By Mary Ellen Bogucki For a long time we didn’t travel or take vacations. From a very young age, my daughter, Bree hated car rides. The minute the car started moving, she would cry. It took us years before we learned she had Autism and sensory issues. Her vestibular sense was affected and movement was a problem for her. The biggest mistake we made was when we decided to stop at a waterpark on our […]
Everyone has some memory that continues to thrill us years later: our first real friend, the first time we went on a date, the time we received an award at work. These memories are sweet and they have a direct impact on our confidence. Human beings derive not just pleasure but also self-respect, a sense of dignity, and a sense of meaning from succeeding socially. Almost always in my line of work as an autism […]
by Amanda Heller I know that sounds crazy, who in the world would want PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, much less look forward to it? I am not making light of such a struggle. I learned first hand how bad living with PTSD was after significant trauma years ago. I actually thought I had it again when dealing with my daughter’s complex medical problems, but I realize I was wrong. PTSD is serious and debilitating but […]
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $22.2 million in supplemental funding to bolster support for Down syndrome research ranging from basic to clinical. The investment is part of the INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down SyndromE) project, which was launched in June 2018 in response to a Congressional directive to develop a new trans-NIH initiative to investigate critical health and quality-of-life needs for individuals with Down syndrome. With these […]
As the number of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in secondary school settings grows, many educators are not prepared to adapt their instruction to meet state standards and the diverse needs of the full spectrum of adolescents with ASD. Yet, academic achievement in high school plays a critical role in students’ future education and career outcomes. In addition, greater demand for a technologically advanced workforce makes academic skills more essential for high school graduates. […]
