Autism

Summer camp for autistic tweens. Offered by the UW Autism Center!

Session A: July 6 - 15
Session B: August 2 - 12 Monday - Thursday 9am - 2pm
UW Campus
Seattle,WA 98195
253.692.4719 $975 per 2-week session

Autism Day at the Jubilee Farm

Aug 7, 2010

More information about both events can be found on the UW Autism Center website.

I wanted to mention the Autism Women's Network. It's a weekly talk show that's broadcast via the internet, and the host of the show is Sharon daVanport. The wonderful feature of the website is recordings of the shows and have the playback feature on their website. People can call in during the show and also give their opinions about the different topics being spoken about. I have added the player to the right hand side of this website as well, to make things a little easier. A link to their website is right below the player.

The Autism Womens Network interviews different experts on many different aspects of Autism, and freely broadcasts those shows via the internet. A quote from the website, "AWN Radio is dedicated to promoting awareness, reporting news, diverse issues, and entertainment with an appreciation that all autistic children and adults have their own unique autism experiences. " Their website also has summaries of each different webshow that is produced with links to those show.

The shows are diverse. For example, the upcoming show this week with Dr. Paula Kluth will be talking about inclusive classrooms for students with disabilities. Last weeks show featured an interview with Sugey Cruz-Everts, the autism advisor for the "United States of Autism Movie". A couple weeks ago a feature was done on Autism Fitness.

Sharon tries to have a diverse spectrum of speakers on the show talking about all the many different ways autism has impacted different lives. She is doing an amazing job spreading word about this disability, and letting many different voices be heard.

The next show is:

Saturday June 24th at: 08:00am PDT - 09:00am MDT - 10:00am CDT - 11:00am EDT (-6:00 GMT)

And the call in number to speak to the different people being interviewed is: (917) 889-3527

Follow the link on the right hand column.

Where does your state fall in the autism statistics? It looks like Minnesota has the highest cases of autism in the nation, 1/67 children are on the spectrum. That's 50% more than the national average! That boggles my mind. The national average is a little less than 1% or 1/110 children are diagnosed on the spectrum. I find it weird that Vermont and Iowa has the lowest rates... Maybe they just don't know to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders in Vermont or Iowa?

I found this information on http://www.fightingautism.org/idea/autism-state-rankings-prevalence.php . I copied the information on June 24, 2010.

Also, the chart is below:

In case you can't see the pic:

Autism Rate Per State
Public Schools, 8-year-olds
Minnesota 1/67
Oregon 1/77
Maine 1/80
Connecticut 1/99
Rhode Island 1/104
Pennsylvania 1/105
Indiana 1/106
Massachusetts 1/107
National Avg 1/110
New Jersey 1/114
Wisconsin 1/120
Nevada 1/124
Virginia 1/127
Maryland 1/127
Michigan 1/128
California 1/128
New Hampshire 1/138
Missouri 1/140
North Carolina 1/140
US & Outlying 1/143
Georgia 1/145
Wyoming 1/149
New York 1/151
Arizona 1/153
Florida 1/155
Ohio 1/158
Illinois 1/158
Washington 1/159
Delaware 1/160
Texas 1/163
Nebraska 1/168
Utah 1/175
D.C. 1/178
Kentucky 1/181
Idaho 1/185
W. Virginia 1/193
S. Dakota 1/199
Tennessee 1/205
Hawaii 1/206
Alaska 1/212
S. Carolina 1/217
Kansas 1/219
N. Dakota 1/219
Arkansas 1/224
Alabama 1/227
Montana 1/233
Colorado 1/273
New Mexico 1/275
Louisiana 1/295
Oklahoma 1/309
Mississippi 1/317
Iowa 1/718
Vermont -

The CDC has it broken down by male/female ratios, and IQ levels:
This pic can be found on http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

I just wrote a review of the Seattle Drum School on yelp.com. We went to school there for years, and loved every minute of it. The teachers are professional, knowledgeable, love kids, and extremely dedicated to music. They've also been extremely supportive of my autism benefits. Most of the musicians for my first show also worked at the school.
Here's the link: http://www.yelp.com/biz/seattle-drum-school-georgetown-seattle

The famous study by a British medical doctor Andrew Wakefield has officially been retracted. In 1998, Wakefield published a paper in The Lancet, the oldest, most respected medical journal in the UK, stating a possible link between autism and vaccinations. He didn't come right out and say that vaccinations caused autism, he only suggested a possible link.

The study was done at an excellent hospital in the UK, and it was published in the oldest medical journal, leading the study to be a shot heard around the world. Since then hundreds have been hospitalized for not being vaccinated, and children have died from the measles, a disease almost wiped out a generation before due to vaccinations. Organizations who promote immunizations have to spend time and resources addressing parents' concerns about vaccinating their children. Many parents of autistic children have to defend their decisions about vaccinating their children. All of this was caused because a man was paid by a couple of lawyers to conduct a study about a possible link between autism and vaccinations.

The article in Parenting magazine with the details of the retractions can be found here.

We're doing a fund raiser for Autism Speaks!

Rock and Roll for Autism
Aug 12, 2010
Hard Rock Cafe Seattle

www.rockandrollforautism.com

Alan White (Yes)
Ben Smith (Heart)
AWIM

We are looking for people who are willing to help out and either sponsor our event or donate to the event. Every cent of profit will be donated to Autism Speaks.

