Fighting the Wrong Autism Battles Can Prove Costly
The US Supreme Court's
decision earlier this week protecting vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits
highlights an even larger problem for many children with autism spectrum disorders
and their families.
Well-intended parents are…
James Durbin Cruises to the Top 24 on American Idol
On Thursday evening, American Idol viewers watched as judges Randy Jackson,
Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler eliminated and advanced contestants, ultimately
comprising the show's coveted "top 24" spots. Included in that group…
Awareness of High Functioning Autism Lacking in Schools
The seemingly endless reports of unethical and opportunistic individuals
related to autism seem to be occurring on a regular basis and where there's money to be made, there will
always be those who are willing to take advantage of the…
Disney World Addresses Autism Bullying Incident
Last week, we
reported about an incident involving blogger Amanda Broadfoot while she was
on vacation with her family at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. While eating at
a restaurant on New Year's Eve, Broadfoot's 4-year-old son with…
Neurodiversity vs Disorder: The Other Great Divide of Autism
With all of the attention the autism-vaccine debate has received, often overlooked is another source of infighting within the autism community that involves neurodiversity vs. disorder. Neurodiversity is a movement commonly seen among…
Autism-Vaccine Debate Reaches Toxic Levels
In Sunday's Doonesbury comic strip, even famed cartoonist Garry Trudeau decided to weigh in on the autism-vaccine debate, taking swipes at Jenny McCarthy in the process. McCarthy, who has become the de facto face of the anti-vaccination…
Shocking Study Links Brain Erosion to Antipsychotics
This month, a shocking claim was made by the former chief of the American
Journal of Psychiatry, Nancy Andreasen, when she published her findings that
antipsychotic drugs, such as Risperadone, actually shrink the brain over time.
Ms.…
Autism and IEPs: When Knowledge is Power
It’s that time of year again when parents will meet with their school districts and write their Individualized Education Programs or IEPs. These are mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and outline the…
Successful Careers and Marriages Likely for Many with Autism
The Autism Society of Minnesota recently hosted an "Autism and
Employment" conference in which managers from 3M, Cargill and Best Buy took
to the stage in praise of their employees with autism, counting them "among
their…
James Durbin Advances to Vegas on American Idol
Last night, viewers didn't get to see much of James Durbin, other than a
quick glimpse of him emotionally celebrating in Room One, where he, along with a
few dozen other American Idol contestants, learned they would be advancing to
the…