ICare4Autism » Autism Education

Minnesota Reforms Autism Insurance Coverage, Next Step for The Nation?

ICare4Autism — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:05:48 +0000

The Minnesota Legislature has proposed the first bill of 2013 to reform insurance coverage for autism. The health care bill encompassing autism coverage reform was approved by the House of Representatives on Friday and by the Senate on Saturday. It is estimated that the changes would benefit 750,000 Minnesota residents who are insured by state-regulated large group health plans, which will be required to cover speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy for residents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The changes will begin January 2014 and are effective until the insured party turns 18 years of age. Similar reform is being considered in North Carolina, Oregon, and Nebraska.

Minnesota’s success is a step in the right direction, but we still have strides to take in supporting the large subset of our nation’s population living with autism. The insurance coverage accounts for autistic youth, but estimates suggest that 60% of the reported costs related to ASD are in adult services and, due to the rapidly rising occurrence of autism, annual costs are anticipated to reach $200-$400 billion in the next ten years. Individuals with autism, on average, account for $3.2 million over their lifetimes, totaling $60 billion annually.[i] Greater insurance coverage for early intervention strategies for youth with autism will help to alleviate the daunting figures above by making a portion of our population with autism more independent and able to participate in society, but for those whose symptoms prohibit sustainable income or self-reliance, extended support is necessary. With the rate of autism diagnoses rising, we need to create a sustainable system of care. Greater, continued insurance coverage for our adults with autism is a necessary part of that process.

What changes would you like to see with your insurance coverage?

[i] Autism Society estimates based on UK study by Jarbrink K, Knapp M, 2001, London School of Economics: “The economic impact on autism in Britain,” Autism, 5 (1): 7-22; Arch Pediatric Adolescent Med. 2007;161:343-349.

ICare4Autism Conference Autism: An Update on Genetic and Clinical Aspects Convenes Pediatricians For A Critical Dialogue On Autism Intervention

ICare4Autism — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:02:10 +0000

On May 19^th, 2013, The International Center for Autism Research and Education held a conference for pediatricians on “Autism: An update on genetic and clinical aspects,” convening experts in the field of autism for a critical and comprehensive look at the most contemporary findings and practices pertaining to autism spectrum disorder. The conference was held at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in conjunction with The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.

The conference opened the floor for discussion on the various approaches to autism intervention and facilitated international collaboration. Emanuel Tirosh M.D., of the Hannah Khoushy Child Development Center, The Bnai Zion Medical Center, and the Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, addressed the congregation on drug treatment for autism, balancing benefits with expectations, and discussing avenues for progress among pharmaceutical research for autism spectrum disorder. Pediatric Neurologist Michael Davidovitch M.D. of Maccabi Health Services presented expert opinion and strategy for early detection of autism. Tali Gev, Ph.D. presented a critical review of non-medical intervention approaches for autism. Hakon Hakonarson, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Autism Research, The Joseph Stokes Jr. Research Institute, and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, presented novel therapeutic development to aid autism and the most current review of the role of genetics for autism spectrum disorder. Dov Inbar, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at The Albert Einstein School of Medicine, presented epidemiological aspects of autism.

Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A., Founder and CEO of The International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICare4Autism), commenced the conference with a statement on the integral role of pediatrician in the diagnosis and management of autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Weinstein commented on the outcome of the conference saying,

I feel blessed to be among such a diverse group of intellectuals approaching this autism puzzle from every angle. I believe events like this are important intersections for the various avenues of autism research and efforts. I have faith that collaboration and critical review, like we saw here today, will lead us to a complete understanding of the etiology of autism and subsequently able us to better cope with the complexities of the disorder.

Easy At-Home “Sensory-Motor Enrichment Exercises” Proven Advantageous for Autistic Boys

ICare4Autism — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:46:04 +0000

A recent study published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience shows significant effects of in-home sensory-stimulating practices for autistic children. Researchers at University of California, Irvine, followed the behavioral changes of 28 autistic boys, ages 3-12, for six months. The study population was divided into two groups based on age and severity of autism symptoms. All of the boys continued standard behavioral therapy, but 13 of the boys underwent daily “sensory-motor enrichment exercises” designed by the researchers. The exercises were designed to provide multi-sensory stimulation through smell and touch. The parents of the experimental group were given kits containing essential oil fragrances and various materials (smooth foam, aluminum, sponges, sandpaper, carpet, bubble wrap, etc.) and instructed to lead 15-30 minute sessions, twice daily, utilizing a combination of the kit items in at least 4 activities designed by the researchers. The children’s behavior was monitored throughout the six months and after assessment, the researchers concluded that 42 percent of children in the enrichment group showed marked improvements in social behavior and response to sights and sounds, while only 7 percent of the standard therapy group improved in these ways.

