A tragic situation we previously reported on involving a police encounter with a teen on the autism spectrum deserves immediate attention. On the morning of May 24, 2010, 19 year-old Reginald “Neli” Latson sat in the grass outside the local library in Stafford, Virginia waiting for it to open. Unbeknownst to him, a nearby school crossing guard had reported him to police as “a suspicious black male who may have a gun." A deputy then approached Latson and searched him. No gun was found. The deputy asked Latson for his name and Latson refused and tried to walk away as he had committed no crime. The deputy then grabbed Latson and attempted to arrest him without calling for backup. Latson became agitated and resisted arrest, resulting in the injury of the officer.
Arrested for assaulting a police officer, Neli was next held without bail in isolation for 11 days at the regional jail during which, his mother was allowed only one visit. He became catatonic and a judge ordered that he be transferred to a state mental hospital for 30 days of treatment and evaluation. He was later returned to jail for one year and spent eight months of that time in isolation again. After a 3-day trial, Latson was found guilty of assaulting a law enforcement officer, among other charges. His defense pleaded that the young man has Asperger’s Syndrome and presented a comprehensive, fully funded treatment plan for Neli to follow immediately upon release. The judge opted for Neli to spend another full year in jail before he could access treatment.
Yet even if Latson wasn’t an individual with autism, this conviction should not stand. Racially profiled, he had committed no crime when he was accosted,
searched and detained by the deputy. He should’ve been free to go to the library once it was established that he possessed no weapon.
Concerned disability advocates have launched a campaign to have Neli pardoned and freed from prison, where his condition continues to rapidly decline.
To voice your concern call or fax Gov. Bob McDonnell:
• Phone: (804) 786-2211
• Fax: (804) 371-6351
Here are some things to re-inforce to the individuals you will be speaking to:
1. Reginald “Neli” Latson, No. 1441792, Greensville Correctional Center, Jarratt, Virginia, should be pardoned and released into a treatment facility appropriate for his condition after which he will return to his special education program at school. 2. Neli Latson is NOT a criminal and his continued incarceration is reversing the gains made through his education and sports program. Each day in the penitentiary is causing irreparable harm to his ability to lead as normal a life as possible upon release. 3. Neli Latson has a plan for release that was presented during his May 31, 2011, hearing that was agreed upon by the court, but postponed for nine months. This postponement is cruel and unusual given his housing in solitary confinement and confusing and terror-filled days and nights in a prison cell. Neli MUST be released ASAP to begin to heal from the traumatic damage he has suffered since his wrongful arrest in May 2010.
Please tell them the state and/or country you are calling from so that they are aware that this is a nationwide and worldwide issue.
One thing I’ve learned over the last fifteen years of raising my twins with autism is the power of being oblique.
After one son bombed out of a series of social skills classes, I felt like I may as well make a little pile of money and burn it. Even worse, the experiences made him feel like a social failure.
But then he took an improvisation class. Suddenly, he was learning the give and take of communication, how to read someone’s body language and vocal inflection and respond accordingly. Gone was his standard monologue about his special interest which had his would be conversational partner eyeing the door. He discovered how to be spontaneous and he had fun.
Improvisation is an underused tool for addressing the social deficits of individuals with autism.
Sandy Bruce, an Atlanta grandmother of a boy on the autism spectrum, is helping to change that by founding a specialized improv program called Shenanigans. Bruce describes Shenanigans as a community-based program of applied theater that uses the techniques of improv to recognize and identify social cues through body language, facial expressions and voice. In addition to learning specific social skills children in the program often discover they have a great sense of humor as they get a chance to lose their rigidity and tap into their creativity. They use their bodies in new and expressive
ways and they get to be part of a group of individuals like them, forming friendships around a shared activity.
High-functioning individuals on the spectrum are already known as great mimics with startling memories. Coupled with new found skills learned in improvisation class, they could become extraordinary actors.
Now this leads me to challenge someone to reach out to our children on the low-functioning end of the spectrum and create an non-verbal improv program for them. If the children and teachers knew sign language, I bet it could be done. Some of the most powerful and amazing improv I’ve ever seen was done by The National Theatre of the Deaf, who may be able to lend their expertise.
