Haircuts

Getting a haircut seems so simple and effortless…right?  You sit in a chair and have to do nothing while someone else works to cut your hair.  I mean really…what could be the problem?  You were probably too young to remember your very first haircut, but for some the first one is a little scary.  Some stranger is touching your head or maybe your mother is placing a big set of scissors over your head and you are not sure what she is going to do. 

I remember some of my haircuts as a child, because they were memorable moments with my dad.  We would walk or drive to this barbershop that was just a little ways from the house where I grew up from the time of birth to about 8 years-old.  We could actually see the barbershop from my parent’s front porch.  It was an old school barbershop with the barber wearing a white coat, they would use an electric razor and scissors to cut our hair, and he would tilt my dad back in the chair in order to shave his face with a straight razor. I had hoped to make similar memories with my son one day.

While most children get use to the haircutting process at a young age, children with autism may take a few years longer if they ever get use to and adapt to it at all.  In the beginning with Zach, my wife had to sit in the chair with Zach on her lap and keep him in essentially a body lock to stop him from flaring his arms and legs while the barber quickly cut his hair.  He did not like the vibration of the electric hair razor or the sensation of the hair falling on his face.  We had to keep a towel over his face during the haircut and an extra shirt in the car as he could not stand the hair clinging to his clothes. 

As time went on and Zach got older we made the decision that Zach had to learn to sit in the chair by himself, because it was part of teaching him independence and it would just look odd having an older kid or teenager sitting in his mother’s lap to get a haircut.  We started with Debby standing next to the barber chair while still holding a towel over his face and of course a shirt in the car ready for him to change.  After several haircuts we then removed the towel from his face and let him get use to the sensation of hair falling on his face.  We eventually stopped bringing a shirt for him to change into in order to get him familiar with the fact that after a haircut you might have to walk around with hair on the shoulders of your shirt and down your back until you can get home and wash off.  The big step for Zach was getting him to go back with the barber by himself. 

One day I decided to take Zach to the same place I go for a haircut, Sportclips.  This place is a sports themed barbershop for men and boys and you can watch ESPN on flat screen televisions while getting your haircut.  The first few times I took Zach to Sportclips I walked to the back with him, told the barber he had autism, and stood nearby while they cut his hair.  Then the third or fourth time the barbers were use to Zach, and I let him go to the back by himself and he did awesome.  He sat appropriately in the chair, listened to the directions from the barber, and even responded to some of the questions the barber asked.  We will continue to go to Sportclips as Zach is now use to the environment and the barbers are now use to him.  Zach has made some tremendous progress and we have made some cool memories.           

 

Help Autism Asperger's Digest reach 3,000 likes on Facebook

Hello everyone,

Let's help Autism Asperger's Digest reach 3,000 likes on facebook...better yet let's help them get to 4,000 by the end of the month.  Below is a link to there facebook page.  This is a great publication providing tremendous articles and information to help families raising a child on the autism spectrum.

Take care...Eric

http://www.facebook.com/autismdigest

Eden Autism Services

I could not imagine raising my son with autism during the 1970’s, 80’s or even the 1990’s.  Twenty years from now parents raising a child with autism will be saying the same thing about parents having to raise a child during the beginning of the century in comparison to 2030.  As years and decades pass the level of therapy and education programs available to families raising a child with autism has greatly improved. During the 1970’s and 80’s a parent would be hard pressed to find a school district willing to build their curriculum specific to the needs of a student with autism.  During the 1990’s, specifically toward the end of that decade, curriculums for special education students started to shift as the number of students with autism entering public schools continued to climb, and the requirement for schools to develop Individualized Education Plan (IEP).   

 Today, it has become the norm in a lot of school districts to observe various evidence based practices and techniques being used, such as, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and TEACCH.  There are various other evidence based programs and more that are in development.  With the increase of our dependence on technology various computer programs and Apps have been developed to help teachers and therapists assist their students with math, reading, speech, and gross and fine motor skills.   As this mass population of children on the autism spectrum get older and move into adulthood there will be a greater need for resources to continue the therapy they are receiving, but also to assist with employment and residential placement.

One company that has grown with the autism population as it has gotten older is Eden Autism Services.  What started in 1975 as a family-oriented school for individuals with autism has became a multi faceted service provider for those living in New Jersey and Florida.  The Eden Institute provides school services to individuals on the spectrum from age 3 to 21 and teaching techniques are based on ABA.  The Eden Institute also provides speech and occupational therapy as well as adaptive physical education.

