A common bond / Group provides support, compassion for parents of children with Asperger's syndrome - It could have been a book club gathering or a gang of friends out for a morning gab. But it was neither. The session in a back room at Cranberry Public Library was a meeting of the minds, and the hearts and souls, of parents bound by the commonality of a misunderstood, hard-to-diagnose neurological disorder known as Asperger's syndrome, by Karen Kane

A common bond: Parents of children with developmental disorders find support - "...In recent years, growing numbers of kids have been diagnosed with "autism spectrum" disorders, a widening category of loosely understood developmental disorders that can include Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) and in some cases ADHD. Unlike children with full-blown autism, who are usually assumed to have some mental retardation, kids with milder spectrum disorders frequently have high IQs. But they struggle with cognitive processing problems that can affect social development, motor/spatial skills, abstract thinking and emotional resilience. They may exhibit excessive anxiety, frequent meltdowns and impulse control problems that make social activities and home life extremely difficult," by Ashley Pettus

A family thrives in the shadow of autism / In ‘Making Peace with Autism,’ Susan Senator describes her life as a mother raising an autistic child, and offers advice. Read an excerpt - In “Making Peace with Autism: One Family's Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts,” Susan Senator describes her journey of raising a child with a severe autism spectrum disorder, along with two other boys. Senator offers valuable strategies for coping successfully with the daily struggles of life with an autistic child. Senator was invited on “Weekend Today” to discuss her story.

A home without hugs or family meals - Christine Doyle meets a mother and daughter living with the emotional isolation imposed by Asperger's - "...Becky has Asperger's syndrome, which develops early in life and affects the way the brain processes information. It is grouped with "classic" autism as an autistic spectrum disorder, and has many similar traits, including difficulty in communicating and forming social relationships, a dislike of being touched and a lack of imagination and creative play," by Telegraph.co.uk

A Life Apart - Parent Perspective on Living with a Child with Asperger's

A mom lets go - Jamie Elsbury reaches for a bag of pesto tortellini in the pasta aisle at Trader Joe's, then realizes her sons won't be around to eat it. She thinks how much she's going to miss them. The next day, twins Dylan and Nick Nunley go off to college. Franklin High School valedictorians and 4.0 students, they should thrive in the University of Washington's prestigious Computer Science & Engineering program. She never thought they'd leave home. Dylan and Nick have Asperger's syndrome, a disorder on the autism spectrum. By Paige Parker  Oregonlive.com

A mother recalls the life of a boy who died a Marine - Rhonda McCarthy was 20 years old when her son, Joe, was born. He was early. Problems developed two months before her due date and she was rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section. It all happened so quickly. "The doctor said something about a baby boy," she says. "I remember nothing after that."  When Joe was 6 weeks old, Rhonda tried to open a door while wedging the baby carrier with Joe in it against the wall. It slipped, fracturing her boy's skull. At 8 months he had a seizure and nearly died. She remembers asking herself why God seemed to want her son back so quickly by Montini

A New Distinct Web Site For Families Living With Autism - With 1 in 166 children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and 1 in 6 children diagnosed with a developmental disorder and/or behavioral problem, many families may not know what to do or where to go for help. A new website www.AutismConcepts.com created by an African American family raising an adolescent child with autism, shares credible and relevant information with other families. By Blacknews.com

A NEW WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES LIVING WITH AUTISM: AutismConcepts.com ... -  With 1 in 166 children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and 1 in 6 children diagnosed with a developmental disorder and/or behavioral problem, many families may not know what to do or where to go for help.  A new website www.AutismConcepts.com created by an African American family raising an adolescent child with autism, shares credible and relevant information with other families. The Internet is an easy and convenient way for parents to meet, share their experiences and other information. In addition to the usual facts found on autism-related websites, AutismConcepts.com also shares information, research and resources related to African Americans, directly linking to the source.

A Strange World – Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and PDD-NOS - A Guide for Parents, Partners, Professional Carers, and People with ASDs by Martine F. Delfos / A Strange World is an intriguing and comprehensive guide to autistic spectrum disorders presented from a new scientific perspective. Delfos’s biopsychological model provides a strong theoretical analysis of the nature of autism and what problems it can cause. She offers practical advice on how to... more

And a child shall lead / Boy's autism compels mother to find way into his world, then help others  - Imagine if you spoke to your child every morning, and he or she acted as if you weren't there. Imagine if you placed a hand on your child's shoulder, and he or she began to scream and flail uncontrollably as if you'd hit the child.  Imagine waking up one morning, only to realize that your child has changed into a different person virtually overnight. This is the reality of parents who have a child with autism, a developmental disability that often impairs social and communication skills. This was the reality of Sequoyah Hills resident Mary Donnet Johnson; her son Pace was diagnosed when he was 21/2. Determined not to let the disorder define the life of her son, husband Rick and daughter .geable individuals, and a lot of trial and error, she was not only able to put Pace in a regular classroom, but help him to become a prized member of his school community. By Angela Patterson

Are parents of children with ADHD good at parenting? - Are parents of children with ADHD good at parenting? It is generally thought that ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children is compounded by poor parenting skills, and much research evidence exists to support this view by News-Medical in Medical Research News

