QSAC Blog

Do We Hear “Four?”

2012-05-11T11:08:00.003-04:00

After years of people asking us to bring back QSAC’s charity golf tournament, we’ve decided that 2012 is the year! We are in the early stages of planning this year’s golf outing for this fall and would love to have you involved. If you’re interested in volunteering, serving on the planning committee, organizing a foursome, or sponsoring this year’s tournament, please contact Joseph Amodeo at (212) 244-5560, ext. 2016 or jamodeo@qsac.com.

QSAC Program Participants Celebrate Success

2012-05-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

On the night of April 23, four of QSAC’s consumers - Parsram, Brian, Kyle, and Spiridon - were presented with awards from the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities for successfully overcoming challenges and for making outstanding gains in the programs they attend. Lisa Veglia, Deputy Executive Director of QSAC said, “on behalf of everyone at QSAC and the Board of Directors, I congratulate our consumers for their hard work and inspiration. They remind all of us why QSAC’s mission is so important.”

Brandon Learns to Ride a Bike

2012-04-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

Brandon pedals for the first time.

Most nineteen year old teenagers have the freedom to go to the park and enjoy riding a bike on a nice spring day. They do so without appreciating that they have the coordination and skills to ride without any difficulty.

Brandon is a nineteen year old teenager who worked very hard to learn how to ride a bike. After a long period of time working on different skills to increase his coordination and balance, this Spring he and his community habilitation specialist (CHS) Robert, decided to put to test all those hours of hard work and go out and ride a bike. As a responsible bike rider, Brandon had his helmet ready and he walked to the sidewalk ready to start. His CHS, on a bike next to him, encouraged him to “give it a try.”

To Brandon’s surprise starting wasn’t that easy. He pushed forward slowly trying to make the bike go straight but not without losing control and stopping. “You have to pedal to keep it going Brandon”said Robert. “Give it another try.” This time Brandon pedaled, and to his surprise he began to move forward. He now had to focus on his direction, and the swirling of the front of the bike began to stop and Brandon was now in control, riding straight, next to his CHS. Brandon became challenged by a new problem:stopping. The CHS told Brandon that they needed to stop, first by slowing down, and then putting one foot on the ground. As Brandon began to stop the front of the bike began to swirl. Finally Brandon touched the ground with his right foot and brought the bike to a complete stop. Again the CHS instructed him to do it over and they repeated this a couple of times, each time Brandon gained more confidence and became a better bicycle rider.

Submitted by Jose Rivera

Hundreds Gather to Learn More About Autism

2012-04-21T11:10:00.000-04:00

QSAC’s annual autism conference was a huge success. On Thursday, April 19, more than 200 people gathered for a day-long agenda of workshops on a variety of topics.

Conference workshops included an introduction to autism, language and communication, increasing independence, feeding challenges and a special series on adolescent sexuality. QSAC’s Executive Director, Gary Maffei, MPA, said “QSAC’s annual conference offers parents of children with autism and professionals serving the community with workshops aimed at expanding our communal understanding of timely topics related to autism.”

The conference was made possible with support from the New York City Council as well as our generous sponsors – Astoria Federal Savings, MedClaims Liaison, and the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

Autism and Infectious Behaviors

2012-04-16T10:07:00.008-04:00

According to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring, an active surveillance system network that estimates the prevalence of ASDs from 14 sites in the USA, the overall prevalence of ASDs during 2008 was 1 in 88 children. Their data suggest that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder between 2000 to 2008 has been increasing (see table). This increase could be an indication that autism awareness and access to services have somewhat improved, but also attests to the need for more programs serving this population.

Dr. Paul Patterson in his new book, Infectious Behavior: Brain-Immune Connections in Autism, Schizophrenia, and Depression (2011) tries to elucidate this trend in prevalence and decode some of the multiple hypotheses on the etiology of Autism Spectrum disorders. In addition to the behavior symptoms and genetic components in autism, Dr. Patterson studies the role of the neuro-immune system abnormalities and interactions, fetal testosterone levels and the maternal infection risk factor. The notion that maternal infection constitutes a risk factor of development of autism has been supported by Dr. Stell Chase, which reported the first incidence of autistic features in 1964. According to Dr. Patterson, the autistic features outcome may be more frequent if infections occur early in the first trimester. It has been reported in the literature that the timing of infections is critical for fetal brain development, which may lead to adverse postnatal behavioral outcomes (Pardo & Eberhart, 2007).

