Remember to ask the experts for answers

by Beth Finke

Just a quick reminder that this is the week you can ask questions on autism and blindness and get answers from experts free of cost — just use the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) Online Comment-On-This-Article feature. The posted questions will be answered by authors of textbooks on the subject.

I just left a question there myself. Our son Gus is 24 years old and doesn’t talk (or at least, not like we do). It’s obvious that Gus has vision problems — he never looks right at his cup when he picks it up, for example, but manages to pick the cup up without spilling the contents. Without being able to speak, Gus hasn’t been able to take an average eye test. Doctors diagnosed him with something ill-defined called “cortical blindness.” I asked the experts on line whether there are any new ways to test the eyesight of people like Gus, and am eagerly awaiting their answer.

The June 2011 issue of the JVIB features a special focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders and blindness. Access to these articles on JVIB Online are free, but just for this week.

So remember to visit JVIB Online before Friday, June 10 to participate like I did. What an easy way to get some of your difficult questions answered.

Summer is here … time to eat cookies!

by Beth Finke

For a while there we were worried it might never happen, but the weather finally did warm up, and summer is here at last. So stoke up the barbecues! Enjoy some outdoor festivals! Eat bags of cookies!

Eat cookies? You read that right. Sweet Tomatoes’ annual cookie campaign has become a summer tradition here at Easter Seals. This year, the promotion has expanded to include three new markets. Sweet Tomatoes Restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington are participating in the 2011 fundraiser.

From now until the end of June, select Sweet Tomatoes restaurants will donate $1 to Easter Seals for each bag of homemade cookies sold. And that’s not all — restaurant guests will also receive a coupon for a future visit as a thank you for their cookie purchase.

Sweet Tomatoes has supported Easter Seals for five years and has raised nearly $130,000, making them an Easter Seals National Corporate Partner. Donations collected from the campaign support Easter Seals programs for people with autism and other disabilities.

So go ahead and indulge in a bag of homemade cookies without feeling guilty! Each and every time you and your family visit a Sweet Tomatoes in June, you can help support essential Easter Seals programs in your community!

Hiring at Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin

by Bob Glowacki

Earlier this year I published a blog post about our search for a new Children’s Services Director at Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin. One of our goals was to find a candidate who was committed to our early intervention services and brought a strong background in autism treatment. We found that person in Erin Paschke, our new Children Services Director.

Erin has been working with families and children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders for over 10 years. She has experience creating, developing, and evaluating a variety of programming for early intervention, social skill groups, and parent empowerment courses. Erin has experience in research and in administering standardized assessments. She has served as both the lead investigator as well as researcher in multiple research studies, and she has presented programs and findings to multiple audiences. Erin has a wealth of experience from The Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center in Phoenix where she created and implemented numerous programs in both clinical and community-based settings. Yes, you read that right: she moved back to the Midwest! I guess she missed our winters.

Erin is trained in a train-the-trainer model by the Koegel Autism Center in Pivotal Response Treatment and is seeking ways to provide that training at Easter Seals. Her main focus is not only in furthering the creation of a clinically sound program at Easter Seals, but in equipping parents, family members, and community-based agencies with the knowledge and skills necessary for creating successful environments in which individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders can truly reach their full potential.

We are pleased to have Erin Paschke join our talented staff as our new Children Services Director. Pllease keep in mind that we at Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin are always looking for individuals who are looking to start their careers in autism as line and senior therapists. Link to the job opportunities page on our web site for more information on how to apply.

Access to quality intervention

by Patricia Wright

A lot of autism interventions have great outcomes, and these outcomes are published in quality, peer-reviewed journals. Most of these interventions are happening in highly controlled, resource rich settings. Universities, for example. Easter Seals strives to provide quality service and seeks professional development in best practices, but replicating interventions developed within a highly controlled setting like that can be challenging.

Implementation Science (also known as Type 2 Translational Research) is an emerging science that attempts to get those great research practices out into the field and conduct research in a manner that ensures that the practices can be conducted in the field. One of my favorite researchers interested in Implementation Science is David Mandell. Dr. Mandell presented his current research at last month’s International Society for Autism Research meeting in San Diego, and while he was there, Dr. Mandell took time out to film a video discussing Implementation Science with Alex Plank. Alex Plank founded WrongPlanet.net (a popular community for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism) after being diagnosed with Asperger’s.

