Find Joy in Traveling With Your Autistic Child - How

When you pack your bags to explore the beauties of your country, with your autistic child, consider it to be a happy and joyful journey. How can you make that happen? Having a child with autism, and wanting to take a trip, or just a short excursion, can be stressful. It can be stressful, if you do not take the time to plan, and make the proper arrangements with the needs for your child and you, that must be taken into consideration.


After you have made the proper arrangements to plan a trip, start to find joy, with your child who has the disorder of autism. It is wise to set your mind in the right frame of thinking with positive steps. For example:

* The first thing I tell people with children who have the disorder of autism, is to travel lightly. It relieves the stress.

* If your plan is to see beauty and inspiration, then travel slowly, think of other ways to travel, instead of by planes.

* Remember, there is so much to see and view. Let your child be open to new surprises and adventure.


* Let your imagination be strong. Use your creativity and imagination when traveling. Do something different and fun with your child, and your family.

* I have traveled, and sometimes, I find, you have to travel fearlessly. Do not worry or be timid. Enjoy the world and new experiences you have with your child and you.

* Make up your mind to have a good time. Your child and you are worth it to make up your mind to have a good time, and travel relaxed with joy.

* Another good point to make, is travel with patience. It takes time to understand others, especially where there are various kinds of languages and customs. Try to keep an open mind, be flexible and willing to adapt to different situations.


* Travel with an open mind, and you will discover, that people are basically much the same through out the world.. Set an example, let people know you bring good will and joy to all people.

* Tell people if need be, that you are traveling with a child who has autism. Your child might require a place to stay with less noise and not so many bright lights, or activities.


* Try to plan your traveling around the schedule of your child. For instance, if your child requires more sleep than other family members, be sure your child has that advantage that he or she requires. Do not force or push your child to do more than he or she is capable of doing.


* Every child is unique, and has different capabilities. Do not compare your child who has autism, to other siblings when traveling. One family member, may not like the same interests and another one, might find the interest to be extremely rewarding.

* Call ahead of schedule to reserve cabins, hotels, motels, and resorts. Ask questions that are a concern to your child and you.

Traveling with your child who has autism, can be filled with joy, if it is planned with the idea of having fun, and making it with as little stress, as possible.

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Could Your Child Have Autism?

(NAPSI)-Once considered a rare disorder, autism is now diagnosed in one in every 150 children, with boys nearly four times more likely than girls to receive a diagnosis. For parents who believe their child may have autism, it is important to ask questions, get answers and seek appropriate treatment.

What Is Autism?

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder,” which means that it manifests itself differently for every individual, varying in the severity and type of symptoms.


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While there are strong and consistent commonalities, there is no single behavior that is always typical of autism and no behavior that would automatically exclude an individual from receiving a diagnosis.

A basic rule for treating autism is the earlier the intervention, the better. Getting the right help at the earliest stage of life can help a child gain the skills he or she needs to be successful. If you’re worried your child may have autism--or feel something just isn’t quite right--you should:

1. First and foremost, follow your instincts. Don’t assume that your child will catch up.

2. Share your concerns with your pediatrician. Consider seeing a doctor who is familiar with autism. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers an online pediatrician referral service, searchable by specialty and location.

3. Utilize early intervention services available in every state. The government provides free services for children with disabilities. Consult the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities at www.nichcy.org and your local early intervention lead agency at www.nectac.org/search/mapfinder.asp. The lead agency is required to provide a timely evaluation, typically within 45 days of being contacted. If your child is experiencing significant developmental delays in one or more of the following areas, you’re eligible for free early intervention services: cognitive, physical, communication, social, emotional or adaptive skills.

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4. Get a diagnosis. Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months old. Many children are diagnosed before age 5, although many children get misdiagnosed or not diagnosed until later in life.

5. Seek help from community service and treatment providers like Easter Seals. Start by visiting autism.easterseals.com.

To learn more about autism, find services at an Easter Seals near you or help Easter Seals change the lives of people living with autism by becoming a donor or volunteer, visit autism.easterseals.com.

Early intervention, diagnosis and treatment are crucial for children with autism.

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Autism program helps parents, officials and children to deal with emergency situations

DOVER, NH — It's a scenario that every parent of child with autism dreads.

Suddenly you're involved in some sort of accident, and your child is alone and confused and could be easily startled by the presence of emergency personnel.

It's a scenario that many in the community with autistic children are beginning to prepare for.

