Autism Blog with Lisa Jo Rudy May 2006 Archive

Is Your Spouse Autistic?
What's it like to live with a spouse on the autism spectrum? If nothing else, it's complex! One reader asks for advice on how to manage her husband's ... Read More

Monday May 29, 2006 | permalink | comments (44)

Spectrum Connections Music Videos
Created by a mom with a child on the autism spectrum, Spectrum Connections music videos introduce emotions and body awareness. What makes a music video for children on the ... Read More

Monday May 29, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Camps and Children on the Autism Spectrum
According to US law, if your school-aged child is likely to lose skills as a result of the summer break, he/she is entitled to services called ESY or "Extended School ... Read More

Sunday May 28, 2006 | permalink | comments (3)

Artists with Disabilities Take Note: A Chance to Exhibit at the Smithsonian!
Do you or your child on the spectrum have a talent for visual arts? If so, you may be interested in an opportunity presented by VSA arts and Volkswagen ... Read More

Friday May 26, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Does the MMR Vaccine Cause Autism?
Many children are diagnosed with autism at about the same time that they receive their first Mumps-Measles-Rubella vaccine. Could the vaccine be to blame for the onset of autism? ... Read More

Thursday May 25, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Child First LLC Videos Help Learners Prepare for Daily Life
It may seem like a simple matter to teach an individual with autism to brush their teeth, wash their hands, or say good morning. In fact, it can be ... Read More

Wednesday May 24, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Dr. Steven Gutstein Will Answer Your Questions About RDI (Relationship Development Intervention)
Relationship Development Intervention, is a relatively new treatment for autism that is gaining momentum and interest. Developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein and his associates, it involves parents and peers ... Read More

Tuesday May 23, 2006 | permalink | comments (17)

Can ABA Cure Autism?
Books like "Let Me Hear Your Voice" by Catherine Maurice suggest that ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) can actually cure autism. But most scientists agree that, to date, there is ... Read More

Monday May 22, 2006 | permalink | comments (4)

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
While there's no doubt that vaccines have saved millions of lives, there are many who wonder whether vaccines are administered safely. The CDC and other major research institutions assure ... Read More

Sunday May 21, 2006 | permalink | comments (8)

Social Skills and Autism: What Interests You?
Since so many people have responded with such energy to my prior blog on social skills, I'm curious as to what content on the subject might be most helpful to ... Read More

Saturday May 20, 2006 | permalink | comments (16)

What Makes Therapy Work?
My late mother once said "Any child who gets positive, 1:1 attention from a loving adult will do better than any child who doesn't." I've thought about this again ... Read More

Friday May 19, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)

Autism and Divorce
When a couple divorces, it's always tough on their children. It can be even tougher when one of the children is autistic. Not only does the autistic child ... Read More

Thursday May 18, 2006 | permalink | comments (18)

Parenting an Adult Child with Asperger Syndrome
As children with Asperger Syndrome grow up, they gain independence -- but even as adults, they may have difficulty interpreting social signals. Sometimes lack of social insight can lead ... Read More

Thursday May 18, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Causes of Autism: Recent Findings
There's a long and winding road ahead when it comes to pinpointing the causes of autism. But in recent years and months, the scientific community has come to consensus ... Read More

Wednesday May 17, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Short Feature Hits Home for Parents of Autistic Children
Autism Speaks has just released a short feature, Autism Every Day. This hard-hitting piece of documentary journalism presents clips from the lives of families coping with the daily challenges ... Read More

Tuesday May 16, 2006 | permalink | comments (4)

Who's Autistic?
Wikipedia, that incredible conglomeration of content on everything from Aardvarks to zooetropes, includes a little article on "People Speculated to Have Been Autistic." While it does include a disclaimer ... Read More

Monday May 15, 2006 | permalink | comments (6)

Can We Really Teach "Social Skills?"
My son has a "social skills" instructor who sits down with a small group of autistic children once a week. Together they work on strategies for managing frustration, handling ... Read More

Sunday May 14, 2006 | permalink | comments (19)

How Much ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) is Enough?
Forty hours a week seems like an awful lot of therapy, especially for a very young child. And it's no joke finding and paying for it -- unless, as ... Read More

Saturday May 13, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)

Researchers Discover Differences in Autistic Brain Activity
According to an article in Nature Magazine, autistic people may not daydream as much as the rest of us. A study conducted by Daniel Kennedy of the University ... Read More

Friday May 12, 2006 | permalink | comments (3)

Making an Autistic Grandchild Welcome
When grandparents live far away, it can be tough to make a real connection with grandchildren. When a grandchild is autistic, that distance can seem overwhelming. How can ... Read More

Thursday May 11, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

New Novel Explores the Lives of Autistic Adults
Last Sunday, NPR radio featured an interview with Kamran Nazeer, author of the memoir Send in the Idiots. The book recalls his days at a school for autistic children. He ... Read More

Wednesday May 10, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Time Magazine Cover Autism Spectrum Disorders
This week's Time Magazine cover story is all about autism and the new research that seems to be slowly uncovering causes and leading to possible treatments. A second ... Read More

Tuesday May 9, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Should a Teen With Asperger Syndrome Try to Act "Normal?"
A teen with Asperger Syndrome is likely to look "odd" to his or her peers. And during adolescence, "odd" can be a social death sentence. But many teens ... Read More

Monday May 8, 2006 | permalink | comments (5)

New CDC Survey Says 300,000 American Schoolchildren are Autistic
A new survey from the CDC confirms what many of us already know: autism is a huge and growing problem. Highlights of the survey findings indicate that between one ... Read More

Saturday May 6, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Questions for an Aspie? Ask Kate Goldfield!
The autism community includes many teens and adults on the spectrum. What are the issues affecting these folks -- and how can parents and supporters make life a little ... Read More

Friday May 5, 2006 | permalink | comments (6)

Autism-Related Gifts for Mom
With Mother's Day just around the corner, it's time to think about gifts... and what could be more appropriate for a mom who gives her all to a child ... Read More

Thursday May 4, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Autism and Adolescence
Coping with adolescence is tough. Coping with adolescence and being autistic is tougher. Being the parent of an autistic adolescent -- now that's probably the toughest job of ... Read More

Wednesday May 3, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

What Is ABA?
ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis is probably the most common and best-researched non-medical treatment available for autism. Based on the theories of behaviorism, ABA uses a reward system to ... Read More

Tuesday May 2, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Tips for Coping with Guilt
Should I attend that autism seminar or have dinner with my husband? Shouldn't I be looking into that new therapy? Does my child have enough speech therapy, occupational ... Read More

Monday May 1, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)