These findings hold great promise for the future of early intervention and therapy for autism, because the strategies tested by the researchers at University of California, Irvine are affordable and easy caregivers to implement, and thus sustainable.

“Sensory-motor Enrichment Effective Therapy for Boys with Autism.” UPI. N.p., 19 May 2013. Web. 20 May 2013. .

Special Education Expert Presents Music Education Strategies & Strengths

ICare4Autism — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:06:18 +0000

Special education expert, Stephen Shore Ed.D., held a workshop on music education for children on the autism spectrum this Tuesday at our partner organization Shema Kolainu Hear Our Voices. Shore completed his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University and now teaches at Adelphi University in New York. Having been diagnosed on the autism spectrum and non-verbal until the age of 4, Shore brings a unique perspective to the field of special education. He attributes much of his success to the comprehensive interventions his parents guided and the music education he received from an early age. Subsequently, his approach to education is one of both specialization and inclusion. Shore’s strategies are developed particularly for the varying abilities of autistics, but are applicable for neurotypical education as well, allowing for integrated classrooms. While music is often recognized for it’s therapeutic benefits, Shore’s focus is not therapy, but structured, sustained education. Today’s workshop demonstrated the potential of music education to increase communicative abilities, strengthen neurological development in youth, foster social inclusion, and provide potential career paths for those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Shore charismatically relayed stories of his students’ astonishing talents. One anecdote told of a non-verbal young man who, when guided hand-over-hand while playing piano, sang clear as day. Shore suggests that the structure, support, and focus the student experienced while guided to play the piano enabled him to sing, though he could not speak typically. Drawing from examples of students demonstrating expert knowledge in areas, who are unable to express understanding through certain mediums, Shore makes the case for specialized assessments in education in general, not just for students with developmental disabilities.

Check out Dr. Stephen Shore’s work and many publications at his website: http://www.autismasperger.net/. The workshop, ‘Music for Children on the Autism Spectrum,’ will be streaming soon—stay tuned to see Dr. Stephen Shore speak and receive guided information on how to accommodate your child’s needs and accentuate his/her strengths through music education.

Forbes Features Tech Options For Autism Research

ICare4Autism — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:56:38 +0000

A Forbes featured article earlier this week stresses the ‘I’ in Autism—making the case that healthcare technology needs to be more accessible for the individual. Forbes writer Luis Bridgman suggests tech strategies to aid caregivers at home and on the go, streamline communication between caregivers and healthcare professionals, and ultimately advance research by enabling families to maintain personal data that is accessible for researchers. The idea: a comprehensive cloud. Bridgman proposes a communication cloud whereby medical professionals make information readily available and concise for caregivers and caregivers maintain detailed observations to be translated to researcher data. This mutually beneficial dream requires interdisciplinary cooperation to become a reality. Bridgman’s dream is very much like ICare4Autism’s initiative ICAP—International Computer Analysis Program for Autism—a meta-database operating in real-time to provide families and caregivers rapid access to medical, educational, and therapeutic resources. Our ICAP initiative is launching soon. Check out our Global Autism Center and other initiatives on our site and share your opinions on healthcare information and communication here!

To read the Forbes article, visit: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2013/04/09/3-ways-technology-can-make-a-dent-in-autism-research/

Study Shows Kids With Autism Prefer Practical Over Silly

ICare4Autism — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:29:36 +0000

A study published today in the Journal of Current Biology reveals nuance in autistic social divergence, showing that children with autism tend toward practical procedure and efficiency, avoiding unnecessary or “silly” behavior that other children enact in social compliance. The study, conducted by Antonia Hamilton of The University of Nottingham in England, was a monkey-see-monkey-do scenario where 30 children with typical development and 30 children with autism spectrum disorder were all asked to watch an adult remove a toy from a container and then do so themselves. The adult played with the container before removing the toy, but did not instruct the children to follow the same steps. Still, 43-57% of the typically developing children copied the presenter’s silly steps before taking the toy from the container, compared to only 22% of the children with ASD. Overwhelmingly, the children with ASD efficiently removed the toy from the container as the typically developing children tapped and shook away. Hamilton explains the findings in an article for Health News Daily saying, “The data suggests that children with autism do things efficiently rather than socially.” Further, she suggests that typically developing children have a strong desire to fit in, which children with ASD lack.

This study has significance for developing necessary discrepancies in education strategies for children with ASD and furthering understanding that autism does not have to be disabling. Share your opinion below! Check out ICare4Autism’s global initiatives and stay tuned for breaking news on the autism front.

