Early Intervention critical for Autism Care

By Ryan Neal
Daily Review Atlas

MONMOUTH — John Mattan is a child like many others. He enjoys playing with his little sister, Molly. He even drew a picture of the two of them holding hands with a caption that read, "John and Molly BFFs." But John also has a disease that is becoming increasingly diagnosed — autism.

John, 6, is a testament to the importance of early intervention in the treatment of children with autism. At 2, John could barely talk and at 3 he could speak only a few words at a time, but by the age of 5 he was able to communicate fluently and read a grade level ahead.

"He has just done an excellent job," said his speech therapist, Martha Colgan-Reis, who has worked with John in the M-R schools since preschool. "He has improved by leaps and bounds."

Experts say parental support and early Intervention are keys to success. John's mother, Stacia Mattan, didn't know exactly what was wrong with him at first, but did notice a difference.

"When he was 1, I started noticing he wasn't reaching his verbal milestones," she said. "In my mom gut I knew something was wrong."

Around the same time Stacia had another baby, Molly. She expected a sibling rivalry, but he didn't acknowledge his sister.

"He seemed very involved in his own world," Stacia said. "At age 2, I reported he was not talking and not babbling and not reaching and he seemed frustrated. At that point he had lost some skills. He was also spinning constantly and he was walking on his toes."

Stacia didn't waste time. She immediately sought help.

"The worst advice is wait and see," Stacia said.

She said the doctors told her that if she came in six months later it would be the difference between John becoming a typically functioning verbal adult and a non-typical verbal adult. He might not have learned to speak very well.

The family pediatrician, Dr. Amy Larson, Galesburg, suggested Early Childhood Intervention when John was only 2. John was evaluated as being developmentally delayed and began developmental therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in his own home. The state of Illinois pays for all services before a child's third birthday, Stacia said.

But she didn't know John was autistic yet.

"In the spring when John was 28 months, I was watching TV one night and there was an episode featuring autism and as I watched it, it was exactly my kid. Everything he did John did and everything he couldn't do John couldn't do it. It was devastating. I couldn't stop crying. It was like that secret voice inside you that tells you something is wrong and then you see it and you know it," Stacia said.

Stacia stayed proactive. Her pediatrician, who told her she had been suspicious for a while, referred them to the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, where John was diagnosed with autism. He was two and a half at the time.

"I had already been through the grieving process," Stacia said. "I started doing research. I didn't even cry when he got the diagnosis. In the beginning it is scary. Lack of knowledge is scary. Those first few months are scary."

As Stacia became informed she realized she could reach John. In fact, she always could.

"I equate autism with what it would be like if you were born in a country where everyone spoke French and no one can understand your language and the only person who understands your language is your mom," she said. "I don't think verbal language is an autistic person's first language. It's a learned process."

She applied for the Picture Exchange Communication (PEC) program. The system is expensive, and while the state will pay the cost it takes a long time to process the request. After she applied, Stacia taught herself sign language so she could communicate with her son. Doctors believe autistic individuals often think visually rather than in language, so picture communication can be helpful.

"Sign language was the key to reaching John. By the time the PECs program came he was so successful I donated it to the school so another child wouldn't have to wait. He could see the words with his eyes instead of hearing them (using sign language)," Stacia said.

At age 3, John began preschool out of the home. Class with other students can be hard for children on the autism spectrum. Once school started John stopped receiving free instruction in the summer.

"Organization is critical," Stacia said. "If you are unorganized by nature you need to learn to be consistent and stick to routines. Without routine and consistency they (autistic individuals) can be overwhelmed by anxiety."

Stacia again kept proactive. Over the last several years she has enrolled John in an autism camp at Western Illinois University. Twice he has gone to Camp KIDZ in Galesburg and when John was 3 she drove him to Augustana College in the Quad Cities every week for group speech therapy.

"It cost a lot. Services through the school are free. Everything else depends on insurance. Ours paid for nothing. It's thousands of dollars a year," she said.

But Stacia said it was all worth it when John was able to attend a general education kindergarten class."It was a really big deal. Our goal all along was to try to get him to a point where he could attend a general education kindergarten class. We thought it was important for his social development to be around neurotypical kids. Academically, he has done more than we could have imagined," she said.

Mattan said times have been tough on occasion, but she has had a great support group.

"I would encourage anyone to talk with other moms. The best resource has been reaching out to other moms," she said. "It has been a lifesaver for me and my other mom friends. I've gotten the best tips and best advice from other moms."

She also draws strength from John who, unlike some children with autism, is affectionate.

