Pathetic Paul Wallis - American Conservatism Autism Comparison

As a father of a child with autism, I must say, this is pathetic.  Paul Wallis accomplishes the difficult task of looking more craven than the politicians he is trashing.  While we do have a lot of pretend conservatives in the United States, they apparently have a pretend writer or two in Australia.

Op-Ed: Is American conservatism a type of autism? 

Washington - Autism is described as a medical condition whereby people are self-centred, uncommunicative and at a remove from their social environment. There are many different types of autism and degrees of it. A type of “social autism” is also quite possible.

Autism ticks all the boxes for behaviour in relation to social issues by conservatives. It seems that there is no society except the one they choose to acknowledge. This is “social autism”, and it comes in many forms.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/333662#ixzz27hfMPQxU

How People with Autism Experience the World (Guest Blog)

How People with Autism Experience the World

When people have certain conditions, they do not always have the same perception of the world as other individuals do. While certain aspects of life are the same, others vary in immense ways. Individuals with autism make up one group of people who experience the world in different yet incredible ways.

Attending Therapy
People who have autism have therapy as a major part of their lives. Depending upon the severity of the condition, they may receive services only as a child or throughout the entire duration of their lives. According to Kids Health, these individuals may undergo speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior therapy, music therapy and social skills training. Eventually, therapy just becomes a regular part of life.

Social Situations
Some people are already familiar with the ways in which those who have autism differ socially from other individuals. They may have difficulty with social cues, meaning that they sometimes can’t recognize when someone is using sarcasm or when a person is uncomfortable with a situation. For example, they may not understand why someone would raise an eyebrow in question, prompting confusion or questioning.

Communication
Communication is a place where people with autism can experience the world in a completely different way than individuals who don’t have autism. While you and I are used to simply speaking to one another when we have something to do, some people with autism are unable to talk or feel uncomfortable talking in social settings. They can feel scared to express their emotions through words. Therefore, instead, they opt to write out what they want to say. They may also use non-verbal cues to express their thoughts. Of course, these traits can greatly vary from person to person, depending on his or her personality.

Acting Out
Kids Health notes that individuals with autism may act aggressively with frustration when they are placed in a situation that’s out of the ordinary for them. Little children with autism, for example, may have tantrums if their parents happen to deviate from their usual routine one night. Individuals who have autism do not see this change as just a slightly different pattern from the usual—they may see it as an attack on their regular routine.

External Stimuli
Various situations and factors in the outside world can also be very frightening for autistic individuals. For example, sudden loud noises can cause extreme fear and anxiety. Sure, many of us are afraid of thunder, but people with autism can be completely set off from the loud noise and may become inconsolable if someone touches them to calm them.

Of course, no two people experience the world in exactly the same way, regardless of whether or not they have autism. Autism certainly affects the ways in which individuals view society around them, but it’s important to know that there’s no right or wrong way to interpret the universe.

Brittney Hodgkins is a clinical intern who loves reading and jogging, and is a contributing writer forhealthinsurancequotes.org

Six Early Signs of Autism (Guest Blog)

Six Early Signs of Autism

It seems that cases of autism are becoming more prevalent in today's society. Whether more people have autism or it's just easier to diagnosis, parents worry about noticing this condition early. Here are six signs you can look for in your child:

1. Verbal Communication
This is a huge component of early autism detection. Help Guide's article "Autism Symptoms and Early Signs," states that a child who is not babbling by 12 months old should be evaluated. No spoken words by the age of 16 months is another sign that your child may have autism. Other issues can account for these delays, so it is important to have an evaluation conducted by a specialist and not to worry unnecessarily.

2. Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication skills are also major indicators of whether or not your child shows autistic tendencies. Children with autism generally avoid eye contact and do not use many gestures in their speech. Additionally, the facial expressions they do use often negate what they’re saying, and they can have difficulties in reading the facial expressions of other individuals. Autistic children can also have a low tolerance for loud sounds, so be aware of your child’s reaction to noise.

3. Not Being Flexible
Another component of autism is the inability to deviate from a particular schedule. When something is out of place or done out of order, a child with autism can become rather upset. These individuals also like to keep physical objects arranged neatly, and they often have an obsessive need to do so. When an object is taken out of order or something is done that is different from the general routine, severe reactions, such as a tantrum, may erupt as a result.

