CNN's Robin Meade features Autistic Teen: Breakthrough Women

"Amanda LaMunyon was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome when she was eight. Asperger's made it tough for her to communicate -- until she picked up a paintbrush.

According to her website, since she began painting Amanda has "emerged from an inward world to a world of giving and caring." She's become an activist, speaking and even singing to groups about her journey. 

She writes, “It is important that we as Americans must take the lead to find the cause, cure and prevention of Autism. We have the privilege and freedom in our great country to raise money and speak about our concerns."

LaMunyon sells her paintings to raise money, and has given them to President George W. Bush and former First Lady Nancy Regan among others.

You can read more about her journey, her art and all the things that make her a Morning Express with Robin Meade breakthrough woman on her website:amandalamunyon.com. "

see full video and CNN article

What Would You Do? - Autistic Child Defended in Cafe

ABC's John Quinones does an interesting piece on this autistic child's public behaviors. This YouTube link has generated some controversial comments from both autistic and neurologically typical viewers. Warning : some profanity in the approved comments if you view directly on YouTube,  but the video is informative.

ARTICLE LINK David Finch--Combatting Asperger's: A Losing Proposition

Learn to say yes to your best possible life.

Published on February 20, 2012 by David Finch in The Journal of Best Practices

Finch and his saintly neurotypical wife, Kristen.

Though I've had Asperger syndrome my entire life—more than thirty-four years, now—I've only known about it for the past few years. Like many who are diagnosed as adults, I was surprisingly relieved when I found out: It all makes sense now, I thought. I'm supposed to be different from the other 109 people around me at any given time; this is how I'm wired...When I realized, for instance, that my marriage was in trouble largely because of my behaviors and detachment from my wife, Kristen, I immediately blamed Asperger's. (I don't pay attention to her needs? Asperger's! I don't help with the housework? Also Asperger's! It takes me three hours to make my breakfast yet I can't find time to help the kids get ready for school? Yep, that would be the Asperger's, too...I'm sure of it.) I thought the only way to save our marriage would be to somehow conquer my disorder. After all, erasing my neurological condition would automatically make me a better husband. Wouldn't it? read article at Psychology Today

Revised Autism Insurance Reform PASSES the Alabama SENATE

News Release

Cam Ward
State Senator - District 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, contact:
(205) 664-1066
(205) 566-6746
www.camward.com

April 5, 2012 – Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama Senate passed SB 283 today, reforming the coverage requirements for children who are on the Autism Spectrum. This legislation will coincide with an industry decision to triple the amounts of speech and occupational therapy available to children with Autism. It also provides more access to Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, which can foster basic skills such as looking, listening and imitating, as well as complex skills such as reading, conversing and understanding another person’s perspective.

“With more and more of our children being diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, it is only right that families are provided more access to care by their insurance companies,” Senator Cam Ward, SB 283 sponsor said. “I know first hand what families go through to assure access to these proven and needed therapies, because my own daughter is among those on the autism spectrum. While this bill is not perfect, it is another step down the road to providing adequate insurance coverage to those on the Autism Spectrum. This bill will give employers the opportunity to offer insurance coverage for their employees that is unprecedented in Alabama today.”

It takes people coming together to accomplish something truly remarkable. Passing Autism insurance reform is the result of the work of many people, including The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council, House Sponsor Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R-Capshaw) and Insurance Companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.  Senator Ward worked long hours through tough negotiations to fight for this access to care for Alabama’s children and families afflicted by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

“I am so proud of my colleagues for their votes on this bill. This is something I have worked tirelessly on for many years,” Senator Ward said. “If this legislation will allow just one child to gain improved skills from this affliction, it will stand among my proudest accomplishments not just in elected office, but of my entire life.”

“Families of individuals with autism work hard to provide for their loved ones – to provide opportunities for growth and learning,” Anna McConnell, State Autism Coordinator said. “Expanded insurance coverage can help ease the financial stresses that these families face every day.”           

While state officials and the IACC worked hard on this legislation, no one does more than citizen advocates like The Autism Society of Alabama. Senator Ward was effusive in his praise for Bama Hager, Policy Advisor to The Autism Council of Alabama, and all of the families and friends of Autism Awareness who did ­­­yeoman’s work to keep this issue at the forefront of the legislature’s agenda this year.

“At Autism Society of Alabama, we are encouraged and thrilled that the Alabama Legislature recognized that Autism Insurance Coverage is an important issue to thousands of Alabamians affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Hager said. “We look forward to better access to services for ASD and improved coverage for ASD therapies.  ASA would like to thank Senator Cam Ward and the State Senate Leadership for their relentless support as we pursued Autism insurance coverage improvements. We are looking forward to the House of Representatives vote on the Autism Insurance Reform Bill.”                      
 

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11 yr old Autistic boy uses talents

Autistic game designer Jack is an internet hit

9:20pm Sunday 13th September 2009

An autistic Swindon boy has become an internet hit thanks to his series of online games.

Jack Booth, 11, of Beech Avenue, Pinehurst, has created scores of games to challenge players around the world – including City Of The Dead, which no player has managed to complete in over 2,000 attempts.

Now Jack hopes his achievements will help to challenge perceptions of autism.

“I would like to show people they shouldn’t be scared to be friends with me,” said Jack.

Read full article

Autism and Employment Issues Article

As of the publishing date of this article, only 4 individuals had been employed by this non-profit corp. Much more to do?

N.J. adults with autism undertake hardest job by entering workforce


by Karen Keller/The Star-Ledger

Thursday September 17, 2009, 9:40 PM

For an autistic worker, the hardest part of a job is often the easiest for everyone else: Joking with co-workers, sharing desserts on a special day, instinctively treating your boss with respect.

Being socially correct is grueling. And for some autistic adults, an impossible task.

Autism advocates are saying this is an issue more companies in New Jersey will have to start dealing with, as there will soon be a surge in autistic adults in the workforce.


A state-commissioned report due out this month is starting to tackle the problem. It's an issue that faces more challenges as unemployment reaches historic heights and as public interest and dollars still remains fixed on autistic children.

"A lot of public awareness has been around children with severe challenges," said Leslie Long, public policy director for Autism New Jersey. "You have to now look at John who's now 20. Putting him on a brochure for funding isn't going to work anymore. He has a right to work and wants to work. How do you help him?"

New Jersey's progressive special-education laws allow autistic children to receive a comprehensive education until they reach age 21. But after that, funding drops and many autistic adults today sit at home with little to do, Long said.

Graduating autistic students often don't find jobs on their own, said Jane Wilkie, adult services director of the Midland School, a special-education school in Somerset County.

"If we weren't able to put them in jobs they were going home not to do anything," Wilkie said.

One in 94 children in New Jersey is diagnosed with autism, compared with one in 150 children in the nation, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no reliable statistics for the number of autistic adults in New Jersey because many have been misdiagnosed, Long said. The state recently launched an online registry for autistic adults, but the numbers so far are sketchy. Unemployment nationwide for disabled adults in general hovers at about 70 percent, Long said.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/nj_adults_with_autism_undertak.html

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