Access to quality services and supports that promote the best outcomes must be available to all individuals living with autism. The field of autism interventions is rife with practices that have no evidence. Maybe if quality interventions were easily accessible, individuals with autism pursuing intervention wouldn’t be as distracted with those spurious claims made by so many. I so appreciate Dr. Mandell and Mr. Plank taking the time to discuss this topic. We all need to advocate for access to quality intervention.

Moving out of state for autism services — Illinois gets an ‘F’

by Beth Finke

With all the talk in the news lately about states cutting programs due to high budget deficits, it was interesting to read an article in the Chicago Tribune last weekend about families with disabilities leaving the Chicago area to move to other states. The story says there is no statistical study about why families with disabilities might leave one state for another, but anecdotal evidence suggests that many parents of children with disabilities here in the Chicago area plan to leave— or have already left — because of the lack of funding for human services here. The writers interviewed the mother of a seven-year-old named Jeffery who has autism:

One week after Patrice Evans’ preschooler was diagnosed with autism, her Grayslake Illinois home was on the market and she was headed to Kenosha for Wisconsin’s generous funding of intensive therapy.

My husband and I have known for years how poorly the State of Illinois ranks when it comes to funding programs for people with disabilities. Despite Wisconsin’s battered economy, the state allocates more resources than Illinois does to children like our son Gus. The Tribune story confirmed what we knew already, reporting that United Cerebral Palsy ranks Illinois 48th out of 50 for providing services, and University of Colorado’s Coleman Institute of Cognitive Disorders puts Illinois near the bottom for funding autism spectrum disorders.

Perhaps that is why about one-third of the parents in the Kenosha-area autism support group are Illinois refugees, said Farrah Sonnenberg, Geoffrey’s service provider.

When it came time for our son Gus to move away we placed him in a group home in Wisconsin. It’s difficult to visit him regularly from faraway Chicago. We would rather have him close to home. Just like the families in this Tribune story, though, we feel more confident about services in Wisconsin, and we often talk about relocating there ourselves.

Easter Seals has prepared a state-of-the-states report on autism services that is a comprehensive and objective resource on how the fifty states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are responding to the needs of individuals living with autism spectrum disorders, including the 23 states that have passed autism insurance legislation.

The profiles highlight the number of children with autism who have received the state’s special education services, state insurance coverage for autism if available, Medicaid services specific for individuals with autism, educational programs provided to students with autism or training that focused on autism, special education criteria, other state-led resources, and sponsors of autism legislation. I encourage you to give our State Autism Profiles a look. The profiles are a very helpful resource when you’re thinking about making difficult — and life-changing — decisions for you and your family.

Autism and blindness: your chance to ask the experts

by Beth Finke

Here’s a topic that’s right up my alley: I just found out that the June 2011 issue of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) will feature a special focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders and blindness. In conjunction with this issue, JVIB is offering readers an opportunity to have their questions answered by the expert writers whose perspectives will appear in the journal.

Shirley Cohen, Ph.D., is a nationally known authority on autism spectrum disorders and the author of three books on disability, including Targeting Autism. Marilyn Gense, M.A. and Jay Gense, Ed.S., are the co-authors of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Visual Impairment: Meeting Students’ Learning Needs.

During the week of June 6-10, 2011, readers are invited to post comments and ask questions using the JVIB Online comment-on-this-article feature. The posted questions will be answered by the authors themselves. Access to these articles on JVIB Online will be free during the week of this special event. The press release about all this says they’ll be discussing a range of issues: everything from a modified core curriculum for learners with autism spectrum disorders and visual impairments, to the possible relationship between autism spectrum disorders and optic nerve hypoplasia, to the best ways to provide services to students. Remember to visit JVIB Online June 6-10 to participate and get some of your questions answered.

They’re reading about Dr. Wright in South Africa

by Beth Finke

Earlier this month Independent Online in South Africa interviewed Easter Seals national director of autism services Patricia Wright for an article called Baby Steps at Their Own Pace. The article was about developmental milestones, and Patricia reminded readers that early intervention is invaluable. She said that if parents have any concerns with their child’s development they should discuss them with a doctor earlier rather than later.