For those transitioning from school age to adult, Eden provides adult residential and employment services.  Eden offers 24 hour residential support and serves 5 to 7 adults with autism at their group homes.   They also operate an employment training center in New Jersey where adults are taught skills with the goal of joining center-based, supportive or competitive employment. Center-based employment consist of clients staying at an Eden Center and working on sub-contract mailings or assembly line work, and with supported employment clients work in the community under the supervision of an Eden job coach.  Competitive employment allows clients who have demonstrated the ability to work independently with minimal supervision to work in the community, and are dropped off and picked-up daily. 

Eden also offers several other services, such as, evaluation, consultation, training and workshops, assessment and curriculum series, and in-home services.  Thanks Eden Autism Services for nearly 40 years of serving children and adults with autism.  Your dedication and commitment to this population is greatly appreciated.

To learn more about Eden Autism Services or to donate to their organization you can click on the following link:  http://edenautism.org/wordpress2/

Buffets and Restaurants

It was not long ago when we were unable to go to a restaurant with Zach unless it was buffet style and he picked it.  Due to communication barriers and some behavioral issues, going to a restaurant was a challenge as we never really knew or could understand what Zach wanted.  Not to mention if the item he wanted at that moment was not on the menu there was always potential for verbal and physical objection followed by a public meltdown.  However, we were not going to be held hostage from going to restaurants, and we needed to get Zach use to that type of environment and social interaction. 

The best way we found to ease and introduce Zach to the restaurant world was by way of buffet style.  It seemed like a safe bet, because most buffets have something for everyone’s taste buds and appetite.  At first we let Zach pick the restaurant and he usually went with an Italian buffet where he could fill up on salad, pasta, garlic bread, and any kind of pizza he wanted.  After a short time we decided to start picking buffets that had more of a variety so the rest of us could enjoy something else besides a bunch of carbohydrates.  While at more inclusive buffets Zach surprised us with some of his selections and he started to broaden his food choices. 

It took a while for Zach to get use to the Restaurant atmosphere before we could take him to a typical restaurant where you have to remain seated while the wait staff takes your order and brings your food to your table.  The first time it happened I happen to be in New Hampshire with my daughter visiting my parents.  My wife called to tell me she just had lunch at the Olive Garden Restaurant with my son and he did awesome.  Since this time we have been to several different restaurants where Zach orders his own food, waits patiently for his meal to arrive, and uses proper manners and behavior throughout the meal. 

Recently, Zach asked me to take him to Taco Bell (not exactly your sit down eatery), and prior to going he looked at the menu online and printed out the items he wanted.  Upon arrival to the restaurant, Zach ordered his own food, picked a place to sit, and used proper manners.  Granted he polished off 7 tacos before he was done, but we had a great time.  He has come a long way from no restaurants to eating at buffets and finally graduating to a typical restaurant.  Maybe Zach will let me pick the next place we go to eat and be ok with it…we will see.     

The Brain and Autism Research

The brain is arguably the most fascinating organ in the human body, and definitely the most complex.  In recent years there have been significant discoveries made by scientist about the brain, but in reality they have only scratched the surface of all the various nuances it holds.  We know the brain is the mecca of our central nervous system as it sends and receives message to the rest of the body.  But did you know that as small as the brain is in comparison to the universe in which we live it holds more neurons and genes than the amount of stars we can actually see.  There has never been a specific count conducted, but it is estimated that the brain has 100 billion neurons.   

For several years now scientists seeking a cause and potential cure for autism spectrum disorders have turned their attention and focus to the brain as it holds the key to understanding the puzzling mystery behind common autism symptoms and characteristics.  While some scientists might be trying to map the entire brain to better understand its unique circuitry, others are trying to understand the various genes, neurons and chromosomes, and how they are all suppose to interact within normal brain functioning.  The process has already started with comparing normal functioning brains with those of individuals on the autism spectrum, and over the years great strides have been made with mapping and unraveling deficiencies in functioning. In some cases scientist have attempted to replicate autism symptoms and characteristics in mice as a means to study various treatments in an attempt to find a cure. 

A recent study discovered that injections of an agent called “GRN-529” into mice reduced autism like symptoms.  Specifically, agent “GRN-529”  reduced repetitive behaviors and increased social interaction among the mice.  Another study involving mice bred to harbor autism like behaviors found a deletion in a gene called “SHANK3”, which is located in chromosome 22.  What is “SHANK3” you ask?  According to the National Institute on Health (2013), “The SHANK3 gene provides instructions for making a protein that is found in many of the body's tissues but is most abundant in the brain. The SHANK3 protein plays a role in the functioning of synapses, which are the connections between nerve cells (neurons) where cell-to-cell communication occurs. Within synapses, the SHANK3 protein acts as a scaffold that connects neurons, ensuring that the signals sent by one neuron are received by another.”  