Area parents of children with Asperger Syndrome join forces - "...Strict reliance on routines, an intense interest in one particular topic, and problems relating socially to others are characteristics of Asperger Syndrome, a phenomenon that was officially categorized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1994 as part of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. "It's a neurological disorder," says Deirdre Wright. "It falls under the Autism spectrum. It's a way of describing a neurological difference," by Dan Russo

Asperger’s Syndrome: how do you tell your child he has Asperger?  - Here’s a big confession: I have already written about the fact that my 9-year-old son was diagnosed in February 2005 with Asperger’s Syndrome. However, what I haven’t said is that I have not yet told my son that he has Asperger’s. I am not even sure where I would begin. When we went 90 miles away for his 3-hour appointment with specialists, his father and I told him it was his 8-year-old check up. I don’t want to make him self-conscious about some of his behavioral tics: his repetitive running and humming. He doesn’t want to think of himself as different, so how do I tell him that he has a disorder which means he is very different?  By Jennifer Creer

Asperger's Syndrome: Mother becomes advocate after son is diagnosed - When Kim Isaac's only child, Daniel, began showing behavioral problems, she first blamed her parenting skills. Typical childhood activities like birthday parties, fireworks shows and carnivals produced stress and verbally abusive behavior in Daniel rather than delight. "He couldn't tolerate any of it," Isaacs said of her son, age 13. "I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong." After numerous visits to physicians, Daniel's list of diagnoses included Attention Deficit Disorder, bipolar syndrome, anxiety and depression. Medications didn't help. At her wit's end, Isaacs looked to the Internet for answers and discovered that her son's symptoms matched those of a little-understood disorder known as Asperger's Syndrome.

ASK ME about Asperger's Syndrome - Professionals and parents describe the impairments that typically affect students with Asperger's Syndrome and offer practical suggestions and techniques for working with these children.... more

ASPERGER group brings families together - "After her son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, Carolyn Warden wanted to connect with others who were grappling with the autism spectrum disorder," by Kristen Park

Asperger Syndrome and Mom's Secret Weapon (A Mother's Day Reflection) by Dan Coulter

Asperger's Syndrome as a Parenting-Disability - A Commentary for ASpar by Sheila Jennings Linehan, Barrister & Solicitor, Family Mediator

Asperger syndrome from childhood into adulthood By Tom Berney / Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2004) A "SPECIAL" thanks to The Royal College of Psychiatrists who have graciously made this article available to our community, FREE of charge

Asperger Syndrome, My Kid and CSLD by G.S. Renner

Asperger Syndrome: Put Those Kids To Work! by Dan Coulter 2004

Asperger Syndrome - What is it & does your child have it? by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN

Asperger's abuse inquiry pledge - The government is to investigate claims that increasing numbers of parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome are being falsely accused of abuse by Matthew Chapman

Autism and child rearing on TV’s ‘Supernanny’ - Raising kids can be challenging. Raising kids with special needs presents special challenges. With “Supernanny,” the hit television show on ABC originally from the UK, nanny Jo Frost brings the special challenges of raising disabled kids to a wide audience with two episodes — one concerning Down Syndrome, which aired last month, and another about autism, which will air Nov. 4. Frost teams with world-renowned autism expert Dr. Lynn Koegel to tackle the parenting issues faced by a family whose 3-year-old autistic son is an “outsider” in his own home. People's Weekly World Newspaper

Autism and the Pew Lady by Dan Coulter

AUTISM PARENTS TOSSED FROM AAP CONF. - Six parents and an 11-year-old autistic child were removed last weekend from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Convention in Washington, D.C., where they had registered to hand out material to pediatricians about autism and the link to mercury in vaccines. The 11-year-old had been previously diagnosed with autism, but was subsequently found, according to her parents, to be suffering from mercury toxicity. Before the parents were ousted from the conference, two camera crews were escorted out, to avoid media coverage of the expulsion of the parents. The AAP claim was that the group had been involved in demonstrations outside the conference, as well as attending a Friday "Power of Parents" rally on Capitol Hill, focusing on the association between mercury ingestion and autistic symptoms.  The child was particularly upset, his mother says. "He only wanted to help raise awareness and felt like he had failed in doing so." - ST

Autistic daughter's crisis provoked rude reactions - My family had an upsetting experience recently in a Waterville store. Our 3-year-old daughter has autism, a neurobiological disorder, and despite making remarkable progress over the past few months, had an unexpected "meltdown" while we were shopping. We do not knowingly place our child in situations that may overwhelm her. Our child is no "spoiled brat." Her limited communication and socialization skills can make her behave in ways that few people understand.