"He would want to be squeezed or rocked all the time. That's when he learned the best. John has always been affectionate. At the end of the day, when I had a really rough day with my son and everything was wrong, when I tucked him in at night he would wrap both arms around me and kiss me. I think without that the journey would be much more difficult," she said.

Copyright 2010 Daily Review Atlas. Some rights reserved

Autism and Holiday Bonding

By Aimee Boyle

These days I work with children who have autism or are on the autistic spectrum. Many of the students I work with are non-verbal, meaning they literally do not speak. During the weeks leading up to the holidays, a tremendous number of holiday-themed activities took place at our school; everything from stories to field trips about the holidays, plays and movies, art projects and discussions and even helping out at a food donation center. There were many times when we, as staff, looked at each other and wondered if our kids were connecting with any of it or were simply going through the motions, adhering to a formula for what to do in any given situation, and kind of looking to us to really create the experience we hoped they'd be having themselves.

Astonishing things began to unfold as we approached the winter break. First, we had a holiday party during which families of the students came, visited with the children and with the staff, ate delicious food and mingled. The children were excited, demonstrating real pride as they showed their parents around. For those of our kids who can talk, introductions were plentiful and intense, and for those who couldn't, an inordinate amount of giggling, bubbling over and real joy were evident.

Of course, anxiety was high as well, since many of our kids thrive on routine and breaking for the winter vacation and having a party are anything but routine. There were tantrums and tears, but overall, the buzz and excitement in the air was not only generated by us, but by the children themselves, who, although they can't always communicate with us, are nevertheless very sensitive to feelings and quite capable of bonding during the holiday season.

Children with autism are still children. Walking them through the traditions of family, sharing, gift exchanges and giving back to the community is as important for them as it is for any "typical" child. While you may not see the fruits of your labor instantaneously, realize that even the tiniest bit of feedback from a child like this is a great indicator that something you have said or done has affected them.

You can create a world of sharing, caring and good values no matter what the disability of the child, and bringing them into that world is the greatest gift of all.

For some tips about preparing for the holidays with a person with autism please visit the following link: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=holiday_tips

Autistic child strengthens family bonds

Autistic child strengthens family bonds

BY HOLLY RICHARDS

WHITE COTTAGE -- Brandon Corder excitedly runs up the front porch steps to get to the kitchen to enjoy an afterschool snack of soup, cookies and ice cream and talk about his day with his family.

