Welcome to USAAA WeeklyNews, an email newsletter that addresses a range of topics on Autism Spectrum Disorders including Asperger's Syndrome.

Autistic boy's father: Why hasn't teacher been fired over 'bullying'?

By Ian Johnston, msnbc.com

The father of an autistic boy allegedly bullied by staff at a New Jersey school has vowed to keep campaigning until the teacher of his son's class has her license revoked.

Stuart Chaifetz, 44, put a wire on his son Akian, 10, and recorded staff in his class at Horace Mann Elementary School in Cherry Hill calling the child "a bastard," talking about vomiting that morning due to a hangover, and apparently teasing the child to the point where he had a "half-hour meltdown."

The school superintendent said Tuesday that staff who were heard acting inappropriately were no longer working in the district. At least one classroom aide reportedly lost her job.

But Chaifetz said the teacher, Kelly Altenburg, had been moved to another school. The district has refused to comment beyond the superintendent's statement.

FULL STORY

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NOTE: There will be a special presentation on "Bullying" at the 2012 USAAA World Conference in Denver.

Northern Irish Schoolboy with Asperger Syndrome Suffered Anti-Semitic Abuse

By: Jewish Press News Briefs
Published: April 26th, 2012

Matthew Lough, a 14-year-old student at Carrickfergus College with Asperger syndrome, says he has suffered anti-Semitic abuse and was attacked physically following a History class on the Holocaust.

According to Matthew’s mother, Sharon Lough, told the Guardian that the boy revealed during the class that his maternal great-great-grandmother was Jewish. She says a group of bullies began a campaign against him.

“It started last year with the swastikas drawn on his books, he was called ‘Jew boy’ and one fellow pupil even told Matthew: ‘It’s a pity that the gas chambers were not still open so we could deal with you.’ This was before the physical assault,” Sharon Lough said.

FULL STORY

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6 Things an OB/GYN Needs to Know When Taking Care of a Patient with ASD

By Lindsey Nebeker

"Without a doubt, office visits with an OB/GYN are among the most stressful health care procedures...especially for people on the autism spectrum. Because the OB/GYN environment is not often "ASD - friendly," these individuals may avoid these visits altogether".

" If you are an OB/GYN, here are 6 things you need to know:"

1. You will have patients on the autism spectrum.
2. Accommodations are essential. Period.
3. Advanced preparation and a precisely spoken walk-through during any procedure are strictly required.
4. Visual or data-based communication and resources are helpful... VERY helpful.
5. Maintaining a professional persona will ensure less anxiety. Keep your personal emotions to yourself.
6. Treat your patient with ASD like you would your other patients. Treat fairly.

FULL STORY

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USAAA 2012 World Conference

Over thirty-five of the world leading autism experts, including Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Martha Herbert, discuss new treatment regimes and effective therapies in many areas. These topics include medical/biomedical, educational, behavioral and developmental evidence-based interventions. USAAA is introducing a special cooking and nutrition session and also featuring a "Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Autism Interventions in the Schools" and a "Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Autism Interventions in the Community" sessions on Friday, September 7.

SCHEDULE AND PRESENTATIONS - The conference features keynote presentations and three separate breakout sessions on Friday and Saturday (Thursday night and Sunday morning are included select conference registration passes). Another special track includes medical/biomedical.

Presentations will include:

• "New Discoveries in the Underlying Pathobiology of Autism"
• "Beneficial Interventions and Critical Health Challenges During the Lifespan"
• "DSM-5: Its Impact and Scope"
• Functional Imaging of the Brain: You'll never see autism the same way again
• "Different...Not Less: Extraordinary Potential of Individuals on the Autism Spectrum"
• "A Journey of Pain, Suffering, Struggles, and Hope"
• "Advocacy and Combating Bullying"
• "Vision: The Effects on Balance, Vestibular, Movement and Cognitive Function"
• "Strength and Interest-Based Learning: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities"
• "Behavioral Issues and New Approaches with ASD"
• "Seizures in Autism"
• "The Continuums of Autism: Cognition, Sensory Processing and Behavior"
• "Implementing Effective Interventions for the Acquisition of Verbal Behavior"
• "Brain Plasticity and Executive Functioning"
• "Prioritizing Interventions and Therapies"
• "Why I Was Good at Certain Things and Completely Oblivious to Others"
• A Sensory, Neuroplasticity - based Approach to Autism
• Sibling Panel
• Plus much more...

Register Now for the conference!

Sponsors and Exhibitors- Contact Pat at 1-866-208-0207 to exhibit or sponsor. Reserve your booth now!

Schedule, Speakers, Accommodations, CEUs

To leave comments, go to our Blog.

Upcoming Conference

• 2012 USAAA World Conference - September 6-9, Denver, Colorado

"In the fall of 2011, the greatest gift we received yet was attending the four-day USAAA conference in Seattle. There I met my heroes and found mentors that gave me hope and expanded my paradigm. Since the conference, we now approach life and our son from the view of acceptance, help him to see and know himself, teach him how to self advocate, and join with him in enjoying the things that make him smile. We no longer fight against our son’s differences but embrace them and this way of loving has even taught us to how better accept and love each other as a couple. We still have a long way to go and even more to learn, but I now know that hope has no limit unless I place it there.
- Sara McCarter, Mom to Magnus "the great"