Six area families, including four from Dover, signed up for the Easter Seals Autism Awareness 911 program during an open house last Thursday night outside of the McConnell Center. The program allows for parents to fill out a profile of their child, which is then forwarded to the city or local dispatch centers so those homes with autistic children can be flagged for police, fire and emergency personnel.

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Information also is forwarded to New Hampshire 911 to flag the phone number.

During Thursday's event, several autistic children had a chance to interact with firefighters and police officers, along with some of their equipment and apparatus.

Dover resident Marie Berman said the event was the perfect opportunity to familiarize her 6-year-old daughter with firefighters and their equipment.

"It's good for her to learn that if she is in danger, these are the people that can help," Berman said.

Berman's daughter has sensory issues and gets scared by loud noises and crowded places. Berman said it's good for her to be around the fire trucks and police cars, so she could hear the sirens.

"It helps her to not be afraid," Berman said.

Elizabeth Webster, who founded the program with her partner Dawn Brady, said the two have worked with police in Manchester and Concord. They hope to spread the program throughout the state.

The next autism event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the McConnell Center.

Article published Jun 6, 2008 - Fosters.com

Device helps parents of autistic children who may wander off

By JILL MOON

MURPHYSBORO - A Southern Illinois company keeps up with the times by helping parents of autistic children.

Now that one in 150 children are diagnosed with autism, Care Trak caters to parents with a tracking device for their children who are prone to "bolt and run." Care Trak, which grew from its parent company, Wildlife Materials, that makes animal tracking systems, sells a portable, electronic device so parents can find their children if they run off.

Each year, thousands of autistic youngsters take off running, leaving their parents panicked and frantic.

"Care Trak focuses on serving these parents and caregivers of autistic kids," said Mike Chylewski, Care Trak's vice president of operations.
"Because autistic kids have limited or no fear of danger and have a high tolerance for pain, parents are understandably frantic to find their child. Care Trak is a source of action and calm in what is otherwise a frightening and urgent situation."

The Care Trak device is a telemetry-based tracking receiver that electronically tracks lost persons who are wearing the 1-ounce transmitter. Care Trak also supplies devices for Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers but sells directly only to parents of autistic children because of regular use by these parents.

Care Trak's co-owner, Richard Blanchard, explained that dementia patients wander off less often than autistic children and Blanchard would rather caregivers of dementia patients call local law enforcement immediately than try to operate unfamiliar equipment under duress and worry.

"With Alzheimer's, the caregiver is more often elderly themselves and the technology of using the equipment is more confusing," Blanchard said. "It's fairly easy to use, but under the pressure of a loved one being gone, it's harder to pull this equipment out of a closet and use it."

Whereas, caregivers of autistic children tend to be younger and well versed in electronic technology, he said. And the equipment is used more frequently with autistic children who go to school, crowded events, parks, shopping with parents and many other outings on a regular basis. Law enforcement agencies also would have a receiver of the clients with autistic children, yet parents would have their own receiver.

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"We view selling to parents directly as a win-win for all," Blanchard said. "Caregivers and parents have peace of mind and sheriff's departments and police organizations don't have to spend a lot of time and money to search."

The device helps locate individuals typically within 20 to 30 minutes, he noted.

"We prefer to talk to people first to find out how they'll use it and what their needs are," he said. "When we sell equipment, we don't just disappear. We stay with the client throughout the whole process to make sure they know how to use the equipment. If they can't use it when they need to, the equipment is useless."

He also pointed out that Care Trak is not a "babysitting" service but just another tool to help parents.

Autistic children tend to wander short distances, but still could end up in dangerous circumstances. The Autism Society of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected by the disorder. However, many autistic children are highly intelligent, physically active, observant and inquisitive.

Care Trak can locate a child with autism up to one mile on the ground, day or night, inside or outside. The device is mobile so when parents realize their child has bolted, they can take the receiver and track them immediately. Since the Care Trak is a telemetry-based system, obstacles or overhead cover, such as clouds, do not hinder the device.
With Care Trak, individuals wear a small transmitter, usually on the wrist like a wristwatch. It gives a signal 24 hours, seven days a week, even in water while bathing or swimming. Users should change the batteries once a month.

With dementia patients, usually receivers are held only by support organizations such as sheriff's or police departments. If an individual wanders off, caregivers normally would call the department to locate the transmitter.

Parents of autistic children get an invisible perimeter system, which includes a small receiver and a scanning unit to be plugged into a wall circuit. The scanner continually looks for a signal given off by the transmitter. If the signal disappears, it lets the caregiver know the signal is out of range.

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The receiver's antennae can be removed and taken along to locate a child. When going out, parents can operate the device by internal batteries. At a park, the receiver can be set on a picnic table or if parents and child are walking, they can put the receiver in a handbag or satchel.

