[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Kathryn Donabedian]

HI
Just wondering if anyone has any coloured storage bins (shelf unit) they don't need anymore. I would like to buy 2 sets and wanted to check here first before going to IKEA.
Thanks
Kathryn

[Super Dad]

I just received this:

***
Pete McMartin of the Vancouver Sun is doing an indepth article on raising children with autism and is looking for families that may be interested in participating. My understanding is that he will follow the family around at certain times to get a better understanding of autism and how it affects the child and the family. It could be over a period of several months. I believe the idea is to help the general public understand autism and the challenges our families have in raising our children. If you are interested in participating, please email Pete at <pmcmartin@png.canwest.com>.
***

I am afraid that unless a FEAT BC family participates, the report will not include the challenges of running a home therapy program while working overtime to pay for the therapy and at the same time suing school boards. The public will not benefit much from reading about a family that does Floor Time once a day.

Tony

[Stephanie Spence]

A big thank you to all of those who responded to my posting, it is truly appreciated. It is nice to know that there is such a great community on this board to help each other out.
I know that no one can make the decision for us but sometimes we over think things and thoughts start to get blurry. It's nice to hear some outside views from other families to help put some things into perspective. I will take all of your stories into mind.

thanks again !
Stephanie

[Monika Lange]

Does anyone have experience with drug treatment for angry outbursts in autistic teens? If so, please email me at mlangedok@hotmail.com
Of course, I will consult the pro's but at this point I'm looking for your experience.

[Diane T]

Just a reminder. . .

Mid-Island ASBC Parent Support Group Meeting
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
7-9 p.m.
SOS Building, 245 W. Hirst Avenue, Parksville

Topic: Microboards

We are pleased welcome Jeanette Holder of the Vela Microboard Association to our February meeting.

In British Columbia, family and friends of a person with challenges may form a non-profit society to organize in a customized manner the services and funding required by their loved one. Microboards are different from Individualized Funding, and may be organized around people who live in the community or at home.

More information about microboards is available at http://www.microboard.org

Please email diane_t @ shaw.ca (without the spaces) if you plan to attend so that we may arrange for seating and refreshments.

Hope to see you there.

Diane

[Dave Collyer]

Hi Stephanie,

This of course is a very personal issue… No one can really tell you what to do or what is right for you. I guess you need to gauge your own "readiness" for another child.

I do want to point out that inspite of the challenges associated with raising a child with ASD there are also many moments of joy and happiness. We have a son with Autism and Down syndrome who is now 5 and half years old. We love him very much and he is a pleasure to be around. Don't get me wrong… he has his moments without doubt and requires more support, supervision and intensive eductional programs then some other children might need… but… he is our son and we offer all that we do out of love. He is going to be a very fine young man one day.

If I were not so old I think we would have more children… and we would love them regardless of genetics… .

Dave.

[Stephanie Spence]

Hello everyone,

My husband and I have a 3 yr old son with autism and are debating whether to have another child. We are finding the decision quite difficult because of the possible risk of reoccurrance and we don't know how our son will progress. Has anyone out there had this experience, willing to share their thoughts and experiences ?
If so, please email gsspence@shaw.ca

Thank you,
Stephanie

[Carmen Chan]

Jersey scientists find a possible key to autism
Sunday, February 18, 2007
BY PEGGY O'CROWLEY
Star-Ledger Staff

A team of New Jersey scientists believes it has found ways to detect biological risk factors for autism through simple urine and blood tests, a discovery that could lead to groundbreaking medical treatment for the neurological disorder.

The team of 16 scientists, mostly drawn from the campuses of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, say their findings, the result of more than two years of study on how the body breaks down fatty acids, could be a breakthrough for what is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the nation, with no known cause or cure.

The UMDNJ researchers say they have found that children with autism are unable to metabolize key fatty acids that help the body fight inflammation that causes damage to the brain and other organs.

"It's an exciting story that's unfolding," said George Lambert, coordinator of the 15-member research team.

The potential treatment, members of the team say, is a kind of "therapeutic cocktail" tailored to each child, which would give them a dose of a "good" fatty acid that they are not able to make on their own. Team member Bernd Spur of UMDNJ-Stratford created the chemical process to replicate one of those good fatty acids.

"The pathway doesn't work (in the body), so we circumvent it," said Spur, a chemist.

