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AUTISM FIRST STEPS
AUTISM DAILY NEWSLETTER
Monday, December 3, 2001
INDEX:
* MEET AND HEAR AUTHOR, SPEAKER, FOUNDER and
PRESIDENT OF THE
GEORGIANA INSTITUTE ANNABEL STEHLI
* What is
Auditory Integration Training?
* We have another mom who is carrying the Olympic
Torch on the West
Coast to honor the caregivers of autism!!!!!!
* Autistic
kids swell school costs
* Wakefield:
Great Feuds in Medicine (a book)
* CESC
announces PLAY STEPS in Tallahasee, FL
* Attention
Mom's with kids who receive special education services in
Livingston County
* Letter
writing Campaign for Dr Andrew Wakefield
* Contact
Brent Taylor Regarding DR Andrew Wakefield
* Contact
Autism Awakening For a Story Submission response to
the
dismissal of Dr Wakefiled
* Parent
Letter: Dear Parents, Professionals, and Andrew Wakefield,
* Play
Step Announces Name Change
******************************
MEET AND HEAR AUTHOR, SPEAKER,
FOUNDER and PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIANA INSTITUTE ANNABEL STEHLI
Thursday, December 20, 2001 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Ms. Stehli-author of The Sound of a Miracle, A Child's Triumph over Autism
(Doubleday, 1999) and Dancing in the Rain, Stories by Parents of Children with
Special Needs (1995). She has appeared on ABC 20/20 and Larry King Live, and
has been the subject of many magazine and newspaper articles nationally and
worldwide.
The "miracle" in Ms. Stehli's book refers to the progress made by
Georgie, her child who had been diagnosed with autism, and, as a result of a
therapy called AUDITORY INTEGRATION TRAINING, Georgie, and many other children
have improved markedly. Georgie is now a healthy, happily married, employed,
well educated young woman. She is the author of Overcoming Autism
Developed thirty years ago in France by ear, nose and throat specialist Guy
Berard, M.D., AUDITORY INTEGRATION TRAINING is an intensive language and
hearing therapy which addresses impairments in auditory discrimination or
abnormal auditory perception associated with a variety of sensory integration,
learning and behavioral disorders.
Ms. Stehli and her husband, Peter, founded THE GEORGIANA INSTITUTE in 1992 to
educate the public about the benefits of Auditory Integration Training (AIT).
Under its aegis, Dr. Berard taught and certified professionals in the field of
special needs as auditory training practitioners. The Stehli's have received
thousands of inquiries since the book The Sound of a Miracle was published. Ms.
Stehli is also on the Board of Advisors of P.E.P. (Parents for Exceptional
progress) in Baton Rouge and the founder of P.E.P. in Connecticut. PEP is a
parent support group focusing on exploring interventions and strategies that
lead to exceptional progress for exceptional children.
Sponsored by
T.Silverman, Training and Consultation
Terrie Silverman, M.S. Speech/Language Pathologist, Behavior Specialist and
Auditory Integration Training Therapist
And Presented By
The Inland Parent Support Group of the North County Chapter of the Autism
Society of America
******************************
What is Auditory Integration
Training?
A.I.T. is a noninvasive therapy which helps people to hear all frequencies more
evenly, to improve in the processing of auditory input, and to decrease hyper
or hypo-sensitivity to environmental and speech sounds. For 10 days, twice a
day for a half hour each time, individuals listen to electronically modulated
music through headphones. AIT has been helpful with individuals who have
autism, PDD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, central auditory processing
disorders and hearing sensitivities. Ms. Silverman regularly holds A.I.T.
sessions in the San Diego area, the next session is scheduled for December
22-31, 2001 in LaJolla.
Location: Penasquitos Lutheran Church Rooms C 201 and C202
Address: 14484 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego
Directions: Take I-15, exit at Carmel Mtn Road, proceed west; Turn right on
Penasquitos Drive (1st signal after clearing the freeway); Turn left into the
church parking lot, which is directly opposite the Double Tree Hotel.
