The Autism Education Site

New Study Examines Early Functional Play and Autism

Melissa — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:00:47 +0000

A new research study has been published as an online preview in The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. In the new study, researchers conducted a 4-minute observation of 18 month old siblings of children with autism and a typically-developing control group. Differences in early functional play were noted among the siblings that eventually received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

Overall, the survey showed that infant siblings of children on the autism spectrum that eventually went on to receive an ASD diagnosis themselves (ASD sibling group) had more repeated play behaviors and fewer functional play behaviors than the typically-developing control group. However, both groups scored similarly in the symbolic play area, which is likely due to their age.

Read my complete summary: Early Functional Play’s Relationship to Autism

Support the Arizona Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force – SB1181

Melissa — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:58:25 +0000

Tomorrow, the Arizona State Senate Health Committee will hear SB1181 – the Arizona Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force – for the first time. The hearing is scheduled for 9:00 am. If you live in Arizona, contact your State Senator to show your support for this task force. Details about the purpose of the task force follow.

REFERENCE TITLE: autism spectrum disorder task force

State of Arizona
Senate
Forty-ninth Legislature
Second Regular Session
2010

SB 1181

Introduced by Senators Aguirre, Leff: Aboud, Allen C, Burton Cahill, Lopez; Representatives Goodale, Jones, Pancrazi

AN ACT

Establishing the autism spectrum disorder task force.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Autism spectrum disorder task force; membership; duties; reports; delayed repeal

A. The autism spectrum disorder task force is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who represent different political parties.

2. Two members of the house of representative who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who represent different political parties.

3. The director of the department of economic security or the director’s designee.

4. The director of the department of health services or the director’s designee.

5. The director of the Arizona health care cost containment system administration or the director’s designee.

6. The superintendant of public instruction or the superintendant’s designee.

7. One employee of a school district in this state who oversees special education services. The president of the senate shall appoint this member.

8. One representative of an organization in this state that advocates for persons with autism spectrum disorder. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint this member.

9. One representative of an organization in this state that provides services to persons with autism spectrum disorder. The president of the senate shall appoint this member.

10. One parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint this member.

11. An adult who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The president of the senate shall appoint this member.

12. A developmental pediatrician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who has expertise in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint this member.

13. A behavior analyst who has expertise in autism spectrum disorder. The president of the senate shall appoint this member.

14. A faculty member of a university under the jurisdiction of the board of regents. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint this member.

15. A member of the business community. The president of the senate shall appoint this member.

B. The task force shall:

1. Review the coordination of services provided by state agencies, schools and organizations relating to the treatment of persons with autism spectrum disorder, including resources available to the families and other caregivers of persons with autism spectrum disorder.

2. Identify problems and recommend solutions regarding the availability of services to persons with autism spectrum disorder and their families and caregivers and the efficient delivery and coordination of those services.

3. Identify current funding sources for services provided to persons with autism spectrum disorder and determine if there are additional available federal or other funding sources that are not being used.

4. Identify and recommend opportunities for the sharing of resources of services to persons with autism spectrum disorder, including partnerships between the public and private sectors.

5. Identify evidence-based treatments and best practices for autism spectrum disorder.

6. Identify state models and service systems for persons with autism spectrum disorder.

7. Submit to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives an interim report of its findings and recommendations on or before June 30, 2011 and a final report of its findings and recommendations on or before December 15, 2011. The task force shall provide a copy of its interim and final reports to the secretary of state.

C. Task force members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members appointed pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

D. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2012.

Registration Opens for 2010 ARI/DAN! Spring Conference in Baltimore

Melissa — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:00:38 +0000

If you’re planning to attend the 2010 Autism Research Institute/Defeat Autism Now! Spring Conference in Baltimore, you can now register and take advantage of the early bird discount available.

The Autism Research Institute and Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) will host its 2010 Spring Conference on April 8-11, 2010 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference will feature level one and level two clinician seminars, a nutrition seminar, and both science and parent workshop tracks.