4. Not Noticing
On the other side of being super sensitive to sounds, some babies may be out of touch with other elements of the senses. For example, Early Signs of Autism's article "Possible Warning Signs of Developmental Delay-Birth to 12 Months," states that a baby with autism may not notice loud noises at three months of age and/or may not notice his or her own hands by two months of age.

5. Physical Signs
There are also physical signs that your baby may have autism. A baby who seems stiff or floppy at seven months old could have autism, and babies who are developing regularly are generally able to move their eyes around at an early age. Babies with autism may develop new skills but then lose them.

6. Emotional Delays
Another category can be found in emotional delays. Babies who have autism may not reach out for their caregiver or seem disinterested in showing affection.

All of these and more can be early signs of autism. However, it's best to not go into panic mode. There are a range of reasons why a young one could be showing these symptoms, and many of the issues have answers.

Bethany Heisal is a nursing assistant and loves rock climbing and writing. She’s a contributing author for creditreport.org

More Autistic Mice HEALED: New study shows disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible

Thank God, more autistic rats are being healed.

Disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible, new study suggests

ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2012) — People with autism suffer from a pervasive developmental disorder of the brain that becomes evident in early childhood. Peter Scheiffele and Kaspar Vogt, Professors at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, have identified a specific dysfunction in neuronal circuits that is caused by autism. In the journal Science, the scientists also report about their success in reversing these neuronal changes. These findings are an important step in drug development for the treatment for autism.

 According to current estimates, about one percent of all children develop an autistic spectrum disorder. Individuals with autism may exhibit impaired social behavior, rigid patterns of behavior and limited speech development. Autism is a hereditary developmental disorder of the brain. A central risk factor for the development of autism are numerous mutations in over 300 genes that have been identified, including the gene neuroligin-3, which is involved in the formation of synapses, the contact junction between nerve cells.  More @  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120914080642.htm 

Autistic N.J. 5-year-old denied school lunch because his parents were days late on bill - NY Daily News

Autistic N.J. 5-year-old denied school lunch because his parents were days late on bill  - NY Daily News

The parents of a 5-year-old autistic boy say his New Jersey elementary school refused to serve him a $2.30 lunch because they were a few days late paying the bill for his meal plan. 

Instead, kindergartener John Robert Caravella was given mini-muffins and sent home Tuesday with a note from his teacher at Cliffwood Elementary School in Cliffwood, N.J., simply saying “John Robert was not able to get lunch today he ate his muffins. There is an issue with an outstanding bill.” 

John Robert’s mother, Silvia Caravella, said the casual tone of the note, attached to a daily progress report, left her in shock.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/autistic-n-5-year-old-denied-school-lunch-parents-days-late-bill-article-1.1158866#ixzz26NwNrpau

Pathetic: 3 Year-Old Autistic Boy, Soiled, Hungry and Traumatized After 5-Hour Bus Ride Home From School (Bergen Beach, Brooklyn)

Three-Year-Old Autistic Boy, Soiled, Hungry and Traumatized After 5-Hour Bus Ride Home From School | Strollerderby

Last week on the first day of school, three-year-old Levi Vidal from Bergen Beach, Brooklyn who suffers from autism had to endure a five-hour ride home from his school in Manhattan and finally arrived home distraught in a soiled diaper. His mother Serena, was naturally irate, reports the NY Daily News: 

More @ http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2012/09/11/three-year-old-autistic-boy-soiled-hungry-and-traumatized-after-5-hour-bus-ride-home-from-school/

LESS THAN SHOCKING NEWS OF THE DAY: 1/2 of Kids with Autism Bullied

Almost half of kids with autism are bullied, study shows - HealthPop - CBS News

(CBS News) Almost half of adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder have been the victims of bullying, according to a new study. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a variety of different neurodevelopmental disorders that often cause social impairments, communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, according to the National Institutes of Health. Social interaction is especially difficult for people diagnosed with the disorder. About 1 out of 88 children by the age of 8 will have an ASD, with males four times more likely to have autism than females.