“Healing Autism: No Finer a Cause on the Planet”

March 21, 2001 Search www.feat.org/search/news.asp

Also: * Autism Diagnoses Increasing, Kansas

· Autistic Boy’s Death No Accident

· ‘Able-bodied’ the Mantra at Valley Mountain Regional Center

The Benefits of Raising Children With Chronic Illnesses

Hopkins Study suggests families benefit from raising children with chronic

illnesses

[This is probably not a good article for the sarcastic amongst us.]

http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/jhmi-hss031301.html

A new Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study reveals that caring for a chronically ill child can be a positive experience for many mothers and families.

The study, reported in this month’s Ambulatory Pediatrics, found that most mothers felt better about themselves after learning to manage their children’s condition. Mothers reported stronger family bonds, better communication between family members, and increased awareness of their children’s needs.

Lead author Robin Chernoff, M.D., and her colleagues asked 190 mothers of various races at different income and educational levels to assess their positive feelings about caring for their chronically ill children. The children, ages 7 to 12, had sickle cell disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or moderate to severe asthma.

Each mother was given the opportunity to list ways her family had benefited from raising a child with a chronic illness. Each comment was grouped into one of 10 categories, such as whether the illness brought the family closer, helped the family cope with challenges, helped the family communicate more, or made family members more aware of spiritual values.

Seventy percent of mothers reported that “their families were stronger because of their child’s condition,” and 80 percent said their families “had benefited in some way from having a child with chronic illness.” Mothers reported other benefits of raising a chronically ill child, such as better parenting skills, greater self-awareness, increased awareness of family members’ needs, greater sensitivity and tolerance, confidence and emotional stability.

“While working with families of chronically ill children, we realized lots of parents were saying positive things about caring for their children,” Chernoff says. “We really just wanted a chance to ask the question, ‘In what ways are things going well?’”

Chernoff, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Center and a specialist in behavioral and developmental pediatrics, hopes that knowledge of the rewards of parenting a chronically ill child will help broaden health care professionals’ understanding of the home environment and ultimately lead to improved patient care. “As doctors we are skilled at asking about problems that arise from living with a chronically ill child,” Chernoff says. “This study points out the importance of recognizing and asking about the positive impacts of the experience as well.”

* * *

Autism Diagnoses Increasing, Kansas

Local kids being helped by special education program

[By Olive L. Sullivan osullivan@morningsun.net, Morning Sun, Kansas.]

http://www.morningsun.net/stories/031901/kan_0319010003.shtml

Cherokee—Although little is known about autism, a developmental disorder in children, one thing is clear. The incidence of cases is growing rapidly.

More than 380,000 individuals in the United States are believed to have autism, and this is a conservative estimate. It is the third most prevalent developmental disability, more common than Down’s syndrome, muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis.

In 1995, statistics showed that 15 children in 10,000 would be diagnosed as autistic. “We are now seeing it way more than that,” explained Diana Carter, the director of the special education preschool at Lakeside Elementary School in Pittsburg. “It seems to be increasing.”

In the last three years, Carter has worked with at least six autistic children. In her previous 20 years as a teacher, she said, “I haven’t seen that many total.”

She said the disorder is seen more often in boys than girls, but it crosses all races and socio-economic boundaries.

She added, “No two children who have that diagnosis are alike.”

There are a number of common myths and stereotypes about autism

fostered by popular movies such as “Rainman,” which featured an autistic-savant. Not all autistic children are savants. In fact, they exhibit the full range of IQ scores. Most of them, however, do experience significant developmental delays of some sort. Carter said the most common problem areas are communication, social skills and reasoning.

Ellie Walden, mother of 5-year-old Paul, said her son was born a normal, healthy baby and seemed to be developing on schedule until he was about 18 months to 2 years old. Then the development stopped. He didn’t learn to talk or communicate.

· Article continues:

http://www.morningsun.net/stories/031901/kan_0319010003.shtml

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“Open Your Eyes to Autism” and be a part of “The Power of ONE”

Rally and Conference by Unlocking Autism - www.UnlockingAutism.org

April 25-27, 2001 in Washington, D.C.

Lenny Schafer, Editor Catherine Johnson PhD Ron Sleith Kay Stammers

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.