This conference is geared towards that support the use of biomedical interventions to treat autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Kenneth Bock (author of Healing the New Childhood Epidemics) and Doreen Granpeesheh of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) will be speaking at the event along with many other well known supporters of the biomedical approach to autism.

Details on Walk Now for Autism Speaks Events in California and Florida

Melissa — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:19:13 +0000

Walk Now for Autism, a series of fundraising events that are part of the Autism Speaks organization, has raised more than $27 million in donations for its 2009-2010 events. The events not only raise funds for autism research but they also help to raise autism awareness.

The following Walk Now for Autism events are scheduled for California and Florida in 2010.

Miss Ivory Coast Raises Autism Awareness in Africa

Melissa — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:57 +0000

Autism awareness in the United States is a prominent focus of autism organizations, parents, teachers, and professionals that work with individuals on the autism spectrum. However, autism awareness is an emerging trend in many parts of the world, include countries on the continent of Africa. Miss Ivory Coast, the mother of a child on the autism spectrum, is working to raise autism awareness in Africa through the Autism Community of Africa organization.

Kirkman Labs is Recalling Products Due to Antimony Levels

Melissa — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:32:11 +0000

The following is a letter that Kirkman Labs sent to its distributors. Kirkman Labs is one of the most frequently used sources for supplements used in the biomedical treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

Dec 30, 2009

Dear Kirkman Distributor,

It has come to Kirkman’s attention that a raw material supplier has been supplying Kirkman with substandard quality material that is higher in antimony content than what would be considered acceptable to the special needs community. Raw material supplier are actually not required to test for antimony levels routinely, so this problem did not come to our attention until a physician using Kirkman products brought the issue to our attention. We immediately had our laboratory research the issue which they quickly isolated and linked it to a specific raw material.

We have stopped using this material and have located and purchased a quality replacement which we will begin using immediately.

We are asking that if you have any of the following products which utilized this material in your inventory, that you destroy the products and request credit or replacement with new lots when they become available. Call Kirkman customer service to make these requests. The products involved include all lots of the following products:

1. Zinc Liquid Product #387/8 and 387/16
2. Super Nu-Thera w/o A and D Product #447/454
3. DMAE 50 mg. Chewable Product # 489/90
4. Super Nu-Thera Powder-Orange Product # 410/454
5. B Complex Powder Pro Support Product # 399/7
6. TMG w/ Folinic and B-12 Powder Product #413/4 and 389/250
7. Chewable Vitamin C Tablets Product #389/100 and 389/250

Kirkman regrets the inconvenience associated with this issue, but Kirkman will not compromise our quality standards that we have stood for throughout our existence.

Sincerely,

Larry Newman
COO Technical and Regulatory Affairs

Evidently the stevia in these products is the source of the higher than desired level of antimony. This information was not originally posted on the Kirkman Labs website but it was making the rounds on autism message boards. The Kirkman Labs website is now updated with this important information.

Wrightslaw Special Education Law Conferences – 1Q 2010

Melissa — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:24 +0000

Although the Wrightslaw conferences aren’t specific to autism spectrum disorders, they are one of the best resources available for parents that want to learn more about special education law. The more you know about IDEA 2004, 504s, IEPs, etc, the better advocate you can be for your child. The following is a list of the Wrightslaw Special Education Law Conferences scheduled in the first quarter of 2010.

January 15, 2010: Tampa, Florida
March 18, 2010: Lake Charles, LA
March 20, 2010: Wheaton, IL
March 25, 2010: Bakersfield, CA
March 27, 2010: Grand Rapids, MI

Registration is limited at most of these events so early registration is key. For more information, visit the Wrightslaw website.

A List of Autism Conferences in 2010

Melissa — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:00:05 +0000

I recently wrote an article for Suite 101 with details about several autism conferences in 2010 including the Autism Society of America’s National Conference and Expo, the Defeat Autism Now!/Autism Research Institute conferences, as well as the Autism Today conference in Canada. I am following up here with a more comprehensive listing of autism conferences in 2010.

