'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last post was The Autism Project, a Providence County, Rhode Island-based nonprofit that provides quality support, training, and programming – accessible to all, including for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Autism Project’s vision is a world where individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder are valued, actively participating members of their communities.

Cherry Arnold, the Rhode Island filmmaker who created ‘Buddy,’ the award-winning documentary on former Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., has moved away from urban politics and focused her attention on a very different topic.
Her newest film is called ‘Bluebirds Fly: Love and Hope on the Autism Spectrum.’ It looks at three Rhode Island children and their families: Carina Piedade, Cain Alves and Dan Jackson. When filming started in 2010, Carina was 6, Cain was 8, and Dan was 15.
The first screenings for ‘Bluebirds Fly’ are coming this week: tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at the Columbus Theatre in Providence as part of the Southeastern New England Film, Music & Arts Festival, and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport.
Interviewed at her home in Pawtucket, Arnold said her introduction to the topic came through a 2003 article in The New Yorker, about a family in Maryland struggling to get help for their autistic children.
“I remember thinking “Wow. We know so little about why this happens and what to do about it.””
Arnold’s interest kept evolving, and as she researched the topic she began to realize that a sibling had some traits characteristic of Asperger’s syndrome, which is at the milder end of the autism spectrum. Knowing that, she said, has enabled them to get along better.
“A lot of what drove me to do this project is the feeling that if we know how to deal with people who are wired differently neurologically, it would help all of us. … I have a lot of interest in neuro-diversity. We’re all on the spectrum somewhere,” Arnold said.
To find her subjects, Arnold worked with the Autism Project of Rhode Island, which sent out an email to see if any families were interested. Arnold said she was surprised by how many responded.
“It’s a very personal thing,” she said. "But so many parents want to share their stories with the public. They want people to understand this better.?
At the very least, Arnold said, she hopes ‘Bluebirds Fly’ gives viewers a better understanding of what autism is.

…“A lot of people equate autism with retardation, and that’s not true at all,” Arnold said.
Many people with autism are highly intelligent. In her movie, Dan Jackson is obviously a smart young man. Cain Alves is a gifted artist and musician who can hear a piece of music once, and immediately play it back.
Arnold originally had a list of 12 families, then narrowed it down to six and finally three. She said she wanted to tell different stories – Dan’s interest in acting and singing, …Carina’s progress using ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and her inclusion program at school.
At first, Arnold said, she was interested in why autism happens, and why the rate of autism appears to be rising. But as time went on, she chose to focus on what we can do about it.
Along the way, Arnold interviews some experts in the field, and even uses animation to illustrate what might be going on inside the mind of an autistic child. The fluorescent lights in a supermarket, for example, are unremarkable for most people, but their flickering and buzzing could be almost unbearable for someone with autism.
“Animation is a way to tell the story in a more succinct manner, rather than having the doctors droning on,” she said.
But the heart of the film is watching the three families, including parents and siblings, deal with the day-to-day issues that autism brings. We see Carina in school. We hear the 911 call Cain’s mother makes when he has a meltdown his parents can’t handle. We follow along as Dan prepares to sing ‘Over the Rainbow’ at a talent show.
The families’ level of trust in me is very humbling," Arnold said. “I developed a greater and greater respect for them. It was a very interesting journey to embed with them.”
Arnold said the idea was not to become friends with her subjects, but to be essentially invisible.
“You don’t really want to have them feel your presence,” she said. “I’m not trying to make friends, but to tell their stories honestly and fairly.”
There were lots of challenges to making ‘Bluebirds Fly,’ Arnold said. Obtaining permission to film in schools, for example, can be a complicated and time-consuming process. So is gaining access to 911 calls.
Once the [footage was captured on film] there was still the challenge of turning the footage into a coherent story. Arnold compares the process to making a sculpture out of a big mass of stone.
“First there’s the rough cut, in which you just throw everything up there. You’ve become so close to the material you don’t know if everything holds together,” she said. “Then you show it to a lot of people, and you start to see what the common threads are. Then you just keep winnowing it down until the sculpture you want to see emerges.”
The film gives viewers at least a small taste of how much work it can take, on the part of parents, siblings, teachers and health professionals, to raise and treat an autistic child.
In one moving scene, Carina’s father, Dan Piedade, begins to cry as he talks about his hopes for his daughter. ?I just want her to be happy, and not be in danger … that’s all,? he said.
Dan Jackson’s mother, Melinda, worries about how her son will get by after he graduates from school.
But Arnold sees ‘Bluebirds Fly’ as a movie of hope. We are learning more about autism, she said, and developing better ways to treat it. In the process, perhaps everyone can become a little better, like the children in Carina’s preschool class who are eager to help her.
After ‘Bluebirds Fly’ has its initial showing in Rhode Island, Arnold will take her movie to film festivals. She hopes to find a broadcast home for it, and plans to make it available to advocacy groups such as Autism Speaks.
In the future, Arnold said she may want to make another movie about the workings of the brain, but she is already in production on her next project and it has very little to do with either Buddy Cianci or autism. This one is about Clingstone, the famous house perched on a tiny island in Narragansett Bay…

Here is a link to a trailer on the film: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bluebirdsflymovie/124286417

(source: R.I. filmmaker Cherry Arnold explores how families cope with autism in ‘Bluebirds Fly’ - Entertainment & Life - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

The Well Served Tennis Academy is a Simsbury, Connecticut-based nonprofit that provides children on the Autism Spectrum with an opportunity to learn social skills, arts and crafts, and the sport of tennis. The idea behind the nonprofit – which is open to students anywhere on the Autism Spectrum – is to introduce children living with the disorder to tennis as a way to incorporate regular physical activity into their lives.