Blanchard encourages parents who live in an area without the Care Trak program to talk to area law enforcement to persuade them to become involved with the tracking program.

Care Trak's parent company, Wildlife Materials, started Care Trak in 1985 in Carbondale and moved both companies to Murphysboro four years ago. In 1970, wildlife biologist Robert Hawkins, who taught at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, began Wildlife Materials for wildlife research. Hawkins is now retired and Blanchard and William Liao, both longtime employees of Hawkins, bought the company in 2001.

Care Trak started when a Carbondale resident asked Hawkins to help him with his wife, who had Alzheimer's and walked off several times.

"He put a falcon transmitter on her," Blanchard recalled. "As the need grew, the Federal Communications Commission gave us authorization to produce products specifically for this application."
May 30, 2008 - 9:36AM-The Telegraph.com

Preparing for Autistic Children's Teen Years

North Jersey's autistic population is growing up, and school districts that have scrambled to start classes for the youngest students are turning their attention to the teenage years.

"This is the generation of parents that fought for high-quality programs starting at age 3," said Gary Molenaar, director of instruction at the Bergen County Special Services District. "Now these kids are aging up through the middle and high school years, and they want the same quality of service."

New classrooms for high school students are opening in Dumont and Rockleigh. In Ridgewood, a middle school dedicated to providing autism services opened this year with 24 students from Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties. Administrators expect it will grow eventually to serve 78 children. In Franklin Lakes, a new class for middle school students will open in September and it already has a waiting list.

Expanding services for older students is a pressing need.

In Bergen County, nearly two-thirds of students with autism were found to be between the ages of 6 and 13 in a 2006 survey of 73 school districts. More than one-third of administrators said they were concerned about having adequate secondary school classes in the future.

"The input is that this is going to be a graph that looks like this," said county Special Services Superintendent Robert Aloia, pointing skyward.

Throughout North Jersey, autism programs have long waiting lists at public and private schools alike. The state has the highest rate of autism recorded in the United States, at one in 94 children, according to a 2006 federal report. There is no clear-cut cause for the increase, though growing awareness is a factor.

The disorder is associated with repetitive, socially inappropriate behaviors and impairs the communication and sensory input skills children need to learn. Individuals with autism are diagnosed by their behavior and usually are described as being "on the spectrum," a reference to their wide range of abilities. Some may never speak. Others may learn to function normally as adults.

As students enter their teenage years, they pose a double challenge for educators.

Schools must continue the rigorous, data-driven behavior modification lessons that have become the gold standard in well- regarded North Jersey programs. But they must do so outside of the controlled classroom environment in order to teach students to use their hard-earned social skills in unpredictable settings.

"You might learn something in school, but have difficulty generalizing that in the community," said Roberta Wohle, director of the Office of Special Education at the state Department of Education. "You want students to have opportunities within the community, in a structured way, to help practice those skills."

At the Washington@Ridgewood program for middle school students run by the county special services district, each day's schedule includes lessons and "errands." One frequent assignment: Place lunch orders for the staff and pick up the food. Students earn a tip for their efforts, and then head to the local drugstore or supermarket to spend the money.

"They practice how to find products, how to ask people questions and how to talk to people who they don't know," said teacher Karen Piasecki. "It's also practice in counting money, and learning to wait for your change."

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Time is of the essence as children approach the end of their elementary school years. Learning is labor- and time-intensive for many students with autism, who lose their entitlements to school and therapy when they turn 21.

"Ten or 11 years might seem like a long time, but truly, it might not be for the individual with autism who requires a lot of repetition to learn skills," said Linda Meyer, executive director of NJ COSAC, an advocacy group. "Your goal in adolescence is to pick what's functional for the individual to learn, so they can be as independent as possible when they graduate."

Kathy Kienz's son Ryan, 13, attends the private Epic school in Paramus. In school, he is learning skills that hopefully will foster independence later in life, such as how to visit a gym. At home in Clifton, he has learned to make his own bed and load the dishwasher.

Kientz, who leads a local support group for parents of adolescents with autism, said she hopes that Ryan's years of schooling will prepare him for life after age 21. But she worries about a persistent dearth of services for a growing group of teenagers and adults with autism.

"We know it's coming," she said. "We know we've already got a population of adults that aren't being served, and we've got one in 94 children being diagnosed in New Jersey. We have some time now to prepare."

Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J. Tuesday, 27 May 2008, 15:00 CDT

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Facts About Autism

Here are some facts about Autism provided by the New England Center for Children:
Autism Spectrum Disorders occur in 1-2 or more of every 500 births and 3-4 times more often in boys.


Autism is a developmental disability thought by scientists to have a genetic origin.


A family that has a biologically related relative with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is much more likely to have a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder than a family without this history.


Autism is the third most common developmental disability following mental retardation and cerebral palsy.


75-80% of persons with Autism also have mental retardation.


Autism is more common than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis or childhood cancer.


Early intensive behavioral intervention has been shown to produce marked changes in the skill deficits and problem behavior associated with Autism.

Below, please find recent facts about Autism compiled from sources including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Autism Society of America.


1 in 250 births

1 to 1.5 million Americans

Fastest-growing developmental disability

10 - 17% annual growth

Growth comparison during the 1990s
- U.S. population increase: 13%
- Disabilities increase: 16%
- Autism increase: 172%


$90 billion annual cost

90% of costs are in adult services

Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention.

A couple say visiting Disney World helps unlock their autistic son's closed world

Linda Shrieves | Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
May 4, 2008

When Sara Miles tells people that she moved from Seattle to Orlando so her son could be close to Disney World, she knows what they're thinking.

That she's crazy.

But most people don't understand what it's like to have an autistic child -- to watch a talking toddler lose his speech and melt into a quiet world that no one else can enter. Most people don't know what it's like to see the doors to all your dreams slam shut.

So when Sara and her ex-husband brought their autistic son, Ben, to Disney World for the first time back in 2002, they were astounded. The boy who threw temper tantrums at the grocery store suddenly seemed quiet, patient and observant. The boy who rarely talked began naming the rides they had been on.

It was the first time that Ben had spoken words that his parents, teachers and speech therapists hadn't coaxed out of him.

"As soon as he set foot in the Magic Kingdom it was like someone turning on a light switch," says Ben's father, Ron Miles. "I know it sounds crazy to move across the country for this, but if it's the key that unlocks his potential, it's worth it."

For five years, Ben, now 14, has been a fixture at the Magic Kingdom. On weekends and school holidays, he can often be found zipping through the crowds at Fantasyland to get to his favorite place: Snow White's Scary Adventures.

Of all the rides at the Magic Kingdom, the Snow White ride captivates Ben the most. He has ridden it 2,084 times -- so many times that the cast members once took photos inside the ride and gave Ben a photo album when the ride temporarily shut down for renovations.

And when Disney cast members learned that Ben was approaching his 2,000th ride last month, they arranged for him to meet Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, an event that included a kiss from Snow White.

Ben's parents aren't entirely sure why Ben loves the Snow White ride so much.

That's one of the many puzzling pieces of autism. Parents don't know why their child becomes attached to a particular toy or activity.

Yet, as the number of children diagnosed with autism grows, researchers are focusing more attention on this complex developmental disability. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, one out of every 160 children has autism and more than 25,000 U.S. children will be diagnosed with autism this year.

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While autistic children and their abilities vary widely, there are some common traits. For instance, autistic children often develop a fixation on one topic or one interest -- and researchers have discovered autistic kids frequently obsess about animated characters. "Thomas the Tank Engine is a big show for kids on the autism spectrum," says Dr. Richmond Mancil, an associate education professor and autism specialist at the University of Central Florida. "These kids don't really have an interest in trains. They don't care about trains, but if it's Thomas, they're interested."

While other autistic kids became focused on things such as Legos and World War II tanks, Ben zeroed in on Disney movies.

Fantasia. Snow White. Beauty and the Beast.

By age 4, he knew how to operate the rewind and forward button on the VCR. He wore out videotapes, listening to sections of movies over and over, especially the section of Snow White in which the evil queen turns into a hag.

By the time Ben was 8, Sara and Ron -- by then divorced, but sharing custody -- decided to take Ben to Disney World. Privately, Sara worried that the vacation might end like most trips to the grocery store: with Ben screaming and crying and Sara uncertain what had set him off.

But when they walked into the Magic Kingdom, Ben's face spread into a huge grin. Then he ran up Main Street, through a sea of tourists, and headed straight for Cinderella Castle.

What astounded Ron and Sara, however, was Ben's speech.

To their surprise, Ben, who rarely spoke, began naming the rides. "The Haunted Mansion," "Snow White," "Pooh."

His behavior was strikingly different, too. He waited patiently in long lines. He was calm and happy. "We had never seen him like that out in public -- not ever," says Sara.

After the trip, Sara and Ron Miles decided that if Ben, their only child, needed to be near Disney World, they would pack up and move. As a teacher, Sara could relocate. Ron's a software developer, so his employer agreed to let him try working remotely from Florida.