Sometime the world of autism can seem bleak. But amidst all the autism stories filled with anguish, a beam of light shines through. That light is the power of creative self-expression to improve the quality of life for all children with autism.
Entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne has discovered that individuals with autism make exceptional employees in the IT sector. As
a father whose son was found to be on the autism spectrum, Sonne was initially in despair over the diagnosis until he quickly realized autism has its advantages. People with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) possess the ability to grasp ideas and perfectly execute certain functions. Well suited to testing tools, they are adept at following structures and repeat functions.
These revelations inspired Sonne to change his career from social entrepreneur to leading an IT consulting business in Denmark that almost exclusively recruits individuals with autism. He has placed many of these workers where they do double-the-work in the same amount of time as their neurotypical counterparts, with fewer mistakes.
Sonne has started an organization called the Specialist People Foundation. Their logo is a dandelion to invoke their management philosophy called the “Dandelion Model." Known as a pesky weed to be eradicated in order to create a uniformly green lawn, the dandelion also has superb healing and nourishing properties when planted specifically and used for its positive qualities. So it is with individuals with autism. When carefully placed, they are invaluable assets to companies. It’s a win-win situation for employer and employee and an exciting trend. A quote on the Specialist People Foundation Web site sums it up, “Innovation needs variation…placing value on differences creates innovation. That’s the key for 21st century management."
The Specialist People Foundation recently hosted a global conference of parties representing twenty-five different countries united for the purpose of promoting career opportunities for individuals with autism. The conference helped further the foundation’s ambition of creating one million jobs globally for people with ASD and similar challenges. Teams are planning chapters of the foundation in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, USA, Turkey, Singapore, Dubai and many other countries.
Thorkil Sonne’s awesome work is creating a wave of the future when individuals with autism are recognized and rewarded for their considerable gifts.
Neuroscientist Baroness Greenfield of Oxford University has created a firestorm of controversy by correlating autism with increased computer use amongst children. She contends that the use of social networking Web sites is altering children’s brains, creating shorter attention spans, an expectation of instant gratification and a lack of empathy (i.e. “autistic-like traits"). She proceeds to point out that individuals with autism are particularly drawn to using computers speculating, “Of course, we do not know whether the current increase in autism is due more to increased awareness and diagnosis of autism, or whether it can – if there is a true increase – be in any way linked to an increased prevalence among people of spending time in screen relationships. Surely it is a point worth considering,’” she added.
Her notions are irksome at best. The real threat of social networking sites is not an inducement of “autistic-like traits," but the encouragement of passive aggressive behavior amongst young people who use the medium for cyberbullying purposes, effectively creating a world of real human interaction and an environment where anything goes. Numerous tragedies have unfolded in which teens have committed suicide after their personal lives were invaded and shared exponentially through someone hitting the “send” button on a computer or cell phone.
But none of this has to do with true autism. And I grow tired of the phrase “lack of empathy” being ascribed in a blanket manner to individuals with autism. We have already heard from Cambridge professor Simon Baron-Cohen that autism is tantamount to evil because evil is a lack of empathy. He attached qualifiers, yet the message remains.
Granted, people on the autism spectrum have trouble reading social cues and can inadvertently ride roughshod over people’s feelings, not out of malice, but out of obliviousness. But we also know that their affective empathy is so keen as to be overwhelming. It’s not that they don’t feel for others, they feel too much.
Greenfield backtracked about implying that Internet use induces autism after scorching criticism that it was actually more awareness and better diagnoses that account for the surge in cases (that theory’s too facile as well). But no one zeroed in on her implication that “normal” teens can regretfully become “autistic-like” from computer overexposure.
Facebook has actually been shown to be a positive for teens with autism, providing a kind of social crib sheet and helping them track names and faces of other kids at their school. I have teen twins on the spectrum and while neither of them use Facebook, they are active members in online communities centered around their special interests. One of them maintains a blog about politics and philosophy that connects him to very heady thinkers, while the other participates in science discussions. They both have incredibly long attention spans when it comes to their special interests.