Summer is now in full swing, which also means it’s summer camp time for countless numbers of kids in Connecticut. Children with autistic spectrum disorders have also been given the opportunity to enjoy a special camp experience of their own courtesy of Well Served Tennis Academy, located in Simsbury, Connecticut.
The camp, which was founded by Executive Director Shannon Knall, has been running for just a few years, but was an instant success. This year, it enjoyed its biggest turnout thus far with 18 campers attending the June 23 through July 2 session.
Knall is a mother of three boys, one of whom is autistic. She is also a lifelong tennis player.
“I appreciate the calming impact the sport has had on me. It is a sport I love for its rhythm, its ability to challenge me both physically and mentally and for the opportunity it presents to participate on any level,” she said.
When Knall’s son was diagnosed with autism, the sport not only became an outlet for her, it also sparked an idea.
“I contemplated the similarly calming impact it might have on him,” she said.
“At the time I was playing on a USTA team and shared this hypothesis with my teammate Chris O’Connor. Chris has had years of running summer camps for various organizations in Connecticut, so we decided to combine our mutual love of tennis with our life experiences to create Well Served Tennis Academy, which was formed in 2010,” explained Knall.
Camp features group tennis instruction, fitness training, hands-on team building or social activity and snack and lunch time. Approximately 25 volunteers are at camp on any given day offering one-on-one volunteer support.
The cost of camp is kept to a “bare minimum” of $25 per camper for eight days, said Knall, who added, “We will not turn away any camper due to financial hardship.”
None of this would be possible, however, without the financial support of Pratt & Whitney.
“We know that one of the areas Pratt & Whitney focuses on is investing in vibrant communities …I took a chance that this might be an effort they would be interested in supporting. And they have been an outstanding partner,” said Knall.
Well Served Tennis Academy is also financially supported by the Simsbury Junior Women’s Club, fundraisers and in-kind donations from Farmington Valley Racquet Club, Melissa Richards Photography, the town of Simsbury and Simsbury Parks and Recreation…

Here is a link to a video on the Well Served Tennis Academy: https://vimeo.com/71166007

(source: Kids with Autism Enjoy Well Served Tennis Academy Summer Camp with Support from Pratt & Whitney | United Technologies)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

The Autism Center at the New Britain, Connecticut-based nonprofit Hospital for Special Care, is the United States’ first and only Patient Centered Specialty Practice for autism recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its responsiveness to patients and medical colleagues, cooperation and integration with other healthcare groups and dedication to continuous improvement. It sponsors the ‘Spectrum of Kindness’, inspirational stories of living with Autism…

When Lynn Ricci wrote about people she’s grateful for, grocery store clerks ranked high on the list.

Ricci’s 18-year-old son, Lincoln, has autism. When he meets people, he sometimes asks a seemingly endless list of questions about their name, house, mailbox …and other details. She’s grateful for the people in the checkout line who respond with smiles and kind words.

“I now know the clerks in the store. I know who I can go to and who will talk [to him] through the line,” Ricci said in an interview. “It makes a huge difference because it’s a part of everyday life. I want to take him with me but I also want to have a good outcome.”

Ricci wrote about grocery clerks and others for ‘Spectrum of Kindness,’ an online collection of stories gathered from people affected by autism and presented by the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, where Ricci serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer.

It’s intended to give families and others affected by autism a place to acknowledge kindnesses that have made a difference.

It’s also a way to show others what it’s like to have a child with disabilities – and to offer guidance for people who don’t know what to do when they encounter someone with autism.

“People do sort of look past you,” Ricci said.

She thinks it’s because they don’t know how to respond.

“If you said to somebody standing next to you in a grocery store, ‘Don’t look away when I’m standing next to you, this is my kid,’ they would want to do the right thing. They just don’t know what the right thing is,” she said.

Ricci ended her story on the website with this advice: Treat him or her ?as you would want your child treated; smile, make eye contact, be patient and most of all, embrace their unique qualities."

“We’re trying to take some of the fear and stigma away from it, to say ‘OK, now that it’s here, what are we going to do with this…’” she said.

…Many of the Spectrum of Kindness stories are from parents, describing a person who played a pivotal role in their child’s life.

…Ricci said the stories also show how varied autism is.

“While it has limitations, there are many folks who have autism who can be potential employees, and certainly go on to college, and it isn’t one size fits all,” she said…

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUPBAax0SDo&t=9s

(source: https://ctmirror.org/2014/05/16/to-explain-living-with-autism-stories-of-kindness-and-challenges/)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

The sound of pounding piano keys in Allison Ziering Walmark’s Westport, Connecticut, home is music to her ears – it means her son Ethan Walmark is chasing his dream.

The 11-year-old fifth grader, who has autism spectrum disorder, has been making incredible music since he was just over a year old. A musical prodigy, he taught himself to play the piano, drums and guitar. And his mom Allison has been his biggest fan since day one.

“When he was 15 months old, my parents got him this little piano and all of the sudden we would hear tunes like ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,’ thinking it was the TV – and it was Ethan,” Allison tells PEOPLE.

