Great article in the NY Times

Navigating Love and Autism- kind of a must read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/us/navigating-love-and-autism.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support

Good News

Read this great article in the New York Times about a man who is looking for ways to use the strengths of people with autism in the workplace! The comments from readers are also worth reading. 

He looks at the characteristics of people with autism such as their intense focus, repetitive behavior and strong attention to detail and shows how those characteristics can be strengths in the workplace. 

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/putting-the-gifts-of-the-autistic-to-work/

Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support

Step in the Right Direction

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP91df7578731d4261a99ecbfd2dfb1a6b.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support

Autism Votes

Working together we can, and will, obtain autism insurance reform equality for the state of New York.  If we work hard, we can get this done THIS YEAR so that you are reimbursed for medical expenses!  Otherwise, your hard earned money will continue to fly out the door for both health insurance premiums and therapy payments.  For more information on the legislation in New York, visit www.autismvotes.org/NewYork.

Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support

Webinar

Hidden Curriculum:  Practical Solutions for Understanding Rules in Social Situations

http://momsfightingautism.com/conference/

Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support

Special Needs Kids fair

Sociable Kidz hosted a special needs kids fair yesterday which we participated in.  The fair raised over $1200 for the Tourett Syndrome Association New York Hudson Vally Chapter!!!  Sociable Kidz is a wonderful organization that teaches children how to grow socially with their peers and within their communities.  Their were a lot of amazing participants and organizations that work with children with special needs in a variety of ways at the fair.  The kids all had a great time.  See the side bar for a list of some of the organizations that you might find helpful.
 
Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support

Researchers Suggest Many Undiagnosed Kids Have Mild Autism

All educators know that there are kids in their classes who are undiagnosed in a variety of areas including autism,  however, the study discussed in the article;
Study in Korea Puts Autism’s Prevalence at 2.6%, Surprising Experts
from The New York Times is still quite revealing.  The article identifies a study that found the prevalence of children with autism to be much higher than the current estimation of CDC's 1 in 110 children.  Is it really that surprising?  I think the answer is both yes and no.  Autism encompasses such a large spectrum that kids are bound to fall under the radar.  How many kids found to fall under the radar is what is concerning from this article.  As an educator, it is clear that there are a number of reasons that children may be undiagnosed.  Some parent's of kids who have mild autism may not want their child to have the label.  Other kids with mild autism just simply don't show enough symptoms to raise a red flag in a general education classroom or at home where somebody might not know what to look for.  The ultimate problem is what these children are missing without being "labeled" as having autism.    

Matthew Halem, MSE Family Autism Support