I always knew our national director was exceptional

by Beth Finke

My friend and colleague Patricia Wright, Easter Seals’ National Director of Autism Services, was interviewed on Boston’s #1 FM station Magic 106.7 last month as part of its Exceptional Women series.

The series highlights women who have achieved greatness in their lives, and Dr. Wright certainly qualifies! From the Magic 106.7 web site:

Dr. Wright has a passion for education and advocacy, ensuring that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
(ASD) and other disabilities are fully included in society.

During the interview, Patricia spoke about Easter Seals autism services, especially the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. If you missed hearing Patricia on the air, don’t worry — you can download or stream her interview here on Magic 106.7.

Congrats, Patricia!

Library program goes to the dogs!

by Beth Finke

Last week I was lucky enough to be one of the Illinois authors invited to the Illinois Library Association annual conference at Navy Pier here in Chicago. While there, I couldn’t help but notice a session about a unique library experience for children with autism.

Once a month, children across the autism spectrum are invited to the Plainfield Public Library to interact with therapy dogs in a safe, nurturing environment. I’ve heard of therapy dogs before, and my Seeing Eye dog Hanni and I volunteer for a reading program with the Chicago Public Schools. But I’d never heard of a library therapy dog program catered specifically to children with autism before.

Attendees to this session last week heard program success stories, and then superstar therapy dog Abbey gave a presentation. Librarians were encouraged to link to Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy for information on how to start up a similar program at their own library for children with autism.

My dog Hanni is ten years old and set to retire soon. Who knows? Maybe in her retirement, she’ll decide to volunteer in a library program like this!

When getting a job is no longer a “remarkable accomplishment”

by Patricia Wright

Today is October 1, and October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Yes. You read that right. Employment of persons with disabilities is such a huge issue that it actually has its own month!

Having a job is key in our society. Regular income allows a person to live where they want and engage in activities they choose. Unfortunately employment eludes many people with disabilities — even those who REALLY want to work and have amazing skills to contribute.

Every professional in autism has a few success stories they like to pull out of their hats when asked about employing someone with autism. My student Duke was successfully employed at the neighborhood movie theater. Lars Perner is a professor at USC. And of course Temple Grandin is a highly successful animal scientist.

I’m proud of those three hard-working people, but one day I would like to be able to stop telling these “amazing” success stories. Instead, I’d like to celebrate that every individual with autism seeking gainful employment is able to accomplish this objective. I look forward to celebrating a day when getting a job is not considered a remarkable accomplishment — just one of the processes of adulthood.

In an effort to promote employment for people with autism, Easter Seals has joined efforts with Sumida River Solutions (SRS), a global for-profit social innovation organization founded on the principles of Neurodiversity & Autism Advocacy. SRS and Easter Seals are working together to match highly talented individuals who have autism with full-time employment and contract opportunities at large corporations.

As more and more people with autism gain meaningful employment, their success stories can blend into the message that “adults work — those with autism, and those without.”

Transitioning from high school to college or work

by Beth Finke

It was interesting to read that U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, has asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the effectiveness of federal programs that help students with disabilities transition from high school to college or the workforce. We at Easter Seals are painfully aware of how desperately families with autism need life-long services for their loved ones. This not only includes school-to-work transitions, but employment support, residential and community support, and financial planning, too.

Easter Seals has taken action to address these needs through participation in Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), a national consortium seeking to create meaningful futures for adults with autism.

The Justice For All activist blog quoted directly from a letter Congressman Miller wrote about existing programs serving students with disabilities after high school graduation:

“Currently, educators across the United States are striving to ensure that all public school students are college and career ready to enable their success in this global economy,” Miller wrote. “However, students with disabilities often face academic, physical, social, and economic challenges when transitioning from high school to postsecondary education or the workforce. As a result, they are less likely than other students to make this transition successfully.

“The federal government plays a significant role in supporting students with disabilities through a variety of programs. I remain concerned about whether federal efforts adequately provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to transition services for youth with disabilities.”

Studies show that students with autism and other disabilities graduate high school at a far lower rate than their peers, and fewer still go on to college. In August 2010, the unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 15.6 percent. Good to hear Congressman Miller is looking into which programs are working — and which aren’t working — when it comes to transitioning students with autism and other disabilities from high school to post-secondary education and the work force.