“He always loved music, even as a baby,” she adds. “If I was changing a diaper and needed to distract him, I would play music and he would be quiet. I used to call it musical crack!”

Music also played an important role when Allison and her husband Michael Walmark learned their son was on the autism spectrum.

“I started to notice little things when he was around a year old, like he wasn’t pointing and he wasn’t clapping. And my friends’ children were,” she says…

The concerned parents took Ethan to a Birth to 3 early intervention program to have him evaluated. They were told that Ethan qualified for services. Soon after, they learned that Ethan had autism spectrum disorder…

Allison and Michael inundated their son with services.

“We got him speech therapy, we got him occupational therapy, anything you could think of and then someone suggested that we might want to get him music therapy,” she says.

They got him involved with the School of Rock program in Fairfield, which turned out to be a transformative experience for Ethan.

“He just blossomed,” Allison says. “Socially, psychologically, physically – music had been his outlet and his way of communicating. He recognized that when he played music, he made people happy and people would flock to him.”

Ethan now plays for two local bands through the program: the school’s house band and a cover band called Clueless, which has performed at Autism Rocks benefit concerts.

Ethan’s natural talent has led to some amazing opportunities…

The Walmark home is now filled with music and laugher – and the occasional sibling fight. Ethan and his younger sister, Eliza, 10, love to put on plays and shows – he’ll play the piano while she dances.

“They’re so protective of each other and they just love each other and they fight like a typical brother and sister, which is perfect,” Allison says. “Nobody wants to see their kids fight, but because Ethan is on the spectrum, to see him fighting with his sister is the most beautiful noise I could ever hear.”

…Allison now wants to bring awareness to the importance of music and art programs in schools.

“It’s just devastating to think that arts programs will be cut,” she says. “I see how much it brought Ethan along, cognitively and socially. Before Ethan could even talk, music was the way for him to communicate. Study after study promotes the importance of music – music helps the brain, music builds the brain.”

Learn more on how to make a difference through Autism Speaks and the Fairfield Theatre Company.

…“And music is what brought him out – and into my world.”

Here is a link to Ethan Walmark performin at the Autism Speaks Gala from almost five years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rki_KoBP_AE

(source: Ethan Walmark: 11-Year-Old Boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder Finds Happiness Through Music)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

The United Services Center for Autism is a Wauregan, Connecticut-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide the highest quality of care for individuals of all ages with autism spectrum disorders through the use of evidence based clinical practice that is centered around the gold-standard in autism treatment, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy. All programs provided at the Center are supervised by Board Certified Behaviour Analysts in a comprehensive, family-centered manner…

A diverse and sizeable crowd turned out for an open house at United Services’ Center for Autism on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Center’s headquarters in Waruregan. Throughout the day parents, caregivers, teachers, school administrators, social workers, doctors, nurses along with state and local officials, including Congressman Joe Courtney, toured the Center to learn more about the new programs now available for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.

During the open house, visitors toured the center while meeting with staff to find out more about the array of services now available for the first time locally in northeastern Connecticut and surrounding areas. In the process, many also shared their personal stories of dealing with the unique challenges presented to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders…

The open house coincided with the kickoff of the center’s new weekly programs, including social and vocational skills groups for individuals with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] and support groups for parents, siblings and grandparents of children with [Autism Spectrum Disorders]…

United Services, Connecticut’s most comprehensive behavioral health center, opened the Center for Autism in July in response to the significant unmet need for autism services in eastern Connecticut, as well as nearby Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Staff at the center say that since its opening, the response from the community has been extremely positive and demand for services continues to grow as more people become aware of this new, local resource for those with [Autism Spectrum Disorders].

The center’s offerings include comprehensive assessments, [Applied Behaviour Analysis] therapy, social skills training and social thinking groups, tutoring help, vocational training and recreational opportunities for children …with [Autism Spectrum Disorders], as well as classroom consultations and training for …the community. All programs are supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts and are designed within the guidelines of Applied Behavior Analysis…

“Our mission at the center is to provide the highest quality of care for individuals of all ages with [Autism Spectrum Disorders], from early childhood to adulthood, while working with siblings and family members as well so they can best understand how to care and support their loved ones dealing with [Autism Spectrum Disorders],” said Clinical Director Elizabeth Z. Brown, MS, BCBA. “We believe individuals on the autism spectrum will make the most progress and achieve a higher level of functioning when [Applied Behavior Analysis] strategies are implemented consistently in all areas of their life, from home, to school, to the workplace and in the community.”

Assessments and therapy are by appointment only. Weekly support groups and programs are open to all, but pre-registration is required…

Here is a link to photos of a ‘Sunflowers for Kids’ fundraiser for the Center for Autism from a couple of years ago:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/CenterForAutism/photos/?tab=album&album_id=656118591162527&ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

(source: Open House For United Services’ New Center For Autism Draws Diverse Crowd - tribunedigital-thecourant)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

Peter Yarrow has spent a lifetime getting to this point – a place where all his work and passions are interconnected.
“It has taken a while,” he said during a recent phone conversation. “But I am very, very grateful to be able to do this work.”
And performing remains the joy it has been for the past five decades.
“It’s extraordinary,” he said of the response he receives from audiences around the country, “the affection with which I am held, the respect with which I am treated, the appreciation of work I am doing.”
Yarrow, 72, a third of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, started the nonprofit group Operation Respect in 1999 as a way to develop “Don’t Laugh at Me” programs, which encourage all children to respect and appreciate others and to work to create an environment safe from violence…

