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AUTISM IN RECENT NEWS
with special reference to Autism
in
Adults
Autism Spectrum Disorder: a single
broad diagnosis
to include all forms?
The Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the bible of
diagnosis in
psychiatry, it is used by doctors around the world and also by health
insurers.
Experts revising the DSM for a new edition, due out in 2012, propose to
streamline the criteria for various sub-types of autism. Asperger’s
syndrome
(an official part of the medical lexicon only since 1994) and pervasive
developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) may be folded
into a
single broad diagnosis, Autism Spectrum Disorder — a category that
encompasses
autism’s entire range from high-functioning to profoundly disabling.
This news has sparked
comments and opinions including
consternation and regret for the possible loss of Asperger
consciousness as
diagnostic concept and literary or dramatic device.
In
The
Short
Life of a Diagnosis Simon
Baron-Cohen regrets the prospect of confusion for those people and
their
families who waited so long for a diagnostic label (of Aspergers) and
the fact
that “science hasn’t had a proper chance
to test if there is a biological difference between Asperger syndrome
and
classic autism.”
Advancing
Futures for Adults with Autism
AFAA is a national consortium seeking to
create meaningful futures for adults
with autism that include homes, jobs, recreation, friends and
supportive
communities. On November 13th, 2009,
Americans came together across 16 sites to create a policy agenda for
addressing the needs of adults with autism. There are links to view
speeches
made at the National
Town Hall meeting in Chicago.
Click
for overview of the priorities and the process of shaping a nationwide
agenda.
For
mothers of children with autism, the caregiving life proves stressful
“Common
wisdom tells us that to be the mother
of a child with autism is to assume a heavier caregiving burden in
life. Now,
in companion studies, the daily physiological and psychological toll on
mothers
of adolescents and adults with autism is documented, revealing patterns
of
chronic stress, fatigue, work interruptions and a significantly greater
investment of time in caregiving than mothers of children without
disabilities.
“The new studies online (November 2009) in the
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, probe the daily
experiences of
mothers of adolescent and adult children with autism over a period of
eight
successive days. On four of those days, the researchers measured levels
of
maternal cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal gland in response
to
stress. Cortisol levels were found to be significantly lower than
normal, a
condition that occurs under chronic stress, yielding profiles similar
to those
of combat soldiers and others who experience constant psychological
stress.
"This is the physiological residue of
daily stress," says Marsha Mailick Seltzer, director of UW-Madison's Waisman Center, an
authority on
families of children with developmental disabilities, and the leader of
an
ongoing longitudinal study of families of individuals with autism. "The
mothers of children with high levels of behavior problems have the most
pronounced physiological profile of chronic stress, but the long-term
effect on
their physical health is not yet known."
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BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES
ABOUT AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Kudos to the Kitchener Public Library
for Autism
Awareness Month activities in October
The KPL
hosts a unique collection of books and
other materials about Autism Spectrum Disorders, which is kept up with
generous
grants from Waterloo-Wellington Autism Services.
1. Julie Piatek, HealthLink’s Senior Library
Assistant, created a display for the KPL Information desk to
commemorate Autism
Awareness Month, and draw people to the collection.
2. Christine VanderHeide, Consumer Health
Librarian, wrote a blog post to share online tools/resources related to
autism,
and to promote the collection (click here
to read).
3. Among some new tools to connect library
users to autism information:
-Julie
designed wonderful pathfinders that
list books, DVDs, and websites for various autism-related topics. These
are
available on KPL’s website http://www.kpl.org/ref/healthlink/autism.html#guides,
with printed copies available in the Autism Collection area.
-Christine
created an account using the Delicious
social bookmarking website to compile and organize a list of great
autism-related websites. The link is on KPL’s website (go to http://www.kpl.org/ref/healthlink/autism.html#autism_websites,
and click on “KPL_Autism on Delicious”). You can also go directly to
this link
to access it: http://delicious.com/KPL_Autism.
Each website added to this account includes “tags” which I have added
to
describe the content of the website. Websites in this Delicious
account can
be reviewed in two ways.
a) Click the “All
Tags” button on the right
side of the page to get a drop-down list of the topics available for
you to browse.
b) Use the search box on the upper
right
side of the page. Type in your search words, click the icon beside the
box (tiny magnifying glass with down arrow), select “Search these
bookmarks”, and click the blue “Search” box.
Christine
VanderHeide
Consumer
Health Librarian
Kitchener Public
Library
85 Queen
Street North
Kitchener ON N2H 2H1
Tel:
519-743-0271 Ext. 230
Email: christine.vanderheide@kpl.org
Website: www.kpl.org
Bridges-Over-Barriers
Newsletter 9
Bridges is an Ontario support
group of adults who use alternative methods of communication to express
themselves and share ideas and opinions, struggles and strategies. It
has grown
from a few pioneers who began meeting in January 2004. Now about 12 men
as well
as families, friends and supporters are associated with the group.
Click for current newsletter:
http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/BoB-9-2009.pdf
Visit the Bridges webpage: http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/bridges.shtml
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
OF
EVENTS
Please
send submissions for
this news bulletin or for the OAARSN Calendar and Bulletin Board in
plain text
format by email to ebloomfi@uoguelph.ca with
"announcement"
at the beginning of the subject line.
Please
provide
details of the following as BRIEFLY as possible:
Name
of Event
Main
Speakers
and Topics of Event
Date
of
Event
City
and
Location of Event
Contact
information to learn more about event
URL Link for more information/registration
Please
Do Not
Send Files Or Brochure Attachments
FOCUS
ON COMMUNICATION
Fall 2009 ACS Workshops
offered by KidsAbility
Tuesday December 8, 2009 – KidsAbility Waterloo
Site
9:00 – 10:20
Visual
Strategies for Communication
10:30 – 11:50
Developing
and Using Conversation Books
1:00 - 2:20
Using
a Speech Generating Device Functionally
2:30 – 3:50
Vocabulary
Selection and Designing Overlays
Preregistration
is necessary for these sessions. Please
call 886-8886, ext. 541 or email us at ACSInfo@kidsability.ca
and indicate the date and time(s) of the session(s) you would like to
attend. You do not need to attend all
sessions on a day! Please note the location
of the session that you are registering for.
Take a
look at our website at www.kidsability.ca
for future ACS workshop dates and
topics!
November 12,
19 & 26, in Oshawa, evenings 6 to 9pm
COMPASSION
IN ACTION FALL WORKSHOPS
Understanding
the Language of Pain: Responding with Wisdom and Compassion
Facilitated
by Felicia C. Jervis B.Ed, MSW, RSW
Durham
Association for Family Respite Services is offering this workshop Click for details and
how to register
Click
for direction and map
November 18-21, 2009, in Pittsburgh
TASH 2009:
“If not us, Who? If not now, When?”
This
year’s theme is about achieving the full and equal participation of
every
member of society in a way that is shaped to meet each member’s unique
needs. In
our vision, all members are valued, physically and psychologically
safe, and
enjoy all aspects of life in their community. We achieve our mission
for people
who have significant disabilities in a variety of ways. This year’s
TASH
conference will focus on the issues and trends in today’s world as they
relate
to what we can do now for people who have significant disabilities and
their
families.
Conference
Highlights
• 150 peer reviewed session -
topics ranging from; Inclusive Education, Positive Behavior Supports,
Equal
Employment, Health and Wellness and Advocacy
• TASH Exhibits —featuring more
than 30 vendors is the most effective and efficient place to develop
networks
and explore opportunities all in one place at one time.
• Awards Program—Join TASH in
honoring leaders who promote inclusion for people with disabilities.
• TASH TECH
Workshops—Half-day
and full-day in depth sessions on Wednesday, November 17, led by people
who are
making a significant contribution in the human services field.