The presentation and discussion is open to the public.
There will be a small charge of $5.00 per person at the door. Pre-registration
is NOT NECESSARY or RECOMMENDED
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A.I.T. and sessions in the San Diego area, please
contact Terrie Silverman at 262-569-7828 or terries@execpc.com
******************************
We have another mom who is
carrying the Olympic Torch on the
West Coast to honor the caregivers of autism!
Hooray!!! This is great!
I also accepted a nomination to carry the torch, but
my nomination was on behalf of, and in honor of, all
the caregivers of autists (my autistic son is 9). The
caregivers are often forgotten, so I was honored to be
a representative for them.
I am so glad that we will be getting autism awareness
on the East and the West coast! I will be carrying
the torch in Chula Vista (San Diego), CA on January
14, 2002.
Crystal Fernando
******************************
Autistic kids swell school costs
Youths with disorder soar, boost need for specialized teachers
By Mike Wowk / The Detroit News
Autism facts
* Autism is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive
behavior, inability to interact socially, self-absorption and language
dysfunction.
* There is no known cause of the disorder. Suspected causes
include toxic chemicals, viruses, diet and genes. A substance found in some
common childhood vaccines, which some parents think causes autism, was recently
pulled off the market.
Student census
The number of students in autistic programs is counted each December. YearWayneOaklandMacomb
1996 501328166
1997 541391178
1998 731484187
1999 831520205
2000 965641238
2001 more than 1,000 (est.)n/a256
Sources: Intermediate school districts in the three counties.
Note: Macomb County figures are only for students enrolled in
autistic programs operated by the intermediate school district. They do not
include autistic students enrolled in local schools. Michael DeVault, Macomb
intermediate district superintendent, estimates total number of autistic
students in Macomb County has increased 300 percent in last five years.
Comment
on this story Editor Of Autism First Steps request you
submit comments to the editor, I also was a little distirbed by this one.
SHELBY TOWNSHIP -- The number of children with autism is skyrocketing in Metro Detroit,
straining public schools as they struggle to find qualified teachers and more
classrooms.
Oakland County had 200 students certified as autistic impaired in
1995. By December 2000, they had 641. In Macomb, the autistic program had 24
students in 1984. Today, it has 258.
For years, the number of autistic children in Wayne County
remained steady at about 200 a year. In 1996, it jumped to 500. This year, it's
expected to reach 1,000.
Autism is a neurological disorder characterized by
self-absorption, inability to socially interact, repetitive behavior and social
dysfunction.
"Autism was once rare, perhaps only one or two of every
10,000 births," said Sally Burton-Hoyle, executive director of the Autism
Society of Michigan. "Now, it may be as many as one in every 500."
While medical professionals try to pinpoint the reason for the
surge here and nationwide, Metro Detroit schools look for ways to pay the costs
of educating autistic children, at the same time as they're dealing with a
shortage of teachers in the field.
Autistic students attend school 213 days a year, compared to only
about 180 for most students. With that extra time, plus the specialized
teachers, comes extra costs.
It costs $20,000 to $25,000 a year to educate an autistic student,
compared to the roughly $7,000 a year for a regular education student, said Don
Bollinger, associate superintendent of the Macomb Intermediate School District.
Metro Detroit school officials say the increase in numbers of
autistic students is one reason why they're going to voters this year and next
for tax increases for special education.
Oakland County voters in September approved a 1-mill tax increase
for special education. Macomb County residents will vote on a similar proposal
on Dec. 10, and Wayne County officials say they're planning a countywide vote
on special education next year.
Elusive
cause
The cause of autism has remained elusive for medical professionals
and parents alike.
Julia Topalian's first 12 months of life were as normal as that of
any child.
"I had no difficulties in the pregnancy or the
delivery," said her mother, Michele Topalian of Shelby Township, "and
she was a normal baby. But, after about a year, we started noticing the first
symptoms."
Julia, now 7, appeared not to hear directions, even though her
hearing tested as normal. More doctors were consulted. The diagnosis: autism, a
neurological disorder with no easily identifiable cause.