The program incorporates the use of music, along with other strategies to tackle such issues as conflict resolution…
“The whole idea of music as a force for bringing our hearts together, nurturing each other and creating a strong sense of community has already had a really, really powerful theme in my work,” Yarrow said.
Over the course of the trio’s career, Yarrow, Mary Travers and Paul Stookey became actively involved in the political and social movements of their day, often performing at seminal events…

…Yarrow, who lives in New York City, will be in Greenwich on Wednesday, May 4, to perform at a benefit to help another cause – Friends of Autistic People’s plans to open a farm for children and adults with autism.
“It is a great privilege to do this particular concert, this particular benefit,” he said, adding that it is events such as these that “make life most meaningful for me.”
The Farm Academy Project will be a teaching facility, as well as campus, where children and adults with autism can experience nature-based education programs and learn new skills while working on the farm.
For more than 10 years, Greenwich resident Brita Darany von Regensburg and others have been working on establishing a farm academy where individuals, such as her daughter Vanessa, can live and learn life skills. Darany von Regensburg launched Friends of Autistic People in 1997 to provide resources and support and advocate for quality services.
Darany von Regensburg said the project will take $1 million to secure the land.
Yarrow said looking back now, he can see that all the social and political movements he has been associated with were marked by a lack of respect in one form or another.
“It is a powerful force,” he said of respect, adding that when it is present, it has the power to generate great societal change. He said it is that kind of understanding that can get a community behind a project such as the farm academy.

…Benefit concert at private Greenwich home…

Here is a link to a video from Friends of Autistic People: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qHsGGbRiFA

(source: Yarrow singing to support autistic farm project - Connecticut Post)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last few posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

A sense of accomplishment. A sense of belonging. A Connecticut high school football player has both after his performance last week.

Ken Buffa explains what had set him apart and what made him “one of the guys.”

Evan Anderson or “E-dog” to his teammates, has waited patiently for almost two years for his time on the football field. Mostly waiting on the sideline as the Griswold Wolverines team manager.

“I was like alright boys, we gotta stay on task drive it right through coverage and just tear the defense apart,” said Anderson.

But coach decided E-dog’s time has come. And he’ll play at the next home game Monday.

“We told him on Saturday and he came to Griswold High School on Sunday practiced all day…” explained assistant coach Phil Anctil.

…Julie Anderson, Evan’s mom, said, “He was classified as autistic he was non-verbal for several years of his life.”

Monday, under the lights came, “I had a little stomach butterfly’s,” no more waiting. The team just scored.

“And then after that, the moment,” said Evan.

You think that’s where the story ends but he actually wrote his own story to ESPN calling it, “the autistic kick scores.”

Even saying his first attempt blocked but his second try, “He drilled it right down the pipes and never looked back.”

The scoreboard gave E-dog’s kick one extra point.

(source: Connecticut high school player with autism scores big - Trending & Viral News - 13 WTHR Indianapolis)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last few posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Connecticut.

Sophomore Tyler Steskla of the Southern Connecticut State University men’s swimming and diving team is accustomed to dealing with adversity. At the same time, he is also well versed in the elements of perseverance and accomplishing goals.

He was all set to enter the pool and be a key contributor for the Owls’ in the pool last fall. Unfortunately, he was deemed ineligible by the NCAA to compete following a review of his high school coursework. Rather, he was able to practice with the team but could not compete in regular or post-season meets.

Part of the reason why he is able to shake off obstacles is the fact that he has overcome plenty of roadblocks since being diagnosed with autism at age 3. Tyler’s story was recently featured on NBC Connecticut and received national publicity as well across the NBC broadcasting platform.

“People that have this diagnosis know that it’s not easy for them, and they want to accomplish more than people think that they can,” Steskla said.

Accomplishing more has always been a part of Steskla’s nature. In the pool, he was an Age Group champion and Nationals qualifier as a part of the Cheshire Sea Dogs swim club. That prowess caught the eye of Owls’ coach Tim Quill. Steskla joined the program for the fall 2014 semester.

After receiving the unfortunate news from the NCAA, Steskla did what he always does – overcome the roadblock. He had a grade point average in excess of 3.0 in the spring of 2015.

“Personally, I was really worried about him…” Quill said. “He was devastated, but instead what he did was embrace the situation, pull a 3.0 (grade point average) last semester.”

A Cheshire native, Steskla was one of the Owls’ stars of this year’s Northeast-10 Conference Championship, which took place in Worcester, Mass., in early February. He had three top-14 finishes, including a fourth place finish in the 1,650 yard freestyle ? the equivalent of a mile swim. Southern Connecticut won its sixth straight NE-10 title and 14th in the last 15 years.

