Friday, July 31, 2015

More Autism Funding Will Likely Benefit Kids in School

The Governor of the State of Nevada, Brian Sandoval, has passed an initiative last June 2015 that promises $71 million in additional funding in the next two years for the care and rehabilitation programs that benefit children with autism. The funds will be coming from the general fund, with more than $35 million from Medicaid […]

See Full Article Here: More Autism Funding Will Likely Benefit Kids in School

Nail Polish Boys & Trucker Girls: Gender Exploration in Children

It is undeniable that Society draws the line in the gender divide very early on in a child’s life. Children are exposed to an endless stream of reminders from parents, schools and the media of what a boy and what a girl should say, think, do, or be. But actually to a child, pink is […]

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YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AUTISM NEED HELP LANDING JOBS

Some 50,000 individuals with autism turn 18 years old and basically shift from high school to adulthood every year in the United States. The problem is, a lot of these transitioning youth are not getting the support they need from vocational services and their high schools to help them bridge the gap between school and […]

Read More Here: YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AUTISM NEED HELP LANDING JOBS

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Light Across The Spectrum: The Challenges of Autism in Iran

Autism is an unseen disorder that is hard to diagnose and even harder to accept. ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, as the name suggests, is a very broad disorder that can affect individuals in unique ways. Bringing light to this disorder may be a challenging thing to do, since most people would not understand it, until […]

Originally Published Here: Light Across The Spectrum: The Challenges of Autism in Iran

My Dolls, My Playmates

Lily Kongslien recalls her sweet childhood memories of playing with her dolls and letting her imagination run free and just generally enjoying herself as a kid. She wasn’t born into a life of luxuries, but she made the best of whatever she was given. Take for example the way she and her mother made dresses […]

See Full Article Here: My Dolls, My Playmates

Check out Neuroversity, a game that helps people with autism develop career skills

Part of Microsoft’s commitment to help the autism community is having autistic men and women in the company’s full employ for their mathematical and coding skills, patenting a pair of glasses that will detect the emotion of the person being looked at, and being proud partners at the Special Olympic Games. This week, Microsoft employee […]

Post Source Here: Check out Neuroversity, a game that helps people with autism develop career skills

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Camp helps students with autism prepare for college

Entering into college can be an overwhelming prospect for any student who just graduated from high school. But for a group of 11th and 12th graders on the autism spectrum, starting college can be made a lot better by attending a week-long College Success Camp offered by the University of Cincinnati’s Advancement and Transition Services. […]

Read Full Article Here: Camp helps students with autism prepare for college

Researchers Claim ‘Reclassification’ For Spike In Autism Cases In US; Prevalence Pattern Still The Same

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have noticed the sudden rise in the number of autism cases in the US from 2000 to 2010 and are attributing it to a reclassification system aimed at categorizing individuals with intellectual disability as autistic. The number of cases reported under the autism category jumped from 93,624 in 2000 to […]

See More Here: Researchers Claim ‘Reclassification’ For Spike In Autism Cases In US; Prevalence Pattern Still The Same

Boys and Dolls

As with most parents, including some who generally do not believe in gender stereotyping, Joel Troxell wasn’t comfortable with the idea of his son playing with dolls — even the ones that are shaped and dressed in a gender-neutral fashion. If he had his way, his one-year-old son Nathan would have nothing to do with […]

Originally Published Here: Boys and Dolls

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

There’s no good reason to push pink toys on girls

Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Dolls are for girls and cars/trucks are for boys. These are just some of the social conventions that we have that Melissa Hines, a Professor of Psychology (specializing in child gender roles) at the University of Cambridge, wants to challenge. She claims that human development and […]

Read Full Article Here: There’s no good reason to push pink toys on girls

10 Truths About Making Friends When You Have Autism

People sometimes have a tendency to come to quick (and often misguided) conclusions about people with autism. And some of these assumptions can be really hurtful. The media itself plays an important role in the creation and elimination of these stereotypes, depending on how people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are presented to the general […]

Learn More Here: 10 Truths About Making Friends When You Have Autism

Studies show that pets are good social buffers for children with autism

Time and again, highly-trained service dogs have proven to be a good companion for children with autism. But recent studies were published in 2012 where French researchers observed 260 homes with at least one child with ASD, and it showed that introducing pets in general can increase the child’s interactions with other family members because […]

Read More Here: Studies show that pets are good social buffers for children with autism

Friday, July 24, 2015

Boys and Their Toys: Should Little Boys Be Allowed To Play With Dolls?