"I wish I could (pinpoint) a reason as the cause, but I don't
have any," Topalian said.
Toxic chemicals, like mercury, viruses, drugs and dietary changes
are suspected as possible causes. And experts attribute better medical
diagnoses and more liberal guidelines by state education departments in
defining autism as reasons for the growing numbers.
Some also attribute the increase to a desire by parents to pin the
more politically acceptable label of autistic, rather than mentally impaired, on
their children.
"There was a change in the definition of autism a few years
ago that made it easier for more children to qualify (as autistics),"
noted Luke Tsai, a psychiatrist at a University of Michigan clinic that treats
autistic children.
Teacher
training
Finding teachers trained to work with autistic children is one of
the biggest challenges for school districts.
In Oakland County, only about half of the teachers in autistic
classrooms are formally certified in that field. The county would like to hire
more, but they're not available.
Until recently, only one Michigan college, Oakland University in
Auburn Hills, certified teachers to work with autistic students. Now, several
other colleges, including Wayne State, Central Michigan and Grand Valley State,
have started a consortium to help train autistic-certified teachers.
The curriculum consists of six courses, plus student teaching,
that comes only after a teacher is already certified for special education.
"The biggest problem is the teacher shortage," said
Kathryn Mathey, director of special education for the Wayne County Regional
Educational Service Agency. "We have the instructors from Oakland
University come here to our building to offer the entire autistic curriculum here."
Kathleen Golinski, director of special education for Oakland
County's intermediate school district, said districts compete with each other
to hire away autistic specialists to handle the load.
"The turnover is incredible. I'd estimate close to 50 percent
of our staff are (teaching) students who are there under emergency
approval," Golinski said.
Macomb
program
Terry Maley of Shelby Township said her daughter, Samantha, 7,
showed no signs of autism until she turned about 15 months old. Now, she
attends Wilde Elementary School, one of 14 sites where the Macomb Intermediate
School District operates classes for autistic students.
"Samantha's teachers at Wilde are fabulous. The Macomb
program is one of the best I've seen," Terry Maley said.
Marge Stoi started in 1984 as a teacher of the autistic for the
Macomb Intermediate School District. She now directs the program.
"Of the 258 children in the program, 150 are 3 to 10 years
old," she said.
Autistic children have little social interaction with other people
and seem to ignore sensory stimuli to which most children would respond. So at
Wilde, students like Julia Topalian and Samantha Maley are exposed to a variety
of mostly visual stimuli.
In general classrooms, a day's lesson plan might be a list of
words or sentences. In the Wilde autistic classroom, it's a series of pictures.
A paintbrush and easel means it's art period. A book represents a reading
period. A picture of a school bus means it's time to go home.
"We set up activities to help develop skills that other kids
pick up naturally," said Denise Jackson, assistant director of the Macomb
autistic program.
You can reach Mike Wowk at (586) 468-0343 or mwowk@detnews.com.
http://www.detnews.com/2001/schools/0112/03/a01-357716.htm
REGARDING THIS STORY
Note From the Editor Of Autism FIrst Steps Newsletter:
I want my readers and visitors to know that I do not agree with this story, and
have a few dificulties with the facts presented within this artical content, I
do not believe that they depict autism in the light we have now proved to know
autism as. They say nothing about autism and the metabolic connection nor are
they calling it a medical condition. Experts from around the world in 2001 have
requested autism to be known in this light. Yes Autism does have developmental
and sensory complications. I also See many stistical errors ( Currently
is is 1-150 individuals with autism). If you have any comments on this story
and would like to submit it. Please E-mail: AutismAwakening@aol.com
Here are some of the most recent stastics on autism:
As a result of autism, an estimated 400,000-500,00 Americans have lost the
ability
to communicate and interact with others.
This year has been determined that 1 out of 53 babies born in the United States
would later be diagnosed with One of the Autism Spectrum Disorders.
In Iowa we have over 3000-4,000 individuals affected by autism.
