NEW DATA REGARDING QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT NEEDS, STRESS LEVELS FOR AUTISM CAREGIVERS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012


 We Help Sressed Out Parents

Dr. Gary Sweeten


Did you know that rearing a child with a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum has about the same amount of stress as a soldier in Iraq? Yep, no joke. In fact, it can be like suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (PTSD)



This is one reason we are starting to focus on families with a member who has a chronic disease. We have developed simple materials designed to lead people to ways that can lower stress, exhaustion, conflict and hopelessness. During our yearlong research process with parents and kids we learned that a well designed Quality Of Life Self Assessment could serve as an in home Mentor and Wise Guide for the care givers...



Dr Gary Sweeten, Ed. D. University of Cincinnati, Founder and Chairman of the Board Lifeway Counseling Centers, Practice limited to Consultant, Coach and Mentor to leaders, pastors, executives and organizations. full article here

Temple Grandin Reveals Her Advice for Educating Autistic Kids

Dr. Temple Grandin has unique insight into the minds of autistic children. Her approach—stay positive.

By Dr. Temple Grandin

August 15, 2012

Comment

Dr. Temple Grandin offers tips for special educators and parents with autistic children. (Photo: Rosalie Winard)

The following essay was written by Dr. Temple Grandin exclusively for TakePart.

Special educators need to look at what a child can do instead of what he/she cannot do.

There needs to be more emphasis on building up and expanding the skills a child is good at. Too often people get locked into a label such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism, and they cannot see beyond the label. Kids that get a label often have uneven skills. They may be talented in one area and have a real deficiency in another.


In my case, I was really good at art, but doing algebra made no sense. It is important to work on areas where a child is weak, but an emphasis on deficits should not get to the point where building the area of strength gets neglected...

[full story]

Autism Group Calls For End To ‘Infighting’

By MICHELLE DIAMENT

August 7, 2012


(Updated: August 7, 2012 at 1:19 PM CT)

A leading national advocacy group is calling for a summit this fall in an effort to mitigate divisiveness within the autism community.

The Autism Society wants to bring together all of the major autism organizations to establish a series of joint goals.

“The infighting that a lot of times characterizes the autism community needs to stop,” said Scott Badesch, president of the Autism Society. “Until we come together, we’re not going to be able to move the needle on enhancing autism services.”

Tension has been brewing for years with parents and even professionals at odds over everything from possible causes of the developmental disorder to whether precious dollars should be spent on research or services for those on the spectrum...

Read full article and comments here

Read AMR editor's commentary on her blog