World Health Organization Autism Resolution: Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders
As stated on the Autism Speaks website on May 23, 2014:"Today the World Health Assembly adopted a formal resolution making autism a global health priority. The assembly is the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO). As such, the resolution brings a formal commitment by member states of the United Nations."133rd session ...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - May 24, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
United Church Observer: Through the Cracks: For Adults With Developmental Disabilities Gaps Remain
The United Church Observer article, Through the cracks, by Kevin Spurgaitis, tackles issues relating to the lack of available care for adults with severe developmental disabilities including autism disorders. Simply by addressing, and shining a spotlight on the lack of places that can provide permanent residential care to those with autism disorders they have helped to address the hard realities faced by many with severe developmental disorders including severe autism. I was interviewed by telephone by Kevin Spurgatis, who was exceptionally courteous and respectful, qualities which show up in t...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - March 21, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Early Autism Identification Breakthrough? That's Funny, Conor Was Diagnosed 16 Years Ago At Age 2!
Above: Conor last month leaving school with his Mom on his 18th birthday Below: Conor 16 years ago on his 2nd birthday. The next day he received his autism diagnosis. Our son Conor recently turned 18. He has an autistic disorder diagnosis. He was originally diagnosed the day after his 2nd birthday. As parents we were concerned about developmental and sensory issues almost 1 year earlier and sought medical advice. At the time neither my wife Heather nor I had heard much about autism but we had observed issues with Conor's development. Conor's brother, 19 months older, had begun speaki...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - March 19, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Research Into Early Autism Interventions - La Trobe University Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC)
Another excellent, thorough discussion from LaTrobe University's Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) focusing this time on early intervention research. "Published on 16 Mar 2014 Dr Kristelle Hudry, Dr Giacomo Vivanti, Dr John McEachin discuss the development and trends of research into early intervention. Topics covered include the neurodiversity v intervention debate, barriers to research into interventions: historical tendency to prefer high functioning autism, lack of understanding about how children learn, lack of sector accepting evidence of research, general lack of scientific culture, ...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - March 18, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Autism Reality Check: Autism Is Not A Person - It Is A Disorder, A Group of Disorders or A Group of Symptoms
Autism is not a person. Autism is defined by some authorities as a disorder, by others as "autisms" or a varied group of complex heterogeneous disorders and by still other authorities as a group of symptoms which together have come to be referred to as "autism". Autism is not, however, a person and because of that indisputable fact it can not sign petitions lobbying government institutions to abolish legislation passed to fight autism. Autism can not oppose the rights of actual persons to be cured or treated for autism and can not oppose the rights of parents and other legal caregivers to seek treatments ...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - March 17, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Stanford Study Provides False Hope For Many Parents, Misrepresents Autism Disorders By Excluding Subjects With Intellectual Disability
A Stanford study which excluded autistic subjects with intellectual disability is being used to spread the false notion that autism is not a disability ... just a difference. This misrepresentation of autism disorders appears in the August 16, 2013 San Jose Mercury News (I added the underlining, HLD):"Autistic kids with math abilities show different brain patternsBy Lisa M. Kriegerlkrieger@mercurynews.com"Stanford researchers have unearthed clues about the formidable brains of some autistic children, suggesting that the diagnosis may signal a different cognitive style, not disability. Superior math skills were found i...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - March 12, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Autistic Children Need Help, Not Delays: Toronto Star Editorial
In Autistic Children Need Help, Not Delays The Toronto Star has spoken out clearly in support of children with autism disorders in Ontario. The Star's message applies in most jurisdictions across Canada. While the Star focuses on Ontario the same logic applies across Canada. Canadians and some conscientious, concerned political leaders including the late Andy Scott from Fredericton, Shawn Murphy from PEI, Glenn Thibeault from Ontario, Peter Stoffer, Nova Scotia, the late Jack Layton and NB Senator Jim Munson spoke out in support of a strong Real National Autism Strategy which, if one had been adopted would have ensur...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - March 9, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Support and Care for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in New Brunswick - The Report of the University of Calgary School of Public Policy
"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological condition estimated to affect as many as one in 88 children. It is now the most common neurological disorder affecting children and one of the most common developmental disabilities. Many individuals living with ASD will need some level of support over their entire lives. In cases where adolescents and adults with severe autism are placed into long-term care or other supported housing arrangements the annual cost of housing, which includes caregiver time, can be $400 per day, amounting to approximately $150,000 a year. Few Canadian families generate...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 28, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