Several studies have linked Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with maternal viral, bacterial, and protozoan infections, which are hypothesized to evoke an immune response in the pregnant women that may predispose her offspring to autism. Another hypothesis is that elevated testosterone may impact fetal brain development that may lead to autistic traits and gender bias. This hypothesis supports the fact that prevalence is highest in males than females. There is much that we have yet to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder, and it’s reassuring that the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011was extended to further our research on this important disorder.

Early Intervention Staff 'Illuminate the Unisphere' for Autism Awareness

2012-04-09T09:57:00.003-04:00

QSAC'S Early Intervention Staff participated in the 1st Annual Autism Awareness event, "Illuminate the Unisphere in Pink and Blue for Autism Awareness Month." Despite the gloomy weather, many children with autism, their friends and family came to raise awareness and support for autism.

QSAC had arts and crafts activities, performed a puppet show on acceptance and led story-time.

All in all, it was a great event. With the new official estimate of autism prevalence among children in the United States increased to 1 in 88 many advocates are encouraging April to be re-named Autism Acceptance Month.

Autism: A Unique Perspective

2012-04-03T17:08:00.005-04:00

Carly Fleischmann has severe autism and is unable to speak a word. After years of expensive and intensive therapy, this 14-year-old has made an amazing breakthrough. Carly began using her computer to communicate to those around her and in doing so shared her unique experience of autism. Carly was able to state with clarity what it felt like to be in her body, why she made odd noises or why she hit herself. "It feels like my legs are on fire and a million ants are crawling up my arms," Carly said through the computer. She continued to state that hitting herself and banging her head helped her tune out the overwhelming sensory input she experienced on a daily basis.

Carly had another message for people who don't understand autism."Autism is hard because you want to act one way, but you can't always do that. It's sad that sometimes people don't know that sometimes I can't stop myself and they get mad at me. If I could tell people one thing about autism it would be that I don't want to be this way. But I am, so don't be mad. Be understanding."

Check out the following video of Carly for a unique perspective on autism that will surely change your perspective on this neurological disorder.

Infographic: 1 in 88 Children Diagnosed with Autism (1 in 54 Boys)

2012-03-29T17:45:00.002-04:00

According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of children with autism in the United States continues to increase. The latest data suggests that 1 in 88 American children (1 in 54 boys) has some form of autism spectrum disorder. This marks a 78% increase in diagnoses over the past decade.

In 2000, the diagnosis rate was estimated to be 1 in 150 children. Two years later, an average of 1 in 125 eight-year-olds was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. In 2006, the number rose to 1 in 110 children (1 in 70 boys).

Source: CNN

People First Waiver Briefings Announced

2012-03-28T16:08:00.000-04:00

The 1115 Waiver Unit has announced, as part of their ongoing commitment to keeping the public engaged in the development of our many reform initiatives, that they will conduct another series of public briefings on the People First Waiver, a critical initiative to strengthen the quality of services throughout the system.

The briefings are scheduled for Buffalo, Hauppauge, Schenectady, Syracuse, Rochester, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. To date, more than 75 public presentations on the waiver have occurred. OPWDD recognizes that some are new to the waiver development, so in addition to the briefings, they will soon begin introductory presentations in all regions to help those stakeholders join the discussion.

To reserve a seat at one of the upcoming presentations, please visit the OPWDD web site. OPWDD will be recording the presentation and distributing it system wide to assist those unable to attend in person. Everyone is encouraged to visit the dedicated waiver homepage or the OPWDD YouTube page for regular updates about the waiver. Attendees may also register for an event with the corresponding regional OPWDD waiver liaison—contact information is online.

