School fights family over autism assistance dog

by Beth Finke

The Associated Press reports that an Illinois family wants their 6-year-old son, who has autism, to be able to bring his dog along to school this year. The family said the dog would help with the transition to a new place and would also help keep him safe from traffic and other dangers. Service dogs are allowed in the boy’s school, but opponents claim this dog is just a source of comfort rather than a true service dog.

Bark Magazine responded to the AP story with a blog post:

What constitutes a service dog? Is it the old-fashioned definition of being a guide dog for a blind person or are we as a society ready to wholeheartedly expand our definition to dogs who alert people with diabetes or epilepsy to impending problems, dogs who provide people with emotional stability that they cannot achieve on their own, dogs who support people physically in case of loss of balance, dogs who protect impulsive children from running towards the road or other perilous situations and dogs who allow children to handle school when they might otherwise be incapable of doing so?

How do we distinguish between service dogs and dogs who are merely helpful but not in any official capacity?

A post I wrote here last year spelled out the legal way to distinguish service animals from companion animals:

To qualify as a service animal under the ADA, a dog must be “partnered with a person with a disability and individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of that person.”

A judge’s order in July allowed the dog to accompany the boy when school started last week, but an official trial is scheduled for November, 2009 to determine if the dog can continue doing so. Courts will decide whether this boy’s dog performs tasks for him or simply acts as his companion.

Star surfer champions his autism

by Patricia Wright

Want to learn more about autism? Spend time with someone who has autism!

Surfing star Clay Marzo is doing his part by educating his fellow surfers. Clay was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome a few years ago, and he has been informing the surfing community about disability ever since. Marzo’s participation in surfing contests gives his fellow surfers the opportunity to learn about autism from an expert – a person with autism.

Marzo took a break from contests and visibility for a while, but now he is back in the mix. In fact, Clay is one of the most celebrated surfers in the world. He just turned 20, and he’s already won a number of Hawaiian titles. He’s a mainstay on YouTube (a few of his clips have been watched more than 50,000 times) and a story about Clay Marzo in this month’s Outside Magazine describes his obsession with surfing.

While Clay has many of these deficits—he’s easily overwhelmed by other people and often struggles to express himself—he also demonstrates one of the distinguishing features of Asperger’s: an “encompassing preoccupation” with a narrow subject. Some children with the syndrome become obsessed with 19th-century trains or coffee makers or The Price Is Right. Others will memorize camera serial numbers, even if they show little interest in photography. Hans Asperger, the Viennese pediatrician who first identified the disorder in 1944, argued that such obsessiveness can be a prerequisite for important achievement, even if
it comes at a steep social cost: “It seems that for success in science or art, a dash of autism is essential,” Asperger wrote. “The necessary ingredient may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world … with all abilities canalized into the one specialty.”

Marzo won the Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido this summer, and his victory sends a very powerful message: Significant success in life is possible if you have autism.

Spread the word: free technology for people with autism

by Beth Finke

Technology can provide exhilarating possibilities to the 54 million of us in America who have disabilities. But a study commissioned by the California Endowment and conducted by the Alliance for Technology Access found that fewer than 25% of us who could be helped by assistive technology are using it to our advantage. The study said most people with disabilities “make do” without assistive technology. Sometimes they’re unaware that technology is available, other times they don’t know how to obtain it.

Easter Seals’ national Director of Autism Services, Patricia Wright, has published a number of posts here about assistive technology available free-of-cost to people with autism. Just last month she wrote about SketchUp, a free software program offered by Google that people with autism have found helpful.

In a post called Making the Internet work for people with autism, Patricia linked to an Associated Press article about a creative grandfather who wanted his grandson to have access to the web. His grandson has autism and needed some accommodations.

LeSieur tried to find online tools that could guide autistic children around the Web, but he couldn’t find anything satisfactory. So he had one built, named it the Zac Browser for Autistic Children in honor of his grandson, and is making it available to anyone for free.

The browser is available at www.zacbrowser.com.

In another post Patricia touted a symbol-based browser called Webwide and explained how to use it for free on a 30-day trial basis.

I have tried Webwide myself and know individuals with autism who are able to interpret and understand information more successfully using the symbol supports and added visual cues Webwide provides. It’s a fantastic tool.