SFARI, Once Again, Continues Misrepresenting High Functioning Autism/Aspergers Only Research As "Autism" Research
SFARI blog article depiction of a resting "Autism" brain accompanying review of study employing only Aspergers subjects as representing "autism" for comparison with non autistic resting brainsSFARI continues its agenda of misrepresenting high functioning autism/aspergers only studies as representing "autism". It has published, on its blog page, several study reviews employing only high functioning autism or Aspergers subjects as "autism" studies, knowing that the "Autism Spectrum Disorder" is marked by substantial variation, complexity, heterogeneity. The World Health Organization, September 2013 indi...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 22, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Parent Observation Based Study: Children With Autism Disorders as Early as 12 Months Display Highly Elevated Range of Repetitive Behaviors
Conclusions"These findings suggest that as early as 12 months of age, a broad range of repetitive behaviors are highly elevated in children who go on to develop ASD. While some degree of repetitive behavior is elemental to typical early development, the extent of these behaviors among children who develop ASD appears highly atypical." Jason J. Wolff1,*, Kelly N. Botteron3, Stephen R. Dager4, Jed T. Elison5, Annette M. Estes6, Hongbin Gu2, Heather C. Hazlett1,2, Juhi Pandey7, Sarah J. Paterson7, Robert T. Schultz7, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum8, Joseph Piven1,2The IBIS Network†Although our son Conor's autism diagnosis was received ...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 21, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
16 Years After Conor's Autism Diagnosis: Lots of Conor Joy But No Progress in Autism Research
Yesterday was Conor's 18th birthday. Today is exactly 16 years after his autism diagnosis, received the day after his second birthday and after several months of testing and observation. Conor, now a young man, is still the happy boy that brings joy to his Mom and Dad, along with many serious challenges, challenges that restrict his life. Here in New Brunswick, Canada, some progress was made by a commitment to evidence based intervention by a determined parent advocacy movement. In the big picture though there has been no meaningful progress and in fact there has been very substantial regression. The regression has ...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 20, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
BC Parents Want Evidence-Based Learning Programs and Supports in ALL BC School Districts
There can be hope for children with autism in BC schools Parents want evidence‐based learning programs and supports established in all B.C. school districts. February 17 2014, Surrey, BC: Recent news stories such as the Seclusion and Restraint report and most recently the story of Susan DeBeck, a Vancouver teacher who claims she was fired for standing up for her students with special needs, shows the education system is in a state of crisis when it comes to providing appropriate supports for students with special needs. A local non‐profit autism support group is reaching ou...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 18, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Proud of Our Conor
Conor looking cool, calm and composed in his grandparents' yard in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley in November. This morning he showed just as much calm while enduring an early morning blood sample needle.We were, once again, very proud of our Conor today. Not for demonstrating some special "autism" skill, not for anything that would be featured in a sensational media story. We were proud because Conor had blood tests scheduled again at the DECH, the local hospital where Conor spent 2 weeks in hospital last year, including 6 days in the Intensive Care Unit. He had blood tests...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 18, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Grandjean and Landrigan Propose a Global Prevention Strategy To Control the Pandemic of Developmental Neurotoxicity
In Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity, published in the Lancet, Dr Philippe Grandjean MD and Philip J Landrigan MD, propose a global prevention strategy to address the impact of developmental neurotoxicants and the increasing numbers of children with developmental disabilities including autism, ADHD and intellectual disabilities. As the article abstract points out the authors had conducted an earlier systematic review and identified five industrial chemicals as developmental neurotoxicants with six additional developmental intoxicants identified since then:Neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism,...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 15, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
Conor's Severe Autism Disorder Challenges: Expectations
Conor and Dad are "Buddies Forever" but when he didn't expect Dad to be home last night he literally refused to look at me when events caused me to change my plans and stay home. He did not expect me to be around last night so ... in his way ... I wasn't. Conor, as I have written many times, is severely autistic. That doesn't stop him from being a happy boy, now a young man, who brings tremendous joy to his Mom and Dad every day. His autism disorder though does not just go away. It is very much present when Conor's expectations are disrupted.Conor is my "Buddy Forever" and when I am go...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - February 6, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: H L Doherty Source Type: blogs