Dr. Marie Bristol-Powers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development stated that in more recent studies, the prevalence is much higher
and that autism spectrum disorder is not rare. In fact, it is a pressing
health problem
The recently released Center for Disease Control and Prevention report found
that autism spectrum disorder occurred in one in every 150 children
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment will be
55.9 million by 2005, 280,000 students with autism spectrum disorder! At least
800,000 educational personnel are needed to serve these students.
Today Autism Spectrum disorders is even more common then Downs syndrome,
Diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, and many forms of childhood
cancer.
Caring for people afflicted with autism costs more than $13 billion per year,
and the majority of these costs are borne by the families of the victims
of autism. These parents have sacrificed tremendously to provide the
specialized education and support services that their children need.
******************************
Wakefield: Great Feuds in
Medicine (a book)
Probably, in the long-run, Andy Wakefield's departure from the Royal Free
Hospital and its parent corporations will be a blessing -- even as his changing
circumstances will be challenging for him for some time to come. Semmelweiss
descended into depressive-despair after challenging existing protocol and
beliefs while making political-enemies in the process. In contrast, Dr.
Wakefield is a fine person, a truly honest researcher who has placed
actual-findings and their probable significance above politically correct
"science" and will have the strength to move forwards in positive,
significant ways.
An informative book about scientists' and science-bureaucracies' viciousness
towards "boat rockers" is Hal Hellman's Great Feuds in Medicine (1).
In recent days, I've found myself wondering: since vaccinal-strains of measles
virus are finding their way into gi tissue of many autism-spectrum children,
what physiological processes would have led to that occurrence? One possible
answer:might be impaired NK function (for whatever reason).
Donations to Dr. Wakefield and his research can be made c/o Autism Autoimmunity
Project
http://www.gti.net/truegrit/
For some photos of Andy with kids and parents:
http://casiquest.org/
Teresa
who holds Andy Wakefield, M.D., in high regard.
1. Great Feuds in Medicine:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471347574/qid=1007338595/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_20_1/102-0232977-7725722
For similar events in regard to science and environmental policies:
Science under siege (by Todd Wilkinson)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1555662110/qid=1007338761/sr=1-13/ref=sr_1_14_13/102-0232977-7725722
******************************
CESC announces PLAY STEPS in
Tallahasee, FL
The Center for Enabling Special Children (CESC) in Tallahassee, FL is proud to
annouce it's new play group, Play Steps. Our goal is to teach chidlren wwith
autism appropriate play, social, and communication skills through the use of
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and inlcusion with typical peers.
Chidlren will be paired (1:1) with typical peers to provide them with a social
model to follow. Our trained staff will facilitate your child to promote
appropriate play, social, and communication skills. The playgroup is divided
into rotating centers (15mins at each center). The following are centers which
will be provided:
Sensory-An Occupational Therapist trained in Verbal Behavior will engage
children in a variety of sensory experiences that your child can share with
their typical peers.
Music- Music center will help your child learn skills through music and
movement. Your child is given the opportunity to engage in a small group
activity and learn the social roles played in group settings.
Games- A variety of games will be provided to assit the child in playing games
with other children. Games will be age and skill appropriate. Children will
learn the rules of turn-taking as well as increase their ability to communicate
with others.
Toy Play- Through the use of everyday, age-appropriate toys, your child will
learn appropriate use of toys. Toys are a vehicle for learning and creating
social avenues from which children enhance their knowledge about their
environment.
Games with Rules- Your child will learn how to play games such as kick ball,
t-ball, duck-duck-goose, and many others appropriate to their age and skills.
Classroom skills- Based on skill and age level, chidlren will be given the
opportunity to practice classroom social skills within a small group setting.
Children will learn skills such as sitting appropriately, raising their hand,
and responding to a central instructor. Typcal children provide a model for
your child to follow.
Snack- Snack time is wonderful place to promote communication skills. Typical
peers will engage your child in appropriate communication (i.e., asking peers
for snack, juice, etc.).