The briefing schedule is as follows:

April 3, 10 AM: Buffalo (181 Lincoln Avenue, Depew)

April 5, 1 PM: Hauppauge (415-A Oser Avenue)

April 5, 2 PM: Schenectady (500 Balltown Road)

April 11, 1 PM: Syracuse (5885 East Circle Drive, Cicero)

April 17, 1 PM: Rochester (The Strong – One Manhattan Square)

April 19, 1:30 PM: Brooklyn (Gymnasium – 888 Fountain Avenue)

April 19, 10 AM: Bronx (1301 Morris Park Avenue)

OPWDD’s Facebook page is also a great place for individuals, family members, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders to exchange thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to join the conversation. The OPWDD YouTube channel also has useful information relating to development of the 1115 waiver, and other reforms and initiatives.

Wall Street Joins QSAC to Combat Autism

2012-03-28T14:05:00.000-04:00

Duncan Niederauer

The CEO of NYSE Euronext, a board member of Autism Speaks, a major pharmaceutical company, and companies representing the financial services sector will join together to increase autism awareness at our upcoming benefit being held under the 59th St Bridge.

QSAC will honor Alison and Duncan Niederauer and Pfizer, Inc. at its annual gala on Tuesday, June 12, 2012. The gala will be held at Guastavino’s (409 E 59th Street) beginning with a VIP reception at 6:30pm. The honorary co-chairs for this year’s gala are The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand and The Honorable Charles E. Schumer.

Alison Niederauer

Duncan Niederauer is the CEO of NYSE Euronext and Alison Niederauer is a lawyer and member of the board of Autism Speaks. The Niederauers will be honored for their commitment and service to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families with QSAC’s Philanthropic Leadership Award.

QSAC will also honor Pfizer, Inc. with its Corporate Leadership Award. Pfizer will be recognized for its Autism Research Effort, which is working to identify new treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dr. Nicholas Brandon, Head of Pfizer’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Disorders Research Group, will accept the award on behalf of the corporation.

The gala will also celebrate Gary Maffei’s twentieth anniversary as QSAC’s executive director.

“QSAC is thrilled to be honoring such a distinguished group of honorees at our gala this June. Each of the honorees has mobilized the greater community to help meet the needs of the autism community. By recognizing their contributions to society, we’re confident they will serve as an inspiration for the families we serve,” said Yvette Watts, President of QSAC’s Board of Directors.

Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available for the event. To learn more, visit the gala’s website at: www .qsac .com /fittingtogether. Current sponsors include NYSE Euronext, Knight, Stuart Frankel & Co., Enterprise, USI Insurance, Astoria Federal Savings, DAS Trader, and Quontic Bank.

Lighting the Unisphere for Autism Awareness!

2012-03-27T23:17:00.002-04:00

Are you ready to light it up blue and pink for Autism Awareness Day?

Join QSAC and other area organizations at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens this Sunday, April 1, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm to light up the Unisphere in pink and blue for Autism Awareness Day. The event will feature activities for children and adults as well as informational booths hosted by local organizations.

Be sure and stop by the QSAC booth to learn more about our programs and services for the autism community. QSAC will also host a story time and other activities for attendees. The event will culminate to the lighting of the Unisphere at 6:30pm featuring elected officials and leaders from throughout New York City.

4:00pm to 6:30pm - Activities for Children and Tables of Understanding
6:30pm to 8:00pm - Illuminating the Unisphere and Closing Ceremony

We hope you'll be able to join us as together we work to raise autism awareness in our community!

Go Clean Your Room!

2012-03-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Photo by boltron-

It's spring time in our fair city, and the opportunity to take advantage of the season of change within our own "mini cities". Classrooms, work stations, offices or your own home! Clean out your spaces, clean your places, organize your environments!!! Let spring be your time for change. Let these upcoming weeks be a chance for you to take the time to focus the spaces around you.

So, why is this on a clinical blog post?