Author speaks hope to those living with autism - Lynn Hamilton's son couldn't speak to her. Two-year-old Ryan's ear-splitting screams signaled his hunger. For what, he couldn't tell her. When given Matchbox toy cars, he would only line them up, side by side. He didn't know how to play. Just before his third birthday, Ryan was diagnosed with autism, a disorder that hampers kids' ability to socialize, communicate and learn. At that time, Hamilton's only connection with the disorder was Dustin Hoffman's performance in "Rain Man," by Hope Anderson

Autism and child rearing on TV’s ‘Supernanny’ - Raising kids can be challenging. Raising kids with special needs presents special challenges. With “Supernanny,” the hit television show on ABC originally from the UK, nanny Jo Frost brings the special challenges of raising disabled kids to a wide audience with two episodes — one concerning Down Syndrome, which aired last month, and another about autism, which will air Nov. 4. Frost teams with world-renowned autism expert Dr. Lynn Koegel to tackle the parenting issues faced by a family whose 3-year-old autistic son is an “outsider” in his own home. Author: World Combined Sources

Autism expert shares life story as illustration - Parents and special-education teachers from throughout the South Bay flocked to Santa Clara University on Saturday for a conference on autism, an increasingly diagnosed neurological disorder that can affect everything from speech development to social interaction. The highlight was a lecture by Temple Grandin, a woman who is autistic herself yet able to explain how her brain functions in a way that is fascinating to the general public, by Dana Hull

Autism information group in area gaining momentum - Mike Sciortino saw the pain and anguish autism was causing his grandson, Ethan. The Cape Girardeau man decided he had to do something. So, about a year ago, Sciortino started a group called Ethan and Friends for Autism and began holding weekly meetings for anyone interested in the disease by Callie Clark

Autism linked to parents with high level of education / Parents of autistic children tend to be more highly qualified than parents of children with other mental problems, according to a controversial study for the Department of Health. - Parents of autistic children tend to be more highly qualified than parents of children with other mental problems, according to a controversial study for the Department of Health. It also links a wide range of "clinically recognisable" mental health problems in youngsters to divorce and family breakdown. The study of 7,977 children found that one in 10 children between the ages of five and 16 had a mental disorder. But unlike children with more common disorders, autistic children had better educated parents: 46 per cent had parents with qualifications above GCSE compared with 35 per cent of other children. / Europe

Autism Rates Increasing Locally / Eugene - Concerned parents and professionals have gathered together in an effort to support the growing Autistic community.  They have formed the Lane County Chapter of the Autism Society Chapter of Oregon and are holding their first meeting Monday. The meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at the Bridgeway House of the Kauffman Center in Eugene. The address is 996 Jefferson Street and for more information call Nan Lester at 345-3467. Source: Mayo Clinic

Bands of love and hope - "...Zepp is most passionate about her newest venture. Its efforts could aid in raising awareness or perhaps finding a cure for the disorder affecting her 10-year-old son.  Zachary Zepp has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism in which children may have a vast vocabulary and knowledge, but exhibit limited social skills, repetitive behavior and often an interest in one topic to the exclusion of everything else. One in every 166 children is identified as having some form of autism," by Juana Jordan

Behavior Problems of Children with Autism, Parental Self Effcacy, and Mental Health by Richard P. Hastings and Tony Brown - University of Southampton (United Kingdom)  VOLUME 107, NUMBER 3: 222-232 I MAY 2002 - AMERICAN JOURNAL ON MENTAL RETARDATION 

Bestseller helps parents fight accusations of child abuse - Novel has shed light on Asperger's Syndrome but families still find themselves under investigation.

Burton may be autistic - Tim Burton may have a form of autism, according to his longterm partner Helena Bonham Carter. Bonham Carter recently filmed a TV movie in which she plays the real life mother of four autistic children and during her research she recognised character traits the director shares with kids with Asperger's Syndrome - of which the main symptom is an above average intelligence but less developed social and communication skills. She explains: "Tim will kill me, but while making this drama I realised he actually has a bit off Asperger's in him. You start recognising the signs. By  WFMY News 2

Caring mum Julie wins national award for helping parents - "...The crusading mother was inspired to train in law and help families fight their cases at tribunals seven years ago, after a 15-month battle with Herts County Council to get her son Joshua into a special school. The 9-year-old suffers from Asperger's syndrome — a form of autism — cerebral palsy, language impairment, attention deficit disorder and other problems. So far Julie has fought more than 150 cases and issued hours of free advice to struggling parents. - UK

Coping with the Diagnosis that Your Child has Asperger’s ...  by Latika Vasil, a parent

'Cheap' care offer angers mother / The mother of a boy with special needs says social services tried to take away her son after they refused to offer him a place at a special school. Curtis Thurland, who has a form of autism, has been refused the special education experts feel he needs. His mother, Mandy Thurland, who has the support of her MP in Luton, fears councils are choosing care provision over education because it is cheaper. - BBC News

Children are taken away – but the system can't admit it's wrong - "...The parents of a child with Asperger's syndrome fear adoption because they are accused of neglecting him by not sending him to school; they argue that he cannot cope," by Cassandra Jardine