Currently, the only way to diagnose autism is by a clinical assessment of symptoms, which include difficulty with communication and social interaction, as well as obsessive behaviors and interests. New Jersey has a high incidence of the disorder, affecting 1 in 94 children in the state, compared with 1 in 150 in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers say that in the future a person's risk for autism could be measured with a simple urine test that would look for high levels of "bad" fat molecules, or a blood test that could reveal genetic problems, including the absence of a key gene, called GSTM1, which is responsible for metabolizing good fats. Many people with autism do not have this gene.

Xue Ming, a neuroscientist and a founding director of the Autism Center at UMNDJ-Newark, discovered that children with autism have higher levels of bad fat molecules in their urine than typical children.

No one understands yet why it is that so many children with autism have such metabolic differences, but Ming suggested it might be caused by an interaction between genes and the environment. It may be that having less of these key fats reduces the body's ability to deal with environmental and metabolic stress.

Since the 1990s, scientists have known about the potential for good fatty acids to treat inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, even asthma and Alzheimer's.

That potential has spurred a frenzy of research into lipids, the fatty compounds that include fatty acids. Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University have confirmed the New Jersey group's findings, said Spur.

At Harvard University, researchers are working on treatments for asthma and periodontal disease, while researchers at Louisiana State University are focusing on stroke.

Team members have been meeting every week for more than two years to discuss the results of their experiments. They include Lambert, a pediatric toxicologist who looks at the impact of the environment on children; Spur, the chemist who replicated the fatty acid in the lab; neurologist William Johnson, who associated the missing gene with autism; and Ming, a neuroscientist who tested for the presence of bad lipids in children.

So far, the scientists have obtained six patents for their research, Lambert said. They soon will meet with the Food and Drug Administration to discuss the requirements for producing and testing their substances, he added.

"Metabolic issues in autism are entirely understudied," said Sophia Colamarino, science director for Cure Autism Now, a major advocacy and research group in Los Angeles. "It's a very exciting area. There is accumulating evidence that would clearly tell me this is where I should look."

The New Jersey scientists are cautious, however, about their preliminary results, and warn families not to expect a miracle cure. Testing on humans, they say, could take a few years.

Meanwhile, the researchers are preparing a preliminary study to begin in September. Lambert hopes to work with 5- to 7-year-olds at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in New Brunswick, a school for children with autism run by Rutgers.

Lambert will be giving the children doses of a good fatty acids to see if they have any noticeable effect on the children's cognitive, social and behavioral states. The study will use a control group of similar students.

"New Jersey is the perfect place to do this," said Lambert, director of the EPA-funded Center for Neurotoxicology. "We have a high incidence (of autism), a long history of activism and a strong community."

[Norm Tailless]

Dear Parents,

This is our first year with therapy and tax time is coming soon. I am wondering if any of the money we spent on diagnosis, therapy, OT, or classes, which was not covered by or went over our funding is tax deductable.

Thanks.

tailatrophy@yahoo.ca

[Joelle and Leighton]

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

For those with an interest in Education, Special Needs Children, Psychology, or any other career involving children:

We are seeking people that would like to join our Team to work with our son, Jordan. Jordan is 12 years old. He really likes the computer and math. He has some difficulty learning. Jordan has high functioning Autism. He is involved in a Treatment Program called Lovaas-Type Applied Behavior Analysis. He’s been in this program for 8 ½ years. If hired, you would be helping Jordan carry on conversations, you would help him with his homework, social skills and help him with other learning deficiencies.

The job of Therapist/Tutor would require a commitment of 6 – 12 hours per week. Each shift would be 2 ½ – 3 hours long. Therefore, you could easily work around your university schedule. Experience working with autistic children would be preferred but is not mandatory. Training will be provided.

Enthusiasm, dedication, reliability and a willingness to learn are required. Energy and a positive attitude is a must.

We’re looking for people that are available to work after school hours and on weekends.
Therapy/Tutor sessions will take place in our home located in East Chilliwack, B.C. A minimum of a one (1) year commitment is required. A current criminal record check will be required. Wages will depend on experience.

Our current Consultant is Catherine (Sharpe) McConnell. We will be transitioning to a new Consultant, Sara White in the next few months.

If interested, please send a copy of your resume by facsimile at the Fax number listed below, or email it to joelle10@shaw.ca

Lovaas Therapy Job Offer

Abbotsford Facsimile: 604-853-5281 ATTN: Leighton

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