Accessibility Out of the Box: iOS Apps for Children with Autism

2012-03-21T15:53:00.000-04:00

Last month, the SOHO Apple Store hosted Accessibility Out of the Box: Apps for Autistic Children, a special presentation in which attendees learned about how Apple iOS products offer accessibility to those on the autism spectrum. Here is a list of some of the standout apps discussed at the presentation:

Autism Apps by Touch Autism
iPhone/iPodTouch/iPad (Free)

A simple but comprehensive directory of apps that are being used with and by people diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome and other special needs. It also includes links to any available information that can be found for each app.

Question Builder
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($5.99)

Designed to help elementary aged children learn to answer abstract questions and create responses based on inference. Extensive use of audio clips promotes improved auditory processing for special needs children with autism spectrum disorders or sensory processing disorders.

Conversation Builder
iPad ($9.99)

From the maker of Question Builder, ConversationBuilder is designed to help elementary aged children learn how to have multi-exchange conversations with their peers in a variety of social settings. The auditory pattern of conversation is presented in a visual format to help students recognize and master the flow of conversation. Students will learn when it is appropriate to introduce themselves, ask questions, make observations and change the subject of the conversation.

Sentence Builder
iPad ($5.99)

Designed to help elementary aged children learn how to build grammatically correct sentences. Explicit attention is paid to the connector words that make up over 80% of the english language. Sentence Builder offers a rich and fun environment for improving the grammar of all children.

Story Builder
iPad ($7.99)

Designed to help children accomplish the following educational goals: 1) Improve paragraph formation; 2) Improve integration of ideas; and 3) Improve higher level abstractions by inference. Extensive use of audio clips promotes improved auditory processing for special needs children with autism spectrum disorders or sensory processing disorders.

YesNo
iPhone/iPod Touch ($1.99), iPad ($3.99)

Provides an easy to use, affordable way for a nonverbal young man with autism and motor planning issues to communicate with those around him. The application is straightforward. It has two, large, color-coordinated buttons...one for yes, and one for no. Press either, and you will hear a voice read your selection.

Photo Speak
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($2.99)

Transform any portrait photo into a moving 3D avatar that repeats your every word. You can make anyone come alive, just like the talking wall portraits in Harry Potter’s Hogwarts castle.

Speak It!
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($1.99)

A simple text-to-speech app. The app will read aloud any text that the user types onto the screen.

English Idioms Illustrated
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad (Free)

Uses imagery to help the user understand figures of speech. More than 160 beautifully illustrated English idioms are explored, from "Achilles’ heel" to "Wrong side of bed".

Calm Counter
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($2.99)

A visual and audio tool to help people calm down when they are angry or anxious. The app includes a social story about anger, and audio/visual tools for calming down.

Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App!
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($6.99)

Develop animated stories Mad Libs style. This fully animated app includes hilarious shake-and-play technology, customized voice integration, and other exciting interactive features.

Wild Friends by Photopedia
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad (Free)

A wild life reference guide that uses oversized images. This app also offers beautiful slideshows, wallpapers, interactive maps, and visual stories presenting new adventures.

Proloquo2Go
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($189.99)

Latin for "speak out loud", Proloquo2Go provides symbol and text based intuitive development tools. Proloquo2Go is for anyone who cannot afford spending thousands of dollars on an AAC device and yet wants a solution that is just as good if not better.Includes 8,000 built in symbols, built in word prediction, and auto conjugation.

Pictello
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($18.99)

A simple way to create talking photo albums and participate in visual storytelling. Each page in a Pictello Story can contain a picture, up to five lines of text, and a recorded sound or text-to-speech using high-quality voices.

Have you used any of these apps? Let us know about your experiences in the comments!

Government Benefits for Individuals with Autism

2012-03-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

by Andrew M. Cohen, Esq.

When planning for a disabled person’s financial future, issues of entitlement to government benefits are an inevitable part of the discussion. The law is both complex and extensive with respect to qualifying for and obtaining such benefits. To make matters worse, two of the most common benefit programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), are each administered by the Social Security Administration; however, these programs offer very different benefits and have very different rules as to who may receive them.

Registration is Open for QSAC's Annual Walk/Run

2012-03-20T14:55:00.001-04:00

Next Steps is QSAC’s annual walk/run in New York City that seeks to increase autism awareness while raising funds to support QSAC’s work throughout the region. Each year, hundreds of people gather from across the five boroughs and Long Island to participate in this exciting event.

