Welcome to USAAA WeeklyNews, an email newsletter that addresses a range of topics on Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
My Asperger's Daughter Has Taught Me So Much
By Interview by Lucy Benyon
Express.co.uk
 FROM the moment her daughter Grace started to speak, Sophie Walker knew she wasn't like other children. As a toddler Grace, who is now 10, possessed an amazing vocabulary but the art of conversation was completely lost on her.
She could recite the script of her favourite film The Little Mermaid word for word but if Sophie asked her a question, she wouldn't always answer.
"She just has difficulties interpreting emotions in the moment," Sophie continues. "For Grace, everything is black and white. If someone tells her they are her friend one day and plays with someone else the next, it leaves her feeling confused." |
"Grace could act out the most astounding stories and paint wonderful pictures but she could be rigid and repetitive too. She tended to play alongside other children rather than with them," recalls Sophie, 41, a journalist.
As a first-time mother Sophie thought her artistic daughter was just dreamy and eccentric. It was only when she started school that alarm bells began to ring.
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The Autism Channel: all autism, all the time
By Nicole Brochu, Staff writer, The SunSentinel
 The comedic commentator has Asperger's. So does the talk show host. The daily news segment spotlights developments in the world of autism. And the families at the heart of the "At Home" reality show? All have kids with an autism spectrum disorder.
"Sophie," for example, follows Sophie the therapy dog as the golden retriever joins an Oregon family and helps their son navigate his world of autism. |
This is The Autism Channel, beamed from South Florida and offering news, entertainment, expert advice and real-world analysis, aimed at a unique audience: families living with autism.
Produced by Flying Pig Ranch Studios in West Palm Beach, the free programming is available 24 hours a day through a Roku video-streaming box connected to your television, and its creators say it's coming soon to smart TVs and Blu-ray devices.
US Autism & Asperger Association has contributed video footage from USAAA conferences to The Autism Channel.
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Oral Health Care for the Dental Patient with Autism
By Robert E. Rada DDS
 Unfortunately many dentists are not prepared to treat an individual with autism. Depending on the educational background, there may have been little or no training in managing patients with autism (Weil and Inglehart, 2010). Until recently the health care system has not recognized the interrelationship of oral health and systemic health.
"When developing a dental treatment plan for a patient with autism there are numerous factors to consider." |
The individual with autism can be seen as a disruption to the regular routine of the dental office, which may be unsettling to some dentists. Parents or caregivers may be reluctant to take the person with autism out of fear of rejection, or an embarrassing incident related to behavior. Another barrier to care is transitioning pediatric patients with autism to general dentistry practices that care for adults with special needs (Nowak et al., 2010). Finally, people with developmental disabilities may have financial limitations related to affording dental care.
To learn more about oral health care for the dental patient with autism, visit the USAAA Conference video downloads. Dr. Rada presented "Oral Health Care for the Dental Patient with Autism" at the USAAA 2012 World Conference.
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Parents report bus driver used duct tape to restrain student with Asperger syndrome
By: Beth Vaughn, KSHB.com
 A Missouri school district is facing outrage from parents this week [October 11, 2012] after reports surfaced that a 5-year-old boy was duct taped as punishment for an outburst.
Two weeks ago, an angry mother called the Johnson County, Mo., Sheriff's office to report suspected child abuse.
"Get off your butts and teach your staff how to deal with kids with disabilities," Lujan said. |
According to the police report filed that day, the alleged abuse included her son being bound by duct tape at Chilhowee School.
The report states witnesses saw the school bus driver and the Chilhowee principal using duct tape to restrain a 5-year-old boy's hands. The kindergartner has Asperger's syndrome and, according to his mother, was upset at that moment.
"I think there ought to be criminal charges involved not only on the school bus driver, but also on the school because they covered this up for at least a week," he explained. |
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