Comparison of Psychopathology in the Mothers of Autistic and Mentally Retarded Children - The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety, depression, alexithymia, and general psychological symptoms in the mothers of autistic children in comparison with those in the mothers of mentally retarded children. Forty mothers of autistic children and 38 mothers of mentally retarded children were included in the study. After a clinical interview, psychometric tests were performed for depression, anxiety, alexithymia, and Symptom Distress Check List (SCL-90) for general psychological symptoms. Non-depression rates was 27.5% in the mothers of autistic children whereas the rate was 55.3% in the mothers of mentally retarded children. There was no difference regarding anxiety and alexithymia between the two groups. The psychopathology in the mothers of autistic children was more frequent than in those of mentally retarded children in all sub-scales of SCL-90 (somatization obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, anger-hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid thought, psychotism, and extra scale). The mothers of autistic children experienced more psychological distress than those of mentally retarded children. Our findings indicates that the assessment of autistic and mentally retarded children should include psychological assessment of their mothers, by Sunay Firat, Rasim Somer Diler, Ayse Avci, Gulsah Seydaoglu, Ph.D., M.D.s at Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Balcall, Adana, Turkey; M.D. at Biostatistics, Cukurova
University Faculty of Medicine, Balcall, Adana, Turkey - 2002

Critical shortage of support services for parents raising children with autism has been confirmed by UTS research, highlighting a need for drastic reform. The findings come hard on the heels of controversy over the tragic death of autistic ten-year-old Jason Dawes at the hands of his mother, who had received only three of the 20 hours per week of early intervention that her child needed since the age of 18 months." by Medical Condition News - Australia

Daniels's Success Story.  A Determined Mother Demonstrates that Full Recovery from Autism is Possible by Mary Romaniec - Mother's Magazine - September 2004 

Dealing with autism - It wasn't the birthday present Kelly Adams wanted in 2002. That was the year when she and her husband, Pete, found out that their son has autism. The diagnosis came on Kelly's birthday. "I definitely felt something was wrong when Roman was about 14 months old, but we were first-time parents, and everyone kept telling us that children develop at different rates," recalls Kelly Adams, who lives with her family in Fitchburg. There was a lot of second-guessing. When Roman still wasn't talking at age 2, however, a multi-disciplinary evaluation got under way. "It was almost a relief to finally know what we were up against," Kelly Adams says. By Debra Carr-Elsing

Developmentally disabled find fun outside the mainstream - "...In work and housing, it's now a given that being part of mainstream society is ideal for most people with developmental disabilities. But parents and professionals still debate whether the same is true in recreation, by Amy Sara Clark

Diagnosis: Autism - What Do I Do? - Mothering Magazine / Issue 126 September/October 2004

Effects of autism on families posted by News-Medical in Medical Condition News

Even a GP can miss her son's autism / "...If I had not been a GP I would have probably taken him to the doctor sooner."  - When Dr Sylvia Bond's son James was slow to speak she worried about his development. She decided to have his hearing checked, but what the GP of eight years - and practice lead in child health services with a diploma in child health - did not expect to hear was that her little boy was autistic, by BBC News

Family’s experience sparked activism - In second grade, Devon Clark got a flu shot. A month later, he got another. “It was my idea, because he had asthma,” said Devon’s father, Alan Clark, who is a physician. Within weeks, Devon’s behavior changed dramatically. He had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in first grade, but this was much worse.  “He became more obsessive and compulsive, angry, paranoid,” Clark said. “He would yell and bang his fists on stuff. He would say, ‘I don’t feel like me.’ ”  A series of visits to a neuropsychologist yielded a startling diagnosis: Devon had Asperger syndrome, which often is referred to as a high-functioning form of autism.  “I was in shock,” said Devon’s mother, Lujene Clark, a former nurse. “I thought, ‘My normal, healthy child has an autism spectrum disorder?’ By Judy L. Thomas

Families need not feel alone - For parents of children with autism or other special needs, the challenges of day-to-day life can at times seem overwhelming. However, a program offered with the assistance of North Rocky View Community Resource Centre (CRC) is aimed at providing much-needed resources and bringing support into the home. Facilitated by Airdrie resident Ann Gordanier – family liaison with the University of Calgary community services centre – the family support for children with disabilities program is there for residents across North Rocky View from Airdrie to Irricana and Beiseker to Cochrane and beyond.

Families share 'autistic traits' / Relatives of people with autism may display autistic brain differences and behaviours despite not having the condition themselves, a study shows. New Scientist says the work could make it easier to spot families at risk of having an autistic child. - It could also help in the quest to find genetic and environmental triggers for the condition, experts hope. Autism is a disorder that makes it hard for the individual to relate socially and emotionally to others. / BBC News

FAMILIES share stories about life with autism - ... Now his diagnosis is Asperger's syndrome, children who often possess great academic ability but poor social or communication skills. "Autism is weird by phillyburbs.com

Father and son collaborate on book - A Colourful book on the quirks of living with an autistic child has been created by a talented father-and-son team. Red Foot Duck and Other Stuff is an entertaining and insightful collection of drawings and poems created by six-year-old Robin Goodfellow Elliott-Knowles and his father John.  Proceeds from the book will help fund a sensory room at Torfield School, the Hastings special needs school which Robin attends, by the Observer - UK

Filling a void -  Before the autism diagnosis, the Wranghams used to call their first-born child “Buddha baby.” “She seemed so Zen,” said her mother, Theresa Wrangham, 43. “She was so peaceful with her surroundings and content to be on her own, entertaining herself.” Ironically, that detached quality foreshadowed their daughter’s lifelong rocky road with autism, a brain dysfunction that impairs communication and socialization. By Pam Mellskog

For boy with autism, a coach and a friend / Mother sheds tears as teen volunteer is honored for helping her 11-year-old be a runner  - For Anthony D'Addesa, there can be no better coach than Michael Rota -- or truer friend.  All of 17 years old, Michael is a volunteer running coach for Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, Huguenot; Anthony is an 11-year-old with autism.

