Office Hours with Dr. Tim Buie: Probiotics and Dietary Fiber Autism Speaks recently launched the new expert-advice video series Office Hours with acclaimed pediatric gastroenterologist Timothy Buie, of MassGeneral ... By: Autism Speaks … Continue reading →

Game ideas from the Autism Treatment Center The picture association game1 Help us caption translate this video! http://amara.org/v/GEcz/ By: Vencer Autismo … Continue reading →

Attitude in Autism Treatment - ABA vs The Son-Rise Program By: Vencer Autismo … Continue reading →

Office Hours with Dr. Tim Buie: GI-related Sleep Disturbances Autism Speaks recently launched the new expert-advice video series Office Hours with acclaimed pediatric gastroenterologist Timothy Buie, of MassGeneral ... By: Autism Speaks … Continue reading →

Jodie Wickens, a Coquitlam mom, is the executive director of the new Autism Support Network. image credit: SUBMITTED PHOTO Finding autism service providers can be one of the most stressful jobs of a parent whose child has been diagnosed with the neurological disability but a newly formed organization headed by a Coquitlam mom plans to offer some critical help. Jodie Wickens, who unsuccessfully ran for school trustee in Coquitlam during the recent civic election and whose son has autism, is the executive director of the Autism Support Network, which launched this week across the province. Aimed at the parents of some 400 School District 43 children with autism nearly 7,000 in B.C. the new parent-run organization intends to be a one-stop shop for information, networking and advocacy. What were focused on is finding good information on quality autism treatment, said Wickens, who is a trained behaviour interventionist and works one-on-one with children who have autism using applied behavioural analysis (ABA). Wickens was among a group of parents that asked the School District 43 board of education for new training requirements for special education assistants who work with children with autism in 2013 but was turned down. Now, with the new … Continue reading →

JACKSON -- Mississippi lawmakers are pushing bills that would require insurance companies to offer coverage for autism screening, diagnosis and treatment on health plans sold in the state. Senate Bill 2581 passed the Senate on a split vote Tuesday, with 39 senators voting for the bill and six voting against it. Sen. Will Longwitz, R-Madison, said autism treatment can cost thousands of dollars a month, and many families can't afford services their children need. He said 38 states already require insurance companies to cover treatment for autism spectrum disorder, a group of developmental disorders that affect communication, behavior and social interaction. Opponents said Mississippi should not require insurance companies to cover specific services. They said if the free market creates a demand, companies will make their own decisions to offer autism coverage without a government mandate. "What we are witnessing today is another extension of state authority," said Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville. "Where does it end? This should concern people that value liberty ... that value contractual rights. We are telling a private insurance company what it must sell, what it must do." Here is the original post: Autism insurance proposals advance in Miss. Legislature … Continue reading →

Following federal requirements, Connecticut's Medicaid program is expanding coverage of services for young people with autism spectrum disorders. But advocates say the proposed rules for that coverage contain so many potential barriers that many children would be unlikely to get treatment. Some provisions of the proposed regulations are unlike those any other state has imposed, according to the national advocacy group Autism Speaks. One requirement that a caregiver be present or available at all times while treatment is being provided would discriminate against children of working, single or disabled parents, the group said. And it warned that another provision related to provider qualifications "threatens to virtually gut coverage in Connecticut and deprive Medicaid-eligible children under 21 of medically necessary care in direct violation" of federal obligations. "There are so many roadblocks here that it's unlikely for this to allow for the demand to be met," said Jay Sicklick, deputy director of the Center for Children's Advocacy, which is affiliated with the UConn School of Law. At issue is how Medicaid will handle coverage of services for autism spectrum disorders, particularly applied behavior analysis, a treatment that is considered effective but is also intensive providers often recommend 30 to 40 hours … Continue reading →

SOUTH BEND, Ind.--- Autism spectrum disorder affects one in 68 children in the U.S. There is no cure, but there is a promising new treatment being studied, and it comes from that veggie mom told us to eat as kids, broccoli. Ryan Dwelley was a happy, normally developing baby. "He'd speak in full sentences, he was clever and he was playful," said Sharon Dwelley, Ryans mother. At 27 months old he changed after a bug bite sent him to the hospital with hives. "He went from typically developing, talking, to not making eye contact, said Sharon. Not really using his language." Ryan's pediatrician diagnosed him with autism. "It's been hard, said Sharon. For him and for us." His family tried medications, diet, but nothing seemed to help. Then everything changed when Sharon found out about a new study. "It was unbelievable, said Sharon. I noticed immediately that he had the decrease in his vocalizations." Read the rest here: Compound found in broccoli may help treat children with autism … Continue reading →