• Networking Opportunities—designed
for advocates, professionals, families and individuals with disabilities
Check out
the full website at http://www.tash.org/2009tash/about.htm
Thursday, November 26,
2009, in London
Many
Faces of Asperger's
Workshop
with Dale Munro and Lillian Burke
Offered by
Regional Support Associates
Click for
flyer and to register
http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/Adults-AS-RSA-20091126.pdf
November 30-December 6, 2009
Autism2009,
the unique Awares international online autism conference
Run by Adam
Feinstein, editor of Awares, the pioneering website of Autism Cymru, Wales’s national charity for
autism.
Professor
Simon Baron-Cohen calls this “the finest online conference of its type
on the planet.” A unique opportunity to put your questions directly to
some of the world’s top autism authorities.
Topics of
discussion will include: education,
behavioural issues, language impairments, neurology, genetics,
immunology, Asperger’s syndrome, autism in adolescents and adults,
employment, sensory issues, socialising difficulties and related
conditions.
This
conference is open to anyone with an interest in autism: parents,
carers, teachers, clinicians and other professionals, as well as
individuals with autism themselves. You can register for
Autism2009 right now at www.awares.org/conferences For further details,
contact Adam Feinstein at: adam@autismcymru.org
Please note: Adam is
also founder and editor of the monthly international autism newsletter,
Looking Up, launched in 1998. Within its 40 pages, we publish the very
latest research, news and vews from the world of autism. Further
details, as well as selected free articles, can be found on the website
at: www.lookingupautism.org
A smaller, 16-page PDF edition now contains selected articles from the
hard-copy version.
Monday 7 December 2009, 8am-4pm, in Niagara Region
The
Wonder Years: Preparing Individuals with ASD for
Adolescence and Adulthood
Presented
by Autism Ontario and Bethesda
Guest
Speaker: Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Focusing on
key skills that we need to build in
children and the continuing need for increased teaching during
adolescence
while we prepare for adulthood. For service providers,
educators,
researchers, health care professionals and caregivers.
Four
Points by Sheraton, 3530 Schmon Parkway, Thorold, ON L2V 4Y6
Registering:
Preferred
method is online at
www.autismontario.com/niagara - follow the links to
Dr. Peter
Gerhardt Conference. If necessary, please contact Gina Beretta-DeGuire
(see
below).
Early Bird
Cost: Parents
of child with ASD $30 ($45 after Nov 1)
Professionals/Others
$95 ($125 after Nov 1)
Free
parking. Continental Breakfast and Lunch included
Payment: By Cash or Cheque only
– must be received within 30 days
of your registration or by Dec 1/09 whichever is first.
Send to: Autism Ontario – Niagara Chapter, 60 James St. Suite 404, St. Catharines, ON, L2R 7E7 http://www.autismontario.com//client/aso/ao.nsf/Niagara/RCP+workshop+4
Monday 7
December 2009,
evening, in Toronto:
Planned Lifetime Advocacy
Networks (PLAN) Toronto Hosts
Inaugural Gathering
PLAN Toronto is
welcoming members
of the disability community and interested individuals to a night of
learning,
conversation and inspiration to explore the potential and possibilities
of PLAN Toronto. For
over 20 years, PLAN has
supported
individuals with disabilities and their families in planning for and
creating a
safe and secure future. PLAN creates
networks,
develops resources, cultivates innovation and promotes thinking to
foster the
contribution of people who are isolated and marginalized. Click
for poster
If you
wish to attend please RSVP Email: info@plantoronto.ca
Doors
Open: 6:30 pm and
Meeting & Conversation is from 7:00 -
9:00 pm.
Location:
PLAN Toronto Office -
Centre For
Social Innovation.
215
Spadina Avenue, Suite 425, Toronto, ON
Phone:
416-232-9444
Website: www.plantoronto.ca
advance notice
April 19
& 20, 2010,
in Hamilton
Stages of Autism:Adolescence
& Beyond
3rd
BIENNIAL CONFERENCE
Hamilton
Convention Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Registration
opening soon for conference is hosted by Woodview Manor & The
Offord Center
for Child Studies.
Contact Michelle
McIntyre,
Conference Manager for further information: michelle@innoventmanagement.com or 289-237-2033.
You can also check
the Stages of Autism: Adolescence & Beyond Conference
website at www.autism-woodview.com for updates.
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