This year’s 5K will be held within a few miles radius of your local TD Bank branch in Queens (Astoria). Our annual event kicks-off with a “whistle blow” start that will be led by this year’s 5K chair, New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm.

Register online today at www.qsac.com/steps!

Who needs an iPad? Alternatives to the iPad for your child with Autism

2012-03-19T13:02:00.002-04:00

If you thought that the iPad is the only device available for your child with autism and you’re prepared to stand on line for hours for the new iPad 3, you may want to take a moment to consider some of the comparable Android tablets in the market. Whether the expense of dishing out 500+ dollars for the iPad hurts to even think about (Don't forget to include all the accessories too!) or you’re just inherently against all Apple products, the latest Android tablets out today is much easier on the wallet and an excellent competitor to the iPad.

Class 7 Vs. The Museum

2012-03-10T20:24:00.005-05:00

As many of you may know, the QSAC Day School has been focusing on building safety skills throughout the course of this school year. Earlier in the year, various community helpers visited our program which turned out to be a great learning experience for all students. This past Friday, four day school classrooms visited the Queens Museum of Art in an attempt to continue to teach valuable skills to our students.

Can You Use More Autism Services?

2012-03-08T10:35:00.001-05:00

QSAC and MedClaims Liaison (www.medclaimsliaison.com) invite you to come learn how to assess and maximize your insurance coverage for autism services. Up to 50 families will qualify to attend this informative and complimentary event.

Events will be held at 2 different times and refreshments will be served:

When: March 29th, 11am and March 29th, 7pm

Where: QSAC, 25-09 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106

Why: QSAC wants its consumers to learn more about getting proper healthcare coverage for the services you need! MedClaims Liaison (MCL) is a national patient advocacy business that maximizes health insurance benefits for families and recovers money for its clients.

What: Lecture on Assessment of Health Insurance Plans for Autism Services

“Maximizing Healthcare Benefits for Your Child’s Therapies”
Jacqueline Eckert, MCL’s Chief Behavioral Health Liaison, and Amy Keohane, MCL’s President will present a number of case studies complete with “tips and tricks” for successful interactions with insurers. Jacqui spent over 7 years at Aetna specializing in customer claims issues around behavioral health – specifically ASD, mental health and substance abuse.

Click here to RSVP

What It Means to Be a Behavior Analyst

2012-03-06T08:12:00.004-05:00

More and more individuals are seeking to obtain their certification in applied behavior analysis (ABA). Many times, I have been approached by these individuals because they are interested in finding out what their roles within the field would be and what they should look forward to.

Just the other day, I sat down to read Bailey and Burch’s book 25 Essential skills & strategies from the professional behavior analyst: Expert tips for maximizing consulting effectiveness. I found the book to be a quick read with useful information and strategies for any behavior analyst. Within the content of this book, there were answers to some of the questions that potential behavior analysts as well as the employer of behavior analysts have.

Singles Meet Up for NEXT STEPS Autism Run

2012-02-28T14:16:00.000-05:00

CharlieTheMatchmaker

CharlieTheMatchmaker will be hosting a singles meet up for men and women, straight and gay, during QSAC's Next Steps: A Walk/Run for Autism on Saturday, May 5th at Astoria Park

If you would like to join CharlieTheMatchmaker's LOVE Team, register and join the team today!

Registration is $25!

To register go to: http://www.qsac.com/steps

Once you are registered, you can then join CharlieTheMatchmaker's LOVE Team and walk or run with a group of singles. Color coded name tags will be provided

There will be a SINGLES PARTY after the race with GUACAMOLE and chips!!!! A great way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo!

Charlie says, if you are in NYC on May 5th, join my team and join us for a fun Walk/Run around Astoria Park along the river with a great team of people!

If you cannot join Charlie, any donation is appreciated by going directly to his fundraising page. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure.

