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Autism and Law Enforcement
All autism parents feel anxious about their children in the community, knowing they could be perpetrators, victims of crime, or wanderers. Far too often, criminal actions on the part of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) individuals are…
Scientific Community Shuns Sensory Integration Therapy for Autism
Researchers at the University of Texas, led by Professor Mark O'Reilly, have declared that Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) is scientifically ungrounded and should cease to be used by a majority of occupational therapists in the treatment…
Special Education: An Overlooked Factor to the Newtown Tragedy
Something has been tugging at my heart in the wake of the unfathomable tragedy in Newtown, CT. The obvious broken systems have been laid bare.
Gun control issues must be wrestled away from special interests and mental health must be…
Holiday Message to Autism Parents
For those of you who followed my articles in the past, you will know I've been out of the autism loop for a while, consumed by the affairs of my immediate family of sixteen-year-old twin sons with high functioning autism.
Having seen…
MSNBC Host Suggests Colorado Shooter James Holmes Has Autism
As details continue to emerge about Colorado 'Dark Knight' murder suspect James Holmes, many media figures are beginning discuss his background, upbringing, mental health and overall state-of-mind. Unfortunately, this has invariably (and…
Changing the World, One Set of Keys at a Time
I wear a set of keys on a chain around my neck. I don't know what, exactly, these keys unlock, but I wear them in hope, and in memory.
After my grandmother passed away years ago, my grandfather invited the women of the family to view her…
21 Jump Street Movie Ignites Autism Controversy
The blogosphere has been abuzz the last few days about an emerging controversy involving the new "21 Jump Street" movie starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube. The movie, set for release on Friday, March 16th, is being…
Student with Autism Mistreated, Abused with Spray Bottle
A disturbing story has emerged from Deer Park, Texas, where a teacher has been accused of verbally mocking, taunting and in some cases, abusing children with autism and
other special needs. Allegations surfaced back in December at a Deer…
Autism Comes to Hollywood: A Helpful or Hurtful Trend?
The NJ Record and Time Magazine have both published articles in the last few days addressing the latest trend of characters with autism appearing in film and/or television. We've touched on this topic in the past and have received mixed…
Autism, Siblings and the R-Word Effect
When we, the siblings of someone with special needs, hear the word "retarded" or "retard," even in the most seemingly-casual context, it strikes us hard.
When we hear it, we hear it as an echo of all the times our brothers and sisters…