Children with autism can improve thinking skills over time

by Beth Finke

A story in U.S. News and World Report last week reported that new research shows “Children with Autism Improve Key Thinking Skills Over Time.” To me, this seemed like, well, a no-brainer. But I guess a lot of research on children with autism has focused on whether communication skills and behavior can change, rather than on cognitive skills. From the article:

Thinking problems typical of autism include difficulties predicting other people’s behavior based on their thoughts and feelings (known as theory of mind), and in problem-solving and planning (executive function).

The article quotes Elizabeth Pellicano, senior lecturer in autism education at the Institute of Education in London. Pellicano tested 37 children with autism (and 31 children who do not have autism) when they were five or six years old. Then, three years later, she tested them again.

While cognitive skills varied from child to child, most of the children with autism improved their abilities in theory of mind and executive function; when older, the children could better appreciate the thoughts and feelings of others and they were better able to plan and regulate their feelings than they were three years earlier, Pellicano reported in the October issue of Child Development.

In the article, Pellicano suggested that parents of children with autism should be encouraged by these findings and use this information to think differently about their child’s potential.

Excuse me while I yawn

by Beth Finke

Last week I heard a story on MSNBC saying that children with autism tend not to yawn in response to seeing others yawn. The story referred to a study published in the September/October issue of the journal Child Development that described yawning as a sort of “emotional contagion.” Molly Helt, a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut, got the idea to study yawning when she was on a flight with her son, who has autism.

In an attempt to help relieve painful pressure in her son’s ears, she tried to get him to yawn by yawning right in front of him.

About 45 percent of us yawn when we see someone else yawn, but Helt’s yawns had no such effect on her little one.

In Helt’s study, researchers watched children while they listened to a story read aloud. The storyteller yawned four times during the reading, and 43% of the typically developing children in the study yawned. None of the children with an autistic disorder yawned contagiously, and about 23 percent of children with pervasive developmental disorder yawned. From the MSNBC story:

“Yawning when you see someone else yawn requires empathy, on a certain level,” Helt said.

She found that most children with autism are unlikely to copy this behavior, and the finding may help scientists better understand important aspects of human communication and social behavior that children with autism don’t experience.

Those of you who follow this blog know I’m blind. I never see people yawn. I’m wondering now if I don’t yawn as much as other people do. I’ll tell you this, though … just writing about yawning is making me feel tired!

Century 21 doubles its commitment to children with autism

by Beth Finke

If you read my August blog post about CENTURY 21, you know that last month Century 21 launched a nationwide online photo-sharing campaign, and that Century 21 will make a $1 donation to Easter Seals for each entry submitted to its 21st Century Child: Picture the Future contest.

Well, the news from Century 21 just got even better. To boost contributions made to Easter Seals’ Act for Autism program, Century 21 Real Estate just announced it will match $1 for every $1 raised through the contest. This donation will be made in addition to the brand’s $1 match for every photo uploaded to the contest page.

The contest runs through September 30, so you need to sign up soon! To participate, visit the contest page and share a favorite photo of a child you love (age 5 and younger) and an inspirational message. Then simply share the photo and fundraising campaign profile with family, friends and others through your social network, and encourage others to contribute a donation.

The contestant who generates the highest amount of financial contributions will be named the 2010 21st Century Child, and will win a $2,100 Apple gift card. The next six highest fundraisers will win an Apple iPad. And really, everyone will win this contest, because everyone who participates will know they helped a good cause.

The wonders of Kansas

by Beth Finke

Last year at about this time I traveled to Topeka with my Seeing Eye dog to visit Easter Seals Capper Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. A story in the Capital Journal did a beautiful job describing our visit.

Jim Leiker, president and chief executive officer of Easter Seals Capper Foundation, explained the purpose of Finke’s visit to Kidlink, which is an inclusive preschool and child care program for children with or without disabilities.

“She has a disability and has lots of challenges,” Leiker said, “and she has lots of goals and dreams, and she’s been able to achieve those. I think that’s a really positive message for the kids.”