From devastated mother to pioneering researcher - Lorna Wing, psychiatrist and pioneer of the concept of the autistic spectrum, was motivated by her daughter's autism. ^- Lorna Wing is a renowned authority on autism. She was a founder member of the National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom and her paper on Asperger's syndrome stimulated interest in this condition in English speaking countries. Lorna and her colleague Judith Gould set up the first centre for social and communication disorders for both children and adults.  Mareeni Raymond reports

George’s Place - Autism swept him off to a secret world. Could his grandmother find a way to meet him halfway? By Carolyn See, September & October 2004 AARP Magazine

Government inaction on autism hurting families - If you fall sick you can see a doctor who will diagnose your illness and prescribe a medication to help you get better. If you break a bone a doctor will see you, take an X-ray for confirmation of the break and then put whatever appendage you've broken into a cast. The same holds true if, God forbid, you are stricken with a disease. There's not always a cure but specialists will help treat what ails you. And because we live in Canada our costs are covered by medicare. So why isn't public help given to Canadians afflicted with autism?

Guest Voice: A Mother's Perspective - Recently, ASAT learned of material posted on the Web written by Michelle Dawson. While it is not ASAT's usual policy to address every opinion on the Web that we find objectionable, fallacious, or dangerous, the level of animosity toward parents and professionals seeking Applied Behavior Analysis services for children is so high in this material, and the extent of misinformation regarding ABA seems, in our opinion, so misleading and harmful to families, that ASAT has elected to publish a response from someone on the "front lines:" a mother fighting for her children. Kit Weintraub, mother of Emily, 10, and Nicholas, 7, is a Board member of Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT), Wisconsin

Hell No, We Won't Go! - Diana Smith shudders and scrunches her shoulders, recalling the October night her ten-year-old son Jacob kept hammering his parents with an angry question: "Why do we have to move?"  Jacob, who has an attention-deficit disorder and a form of autism, "doesn't deal well with change," says his mom. He'd been sleepless for days over thoughts of switching homes and schools, and he didn't understand his parents' explanation: "We're moving because the city is kicking us out." That night Jacob blew a fuse. So did his dad by Kristen Hinmen

How Does A Parent Successfully Raise A Child With A Mental Disorder? by Eric Sewell [Don't let the title fool you.  This is written by an AS father]

How it was raising an autistic child in the '50s - Eustacia Cutler, author of "A Thorn in My Pocket," will talk about her new book in the Meeting Hall of the Morse Institute Library on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Registration is required. For more information and to make a reservation, contact the Autism Alliance of MetroWest, 508-652-9900. Cutler is the mother of one of the most accomplished and successful autistic authors and animal behaviorists in the world: Dr. Temple Grandin. Cutler will be speaking about her personal experiences raising an autistic child 50 years ago, when autism was considered a psychosocial disease rather than the neurodevelopmental one that it is today.

How one family grap-ples with cell phones, music lyrics - Susan and Tom Kilpatrick sit in the sunny living room of their modest Clarence home and think about the parenting issues that concern them most.  When their 18-year-old daughter began driving at 16, that took some adjustment, said Susan, who works full-time at a nearby preschool. And the ever-rising prices of such necessities as food and gas for the family vehicles concern Tom, a sales manager for a North Tonawanda company. "It gets tougher every year to make ends meet," he said. By Annie Helville

I'M WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO INVENT A TREE THAT BOUNCES LIKE A PUNCHBALL. IT'S A PRIME TARGET WHEN MY SON HAS A DESTRUCTIVE EPISODE - Christmas is a time of magic for most children. But those with autism, locked in their own little world. the change from the normal routine can be terrifying. Mum Kaiya Marjoribanks, 37, from Falkirk, explains how son Lewis, 10, copes with Christmas, by Sunday Mall

Imaginative boy’s play not a problem Parenting John Rosemond - Q: MY HUSBAND IS concerned that our 8-year-old son prefers imaginative play over playing games such as catch or shooting hoops. He is an excellent student and is reasonably well-behaved. While his friends at school are boys, at home he plays with two neighbor girls, ages 8 and 10. Together, they pretend they are acting in “Star Wars” movies or are detectives trying to solve a mystery — that sort of thing. Also, should I be concerned of hand-flapping when he gets excited about something or sees someone he is happy to see? Those are, by the way, the only times I’ve seen the hand-flapping. Thank you for any comments...

