetitive behaviors. However, the placebo was shown to be slightly more effective, without the debilitating side effects of dry mouth, shakiness, and drowsiness.

The primary author of the study noted that doctors and parents experimenting with prescriptions may be impressed by the 33% improvement, and may continue the medication inappropriately because it appears to be working. This research shows that there is no scientific evidence of effectiveness, and the use of this medication for ASDs should be discontinued immediately. You can read a summary of the article in the LA Times.

New Competencies for Teachers of Students with Autism

The IU Newsroom featured the publication of a new set of professional competencies for special education teachers who work with students with ASDs: What Every Special Educator Needs to Know. Cathy Pratt, director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, worked on the competencies. She described the publication as "a national standard that can be used for both course and program creation and for professional development in schools...This will increase the probability that new teachers will enter the classroom with the skills and knowledge needed to educate students across the autism spectrum."

The competencies were compiled with a grant from the Autism Society of America and published by the Center for Exceptional Children.

Outsmarting Explosive Behavior

Outsmarting explosive behavior by Judy Endow is an interactive "game" for children with autism. The game uses the "train model"--a method of identifying triggers for emotional outbursts ("go" signs") and techniques for staying under control ("stop" signs). The kit comes with a workbook, manual, and poster with Velcro attachments for specified signs.

Interested in this kit? Indiana resident? Email us!

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

Two Day Workshop: Structured Teaching Strategies

Workshop-- Structured Teaching Strategies (as Developed by the TEACCH Program), Presented by Catherine Davies, Educational Consultant, IRCA; Sponsored by Indiana Resource Center for Autism.

A Two-Day Workshop (with optional follow up consultation):
Dates: September 16, 2009 & October 21, 2009
Location: Bloomington, IN

Visit our website for more information: www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca