Let's ACT Today!

Jesse Saperstein Champions for Children with Autism with Anti-Bullying Movement

2012-03-20T08:30:00.002-07:00

29-year-old best-selling author, autism advocate and motivational speaker Jesse A. Saperstein has launched the "Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012" YouTube (www.youtube.com/jessesaperstein) campaign as part of his zero tolerance, nationwide Anti-Bullying movement. Saperstein

, who has a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome (AS), has suffered bullying from peers starting at an early age in school. The "Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012" video shows Jesse jumping from an airplane 14,000 feet above the face of the earth, featuring the vocals of Grammy-winning artist Taylor Swift and her Grammy-winning song, "Mean." It is the first video to feature an extreme sport and children with autism sharing their personal experiences.

"For a long time, my peers led me to believe that my abuse was self-inflicted," says Saperstein. "Now, I know better and want to bring awareness to the tragedies of bullying and make sure others no longer have to suffer and endure the fight alone."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDP), 1 in every 110 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making autism more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer, and pediatric AIDS combined. ASD is a range of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication challenges, and restricted, repetitive, or stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autistic disorder is the most severe form of ASD,

while other conditions along the spectrum include milder forms known as Asperger's syndrome (AS), Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) and Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) reports bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents. Surveys indicate that as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their school years, and the Bully Police of Minnesota states that 94% of children with a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome faced peer victimization including emotional bullying (75%) and gang attacks (15%). Children who are bullied experience real suffering that can interfere with their social and emotional development, as well as their school performance. Some victims of bullying have even chosen suicide rather than continuing to endure such harassment and torture.

"Nobody should have to jump out of a perfectly safe airplane to see better days. Let this be the first generation to enjoy acceptance while having something to fight for. It cannot get better someday. It will become better TODAY," says Saperstein.

Saperstein says he's not suggesting that everyone jumps out of a plane. Instead, he urges the public - children and adults - to find their own unique way to become heroic. "It's time to advocate for those who deserve a friend. Or give somebody a voice that has been silenced by abuse and ignorance. The person you fight for today could be the life you're saving tonight."

"Jesse changed my life," says 10-year-old Todd Weaver of Hyde Park, New York. "I see my Asperger's like my super power now.

Jesse really made a difference in my life, and now I want to help other kids like me in the same way."

Saperstein visits schools on a regular basis and has been successful with stomping out bullying or at least dramatically alleviating it with every presentation.

He is currently working on initiatives to pioneer a middle/high school class in New York State that will be similar to health, but shall focus on educating young people about misunderstood disabilities as well as the psychological and legal consequences of bullying.

For more information about Jesse A. Saperstein visit www.jessesaperstein.com.

About Jesse A. Saperstein:

Jesse A. Saperstein is a best-selling author, autism advocate and motivational speaker. He is considered one of the most respected leaders in the Anti-Bullying movement of his generation. Jesse has a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome (AS). Individuals with Asperger's are impaired by a profound lack of social skills, common sense, and resistance to change in routine.

After graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2004 with a BA degree in English, Saperstein set out to conquer the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail to benefit the Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation. He began hiking from Georgia to Maine on March 9, 2005 and successfully completed the journey on October 18, 2005, raising more than $19,000 for children to attend summer camp who had contracted HIV/AIDS through prenatal transmission.

Shortly after his hike ended, Saperstein was exposed to some of the cruel realities of living as an adult on the autism spectrum and was treated as a social pariah by members of the community who did not understand. His decision to write a book was an opportunity to escape these realities and advocate for his peers who are not always granted a voice.

Saperstein's story, "Atypical: Life with Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters," was published by Penguin Group (USA) in April 2010 and became a popular memoir due to its practical advice and outrageous humor. He chronicles his misadventures and extremes to improve his social skills. The book quickly rose to the top of Amazon.com and placed Saperstein as a dynamic media personality, motivational speaker and most important, an advocate for people with disabilities.

After receiving a grant from Anderson Center for Autism (ACA) in Staatsburg, New York, Saperstein completed his first skydiving jump in front of his community in an effort to eradicate bullying. "Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012" is currently a popular video on YouTube (www.youtube.com/jessesaperstein). Saperstein resides in Pleasant Valley, New York.

For more information about Jesse A. Saperstein, visit www.jessesaperstein.com.

Join NBC San Diego, Center for Autism and Related Disorders and ACT Today! - April 7

2012-03-19T09:35:00.004-07:00

REGISTER TODAY

www.ActTodayForMilitaryFamilies.Kintera.org

3 Reasons Why I Run in the ATMF 5k/10k Run

2012-03-14T05:36:00.003-07:00

For me participating in the annual ACT Today! for Military Families 5k/10k Run and ONEHOPE Family Festival is for several reasons, one of them is that our son was diagnosed as being autistic when he was much younger, over the years his diagnosis and "spectrum" has changed some he is now 11.

Having a child with any diagnosis can be difficult and I feel strongly about supporting anything we can. I also participated last year so that our kids could help support our military kids and their families as we know firsthand the toll having an autistic child can take on the whole family and our daughter who is 17 now had a hard time over the years always understanding why her brother was treated so differently.

Another reason we did this last year and will continue to is that we made this a family event and my husband was deployed during the last walk. During that deployment we attended several memorials services and were visiting Balboa hospital on a regular basis and this walk allowed myself and the kids to get out and enjoy a fun family day that will now as long as we are in California will be a yearly event for us.

A lot of people do not understand autistic children and too many times the poor children slip through the cracks and it is not fair. I may not remember every moment of my kids growing up but I will never forget the challenges of going through the system and even more so the challenges on the home front dealing with doctors, schools, IEP's and all the things that go with having an autistic child or any child with a medical diagnosis.

This race was amazing for our family last year and it in turn made myself and the kids want to do more this year.

We have also worked on improving our walk times....

Kyp

Join Kyp and her family April 7 at the

ACT Today! for Military Families 5k/10k Run

and ONEHOPE Family Festival.

For more details, visit

www.ActTodayForMilitaryFamilies.KIntera.org

Autism and parenting: Don’t be afraid to ask for help

2012-03-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

By Laura Shumaker

SF Gate

The news of the Sunnyvale mother who shot her autistic son before turning the gun on herself has shocked and saddened the autism community, but sadly, the story is similar to others in the past few years. I recently talked to Peter Finch of KGO Radio about the latest tragedy. What advice would you give to parents of young children, he asked, to manage the stress of raising a child with autism?

Here you go:

1) Build in breaks for your self. Find mentor/helper/babysitters. How? Ask your regional center about respite, find out if local colleges have programs for students who would love to spend time with your child for college credit, (I’ll have more info about this option soon), ask local high schools and colleges and churches about community service projects.

2)Connect with parents who are in the same situation. In the San Francisco Bay Area, check Parents Helping Parents, Matrix Resource Centers, orSupport for Special Needs. AUTISM SPEAKS also has a terrific resource guide to check out–state by state. Myautismteam.com is new, and also has great info.

3) Don’t be afraid to ask for professional help. It was the BEST thing I ever did.

Here is my story. I have told it before, but it is timeless. Please reach out to me if you are struggling and I will do my best to help find you resource. PLEASE forward my story to someone that you are concerned about:

I was a part time pharmaceutical rep with a one and a half year old at home the first time I got really sick, sicker than I had ever been. I remember walking up a flight of stairs carrying my detail bag full of Advil and The Today Sponge (yes, I know this dates me) and feeling so weak that I had to sit down until I felt strong enough to go down the stairs in search of a pay phone so I could call my husband.

“I think I need to go to the emergency room,” I told him. There, it was determined that I had a meningeal infection and was given IV antibiotics. Still, it took me weeks to completely recover.

“This is so strange!” I told my doctor, “I never get sick!”

I didn’t admit to him that I had been laying awake at night worrying about my first child Matthew’s development after noticing that he wasn’t meeting the milestones of other children his age.

In the years that followed there was the diagnosis of autism, two more sons and a host of stress related illness including a case of pneumonia that landed me in the hospital for two weeks.

I knew all along that I needed help, but we were spending so much on Matthew’s therapy that I couldn’t justify the cost of a therapist for myself.

“This is just the way it is,” I told myself, “Talking to someone is not going to change that. I just have to tough it out.”

So I talked to family and friends,(usually ending the conversation with ‘but I’m fine, it could be so much worse’.)

I prayed and I exercised when I wasn’t sick. I didn’t sleep.

It wasn’t until I had a public anxiety attack at California Pizza Kitchen, where our family of five was celebrating my 41st birthday that it became clear that private therapy was a necessity.(Attack documented HERE.)

If you are somewhere along this path but still have doubts about the value of private psychological help, read on to learn how my own misconceptions were debunked:

1) “This is just the way it is. Talking to someone is not going to change that. I just have to tough it out.”

Yes, this is the way it is. Research studies indicate that there something uniquely stressful about raising a child with autism.

“Sustained or chronic stress,” says Esther Sternberg, MD, “leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol, the ‘stress hormone’, and reduced serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which has been linked to depression.” Esther is the a leading stress researcher and the chief of neuroendocrine immunology and behavior at the National Institute of Mental Health. “When these chemical systems are working normally, they regulate biological processes like sleep, appetite, energy, and sex drive, and permit expression of normal moods and emotions.”

A good therapist can:

a) help you manage stress with common sense tools and solutions that you hadn’t thought about since you are so overwhelmed by the relentlessness of your job.

b) make you aware of resources that are available to you. Did you know, for example, that your family might qualify for free respite care? (translation-free babysitting.)

c) refer you to a psychiatrist for a medication consultation. If you are having anxiety attacks in public on a regular basis and if you are not sleeping, you may need pharmacological intervention.

2) “I can talk to my family and my friends.”

Yes, you can talk to your family and friends–and they can only do so much. They may sympathize, but you need guidance from an impartial professional.

3) “I can’t afford it.

I know. Therapists can be expensive. My doctor recommended a therapist (one that I recommend to everyone I know-she is just wonderful) that was partially covered by our medical plan. Still, it was an investment, but one that I believe kept me afloat. Check withParents Helping Parents and Matrix Resource Centers and your local Regional Center to find a therapist in your price range. You can also visit the American Psychological Association Website for information about therapists in your area.

4) “I went to one before and I hated it.”

I actually went to one who told me in the first few minutes that she was going through a horrible divorce. Another asked me to role play with an empty chair. The one I ended up with (the wonderful one) came with a strong recommendation from my doctor.If you need help finding a therapist, contact me here and I will try to help you.

5) “What about group therapy?”

Group therapy is an excellent option. Ask your child’s pediatrician for resources in your area, or see #3 above for additional resources.

“I’ve used private therapy and the support of friends and family, says Susan Woolner, autism advocate and the mother of twins on the autism spectrum. “We also have a very strong autism parent network that supports other parents at breaking point. It works well because we’ve all been there and our support is unconditional, without judgment and we’ve all been there ourselves.”

The $34,000 Lemonade Stand

2012-03-10T11:45:00.001-08:00

It started with a glass of lemonade and brownie at a lemonade stand. One neighbor stopping by to support a child’s Veteran’s Day lemonade stand in 2010. It has turned into a $34,000 donation several months later. The how’s and whys behind this unlikely alliance are surprising but then again, what is so surprising about two people coming together as a result of shared passion to help improve the lives of children?

It was a blustering Veteran’s Day when the children of Laura Marroquin, Director of Development and Programs at ACT Today! (Autism Care andTreatment Today!) decided that they wanted to do something fun to support the new program at their mom’s charity, helping military children impacted withautism. The kids had first hand experience with the challenges that families face when someone is diagnosed with autism and wanted to raise money for United States service members, active and retired, who have a child with autism. So they gathered some friends, baked some treats and made some lemonade and put out their table at their local park in hopes of raising a $100.

After 3 hours of what appeared to be brisk business, the group of children had raised $112 when a man in a large white truck stopped. Perhaps it was the yelling and shouting of kids with American flags, dressed in red/white & blue that attracted him. And then he learned why the kids were so enthusiastic to share their message. With the help of mom Laura, they told Windell about the 1 in 88 military children diagnosed with autism and about the unique challenges that frequent deployments and relocations and the difficulties encountered by a military child with autism. Windell also learned the disheartening fact that once a service member retires or becomes disabled; his child with autism loses all of their treatment benefits. After giving the children at the lemonade stand a hundred dollar bill that day, Windell had been moved by the plight of these children.

Months later, after learning about an Orange County family whose 9 year old child with autism was no longer able to receive his necessary therapy hours as a result of his dads retirement from the Marine Corps, after serving his country for 21 years, Windell, the president of I Padrini di Antonello’s saw the opportunity to really change the life of a child. After sharing the plight of this child with his membership, I Padrini, in staying true to their mission of making a significant difference to each child they support, donated $10,000 to ensure that Christian would be able to receive therapy for 2 additional years.

And then came Aiden, diagnosed with Aspergers. His father, who was in construction found himself without steady work for 3 years and no longer able to afford the ongoing tutoring Aiden needed to continue to advance both in and out the classroom. I Padrini stepped in again providing Aiden a year of tutoring.

These victories in supporting children in our community were celebrated by Laura and Windell’s families. A demonstration to the children in the families about the importance of helping others in the community simply because it is the right thing to do. It felt great but Windell, passionate about honoring the families who serve our nation, wanted to do more. And he did. One day in February, Windell did something he had never seen done before. He asked his friends of this quiet philanthropic group, I Padrini, to support the ACT Today! for Military Families through a direct donation to the national non-profit. The group said “yes”. After individually pledging to support the group at various levels, the membership of I Padrini had raised $20,000 to support the autistic children of Southern California veterans via the grant program of ACT Today!

The power of a neighborhood lemonade stand unified with individuals who are passionate about improving the lives of children, a perfect combination.

Visit:

ActTodayForMilitaryFamilies.org

and help military children with autism!

My Mission is Clear

2012-03-09T06:59:00.006-08:00

Welcome Guest Blogger, Nicole Lindstrom

As mothers we all try hard to create the perfect idea of what motherhood will be like. From the outside I may look like I have it all together, but I struggle daily. The goals, images, and plans that I had organized in my mind as a mother have not fallen into place and I have learned the hard way that it is okay when plans change. In fact they change to teach us our life lessons and missions.

My son Mason who had developed normally through all of his milestones is on the autism spectrum. At 18 months my vibrant and talkative boy stopped talking. Instead of words, he began to screech and throw screaming fits when trying to communicate. My doctor at the time thought it was a phase and that we would revisit again at 2 years 2 months. Since he was previously tracking well developmentally it was not a red flag.

We could no longer go to public places without him having a screaming tantrum. The thought of going places outside of the house caused me to have some anxiety, but I knew if would be the best for us to continue our routines. Thankfully, the help and advice I was seeking came from a new mommy friend, which happened to be speech and language pathologist. She had noticed a change in Mason when we were at stroller strides together. I know she was placed in my life for a reason. With her advice, she recommended that Mason needed help outside of her professional realm and gave me information about The Regional Center. They are a public service.

It was a process and we had come to find that there is a very small window to receive help through these services. The journey that it took to get the services in place was a bit of work but a plan was devised to help Mason. They recommended an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) program in which the work would be to stop his screaming behavior and reward him if he used his words. The Regional Center worked with us up until the age of 3 and it was then his file was turned over to the local school district, where a team of experts evaluated him. He is now in various classes that work along side with his preschool program. It is a continued work in progress daily, but the results have been phenomenal.

I am so very blessed in many ways that from what can be seen as a challenge for both Mason and our family, has enabled me to take a step back and change my ways. I no longer can be that yes person, and we often have to say no to play dates or activities that are going on during Mason’s school schedule. I have learned what is important and relevant. A need for balance is a constant reminder that is present in the eyes of both my children. I have learned that my mission is to help my son get through this small bump in the road.

Mind you, I still get caught up like any other Mommy in what we may be missing out on, but when I see the leaps of bounds my son has made, I know it is well worth it. My best advice for other families is that you are the best judge of your child and that most children that are diagnosed under the autism spectrum often receive early intervention programs because a parent noticed a change in a skill they once had. Early intervention has helped my son and with a big push, he will start kinder-garden without assistance and on time.

For Mommy support: Nicole.lindstrom@cox.net

Join Jesse Saperstein at the Mall of America

2012-03-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Join my good friend and ACT Today! supporter Jesse Saperstein on April 19 at the Mall of America...

Jesse recently created "Free-Falling to End Bullying" video in an effort

to put an end to bullying.

Check out the video, featuring the vocals of Grammy-winning artist

Taylor Swift. http://www.youtube.com/jessesaperstein

Why I'm Running to Raise Funds

2012-03-07T05:51:00.003-08:00

I am not active duty military myself nor do I have any family members affected by autism. However, both my mother (22 years) and my father (30 years) are Marines (retired). I understand the burdens that are placed on these service members and their families.

For a long time I had suffered from fear and anxiety from heavy physical exertion. I decided to start running to overcome this. At first I ran for a minute or two, then a few weeks later it was a mile.

Then a few months later I completed my first 5k. When my fiance (now wife) and I saw the Act Today! 10K, I saw it as an oppurtunity to push myself even further and prove I could do anything, and to help service members and their families.

I think I ran the 6 miles in something like an hour and 5 minutes. It felt great to accomplish a personal goal and to help out these families.

In December, my wife and I ran the Las Vegas 1/2 marathon which is something I never thought I would be capable of doing in my life.

One step at a time...

David

Join David and his wife - April 7 for the ACT Today! for Military Families 5k/10k Run and ONEHOPE Family Festival.

For complete details, visit
www.ActTodayForMilitaryFamilies.Kintera.org

Give Autism a Chance

2012-03-06T17:07:00.002-08:00

Check out this wonderful campaign from my friend Polly Tommey of

The Autism Trust in the UK, featuring her son Billy in the clip!

Give Autism A Chance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M09qVf8o4IQ

GOLF, DENIM and DIAMONDS for AUTISM!

2012-03-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to announce that we have the dates of ACT Today!'s annual fudnraisers, and I hope you will SAVE THE DATE and join us...

The 6th Annual Charity Golf Classic to take place on

Monday, Aug 27, 2012 at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, CA.

To learn more, contact

J.Eveland@centerforautism.com

The 7th Annual Denim & Diamonds for Autism will take place on

Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California.

For complete details and to secure your tickets online - click here:

www.DenimAndDiamondsforAutism.net

FREE NY Autism Seminar for Parents, March 10

2012-03-04T12:36:00.001-08:00

A free New York workshop is coming up on March 10 for parents...

Where Do I Go From Here?
Autism Intervention for Children Ages 0-5

A FREE workshop for parents and caregivers of children on the
autism spectrum.

Presented by Denise Rhine, MS Ed., BCBA

Saturday, March 10
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
6 North Main Street, Ste. 110
Fairport, NY 14450

Whether your child has received a diagnosis of autism or not,
this seminar will give you:

• An overview of autism spectrum disorders

• Effective treatment & intervention program options
for children ages 0 to 5

• You will also receive a resource pack of useful information,
advice and support

Limited Seating – RSVP by March 8
Katie DiRaimondo – k.diraimondo@centerforautism

Please Join Us in Saluting Military Families with Children with Autism, March 31

2012-03-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Please join me and ACT Today! for Military Families Founder Karen Driscoll, along with fellow supporters of military families with children with autism on March 31 in New York.

For more information about supporting military families with children with autism, visit www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.

We hope to see you there!
Nancy

Sarah, Running for Autism

2012-03-01T08:29:00.006-08:00

I love to run, it’s my release, its keeps me level headed. However, running races are another story, these I do not love. I hated them when I ran track and I hate them now. The anxiety, the expectations and the nervousness take the joy out of my run. For these reasons the past few years I’ve kept my distance from races and have just run on my own.

Then in early 2011 a dear friend, a fellow marine wife and a mommy to an amazing little girl, asked me if I’d be interested in running ACT Today’s Inaugural 5K/10K Race. I immediately said “yes” and surprisingly I never had any second thoughts about running this race.

As I trained and learned more about the organization I actually felt inspired to train harder and seek out some sponsors for the event. Whenever I felt like taking it easy or being lazy on a run I just reminded myself of the difficult fight so many military families dealing with autism face. I thought of what I watch my friends go through and it made me want to work harder, run faster.

On race day I felt the usual nervousness and anxiety, but I didn’t let them take over and ran a great race. This positive experience is entirely the result of running for something (someone) I believe in. I ran for my friend and her daughter that day and

I’m running for them, and the many other friends I’ve made, again this year.

Go Team Kylie!

For more information about the ACT Today! 2nd Annual 5k/10k Run and to register, visit www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.kintera.org.

Thank you,

Sarah

ONEHOPE Wine Returns as Major Sponsor for San Diego Run and Family Festival, Benefiting Military Children with Autism

2012-02-29T05:41:00.006-08:00

ACT Today! announces ONEHOPE Wine will be the Festival sponsor of the 2nd Annual ACT Today! for Military Families 5k/10k Run/Walk and ONEHOPE Family Festival, held on April 7, 2012 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California. The event is hosted by actor/comedian Mark Christopher Lawrence (“Chuck”), fitness expert Kathy Kaehler and KNBC-TV morning show hosts Jason Austell and Marianne Kushi.