Please help us spread the word about these products that are available free of charge. Maybe at least some of the frustrations of autism could be solved if the technology got into the right hands.

Temple Grandin: A Breath of Fresh Air

by Beth Finke

Imagine my happy surprise to switch on the radio Tuesday morning and hear Terry Gross interviewing Temple Grandin on NPR’s Fresh Air. Turns out the show was a re-broadcast. It’s “Animal Week” on Fresh Air, and their January 5, 2009 interview with Grandin was one of their best animal-related stories this year, so they decided to air it again. You see, Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science, and she’s the author of many books. She also happens to have autism.

Two years ago Heather Pint published a book review here of Temple Grandin’s memoir, Thinking in Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism. In her review, Pint described Grandin’s early years as isolating, particularly since autism spectrum disorders were fairly unknown at the time.

During the Fresh Air interview Tuesday, Terry Gross asked Grandin what it was that prevented her from being isolated like that her entire life. Grandin’s answer? Early intervention. “I started speech therapy when I was two-and-a-half years old.”

Patricia Wright, the National Director of Autism Services here at Easter Seals, wrote a blog post last April about the merits of early intervention.

Autism affects everyone differently and involves challenges in communication, social skills, and behaviors. If you’re worried your child may have autism — or feel something just isn’t right — follow your instincts. Don’t assume that your child will catch up. Share your concerns with your pediatrician. Look into your state’s early intervention program. Get a diagnosis. And seek support from community service and treatment providers like Easter Seals.

I’m sure Temple Grandin would agree with Patricia! If you missed the Fresh Air interview you can access it as a Fresh Air archived podcast or via iTunes.

A Wider World for kids with autism

by Matt McAlear

Earlier this year Easter Seals Bay Area was contacted by the PBS show A Wider World. Roger McCarville, the show’s host, had heard about Easter Seals Bay Area’s Early Intervention Autism Project and wanted to feature us on his show.

The Early Intervention Autism Project was the recipient of a Safeway Empowerment grant last year. The grant allowed us to expand the program from beyond the pilot stage into communities across our service area. We were thrilled that A Wider World wanted to track our progress.

What was even more thrilling was to see the finished product — the PBS show recently aired in twelve different markets! Roger, the host of the show, is an individual with a physical disability. He dedicates his show to, in his own words, “giving hope to the challenged by showing them that there are others like them who have overcome obstacles and misconceptions in order to lead normal, fulfilling lives.”

Roger interviewed one of our Early Intervention staff, and he talked with a family receiving our services. He interviewed me for the piece too. Throughout the day, both on and off camera, Roger went beyond the typical interview questions. He made a genuine effort to connect with each of us individually.

Roger kept us laughing all day, and he was a pleasure to work with. He was truly interested in the work we do and the individuals we serve everyday through the Early Intervention Autism Project. We’ve received numerous calls and emails of inquiry, kudos, and support ever since the show aired on PBS, and subsequently on YouTube. Thanks to Roger and his team at A Wider World for their support of Easter Seals, Safeway and our work with the ASD population!

Sen. Durbin’s speech on hiring workers with autism and other disabilities

by Beth Finke

On World Autism Day this year (April 2), Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), introduced a bill that would increase vocational opportunities for people on the autism spectrum. The bill, called the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, would fund programs to test new ways to provide vocational training, employment assistance, transportation, and other services so that adults with autism will have a better chance of finding productive employment and improving their quality of life. The bill is co-sponsored by 16 other Senators.

Durbin talked about the bill during a speech he gave at Illinois Wesleyan University on August 12. The speech stressed the need for more job opportunities for people with autism and other disabilities. Quoting from a recent DePaul University study on the costs and benefits of employing people with disabilities, Durbin reminded his audience that people with autism and other disabilities make very loyal employees.

This is what the study found: on their annual performance reviews, employees with disabilities rated slightly higher than their co-workers without disabilities. Employees with disabilities took fewer scheduled and unscheduled days off work — just the opposite of what many might assume.

In addition, the average cost of accommodating the workers with disabilities — modifying the workplace to meet their needs — was $313. As investments in good, dependable workers go, that’s a bargain. And you know what the most frequent request for “reasonable accommodation” was? Flex time, which costs nothing.

Sen. Durbin ended his speech with a long list of scientists, inventors, and writers with autism whose contributions have changed the world.