“He’s just a great example of that when you set your mind to something, anything’s possible,” Quill said. “People would look at Tyler in that he has a disability in some regards, but I look at it more as a strength.”…

(source: Swimmer with Autism Determined to Compete - News at Southern)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Ivymount is a Rockville, Maryland-based nonprofit that has developed inno*vative programs and comprehensive support services to meet the specific and complex learning, therapeutic, and behavioral challenges of students with disabilities whose needs cannot be met in public school systems. Ivymount’s mission is to enable students to achieve their highest level of development; to support families in their efforts to make intelligent, thoughtful choices with their children; and to be leaders in the community and in the broad field of special education so that the School’s expertise is widely accessible…

…Alex Martin is 18 years old and a student at Ivymount School in Rockville, MD. He enjoys using his fine motor skills to create art and especially likes beading, weaving, coloring with pastels and applying crystals and mosaics to jewelry. He has a website, alexartloft.org, where he raises money for several causes and partners with local stores, schools and non-profits. Alex is mostly non-verbal and uses an iPod to communicate. However, just because he doesn’t talk doesn’t mean he has nothing to say. Alex shows people that although he is not considered high functioning, his enthusiasm for work and fine motor skills are helping him gain independence every day. In partnership with businesses in the community, he is hoping to make a difference in the way people on the autism spectrum are viewed…

Here is a link to a video from Ivymount: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5X0QLTE_cY

(source: The Arts for Autism: Meet the Artists - Madison House Autism Foundation)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Social skills – the ability to hold a conversation, interpret an expression or decode body language – spring from activity within various, scattered hubs in the brain. But autism researchers are taking aim at certain hot spots to learn how people acquire, or fail to acquire, this important set of abilities.

They have found that many of these skills involve a long groove on the brain’s bumpy surface that runs along each side of the head, over the ears. The groove is called the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and is the home of numerous differences in function between people with autism and typically developing individuals.

The STS is attuned to socially meaningful stimuli, such as a person’s tone of voice, facial expression or body movements. By capturing such information, it plays a role in perceiving another person’s thoughts and feelings and predicting their actions. It is also involved in processing language. Autism typically affects all of these abilities.

…Researchers are exploring how the STS could help them gauge the response to autism treatments.

“I think as we gain a better understanding of the STS, we could possibly use its pattern of activation as some kind of indication of treatment effectiveness,” says Elizabeth Redcay, director of the Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Increasing activity in the area, scientists say, might even enhance the efficacy of some behavioral interventions.

A river runs through it:

Scientists have traced the anatomy of the STS from just inside the temple to behind the ear and then up slightly, toward the crown of the head. The STS collects streams of information from neurons on its banks the way a river collects tributaries.

Much of what is known about this river of data comes from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that track which parts of the brain light up in response to images, sounds or other stimuli. In people with autism, the STS doesn’t respond as strongly or preferentially to social stimuli as it does in controls. For example, the groove’s upper bank is typically more sensitive to voices than to other kinds of sounds. But this preference is missing in people with autism1.

“Across a number of different kinds of social tasks, there is this reduced specialisation,” Redcay says.

In one study, which remains particularly influential after more than a decade, researchers showed participants a video of a character who looks either toward or away from a flickering checkerboard that appears briefly in a corner of the screen. Controls show more and longer-lasting activity in the STS when the character looks away from the checkerboard, as if their brains are puzzling out the unexpected response. But those with autism show equal STS activity regardless of the character’s gaze2.

…According to one study, the STS in people with autism shows diminished activity during joint attention compared with controls, and enhanced activity during solo pursuits4.

Tangled bank:

Studies of brain connectivity also support the notion that the STS is under-specialized in people with autism. The most socially responsive parts of the STS cluster at the back of the groove, around its upward bend. This area is known as the posterior superior temporal sulcus, or pSTS. Researchers have found that the pSTS in people with autism shows enhanced ‘intrinsic functional connectivity,’ a measure of which regions of the brain activate in sync when a person is not engaged in any particular task5.

…studies have also uncovered associations between STS abnormalities and the severity of social deficits in individuals with autism.

But it is unclear what the alterations in STS function seen in people with autism mean. “We don’t really know if they’re a cause or a consequence of having autism,” Redcay says.

Most researchers suspect the latter. But to prove it, they need a better understanding of the normal organization and function of the STS, how it develops during childhood, and how that development differs in people with autism.

One area of controversy concerns whether the STS consists of a fine-grained series of functionally specialized areas, or is more integrated along its length. Some research has identified what appear to be small, specialized patches of cortex in the STS region.

…But other studies finger less sharply defined regions in the STS. Unpublished data from Redcay’s lab show that an area involved with language processing overlaps with one attuned to gestures.

Even more puzzling, some research supports both hypotheses. A study published last year shows that different functions, such as face or biological motion processing, occur in the same order along the STS and in roughly the same spot in different people.

…Another piece of the picture is how STS activity changes and develops as a child grows. Mueller and his colleagues found that the functional connections involving three locations along the STS become increasingly specific with age. But this specialisation doesn’t occur to the same degree in children with autism.

There are also a few oblique hints about how STS development may play into autism. Infant siblings of children with autism, or ‘baby sibs’, show weak STS function. But after about age 4, weak STS activity separates children with autism from both unaffected siblings and controls with no family history of the condition…

Researchers say boosting STS activity could increase the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for autism by priming a child to pay attention to social information. Both transcranial magnetic stimulation and neurofeedback training – in which people learn to control their brain waves through feedback – could target the STS…

Here is a link to a video from the University of Maryland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivzDhyYHjv4

(source: Brain’s social ‘river’ carries clues about autism | The Transmitter: Neuroscience News and Perspectives)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Sensory Street, Inc. is a unique education and consulting company based in Baltimore, Maryland…

…Pathfinders for Autism and the Baltimore Jewish Abilities Alliance sponsors this workshop series. Ida Zelaya, of Sensory Street, will address the signs, symptoms and strategies of sensory processing integration disorder. Ida will offer attendees an understanding of the sensory challenges that affect the day-to-day activities of some individuals on the spectrum. In addition, attendees will make sensory products using household items that may help manage the effects of this disorder…

Here is a link to photos: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Sensory-Street-Inc-167715775514/photos/?tab=album&album_id=214302655514&ref=page_internal

(source: http://www.baltimoreautismsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ASBC-Newsletter-Fall_2013.pdf)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

A Towson University graduate overcame the barriers that come with autism to graduate with a Bachelors in Math and minor in Computer Science.