ONEHOPE Wine is considered one of the most recognizable cause brands in the United States of America. The charitable company has grown rapidly over the past five years due to a respected and positive presence in all charitable fields. ONEHOPE Wine donates 50% of its profits to partner charities benefiting a variety of causes, including the military and autism.

"ONEHOPE Wine has a long tradition of giving back to the two causes this event honors, the military family and the family impacted by autism," says Tom Leahy, Founder and President of ONEHOPE Wine.

"We recognize that April is National Autism Awareness Month and the Month of the Military Child. We are honored to highlight our support at this community event."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 110 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making ASD more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, pediatric cancer and childhood AIDS combined. It is estimated that autism affects 1 in 88 military children. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger’s Syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.

The ONEHOPE Family Festival is free for the entire community and will include live entertainment, vendor booths, egg hunt for kids, ONEHOPE wine tent, and celebrity autograph signings.

Registration for the ATMF 5k/10k Run and children’s fun run is now open. To register as an individual or team, visit www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.kintera.org.

Corporate sponsors of the 2nd Annual ACT Today! for Military Families 5k/10k Run/Walk and ONEHOPE Family Festival (as of February 24) include: ONEHOPE Wine, KNSD-TV, Sophie FM, Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Autism Speaks, Butterfly Effects, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Ralph’s, SeaWorld San Diego, Wells Fargo, Great Plains Laboratories, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Gatorade, Navy Federal Credit Union, Granite Investment Group, Baron’s Market, Newport/Naples Rib Company, Clif Bar, Emergen-C, and Another Side Tours.

About ACT Today!: ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit: www.act-today.org.

About ACT Today! for Military Families: ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF), is a national program of ACT Today!. It was launched in July 2010. ATMF works to improve awareness and delivery of effective autism services, and provides financial assistance to military families to help defray out-of-pocket costs associated with autism treatments, services, and other quality of life programs. For more information about ACT Today! for Military Families, visit: www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.

About ONEHOPE Wine: Since the inception in 2007, ONEHOPE Wine has expanded into a variety of markets across the country and continues its positive growth. The unique label is offered in hundreds of reputable hotels, restaurants, bars and retail stores in select markets across the nation, and can be purchased online. ONEHOPE effortlessly seeks to turn ‘giving back’ into a lifestyle of hope and change. Thus enabling wine lovers to enjoy the product and be a part of ONEHOPE's vision. To date ONEHOPE has raised over $600,000 for a wide range of charitable organizations. For more information about ONEHOPE Wine, visit: www.ONEHOPEWine.com.

What is Autism?

2012-02-28T06:17:00.002-08:00

I get asked "What is Autism?" often, so I thought I would share this great news segment with you.

ACT Today! Discusses Mission on Headline News Charter Edition

2012-02-27T06:17:00.001-08:00

In the News...

Headline News/Charter Edition sits down with ACT Today! board member Eddie Guardado and Director of Programs & Development Laura Marroquin for a discussion on the impact ACT Today! is making on children and families affected by autism.

Watch the interview with us.

Click here - http://youtu.be/JSWE7zn9VTM.

Join Us This Week for Two Exciting Events!

2012-02-22T05:31:00.000-08:00

Join us THIS WEEK for 2 exciting events...

EVENT ONE - our Executive Director will speak at the Autism/Asperger's Conferencin Anaheim, CA this Friday.

Click here for details!

EVENT TWO - we are hosting a red carpet movie documentary in Sherman Oaks, CA on Saturday.

Click here for complete details:

http://acttodayblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/act-today-hosts-premiere-screening-of.html.

See you there! :-)

KWSD Interviews ACT Today About Mission

2012-02-21T06:59:00.001-08:00

IN THE NEWS...

KWSD - Los Angeles interviewed ACT Today!'s Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson about ACT Today!'s mission, the impact the non-profit organization is making on families in need and how ACT Today!'s Founder/President Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh is making it possible for children to recover from autism.

Listen to the interview with us, right now.

Click here -> http://play.audiofarm.org/18264.

1 REASON 2 RUN Rocks Marathon for ACT Today!

2012-02-21T06:22:00.000-08:00

Finishing the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon was more than just an athletic achievement for 1 REASON2RUN.

They say each mile they ran, reminded them of their reason for running.

Thanks to all of their supporters, they were able to raise a great amount for ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment).

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, 1 REASON2 RUN!

We LOVE and APPRECIATE you!

Autism Signs Detected in Brain Scans of Infants

2012-02-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

By Monica DyBuncio

Brain scans of infants may predict high risk for autism, new research shows. While symptoms of an autism spectrum disorder usually appear before age three, they are typically not identified until after a child's first birthday.

PICTURES - Autism-spectrum disorders: 24 warning signs

The new study - published in the Feb. 17 edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry - looked at the brain development of 92 high-risk infants ages 6 to 24 months. The babies were considered high-risk because they all have older brothers or sisters who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, said the researchers from the Infant Brain Imaging Study network.

The infants underwent a type of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years of age. With the repeated scans, researchers created 3D pictures that showed changes in white matter - the part of the brain embedded with nerve fibers that help different areas of the brain connect with one another.

What did they find? Researchers saw differences in the brain matter of children who were eventually diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by age 2. These children were more likely to show thicker, denser nerve-fiber readings at 6 months - but thinner white matter at age 2.

"These findings raise the possibility of developing imaging markers that could detect risk for autism in advance of actual symptoms, and [to] begin treatment before symptoms begin," study author Geri Dawson, chief science officer at Autism Speaks, told HealthDay.

Study authors caution the findings do not mean that autism can be diagnosed with brain scans, but the research is a step in earlier treatment.

An estimated one in 110 children in the U.S. have an autism spectrum disorder. Behavioral signs of autism include little or no eye contact, lack of interest in peer relationships, delay in spoken language, and persistent fixation on parts of objects.

Wandering and Autism: Prevention Strategies and Resources

2012-02-17T23:03:00.000-08:00

Wandering and Autism: Prevention Strategies and Resources

by Chantal Sicile-Kira posted on February 16, 2012

Wandering is a real risk when it comes to children on the autism spectrum. Sadly, half of families with elopers report they had never received advice or guidance about elopement from a professional (IAN Research Report: Elopement and Wandering, 2011).

Autism College, in partnership with the National Autism Association, wants to help change that statistic. On Saturday February 18, we are offering a webinar on The Scope of Wandering, Prevention Strategies, and Resources as part of our free online Autism Safety and Crisis Prevention conference, sponsored in part by The Social Express. It’s your opportunity to get strategies you can use to decrease your worries. The webinar will take place on Saturday, February 18, 8:15 am – 9:45 am PST (11:15 am -12:45 pm EST). The webinar will be interactive.

How much of a problem is wandering for children with autism? A few statistics:

In 2009, 2010, and 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with an ASD ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement. (SOURCE: National Autism Association, Lethal Outcomes in ASD Wandering, 2012)
More than one third of ASD children who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number (IAN Research Report: Elopement and Wandering, 2011)
Two in three parents of elopers reported their missing children had a “close call” with a traffic injury (IAN Research Report: Elopement and Wandering, 2011)
Children with ASD are eight times more likely to elope between the ages of 7 and 10 than their typically-developing siblings (IAN Research Report: Elopement and Wandering, 2011)

Description of Presentation Topic: The Scope of Wandering, Prevention Strategies, and Resources

Incidents of missing children and wandering-related deaths are being reported in the news with frightening frequency. In the last three years, more than 20 individuals with autism have lost their lives due to wandering. Preliminary data in the first IRB-approved study on autism-related wandering shows that half of children with autism have successfully wandered from adult supervision. Families cite wandering as the most stressful behavior they face. Drowning associated with autism elopement is a leading cause of death among children and adults on the autism spectrum. This presentation will discuss the scope of this issue, prevention strategies and provide resources for caregivers to keep their loved ones safe.

Presenter: Wendy Fournier is a founding board member and President of the National Autism Association. The organization has been instrumental in bringing federal attention to the issue of autism-related wandering. In 2010, Wendy and NAA Executive Director Lori McIlwain were invited to present on the wandering/elopement issue before the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee at NIH, where they outlined the need for data collection, medical diagnostic coding, and federal health agency involvement. As a result, the committee has since implemented several of NAA’s recommendations. In addition to bringing awareness to the issue, NAA has developed extensive resources for the community including the AWAARE collaboration website and the Big Red Safety Box program.

Join ACT Today! in making a difference in the lives of children with autism.
To make a donation to the ACT Today! Safety Fund,
visit www.act-today.org.

The Perfect Autism Dad???

2012-02-14T05:01:00.000-08:00

My Valentine's Gift to You: The Perfect Man

Courtesy of Extreme Parenting Blog: the perfect partner if you have a child on the spectrum. And he looks just like Ryan Gosling! Hilarious! And, please do share your comments with me. I'd love to know which one is your favorite. :-)

SeaWorld Gives Free Tickets to First 50 Children Who Register for San Diego Run, Benefiting Military Children with Autism

2012-02-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is partnering with SeaWorld San Diego to give a free SeaWorld San Diego ticket to the first 50 children who register for the 2^nd Annual ACT Today! for Military Families 5K/10K Walk/Run and Family Festival, held on April 7, 2012.

ACT Today! announces SeaWorld San Diego has joined forces to help contribute to the ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF) fund by way of donating one SeaWorld San Diego ticket to each of the first 50 children who register for the 2nd Annual ATMF 5K/10K Run/Walk and Family Festival. The fundraiser will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California, benefiting military families of children with autism. The event is hosted by actor/comedian Mark Christopher Lawrence (“Chuck”).

To receive a complimentary SeaWorld San Diego ticket, children must be 17 years old and under and register for the Youth Division or the 1 Mile Kids Fun Run. Registrants will receive one general single day admission pass to SeaWorld San Diego, which is valued at $73. Blackout dates apply to the tickets, and is offered on a “first come, first serve” basis. All qualifying registrants will be required to collect their tickets at a designated location the day of the event.

“We are very thrilled to have SeaWorld recognize our efforts and contribute to the overall mission,” says Andrekka Lanier, ATMF Campaign Director. ”This generous donation rewards the supportive efforts of our young community while allowing them to mingle, exercise, have fun and make a huge difference in the lives of military children with autism.”