'It's getting worse for vulnerable parents' / Two months ago, health.telegraph explored the problem of children being taken into care after their parents had been falsely accused of ill-treatment. Since then, reports Cassandra Jardine, more than 40 couples have defied the rules of secrecy to tell of their own experiences. - Since the acquittal of Sally Clark, Angela Cannings and Trupti Patel, a large question mark has hung over the belief, held by some paediatricians and social workers, that there is a hidden epidemic of child abuse in this country by Health Telegraph

Just Give them a Pill - ABC's and 123's- all across this nation our public schools are reaping what we've so carelessly sown as parents. There are sixth graders having sex before comprehension of consequences, and there are seventh grade students lying in hospital beds after a Wednesday morning "cat fight" at a local Jr. High School. We have first graders lashing out in anger at their teachers, and we have police officers being called in because fourth grade students are threatening their teachers with physical harm. Jr. Highs are practicing lockdowns as routinely as fire drills. High Schools have weapons and narcotic shakedowns on a regular basis to keep the students under control. Almost every campus in America--from high school down to grade school--have police officers patrolling their campuses, ticking their walks to the beat of our school time clocks. America's children are exploding emotionally. What are we as their parents going to do? by Kerry Marsala

Langley MP champions autism fight - Palm up, an arm out to his pretty daughter, a proud father's silent gesture says it all: "Here is the proof. Autism can be beaten, with therapy. Now, where is the medical assistance every Canadian should be entitled to?" by Al Irwin

Life-Changing Autism Intervention - The most recent statistics show as many as one in 200 children have a condition that falls under the category of autism. There are many drugs for the behavioral symptoms that come with these disorders, but new research shows you may not need them. Now a drug-free treatment may change lives.  When you see 5-year-old Sarah Beard today, you'd never guess that a year ago, her life was filled with tantrums and rituals -- methodically lining up toys and spinning in circles. She'd scream at her own birthday parties if anyone sang happy birthday.  Today, that old Sarah is hard to find. "Myself is something who is the personality, and I am a special person of 'anality," she tells Ivanhoe.  Sarah was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome - an autism spectrum disorder - at two. Mom Colleen says that early diagnosis changed her little girl. "The amount of progress she has made - she's a different girl today than she was 14 months ago," Colleen says by Ivanhoe Broadcast News

LISTENING TO YOUR KIDS - How are you listening to your kids?  If you're one of those rare "born listeners" who can get almost anyone to open up, you're lucky. If you're like the rest of us, you can probably improve your listening skills, by Dan Coulter

Living With Autism - Finding out your child is autistic can be very traumatic because the disorder will likely change their life forever. It was just more than a year ago when Tucker Hawkey's parents got some news they never thought they'd hear. Tucker's mom Patti said, "When we heard the word autism we were terrified. When you think of the word autism you think of Rainman, that's what comes to my mind at first." His parents thought he had communication problems. But his grandmother noticed something very different. Shad Hawkey, Tucker's dad said, "My mom actually noticed something you know having four kids of her own and grandkids and it was hard for her to say something and she finally came to us and said something." Once Tucker was diagnosed, Shad and Patti felt they owed it to their son to learn all they could about autism.  They chose to adapt to Tucker's lifestyle, which changed theirs completely. By Kelli Grant

Living with Autism - Autism is a developmental disorder in which children seem isolated from the world around them. It is marked by poor hearing, language and vision skills, an inability to handle social situations and behavioral problems. "It seems to me when people hear the word autism they freak out," said Debra.  "They think of ‘Rain Man’," John said.  "These are the most loving kids in the entire world," Debra added. "Even when I see the definition of autism in the dictionary it says it’s a devastating neurological disorder. What we discovered is that it’s not devastating and we actually learned a lot from having a son with autism," by Patrick Cronin

Mom's efforts prove life can be beautiful - even for autistic child by Aimee Couture

Mom helps others cope with autism Parent has 3 children afflicted and wants to raise awareness of disorder among the public. by By Stuart A. Hirsch

Asperger Syndrome and Mom's Secret Weapon by Dan Coulter

Mom shares hope in dealing with disorders - ""It is treatable. Put that down in all-capital letters. Underline it. Make it bold letters. Put it in italic. Do whatever you can to make people understand that it is treatable. Because, believe me, it is. You may never hear that from a professional, but it's true. I know it's true because of what I've seen." Corby is the parent of two children affected by autism spectrum disorders (APD), a 4-year-old son, Chad, who was diagnosed with autism at 18 months, and a 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, with multiple difficulties in the autism spectrum." by Larry Rea

Multimedia Product for Children with Autism Launched - As awareness of autism has increased, the role of parents and home-based therapy has gained importance. Yet for parents of the more than 1 million American children with autism, finding appropriate resources for home use is a struggle.  Launch into Learning is helping to fill that void with Max and Friends, a multimedia skill-building program for children with autism and related disabilities. The innovative package uses DVDs, story books and music to present proven therapy-based exercises in a fun, simple format for children with special learning needs.  Press Release

