Facing Autism in New Brunswick

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Autism Reality - The Truth, the Whole Truth, Must Be Told
2007-05-17 11:31:00
Deborah Pugh is a journalist and mother of an autistic son who has been crticized for speaking publicly about her son's challenges, specifically his autism and the challenges presented by puberty. She has written an article on this subject in the Vancouver Sun which follows this comment. Puberty, like infancy and old age are merely stages which all humans, if they are fortunate, pass through on life's journey. Puberty, like these other stages, is nothing to be ashamed of and there should be no problem with discussing the challenges it presents in a respectful manner. Censoring discussion of such a subject is what creates shame and leads to an incomplete and distorted picture of the realities of someone with autism who is undergoing puberty.Pete at "A Perfectly Cromulent Blog" has touched on the decision a parent must make - remain silent or advocate publicly with public comments about your autistic child. With this blog site I have obviously chosen to speak publicly about my son...
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Autism Quotes # 1
2007-05-17 10:09:00
"If a child cannot learn in the way we teach ... we must teach in a way the child can learn."Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas"When Jack was diagnosed we were devastated at that thought of what life might be like for him. Now he can talk. ABA is hard work, but it has opened up a whole range of opportunities for him. Life just keeps getting better."Charmaine Fraser, Mother of Autistic Son, AustraliaSo we're choosing to tell our daughter's story now, after being quiet about it for the last 16 months: to emphasize how important it is that this bill pass in its original form. If it seems opportunistic or self-serving, well...there's not much I can say about that, except that things like ABA and other therapy programs would seem to be the point of insurance: to insure the well-being of these kids who otherwise would be without hope for a future.Finally, the only thing that really gave me pause about posting this was something that was said to me about the possibility SWSNBN might read this later on...
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Autism Interventions Ranked - EIBI (ABA) Best - Facilitated Communicatio
2007-05-16 17:19:00
A list of autism intervention rankings by Research Autism , a UK charity, is available online at:http://www.researchautism.net/interven tionlist.ikmlResearch Autism in its own words:Research Autism is the only UK charity exclusively dedicated to research into interventions in autism .Established in 2003 as the Autism Intervention Research Trust, we commission, carry out and support high quality, independent research into new and existing health, education, social and other interventions. Our goal is the improvement of quality of life and outlook, for the individuals affected and those around them.We have the active support of some of the world’s leading figures in autism and research. They have given freely of their time and expertise to work with us. We also work closely with our research sponsor, the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, as well as with the National Autistic Society.http://www.researchautism.net/pag es/About_Us/About_Us.ikmlNot surprisingly, Early ...
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Wikipedia's Misleading List of People on the Autism Spectrum
2007-05-15 17:18:00
Wikipedia's credibility has taken a big hit of late. See for example "Facts and friction: Wikipedia's quest for credibility, By STEPHEN HUTCHEON - SMH | Tuesday, 24 April 2007" http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4035909a28.h tmlOne area that Wikipedia has not cleaned up in its attempts to address it's credibility issues is a beauty entitled "List of people on the autism spectrum" The list is flat out misleading in that most of the names on the list are high functioning or Aspergers with only 4 entries listed for "people with severe autism". Of the four names none are non-verbal low intelligence persons. You would never know from this Wikipedia entry that many autistic people have very severe intellectual and communication deficits. Everyone on the Wikipedia list is someone who can communicate extremely well. With one exception. The exception is a dead girl who died by her mother's hand at the age of 3.Wikipedia's Misleading List of People on the Autism Spectrum :People with unspecified...
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Autism Resources in New Brunswick - Chatham Library Hosts Launch of Autism
2007-05-15 12:36:00
Chatham Library Hosts Launch of Autism CollectionMiramichi Weekend, Friday, May 11 2007Representatives of Chatham Branch of the York Public Library, the New Brunswick Public Library Service and the New Brunswick Public Library Foundations gathered at a reception at the Chatham Branch on May 2 to launch a collection of resource books specific to Autism Disorder.The president of the New Brunswick Autism Society Lila Barry made the presentation of books in honour of her mother-in-law, Emma “Big Momma” Barry.She thanked the family members of Emma Barry in attendance for their generous donations that made the collection possible. Emma Barry was known for her love of all children but held children with special needs even closer to her heart.In a disorder in which early detection and treatment is vital to the success of a child with Autism, parents are often desperate for information. Current statistics indicate that 1 in every 150 children will be on the Autism Spectrum. Reso...
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Autism and NOISE
2007-05-15 11:27:00
The Daily American Online of Somerset County PA is carrying a fascinating story of a high functioning autistic gentleman, Barney Vincelette, who was bothered by his neighbor's loud rock music and the steps he took to reach an accommodation with his neighbors. Many autistic persons, including my son Conor, are very sensitive to noises. There were times when I had to hold Conor on my lap while getting his hair cut. He would be so upset by the noise of shears in the barber shop that he would literally bite into my shoulder. We now pick quiet times when the shop is empty and get his hair cut, with scissors as much as possible, by a lady who is outstanding at working with Conor. Noise from motorcycles is a huge problem for Conor. Many motorbikes are adjusted to increase the sound level emitted and that is a problem for any one in the vicinity. For Conor it is a particularly difficult experience.Autism renders sickening rock musicTuesday, May 15, 2007 2:40 AM EDTBarney Vincelette, who ...