Corporate sponsors of the 2^nd Annual ACT Today! for Military Families 5K/10K Walk/Run and Family Festival (as of Jan. 30) include: KNSD-TV, Sophie FM, Butterfly Effects, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Ralph’s, SeaWorld San Diego, Wells Fargo, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Gatorade,, Granite Investment Fund, Baron’s Market, Newport/Naples Rib Company, Clif Bar and.Emergen C.

For more information about the ATMF 5K/10K Run/Walk and Family Festival, visit: www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.kintera.org.

About ACT Today!:

ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit: www.act-today.org.

About ACT Today! for Military Families:

ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF), is a national program of ACT Today!. It was launched in July 2010. ATMF works to improve awareness and delivery of effective autism services, and provides financial assistance to military families to help defray out-of-pocket costs associated with autism treatments, services, and other quality of life programs. For more information about ACT Today! for Military Families, visit: www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.

About SeaWorld San Diego:

SeaWorld is open year-round, including holidays. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a portfolio company of The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX), operates 10 parks across the United States. For more information, visit: www.seaworldsandiego.com.

One More Day - “Have a Heart” - Help Military Children with Autism!

2012-02-08T00:18:00.000-08:00

ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), has launched the “Have a Heart: Help a Military Child with Autism” campaign this month from February 1 through 14, 2012, to benefit the ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF) national campaign. Anyone wishing to “have a heart” can make a monetary online donation at http://www.act-today.org/haveaheart, as well as tweet “Have a Heart: Help a Military Child with Autism – Donate @ http://www.act-today.org/haveaheart” on their Twitter or Facebook pages.

“Military families shoulder tremendous responsibilities today. These challenges are compounded for military families with a special needs child,” says ACT Today! for Military Families Campaign Director Andrekka Lanier. “This campaign will not only draw more awareness to their plight of military children with autism, but also help raise necessary funds these children need in an effortless way and during a time when everyone especially feels loving!”

The goal of the ATMF fund is to improve awareness of the unique needs of the military family living with autism and access to urgently needed treatments and support services. In its first year of operation, ATMF has provided assistance to over 120 military connected families through its family grant program.

Grants funded included assistance with applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, medical services, iPads and communication devices, safety equipment, service dogs, legal services, therapy equipment, assessments, and other quality of life supports.

“Have a Heart: Help a Military Child with Autism” campaign ends on February 14, 2012 at 12:00 am (PST).

About ACT Today!: ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit: www.act-today.org.

Eddie Guardado’s STARS & STRIKES Celebrity Bowling Tournament Raised Over $100-Thousand Dollars for Underprivileged Children with Autism

2012-02-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) and The Eddie Guardado Foundation (EGF), two national non-profit organizations based in Southern California, announce their STARS & STRIKES Celebrity Bowling Tournament, benefiting children with autism, raised $130,000. The event was held on January 29, 2012 at Bowlmor Lanes in Tustin, California. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to provide resources and grants to children with autism whose families cannot afford the necessary care and treatment their children need to reach their full potential.

Former Ducks Player Todd Marchant and his wife, Caroline, Eddie and Lisa Guardado and Bret Saberhagen with Bill Cernius, Dan Carney

"My wife Lisa and I are touched that so many ball players and celebrities joined us in to support of our mission of helping children with autism receive the care and treatment they need,." says Eddie Guardado, 2-Time Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star and ACT Today! board member. "Thanks to them and the many sponsors and event attendees, we will be able to serve many more children this year."

Lisa Guardado and daughter Ava with ACT Today!'s Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 110 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making ASD more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, pediatric cancer and childhood AIDS combined. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger’s Syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.

Torii Hunter, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and Howie Kendrick

The fundraiser was attended by more than 400 guests, including celebrities 2-Time All-Star Pitcher "Everyday Eddie" Guardado, world-renowned autism expert Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, LA Angels of Anaheim 4-Time All-Star Torii Hunter, Texas Rangers 6-Time All-Star Michael Young, Texas Rangers 2-Time All-Star Adrian Beltre, LA Angels of Anaheim 3-Time All-Star Vernon Wells, 3-Time All-Star Garret Anderson, LA Angels of Anaheim Howie Kendrick, Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Pitcher J.J. Putz, LA Angels of Anaheim LaTroy Hawkins, Former MLB Player and Radio Personality Rex Hudler, 4-Time All-Star Troy Percival, All-Star Pitcher Jamie Moyer, Cincinnati Reds Carlos Fisher, St. Louis Cardinals Brad Thompson, Former MLB Player Adam Melhuse, 2-Time All-Star Pitcher Aaron Sele, All-Star Pitcher Chad Cordero, Texas Rangers Coach and Former MLB Player Gary Pettis, 3-Time All-Star Pitcher Bret Saberhagen, Former NHL Player Todd Marchant, Former MLB player Denny Hocking, Chicago Cubs Darwin Barney, Chicago Cubs Ty Wright, Former MLB Infielder Chris Gomez, actress Sasha Pieterse (“Pretty Little Liars”), actress Musetta Vander, On-Air Radio Personality Lisa Foxx, and actress Erin Murphy.

Eddie and actress Sasha Pieterse

Events such as the Eddie Guardado’s STARS & STRIKES bowling tournament allow ACT Today! to raise essential funds to provide grants for families in desperate need of care and treatment. In the past year, ACT Today! has distributed $434,000 in grants to families.

Vernon Wells signing autographs

ACT Today!: ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit: www.act-today.org.

About The Eddie Guardado Foundation: The Eddie Guardado Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 2008 after the Guardado’s daughter was diagnosed with autism. In January 2011, the foundation merged with ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) as both non-profits organizations share the mission of providing awareness of and access to effective therapies for children with autism. Eddie and Lisa and Eddie Guardado now serve on the ACT Today! board of directors. For more information about the Eddie Guardado Foundation, visit: www.eddieguardadofoundation.org.

MLB Players Support Autism Care and Treatment

2012-02-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh Discusses Autism on CBS Boston

2012-01-31T17:50:00.001-08:00

ACT Today! Founder/President and world-renowned autism expert Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh discusses autism, diagnosis and effective treatment programs for children with autism and related disorders.

Listen with us below...

ACT Today! Hosts Premiere Screening of Documentary on Life of Two Brothers and Family Combating Autism

2012-01-31T06:02:00.000-08:00

ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), a national organization whose mission is to provide access to care and treatment for children with autism, will host the premiere screening of “My Thiero Boys: A Lifestyle Dealing With Autism” documentary on Saturday, February 25th 2012 at 2pm at the CAP Theater, located at 13752 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, California. The documentary is written and directed by Vana Thiero, a single mother with two sons combating autism. It is hosted by ACT Today! Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, with moderator Shannon Penrod of “Let’s Talk Autism with Shannon & Nancy.”

ACT Today! Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, who is featured in the series, encourages the public to attend the free screening, and offered this praise, "Vana Thiero brings to the screen a frank and honest portrayal of her life mothering 2 sons on the autism spectrum. The monumental obstacles she faces are similar to those faced by all families who struggle finding care and treatment for their children with autism. ACT Today! applauds her for sharing her story with the public, and shedding light on the personal side of the autism epidemic."

“My Thiero Boys: A Lifestyle Dealing With Autism” is the first of a five part series created to help viewers understand the autism culture, the families’ struggles, as well as the educators, advocates, medical professionals and therapists who work to create a quality of life for people who encompass a vast spectrum of developmental delays.

About ACT Today!:

“Touch” Embraces ACT Today!’s Mission to Help Underprivileged Families of Children with Autism

2012-01-30T10:27:00.000-08:00

ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) applauds the FOX network for producing its new television series “Touch.” The show centers on a father, played by Kiefer Sutherland, who discovers his autistic, mute son can actually predict events before they happen. "Touch" airs on Wednesdays at 9/8 Central Standard Time.

“Kiefer’s character, Martin Bohn, demonstrates the challenges faced by parents of children with autism spectrum disorders who are in financial crisis,” says ACT Today! Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson.

In the series, the character is in danger of losing custody of his son to social services because of the financial challenges he faces.

“Many of these children are gifted, but due to lack of awareness and proper support these gifts can go unnoticed, much less be nurtured,” adds Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, founder and president of ACT Today! and a world-renown behavior therapist.

Alspaugh-Jackson says “Touch” underlines ACT Today!’s mission in supporting parents who are not able to access the proper care and treatment their children desperately need.

In the past four years, ACT Today! has distributed nearly $1 million dollars in grants to families of children on the autism spectrum. These grants include aide for social skills programs, behavioral therapy, assistive technology, basic safety equipment, assistance dogs, medical care, and special needs schools.

Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson to Speak at “All Ages & Abilities” Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Anaheim, February 24

2012-01-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

By: Daphne Plump

Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, Executive Director of ACT Today (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), author, media personality and motivational speaker of autism advocacy will speak to parents about life lessons and how all parents of children with disabilities can become advocates for their child, at the 6^th Annual “All Ages & Abilities” Autism/Asperger’s Conference on February 24, 2012 in Anaheim, California.

Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort

Feb 24 - 12:30pm

Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson

PARK C - BALLROOM

1855 South Harbor Boulevard

Anaheim, California 92802

Alspaugh-Jackson will present “Waiting For Wyatt: A Journey Through Autism to Empowerment.”

“My goal is to empower parents by letting them know that they are not alone and their children’s disability is an opportunity to do something great,” says Alspaugh-Jackson. “Life's greatest challenges are nothing more than expeditions of the soul which lead us to become the self-actualized beings we are meant to be.”

Alspaugh-Jackson will share her personal journey from becoming an autism mom with son Wyatt, to becoming a fearless advocate. She will tell her story with honesty and humor, and relate her personal “Steps to Empowerment.” The practical recommendations will help parents face the role of parenting a child with autism with a new confidence and attitude, taking the crisis out of the process and replacing it with passion, fearlessness and possibility.

In a recent television appearance on FOX network’s FOX & Friends, Alspaugh-Jackson urged the community to take a more proactive role in being advocates for children with autism.

“This country has to come together to save a generation of children. With 1 in every100 children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder – at the most conservative estimates – I deal with parents everyday who need help. This is a crisis…an epidemic.”

For more information about the “All Ages & Abilities” Autism/Asperger’s Conference, visit: www.autism-conferences.com.

About Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson: Nancy Alspaugh (all-spa)-Jackson is an Emmy-Award winning, former national television producer turned author and activist on the subject of autism awareness. As a motivational speaker, she spoke to sold out audiences around the country. She has been honored with the United Press International Award, the Associated Press Award, the Gabriel Award, the Genesis Award, as well as having been named one of the Hollywood Reporters “Women to Watch.” Alspaugh-Jackson feels her most important assignment came after her adopted son Wyatt was diagnosed with autism at the age of three (Wyatt is now nine). Although Wyatt started displaying signs of autism at the age of two, he was not diagnosed with the disorder until three and a half and did not receive effective treatment until the age of four and a half. She saw an urgent need for families to have somewhere to turn to for advice and assistance when dealing with this devastating disorder. She became the executive director of national non-profit organization ACT Today!, in 2008. Under her stewardship, ACT Today! has distributed over $800,000 in grants nationwide. She has launched the first national campaign for military children with autism, ACT Today! for Military Families.

For more information, visit: www.nancyalspaughjackson.com.

DEFINING AUTISM

2012-01-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

Watch KTLA - Los Angeles this morning at 9am. ACT Today!'s Founder/President Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and I will discuss the possible change of the definition of autism. It's a live show. Watch on TV. Or,

New Research Suggests Birth Weight Plays A Role In Autism Spectrum Disorder

2012-01-24T07:35:00.000-08:00

I just read this on Medical News Today...

Although the genetic basis of autism is now well established, a growing body of research also suggests that environmental factors may play a role in this serious developmental disorder affecting nearly one in 100 children. Using a unique study design, a new study suggests that low birth weight is an important environmental factor contributing to the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

"Our study of discordant twins - twin pairs in which only one twin was affected by ASD - found birth weight to be a very strong predictor of autism spectrum disorder," said Northwestern University researcher Molly Losh. Losh, who teaches and conducts research in Northwestern's School of Communication, is lead author of the study that will be published in the journalPsychological Medicine and is now available online.

Prior twin studies have shown that when one identical twin had ASD, the other twin was much more likely to have ASD than not. "Because identical twins share virtually 100 percent of their genes, this is strong evidence for the role of genetics in autism," said Losh. "Yet it is not 100 percent the case that ASD affects both identical twins in a twin pair."

"That only one twin is affected by ASD in some identical twin pairs suggests that environmental factors may play a role either independently or in interaction with autism risk genes," she added. "And because autism is a developmental disorder impacting brain development early on, it suggests that prenatal and perinatal environmental factors may be of particular importance."

The researchers found that lower birth weight more than tripled the risk for autism spectrum disorder in identical twin pairs in which one twin had ASD and the other did not.

To control for shared genetic and environmental factors, the researchers used a co-twin control study design in which the ASD-affected twin served as the case and the unaffected twin served as the control. They found the risk for autism spectrum disorder rose 13 percent for every 100 gram- (3.5 ounce-) decrease in birth weight.

"There's been a great deal of misinformation about the causes of autism - from the 1950s misconception that the distant maternal behavior of what were dubbed "refrigerator mothers" was at fault to the ill-informed myth that vaccines can cause autism," said Losh.

Losh and her colleagues' findings add to a growing body of knowledge about the complex causes of autism and suggest that birth weight could be one of the environmental features that interacts with underlying genetic predisposition to autism.

Losh, who directs Northwestern's Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Laboratory, warned that the findings from twin studies might not extend to singletons, as the prenatal and perinatal conditions for twins and singletons differ in important ways.

The researchers studied a population-based sample of 3,725 same-sex twin pairs that were part of the Swedish Twin Registry's Child and Adolescent Twin Study that was directed by Paul Lichtenstein of Sweden's Karolinska Institute. The discordant twins they studied were pairs in which one twin was more than 400 grams (about 14 ounces) or at least 15 percent heavier at birth than the other.http://www.act-today.org

Autism: Then and Now

2012-01-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

IN THE NEWS...

American General Media broadcasting company interviewed me about the state of autism then and now, and what the public can do now to help children with autism.

Listen to the 3-part interview with us. Click here:

PART 1 - http://play.audiofarm.org/17944

PART 2 - http://play.audiofarm.org/17965

PART 3 - http://play.audiofarm.org/17999

No Link Found Between Prenatal Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Autism, Swedish Study Finds

2012-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

I just read this article in the ScienceDaily. What do you think? Share your comments with us.

A large population-based study in Sweden indicates that there is no link between smoking during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. The study, led by Dr. Brian Lee, an assistant professor at Drexel University and a team of international collaborators, will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and was published online in December.

Researchers have considered a variety of chemical exposures in the environment during pregnancy and early life as possible contributing factors in the development of autism spectrum disorders. Many have considered prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke a possible cause due to known associations with behavioral disorders and obstetric complications. Past studies of maternal smoking and autism have had mixed results.

"We found no evidence that maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of autism spectrum disorders," said Lee, an epidemiologist at Drexel's School of Public Health, who led the research in collaboration with researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institute and the University of Bristol (Bristol, UK). "Past studies that showed an association were most likely influenced by social and demographic factors such as income and occupation that have associations with both the likelihood of smoking and with the rate of autism spectrum disorders."

In the new study, Lee and colleagues analyzed data from Swedish national and regional registries for a set of 3,958 children with autism spectrum disorders, along with a control set of 38,983 children born during the same period who did not receive an ASD diagnosis. Overall, 19.8 percent of the ASD cases were exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, compared to 18.4 percent of control cases. These rates showed an association between maternal smoking and the odds of an autism spectrum disorder, in unadjusted analyses. However, the association disappeared when the analysis was adjusted for sociodemographic factors such as the parents' income level, education, and occupation.

The report helps to reassure mothers who smoked during pregnancy that their behavior wasn't likely responsible for their child's autism, Lee said, and "crosses off another suspect on the list of possible environmental risk factors for ASD." He cautioned, however, that smoking during pregnancy is still unhealthy for mothers and has other known risks for their children.

Lee received his Ph.D. and M.H.S. degrees in Epidemiology from The Johns Hopkins University, and graduated Cum laude with an A.B. in Biological Anthropology from Harvard College. His research interests include the epidemiology of neurological development, maintenance and decline, including prenatal environmental exposures and autism risk; gene-environment interaction; and epidemiological methods including causal inference methodology, data mining and machine learning algorithms.

Lee was recently awarded a 3-year grant from Autism Speaks to study whether early immune system abnormalities are associated with the risk of autism spectrum disorders.

The maternal smoking risk study was funded by a grant from the Stockholm County Council.

William Henry Joins ACT Today!’s National Campaign to Raise Autism Awareness and Funds on Behalf of Military Children with Autism

2012-01-18T05:45:00.000-08:00

American luxury brand William Henry is donating a portion of its profits to the ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment) for Military Families national campaign, now until February 14, 2012.

Luxury toolmaker William Henry will donate 10% of all of its profits to the ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF) fund now through Valentine’s Day. Sales include William Henry’s luxury pocketknives, money clips, pens, and golf tools.

“We know that military personnel who have children with autism fight a battle on two fronts, one for their country, the other for their child with autism,” says Matthew Conable, chief designer and founder of William Henry. “When we learned of ACT Today!’s national campaign to help military children with autism, William Henry thought this initiative would not only spread autism awareness, but help fulfill ATMF’s mission to provide grants to military children with autism to get the necessary tools they need to reach their highest potential.”

The goal of the ATMF fund is to improve awareness of the unique needs of the military family living with autism and provide access to urgently needed treatments and support services. ATMF was established in July 2010. Since its first year of operation, ATMF has provided assistance to over 110 military families through its grant program. Grants funded included assistance with behavioral therapy, medical services, assistive technology, safety equipment, assistance dogs, legal services, therapy equipment, assessments, and other quality of life support.

About William Henry: William Henry is an American luxury brand devoted to the vision of designing and creating superlative functional jewelry. Designer and entrepreneur Matt Conable established the brand in 1997 creating exclusive and award-winning pocketknives. Today’s collections include writing instruments, money clips and golf tools. The seamless integration of classic natural materials, precious metals & gemstones, and state-of-the-art alloys are hallmarks of Williams Henry’s work. The brand creates limited editions only, and no two pieces are ever replicas. For more information about William Henry, visit www.williamhenrystudio.com.

About ACT Today!: ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit www.act-today.org.

About ACT Today! for Military Families: ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF), is a national program of ACT Today!. It was launched in July 2010. ATMF works to improve awareness and delivery of effective autism services, and provides financial assistance to military families to help defray out-of-pocket costs associated with autism treatments, services, and other quality of life programs. For more information about ACT Today! for Military Families, visit www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.

Join Mark Christopher Lawrence for a Night of Laughs

2012-01-17T06:12:00.001-08:00

My friend, ACT Today supporter and the host of the 2nd Annual ATMF Run and Family Festival Mark Christopher Lawrence plans to rock The House of Blues this week!

Mark Christopher Lawrence is back with more Comedy at the San Diego The House of Blues. The third production, co-produced by Prayer Dudz, takes to the stage on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 7PM.

Hollywood’s Red Carpet again will be rolled out for San Diego, as confirmed Celebrities attend this special night of comedy. General admission available at the box office the night of the show and online. Mark’s shows sell out quickly.

The January lineup includes comics Matin Atrushi, Jimmy Burns, Scott Wood, and San Diego’s own DJ Mikey Beats.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit: www.houseofblues.com

Everyday Eddie Puts His Fame to Good Use

2012-01-13T05:57:00.000-08:00

By TERYL ZARNOW / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

You can't always predict who will end up with fame and fortune.

Eddie Guardado didn't appear especially blessed when he was born in 1970, one of 10 siblings in Stockton where his father had come from Mexico to work the fields.

Ava Guardado plays with her toys at her home in Tustin.

ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

MORE PHOTOS »

WHAT: Eddie Guardado's Stars & Strikes Celebrity Bowling Tournament

WHEN: 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29

WHERE: Bowlmor Lanes, The District in Tustin

TICKETS: Spectator Passes $150. Sponsorships start at $2,500.

INFORMATION: Laura at 818-705-1625

But Eddie admits, "I could always throw the ball."

And he did: As a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers. He was just 22 when he hit the big leagues and the good life.

But if celebrity is an asset, should you cash it in for a cause?

Eddie and his wife Lisa think so. Their cause is helping children with autism and his Major League connections give them a good chunk of celebrity capital to spend on its behalf.

"Nobody wants to hear about my story," Lisa explains. "I'm not the draw; he's the draw."

Eddie's good fortune gives them the resources and his celebrity gives them the edge. This Tustin couple leverages both for all they're worth.

Eddie, a standout in the record books, can throw with great accuracy.

But as a toddler his third child, Ava, 6, had trouble hitting her milestones.

Her autism story is not unlike many others. She wasn't walking, making eye contact, or waving bye-bye. But she was very particular about lining up her Dora the Explorer books.

"She was just 2 years old," Lisa recalls, "but she did have her routines."

Then came what Lisa calls her "ologist" moment. That would be the visits to the audiologist, neurologist, pathologist and other specialists.

Eddie flew in from Cincinnati for that defining meeting and diagnosis in 2007.

"It was devastating. Lisa broke down," he recalls. "I said we have to stay strong. If we don't, we're not helping Ava one bit."

Helping Ava was, of course, the first priority.

And so began the therapies: speech, occupational, behavioral, handwriting. Today Ava is mainstreamed at a private school she attends with a full-time aide.

She still has significant issues, particularly speech, but she comprehends instructions and writes her name and numbers. Her parents credit early intervention.

"If we didn't have her team," Eddie says, "Ava wouldn't be this far."

Autism humbles all parents.

When Ava was 3, and picked Target to throw a tantrum, Lisa eventually sat on the ground next to her.

"I let her have her moment ... People looked at me like: Control your kid ... I thought: You have no idea."

The Guardados couldn't help but think about other families with similar needs but less good fortune. They had always felt a responsibility to support good causes, but it's different when a cause becomes personal.

"Nothing was ever true to my heart," Lisa says. "I wasn't driven."

Now she is.

In 2008 they established the Eddie Guardado Foundation, hoping to help families get the therapies and treatments for autism they couldn't otherwise afford. In 2011, the foundation merged with Tarzana-based ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today) which has a similar purpose.

As board members, they noticed many families were asking for iPads. Lisa counted the applications and said: We'll just do this.

So the Guardado Foundation donated $27,000 to buy iPads for other families.

Eddie says they deliberately aren't focused on finding a cure for autism:

"These kids can't wait 10 years for the research. We have to use what works now ... the earlier the better."

As a celebrity, he's using what works.

Eddie explains that when you get to the big leagues and start to make a bit of money — and you see what the established players do — you begin to realize the potential of your success.

"I was 22 years old and I thought that maybe someday we could help out people. It's a good feeling, but it's also the right thing to do ... But when it (a cause) hits home ... you think about it a lot more."

Now the Guardados work it, raising awareness and fundraising for their foundation by asking for a little help from their friends.

They are organizing a Stars & Strikes celebrity bowling tournament Jan. 29. It will include baseball heavy hitters Garret Anderson, Adrian Beltre, Eric Chavez, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and Michael Young, among others.

"They come because they are baseball friends," Eddie says.

Lisa points out: "Then they know Eddie will come to their event."

It's like selling candy bars for your child's team at the office, but on a higher level. If you're an ordinary person, Eddie says, it's a lot harder to get the big sponsors, much less the right phone numbers in order to invite the big names.

"The people we ask are good ball players and good human beings."

It helps to know whom you're asking.

"What kind of person are they? They could be well known, but at your bowling event they could be an idiot."

•••

To support their cause, the Guardados are willing to barter some of their privacy: making the rounds of talk shows and allowing media like me into their home.

"You have to take advantage," Lisa says. "You have to have some kind of hook or an angle."

They also don't feel a need to shelter their daughter, an impish girl with her daddy's smile.

"I want everyone to see Ava. She is who she is. It's not a big secret," Lisa says.

In a way, you could say the Guardados are shameless about getting what they want.

Eddie says simply: "We want to put hope into people's hearts."

He retired as a player in 2009, and says his job now is driving car pools. His kids just think of him as Dad. But in baseball circles, as an All-Star, Guardado's durable arm earned him a nickname: "Everyday Eddie."

Everyday? Maybe.

Ordinary? Hardly.

Contact the writer: For information visit www.act-today.org.

Semper Fi, Warrior Mom!

2012-01-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

Life is full of interesting connections. We never know where our past, present and future will intersect.

Four years ago I received an email from my dear friend Pamela Browne, Senior Producer at The Fox News Network, who I once worked with in another life -- before autism changed my course -- when I was a television producer.

Pamela forwarded me an email from Oliver North (yes, THE Colonel Oliver North!), host of the Fox show "War Stories", which told of the hardships and challenges of military families with children with autism. Col. North knew this from a Marine wife, autism mom and warrior named Karen Driscoll, who is married to Colonel Jerome Driscoll. Colonel North was embedded with the troops under Col. Driscoll's command while covering the Gulf War.

I learned how children in the military have a higher incident of autism, a far less amount of the recommended treatment, often inaccessible, and have the added stress of multiple moves and often a parent deployed.

My dad was a Marine. My son has autism. Our nation's heroes, our country's most vulnerable children, getting the short end of the stick. This did not seem right to me.

Karen Driscoll and I connected that day. We talked and vowed to change the situation. A year and a half ago, ACT Today! launched ACT Today! for Military Families, and in that time we have raised awareness with countless media segments and a public service announcement with actor Joe Mantegna. We have put on a successful run and family festival in San Diego.

And most importantly, we have dispersed over one hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($130,167) in grants to needy families fighting two battles -- one for our country and one for their children with autism. The world for military families with autism is a better place because of the passion of Karen Driscoll.

Recently, Karen received a prestigious Achievement Award from the San Diego Military Advisory Council. Click here to read article.

Semper Fidelis is a Marine term that means always faithful, and it is more than a saying, it is a way of life.

As my friend Karen Driscoll often says to me...

Semper Fi, my friend.

ACT (Autism Care and Treatment) Today Helps San Diego Military Family

2012-01-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

KNSD-NBC TV in San Diego featured ACT Today! on the 4pm and 5pm news yesterday! We're so thrilled that military reporter Lea Sutton felt the need to help us spread autism awareness to the community.

Below is the news report on our unique campaign, ACT Today for Military Families, making a difference. Check it out and share your comments with us! Thanks!

Teens, Asperger's and Driving

2012-01-09T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia just released a new study that centers on teenagers with Asperger's Syndrome and driving. As a parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder, this is one subject my husband and I think about from time to time.

Read this release from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and share your thoughts with us...

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Finds Common Characteristics Among These Teens Who are Likely to Drive

In the first study to investigate driving as it relates to teens with a high-functioning autism disorder (HFASD), child development and teen driving experts at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies found that two-thirds of teenagers with a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) who are of legal driving age in their state are currently driving or plan to drive.

The study is published this month in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

A HFASD is characterized by subtle impairments in social interaction, communication, motor skills and coordination and by a difficulty in regulating emotions. Many of these capabilities come into play when driving.

"Little is known about how HFASDs affect a person's ability to drive safely," explained lead author Patty Huang, M.D., a developmental pediatrician at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). "Over the past decade, the rate of children diagnosed with an HFASD has increased, meaning that more of those kids are now approaching driving age. Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers, so it is important that we understand how HFASDs impact driving and how to develop appropriate educational and evaluation tools."

In a first step to better understand the issue, researchers surveyed almost 300 parents of teens with HFASDs and discovered a few predictive characteristics among those teens who are likely to become drivers, including:

At least 17 years old
Enrollment in full-time regular education
Planning to attend college
Having held a paid job outside the home
Having a parent who has taught another teen to drive
Inclusion of driving-related goals in his or her individualized education plan (IEP)

"It's very common for parents of kids with HFASDs to ask how they should handle learning to drive. Knowing these characteristics can help us prepare anticipatory guidance for families," said Dr. Huang. "In Pennsylvania, it's the law for teens to have a doctor's sign-off before they can get a learner's permit and that makes it easier to address driving-specific concerns. In states that don't have those laws, it's an issue that physicians should be prepared to address with their patients and their parents."

When determining whether a teen with an HFASD is ready to begin driving, researchers say it might be helpful to make an appointment with a specialist, such as an occupational therapist or driving instructor, who may be able to offer guidance on how to break driving lessons down into steps that are easier for teens with an HFASD to digest and put into practice.

"We hope this study will lay the groundwork for future research into improving the ability to assess readiness to drive among teens with autism spectrum," said Dr. Huang.

More information about helping teens with special needs prepare to drive is available at teendriversource.org.

About The Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies:

The Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) that focuses exclusively on making children and adolescents safer. Through CChIPS, researchers from CHOP, The University of Pennsylvania and The Ohio State University work side by side with industry members to conduct translational research that is practical to industry. This synergistic collaboration between industry and academia creates an ideal environment to generate ideas for new research projects and to leverage shared expertise and resources. The CChIPS method applies the science of biomechanical epidemiology to the analysis of crash-related data. A unique and comprehensive approach, biomechanical epidemiology integrates the principles of engineering, behavioral science, and epidemiology into study designs. For more information, visit www.chop.edu/cchips .

About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking third in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 516-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

Contact: Dana Mortensen The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Phone: (267) 426-6092 mortensen@email.chop.edu

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

50 Inspiring Autistic People of 2011: Celebrities

2012-01-05T06:18:00.000-08:00

I was just reading theAutcast.com's 50 Inspiring Autistic Celebrities of 2011. Wow! What a truly inspirational article.

Check it out online at http://thautcast.com/drupal5/content/50-inspiring-autistic-people-2011-celebrities.

They list such people as Temple Grandin, American Idol's James Durbin and more.

Let me know your thoughts after you read it! Cheers!

Autism Care and Treatment Today! Gives Grants to Seven Southern California Military Families, Thanks to Funding from Non-Profit Partner Hope 4 Hanna

2012-01-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

ACT Today! announces Hope 4 Hanna, a fellow non-profit organization, has awarded ACT Today! with an $8,000 contribution. The contribution is allocated to ACT Today!’s special fund called the ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF). Seven military families with children with autism, who reside in Orange and San Diego counties, will benefit from the contribution.

The Jackson family, one of the seven recipients, received a grant for fencing.

“Our son with autism has wandered from two different houses with security measures,” says Nashota Jackson, whose family resides on the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Her husband will be deployed this January for a year of service in Afghanistan. “This fence is much more than metal and mesh to us. This fence could be something that saves our son's life, and provides great peace of mind while my husband is deployed.”

"Hope 4 Hanna is so happy to be able to financially support grant requests to local military families for whom we are so grateful. We know the challenges that are faced with autism on a normal basis. Military families in addition must face deployment, relocation, and denial of funding. These families have been a high priority for our organization for quite some time,” says Lené Belden, Secretary and Founding Board Member of Hope 4 Hanna, and Hanna's mother.

“ACT Today! is proud to partner with Hope 4 Hanna” says ACT Today! Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson. “We share the same mission – to help children with autism get the necessary tools they need to reach their full potential. Together we are making a difference in the community, and we are thrilled that seven additional families enter the New Year with hope and a roadmap to navigate through the world of autism”

About ACT Today! for Military Families: ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF), is a national program of ACT Today!. It was launched in July 2010. ATMF works to improve awareness and delivery of effective autism services, and provides financial assistance to military families to help defray out-of-pocket costs associated with autism treatments, services, and other quality of life programs. For more information about ACT Today! for Military Families, visit www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.

About Hope 4 Hanna : Hope 4 Hanna is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help create a less challenging road for families dealing with the disorder. Hope 4 Hanna aims to help fund programs, scholarships and grant access to services for in-need families dealing with autism in Southern California. There signature annual race in San Clemente is organized by its founding board members: Justin Alderson, Kristen Alderson, Joshua Belden, and Lene` Belden. The inspiration for their vision is Johanna ("Hanna") Belden, who was diagnosed in October 2006 with an autism spectrum disorder, shortly after her second birthday.. For more information about Hope 4 Hanna, visit www.hope4hanna.com.

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, Real American Story - Helping Children with Autism

2011-12-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

FOX News national network has named ACT Today! Founder & President Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh as a “Real American Hero”.

They recently interviewed her for an all inclusive story on her life, her journey and her mission in helping children with autism.

I was honored to be a part of the segment and more honored to work with such a phenomenal woman!

Please watch the news segment with us.

Then, share the link with your friends, family and colleagues.

http://www.realamericanstories.com/putting-the-pieces-together-autism-dr-doreen-granpeesheh-joe-mantegna

Some Experts Worried Over Revised Autism Guidelines

2011-12-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

I just read this article on FOXNews.com about the future of autism. Check it out. What do you think? Please share your thoughts with me, in the comment section below. Thanks!

Published December 28, 2011

FoxNews.com

The New Year hasn’t even started yet, but some parents are already looking ahead to 2013.

In May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association will release a new, revised set of guidelines for diagnosing someone with autism spectrum disorder.

And some experts don’t think this is a good idea.

Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist and Fox News contributor, said rather than having separate disorders in the autistic “arena,” the association is proposing one name for all such disorders, which include repetitive behavior (autism spectrum disorder, pervasive development disorder-not otherwise specified and Aspberger’s).

“They are monkeying with the definition of how severe symptoms must be to fit into a new and broad category called autism spectrum disorder, rather than autism and Aspberger’s, et cetera,” Ablow said.

The association’s decision to adopt stricter standards stems from the debate of how to define disorders, so that they can embrace the proper populations, while triggering insurance company reimbursements, said Ablow, who disagrees with a change in diagnostic manual so soon.

"I don't understand how a professional association can meet every few years and declare that some disorders are not in existence anymore and invent new ones to replace them," he added.

These new guidelines would place an emphasis on preservative and repetitive behaviors – but many children who were originally diagnosed with autism may be reclassified.

Ablow said this can leave some people who are still suffering with some of the symptoms or less severe symptoms out in the cold.

“If we don’t loosen it a little bit, I suspect that some of these high-functioning kids may actually either get shifted into a different diagnosis,” said Dr. Thomas Frazier, who treats children with autism at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. “So, for example, they might move to a new diagnosis called social communication disorder.”

Frazier said he is also worried about children who are already classified, and how the reclassification could affect the educational assistance they receive at school.

“Your educational classification really indicates what kind of services and accommodations you're going to get at school,” he said. “And autism is one of the highest educational classifications; so many people with autism get a significant amount of services through their school. I think the worry by a lot of parents is that ‘if my child loses that classification what happens?’ And we don’t know what’s going to happen yet.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/12/28/some-experts-worried-over-revised-autism-guidelines/#ixzz1hwHbFwFz

FREE Autism Seminar on Managing Challenging Behaviors

2011-12-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn some valuable tips on how to manage challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrm disorders.

If you live in the Boston area, please consider registering to attend this free event.

The Happiest Time of the Year?

2011-12-22T16:28:00.000-08:00

Maybe…. Maybe Not!

Maybe like me, you have heard Karen Carpenter sing “The Christmas Song” one too many times, and feel like “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” is a more appropriate song to match your mood. Don’t worry, I will not ask you to make yet another donation for a child in need, as you have probably received countless emails asking you for the same thing from other non-profits, and you probably are deleting them from your inbox on first sight.

Now that I have vented my inner Scrooge, I will take a moment to sincerely say “THANK YOU!” and express my gratitude to everyone who supported us here at ACT Today! in a myriad of ways.

I am talking about more than donating money -- maybe you spread the word about our mission, volunteered at an event, or simply took the time to read about us and become more educated about autism and the need to help families struggling to find and access proper care and treatment for their children.

Because of you, we had our best year ever!

Here is a list of some of our accomplishments in 2011:

ACT Today! distributed a total of $434,000 to 388 families. This was a growth of 600% from the previous year!

We ACT Today for Military Families 5k/10k and ONEHOPE family festival which raised $99,000 and had 1,200 participants

Dispersed 107 Treatment and Life support grants to Military Families impacted with Autism

Started our “Assisted Technology Program” with IPad grants.

Received local and national television coverage discussing the importance of early and ongoing treatments for children with autism

Launched “ACT Today! Espanol” to assist Latino families struggling with the diagnosis of autism

Gave our first ACTivist award to Tom Bergeron at our Star studded and most successful ever Denim & Diamonds for Autism event

Now that I look at the list, I must say, I am very thankful that we had such an amazing year with your support.

On that note, I think I’ll go listen to Karen Carpenter’s Christmas CD and pour myself an eggnog.

Happy Holidays!

Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson

Executive Director, ACT Today!

Autism hidden in plain sight

2011-12-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

Here's the 4th part of the 4 parent autism series the Los Angeles Times newspaper ran. Please share your thoughts with us on the comment section below.

Discovering Autism

Autism hidden in plain sight

As more children are diagnosed with autism, researchers are trying to find unrecognized cases of the disorder in adults. The search for the missing millions is just beginning.

Howard McBroom, shown riding the bus, worked for 26 years as a security guard. It wasn't until he lost that job in 2003 that the Indiana University graduate learned he was autistic. He was 49 years old. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) More photos

Alan Zarembo, Los Angeles Times

December 16, 2011

Last of four parts

When autism researchers arrived at Norristown State Hospital near Philadelphia a few years ago, they found a 63-year-old man who rambled on about Elvis Presley, compulsively rocked in his chair and patted the corridor walls.

Discovering Autism

The series at a glance:

Ben Perrick, a resident of the psychiatric institution for most of his life, displayed what the University of Pennsylvania researchers considered classic symptoms of autism. His chart, however, said he was schizophrenic and mentally retarded.

Delving into the file, the researchers learned that as a 10-year-old, Perrick had seen Dr. Leo Kanner, the psychiatrist who discovered autism. In his notes from 1954, Kanner described Perrick as “a child who is self centered, withdrawn, and unable to relate to other people,” and recommended that he be committed.

Later, other doctors relabeled Perrick. The autism diagnosis was forgotten.

The researchers found 13 other patients with unrecognized autism in the Norristown hospital — about 10% of the residents they evaluated. It was a sign of how medical standards and social attitudes toward the disorder have shifted.

Over the last two decades, estimates of the autism rate in U.S. children have climbed twentyfold. Many scientists believe the increase has been driven largely by an expanded definition of the disorder and more vigorous efforts to identify it.

Scientists are just beginning to find cases that were overlooked or called something else in an earlier era. If their research shows that autism has always been present at roughly the same rate as today, it could ease worries that an epidemic is on the loose.

By looking into the past, scientists also hope to deepen their understanding of how autism unfolds over a lifetime.

What happened to all the people who never got diagnosed? Where are they?

Like Perrick, who died in 2009, some spent their lives in institutions. Mental hospitals have largely been emptied over the last four decades, but the remaining population probably includes about 5,000 people with undiagnosed autism, said David Mandell, a psychiatric epidemiologist who led the Norristown study.

Many more are thought to be in prisons, homeless shelters and wherever else social misfits are clustered.

But evidence suggests the vast majority are not segregated from society — they are hiding in plain sight. Most will probably never be identified, but a picture of their lives is starting to emerge from those who have been.

They live in households, sometimes alone, sometimes with the support of their parents, sometimes even with spouses. Many were bullied as children and still struggle to connect with others. Some managed to find jobs that fit their strengths and partners who understand them.

If modern estimates of autism rates apply to past generations, about 2 million U.S. adults have various forms of it — and society has long absorbed the emotional and financial toll, mostly without realizing it.

Finally, an explanation

Ben Perrick is shown with his father, Isadore, and mother, Bernice. Perrick spent most of his life at Norristown State Hospital near Philadelphia. Researchers interviewed him when he was 63 and found classic symptoms of autism. His chart, however, said he was schizophrenic and mentally retarded. Perrick died in 2009. (Joan Bothell) More photos

The search for the missing millions is just beginning.

The only study to look for autistic adults in a national population was conducted in Britain and published in 2009. Investigators interviewed 7,461 adults selected as a representative sample of the country and conducted 618 intensive evaluations.

The conclusion: 1% of people living in British households had some form of autism, roughly the same rate that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates for children in America today.

The British study found it didn't matter whether the adults were in their 20s or their 80s. The rate of autism was the same for both groups.

“That would seem to imply the incidence has not changed very much,” said Dr. Terry Brugha, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Leicester who led the study. He added that the findings were not conclusive and more research is needed.

Document: An early case of autism

None of the adults included in the study had an existing diagnosis of autism, though in a few instances relatives told researchers that they had suspected it.

In one case, a man said he had asked his doctor about the possibility but was told that a diagnosis in middle age would be useless.

After all, he had gotten this far without it.

Still, as more children are being diagnosed with autism, more adults are wondering if they have it too.

Karl Wittig, a retired engineer from New York, had always questioned why so few social skills came naturally to him.

A diary his mother kept in the 1950s suggests he was not an ordinary child.

“This last few weeks, he doesn't pile the blocks anymore,” she wrote when he was 2. “He likes to put one next to the other, making a big row of 48.”

Two years later, he talked nonstop about wires, switches, light bulbs and Thomas Edison.

Wittig went on to earn undergraduate and master's degrees from Cornell University and New York University in physics, electrical engineering and computer science. In the research laboratories where he worked, he felt he fit in.

“I went into a field full of eccentric people,” Witting recalled. “I was just another eccentric person.”

Wittig said he eventually figured out how to behave in social situations — to refrain from correcting other people's mistakes, flaunting his math abilities or rambling on about his own interests. He married a former nun 18 years his senior. She died of cancer after two decades together. Wittig described the marriage as happy.

Still, he wanted to understand what made him different. So at age 44, he brought his mother's diary to a psychiatrist, who evaluated him and concluded he had Asperger's disorder, a mild form of autism.

“I had been waiting for an explanation for these issues my entire life,” recalled Wittig, now 55, who lives alone in the apartment he once shared with his wife. “Finally, here it was.”