Yes, there are dangers and drawbacks to the Internet. Yes, it requires an effort to balance on screen time with real world interactions and experiences. But there’s a baby in that bathwater that need not be thrown out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Moffitt is the mother of high functioning twin sons with autism. When not advocating for them, she pursues her multiple creative passions of fine art,
piano composition and writing. She is the author of "Upstream," a compilation of poetry, fiction and anecdotal tales that deal with raising twins
with autism. For more information, visit http://SusanMoffitt.com
When I recently took my fifteen-year-old son with Asperger’s to his weekly therapy session, I was thrilled when he was offered the chance to participate in drum therapy. Instantly, I recalled the days when he was a toddler throwing a spectacular meltdown, beating himself with his fists until I set a drum in front of him and he pounded it instead. A broad smile came across his face as his frenetic energy transformed from self destructive behavior to music.
Drum therapy is gaining in popularity as a means of reaching children with autism. For instance, The Drumming for Autism Project in New Jersey started as a “School Peacemaker” program to address the needs of youth through creative self expression then expanded to specifically address autism. The stated objectives of the project are increased and improved socialization and the reduction of anxiety and behavioral problems. Additional, some experts contend that drumming helps individuals access their right-brain which controls emotions, intuition, artistry and relaxation. This is of particular benefit to the child with autism and can provide a type of neurological re-patterning for a concrete thinker.
Drum therapy encompasses hand/eye coordination, vestibular movement and visual perception. How to hold sticks, where to strike the instruments and necessary body movement are all part of an occupational therapy lesson come to life in a meaningful way.
Drumming also provides a functional activity that supports language skills such as categorization, sequencing, predicting, turn taking, listening, problem
solving and following directions. The complexity and “call and response” action of drumming mimics and encourages human speech. The structure and repetition of drumming appeals to individuals on the autism spectrum and gives them an outlet for their emotions and a means to channel their energy.
In starting your child’s drum therapy, be sure to give the teacher the heads-up about his or her particular strengths and deficits. learning style and triggers. One-to-one sessions are recommended as a starting point for them to garner the skills to later join a drumming group. Being part of an ensemble is a valuable experience for anyone, but especially for the child with autism challenged by social skill deficits. Finding people who share their special interests
is the surest path to friendship for those with autism spectrum disorders.
While formalized drum therapy has its place, so does simply having a drum at home for your child or playing drums with them. How many times has it been said that children with autism march to the beat of a different drummer? Drumming helps them find and keep that beat.
In my opinion, the search for “the cause” of autism is a misnomer, because in our modern world there is no single cause, but a complex of environmental factors that trigger a genetic predisposition. While our technological advances have aided us, they have also hurt us in terms of the air we breathe, the food we
eat and the stress we absorb on a daily basis.
In the last twenty years, America as seen a 400 percent increase in allergies and ADHD, a 300 percent spike in asthma and skyrocketing cases of autism. Obesity is a national health crisis and we have the highest cancer rate on the planet. Those two decades correspond to at least three trends: an intensified childhood vaccination schedule, increased births by c-section and the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) into our food supply.
Driven by profitability, genetically modified foods now account for as much as 80% of our food supply. GMOs have yet to be tested as safe for human or animal consumption and represent a perpetual criss-cross of bacteria and virus contamination from a myriad of genetic versions of multiple crops and animals.
American GMO crops are subsidized and deregulated. If a bio-tech company merely says its products are safe, that is currently sufficient for approval. While over 40 nations have either banned genetically engineered (GE) food or required labeling of it, the United States has not joined their ranks. Prolific use of pesticides compound our food safety hazards.
So what can you do on a personal level to address the sorry state of our food sourcing for you and your family?
Certified organic food is a good path to take, but outrageously expensive. But you need not forego safety entirely for cost. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) points out that while commercially-farmed fruits and vegetables vary in their levels of pesticide residue, vegetables like broccoli, asparagus and onions, as well as foods with peels such as avocados, bananas and oranges, have relatively low levels compared to other fruits and vegetables.
