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.

Will health care reform affect Medicaid?

by Katy Beh Neas

It came as no surprise to those of us here at Easter Seals to hear the very first question at President Obama’s health care town meeting in Montana last Friday. It came from a woman who has a son with autism — she is worried about her son’s health care.

I’m an MSU student. I have a son that suffers from many disabilities. He’s disabled for the rest of his life. He’s 11 years old. He suffers from autism. He has been sick with these ailments ever since he was nine months old. My question to you is, I rely heavily on his Medicaid to support good health care for him. What, with this reform, would happen with his Medicaid?

When it comes to health care, Americans with autism and other disabilities are arguably the most vulnerable population in the nation. Easter Seals believes that health care reform must guarantee that all Americans, including people with autism and other disabilities, have access to high quality, affordable health care that meets their individual needs.

In June, Easter Seals staff testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), telling them that meeting the needs of people with autism and other disabilities is an important component of health care reform. Mary Andrus, Easter Seals Assistant Vice President for Government Relations and Co-Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities’ Health Care Task Force, told committee members that, “an essential element of health care reform is ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to coverage that meets their care needs.”

It sounds like her message got through to the top. At the health care town hall meeting on Friday, President Obama responded to the concerned mother by first thanking her for sharing her story. Then President Obama told her how lucky her son is to have such a heroic mom. After waiting for the applause to die down, the president answered her question about Medicaid.

If you currently qualify for Medicaid — your son currently qualifies for Medicaid, he would continue to qualify for Medicaid. So it would not have an impact on his benefit levels and his ability to get the care that he needs.

Please contact your lawmakers and urge them to support health care reform that promotes quality health care for people with autism and other disabilities.

Dr. Wright interviewed in Education Week

by Beth Finke

Last month, Patricia Wright published a post here called Friendly’s helps kids find Friends Who Care.

FRIENDS WHO CARE® is an interactive educational program designed to help children understand what it means and how it feels to be a young person with a disability. The program shows kids how their peers with autism and other disabilities adapt to live life, go to school make friends and play. The goals of the program are simple: to encourage typically developing children to accept their peers with disabilities as people first, and to find ways to include everyone in school and after-school activities.

Now you can read an Education Week interview where Patricia discusses the curriculum with senior columnist Michael F. Shaughnessy. As the national director of autism services for Easter Seals, Patricia is an old hand at these interviews. She knew just what to say when asked about what was included in the kit and where to find more information.

What types of ancillary materials are available?

The materials include a teacher’s guide, activity sheets, a poster, bookmarks, and online videos.

How can teachers can a copy of this free curriculum?

The fun and colorful components can all be downloaded separately for use at home or in the classroom at www.easterseals.com/friendswhocare.

And of course, she handled the final “Did we forget anything?” question perfectly:

What have I neglected to ask?

Let me tell you a little more about Easter Seals. Easter Seals is a leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and other special needs. For 90 years, Easter Seals has been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play.