If you would like any further info, please feel free to email Charlie at Charlie@CharlieTheMatchmaker.com or if you'd like assistance in setting up your own team, contact mmadonia@qsac.com

Amodeo Joins QSAC as Director of Development

2012-02-27T16:45:00.001-05:00

Joseph Amodeo has been selected as QSAC's new Director of Development. Along with managing QSAC special events, Amodeo will be facilitating relationships with legislators and providing insight for other fundraising efforts on behalf of QSAC. Most recently Amodeo has served as the Partnership Manager at CFY (Computers for Youth). There he managed the organization’s national events and helped develop strategic corporate partnerships.

Amodeo’s academic accomplishments include, a Masters of the Arts in Political Science from the University at Albany, along with his current enrollment in Marist College to pursue his second Master’s Degree. Amodeo has several published articles and is a contributor to the Huffington Post and the World Medical and Health Policy. In 2005, Amodeo was a candidate for Ulster County Legislature in Ulster County, NY.

“We at QSAC are delighted to welcome such a distinguished new mind to the QSAC development team, and are extremely excited for both the future of the organization and what we foresee to be a long and beneficial relationship with Mr. Amodeo.” said QSAC Executive Director, Gary Maffei.

Alternate Assessments

2012-02-21T08:55:00.000-05:00

Every year between the months of October and February the teachers in the Day School begin an assessment procedure known as the Alternate Assessments. The New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is a datafolio assessment that measures the progress of students with disabilities in achieving the learning standards through alternate grade level indicators (New York State Education Department, 2012). Students are tested once at each grade level in content areas such as math, English language arts, science, and social studies.

During the preparation months, teachers work diligently to put together tasks and assignments that will align with state expectations. Information collected includes photographs, video and audiotapes, data collection, and work samples, with the overall goal of differentiating assignments effectively for our students to have the most success. Putting together these tasks is not always simple. Creativity and thinking outside of the box, as well as a high degree of effort, is needed on behalf of the teachers to successfully implement these assessments.

So, as we often hear within our building, why the overall push for the assessments to be conducted in the first place? All students in the United States are required to be assessed according to State and Federal regulations yearly. This is to ensure the expectation of progress of students with disabilities continues to grow as the year’s progress. The Alternate Assessments are in place to test students with disabilities academic abilities, in relation to the statewide curriculum. These indicators are in place to drive the curriculum we implement here daily. Sure, this does not include a myriad of other skills we aim to teach within the Day School, but it does provide insight to the educational side of things. The datafolio provides a way to highlight successes of our students in relation to the learning standards the state sets forth.

This year, students in grades 3-8 and at the secondary level participated in the assessments. Teachers were given the opportunity to create datafolios of their students’ progress in specific curriculum areas. The majority of our assessments included data collection and permanent products, which include some procedures we implement every day. Although challenging at times, teachers were given the opportunity to explore their own abilities and creativity. Through this, we have identified strengths within our own teachers, and areas we can build on. Next up on our agenda is waiting for the results from the State.

Autism Risk Gene Linked to Sensory Overload

2012-02-14T18:25:00.002-05:00

Many individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate hypersensitivities to their environment. At some point, we may have observed behaviors such as the covering of ears, looking away from lights, etc. Recent research suggests that a gene mutation may explain the hypersensitivities seen in individuals with an ASD.

New research may help explain how a specific gene mutation produces the hypersensitivities to sound experienced by many persons affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The researchers found that when a suspected autism gene – PTEN – is disabled in the sound-processing center of a mouse brain, incoming signals are abnormally amplified regardless of whether their source is near or far.

"It's long been hypothesized that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) arise from a partial disruption of long-range connections in the brain during development,” explains study leader Anthony Zador, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, in New York. "Our finding that PTEN-deficient neurons receive stronger inputs suggests that one way this disruption can be caused is by signal enhancement." Thestudy [1] – funded by Autism Speaks and the National Institutes of Health – appears in the Journal of Neuroscience [2].

“This is an exciting study that offers insight into why some people with autism suffer auditory hypersensitivity,” comments Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geri Dawson, Ph.D. “As we discover the biological basis of this common symptom, we come close to developing effective treatments that can help those who struggle with it.”