There’s always a visible line that separates the toys for girls and the toys for boys. Just like how we categorize clothes: Blue for boys, Pink for girls. Toys are one of the earliest signals of gender-discrimination. We may try to deny it, but that’s how things have always been for toys as far back […]

Read Full Article Here: Boys and Their Toys: Should Little Boys Be Allowed To Play With Dolls?

The Autism Epidemic That Can No Longer Be Ignored

The most difficult challenge for a person with autism is the part where he or she can barely communicate with the people around them, this is especially true for children. Michelle Gruba focuses on the prevailing cases of children with autism going missing. In most cases, these children are found dead or sometimes not found […]

Originally Published Here: The Autism Epidemic That Can No Longer Be Ignored

Review examines nutritional issues related to autism spectrum disorder

Knowing about the possible relationship between autism and nutrition could be a big advance in the study of the disorder. Research was completed to focus on the nutritional status of individuals affected with autism and spotting the difference with people who don’t have it. Theoretically, the study supports that perhaps nutritional intake may have a […]

Read Full Article Here: Review examines nutritional issues related to autism spectrum disorder

Thursday, July 23, 2015

VIDEO: Woman with Autism wows with amazing voice

This story is about a young woman who discovers her purpose in life through singing and bringing inspiration with her awe-mazing voice. Annie Titus was diagnosed with autism, but it didn’t stop her from searching for her life’s real meaning. She soon discovers her hidden talent in singing, and what a talent it is! Indeed, […]

See More Here: VIDEO: Woman with Autism wows with amazing voice

Play Place for children with autism is more than a playground

Raising kids with special needs is never an easy task for any parent, but knowing that you are not alone, makes the burden a little lighter than it usually is. An inspiring story of how a mother initiated the creation of a somewhat paradise for children with autism disorders. This play place is not just […]

Learn More Here: Play Place for children with autism is more than a playground

Why can’t a boy play with a doll?

Double standards dictate that it’s perfectly okay for girls to cuddle dolls, and totally unacceptable for boys to even hold one. But when grown up, both genders are expected to be the nurturer of their baby, and we wonder why men know less about maternal care. Author Michelle Yulo wrote her opinion on what she […]

Learn More Here: Why can’t a boy play with a doll?

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Early Autism Intervention Can Affect Kids’ Outcomes, Says Study

Prevention is better than a cure, but in the case of autism in children prevention is yet to be discovered. Perhaps for now early detection and diagnosis is the next best thing. Most cases of autism are diagnosed by the age of 4 years old. But according to research, it can be detected as early […]

Post Source Here: Early Autism Intervention Can Affect Kids’ Outcomes, Says Study

Shriners doing autism study using diet

What if the one answer to autism could be found in some plant that’s not even known to have any effect on the disorder? That’s exactly what they are hoping to find at the Shriners Hospital for Children. A group of dedicated individuals are starting their explorative journey in search for anything meaningful that would […]

Learn More Here: Shriners doing autism study using diet

When kids play across gender lines

When Harrods’ Toy Kingdom in Britain reopened this month, both parents and the kids were in for a big surprise. As the toy store reopens its doors to the public, the 26,000 square-foot store made the eyes of their customers wide with the new look the store had. No more demarcation between the aisles, no […]

Article Source Here: When kids play across gender lines

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Dolls and doll play: A new look at a familiar prop

Most of the time, we see children play with dolls and it is comforting to know that this activity can actually be very beneficial to the child, especially during the early stages of development. At Texas Child Care Quarterly there is an article focusing on the discussion that doll play is essential and even school […]