”I don’t want parents to worry for three months and then spend another three months waiting for an appointment with a specialist.”

Patricia told reporters that even something as common as a language delay can be helped by early intervention.

A speech pathologist can give parents tips on how to create a language-rich environment for their child and encourage speech.

Independent Online is a South African online news brand with editorial teams in centers all over South Africa. How cool to think that Patricia Wright and Easter Seals has a presence there!

Riding the (buffalo) wings of victory

by Maurice Snell

Which is better: the Chicago Police Department or the Chicago Fire Department? There could be many different opinions from many Chicagoans, but here’s one thing we all agree on: we rely on both forces to protect each and every one of us. There are thousands of police officers and firefighters who sacrifice their lives for us each and every day in the Chicago area.

Earlier this month, both forces put their allegiances aside for one thing: Wing Madness to benefit Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago. The no-holds-barred wing eating competition between the Chicago Police and Fire Department determined who is Chicago’s top dog (or, who is Chicago’s wing eating champion). The festivities took place at Dick’s Last Resort, right off of the Chicago River. It was a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for many patrons, as we got a chance to witness those brave souls stuff their faces for a chance at glory.

It was neck-and-neck (or maybe wing-and-wing?!) between the two forces in each round, but one was victorious: the Chicago Police Department.

Special thanks to both the Chicago Police and Fire Department for taking time from their duties to participate in this event. Without those people, this event would not have happened. We hope to have a much bigger event next year, and if you live in Chicago or are here visiting our wonderful windy city we hope you can join us next year also!

Workers with disabilities: an untapped resource

by Beth Finke

I liked this commentary in Free Enterprise Magazine so much I thought I’d share some of it here. The essay is about the number of people with autism and other disabilities who are looking for work. It was written by Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He points out that employers are pretty much unaware of the pool of qualified workers with disabilities. He says employers don’t really know how to go about finding these workers and that they worry about the costs and challenges involved when it comes to providing accommodations. Then he points out how these employers are missing out on a great untapped resource :

Employees with disabilities are generally dependable, dedicated, hardworking, and productive. Companies that take a lead in hiring people with disabilities are positioning themselves for success when worker and skills shortages will make diversity and inclusion programs a necessity rather than a choice.

With the unemployment rate so high right now it’s hard to imagine America facing a worker shortage any time soon. But hey, there are 77 million baby boomers out there! They’ll be retiring soon, and when they do, Many businesses are sure to face a skills shortage. Let’s hope that when that happens, and employers have trouble finding qualified workers for open positions, they’ll turn to this great untapped resource: workers with autism and other disabilities.

Idolizing James Durbin

by Maurice Snell

Reality television is appealing to millions of viewers in the world today. Some would say that reality TV is scripted as if it were to look real. But it is the real thing if you really are paying attention.

I’ve been a fan of some reality TV shows. Some of the shows that I see today may be cheesy, but others I’ve been a fan of for quite some time. There’s this show called American Idol that I’ve seemed to enjoy over the years. Some critics predicted that when the big names (Paula Abdul, Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell), left it would be the end of the show, but it has not lost its touch.

What’s even more special about American Idol is that it featured some memorable contestants this season. One of this season’s contestants is a success story: James Durbin is a person living with autism. He had very impressive talent which delighted millions of viewers and impressed the judges. Week after week, James set the bar real high and gave some other contestants a run for their money. The fans were in love with his bad boy style. James proved that he was a force to be reckoned with. He was so amazing, Randy Jackson, one of the judges, picked James to be in the finale (Top 3). America would say that he is out of this world!

On the results show on May 12, James had missed out on being in the Top 3 much to everyone’s surprise. The judges were in disbelief that James was not picked to be The One. However, James Durbin is and will always be American Idol for people living with disabilities.

As a person living with autism and having incredible musical talent myself, I couldn’t be more proud of what James had gone through. He showed millions of Americans that people with autism can be successful in this world today. No matter what talent you have, it is a gift from God that you have and you must not take it for granted. Congratulations, James on a wonderful job well done!