Ben Smith, 25, was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old. He knew growing up he was different from his classmates and friends.

"I was very shy, I was like uncooperative with some things that are not a big deal,"Smith said.

Smith attended Harford Community College, then came to Towson University as a transfer in January 2014 to pursue a degree in math. In the same year, the College Orientation and Life Activities program started.

“Our folks are very good at the things they do, operating a computer or mathematics, but it’s those work place social communication skills that trip them up, so if we can spend some time supporting you in those areas, then it’s almost like we’re trying to get you to a point where you’re succeeding and able to leave us,” Zosia Zaks, COLA Program Director, said.

At the university, Smith had a go-getter mindset. He interned, was part of DAP, an honor society for students with disabilities and ran the website for the group.

He tutored other students in math, and took difficult classes. He lived in a dorm, like any other student, had a roommate and took tests, pushing himself toward the goal of graduation.

“He quickly became part of our community, quickly connected with the staff, attended every program possible and really became a critical member of the Tower A community and the Glenn community where we all lived,” Assistant Director of Resident Life Lisa Simmons-Barth said.

“With every challenge, he faces it with something he’s doing to build skills for the future,” Simmons-Barth said, adding everyone knows him wherever he goes.

Walking across the stage, Smith’s smile grew as he accepted his diploma and walked off stage…

(source: Towson University graduate overcame barriers of autism to receive degree in math - ABC2News.com)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Bowen Foundation for Autism is an Annapolis, Maryland-based nonprofit that seeks to improve the lives of children with Autism in Maryland. Its goal is pretty simple: it awards grants to those locals who are struggling to pay for needed services to benefit children with Autism…

Bowen is a beautiful young boy full of energy and life who was diagnosed with autism at three years old. He has piercing green eyes, gorgeous curls and a smile that makes you feel like a child again. He is vibrant, he loves Elmo, and he loves going to school. He laughs when you tickle him …and often times, he gives you the greatest hugs in the world when you least expect it. He is the perfect child in every sense of the word.

Bowen also happens to have autism. He has never spoken to his family; he often cannot concentrate on the most normal tasks. Going into public places is most difficult, as are the stares of confusion, and often times pity, from so many strangers. Yet despite his limitations, Bowen is a most beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend to many individuals young and old. He teaches each of us something new about ourselves and about the truly important elements of life.

In essence, Bowen could be anyone’s child or grandchild; he just happens to be ours.

Here is a link to a video from the Bowen Foundation for Autism 3rd annual Football Bash from earlier this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjU6TDsSBrc

(source: Bowen Foundation for Autism - Helping Maryland Families Face Autism.)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Logan Dutton is only 5 years old and in kindergarten at Forest Lakes Elementary, so he’s new to the public school system, but already his mother can see he’s beginning to fall through the cracks.

Logan, who is on the Autism spectrum, and has had early intervention through the county’s Infants and Toddlers program, sometimes comes home from school with half of his lunch left, his mother, Pilar Dutton said.

He has trouble with fine motor skills, she said, and sometimes can’t open the bags with a sandwich in it or take the lid off the yogurt. Yes, there are helpers in the cafeteria, Dutton said, but sometimes Logan forgets to raise his hand. And when he doesn’t get help, he doesn’t eat.

“The fact that the problems will get worse as he gets older, things need to change. Maybe they will by the time he gets older,” Dutton said standing outside the Harford County Public Schools headquarters on Hickory Avenue Wednesday afternoon…

(source: The Baltimore Sun)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Howard County Autism Society is a Columbia, Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of all individuals affected by Autism. Much of the work undertaken by the organisation is directed toward raising awareness and educating the general public about the complexities of Autism…

As Columbia resident Deborah Clutts prepares for her 17-year-old son’s transition into adulthood, she said she is encountering challenges she didn’t face when her older daughter graduated from high school.

“With the typical student getting ready to graduate, although the parents may have some degree of involvement, there is a natural evolution to independence,” she said. “With a student with a disability, there is a planning process that needs to take place to assist that student to whatever degree they need in transitioning into adulthood.”

Clutts’s son, Matthew, was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and will graduate from [high school] next year.

“The path isn’t as clear,” she said.

That’s why it’s so important to start planning early, said Patrick Boxall, vice president of the Howard County Autism Society, which is co-hosting its third annual symposium on the transition to adulthood this Saturday.

Under Maryland law, individuals with disabilities are eligible for publicly-funded special education and certain wrap-around services until they graduate high school or reach age 21. Then, Boxall said, their support system changes.

“That’s difficult for many families to get their heads around,” he said. Boxall has two sons who both attend Glenelg High School and have autism.

“Working with a student with a disability, living with these students brings its own challenges that make it very difficult as a practical matter to focus on the future,” he said.

This year’s symposium, which is co-hosted by the Howard County government and school system, is titled “Stop Waiting and Start Planning,” and aims to get parents and caretakers to engage with transition planning as soon as possible. It is open to all youth with developmental disabilities and their guardians, not only for those affected by autism.

