Brian Calley, R-Ionia, was elected Michigans lieutenant governor in 2010. LANSING, MI -- As we approach April, which is Autism Awareness Month, I have been reflecting on the state of autism in Michigan. We are on our way to improved care and outcomes for persons with autism and their families. In the past year, we have seen the passage of autism insurance legislation, the creation of a new Autism Council, adoption and release of the MI Autism State Plan, and we are racing toward implemention of a Medicaid benefit that will cover early, evidence-based treatment for young children. I am proud of these accomplishments, but our work has just begun. I continue to be concerned about many areas that families with autism are facing. The first is access to treatment. We are experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals who have proper training and qualifications to diagnose and treat this complex disorder. However, progress is being made as more specialists come back to our state and graduate from our exceptional universities. Second, we need more teachers trained to work with children on the spectrum. With proper interventions now covered by insurance, children will have their best shot at entering regular education … Continue reading →

Through Step By Steps expanded counseling services program, licensed social workers provide one-on-one individual and group counseling to address the social deficits that many children with ASD struggle with daily. Worthington, OH (PRWEB) March 30, 2013 Children with ASD struggle greatly with picking up on social cues and often experience anxiety because they dont know how to behave in certain situations, especially in unfamiliar settings. Improving social skills is the key to increasing independence, and increased socialization and expressive communication often lead to a decrease in maladaptive behaviors and greater ease at setting up children and adolescents for success as adults. Through Step By Steps expanded counseling services program, licensed social workers provide one-on-one individual and group counseling to address the social deficits that many children with ASD struggle with daily. This services main goal is to work on engagement and social connectedness as a way of decreasing anxieties and maladaptive behaviors with peers. This service is now offered to children enrolled in the full-time on-campus program and is accessed throughout their typical day. Children and adolescents often require additional support in developing the social skills necessary to function successfully in their everyday environments, said Michele LaMarche, BCBA, executive director … Continue reading →

Parents of children with autism and professionals who work with children can hear the latest on research, treatment and strategies at United Service's autism information fair, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6 in the Community Commons at Spencer Road Library, 427 Spencer Road in St. Peters. Physicans and researchers from Washington University School of Medicine, Mercy Children's Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center will host breakout sessions to bring the community up to speed on thelatestfindings from the field. "More children are being diagnosed with this, and it's a lifelong condition. There's so much we need to learn about how the condition works and how to make their livers better," said Natasha Marrus, an instructor andresearcherin the Division ofChildand Adolescent Psychiatry at WashingtonUniversitySchool of Medicine. Until recently, the Centers for Disease Control reported that one in 88 children were diagnosed with autism. A phone survey of 95,000 parents released by the CDC in March found as many as one in 50 children could be affected by autism. Marrus said prevalence has been on the rise for decades, much of that due to better diagnostic techniques. "It's not clear if it can account for all of … Continue reading →