Here are five strategic organic foods that Dr. Alan Greene, author of “Raising Baby Green,” has identified as making the biggest impact on the family diet:
1. Milk: “When you choose a glass of conventional milk, you are buying into a whole chemical system of agriculture,” says Dr. Greene. People who switch to organic milk typically do so because they are concerned about the antibiotics, artificial hormones and pesticides used in the commercial dairy industry. One recent United States Department of Agriculture survey found certain pesticides in about 30 percent of conventional milk samples and low levels in only one organic sample. The level is relatively low compared to some other foods, but many kids consume milk in large quantities.
2. Potatoes: Potatoes are a staple of the American diet. A simple switch to organic potatoes has the potential to have a big impact because commercially-farmed potatoes are some of the most pesticide-contaminated vegetables. A 2006 U.S.D.A. test found 81 percent of potatoes tested still contained pesticides after being washed and peeled, and the potato has one of the the highest pesticide contents of 43 fruits and vegetables tested, according to the EWG.
3. Peanut butter: More acres are devoted to growing peanuts than any other fruits, vegetable or nut, according to the U.S.D.A. More than 99 percent of peanut farms use conventional farming practices, including the use of fungicide to treat mold, a common problem in peanut crops. Given that some kids eat peanut butter almost every day, this seems like a simple and practical switch.
4. Ketchup: For some families, ketchup accounts for a large part of the household vegetable intake. About 75 percent of tomato consumption is in the form of processed tomatoes, including juice, tomato paste and ketchup. Notably, recent research has shown organic ketchup has about double the antioxidants of conventional ketchup.
5. Apples: Apples are the second most commonly eaten fresh fruit, after bananas, and they are also used in the second most popular juice, after oranges, according to Dr. Greene. But apples are also one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables. The good news is that organic apples are easy to find in regular grocery stores.
A complete list of Dr. Greene’s organic choices is available at Organic Rx on his website. Another simple guideline proffered by Dr. Mark Hyman is to never eat anything that has ingredients you can’t pronounce and nothing with more than five ingredients.
As parents of children with autism, we are especially mindful of our children’s dietary needs, knowing that it lays the foundation for their health and well-being. It’s heartening that we can find ways to balance our awareness of the importance of pure food and our family budget.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Moffitt is the mother of high functioning twin sons with autism. When not advocating for them, she pursues her multiple creative passions of fine art,
piano composition and writing. She is the author of "Upstream," a compilation of poetry, fiction and anecdotal tales that deal with raising twins
with autism. For more information, visit http://SusanMoffitt.com
An Autism Key reader named Laurie wrote in to update us on a heartbreaking
story involving Ayn Van Dyk, a nine-year-old Canadian girl seized by authorities after being safely recovered from an autism wandering
episode.
Derek Hoare, Ayn’s father, briefly lost sight of her while she was playing in their backyard, which is surrounded by a six-foot fence. He immediately called police and a frantic search found her safe
over at the neighbor’s pool. Four days after the incident, Hoare’s daughter was removed from
her home by authorities, who maintained they were lightening the load of the single father of three.
Ayn has been held in a psychiatric facility and Derek’s nightmare has lasted
nearly two months.
Laurie’s note stated the following:
"Derek is cautiously optimistic that she will be coming home. He has been asked to give details of his support team
and plan that will be in place if/when she is returned to him. The autism specialist also recommended that she not be given the 6 week
psychiatric assessment that was mentioned [in your article]. This is good news. You may also follow on Twitter @AynComeHome or @Justice4Ayn. I am not
family — I am a volunteer trying to help raise awareness about the situation."
It seems that pressure upon the authorities by the autism community and other concerned parties may be forcing a resolution that restores this little girl to her father and brothers. May it be so.
The video below gives an overview of this story. Some adult language is included, so viewer discretion is advised.
Tahnee Myles (Courtesy: Fiona Hamilton of the Herald Sun)
Melbourne, Australia brings us a bizarre story about a mother of a little girl with autism who entered her daughter in a child beauty contest with neurotypical fellow contestants and is now protesting its outcome.
Leonie Myles was shocked and furious when her nine-year-old daughter, Tahnee, won a prize for best personality, despite her autism. She contended that her daughter’s lack of social skills could not possibly qualify her for best personality and was offended by the prize, as if it were some sort of cruel joke.
The judges maintained the contest was about making children feel good about themselves and stood by their decision.
