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WHO Caregiver Skills Training shows promising results in Italy… through a public outpatient child neuropsychiatry facility. Consisting of 12 sessions, including three home visits and nine group training sessions, the CST program aims to help parents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) develop the day-to-day skills they need to better engage with their children. Through modeling, coaching and group discussions, caregivers were taught to play, communicate, establish and maintain shared routines, and embrace positive … the training resulted in several improvements to parent-child interactions. Parents significantly improved their ability to support interactions with their children by “scaffolding” (or guiding) their children’s behavior, maintaining a shared focus …
Idaho becomes the 47th state to require autism insurance coverage!… families with children who have autism, health advocates, and state officials to celebrate increased acceptance and support for individuals with autism. The ceremony began with Lt. Governor Brad Little's proclamation signing in recognition … for individuals with autism. The bulletin issued by the Idaho Department of Insurance requires all individual, small group and large group insurance plans to cover evidence-based treatment for autism, including Applied Behavior Analysis. In Cameron’s …
Tips to create inclusive sports and recreation activities… shared interests. One option is through high-quality adaptive programs – those designed for people with disabilities in a supportive environment, from the Special Olympics to local therapeutic horseback riding lessons to school LEGO clubs. Since … individuals with and without disabilities participate together. Some activities and programs are already designed with the support needs of people with disabilities in mind. (Think: online video gaming.) But what happens when they are not? Here we … online within your county or state can open doors. One of the wonderful things about technology is there are virtual groups based on shared interest open to people across the world. These can be ideal if you feel burned out in general or if …
Autism Speaks statement in response to reports of surge in COVID-19 cases among people with disabilities… swift action to respond to the immediate needs of people with autism and their families – through advocacy, services and supports, resources and direct assistance. We are deeply concerned by reports of increased incidence of COVID-19 among people with disabilities, particularly in group homes, as reported by the New York Times and other news outlets. In response to news of the rapid spread of COVID-19 … but reduce the risk of injury, neglect, abuse and death for residents at overburdened facilities. Congress must do more to support the disability community in the next COVID-19 relief bill. It is crucial that the bill include additional funds for …
Why a mother-daughter running duo teamed up for Autism Speaks… Christel, Iowa Wesleyan ’88, decided to check out different race options online. She saw that through Disney you can run in support of various charities, including Autism Speaks. Christel and her daughter Samantha, Iowa Wesleyan ’14, decided to … signed up for the races six months in advance and began training 16 weeks before the race. “Everyone has so many different groups and causes to support, so it was hard for me to ask people to give to another cause. Putting myself out there on social media and asking …
Want to make a difference? An autism advocate shares her tips… the tide for countless Hispanic families. Autismo en mi Vida, her pioneering non-profit, is not just offering bilingual support; it's revolutionizing the way Spanish-speaking families perceive and tackle autism. And with the platform of the … insights for families eager to ignite change in their communities. Have questions? Contact our Autism Response Team for support in Spanish (1-888-772-9050, ayuda@autismspeaks.org ) and English (1-888-288-4762, help@autismspeaks.org ) You’ve … need? Eight years ago, I formed Autismo en mi Vida with four parents I met in my son’s therapy office. It was a very small group and we just wanted to find people that we could talk to—somebody who could understand what we were going through, and …
Respite Care… services can be available to families through provider agencies with trained staff or through a more informal network of support.  Find more helpful information about respite models as well as a respite locator from the National Respite Network … to families. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act , signed into law in January 2018, will create a national strategy for supporting caregivers. Respite options for family caregivers will be one piece of the considered strategy and solution. How … role in managing the specific behaviors of the individual with autism. How will the respite worker support the person in a group setting? You may want a worker to accompany your family member to a social group, or an afterschool program. The …
Autism Speaks recognizes Oklahoma Commissioner Mulready for work on autism insurance coverage… Department Commissioner Glen Mulready with an Autism Speaks 2022 Public Service Award for championing initiatives that support coverage of autism therapies and treatment for people with autism in Oklahoma. From his work as an insurance … the state law's diagnosis age restrictions as discriminatory. And with the passage of SB 1240 , state-regulated small group and individual plans will be required to provide meaningful autism insurance coverage beginning in 2023. “Oklahoma's … and a long-time volunteer advocate for the Oklahoma autism community also had the opportunity to thank Mulready for his support. Individuals in Oklahoma interested in shopping for an insurance plan that provides insurance benefits for …
Grade-schooler with Autism Nauseated by Food Smells… Kuschner, of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a member of the  Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network . With the support of an Autism Speaks research grant , Dr. Kuschner is developing and testing a cognitive behavioral treatment … at a picture of the cafeteria together. Then plan small steps that build on your son’s progress. I recommend enlisting the support of a trusted adult in your son's school such as a counselor, psychologist or teacher. Your son will likely benefit … in a socially acceptable way. Instead of having a meltdown outside of the cafeteria at lunch, could he be part of a lunch group that eats somewhere other than the cafeteria? Perhaps you could talk with your son’s teachers and counselors about …
Finding Information on Autism-Related Genes … 15q duplication syndrome, copy number variation Pheland-McDermid syndrome and DiGeorge syndrome . A number of advocacy groups and organizations provide information, parent and child support, research funds and services for those affected by these specific genetic disorders. (See list below.) … aware of an organization that specifically addresses Xp22.31 deletions. There are, however, a few Yahoo and Facebook parent support groups for Xp22.31 deletions. The National Society for Genetic Counselors provides a platform for finding genetic …