Passing for ‘normal’

Mark Teufel, 57, learned he had Asperger's disorder after his nephew was diagnosed with autism in 1999. Teufel says he has adjusted to his condition, even to other people's misconceptions about it: “Most of the time I am treated like I am stupid. But I am not.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) More photos

On the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum, it is possible to pass for “normal,” or some semblance of it. Over time, experts say, many people with the disorder adapt to their surroundings. It helps to find a niche, a constructive interest or a job.

For some, the key is finding a guardian angel.

Mark Teufel said he could barely survive without Loraine Girard, a divorcee from Texas with whom he has lived for the last 17 years.

They met at the Magic Castle, a Hollywood club for magicians. Teufel, 57, who has a wispy beard and gray ponytail, makes contraptions used in tricks — polished works of art crafted from wood and metal.

He and Girard live in a rent-controlled apartment in Santa Monica. Tools, spare parts and papers are spread over every surface, with towers of boxes and plastic bins rising out of the rubble to create an indoor metropolis. It has reduced the hallway to a crawl space, cut off access to one bedroom and rendered the oven unusable.

“He needs everything out in the open to know where it is,” Girard explained.

Teufel said he can't fill out a form, write a check or follow a news broadcast without Girard's help.

During a childhood that he described as “full of misery,” he said he was often picked on. At home, he would retreat to his room to build toothpick houses or perfect magic tricks.

When he graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1973, his father put him to work in the family business, a jewelry factory where he still works part-time, filing and polishing rings.

In 1999, his nephew was diagnosed with autism. Urged by his brother, Teufel went to a psychologist, who diagnosed Asperger's disorder and provided counseling for several years. He's adjusted to his condition, he says, even to other people's misconceptions about it.

“Most of the time I am treated like I am stupid,” Teufel said, “but I am not.”

Dealing with curveballs

To curb his sense of isolation, 56-year-old Howard McBroom, shown hugging Dee Wallace, became active with SpiritWorks Center for Spiritual Living in Burbank. “I am accepted there,” he said. “I am loved. I am the greeter. And that's such a great place to be.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) More photos

Howard McBroom might never have been noticed but for a turn of bad luck.

His problems early in life — a speech impediment, chronic clumsiness — never raised great concerns, though they led to relentless bullying. He was a decent student and went on to earn a history degree at Indiana University, where he kept to his books and made few friends.

After graduation, he moved west and found work as a security guard. For the next 26 years, he worked the graveyard shift and lived in a Burbank apartment. He wasn't bothered by the hole in the floor or the festering mold.

He rarely traveled, except for a weekend bus trip once a year to watch an arm-wrestling competition in Petaluma, Calif.

Video: Howard McBroom, 56

Howard McBroom, 56, squeaked by for decades on his own before learning he had autism.

As his sense of isolation and depression mounted, he became deeply involved in a neighborhood church.

He fantasized about finding a girlfriend or just going on a date, but had no idea how. “I was well aware that I was in a world full of people more capable than me,” he said.

Then, in 2003, the security company went out of business, and he was unable to find a new job. He fell behind on his rent. He feared becoming homeless.

A church member introduced him to an advocate for the disabled, who suggested that he be evaluated to see if he qualified for social services.

Nearly half a century into his life, he was told he had autism. “I think I'm somewhere close to the outer range,” said McBroom, now 56. “Not severely autistic but definitely not normal.”

Graduation from school, the loss of a job, the loss of a parent or any sudden change can unhinge someone with autism.

“If there is a curveball thrown, they have trouble reacting to that,” said John McGonigle, who heads an autism center at the University of Pittsburgh and who has diagnosed dozens of adults, including, recently, a 76-year-old.

“They don't make those adjustments easily,” he said. “They don't problem-solve.”

Had therapies been available when they were children, they might have had better lives, McGonigle said.

There has been little research into what kinds of treatment work best in adulthood. McGonigle has been training therapists to recognize and treat the conditions that often accompany autism, such as depression, anxiety and attention disorders.

Some people with the disorder simply need a “life coach,” he said.

In McBroom's case, once he had a diagnosis, the Lanterman Regional Center in Los Angeles found him federally subsidized housing and a social worker. He started reading books about autism. He reminded himself to make eye contact when he spoke to people.

In 2007, he joined the Lanterman board, representing clients of the center, which arranges state-funded services for the developmentally disabled.

One of his priorities is identifying more autistic people who have been missed.

Enormous concerns

Jeanne Duquette, 49, cuddles with Sakura, her Labradoodle. She was 39 when her mother read a newspaper article about autism and took her to a specialist, who diagnosed it immediately. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) More photos

Over the next decade, hundreds of thousands of children with autism will become adults. How they will fare — and how much it will cost to take care of them — is a matter of enormous concern for their families and for policymakers.

There is another group of people who are at least as needy: Undiagnosed baby boomers who soon will face life without the parents who have always supported them.

“Those are the people on the doorsteps of the service system,” said Marsha Mailick Seltzer, an autism expert at the University of Wisconsin. “They may not have a diagnosis, but they are there.”

An unknown number of families will face the predicament of Kay Duquette, 83, and her autistic daughter, Jeanne, 49.

Jeanne Duquette, 49

See all »

“What will happen to her after I am gone?” said Kay, who is deaf and in failing health.

Jeanne's older brother, Doug, a tree care specialist who lives with them in Irvine, said he will eventually be responsible for her.

But Jeanne, who receives a monthly disability check, said she can imagine living by herself in an apartment with a few dogs.

“Somebody would have to help her with her checkbook,” said her mother. “And I don't trust anybody. She doesn't know if a person has good intentions or bad intentions.”

As a child, Jeanne was taken from specialist to specialist. She was tagged with a multitude of labels, none of them quite right. At first doctors ascribed her difficulties to “slow development” and “extreme shyness.”

Teachers tried to help. “As you know, difficulty with language is central for Jeanne, and I have encouraged just as much verbalization as possible,” one teacher wrote in 1969, when Jeanne was 6.

Later came diagnoses of depression, dyslexia and possible paranoia.

Doctors and teachers told her mother that Jeanne would eventually catch up.

In some ways, she did. At University High in Irvine, she routinely landed on the honor roll, despite her inability to do basic math. On one standardized test, she scored in the 93rd percentile in reading. She played viola in the orchestra and stacked books in the library.

She had only one friend — a boy who shared her interest in “Star Trek” — and he moved to Kansas.

Making matters worse, her parents were going through a divorce. At one point, she cracked, threatening her parents with a kitchen knife, which landed her in a mental ward for two weeks.

Later, she tried college, taking all the writing classes she could. But she dropped out after failing algebra and has lived at home ever since, without friends or a job.

Jeanne was 39 when her mother read a newspaper article about autism and took her to a specialist, who diagnosed it immediately.

Today she lives for her routines and obsessions: the Civil War histories and fantasy novels neatly arranged on a shelf in her room; the massive jigsaw puzzles she works row by row; chores such as loading the dishwasher and cooking the side dishes for dinner; ESPN “Sports Center” and the sports section of the Los Angeles Times.

Her only regular contact with outsiders is when she walks Sakura, her Labradoodle, with neighbors each afternoon.

“I just listen to people talk about their lives,” she said.

Looking back, Kay Duquette wonders how things would be different if her daughter had been diagnosed as a child.

What would her life have been like?

alan.zarembo@latimes.com

About the series:

Rates of autism have exploded over the last 20 years. In exploring the phenomenon and its repercussions, Los Angeles Times staff writer Alan Zarembo interviewed dozens of clinicians, researchers, parents and educators and reviewed scores of scientific studies. Zarembo, along with Doug Smith and Sandra Poindexter of the Times data team, also analyzed autism rates and public spending on autism in California.

TWEET to Help Military Children with Autism

2011-12-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

TWEET2GIVE HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN CALLS ON PUBLIC
TO ACT TODAY AND HELP MILITARY CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

ACT Today! is using social media giant Twitter to raise much needed funds for its national Autism Care and Treatment for Military Families (ATMF) campaign which benefits military children with autism. The initiative calls on two teams – Team Naughty and Team Nice – to get as many Twitter followers to spread the word, and make online donations during December 14 through December 30, 2011.

All donations must be made at bit.ly/s3rnQJ.

According to recent figures from The Department of Defense, 1 in every 88 military children has autism. Autism is more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, pediatric cancer and childhood AIDS. Military families who have children with autism are fighting 2 battles -- one for their country, and the one for care and treatment for their children.

“We currently have an autism crisis,” says Andrekka Lanier, ATMF Campaign Director, Marine wife and mother of a child with autism. “ACT Today!’s Tweet2Give campaign will not only draw more awareness to the plight of military children with autism, but also help raise funds for necessary care and treatment these children need to reach their full potential.”

Anyone with access to a computer can participate, by setting up a Twitter account. Then, doing the following steps:

Step 1
Before tweeting please add @Act_Today and @TweetTwoGive to the people you follow on Twitter.

Step 2
Announce to your followers that you have joined the contest and include the link to the ACT Today! for Military Families video at bit.ly/s3rnQJ.
SAMPLE TWEET: Just joined the “Nice Team” to raise $$ for ACT Today! for Military Families. The fundraising contest starts Dec 14 - bit.ly/s3rnQJ

Step 3
During the 2nd week of the contest send your donation request tweet again.

SAMPLE TWEET: The contest for ACT Today! For Military Families starts now. Please give what you can and retweet - bit.ly/s3rnQJ

US Marine Shares Personal Story of Being Deployed While Learning of Son's Autism Diagnosis

2011-12-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Watch this Morning @ 11am (PST) at www.act-today.org

United States Marine Captain Jermaine Cadogan joins Shannon and Nancy live on the show to talk about being deployed overseas while learning of his son’s autism diagnosis.

It’s a gripping segment you won’t want to miss!

Plus, enter to win His & Hers jewelry from Isabella Emporium (www.isabellaemporium.com)
Watch Let’s Talk Autism with Shannon & Nancy
@ 11am (PST) today!
1st caller during the segment WINS – (408) – 475-4557
Isabella Emporium…jewelry of unsurpassed elegance, style, beauty and quality

***
Let’s Talk Autism with Shannon & Nancy
THIS Wednesday @ 11am (PST) - www.act-today.org

Let’s Talk Autism with Shannon & Nancy is a weekly hour long show that features Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson and Shannon Penrod, both parents of a child with autism, sharing interesting news from the autism community, the most current autism resources for families and ways to have fun while making a difference.Watch with us, every Wednesday @ 11am (PST) on www.act-today.org.