One look at a picture of Tahnee shows a radiant little girl, full of exuberance and warmth.
Are good social skills really necessary to have a great personality? I think not.
The unfiltered exuberance of a child with autism, their spontaneity and presence in the moment are true gifts. Yes, they can meltdown, yes they can careen through social situations without a clue, but personality is an inner light shared with the world. This mother is sending a negative message to her daughter by objecting to this award.
My personal feelings about child beauty pageants are entirely negative and a very vocal segment of Melbourne’s population is of the same mind.
There is a pageant for special needs children that operates out of Arizona and perhaps the mother of this little girl could channel her energy towards creating
something similar in her own country.
Recent reports from Disability Scoop confirm the old adage, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is." In early July, California officials announced deals with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California under which the insurers said they would provide coverage for applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for individuals with autism.
Sounds like a fantastic breakthrough until you read the fine print. The ABA must be administered by a state-licensed provider and to date, California has no mechanism for even licensing ABA therapists. Outraged advocates from the Alliance of California Autism Organizations, Consumer Watchdog and other groups charge that the requirements “will lead to delays, interruptions and continued denials of treatment.” It could take up to two years for a licensing system to be established, two years in which children with autism languish without treatment.
As autism advocates press for ABA coverage nationwide, the issue of who licenses therapy providers is emerging as the flashpoint of dispute. Lawmakers in Virginia recently approved legislation requiring insurance coverage for ABA starting in 2012, but a last minute amendment by the governor added that same proviso that the ABA therapist must be licensed by the state. Again, no state licensing agency exists, so the reality is that the 2012 start date for coverage is a cruel joke. Further requirements of pre-authorization and independent evaluation of services slow down delivery of services even more.
Even if a fast-tracking clause was added to the Virginia law to speed up the creation of the state regulatory agency, only 10 objections are needed to thwart the effort. The unsurprising opponents include the National Federation of Independent Business, Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Association of Health Plans. All have balked at the potential costs. A spokesman for the insurance lobby pointed out that insurance companies are free to cover ABA if they wish, yet realistically none will without a mandate to do so.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board was established in 1998 as a national entity and set rigorous standards for certification of ABA therapists. An international association of behavioral therapist also exists. Adding another laying of bureaucracy at the state level seems designed to forestall needed coverage while still appearing responsive to the crisis of autism.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Moffitt is the mother of high functioning twin sons with autism. When not advocating for them, she pursues her multiple creative passions of fine art,
piano composition and writing. She is the author of "Upstream," a compilation of poetry, fiction and anecdotal tales that deal with raising twins
with autism. For more information, visit http://SusanMoffitt.com
Every family affected by autism experiences stress, but try to imagine the burdens of a military family coping with the disorder. Not only is the father or mother at risk in a foreign land, but military families have to move frequently as they are reassigned to new bases. These disruptions and uncertainties would be a struggle for any child, but for one with autism, can be overwhelming.
Recent statistics indicate that one in eighty-eight children of active duty service members are affected by autism and less than ten percent of these children are receiving the care and attention they so need and deserve. Military insurance or TRICARE, currently has an overabundance of red tape that takes months and even years to negotiate — precious time lost in the quest for early intervention. And existing ABA coverage is capped at half the number of recommended hours of treatment per week.
The Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act seeks to rectify this situation by eliminating this cap and streamlining access to services. It also extends autism services to dependents of military retirees.
Congressmen John Larson (CT) and Walter Jones (NC) introduced the bill in June after a grassroots effort by wives of servicemen brought this crisis to the attention of Congress. These staunch advocates point out that challenges of autism, coupled with the lack of access and cost of treatment, can push their families to the edge. After years of active duty, no one wants to tell their spouse they can’t retire and must return to the war zone in order to pay for their child’s autism treatment.
To find out how you can support the Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act go to http://cmkaa.wordpress.com/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Moffitt is the mother of high functioning twin sons with autism. When not advocating for them, she pursues her multiple creative passions of fine art,
piano composition and writing. She is the author of "Upstream," a compilation of poetry, fiction and anecdotal tales that deal with raising twins
with autism. For more information, visit http://SusanMoffitt.com