2010 Save The Date - 2010 Kickoff Announcement
www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/pugetsound

Hello stella!

Can you believe it is time again for our wonderful Kickoff Event? We hope that you will be able to join us as we host a tremendous event with guest speakers and wonderful information you'll love!

Our 2010 Kickoff Details 

Saturday, June 12th

Alki Room - Seattle Center
4:30pm - 6:00pm
Light appetizers & beverages will be served.
(MAP ) (The Alki Room is the area marked "2" in between the "3" and "4" on the official Seattle Center Map.)

This year's Kickoff will feature:
- Award Recognition to our top fundraisers from our 2009 efforts in Tacoma and Seattle!
- Guest Speakers in the field of autism sharing their perspectives!
- Information on our combined walk efforts, including fundraising ideas and where the money we raise is going right here in Washington State!
- ...and much, much more!

We hope that you can make it to this wonderful event! As speakers are confirmed, we will be announcing that on our 2010 website (where you can sign up your team, if you haven't already) or on our Facebook Fan Page!
For more information and/or to RSVP, please contact Justin at pugetsound@autismspeaks.org or (866) 362-6227

If you are emailing or leaving a message, be sure to leave the first and last names of everyone who will be coming!

Please RSVP by June 9th so we can get an accurate head count for this great event!

Want to Sponsor or Volunteer for the Event?


For more information on our Puget Sound walk, sponsorship, volunteering, or resources, contact Justin at (866) 362-6227 or justin.wieging@autismspeaks.org!

We would love to have you become a sponsor for our wonderful community event! There is still time to lock in your logo on materials, have a space at our Walk, or other options we'd love to make happen for you!

Chapters Facebook Twitter Autism Speaks Vids

Our 2010 Kickoff

Saturday, June 12
Alki Room,
Seattle Center
4:30p-6:00p


Our 2010 Walk

August 14, 2010
Seattle Center
Walk Website <http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/pugetsound>

Upcoming Meetings:

Pierce County
Tuesday, June 15th
Round Table Pizza

2010 Special Events & Fundraisers

August 1, 2010
Aces 4 Autism
Gaming Night & Silent Auction at 88 Keys
Register Today! <http://aces4autism.org/default.aspx>

August 4, 2010
Mariners Night at Safeco Field
Purchase Tickets! <http://www.mariners.com/autism>

August 12, 2010
Rock & Roll for Autism
Hard Rock Cafe
More Information <http://www.rockandrollforautism.com/>

Tips and Tools For Your 2010 Walk Team

Walk Website Tour <http://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/walk-now-for-autism-speaks-online-fundraising-show-1/>
Registration <http://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.co/2009/09/11/online-fundraising-show-2-registration/> 
Build and Edit Your Page <http://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/online-fundraising-show-3-build-and-edit-your-page/>
Fundraising E-mails <http://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/online-fundraising-show-4-fundraising-e-mails/>
More Tips <http://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com>

With your support ,
we will continue bringing together our community of hope!
<https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?supId=0&ievent=332538&lis=1&kntae332538=00C8981B385A44B49C3985D8BB4ED554>         

Get Involved in your Local Community.

For more information on Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org .


Mailing Address:
Autism Speaks - Pacific Northwest Office
159 Western Avenue West
Suite 484
Seattle, WA  98119    
US

Contact Name: Justin Wieging
Telephone Number: (206) 464-5182

A new screening test is being proposed for toddlers aged 15-30 months to check for symptoms of autism and Asperger syndrome.

Developed by Emory Autism Center and Georgia Tech University, The Rapid ABC—Rapid Attention Back and Forth Communication Test—screens children for traits of autism spectrum disorders.

What used to take 2-4 hours, and most children weren't diagnosed until 3-4, the Rapid ABC Test can be done in 5-10 minutes and children as young as a year old can be tested for an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is the fasted growing disability in the US, and 1% of all children are now being diagnosed. Doctors are suggesting the test be part of the every child's well child routine check-up at 15 months, 18 months, 24 months and 30 months—and more if they are high-risk.

Experts check to see how toddlers respond to activities like having their name called, looking at a book, being tickled and playing ball. Once it's complete, a software program computes a score. If autism is suspected, the child will undergo further testing.

"There really isn't something quick and rapid like the ABC out there, where pediatricians can interact for just three to five minutes,” says Jenny Mathys, MSSA at the Emory Autism Center.

Studies show the Rapid ABC test is accurate in identifying toddlers at risk for autism spectrum disorders.

For more information, contact (they prefer email):

404-727-8350,
childstudy @ hsi.gatech.edu (remove the space before and after @),
or go to http://childstudy.hsi.gatech.edu.

This study is supported by a seed grant from Emtech Biotechnology Development, Inc.

I added some of my favorite links in Seattle to the right hand side of the blog. www.stellamarie.com

Act Today - Up to a $5,000 grant, preference given to those earning less then $100,000 per year
http://www.act-today.org/grants.html

Autism Family Resources - $500 grant for therapy equipment and services. Must earn less then $50,000 annually
http://www.autismfamilyresources.org/needassistance2.htm

National Autism Association - $1500 grant to help your child with autism receive the services and products that he/she needs
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/helpinghand.php

UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation, Inc - Up to a $5,000 grant, family of 4 must earn less then $60,000
http://www.uhccf.org/

Good info can be found here as well:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5334078_grants-children-autism.html