Article Source Here: Dolls and doll play: A new look at a familiar prop

Madeline Stuart, Model With Down Syndrome, Lands Two New Fashion Campaigns

A brave and beautiful 18-year old girl is diving into the Fashion world, and she is doing it with great style. Her name is Madeline Stuart. She isn’t like any other model we know, and she breaks the mold when it comes to our society’s common standard of models. Maddy has Down’s Syndrome. This is […]

Read Full Article Here: Madeline Stuart, Model With Down Syndrome, Lands Two New Fashion Campaigns

Interview – William Cannata talks about autism awareness training for firefighters

In Canada, everyday heroes like firefighters are given basic training and instructions that aims to educate them about identifying, handling, and understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder and the people who have it. The training was led by Bill Cannata, who is currently the Coordinator of the Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition (ALEC). To find out […]

Article Source Here: Interview – William Cannata talks about autism awareness training for firefighters

Monday, July 20, 2015

Communication breakthrough: Man with autism finds voice through poetry and painting

One of the greatest challenges for people with autism is the difficulty to communicate and relay their thoughts to those who care about them. A man’s life story tells us an inspirational incident when finally his thoughts were allowed to flow out of his mind and conveyed through his works of art. Ryan Tracy’s story […]

Read Full Article Here: Communication breakthrough: Man with autism finds voice through poetry and painting

Banking on Toys and impacting the lives of 48000 children every year

One child’s trash could be another child’s dream treasure. Probably one of the most genuinely touching stories of 2015 is this article, which narrates how a group of selfless individuals have come up with an amazing idea of collecting old toys, refurbishing them, and giving them to children who would need them more. They call […]

Post Source Here: Banking on Toys and impacting the lives of 48000 children every year

Why do girls play with dolls and boys with cars?

It is our obsession with labels and color-codes that made pink the international color symbol for girls, and blue for boys. A great article by Susie O’Brien discusses her observations about the reality of stereotyping and gender-discrimination. In one of her blogs she wrote about the obvious division between “toys for boys” and “toys for […]

Read Full Article Here: Why do girls play with dolls and boys with cars?

Friday, July 17, 2015

Predicting happiness of couples raising children with autism

Parenthood is not an easy task to do, especially for parents of children with autism. Both the pressure and stress levels can be overwhelming with all the challenges their children face everyday; it can even get to the point of affecting the marriage of the couple. A research study entitled “The Power of Positivity: Predictors […]

See Full Article Here: Predicting happiness of couples raising children with autism

Old Town High senior’s efforts to overcome autism, help others paying off

This is a very inspirational story about a young boy from Maine, who has helped raise funds at such a young age, all for the benefit of children who are diagnosed with autism. Connor Archer is on the spectrum himself. He was diagnosed with autism when he was just 3, but it didn’t stop him […]

Learn More Here: Old Town High senior’s efforts to overcome autism, help others paying off

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Why Were Cases Of Autism So Hard To Find Before The 1990s?

Autism has a very vast and diverse coverage, that understanding it is almost, BUT NOT, impossible. In one of Steve Silberman’s TED talks, last March he shares his opinion about ”the forgotten history of autism”; according to him, over the years, it has taken a bit longer than expected for science to get a good […]

Source Here: Why Were Cases Of Autism So Hard To Find Before The 1990s?

An American Ninja for Autism Awareness

Motivation is a vital key for us to succeed in everything we do. In this video clip, a 30-year-old mother-of-two, Amber Holbrook, dared to do some physical challenges in a game show titled “American Ninja”. Her motivation was to spread awareness about autism, and to help others parents become aware that anything is possible, as […]

Post Source Here: An American Ninja for Autism Awareness

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Boys and Dolls: A Father’s Response

It is very refreshing to find a man, more so a father, who defines masculinity in a wider mindset than merely setting boundaries with the toys his child plays with. A father wrote his opinion on an issue that focuses on that of boys playing with dolls. It was indeed an eye-opening commentary. The article […]

Originally Published Here: Boys and Dolls: A Father’s Response

Do Girls Really Prefer Dolls? The Science Behind Gender Preference In Toys

Let’s admit it, upon entering a toys store, we notice the division between the pink-motiffed aisle and the blue/green-motiffed aisle. Yes, gender-discrimination starts as early as childhood, and it even reflects how toys are packaged and how children are expected to choose their toys, based on their gender. Barbies and kitchen playset for girls, while […]

