Apr 7, 2014 3:31pm The decision by Chilis to cancel an autism fundraiser has earned the restaurant chain both praise and scorn from the autism community. The fundraiser, which would have donated 10 percent of the restaurant chains proceeds nationwide today to the National Autism Association, was cancelled Sunday after critics called the charity anti-vaccine. While we remain committed to supporting the children and families affected by autism, we are canceling Mondays Give Back Event based on the feedback we heard from our guests, the restaurant chain said in a statement. We believe autism awareness continues to be an important cause to our guests and team members, and we will find another way to support this worthy effort in the future with again our sole intention being to help families affected by autism. Chili's has canceled a fundraiser benefiting an anti-vaccine autism charity. (Chris O'Connor/AP Photo) Despite an absence of evidence linking vaccines to autism, a small but vocal faction of the autism community still believes the two are connected. On its website, the National Autism Association says vaccinationscan trigger or exacerbate autism in some, if not many, children, especially those who are genetically predisposed to immune, autoimmune or inflammatory … Continue reading →

Marissa Howard, 10, severely autistic, with mother Irene Leivas-Howard, left, and sisters Mia Howard, 12, center left, and Sabrina Irene Howard, 8. The Chula Vista family understands Marissa's need for tactile attention and often hug and kiss her. Not pictured is father Raymond Howard. Autism, one of the most shadowy disorders ever faced by doctors and parents, is finally losing its mystery. At research centers in San Diego and across the country, the tools of modern biotechnology are allowing autisms effects on the brain to be identified with greater specificity. More effective tests can now spot the neurological condition by the time a child turns 1 and potentially even sooner. This earlier diagnosis leads to better treatment, and that usually means better outcomes. Some of the latest news is disquieting. Autism is now estimated to be far more widespread than previously believed. And it starts before birth. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.2 million Americans younger than 21 have autism. Thats 30 percent higher than what the CDC reported two years ago, and more than double what the agency calculated in 2002. Greater numbers of children with high IQs are being … Continue reading →

Monday, April 7, 2014 | 11:14 a.m. CDT COLUMBIA Most government records are open to the public at no charge. These records give citizens the opportunity to find out what's going on, how their elected officials are spending tax dollars, how the various departments within a governmental entity work and other valuable information needed to make strong decisions for the future. Each week, the Missourian highlights a government record that is available to the public. For a complete list of Show Me the Records, go tohttp://columbiamissourian.com/records. MoreStory Related Articles The records: The third annual report to the Missouri General Assembly regarding insurance coverage for autism treatment is available. It discusses applied behavior analysis, coverage, treatment rates, claim payments and the like. Why you'd want them: To find out what autism treatments are likely to be covered in Missouri, estimated costs of autism-related claims and where licensed behavior analysts are located. The records also help you map what has changed since Gov. Jay Nixon signed House Bill 1311 into law in 2010, which mandated insurance coverage for necessary treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Where to get them: Go to https://insurance.mo.gov/consumers/autismFAQ/documents/2014AutismReport.pdf. Or, go to http://insurance.mo.gov/ and click on "Consumers" at the top … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 7-Apr-2014 Contact: Julie Johansen julie.johansen@fhi.no Norwegian Institute of Public Health Several studies have looked at possible links between maternal obesity during pregnancy and the risk of developmental disorders in the child. However, paternal obesity could be a greater risk factor than maternal obesity, according to a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. As the first researcher to study the role of paternal obesity in autism, Dr. Pl Surn emphasises that this is still a theory and requires much more research before scientists can discuss possible causal relationships. "We have a long way to go. We must study genetic factors in the relationship between obesity and autism, as well as environmental factors associated with switching the genes on or off - so-called epigenetic factors," he explains. Surn and his fellow researchers used data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). The researchers studied questionnaire data from over 90,000 Norwegian children at three, five and seven years of age. The mothers had answered detailed questions about their own mental and physical health, and about their children. The fathers completed a questionnaire about their mental and physical health while their partner was pregnant. The researchers … Continue reading →

A column by Jennifer L. Boen Auburn first-grader Hayden Widner taught himself to read words before he was 2 years old. His mother, Erica Purdy, recalls, He was reading sentences in books at age 3. Despite his advanced cognitive skills in some areas, he lagged in other developmental domains such as large motor skills and displayed some concerning behaviors. He never wanted to be on the floor as a baby. Then as he got older he would line up his toys across the floor and get mad if I moved them. He would rock side to side, she said. She raised her concerns with Hayden's pediatrician at the time but was told if there were issues, they would be addressed when he started school. A psychologist who Purdy consulted told her nothing was wrong with her son, but Purdy said she knew differently. The family doctor eventually referred Hayden to psychologist Marla Souder in Indianapolis, who specializes in assessment and treatment of children and adults with autism. Souder confirmed Purdy's suspicions: Hayden had a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome, which is on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. For more than a year, Hayden and his mother traveled … Continue reading →

The second annual Stomp Out Stroke! Festival of Life to raise stroke awareness will be hosted by the Stroke Team of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) on May 3 at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., in downtown Houston. The free, fun event is designed to provide lifesaving information about stroke prevention and treatment. It will last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Free health screenings will be offered, including carotid ultrasound, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, electrocardiogram, body mass index, body fat percentage and obstructive sleep apnea. Adult and child-friendly education sessions and interactive activities will be facilitated by stroke physicians, pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, dieticians and fitness experts. A Kid Zone will include information on brain basics, sports and brain injury, an inflatable brain exhibit, brain food and fitness station. The fun will include ice sculpting by Houstons Reverend Butter, face painting, a balloon artist, yoga and Zumba demonstrations, an appearance by the Rockets mascot Clutch and lunch for the first 500 registered guests. We strive to motivate families to make positive health behavior changes to reduce their stroke risk and teach them self-care practices, said Elizabeth Noser, M.D., … Continue reading →