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
Continue readingTag: autism disorders
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: 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: CBC: Autism advocate questions ‘extreme’ inclusion model
The caption below the picture of me and Conor is from the CBC web site article Autism advocate questions ‘extreme’ inclusion model. “A high-profile autism advocate in New Brunswick is questioning the merits of what he calls the Department of Education’s extreme inclusion model. “I believe that the kind of
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: OOLAID: Conor’s Autism Challenges, Sense of Humor and Progress
I was doing some work at home the other day and was looking for a notebook to record some information. I found the one pictured above with the word OOLAID in Conor’s hand printed on the back cover. OOLAID is a sign of some of the challenges Conor faces by
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Rates Reach New Epidemic Levels? Round Up the Usual Suspects!
“The usual suspects The people habitually suspected or arrested in response to a crime. The phrase is usually used in regard to scapegoats rather than actual perpetrators of the crime in question. This expression has a specific and unambiguous origin. It was spoken by Captain Louis Renault, the French prefect
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Society NB Meeting Was A Huge Success!
After the Meeting: Time for Some Chat Kim McKeigan Liz McDonnell Lila Barry Harold Doherty Ricky Barry Brent Barry Ricky Barry Harold Doherty It was great having Ricky at the meeting, a smart young man who made some good points Good turnout at the ASNB meeting yesterday despite the flooding
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: US Federal Judge: ABA Proven and Highly Effective Treatment of Children with Autism
It is hard to believe that in 2012 a government agency with responsibilities for the provision or administration of health care could take the position that ABA is an “unproven” treatment for autism. That was the justification though of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration in refusing to provide
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: A Real Hero: Australian Cameraman Glenn Edwards Dives Into Creek and Saves Autistic Boy
Autism news is seldom this good. Australian Nine Network cameraman Glenn Edwards dived into a swollen creek and saved an autistic boy, missing for 16 hours, from a swollen Creek. The story at CabooltureNews quotes Mr. Edwards extensively and is very uplifting. Well done Mr. Edwards. Very well done!
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Conor Turns 16 And Enjoys Some Birthday Cake Therapy
Conor turned 16 today. No autism issues. Just lots of fun. No swimming with dolphins therapy or riding horse back across Mongolia. Conor has enjoyed some Birthday Cake Therapy though and has requested Pizza Therapy for supper. The one rule we follow on Conor’s birthday is to spoil him rotten.
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Totally Unnecessary Danger? Another Autistic Child Left Alone on School Bus
Surely, of all the dangers that confront many autistic children the simplest danger to eradicate, the one that doesn’t have to exist, is the danger of an autistic child being left alone on a school bus, van or other vehicle while parked in scorching heat or while it departs for
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: NB Ombudsman’s Centre of Excellence is a Fantasy That Will Not Fill Residential Care and Treatment Needs of Severely Autistic Adults
The Bricks and Mortar Office of the Ombudsman 548 York Street, Fredericton,New Brunswick, at the Staying Connected consultations, in which I participated, Ombudsman Bernard Richard and NBACL President Clarence Box both dismissed Long Term Residential Care and Treatment Facilities for Autistic Youth and Adults as “Bricks and Mortar Solutions” The
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism, Obesity and Medication: Our Run, Jump, Fly Boy Says NO THANK YOU!
Run, Jump, Fly Boy 2007 Run, Jump, Fly Boy 2011 There are many news reports concerning possible connections between obesity and medications prescribed for children and adults with autism and other developmental disorder. Those reports help stiffen our resolve to avoid medications for our autistic son Conor, our Run, Jump,
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Parents: Take the Time, Make the Time
The photos that follow show my walk from my home to my office in beautiful Fredericton, New Brunswick a place I am happy to call home, a place that allows me to take the time I need and want for me and my children. The weather this morning was beautiful and
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: We Don’t Need Anymore Autism Ideological Extremism
In Colorado the prosecution has announced that it will not pursue charges against a woman who killed her child because she feared that her child was autistic. Unfortunately some in the ever controversial world of “autism awareness”, including Shannon Des Roches Rosa aka Squid Rosenberg of the ironically named Thinking
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Research Studies Exclude Low Functioning Autistic Participants
Discrimination against persons with low functioning autism disorders takes many forms. It is particularly rampant in the autism research world where studies purporting to inform us about autism almost invariably exclude low functioning autistic participants. Conclusions are again being drawn about persons with autism spectrum disorders based on a study which
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Possible Prenatal, Environmental, Causes of Autism Disorders: Valproate Drugs?
The following information is taken from a July, 2011 information update on the Health Canada web site. It indicates that recent studies have found that “children whose mothers took a valproate drug tend to score lower on cognitive (intelligence) tests than children whose mothers who took other anti-epileptic medications during
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism? Florida IT Autism Prof Says: Hakuna Matata!
Dr. Ivy Chong, Florida Institute of Technology It seems to be impossible for anyone connected with the Mainstream Media, the MSM, to speak honestly and accurately about the natue of autism disorders. Even Dr. Ivy Chong of the Florida Institute of Technology whose cite lists her impressive autism resume feels
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Michelle Dawson (2008): Autism Is A Disability, A Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Photo from Nature Magazine, November 2 2011, Shows High Functioning Autistic, Researcher and Anti-ABA Activist* Michelle Dawson and High Functioning Autism Expert and Anti-ABA Activist* Dr. Laurent Mottron It may seem surprising to some to learn that Michelle Dawson, the central image of the “Autism is an Advantage” campaign of high functioning autism researcher
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