Read More Here: Do Girls Really Prefer Dolls? The Science Behind Gender Preference In Toys

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Sniffing Tests Could Help Diagnose Autism, Say Researchers

Any parent who has a child with autism would do anything to diagnose and treat this lifetime disorder. For now, there is no definitive and reliable way to detect autism in children. Although there are many probable ways to find out if your child has autism or not, there is no “gold standard” that can […]

Original Post Here: Sniffing Tests Could Help Diagnose Autism, Say Researchers

Cooper & the Writing Board

Every child is special, that’s what we should always keep in mind. Whenever we encounter children with Autism, it must follow that we need to treat them like precious Gold. We need to handle them with extra care. Like this story of a young boy named Cooper, who has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Cooper had […]

Source Here: Cooper & the Writing Board

Monday, July 13, 2015

Jordan Nance Overcomes Autism To Form Amazing Awesome Kids Club

An eleven year old boy was recognized as a hero in a local news channels ‘Hero’s Among Us’ segment. Jordan Nance, started a project in his sixth grade class that has turned into a world-wide online club called Amazing Awesome Kids Club. The club now has hundreds of members, and helps kids with self-esteem and […]

Learn More Here: Jordan Nance Overcomes Autism To Form Amazing Awesome Kids Club

Is it no longer OK to buy your daughter a doll?

From one extreme to another – that is one possible way you could describe the reactions to gender-labeling toys. Gender-neutral toy supports around the world are voicing their feelings regarding how child play; in Australia there is the ‘No Gender December’ campaign, in the UK you have ‘Let Toys Be Toys'; and in Sweden you […]

Article Source Here: Is it no longer OK to buy your daughter a doll?

Friday, July 10, 2015

Tattoo Artist Turns Girl’s Leg Braces Into A Pair Of Wicked Awesome Disney Villains

A tattoo artist with a big heart made a little girls day when he custom designed decals for her leg braces. Aaron Guillemette, owner of Up In Flames tattoo shop was approached by Hope Laliberte’s parents Aaron Lebeau and Pamela Laliberte-Lebeau, to create the images they had in mind – two villains from Disney: Ursula […]

See Full Article Here: Tattoo Artist Turns Girl’s Leg Braces Into A Pair Of Wicked Awesome Disney Villains

Honest Thoughts On My Son’s Playing With Girl Toys

Joe DeProspero, a fiction author and humorous parent blogger for parents.com shares in his blog/article his views on “genderizing” children. In his eyes, DeProspero says “genderizing” is something we are all guilty of; from the minute we find out someone we know is expecting we want to know the gender of the baby and buy […]

Read More Here: Honest Thoughts On My Son’s Playing With Girl Toys

Thursday, July 9, 2015

William Wants A Doll; So Why Shouldn’t He Have One

A children’s book published over forty years ago by Charlotte Zolotow, called William’s Doll, has become a symbol for the struggle for equality in children, particularly when it comes to playtime. William’s Doll is about a young boy who desires more then anything else a doll to play with. His father has a hard time […]

Originally Published Here: William Wants A Doll; So Why Shouldn’t He Have One

When Boys Love Barbie

A preschool teacher reminisces about the time he taught a group of children and one little boy in particular, comes to his mind. This little boy every morning would run to the dress up corner and put on a shimmery wedding gown. No one seemed to care, not even when he would dance and sing […]

Source Here: When Boys Love Barbie

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Grumblies, the Fun Socially-Interactive Toys, Use Mobile Apps to Introduce Children to Emotions and Learning

In Seattle, the company responsible for the creation of cute interactive egg-shaped toys called Grumblies, will be launching a $89K Kickstarter campaign in order to bring their invention to the rest of the world. Grumblies are small social robots that interact with children, other Grumblies and applications through mobile devices and tablets. Grumblies have the […]

Original Post Here: Grumblies, the Fun Socially-Interactive Toys, Use Mobile Apps to Introduce Children to Emotions and Learning