Guardians at the symposium will hear from guest speakers about the various areas in which their children may need support.

…“Employment is a big source of concern.” [said Clutts, who has volunteered with the Howard County Autism Society for 14 years and is on its transition committee.]

Unlike the average young adult, people with disabilities may need coaching to learn the tasks required of them at a job, she said, and they will likely need help finding a job in the first place.

“Even in finding a volunteer position, it took some effort on my part to call and find something for Matt,” Clutts said. Her son volunteered at a Howard County farm last summer.

“Whereas, a typical high school student might walk into guidance counselor’s office and find volunteer opportunities,” she said. “They’re going to be independent and seek that out.”

Steve Elville of the Columbia-based law firm Elville and Associates, which does work in special education planning and elder law, will speak to caregivers about whether they should apply for guardianship after their children become adults.

“Parents are often told that they need to have guardianship by well-meaning people, but they don’t necessarily need to,” Elville said. “For high-functioning children, there is no need for it because they can sign powers of attorney and advanced medical directives.”

New at the symposium this year is a track for youth with disabilities, to be directed by Accessible Resources for Independence Inc., a business that helps people with disabilities to maximize their independence.

“We got into this coming from that viewpoint of getting to these youth before they’ve exited to help them think about building skills and a plan,” said the business’ executive director, Katie Collins-Ihrke. “This transitional age is very important because after they’re done with the school system, they may or may not have support in the adult world.”

Student participants will learn independent living skills, from maintaining healthy relationships and preparing meals to voting and advocating for themselves.

“In your childhood, your youth, your parents do a lot of talking for you,” Collins-Ihrke said. “When you’re an adult, you’re expected to speak for yourself, and expressing yourself effectively is key.”…

Here is a link to a video from the Howard County Autism Society from a couple of months ago: Autism Society of Maryland on Reels

(source: The Baltimore Sun)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Autism Project is an Owings, Maryland-based nonprofit that pro- vides programming for those on the autism spectrum to help develop their social, communication, academic and life skills. The nonprofit’s mission includes empowering individuals on the Autism Spectrum…

For three young men the Primo House is a big step on the road to independence. The one-story home, located in North Beach, fulfills a major objective for The Autism Project Inc…

According to TAP Director [Angela] Gaither-Parker, opening a group home for young adults on the Autism Spectrum was been a goal of the agency for several years.

Momentum for the group home project started to build about three years ago. One of the first steps was identifying a location for the house.

“We chose North Beach because of its access to community resources,” said Gaither-Parker, who explained all three residents are in their late 20s and employed at area businesses, including Safeway, Harrington on the Bay and Breezy Point Grill.

“This beautiful home will serve some of Calvert County’s most important citizens,” said Commissioners’ President Steve Weems [R - At large] during a ceremony held at the house Tuesday, July 21. In addition to the county commissioners, North Beach Mayor Mark Frazer and two members of the town council attended the ribbon cutting ceremony/housewarming party.

Gaither-Parker explained on TAP’s web site that the independent living home has been named the Primo House in honor of her grandfather, who was from Sicily. Primo means ‘first’ and Gaither-Parker confirmed it is the agency’s plan to have more than one independent living home for its clients.

The house has a fourth bedroom that is currently unoccupied. Gaither-Parker said TAP will provide the three renters with one-on-one counseling, group meetings, financial advice, cooking instruction, social opportunities, life skills development and vocational support.

“They [the three residents] have worked very hard with one another,” said Gaither-Parker. “I’m glad to see them enjoy life as young adults.”

Funding for the house came from several sources and various fundraisers.

According to TAP President Chip Gaither, several businesses donated materials for the project. Originally, TAP planned to have a modular home transported from out-of-state. However, “we were asking a community, a town to support these young men” therefore the workers contracted for the constructed project were all local.

“We’re proud of this house and what it stands for,” said Chip Gaither.

When asked what he likes best about his new home, one of the residents, Chris, said it was “being with friends and learning how to save money.”…

Here is a link to photos from the Autism Project: https://www.facebook.com/pg/sjjohnsoncompany/photos/?tab=album&album_id=407415502627

(source: Autism Project opens group home | thebaynet.com | TheBayNet.com | Articles)

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The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

To the north, the JT Fortin Foundation for Autism is a Windham, New Hampshire-based nonprofit whose mission is to raise public awareness about Autism and its effects. To work in conjunction with the Autism community to help fund, create and implement original programs and services that will enrich the lives of those living with Autism…

The JT Fortin Foundation for Autism was created in May, 2015 to help families and children living with Autism!

Our “Do You Know Jack?” awareness campaign will drive positive discussion and dialogue … [on] the ways to best benefit the Autism Community.

We will help guide and support families throughout their journey, whether it is in finding the programs and services they need from early intervention to the transition into adulthood.

Our original lifestyle programs will be custom designed to create a unique recreational or cultural experience in an Autism friendly environment! We will provide rewarding experiences that will enhance the lives of those on the spectrum and their families!