Clearly, not everyone on the autism spectrum has the potential to become a Nobel laureate or invent a world-changing device. But millions of Americans with autism and other disabilities do have talents and contributions that our nation needs. And in this economy, with government at all levels facing budget cuts, doesn’t it make sense to try to bring more people into the workforce rather than leaving them to rely so heavily on public programs? That is all people with disabilities are asking for: the chance to be full members of our society, to make the most of their God-given talents, and to work to the best of their abilities.

Amen.

In memory of Senator Kennedy

by Katy Beh Neas

Today, one of our greatest (if not the greatest) champions died. I’ve had the honor of working with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) for the past 25 years. He was always the one who would step up and fight the good fight to protect the interests of people with disabilities and their families.

The struggle for equal opportunity for Americans with disabilities is an essential part of our country’s commitment to civil and human rights for all Americans, and no legislator understood that better than Kennedy. He will definitely be missed, but his legacy will be felt for generations to come. My prayers go to his family and to our country.

Autism school a hit in its rookie year

by Maurice Snell

Saturday was a special day at Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of our state-of-the-art Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research, Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago organized the first annual Running Bases for Independence (RBI for you baseball fans).

The softball tournament featured sponsors such as the CENTURY 21 Real Estate Corporation, CVS Caremark, and many other employees from different Easter Seals sites throughout Chicago.

The event would not have been complete without the presence of notables such as Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd. I, along with my mother and father, had the opportunity to meet the Governor and share my life story along with other families of Easter Seals clients. Then I had the opportunity to get together once again with my buddy White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a great spokesperson for autism at Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago.

The reunion with Ozzie was great, he recognized me right away! It would be greater if the White Sox were on a roll, though. I grew up on Chicago’s south side and have always been a White Sox fan, and while I am writing this they are in second place. No matter what happens the rest of the season, I will always be a fan of this White Sox charity that pledged one million dollars towards our new school. I had a conversation with Ozzie and Gavin on Saturday and I told them to hang in there. I hope my words will help — the Sox have a month-and-a-half left to get on that hot streak to overtake the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division.

In closing, I would like to personally thank Governor Quinn, Ozzie and Gavin for taking time out of their busy schedules to come support Easter Seals. The dream of this new school and research center would not have been possible without their support of our services and dedication to our mission. I look forward to continuing this great relationship with the White Sox organization and the Governor of Illinois as we continue to support clients at Easter Seals.

Nurse Practitioners rank our blog among their faves

by Beth Finke

Wow! The Nurse Practitioner Schools blog just posted a list of their top 50 autism support and research blogs and our Easter Seals and Autism blog was selected as one of their favorites! The list was compiled for students who are considering going to school to become nurse practitioners. Some of the sites on the list are social networking sites, some opinionated, and others scientific. Ours was recommended for students who want to keep abreast of news and support for families, friends and individuals dealing with autism.

Easter Seals and Autism — For families living with autism, this site provides “help, hope, and answers.” Topics include what happens when children with autism become adults with autism, the link between disabilities and homelessness, book reviews and autism support.

This news about our Top 50 status comes at a time when a nurse practitioner friend of mine is visiting. Through this friend, and from the care our son Gus has received from nurse practitioners over the years, we have come to trust, value and respect the work of nurse practitioners. It is an honor for our Easter Seals and Autism blog to be recognized in this way. It is flattering to think that when students who want to become nurse practitioners have questions about autism, they might just turn to the Easter Seals and Autism blog for “help, hope and answers.”

Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio — excellent!

by Beth Finke

I’m pleased to introduce Rob DuVall, Director of Marketing for Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio, as a guest blogger today. Rob has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to helping people with autism and other disabilities reach their full potential.

Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio – Excellent!
by Rob DuVall

Over the past four years, the adult services program here at Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio has been working on upgrading all of our services to help serve our clients better. Through grants with community partners, we are now working to update one of the buildings that will be used to help people with autism.

When the center began in the early 1990s, our main focus was providing medical assistance to adults with profound needs. Now our center has been able to transition into providing social experiences for our clients — outings in the park, festivals, visits to the gym, even a trip to a horse farm!

Easter Seals headquarters has recognized our center with Easter Seals Center of Excellence status. We are pleased to be recognized in this way. The excellence status is a nice way to let all our families know we’re going above and beyond to make sure their loved ones are taken care of.