Autism Rising in Nevada
2007-05-15 02:02:00
The results of a decade-long study conducted by UNLV professors John P. Tuman and Sheniz Moonie found autism is on the rise in Nevada ’s schools.UNLV professors John Tuman and Sheniz Moonie have completed a decade long study on increasing autism rates in Nevada schools - from .27 per 1,000 in 1995 to 2.37 per 1,000 in 2004. This rate of increase is hard to explain away by any rationalization. Professor Tuman notes that some autism cases are diagnosed as early as 24 months with signs noted as early as 15 months. In my sons case he was diagnosed 9 years ago at age 24 months and we noticed signs much earlier than 15 months although we did not think of, or even know about, autism at that time. He simply was not showing ordinary development milestones like giggling in response to peek a boo or responding in any noticeable way to attention. He did not use any typical baby words and barely spoke until long past 2 years of age - although he did use one word at an early age that stuck in m...
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Autism Crisis - Australia
2007-05-14 10:49:00
ABC is reporting on an Australia n study which indicates that autism is costing Australia [ Population 20,823,333, May 14 07, Australian Bureau of Statistics] up to $7 billion a year; a reflection of a 10 fold increase in rates of Autism and Aspergers. Dr. James Morton of Autism Early Intervention Outcomes Unit says the problem has caught government unawares. Apparently the Australian government is as oblivious to the realities of autism as the Canadian government. Maybe Roy Grinker, Kristina Chew and others can offer some soothing anthropological perspective and some new literary metaphors to assist the Australian families who are struggling to help their autistic children acquire basic language and life skills.http://tinyurl.com/38l6bspan>Autis m costing Aust up to $7b: reportA new report has found the treatment of autism and related conditions such as Asperger syndrome are costing the Australian economy up to $7 billion a year.It was commissioned by Dr James Morton, one of the fo...
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National Autism Rally - Saturday May 26 - Dartmouth NS
2007-05-13 14:23:00
[L to R - Andy Scott, Jim Munson, Peter Stoffer, Shawn Murphy]The Supreme Court has spoken folks - twice. In Auton and Deskin-Wyneberg the Supreme Court of Canada has made it crystal clear that the equality rights provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms are of no help to famlies seeking government funding for treatment of their childrens' autism. The SCC has left only one serous option to seek such remedy - the political arena. It is time to GET POLITICAL. FEAT-BC has been a Canadian leader in the fight for treatment for autistic Canadians and they will be at the Dartmouth Holiday Inn on Saturday May 26 to explain their national autism political strategy. Let's join this effort and fight for treatment for autistic Canadians. And let's say thank you to federal politicians who have fought for our autistic children - Andy Scott, Peter Stoffer, Shawn Murphy and Jim Munson. I hope to see you at the Holiday Inn. If you will attend please check out the registration info below...
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Put ABA back in HB 1224 - A Perfectly Cromulent Blog
2007-05-13 11:30:00
The attached excerpt and link are from Put ABA back in HB 1224 on Pete's blog A Perfect ly Cromulent Blog Pop culture related smart-assery . The article is written in the blogger's irrevent style and is a textbook example of the need to include specific reference to ABA in legislation governing provision of health care coverage for autism. Whether it is Canada or Texas governments and lobbyists do not want legislation to require that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) be covered as a health care intervention for autism. Even though ABA is THE proven effective intervention for autism, even though autism reates are soaring, and even though studies document huge long term savings to governments and society ABA is still resisted while almost any other treatment for any other ailment receives coverage. Pete's commentary is very well written, gets to the point and tells a tale of government unresponsiveness to autism which is as true of the Government of Canada as it is of the Governme...
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Autism, Vaccines & the Spread of Mumps - Eastern Canada
2007-05-13 10:55:00
The belief that some vaccines, or mercury based vaccine preservatives, cause or contribute to today's increasing autism rates, now estimated at 1 in 150, persists despite an almost total lack of support in the scientific community for any causal connection. The fear generated by that belief is itself believed to have contributed to higher rates of vaccine refusals with resulting increases in diseases such as measles and mumps. In Atlantic Canada we are currently suffering an outbreak of mumps, with the particular strain of mumps having orginated in the UK where immunization rates dropped from fear that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine caused autism.Health: ALERT: INFECTIONSMumps outbreak spreadsCAROLINE ALPHONSOMay 11, 2007Nova Scotia's mumps outbreak has spread to Ontario, infecting five people so far and putting public-health officials in the province on alert for even more cases in the weeks to come.The latest outbreak indicates that many who were vaccinated years ago are now ...
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Autism & ABA - "Life Just Keeps Getting Better" for Jack Fraser
2007-05-12 22:20:00
Dealing with it ... autism sufferer Jack Fraser enjoys time with his mum Charmaine. / The Daily TelegraphIn "Autism epidemic being ignored" Sunday Telegraph, May 12, 2007, Zoe Taylor describes the autism epidemic in Australia where a recent federal government-funded review of research into autism concluded there was scientific evidence of the effectiveness of therapies including applied behaviour analysis – which draws on research dating back more than 40 years. Despite knowledge in Australia of the efficacy of ABA as an autism intervention the treatment remains underfunded, good news for those who view autism as a "joy" but bad news for families struggling to cope with the realities of autism, families trying to help their autistic children. Amongst the hardship though are stories such as those of Jack Fraser, a young autistic boy whose family has done whatever was necessary to fund ABA treatment for him, with great results for Jack.Charmaine and Anthony Fraser had to move from ...
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Conor and Dad Hit the Trail
2007-05-06 22:20:00
Conor got his Dad out for some exercise on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. On the walking trail, Conor munches on a favorite treat - orange peppers and takes a break on a comfy rock.[Click on pics to enlarge]
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