My autistic child in the balance by Susan Senator

Nationally Recognized Speaker on Special Needs Planning Offers Advice to Parents. - Bart Stevens, Author of "The ABC's of Special Needs Planning Made Easy" and a pioneer in the field of special-needs planning, is presenting at a number of national conventions this year.  A pioneer in the field of special-needs planning, Bart Stevens, founder of Bart Stevens Special Needs Planning, LLC is presenting at a number of national conventions this year.  Source : Onlypunjab.com Team

New findings on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Are parents of children with AD/HD good at parenting? It is generally thought that AD/HD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children is compounded by poor parenting skills, and much research evidence exists to support this view by News Wales

Parental involvement a key to No Child Left Behind law - ""Parental advocacy is a pillar of No Child Left Behind," said Joanne Webb, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Education. Parents who are empowered with this information can insist upon improvement in schools and have some say-so in how their children are educated.," by DAVID MCKAY WILSON

Parenting Abilty Check List by Judy Singer 2004

Parents Again - "...But for some baby boomers, retirement dreams have become a little cloudy. Instead of enjoying an empty nest and decelerating from life’s fast lane, they find themselves with all the joys and trials of raising their grandchildren," by Nancy Voris

Parents break bank on kids' therapy - A surge in childhood autism is forcing some Australian parents to mortgage their homes and seek early access to superannuation to pay up to $60,000 a year for therapy they say can work miracles - but which governments won't pay for. Sydney accountant Sam Lo Ricco will spend about $50,000 this year on therapy for his four-year-old son James, convinced the labour-intensive technique called Applied Behavioural Analysis is giving the boy a chance at a more normal life. "I know people who have accessed their superannuation," said Mr Lo Ricco, a single parent who has been forced to move back into his parents' home to afford about 30 hours a week of intensive therapy for his boy. By Roy Eccleston

Parents cope with children's autism - When Ben Fondren, 8, wants to know why the sky is white, his dad better be able to explain down to the chemical processes involved. Kyle Van Belle, 11, fascinated with weather and geography, can do math without having to write it down and can find a location again after being shown the way only once, his mom says, by Larry Hendricks

Parents help autistic kids focus / Families work on overcoming disorder daily - When Ben Fondren, 8, wants to know why the sky is white, his dad better be able to explain down to the chemical processes involved.  Kyle Van Belle, 11, fascinated with weather and geography, can do math without having to write it down and can find a location again after being shown the way only once, his mom says.  While both boys are bundles of energy who participate in activities like martial arts and rock climbing, Ben and Kyle are also diagnosed with autism. The disorder makes it difficult for each boy to process routine but important cues from the world around them in order to function like children their age, by Larry Hendericks

Parents not to blame for hyperactive kids -experts - Children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are not disrupting their school classes or their neighbourhoods because of poor parenting, UK scientists said on Wednesday by Jeremy Lovell

Parenting Problems for Parents With Asperger's Syndrome - A Commentary for Aspar rather than AS as a Parenting Disability. by Sheila Jennings Linehan, Barrister & Solicitor, Family Mediator

Parents raising funds for a dog to assist their autistic daughter - Molly is waiting for "Happy."It's the name Dale and Susan Williamson want to give to a yet-to-be trained service dog that will eventually help their 3 1/2-year-old daughter cope with the world and her moderate level of autism. Learning to speak is still difficult for Molly, but "Happy" is a word she yells out with delight.

Parents take to the streets against strikers by Raymond Duncan & Damien Henderson The Herald - UK

Parents to lead legal seminar at Rutgers on autism - A Dover Township couple will moderate a seminar at Rutgers University designed to help school officials and parents determine how to avoid legal battles when deciding how to educate autistic children. Larry and Joni Jones, who have two autistic children, said the idea for the program next Sunday came from their own experiences with the Toms River Regional school district. The Joneses sued the district once but were able to resolve their concerns with the district a second time out of court by Naomi Mueller

Parents wage constant fight to give autistic kids needed time by Dana Haydock

Parents watch children progress - "...He finished the school year, but that summer doctors diagnosed Albert with Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, forms of autism. At 6, he had a 21/2-year developmental delay.  Albert is 9 now. He attends a Bucks County Intermediate Unit autistic support program for children with Asperger's, the same one he has attended since first grade," by Jo Ciavaglia

Parenting Abilty Check List by Judy Singer 2004

PDD / Autism, A Clear Practical Approach for the Parents -  Pediatric Neurology Site

Physician-Parents Head Back to School to Solve Learning Problems / Doctor-parents Fernette and Brock Eide solve their family's own learning challenges and help other children by merging education, neurology, medicine, and psychology. Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide were University of Chicago physicians when one of their children began having problems at school. When they sought help, they found conventional approaches frustrating. Fernette, a neurologist recalls, "We were shocked to find out how little specific help we could find for our son. We were in the perfect place to get any expert we could, but we were handed behavioral checklists and standardized IQ tests that we knew weren't going to get to the heart of his problem. We knew we wanted help, but we needed someone who would take the time to get to know him as a person, and understand his unique neurobiological, medical, psychosocial, and educational issues. Was that too much to ask?" Apparently it was. The Eides eventually found their own answers to help him, but in so doing realized the great need to provide children with an individualized approach to their problems, by PRWEB / Press Release

Please, Learn About Asperger Syndrome And Give Hope to Non-AS Spouses By C.R.D., Seattle

PROMISING FUTURE / With a successful autism program in place, parents fear having their children removed if they don't show progress - SPECIAL REPORT: EDUCATING AUTISTIC CHILDREN.  Parents pour their hopes and San Joaquin County educators pour thousands of dollars every year into applied behavior analysis, an intensive therapy for autistic children that is widely regarded as one of the most promising treatments for the neurological disorder.