To read more, visit:

http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/3705-autism-copy-silly-behaviors.html

Gaze Shifting Delay May Help Diagnose Autism in Early Infancy

ICare4Autism — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:38:22 +0000

At 7 months old, children who are later diagnosed with autism take a split second longer to shift their gaze, as compared with typically developing children of the same age. Researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health measured a 25 to 50 millisecond difference when measuring eye movements and visual attention—too brief a time period to be observed through social interactions with the infant.

The delay could be attributed to differences in the structure and organization of developing neurological circuits in the child’s brain. Effectively shifting attention in infancy is considered to be an important factor in later social and cognitive development. These brief delays could precede later symptoms of autism such as difficulty making eye contact or following an adult’s pointing finger. These problems typically surface after a child turns 1, and autism is generally not diagnosed until after 3 or 4 years of age.

The study, which appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry, links differences in reaction times to differences in the developing brain, which in turn may influence the way babies absorb and respond to their environment in more pronounced ways over time. The brain’s channels for communication are forming rapidly in early infancy, and slight differences at this age could offer a window into future problems at a later age.

To gauge shifts in visual attention and gaze, the researchers used eye tracking equipment to mark the exact timing of eye movements. Infants sat on their parent’s laps and watched images appear on a computer monitor. In one part of the test, an image would appear in the center of the screen to attract the infant’s gaze, and would then disappear. After a brief delay, another image would appear at the edge of the screen.

The research is part of the ongoing Infant Brain Imaging Study, which is supported through the NICHD’s Autism Centers of Excellence Program.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258189.php

Autistic Children Have Neural Communication Problems in Earliest Stages of Brain Development

ICare4Autism — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:49:31 +0000

A new study on patterns of brain communication in toddlers with autism demonstrates problems with neural communication even at this early stage of brain development, according to an article in Brain Connectivity, a bimonthly peer-reviewed journal.

A team of researchers from The Netherlands (University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, and VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam) compared electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from young children with and without autism. The researchers assessed patterns of communication between different functional neural networks in the brain that facilitate the processing and integration of information.

In the article, “Disrupted Functional Brain Networks in Autistic Toddlers,” pronounced differences in the communications patterns are described, specifically in areas such as path length and clustering.

The new finding is significant in aiding researcher’s understanding of abnormal brain development in autistic children, and supports the assertion that autism is a disorder of connectivity. The article, which shows evidence of reduced brain connectivity and a lower capacity for neural communication, will augment existing research on the subject.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258100.php

Older Fathers May Heighten Autism Risk for Grandkids

ICare4Autism — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:32:26 +0000

Men that have children at an older age may put their grandchildren at a higher risk of having autism, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry this week. The study maintains that risk factors for autism may increase over several generations, with a father and grandfather’s lifestyle choices wielding a direct impact on future generations.

Previous research suggested that an older paternal age could predispose children to autism— this development goes a step further, suggesting risk factors can be established earlier in the genetic line.

The report states that men who had a daughter when they were 50 or older were 1.79 times more likely to have a grandchild with autism than a man who had a child when he was 20 to 24 years old. Men who had a son at 50 or later were 1.67 times more likely to have a grandchild with autism.

Doctors stress that these findings should not cause excessive alarm, as the study was not conclusive in proving advanced age leads to autistic children. While doctors point to a statistically significant increase in cases of autism with older grandparents, it is emphasized that autism was highly infrequent even in families with the oldest grandparents.

This study follows on the heels of an earlier report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stating that 1 in 50 school-children are diagnosed with autism, a dramatic increase from prior years.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57575687/older-fathers-may-increase-autism-risk-for-grandkids/

ICare4Autism and the Republic of Panama Collaboration

ICare4Autism — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:46:58 +0000

Dr. Joshua Weinstein and the First Lady of Panama at Centro Ann Sullivan de Panama (CASPAN)

The First Lady of the Republic of Panama, Marta Martinelli de Linares, opened the first education center in the country for people with different abilities in May 2012, Centro Ann Sullivan de Panama (CASPAN). The center was built after the model established by Dr. Liliana Mayo, Ph.D., who founded the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru (CASP), in 1979 with great success. The center provides development of practices and successful experiences that help promote the success of full inclusion into society for people with different abilities.

Dr. Joshua Weinstein, Founder & CEO of ICare4Autism, visited the newly established CASPAN center as a guest of the First Lady. Dr. Weinstein toured the beautiful campus and was introduced to some of the centers practices, staff and children. In their visit, they discussed a planned ICare4Autism Autism Pediatrics Conference in Panama for April. Dr. Weinstein offered to help provide staff training and workshops at their center. ICare4Autism and the Republic of Panama are continuing their global awareness and collaboration. Working together continuously will lead to breakthroughs in research and care. ICare4Autism and the Republic of Panama have similar goals. They both want to create opportunities and growth for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Working together will help them realize that goal.