From Health News Daily

Why Autism Diagnosis Can Change as Children Grow Up

Children with autism tend to also have other disorders, such as a learning disability or depression, which affect them in different ways as they age, a new study finds.

The findings may explain, in part, why children with autism often see a change in their diagnoses as they grow older, the study suggests.

Click here to read more.

and From Reuters.com

Anxiety, other disorders more common in autism

Autism tends to go hand in hand with a variety of other mental and behavioral conditions in kids, suggests a new study that highlights the fuzzy nature of autism diagnoses themselves.

This is so awesome had to share. It comes from GodTube.

An Apology From Your Child’s Former Teacher

Dear Parents of Special-Needs Children I’ve Taught In the Past,

I need to make a big apology.  You see, I’ve been teaching now for fourteen years, but I have only just recently joined your ranks.

I didn’t know.  Not even a clue.  I thought, mistakenly, that having two special-needs children in my family made me more sensitive to your needs as a parent.  It didn’t.  And I’m so sorry for operating under the assumption that I did.  I’m not attempting verbal self-flagellation here.  I meant well.  I knew a lot about autism and some about other special-needs conditions.  I did care about your child.  And I did want to do right by him.  But, like a lot of teachers who Just Don’t Get It, I thought doing right by him meant giving him extra time on assignments and not allowing him to fail my class.  I thought being extra nice and seating her at the front of the room was what you needed from me.

But you needed more.  And I didn’t understand that.  You needed communication.  A lot of it.  You needed me to understand your depth of worry.  You needed me to understand that, if you’ve met one special-needs child, you’ve met one special-needs child.  You needed me to understand that I was teaching your child, not an I.E.P.  You needed to know, not assume, that I would go out on a limb to make sure your child’s needs were met all over the school and not just in my classroom.  You needed to not worry that, when your back was turned, I was still doing everything that I promised as well as thinking of better ways to meet your child’s needs.  You needed to talk about your child in meetings and not worry about the clock.

read more here

The entire blog is filled with the impact of autism on this parent. Very interesting read.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are one of the most complex neurological conditions which affect individuals in the field of social communication, interaction and flexibility of mind. Due to the nature of condition, people with ASD have difficulties in terms of self-advocating their fundamental rights. Therefore the project “Activate yourself!” has been developed to encourage active participation of young people with ASD; empower them as active citizens, make them aware of their role in creating their own future and promote their equal rights and opportunities. The project is supported by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Union.

The Jamaica Autism Support  Association –JASA joining a consortium of eight organizations worldwide (Center for Autism Slovenia, Autism South Africa, Všį Socialinių inovacijų centras Lithuania, Beijing Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism, Action for Autism India, Autism Europe, The National Autistic Society UK and The European Disability forum) would like to invite young people with ASD, aged 13 to 30, to join the Activate Yourself! project.

Within the project young people with ASD will meet on regular basis to:

• discuss the challenges they face in everyday life
• learn about their rights, campaigning and active citizenship
• make an awareness video to inform broader public about their situation
• prepare the World Autism Strategy for Youth with ASD – the proposal of the directives for decision-making organizations focusing on the rights of young people with ASD.

Besides regularly meeting in their own countries, young people with ASD will also have a chance:

• to attend the international youth conference in China and
• to attend the youth camp in Slovenia, where they will have an opportunity to meet, exchange their views on active citizenship and self-advocacy, present their talents and most of all spend quality time with each other.

One of the long-term goals of the project is also to build the firm ground for the future Autism Youth Forum, which will represent the self-advocacy organization, representing the rights of young people with ASD worldwide.

It’s time for young people with ASD to speak out and build their own future! Activate yourself!

For more information email us at jasa.jm2k9@gmail.com

Announcement of the project

Take the Project Activate Online Survey click here.  Link to the survey is also available on projects web page - http://activate-yourself.info/.

As much as it is a jolly happy time for us, for our children the holidays can be very stressful as their schedule is up-ended and the decorations distracting. not to mention the number of persons they are subjected to through family dinners and get togethers.

The website Autism Spectrum Therapies put together a small list/guide of tips to help our children on the spectrum transition through the holiday without too much stress.

Tips such as this one:

Ease into decorating

• Start decorating early and in stages rather than changing the entire home all at once
• Allow children to interact with the decorations and help put them in place
• If you are unsure how your child will react to holiday decorations, let them experience those decorations in a store or someone else’s home first

click here to see more

Happy Thanksgiving to our friend in the U.S.A.

• 12 important needs of siblings and tips to address these needs

Of all the famed names in autism, Temple Grandin is perhaps one of the quickest to come to mind.

• Swimming starts from age 3

• Training is at the UTech pool on Saturdays @ 10 am except on a holiday week-end (prior notice will be given beforehand)

• Female athletes are required to wear full swim suits; male athletes are required to wear swim shorts or tight

• Parents are required to advise the Coach on the details of their child’s condition (in this case it will be Autism)

ANYONE INTEREST IN PURCHASING LUNCH MAY  CONTACT 830-4805.  THERE WILL BE LIMITED LUNCH AT AVAILABLE ON THAT DAY SO CALL AHEAD.