Here is a link to a video of a JT Fortin Foundation for Autism end-of-schoolyear kindergarten concert from last year: 24 reactions · 8 comments | So proud of Jack today! He did an amazing job at his end of year Kindergarten concert! He's the one in the off white Hawaiian shirt. He's come such a long way in the past two years! #DoYouKnowJack | The JT Fortin Foundation for Autism

(sources: The JT Fortin Foundation for Autism - Windham, NH - Alignable; Fortin Foundation golf tournament for autism | Local Headline News)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

When Beth Eisman and her family go to restaurants, they have to take two cars in case Eisman’s daughter Dana, who has autism, acts up and needs to be taken home.

#Making such accommodations for Dana, 15, is second-nature to Eisman. Keeping regular schedules, taking an extra car, bringing gluten-free food to the restaurant – those are the easy things. Harder is coping with the emotional toll of Dana’s disability. Harder is being Beth Eisman – and being Dana.

#“I walk my dog every morning, at 6 in the morning and half the time I’m crying to myself during the walk,” said Eisman, a Potomac resident. “You just want to say why me, why my family? – I just want answers. It’s like being robbed of your child. Kidnapped. Your child is kidnapped.”

#But things are changing.

…[Eisman] is chair of the inaugural Baltimore/Washington, D.C. WALK NOW 5K walk to raise money for Cure Autism Now, a national autism research non-profit.

#The event is expected to draw 2,000-4,000 people to FedEx field in Landover, Md. Saturday, Oct. 15, and could raise $1 million.

#Many Potomac residents are familiar with Cure Autism Now thanks to the five-year-old Fourth of July 5K race in Potomac Village, organized by Potomac resident Susan Pereles.

#The WALK NOW event differs in both atmosphere and scale. The July Fourth race is a competitive event that now includes a shorter fun walk, but the FedEx field event is completely non-competitive and geared towards families. The flat course around the stadium will be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Inside there will be food, moonbounces and other diversions, and a resource fair for parents of children with autism.

#WALK NOW is Cure Autism Now’s national fund-raising event model, held in 13 U.S. cities in 2005 and expanding to 16 in 2006. Collectively, the events have raised more than $5 million in the last two years.

#The Oct. 15 walk is considered a regional event, though Eisman said she and other organizers have had to work hard to draw participants down from Baltimore, where she said the autism community is more diffuse.

…When Dana was diagnosed, Eisman said doctors had little advice except not to compare Dana to her older child without disabilities and to ‘go home.’

#“It was like walking in the dark. And now at least there’s people with flashlights, helping, trying,” she said.

#Friends say that it’s people like Eisman who are leading the way.

#“She is an incredible leader and incredible resource to us,” said Christi Dabney, marketing manager for WALK NOW.

#“[This] is turning out to be one of our largest inaugural events and one of our largest walks in 2005,” Dabney said. “She’s been the main driving force behind that.”

#“Beth is a dynamo,” Daniel Pereles said. “Nobody’s harder working than she is. It’s a Herculean task.”

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egfd4n93pZk

(source: Potomac Doubles Up on Autism Fund-Raisers)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Pathfinders for Autism is a Cockeysville, Maryland-based statewide non-profit that provides workshops and trainings with expert speakers, an on-line provider database, and family fun events with modest accomodations. Over a decade ago, Pathfinders launched the Pathfinders for Autism Resource Center, providing a place where families, caretakers and professionals can contact a caring, knowledgeable staff person and receive timely information, referrals and resources…

…Thumbs up: Winters Mill High School did more than merely screen a movie when it showed “Finding Dory” on Thursday. The school was hosting a sensory movie night for the school system’s students with autism that not only included the screening of the animated hit but also offered informational sessions for families. The school planned to show the movie in its cafeteria after setting up beanbag chairs and sensory items like stress balls and “fidgets.” Pathfinders Resource Center Coordinator Neal Lichter called it “an understanding, welcoming environment,” noting that those with autism may have issues in a typical movie setting because of the dark and loud noises.

…getting parents as much information, help and support as possible, and giving kids a fun night out, are much needed…

Here is a link to a video: https://m.facebook.com/pg/PathfindersforAutism/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

(source: Carroll County Times)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

April is National Autism Awareness Month and we are turning the spotlight on a Maryland father and son who are bonding every day through a fun and competitive outdoor game.

Tom Rowse and his son, Gregory, who has autism, enjoy playing disc golf every afternoon at 3 p.m. On this April afternoon, they were out at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg enjoying the spring weather.

“I have been looking for a sport for us to play and to be able to do together since he was a child,” said Tom.

Gregory is a student at Wootton High School and is in an autism program at the school. One day, Tom asked his son if he wanted to learn disc golf.

“He said, ‘Yes!’ He’s been enamored by the sound of the chains. He made that sound and he was addicted,” Tom described.

Gregory’s father said his son gets to be himself out on the course.

'“After school, we come out here to this beautiful playground,” said Tom. “I feel he is taking his own path and doing his own thing.”

Getting to be in the outdoors has helped Gregory physically and emotionally.

“This is his favorite thing – to be around nature,” said his father. “…All I have to do is bring him outside and get him the exercise that he needs. Two years ago, he was unhealthy …and now I have seen such a marked change in him.”

Tom said he saw something in Gregory while playing disc golf that he’s rarely seen throughout his life.

“I actually saw pride and I saw him being proud,” he said.

But the biggest thing Tom gets out of these daily outings is that it brings him closer with his son.

“We come out every day, so we are with each other and exposed to each other eveery single day,” said Tom. “It brings us together. I’m just lucky to have found it.”

(source: Md. father and son with autism create stronger bond every afternoon through disc golf - Story | WTTG)