PUNCHBALL.IT'S A PRIME TARGET WHEN MY SON HAS A DESTRUCTIVE EPISODE - EXCITEMENT is an emotion most of us associate with Christmas.  But for children and adults with autism, the reaction can be anything from disregard to terror.   Lewis's autism was probably never more evident than on the day Santa visited his nursery.  While other four--year-old s were vying for pole position as Father Christmas handed out presents, Lewis was oblivious.  I believe Lewis, now 10, gets some enjoyment from Christmas, albeit in his unique way. Thanks to the perseverance of everyone at Lochies School in Alloa, he joins in with the parties, by Scottcareers.com

Punishing autistic boy riles mother - With one utterance toward a teacher, a 14-year-old autistic boy earned himself a three-day suspension, in accordance with the Ontario Safe Schools Act.  Kevin said something to the effect of, "If you don't leave me alone I am going to kill you," to his teacher, prompting public school staff to rule he had exhibited threatening behaviour.  But the boy's mom, Anita Acheson, knows better than to believe her son meant to harm the teacher. Kevin is very limited in his language abilities, so his outburst was basically his way of saying "Leave me alone," she said... By LAURA CZEKAJ

Reducing Special Needs Parent Stress - A lot of parents who have kids with special needs get a free helping of stress every day.  With extra nuts -- and sprinkles. If this is you, how do you start an anti-stress diet?  Start small.  Take a  break. Oh yeah, right.  When are you going to find the time? by Dan Coulter

Rose: Parents' requests for special ed aren't unreasonable / Westport Representative Town Meeting member Hadley Rose took issue Monday with the recent presentation concerning special education litigation that Pupil Services Administrator Cynthia Gilchrest had made to the Board of Education. - Rose, a District 3 RTM member, was disturbed that Gilchrest had enumerated a long list of parent requests for special education services "in such a way as to make them seem outrageous, when in fact they may have been very legitimate requests," by Meg Learson Grosso

Scattered son: A Taylorsville family struggles with a child's mental illness - "Taylor has been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, hyperactivity and Asperger syndrome, a form of autism," by Jacob Santini

SERVICE: Couple net new role for society / OTHER people's lack of understanding can prove one of the greatest hurdles for parents with an autistic child. - Described as an "unseen disability" due to having no recognisable outward signs – people often assume autisitic children are naughty and the parents are unable to control them. Now the Peterborough and District Autistic Society has launched a website aimed at combating the widespread ignorance of the condition.

Single mom battles government - A cancer stricken single mother and her autistic son will receive no legal aid in their court battle with the Ontario government. Nora Whitney has been embroiled in a legal battle with the provincial government since 2003, when she went to court to secure government funded autism treatment for her son Lucas. The court ruled in her favour. But the McGuinty government is appealing the decision, and now without legal aid Whitney cannot afford a lawyer to argue on her behalf. By Stephen Dylag

Social Skills Assessment and Training - My son Nicholas is ten years old and in the fourth grade with inclusion support. Here in California there is the Regional Center system where both my children are consumers, due to being on the Autism Spectrum. The Regional Center will fund respite, therapies and social groups for families. Nicholas had his assessment back in October 2004, which was funded through the Regional Center, as well as the weekly sessions. Funding can be done on a yearly basis or six months; it depends on the subject being funded. The feeding therapy for Matthew is on an annual basis, as is the respite funding. All this is written into the Individual Program Plan known as the IPP for each consumer through the Regional Center. By Bonnie Sayers

Some Extremely Reasonable Suggestions for “Typical” Parents, Family, and Teachers on Behalf of Kids with Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer McIlwee Myers, Aspie-at-Large

Some you choose, some life chooses / And Shubhra Gupta, the mother of a 12-year-old autistic child, has found in her own life that even the choices you didn’t make or bargain for, and life thrust upon you, will bend to your will if you make them yours. - The other day, I was at a movie which featured animated animals. Kids were all over the place, laughing, spilling popcorn, squabbling with siblings—stuff that kids do. An old familiar feeling, which I’ve never been able to banish completely, grabbed me. I messaged my husband: When I see children do what most children do, it’s still a wrench. He messaged back, two words, which really say it all...

Stressed out parents? - It is a common bond between all parents. No matter how great your kids are, there is a day, a week, a month or even longer when all your parenting skills have broken down. You scream, you yell, you cry, you feel completely overwhelmed and helpless. Sometimes you feel so alone and incapable of dealing with life that you don't know where to turn. Two local organizations - Parents Helping Parents and the Parental Stress Line - are here to help. By Candy Kosow Gold