ICare4Autism » Autism Causes

Major Stores to Donate Portion of Your Shopping to Icare4autism

Ruth Amber Gristak — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:30:33 +0000

J. REED/FLICKR

Becoming an autism advocate has never been easier. Thanks to the availability of modern technology, we can not only shop from the comfort of our home, we can contribute to a noble cause, while shopping from the comfort of our own home.

Use the following code and help Icare4autism, by shopping at Major retailers. These retailers include Target, Sears, Staples, Barnes and Noble, Fannie May Candies, Figi Water, Avon, Bealls Department Stores, Bloomingdale’s, Finger Hut, JcPenny and more!

To help Icare4autism, while shopping for your daily must-have’s please use the following code.

http://www.causes.com/shopping?cause_id=208996

Q. How do I use the code?

A. Copy the code and place it in your URL. A page will come up that says “Shop for a Cause.” There will be a list of different retailers and places that will give a percentage of the money that you spend shopping ONLINE to Icare4autism.

Q. How do they know I support and want them to donate a percentage to Icare4autism?

A. Within the link is a “cause i.d.” code. This number for Icare4autism is 208996. So, as long as you are shopping by use of that “Shop for a Cause” website, as your first stop on your ONLINE shopping trip, then your purchase will register.

730,000 Have Autism: The Truth About Autism’s Rise

Rachel Forshee — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:22:20 +0000

The CDC estimates that 730,000 people in the United States have autism (Photo by: Gabriella Fabbri/Flickr)

Looking back at the late 2009 study that was published in Pediatrics magazine (published online October 5, 2009) it is hard to know that the alarming numbers from 5-months ago haven’t gotten any better.

That particular study states that the prevalence of Autism Spectral Disorders (ASD) is now one in 91 U.S. children – and one in 58 boys. This study was one of the first times that this number (1 in 91) was released and was much higher than the most recently quoted rate of one in 150 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That is up from one in 1,500 in the early 1990s. Since then, the CDC has changed its web-stat’s on the number of individuals affected by autism to be 1 in 110. The CDC also has posted that it estimates 730,000 cases of autism in the United States.

The CDC also has posted that it estimates 730,000 cases of autism in the United States.

So, it is no wonder that people, especially parents, are worried about this apparent epidemic. So the question goes to ask, who could dispute such harrowing statistics?

Well, last year the staff at the Children’s Hospital of Boston published an article questioning whether our fear is truly well-placed.

“The first thing to remember is that, although we do our best, it can be really difficult for researchers to get good autism numbers,” said Ellen Hanson, PhD, of the Hospital’s Developmental Medicine Center.

“Previous studies looking at this issue have used differing criteria for deciding who has an ASD… In contrast, the study in Pediatrics used parent or guardian reports and got a much higher rate of diagnosis. This isn’t because the parents were inaccurate, but rather that they could report a diagnosis …using any set of rules or criteria.”

She went on to say that as awareness about the disorders increases, people tend to get diagnosed much earlier, adding to the pool of people who have the diagnosis at any given time. At the same time, she did say that there is an actual increase in autism, though what the percentage increase may be is anyone’s guess.

Should we fear the numbers on the prevalence of autism?

“Certainly there is an increase in prevalence,” said Hanson. “Why this is so remains a big mystery. Whether it’s one in 150 or one in 91, ASDs are a huge public health problem, and we need answers quickly.”

ICARE, EXCLUSIVE: Chile’s Earthquake Shakes Autism Community

Ruth Amber Gristak — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:53:57 +0000

I have received the official statements made by United States President Barrack Obama, and Chile President Michelle Bachelet on the earthquake in Chile. However, at this time no statement has been made pertaining to the welfare of the children with autism that reside in the areas affected. I am greatly concerned for the well being of all children with special needs in that area.

Image is Courtesy of the New York Times

According to an Official Statement, made by the White House, President Obama spoke with President Michelle Bachelet to express his condolences for the losses Chile suffered as a result of the tragic earthquake. The President commended President Bachelet for the Chilean government’s response to the disaster and recognized Chile’s capacity and expertise in responding to earthquakes.

Mr. Joshua Weinstein, Founder and President of the International Center for Autism Research and Education, (Icare4autism) gave made an anticipated statement to the press.

“My heart goes out to all the Chile residents who endured the quake and are left picking up the pieces,” said Weinstein.

Obama later reiterated that the United States stands ready to assist the Chilean government’s rescue and recovery efforts. President Bachelet thanked President Obama for his call, and said that she would be in touch should Chile require any support.

Following this statement, I received further notification that President Obama would soon make another announcement.

“The United States stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, and we have resources that are positioned to deploy should the Chilean government ask for our help,” said Obama.

According to multiple reports, from creditable sources, the areas in Chile affected by the earthquake include: Santiago, Rancagua, Talca, Dichato, The Valparaiso Region (Main Seaport), Juan Fernández Islands and Concepción. Concepcion is home to the University of Concepcion (Universidad de Concepción). This University is home of much research. This university also has a department that includes matters of autism. This is learned through the Alasbinmn Journal. To view the journal, CLICK HERE.

According to the New York Times- online, there was at least 31 people were killed in Concepcion (the Bio-Bio region). The online report also reported that a major bridge was destroyed and several buildings collapsed, including one where 60 people are reported missing. The NY Times also estimated that sixty thousand were affected in the city and said that tsunami waves hit nearby city of Talcahuano.