The Capital Journal also took a lot of terrific pictures of me, Hanni, and the kids — here’s
the gallery.

Plenty of the kids in the preschool had autism, but truth is, without being able to see them, I couldn’t tell. Some were scared of Hanni, some couldn’t stop hugging her. Some seemed shy, others wanted to jump on my lap. Which were symptoms of autism, and which were symptoms of … well … childhood? Who knew? All we did know is that something different was happening in the room that day, and that we were all having fun.

This week I got word that Arthur Capper, the founder of Easter Seals Capper Foundation, is one of the 24 finalists in the 8 Wonders of Kansas People Contest. My friends at Easter Seals Capper Foundation are excited about this, as it’s a great way to bring awareness to the people they serve — children and families living with autism and other disabilities.

Easter Seals Capper Foundation needs your help to spread the word. You can vote for Arthur Capper online, and you don’t have to live in Kansas to cast a vote. You can vote THREE times, and you need to cast your votes by October 22.

Thanks for helping my pals at Easter Seals Capper Foundation make sure that Arthur Capper becomes one of the top 8 Wonders of Kansas. Your vote will make families living with autism and other disabilities aware of the fabulous services available to them at Easter Seals Capper Foundation.

Go-to sources for making autism treatment decisions

by Patricia Wright

After the initial apprehension and anxiety of learning their child has autism, parents are often at a loss about what to do next. “What should we do?” is a fair question, given that when you Google the word autism you get 16 million hits!

In an article in the Huffington Post, jewelry designer Ariane Zurcher shared her family’s journey in autism treatment.

Desperation makes for odd decisions, and perhaps one can explain everything we’ve tried and done by simply leaving it at that. On the other hand, unless one is a scientist, and most parents of autistic children I know are not, how does one choose what will help one’s child when all we have to go on is anecdotal evidence?

I know that some of the treatments her family pursued have no evidence base. But how do families know what is and is not grounded in evidence? What makes one of those 16 million hits better than another?

As a professional I hope that my voice can provide families with a bit of guidance in discerning the plethora of content that gets promulgated. At least then, families will be better prepared to make informed decisions. They may still make decisions different than what I believe would provide the most benefit to their child, but again, I am not that child’s parent.

Here are some go- to sources to consider when making autism treatment decisions:

• Centers for Disease Control
• National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• Association for Science in Autism Treatment
• National Institute of Mental Health

One other great tool for evaluating treatment options is an article from the Association for Science in Autism Treatment. The article, called A Road Less Traveled, (PDF) helps families to ask the right questions, gather the right information and make informed decisions.

As a professional it is my job to support families to make informed decisions. I will never really know what it is like to make a treatment decision for my child with autism, and I will never feel the angst parents experience in trying to evaluate those 16 million Google hits. I do know that I can be an informed voice, sharing expertise, and exhibiting compassion.

“Temple Grandin” wins at the Emmys

by Beth Finke

You may know by now that HBO’s bio-flick about Temple Grandin won five Emmy awards last month, including Outstanding Made for TV Movie. I thought you might be interested in reading how the Hollywood press responded to the winnings. A story called ‘Temple Grandin’ wins big at Emmys. But who is she? ran in Entertainment Weekly:

Who is Temple Grandin? Her name was called out seven times at last night’s Emmy Awards, where the rancher-attired Grandin herself was “a palpable presence.”

A story in the L.A. Times does a great job in answering that question:

Grandin was there, of course, as part of the HBO movie named after her, in which she was played by the Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie-winning Claire Danes.

Born in 1947, Grandin was diagnosed as autistic at a young age due to her inability to speak or function socially like other children. As an adult, Grandin became a renowned public advocate for those born on the autistic spectrum. Her high-functioning autism ultimately allowed her to earn a doctorate in animal science, become a university professor, and pen an autobiography about her experiences.

During the acceptance speeches, all five winners paid tribute to Grandin.

Danes described her as “the most brave woman I’ve known.” [Director Mick] Jackson called her “spunky, smart and vivid,” saying he wanted to make a movie that was “never sentimental.”

Sounds to me like the director reached his goal! Congrats to all the Emmy winners, and especially congrats to the real winner: Temple Grandin.