JANUARY

January 12, 2010 – Dr. Stephen Shore: Understanding Asperger’s and Self-Advocacy and Self-Disclosure in Lenox, MA. Call Jon Hed at (413) 243-0710 xt 22 for more information.

January 22, 2010 – Future Horizons’ Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome Conference in Atlanta, GA. (800) 489-0727

January 22-24, 2010 – Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) 4th Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. (269) 492-9310.

January 24, 2010 – Milestones Family & Professional Workshop: Early Learn “Catch Up” Strategies Part 1 – Social Skills in Beachwood, OH. (216) 464-7600

January 29-31, 2010 – 17th Annual Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) Conference in Lake Mary, FL. Call Laurie at (888) 558-1908 for more information.

January 30-31, 2010 Milestones Respite Training: Using Behavioral Strategies in Beachwood, OH. (216) 464-7600

FEBRUARY

February 5, 2010 – Future Horizons’ Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome Conference in Austin, TX. (800) 489-0727

February 6-7, 2010 – Defeat Autism Now! Winter 2010 Clinician’s Conference in Tampa, FL. (877) 644-1184

February 6-7, 2010 – 4th Annual Anaheim Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Anaheim, CA. (562) 804-5516 or (480) 831-2047

February 17-20, 2010 – 47th Annual Learning Disabilities Association of America International Conference in Baltimore, MD. (412) 341-1515

February 18-20, 2010 – California Association for Behavior Analysis 28th Annual Conference in Irvine, CA. conference@calaba.org

February 19, 2010 – Perspectives on Autism: Family is Important in Rockville, MD. (866) 326-4864

February 26, 2010 – Future Horizons’ Sensory Conference in New Orleans, LA. (800) 489-0727

MARCH

March 26-28, 2010 – Autism Today: Hope, Healing & Possibilities: A Comprehensive Approach to Treating Autism in Edmonton, Alberta. (866) 928-8476

APRIL

April 8-11, 2010 – Defeat Autism Now! Spring 2010 Conference for Parents, Caregivers & Clinicians in Baltimore, MD. (877) 644-1184

April 30, 2010 – Green Tree Partnerships & La Salle University’s Autism Spectrum Disorder: Focus on the Family conference in Philadelphia, PA. (215) 843-4528

MAY

May 14, 2010 – Future Horizons’ Sensory Conference in Baltimore, MD. (800) 489-0727

May 24-30, 2010 – AutismOne/Generation Rescue 2010 Conference in Chicago, IL.

JUNE

June 22, 2010 – Milestones Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Cleveland, OH. (216) 464-7600.

JULY

July 7-10, 2010 – Autism Society of America’s 2010 National Conference and Expo in Dallas, TX. (800) 328-8476

July 22-23, 2010 – Future Horizons’ Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome SuperConference in Dixon, IL. (800) 489-0727

AUGUST

August 13-14, 2010 – Pasadena “Back to School” Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Pasadena, CA. (562) 804-5516 or (480) 831-2047

SEPTEMBER

September 18-19, 2010 – Arizona “Back to School” Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Phoenix, AZ. (562) 804-5516 or (480) 831-2047

OCTOBER

October 7-10, 2010 – Defeat Autism Now! Fall 2010 Conference for Parents, Caregivers & Clinicians in Long Beach, CA. (877) 644-1184

NOVEMBER

Do you have a November 2010 autism conference to submit? Please contact me.

DECEMBER

Do you have a December 2010 autism conference to submit? Please contact me.

FALL 2010

Date TBD – 3rd Annual New York City Autism/Asperger’s Conference – Educating & Healing Children with Autism. (562) 804-5516 or (480) 831-2047

If you know of a conference not listed here, please contact me so that I can include it in my list. Thanks!

Autism Speaks UK is Now Autistica

Melissa — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:00:45 +0000

AUTISM SPEAKS IN THE U.K. ANNOUNCES A CHANGE IN NAME TO AUTISTICA

Autistica Will Continue to Collaborate with Autism Speaks U.S. on Autism Research and Other Issues of Mutual Interest

UK charity Autism Speaks and charity of the same name in the United States are pleased to announce that the former will be renamed Autistica with effect from 1 January 2010. The UK charity has adopted as its positioning statement “Science in the Service of Autism”.