As an International Center for Autism Research & Education, reporters here at Icare4autism, will be continuing to report on this devastating series of events. Please continue to check back to the official website www.icare4autism.org.

According to www.earthquake.usgs.gov these are the most recent earthquakes in Chile.

Time Magnitude Location

7:15am EST 6.1 Maule, Chile (Map)

2/27/10 6.9 Off the coast of Bio-Bio, Chile (Map)

2/27/10 8.8 Offshore Maule, Chile

If you would like to attend a fund-raising event for “Global Autism Initiative,” please CLICK HERE to view upcoming events in your area.

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Four of mother’s five children have special educational needs

Ricky Goldstein — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:24:36 +0000

The Autism News | English By The Bolton News DEALING with one child who has autism or learning difficulties can be difficult enough. So the challenges faced by Yvette Thibault on a daily basis are almost too tough to imagine. The single mum, aged 37, has five children — and four of them have special educational needs.

See original here:
Four of mother’s five children have special educational needs

Young writer gives insight into being autistic

Ricky Goldstein — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:05:48 +0000

The Autism News | English Blaze Ginsberg, Carmel Valley resident and author.

Read the original here:
Young writer gives insight into being autistic

Scientists Reaching Consensus On How Brain Processes Speech

Ricky Goldstein — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:18:01 +0000

How the Brain Processes Speech

From ScienceDaily, Neuroscientists feel they are much closer to an accepted unified theory about how the brain processes speech and language, according to a scientist at Georgetown University Medical Center who first laid the concepts a decade ago and who has now published a review article confirming the theory.

In the June issue of Nature Neuroscience, the investigator, Josef Rauschecker, PhD, and his co-author, Sophie Scott, PhD, a neuroscientist at University College, London, say that both human and non-human primate studies have confirmed that speech, one important facet of language, is processed in the brain along two parallel pathways, each of which run from lower- to higher-functioning neural regions.

These pathways are dubbed the “what” and “where” streams and are roughly analogous to how the brain processes sight, but are located in different regions, says Rauschecker, a professor in the department of physiology and biophysics and a member of the Georgetown Institute for Cognitive and Computational Sciences.

To view full article, click here.

Scientists Find Genetic Clues to How Autism Can Develop

Ricky Goldstein — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:57:33 +0000

Scientists Find Genetic Clues to Autism

From guardian.co.uk, Scientists have found the first substantial evidence that autism may be caused by genetic differences that damage the connections in the brain in early childhood. Three studies have identified genetic variations which may help explain the origins of the condition, including one that could account for as many as 15% of autism cases.

The researchers believe the findings could help the process of identifying people with an autistic spectrum disorder, improve medical treatments, and potentially lead to diagnostic tests for the condition. About 500,000 people in Britain are autistic, including some 133,500 children, according to the National Autistic Society (NAS), which campaigns on their behalf. People with autism have difficulty relating to those around them and often have higher than usual rates of mental illness, unemployment and social exclusion.

Continue reading “Scientists Find Genetic Clues to How Autism Can Develop”>>

Autism in California Increases Twelvefold

Ricky Goldstein — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:40:57 +0000

California Autism Cases Increase

From the Contra Costa Times, May 7–California saw a twelvefold increase during the past two decades in the number of autistic people who are receiving services through regional centers, a new state study reveals. The dramatic rise in autism has broad implications for California families, taxpayers and social service agencies. “This is a shocking recognition of the challenges we face, today and into the future,” said Rick Rollens, the father of an autistic child and a co-founder of the Medical Investigation of Neurological Disorders Institute at UC Davis.

From 1987 to 2007, the number of children and adults with autism served by regional centers rose from 2,701 to 34,656, notes a study released this week by the state Department of Developmental Services. That is a nearly 1,200 percent increase. By contrast, the state’s general population grew by 27 percent during that time frame. Other disabilities saw much smaller growth rates. Regional center clients with mental retardation increased by 95 percent, cerebral palsy by 73 percent, and epilepsy by 66 percent.

Continue reading “Autism in California Increases Twelvefold”>>

Studies Find Evidence of Novel Genes in ASD

Ricky Goldstein — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:16:35 +0000

Evidence of Novel Genes in ASD

Eli Hatchwell MD PhD, Director of the Genomics Core Facility and Associate Professor in Pathology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, NY is heading up the genetic component of iCARE4autism’s International Autism Conference in Jerusalem in February, 2010. He just released the following report on new studies indicating evidence of novel genes in ASD.

In two articles published in Nature in April 2009, researchers from the Center for Applied Genomics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia report novel genetic findings in ASD.

In the first paper, a search was conducted for common variants that might predispose to ASD in all affected individuals, while the second paper focused on the presence of rare genetic changes, confined to those with ASD.

To continue reading this article, click here.

Brain Rhythms Required for Function

Ricky Goldstein — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:09:03 +0000

Brain Rhythm

Stanford University researchers suggest that in order for brain cells to function properly they need to follow a specific rhythm. For those with autism, the precise tuning of oscillation frequencies of specific neurons appear different than those without the disorder. These neurons affect how the brain processes information and implements feelings of reward.