I love and accept my son unconditionally. I do not embrace the autism disorder that restricts his life. I will speak honestly about autism disorders. Ariane Zurcher is a jeweler, author and mother of a child with autism. Zurcher though is tired of people talking about autism as though it were a
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Facing Autism in New Brunswick: DSM5 Autism Change Threatens Funding for Intellectually Disabled Who Meet DSM-IV Autism Criteria
Many children with intellectual disability and autism will be specifically targeted for exclusion under the DSM-5 new Autism Spectrum Disorder. The express wording of mandatory criterion A of the DSM-5 ASD criteria makes this clear: “Autism Spectrum Disorder Must meet criteria A, B, C, and D: A. Persistent deficits in social
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Atlantic Guest Columnist Breaks Autism Taboo, Discusses Economic Impact of Autism on Families
Atlantic guest columnist Megan McArdle breaks a major autism taboo by discussing the impact of autism in families, more specifically The Economic Impact of Autism on Families. This could be a real shock to those who feel that parents should have no input into discussions about autism generally and to
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: ABA Treatment for Autism: America Leads, Lets Catch Up Canada, Lets Get Moving Again!!
At one time the argument might have been made that Canada led North America in terms of provision of evidence based treatment for autism. Strong parent advocacy had made gains in encouraging provincial governments in British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick to provide Applied Behavior Analysis treatment. Our federal government,
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: "Thinking" Persons Guide to Autism Issues Proclamation Declaring Autism Speaks Does Not Benefit Autistic People
Some of the people referenced in this post are affiliated with Autism Speaks. TPGA does not consider Autism Speaks an organization that benefits autistic people. -SR I am not sure what constitutes “Thinking” at the “Thinking” Persons Guide to Autism. The above quote from “SR”, Shannon Des Roches Rosa, precedes a
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: A Focused Environmental Autism Research Strategy Is Needed
If you have a child who is severely affected by an autism disorder, whose ability to understand the world is limited, who wanders into dangerous traffic, lakes or rivers, is prone to seizures or engages in serious self injurious behavior autism is not just an alternative way of thinking or
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Conor’s Autism Reality: From Joy To Self Injurious Behavior In A Flash
I have never accepted, and have in fact been openly contemptuous of, the view that autism is a joy, an alternative, even superior way of thinking. My son’s autistic disorder diagnosis accurately describes autism as it really is … a disorder, one that impairs the lives of those, like
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: After IMFAR Some Green Therapy
My 4 days at IMFAR 2012 in Toronto were an incredible experience. After 4 days spent largely inside a hotel though I was in need of some “therapy”. Yesterday I hit the trails for some outdoor Conor time. Felt great. Today more time outdoors enjoying the green city of
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Walking With Conor After IMFAR Autism Research Convention
IMFAR was quite an experience. Very intense. Learned lots, saw lots and met some interesting people. Spent a lot more time indoors then I usually would at this time of year though. I was glad to get back to Fredericton and get outdoors walking with Conor today. And we did
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Ritvo Swedo DSM5 Autism Shootout At The IMFAR Corral
Edward Ritvo-Susan Swedo Shootout at the IMFAR Corral, Sheraton, Toronto Photo by Harold L Doherty, May 18, 2012 Dr. Susan Swedo of the DSM5 autism committee presented a defense of the proposed DSM5 Autism Spectrum Disorder twice yesterday at IMFAR in Toronto. After the second presentation I jumped up to the mike
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: DSM5 Autism Day At IMFAR 2012: Swedo Confirms Some Intellectually Disabled Will Be Excluded from DSM5 Autism Spectrum Disorder
Today was DSM5 Autism Do-Over Day at IMFAR 2012. Dr. Susan Swedo, head of the DSM5 committee that drafted the DSM5 Autism Spectrum Disorder, spoke twice today, once at a stakeholder’s luncheon and afterwards at an oral presentation in the Grand Ballroom. Dr. Swedo replied to my questions after the
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Intellectual Disability At IMFAR: Underdiagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Persons with Intellectual Disability
It comes as no surprise but very little is said about Intellectual Disability at the IMFAR 2012 autism research convention oral presentations. Prominent autism experts, including Catherine Lord, have noted in the past that intellectually disabled autistics are under represented in autism studies. This is true even though the vast
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: IMFAR 2012 Preconference Highlights: Oxytocin, IPADs and the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network
Yesterday was a busy day at the IMFAR 2012 Preconference sessions. Although described as a Preconference the days events were packed with information and persons in attendance had to use their time carefully, whether they were suffering from jet lag or not, to maximize their participation. The highlights of my
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Reality NB at IMFAR 2012 in Toronto, Canada
I am off tomorrow morning, very early tomorrow morning, for the IMFAR 2012 convention in Toronto. I am very excited to be attending and blogging courtesy of Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks Canada, Dana Marnane and Suzanne Lanthier. It was a tough day today though. Conor knows Dad won’t be home
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: No Nature-Deficit Disorder For Conor In Fredericton,The Green City
Conor enjoying some time at the Saint John River All photos were taken within a short walking distance from our home in Fredericton, New Brunswick The Green City My younger son Conor, 16, suffers from severe Autistic Disorder. He does not, however, suffer from Nature-Deficit Disorder in part because of
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Shocking WebMD Medscape Autism Article
WebMD Medscape has published a shocking autism article in which it …. acknowledges the existence of large numbers of persons with Autistic Disorder and …. Intellectual Disability. The article even dares to refer to Intellectual Disability under its name in the DSM-IV … Mental Retardation. Apparently the Medscape article authors do
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: DSM5’s Most Fundamental Flaw? Combining The Autism Disorders Into One Disorder
Autism Advocate Ari Ne’eman Speaking At the National Press Club My son’s severe Autistic Disorder is not the same autism disorder as Mr. Ne’eman’s. The DSM5 autism do-over, the New Autism Spectrum Disorder, will come into effect in 2013. There is a further opportunity to offer public comment about the
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Strategic Research of Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
In A Research Strategy to Discover the Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, an editorial in the current issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, authors Philip J. Landrigan, Luca Lambertini and Linda S. Birnbaum make a compelling argument for strategically researching environmental causes of autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. In the process
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Adults with Severe Autism Disorders: Do Canadians Give a Damn?
Taylor McNee, photo from CTV In Ontario the family of 18 year old Taylor McNee is fighting for a place for him to live. The CTV, to its credit, is covering this story in detail. It isn’t the feel good, kumbaya, autism is beautiful fluff that too often passes for
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