Although ASDs can arise from mutations in any of dozens of candidate genes, hypersensitivity to sound is a common symptom. The brain’s hearing center, or auditory cortex, plays a critical role in attention and perception to sound and language. It also connects with other critical brain areas, including those that process other types of sensory information. For this reason, the auditory cortex has been a target of research aimed at understanding how changes in brain circuits contribute to the symptoms of ASD.

PTEN mutations have been found in individuals with both autism and extreme macroencephaly, or increased brain volume. Previous studies have found that PTEN loss in animal models boosts brain cell size and interconnections between brain cells.

Deletion of the PTEN gene in brain cells increased the cell’s connections with other brain cells (right column)

Using adult mice, Zador's group disabled the PTEN gene in select parts of the auditory cortex, while leaving the gene intact in neighboring brain cells. They then assessed the effect by stimulating brain cell activity in the auditory cortex. This resulted in abnormally strong sensory signals regardless of whether the incoming stimuli came from a local or distant source.

However, these effects could be blocked by treating the PTEN-deficient mice with rapamycin, a powerful immune-system suppressant most commonly prescribed to prevent organ rejection. In examining the animal’s brain tissues, the researchers found that the drug prevented the abnormal increase in cell interconnections otherwise seen in PTEN-deficient mice (image above).

“While this study is exciting, we need to know more before it would be appropriate to use rapamycin as a treatment for individuals with autism,” adds Joe Horrigan, M.D., Autism Speaks head of medical research. “Safety considerations are of paramount importance as rapamycin can increase susceptibility to infections and malignancies such as lymphoma. At present, it should be prescribed only by physicians experienced in immunosuppressive therapy.”

Visual Activity Schedules

2012-02-13T11:00:00.003-05:00

Visual activity schedules have been used to promote self-regulation and independence, reduce challenging behaviors, and forge smooth transitions between activities or settings. “An activity schedule is a set of pictures or words that cues someone to engage in a sequence of activities.”(McClannahan & Krantz, 1999). During sessions with staff, parents or clinicians, visual representations of activities in sequential order are used to aid individuals with ASD in scheduling and transitioning between activities. Subsequently, the autistic individual can note successful completion of an activity by placing the picture on the “finished section” of the visual activity schedule board. The visual activity schedule will give the autistic individuals the following information: 1) what is currently happening, 2) what is coming up next, 3) when they are “all done”, and 4) what changes might occur.

Two review articles examined 23 and 380 studies respectively that used activity schedules /visual schedules for autistic individuals. These studies evaluated the effectiveness of activity schedules to promote independence, facilitate transition and engagement during play, compliance with task, or be on-task, and self-regulation (Lequia, Machalicek, Rispoli, 2012; Takanori and Wang, 2011). The functional behavior analysis (FBA) indentified that functions of challenging behaviors were most often associated when demands of non-preferred activities were presented to autistic individuals (escape-avoidance function). However, when the transition is from a preferred activity to a non-preferred activity, the activity schedule may prompt the autistic individual to display challenging behaviors. These finding suggest that a new behavioral strategy should be used in these cases, or only for high functioning autistic individuals, self-scheduling can be incorporated (Takanori and Wang, 2011).

QSAC's Adult Clinical Services promotes the use of Picture Activity Schedules where staff assists autistic individuals in creating visual schedules in order to empower them in making their own choices and have a sense of control over their environment as well as the ability to see what is coming up next, to decrease prompting dependency or excessive prompting and guidance, and be provided with appropriate structure during the day.

Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities Annual Legislative Breakfast

2012-02-02T16:41:00.001-05:00

Friday, February 17, 2012

Doors open to General Public at 8:30 AM

Continental Breakfast begins at 8:45 AM

Program & Legislative Platform from 9:30-11:30 AM

Flushing Town Hall

137-35 Northern Boulevard

Flushing, New York 11354

(718) 463- 7700

R.S.V.P. by February 10, 2012 to:

Naleesha

(718) 805-6796 ext. 123

nrampersaud@in-res.org

Doug Triebel

(718) 805-6796 ext. 131

dtriebel@in-res.org