Read more...

Specialist enhancing learning experience for county’s autistic students

Jennifer Raley
Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — As the autism specialist for the Allegany County Board of Education, Corrie Humbertson spends her days traveling from classroom to classroom helping teachers implement research-based strategies to enhance the learning experience for students with autism.

Recently, Humbertson, who has more than 30 years of teaching experience, completed the Professional Immersion Training Program at the Center of Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

“It confirmed that a lot of what we are doing is right on target,” said Humbertson, who is in her third year as the first autism specialist hired by the board.

On a daily basis, Humbertson assists with building communication strategies, social dynamics and visual strategies.

“Children with autism are visual learners, so it helps for teachers to include visuals, like showing a picture on the overhead,” said Humbertson. “They also like to have a sense of their day, so it’s good for them to have a schedule in front of them, maybe with some pictures on it.



“My favorite part is being in the classroom with the kids and when I see a teacher get it and take a strategy and build upon it,” said Humbertson. “The teaching staff is so accepting and eager to learn — it really takes a team.”

“With the significant increase of autism, we are very lucky to have someone like Corrie,” said Sheree Witt, special education and student services director for the board.

“The more specialized the autism services are at an early age, the more likely children will be to demonstrate age-appropriate skills later.”

In 1998, approximately four to five children out of 10,000 were diagnosed with autism, and now it is one out of 150 to 160, according to Humbertson.

Read more....

A Program Designed To Protect Children With Autism

(NAPSI)-Raising a child is a challenge. Raising a child with an illness or disability such as autism is a journey with unprecedented struggles along the way.

According to the Autism Society of America (ASA), autism is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that autism affects one in 150 children, with a higher concentration among male children, where one in 94 boys are affected.

Autism Speaks, a nonprofit organization devoted to autism, indicates that autistic children may have impaired communication, social and cognitive skills, very rigid routines and repetitive behaviors.

Since autism affects individual children to unpredictable degrees, there is no textbook method when it comes to caring for an autistic child. The ASA advises parents that it is important to be flexible and open-minded to treatment options, changing paths when need be. Methods for caring for an autistic child should be adapted to the individual child’s strengths, weaknesses and needs.

Parents should create a safe and nurturing environment for their child, assisting the child during difficult times with positive reinforcement.

There are many resources for parents to help them provide care for a child with autism. The ASA can equip parents of newly diagnosed autistic children with the tools and information they need to treat the condition.

Autistic children need to learn how to respond during a medical emergency. Many children are either too young or lack the ability to properly articulate their needs, especially during an urgent medical situation.

“Parents need to ensure that their child’s personal medical information is available in an emergency situation,” says Martin Kabat, Ph.D., president and CEO of MedicAlert Foundation International. “This will give them comfort and peace of mind, knowing that their child’s health will not be endangered due to insufficient information when it is needed most.”

One of the tools available to parents that can help protect autistic children in an emergency is the MedicAlert Kid Smart program.

MedicAlert, a nonprofit foundation, has been managing and communicating critical medical information on behalf of its millions of members since 1956. The MedicAlert Kid Smart program ensures that children’s medical records are immediately available to emergency responders to help with their treatment decisions.

MedicAlert’s 24-hour emergency response personnel also help identify children who are involved in emergencies or lost and notify designated family members and caregivers of the situation.

When enrolled in the program, children are provided with one of MedicAlert’s personalized identification jewelry designed just for children and engraved with a membership number, medical condition(s) and the foundation’s 24-hour toll-free hotline.

Children with autism have the tendency to act on impulse and may wander away from their caretakers, making identification and family notification critical when a child is found.

Robyn Olson, whose son Ryan has autism, recounts that, “Ryan doesn’t comprehend the danger he’s in when he wanders off. We enrolled Ryan in the MedicAlert Kid Smart program after the first time he got lost, which had us worried for hours as to where he might be. Now, with MedicAlert, we know we’re going to be contacted, usually within minutes. That’s a huge comfort to me.”

Parents should take advice from the ASA in remembering that in an emergency situation involving the health of their child, it is important to remain calm. Children have the ability to sense and copy your emotional state. There is no reason to make them worry. It is more beneficial to teach them how to calmly respond to a given situation.

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has joined with MedicAlert to bring about awareness of the Kid Smart program that underscores the importance in the safety and wellness of all children across the country. For more information about autism and other children’s conditions, visit www.medicalert.org/kidsmart.

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Autism affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It’s estimated that it affects one in 150 children.