Young Women Bear High Risk Of Having Children With Autism

More research indicates that paternal and maternal age play a role when it comes to children born with Autism. Sven Sadin, lead researcher with this new study and with appointments at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, published his findings in Molecular Psychiatry last month of his research of more then five million […]

Read Full Article Here: Young Women Bear High Risk Of Having Children With Autism

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Teachable Moments Are Key Ingredients In Autism Therapy

Fifty-four teachers in the School District of Philadelphia and two professors who specialize in Autism research are joining forces in hopes of offering better training and resources for teachers who care for students with Autism. There is much research that shows that early behavior interventions for children with Autism can help these kids learn new […]

Source Here: Teachable Moments Are Key Ingredients In Autism Therapy

Father Of Boy With Down Syndrome Fired After Asking Co-Workers Not To Use Offensive Language

The family of a man fired from his job at a Chili’s restaurant in Pittsburgh, has taken to social media to protest the firing of Bruce Casper. Crista Miller is defending her boyfriend from a wrongful termination after he was fired complaining to management about other employees using the word ‘retarded’. Crista Miller and Bruce […]

Learn More Here: Father Of Boy With Down Syndrome Fired After Asking Co-Workers Not To Use Offensive Language

Monday, July 6, 2015

Parents Corner: The Letter Your Teenager Can’t Write You

Gretchen Schmelzer, writer and teenager, writes in her commentary blog post what it is like to be a teenager and to experience that challenging time in life without the vocabulary to describe what is going on. In her article, Schmelzer, describes what she is feeling as being on one end of a rope, while her […]

Originally Published Here: Parents Corner: The Letter Your Teenager Can’t Write You

Water safety is a necessity for children with autism

Autistic kids are drawn to water, and if they have not been taught safety measures to practice while around bodies of water, their fascination can become fatal. Going under water is an intriguing idea for kids with Autism – maybe it is the idea of being surrounded by the water, feeling safe while the rest […]

Article Source Here: Water safety is a necessity for children with autism

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Online Therapy Could Revolutionize Treatment For Mental Health Conditions

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been considered the most effective treatment for depression, but unfortunately for many people suffering from the disorder, having the funds needed or means to get to an appointment can be impossible. A new online program called MoodGYM is changing the way people are getting cognitive behavioral therapy, and now many people […]

Originally Published Here: Online Therapy Could Revolutionize Treatment For Mental Health Conditions

9 Best STEM Toys for Kids

Have you heard of STEM toys? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and so STEM toys obviously are referring to the toys kids can play with that pertain to these interests. Many parents are becoming more interested in these toys for their kids, and especially parents of daughters when they learn how unrepresented […]

Original Post Here: 9 Best STEM Toys for Kids

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Shopping for a Girl? Consider Science and Engineering Toys

A group of toy makers led by the company GoldieBlox, and The American Association of University Women are asking that when you go shopping for a girl, to forget the traditional pink dolls and opt for some very cool science and engineering toys. The nice thing too is that mainstream toy manufacturers are getting with […]

Original Post Here: Shopping for a Girl? Consider Science and Engineering Toys

Boys Who Play With Dolls

Growing up in a home where you are a little boy who wants to play with dolls, but are shamed either by friends or family to steer clear of these dolls, often causes boys to grow up with unresolved emotional pain. Jason Michael, a gay man and journalist, and once a little boy who wanted […]

See Full Article Here: Boys Who Play With Dolls

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Should I Let My Son Play With Dolls?

BabyCenter.com has a great section called ‘Mom Answers’, and there you will find some thought provoking questions posed by parents, and you can browse the answers submitted by other parents. One parent of a 17-month-old boy asked what other parents thought of the fact she gave her son a baby doll to play with in […]

Article Source Here: Should I Let My Son Play With Dolls?

The Miracle That Cured My Son’s Autism Was In Our Kitchen

One of the daunting problems with finding a cure for Autism is the fact that in order to find a cure for any disorder, often a cause has to be known first. Parents of Autistic kids are willing to try anything to help their children and families, and one such mother, Susan Levin who’s twelve […]

Article Source Here: The Miracle That Cured My Son’s Autism Was In Our Kitchen