Stem-cell treatment discredited in government probes (ANSA) - Rome, April 2 - Hospitals in Italy that used a discredited stem-cell treatment announced Wednesday they have suspended the program. "Our clinics have decided to suspend Stamina treatments indefinitely," Ezio Belleri, extraordinary commissioner of the civic hospital system in Brescia, told the parliament health committee. Italy's health ministry announced in October that the Stamina Foundation - the nonprofit foundation that developed the treatment - would not be allowed to test it on humans. The foundation was also stripped of its non-profit status after a study found its treatment was "ignorant of stem-cell biology". The head of the foundation, Davide Vannoni, a former psychology lecturer, was indicted earlier this year for alleged attempted fraud against the Piedmont Region. The Stamina Foundation had asked for 500,000 euros of funding to develop a stem-cell laboratory, a request prosecutors argue was fraudulent because the efficacy of the treatment has been "completely disproved". The Stamina treatment involves extracting bone-marrow stem cells from a patient, turning them into neurons by exposing them to retinoic acid for two hours, and injecting them back into the patient. Supporters of the therapy thought it could be a cure for fatal degenerative … Continue reading →

AUTISM BREAKTHROUGH: Why It's Never Too Late for Your Child! http://www.autismtreatment.org/ Raun K. Kaufman is the author of "Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World"... By: autismtreatment … Continue reading →

AUTISM BREAKTHROUGH Raun K. Kaufman Fox Friends Interview -- The Son-Rise Program http://www.autismbreakthrough.com/ Raun K. Kaufman is the author of "Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the Wor... By: autismtreatment … Continue reading →

; Credit: Jr Media Group - Justin Ruscheinski Photography April 2 marks World Autism Day and more and more families around the world are struggling to deal with the emotional and financial burden of having a family member who has been diagnosed with autism. Michael Lewis, president of the board of the Autism Society of British Columbia, and a district councillor of West Vancouver, told Global News that in B.C. one of the most common misconceptions about autism treatment is that it is covered under the Medical Services Plan. The reality is, if youre doing a full-blown intervention program for your child, you could well be spending $40,000 $60,000 a year and thats a burden that families bear, said Lewis. The travesty and the tragedy here is that there are interventions that are effective for children and adults with autism that most parents cant access, because they dont have the fiscal resources to do that. Through the Ministry of Children and Family Development funding programs are currently available to 8,400 children and youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.Currently, approximately 1,400 children under six years of age and 7,000 children and youth over six received funding, compared to … Continue reading →

One in 50 children globally now have a form of spectrum disorder autism Researchers recently found technology can be used to help children with autism develop new skills Apps and games visually motivate autistic children in unique ways Therapists are now using tech to teach children how to communicate Today is the seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day By Victoria Woollaston Published: 05:25 EST, 2 April 2014 | Updated: 09:39 EST, 2 April 2014 23 shares 54 View comments It is thought that up to one in 50 children globally have some form of autism, and this number continues to rise steadily each year. While there is no cure for the condition, the use of technology in autism treatment has grown in popularity in recent years, but the reasons for its success are only just being highlighted. Experts are finding that simple, carefully constructed apps are enabling affected children to feel safe and communicate more readily because the software is more predictable and ordered than human interaction. Researchers have found smartphones and tablets help autistic children develop new skills. Toca Boca, for example, create apps aimed at children aged three to six. Although the games are not specifically designed for … Continue reading →

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Internationally respected autism researchers Sally J. Rogers and Judy Van de Water will provide updates on clinical and research advances in autism spectrum disorder on Wednesday, April 16 during the Autism Awareness Month Minds Behind the MIND presentation at the UC Davis MIND Institute. The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the MIND Institute auditorium, 2825 50th St., Sacramento. It is free and open to the public and no reservations are required. Research information will be available before the presentation, and an extended "ask the experts" session with the panelists will follow the discussion. Rogers, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is the creator of the highly regarded Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) method of early intervention for autism spectrum disorder. She will discuss a program at a Sacramento-area high school to foster friendships and social ties between teens with autism and their typically developing peers. She will also provide updates on the progress of her research into developing effective interventions for infants and toddlers with autism and their families. Van de Water is an immunologist and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine whose research examines the … Continue reading →

(PRWEB) April 02, 2014 April is National Autism Awareness Month and Easter Seals NH is shining the spotlight on its Autism Support & Treatment Network for individuals living with autism, as is the case for more and more families. One in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder, a 30% increase from 1 in 88 two years ago, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates 1 in 42 boys have autism, 4.5 times as many as girls (1 in 189). Its important to raise awareness about autism services and treatments available to families -- today, says Gloria Fulmer, MAT, Director of Childrens Therapeutic Services, Easter Seals NH Easter Seals is unique as one of the nations leading providers of services and support for children and adults living with autism. Easter Seals NH also provides autism services through their Easter Seals affiliates in Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Critical Need for Services Every family living with autism faces unique challenges. The fact is individuals with autism face many road blocks that prevent them from getting the help they need today. The current systems, structures and resources to help … Continue reading →

NEWS RELEASE FROM FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM JOPLIN, Mo.At age 13, Ethan Koeneman was still unable to fully communicate with those around him. Diagnosed with autism, Ethan was not able to convey his thoughts or emotions through verbal expression. For years, his mother, Shannon Edwards, struggled to connect with her only child. Ethan recently began receiving treatment at Arkansas Autism Connection, a service of Freeman Health System, based out of Joplin, Mo., and its behavioral health division, Ozark Center. Board-certified behavior analysts at Arkansas Autism Connection have provided Ethan with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), long considered an effective autism treatment. Since his therapy began, Ethan and his mother have shared meaningful communication. Thanks to the work of his therapists, Ethan is able to make purposeful gestures to help those around him understand his wants and needs. The treatment, Edwards said, has injected a sense of normalcy into Ethans life. Sadly, there are many children in Arkansas who need ABA therapy, Edwards said. Children with autism so often are not able to do things that the rest of us take for granted. ABA is the only intervention proven to help those living with autism. Located in Bentonville, Ark., and established in 2013, … Continue reading →

The Legislature sent to Gov. Sam Brownback a bill Wednesday mandating for the first time that insurance companies serving Kansans include coverage in health policies for diagnosis and treatment of autistic children. Despite years of opposition from state-regulated insurance companies, a compromise was crafted among parents, legislators and lobbyists to begin limited coverage for children with the complex brain development disorder. Autism is frequently characterized by communication challenges, difficulties with social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Sen. Rob Olsen, an Olathe Republican and chairman of the Senate's insurance committee, said hardships experienced by families caring for the state's estimated 8,000 autistic children and the fact too many kids didn't receive therapy early in life conspired to break the logjam. The insurance mandate, he said, could have long-term economic benefits to the state by making these children more independent as adults. "We're showing them we care about their families," Olsen said. "I believe we're going to save money as a state by doing this." The Senate voted 38-2 on House Bill 2744. Representatives in the House, some of whom described the measure as a delicate compromise among vested interests, adopted the identical bill 114-3 in March, meaning the insurance legislation moves to … Continue reading →