Announcing Autism Works – a national conference on autism and employment. The conference will be Thursday and Friday, March 3 and 4, 2011, at the Sheraton Westport Hotel in St. Louis, MO. The conference will bring together the disability employment services community (vocational rehabilitation) and autism community to learn from each other and improve employment options for adults with autism. Topics will include: understanding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process, what VR counselors need to know about autism, job development and work-place supports, funding possibilities for employment supports, and insights from working youth with autism. The University of Missouri’s Disability Policy and Studies office, along with Integrated Behavioral Systems, is presenting this national conference. Registration rates and info: $205 2 Day $125 1 Day $180 2 Day Student Rate $105 1 Day Student Rate Agenda [PDF]: dps.missouri.edu/Autism/FBimages/AWAgenda.pdf Website: dps.missouri.edu/Autism.html?cmpGAS Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Works/136057253090452 Articles from the conference: Is Short-Term Job Coaching Practical…
Year: 2011
Hartley Steiner www.hartleysboys.com Recently I have seen a rise in the number of articles, Facebook posts, and even tweets claiming to define Sensory Processing Disorder. This should be good news, and it is — mostly. But, some of it is misinformation. Although I am thankful anyone wants to help spread awareness, it frustrates me personally that these people could very well be doing more harm than good. I have dedicated a large portion of my life to spreading awareness that will hopefully benefit kids like mine — all over our country and arguably the world. I would really like to see good, solid, accurate information. Wouldn’t you? It is with that goal in mind — to educate and help — I am taking a stab at answering the increasingly popular question, “What is Sensory Processing Disorder?” My answer, and this article, is specifically geared towards helping parents with SPD kids…
We are so pleased to announce an addition to the editorial team at The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism; Carol A. Greenburg will join our efforts here as an additional resource and editor. We are honored to have her rich experience and important perspective as part of our team. We’re thrilled she was able to add TPGA to her very active life, and our community is lucky to have such a great advocate. Please join us in welcoming Carol. **** Carol Greenburg, executive director of Brooklyn Special Needs Consulting, is a special education consultant and lay advocate in private practice serving the five boroughs of NYC and beyond. Her unique perspective as an adult with Aspergers Syndrome and as the mother of a severely language-delayed autistic child, informs all of her work. In September, she was appointed the East Coast Regional Director of Autism Women’s Network (www.autismwomensnetwork.com) A frequent speaker at…
L.C. Horn lastcrazyhorn.wordpress.com Let me set up a scenario for you. Imagine first that you’re a kid, maybe eleven or twelve, possibly thirteen. You have Asperger’s syndrome, which means that your social skills are impaired already; plus you’re a preteen/young teen, which means that the rules for your social world are constantly in flux. But as of yet, you’re not diagnosed; nor has anyone in your life ever heard the word “Asperger’s,” nor would they know what it means. As if that weren’t bad enough, you’re a girl who is more of a tomboy, who doesn’t see the point in following the social rules or norms, either because it seems like a waste of time, or you’re just mostly oblivious to their existence in the first place. Most kids don’t like you very much. You don’t know why. Vaguely, you understand that there is something about your being that offends…
Liz Ditz http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/ http://lizditz.typepad.com/academic_remediation/ I have been thinking about this issue, and this post, for several days now, since a friend who is a science blogger sent on an email from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) about yesterday’s revelations alleging Andrew Wakefield’s fraud. I couldn’t speak or write about it, as the BMJ had strongly requested that the story not be made public (“embargoed”) until 4 pm January 5 2001 PST. That email had links to the full text of editorial, article, and references revealed yesterday. As I studied the material and references, one of the things that I kept in mind was the community that has grown up here at The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, and how we have managed to keep talking through differences of points of view and of opinion. I treasure that continued conversation and I believe it is one of the most valuable things…
Jess at Diary of a Mom www.adiaryofamom.wordpress.com A couple of years ago, I had a pretty incredible opportunity. I’d very recently found my voice as an advocate for my beautiful daughter, then just five years old, and so many like her who struggle daily with the challenges of autism. I had spoken publicly just once before, yet I found myself being asked to guest-lecture to a group of prospective neuro-psychs at MIT. I was terrified, but I knew there was no possibility of saying no. What follows is the post that I wrote about the experience. I share it here for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because I’d be hard-pressed to believe that I am the only one who needs the reminder that as parents, our experiences with our children are just as valid and valuable as the knowledge gained by scientists in a lab – no matter how esteemed…