There is still a lot of research to be conducted on agent “GRN-529” and “SHANK3” gene, but the preliminary findings are promising and should bring some optimism. For more information regarding the studies mentioned in this blog you can click on the following links:   

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2012/agent-reduces-autism-like-behaviors-in-mice.shtml

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2011/mice-with-autism-related-mutations-replicate-autism-like-behaviors.shtml

LTO Ventures...Helping Adults with Autism Live on Their Own

As the autism population gets older and migrates into adulthood, parents wonder and are concerned about what will happen to them next.  Where will they live and work?  Will they be capable of living independently and have the capacity to work at all?  Just like any parent, those raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) hope that one day their child will obtain employment, and live on their own or maybe in a group home.  According to reports, unemployment among adults with an ASD is a staggering 90 percent, and an estimated 70-85 percent live with a parent or family member. 

Occupational and speech therapy along with educational programs has shown to improve the development of those with an ASD, and increased the potential for job and residential placement.  However, finding employers and residential facilities willing to provide opportunities for those with an ASD is a subsequent challenge.  There are several government agencies and non-profit organizations across the United States that are starting to provide such services to those on the spectrum. 

LTO Ventures based in Henderson, Nevada is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization providing residential models for adults with an ASD and recently announced an entrepreneurial program.  The organization was started by Mark Olson after being inspired by his teenage daughter, who has autism and is nonverbal, and unlikely she will ever be able to live independently.  LTO Ventures creates “Live/Work/Play communities” to help adults with an ASD to have residential opportunities without having to continue to live with a parent or family member.   The communities house approximately 100 residents and are funded in part by grants, donations, private pay, special needs trust, philanthropic equity funding, and endowments.   

Housing options include individual and shared apartment living, and units are organized in clusters to encourage interaction among residents.  Each unit is adapted and equipped to the specific needs and desires of each person.  The communities are vehicle-free and access managed campuses to ensure the safety and security of the residents.  There are currently 18 such LTO community models in existence or under development in the United States.  Further, each campus also consists of businesses that will create employment opportunities. 

In addition to the residential opportunities that LTO Ventures provides, they recently announced the Autism Entrepreneur Center to help adults with an ASD start-up and run a business.  The center will create partnerships between typical adults and those with an ASD to create and successfully run for-profit or non-profit companies.  The mission of the Center is to give ASD adults the specific guidance, tools and resources they need to create, launch and run their own real business.  The first year goal is to create 12 new businesses and putting an estimated 100 adults with an ASD to work. 

For more information about LTO Ventures you can log on to http://ltoventures.org/

 

Ohio Governor Issues Directive for Insurance Plans to Cover Services for Autism

Recently, Ohio Governor John Kasich announced a directive for insurance plans to include services for autism.  The directive requires insurance plans to include specific treatments, such as, speech and occupational therapy, initial assessments, psychiatric appointments, and other related therapies to treat those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  More specifically, the insurance plan must cover up to 70 therapy sessions per year and 20 hours of Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment per week.  This directive follows 32 other states that have mandated coverage for autism related services that insurance companies were not previously required to cover. Further, Governor Kasich has advised that State employee health plans will include services for autism by 2014.  This means that 49,000 state employees and approximately 40,000 children covered under state insurance plans will be eligible for benefits. 

The directive comes after the Ohio General Assembly had been debating the issue for several years after a bill was introduced and has yet to take a vote.  Ohio already provides access to autism related services to children through its medicaid program.  Research has shown that early intervention and therapy treatment helps make a significant long-term difference in the lives of children with autism by improving speech, social, occupational, and cognitive skills.

Governor Kasich’s directive was not without criticism from special interest groups.  Some folks are concerned that adding such a benefit will increase the cost of insurance to employees and employers.  Due to the additional cost of coverage and the amount of benefits insurance companies will be paying out will force insurance companies to increase the cost that will be passed down to the consumer. 

“These things aren’t free”, said Roger Geiger, who is the vice president and executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Ohio.  “They are all noble and sound good, but at some point it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back.  Do you want basic coverage for many or Cadillac coverage for a few?”

An estimated 60,000 Ohioans have an autism spectrum disorder and the numbers are rising.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1 in 88 children have an autism spectrum disorder, which is an increase from 1 in 150 just five years ago.  Being a state employee and the father of a child with autism, I applaud Governor Kasich’s bold step to provide insurance coverage.  With that being said I fully anticipate lawsuits being filed to stop the Governor’s directive and an argument for the Ohio General Assembly to make the decision to cover autism services or not.