The two charities are linked by a common interest in raising funds for and funding biomedical research into the causes and treatment of autism, and have been fully separate and independent entities since March 2007. The American charity is as well known both domestically and internationally for the advocacy work that its name implies as for the biomedical research it funds. The British charity continues to be focussed entirely upon biomedical research and so its new identity is one which better reflects this core purpose. The change takes place at the end of 2009 and is effective from 1 January 2010. The two organisations will continue to collaborate as now in areas of shared interest, which include a number of collaborative international research projects in the fields of autism genetics, the study of baby siblings of children with autism and brain studies.

Hilary Gilfoy, chief executive of Autistica said, “We are grateful to our American colleagues in Autism Speaks for the support which they have given us during our first five years. This arrangement allowed us to benefit from their robust research template and funding experience. The change of name acknowledges that, with their help, we are now a mature organisation able to stand on our own two feet and establish our own identity. We are looking forward to continuing our shared interest in research.”

Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks, said, “We are delighted that the UK charity has become a recognised funder of autism research in its own right, and fully agree that the time has come when its independent status and separate identity should be reflected in its name. Progress in research relies on international collaboration between researchers and funders and we will continue jointly to encourage and develop this. We wish Autistica every success.”

Founder and now president of the UK charity, Dame Stephanie Shirley, said, “I am delighted that we have been able to increase funding for autism research in the UK by following the example of the pioneering families in the United States who first inspired me and then supported me in creating the UK charity. I am sure Autistica will continue to go from strength to strength and I am proud that my own Shirley Foundation will be supporting the charity under its new name by meeting its core costs until 2012.”

$1.25 Million Fine for Lead-Tainted Thomas the Train Toys

Melissa — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:21:20 +0000

While this release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) isn’t specifically about autism, I know that many children on the autism spectrum are fascinated with Thomas the Train. Many of the toys were recalled due to lead content but the company is now facing a $1.25 million civil penalty for the lead-tainted toys.

Below is the full release from the U.S. CPSC

RC2 Corp. to Pay $1.25 Million Civil Penalty
Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway Toys Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of its commitment to protecting the safety of children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill. has agreed to pay a $1.25 million civil penalty for allegedly violating the federal lead paint ban.

The penalty settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolves CPSC staff allegations that RC2 Corp. and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries Learning Curve Brands Inc., knowingly (as defined by the Consumer Product Safety Act) imported and sold various Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway toys with paints or other surface coatings that contained lead levels above legal limits. In 1978, a federal ban was put in place which prohibited toys and other children’s articles from having more than 0.06 percent lead (by weight) in paints or surface coatings. As a result of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the regulatory limit was reduced to 0.009 percent on August 14, 2009.

CPSC staff alleged that RC2 failed to take adequate action to ensure that the toys would comply with the lead paint ban. This failure created a risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to children.

In May 2007, RC2 reported that more than two dozen styles of vehicles, buildings and other train set components from the Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway product line were determined to have paints with lead levels that exceeded the then-applicable regulatory limit of 0.06 percent. Later, in August and September 2007, RC2 further reported that five additional toys from this product line were determined to have exceeded this limit.

This civil penalty settles the following allegations:

* RC2 imported up to 1.5 million units of non-compliant Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway toys between January 2005 and June 2007, and distributed them to its retail customers for sale to U.S. consumers. These toys were recalled in June 2007.

* RC2 imported up to 200,000 units of five additional non-compliant toys from this product line between March 2003 and April 2007, and distributed them to its retail customers for sale to U.S. consumers. In September 2007, the original June 2007 recall was expanded to include these additional units.

“The highly publicized recall of Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway toys was a catalyst for Congressional action aimed at strengthening CPSC and making the lead-in-paint limits under federal law even stricter,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

This settlement also resolves other potential matters. In agreeing to the settlement, RC2 denies that it knowingly violated federal law, as alleged by CPSC staff.