PLAY GROUP SESSIONS
Applications are now being taken (1st come 1st serve basis) for children with
autism and related disorders. Children must be between ages of 4 and 12 years
of age.
Play groups will be offerred in 2-hour sesions. Parents are encouraged to
enroll their child in 2-hour sessions, however 1-hour sesions are available.
A $25 enrollment fee will include assessment and goal development for your
child
Cost is $30 per hour. Siblings are welcome as typical peers at no cost.
Assessment based on Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS).
ABLLS will be used as a pre- and post-test to measure progress on your child's
goals
Session starts January 14, 2002
For more information contact by email:
Shauna Hazlitt, M.Ed.
autism24@aol.com
******************************
er
Attention Mom's with kids who
receive
special education services in Livingston County
It's Time for.....
MOM'S NIGHT OUT!!!
Let's unwind before the holidays hit
full force!!!
Tuesday, December 18,
2001
at
Lou & Carl's
in
Brighton
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Please contact Anne Richardson
at atrichardson@mediaone.net or
810-227-7035
if you are able to join us.
Hope to see you there!!!
******************************
Letter writing Campaign for Dr
Andrew Wakefield
"Letters do count" help Dr. Andrew Wakefield
"Letters do count" and I know that all of us want
to
help Dr. Andrew Wakefield in any way we can. What better way then
A Letter writing Campaign? Maybe if enough letters come in they will
change their mind. If not at least they will sure get the idea that
Dr. Wakefield has people from all over the world who believe in what
he is doing is right.
Cecelia Hammond
Michigan UA Rep.
autism_in_michigan@hotmail.com
People who feel strongly about Dr. Andrew Wakefield's departure from
The Royal Free should write a personal letter to any or all of the
following. They might wish to add that the good work of the team in
the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and the treatment of
the children must continue and seek assurances that it will.
Letters will count!
******************************
EDITOR NOTE:
There are two ways to help support DR Andrew Awakefield contact BOTH of the
contacts listed below......... LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!
******************************
Contact Brent Taylor Regarding DR Andrew Wakefield
For
those people that would like to make comments to Brent Taylor
regarding the recent events at the Royal Free Hospital and Andrew
Wakefield, MD, feel free to email him at (got the email address off the
Lancet website)....
b.taylor@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
Professor Humphrey Hodgson (Dean)
Professor Mike Spyer (Dean UCL)
Professor Carol Black (Medical Director)
Royal Free and University College Medical School
(Royal Free Campus)
Pond Street
Hampstead
London NW3 2
******************************
Contact Autism Awakening For a
Story Submission
Response to the dismissal of Dr Wakefiled
We have recieved several letters in support of DR Andrew Wakefiled and are
still acceping more. PARENTS SPEAK OUT!
Contact Autism Awakening For a Parent, Professional, or Organization Autism
First Steps Story Submission response to the dismissal of Dr Wakefiled . We are
currently requesting submissions For those people that would like to make
comments regarding the recent events at the Royal Free Hospital and Andrew. We
want to hear your views. We reserve the right to edit out any unprintable
content.
Feel free to e-mail us at: AutismAwakening@aol.com
******************************
Dear Parents, Professionals,
and Andrew Wakefield,
This is a sad, sad day for all. Having met Andy
Wakefield, I can tell you
that he is one of the few in the medical community whose goals are not at
all tainted by establishment's view of what's politically correct. He has
not wavered in his quest to find the reasons and eventually a cure for our
children. I am sure that as more and more of the people with power are
affected by autism and bowel problems - and this certainly will happen -
that Andy will find them at his door asking him for help.
Good luck, Andy. You are a good man.
Eric Einbinder
Dad to Jake and Matt
Latham, NY
******************************
Play Step Announces Name Change
The
Center for Enabling Special Children (CESC) would like to announce that
the playgroup division is changing it's name from Play Steps to PLAY
STEPZ.
Sorry for any confusion.
Shauna Hazlitt, M.Ed.
autism24@aol.com
******************************
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