Gathering around his siblings and parents, Corder laughs and jokes at the table, then unleashes his energy running around the backyard with them. He is a typical teenage boy in many ways but one -- he is autistic.
The 13-year-old officially was diagnosed at the age of 3.
One in 110 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Being a parent to an autistic child comes with a host of trials, but no challenge is too big or too small for Pat Kleinhoffer, Brandon's legal guardian and the mother he's known all his life.
When presented with an obstacle, Kleinhoffer tackles it head-on with a positive attitude seeking positive results.
Kleinhoffer hadn't been married to her husband, Christopher, more than a few years when fate intervened. Pat's sister wasn't able to care for her children, so she and Christopher took them in as their own and have had legal custody for several years.
Living in the Kleinhoffer home in White Cottage are Pat and Christopher; Trisha Corder, 17; Amy Reed, 15; Brandon Corder, 13; Tommy Reed, 12; and more recently Pat's younger brother Charles Corder. The Kleinhoffers' eldest daughter, 19-year-old Vanessa Mettler, is attending college at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
Much of the attention and day-to-day activities revolve around Brandon because of his special needs, but everyone in the family has learned to adapt to the boy they love.
"He keeps you grounded and reminds you of the simple things that are important," Kleinhoffer said. "He holds us accountable. You have to be careful what you say and do because he's a mockingbird."
"He takes longer to do his homework and normal activities like brushing his teeth, so we have to help him out," Amy added. "It's like having a big toddler. I'd like to go into the police field, so having an autistic brother has taught me to be patient and to know what to expect if I have to deal with people with special needs."
As the other children in the family, it's been a challenge for Trisha, Amy and Tommy to adapt, but they've become stronger because Brandon is a part of their tightly knit family.
"I've learned to deal with it and I can tell when his breaking point is," Trisha said. "I try to calm him down by playing with him and getting him off the subject of being mad. I plan to go to college for massage therapy and art, but I want to stay close to home. This has brought us close together."
"It's been hard," added Tommy, who shares a room with Brandon. "You just have to try to keep him entertained and give him what he wants, but not too much of it. I've had to kind of step up and act like a bigger brother."
Brandon became part of the family when he was just a little more than a year old, and Kleinhoffer said she and her husband began to notice behavioral issues leading to autism.
"He was lethargic, and he did have some words like 'mom' and 'dad,' but then he reverted and stopped talking," she said. "My husband was reading an article about autism, and we noticed Brandon had nine out of the 10 traits mentioned."
Some of these included stemming and fascination with ceiling fans and lights, lining up toys instead of playing with them, hand flapping, screaming and not talking. In his early childhood, Brandon refused to speak unless provoked or angry.
Now if Brandon throws a random fit, his family will distract him with questions or objects, and other times his mother just rides it out.
"People who don't understand think he's an unruly child," Kleinhoffer said. "It's not rudeness, it's simplicity. He even has his own language that we call 'Braheli.'"
While various illnesses often accompany autism, Brandon has been a fairly healthy child except for some breathing problems and ear tube surgeries. He isn't restricted to a specific diet or being treated with any special therapies, but takes risperidone, the generic of risperdal, which is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia, as prescribed by child psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Gainor at Genesis Bethesda.
"He has come a long way," Kleinhoffer said.
Meltdowns can happen if Brandon is overstimulated, but now he relishes being in large crowds like family gatherings and public events.
"In the beginning it was difficult for the family because we couldn't go out like to school plays," Kleinhoffer said. "He would panic and we'd have to leave, but he's gotten better and he likes big crowds. He's very social."
Brandon also is a smart child, but he learns a little differently than his peers.
"He's had weird obsessions like Matchbox cars, couches and tape measures," Kleinhoffer said. "But I got into his world. I used the cars to teach him colors and tape measure to teach him the ABCs. He learns more by doing. My husband has also worked with him tremendously."
As a seventh-grader enrolled in special needs classes at East Muskingum Middle School, Brandon also is thriving as a student.
"He does very well in school," Kleinhoffer said. "He's extremely intelligent and resourceful, and he reads on his own. We've only had to go get him once for misbehaving, but he's got good teachers who understand. He knows his boundaries well, and everyone's great at East Muskingum. The goal is not to educate him to be a genius, but for him to become a functioning adult. I want to protect him from being in an institution."
Brandon isn't the only one in the household with a disability. The younger Patricia was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome, having been blind in her left eye, deaf in her left ear and had some bodily paralysis. Kleinhoffer said now the 17-year-old has perfect vision and hearing but learns a bit slower. Kleinhoffer has also noticed her 30-year-old brother displaying some autistic behaviors.
The family also has had to deal with additional health issues that has tested them.
"I've had radiation and brain surgery," Kleihoffer said. "I have a pituitary tumor, my second one in 10 years, but it's not cancerous. I also have Cushing's disease. My husband has also been diagnosed with PTSD and is getting treatments. My medical conditions have taken their toll on everybody, and Brandon wanted me home. Everybody was edgier.
"It's also been financially rough," she continued. "It's hard dealing with Social Security and being denied. And I don't have a job, but I'm going to school. I'm a senior at OUZ going for special education studies. My goal is to use it, which I do every day at home."
It's been tough to delegate time for other avenues like the National Autism Association of Southeast Ohio, but Kleinhoffer said she'd like to further interact with this local organization. She also is friends with a few of her neighbors who also have autistic children, so they have formed their own tightly knit support group.
"If it wasn't for my faith, I wouldn't be able to do this," Kleinhoffer said. "A lot of parents are in denial. We live in a small, rural town, and people can't handle it (autism). Parents shouldn't give up; it's more public now with access to more resources."
Without Brandon or any of the other children, Kleinhoffer's family wouldn't be complete.
"It's made my kids stronger. They're very protective of him and don't like to see him picked on," she said. "It's also taught them patience. They have different last names, and they chose to keep their last names, but it doesn't change who they are. What I tell them and others about our family is God took seven broken hearts, put them all together and created one big, happy family. It's made us who we are, and how strong we are."

Written By Holly Richards
hrichards@nncogannett.com

Children in the grip of autism

Writter by By Molly Masland © 2010 msnbc.com

Adam Walden’s best friend is his cello — and that’s just fine with him.
Like all children with autism and related disorders, the 8-year-old boy from Los Angeles has trouble interacting with others and forming relationships. Learning to speak has been an enormous challenge for him and, at an age when many kids are being scolded for chatting in class, Adam sometimes has problems even recognizing the human voice.
Once regarded with suspicion by his classmates, Adam rarely got invited to birthday parties and during those few occasions that he was asked, he was often found hiding under beds or running away down the street. But life took a positive turn for Adam once he was introduced to the cello. Recently admitted to the Colburn School of Performing Arts, Adam has learned to communicate with others through his music and performs regularly in recitals, where he hams it up and loves to be on stage.
“Now he’s known in school not as the autistic kid, but as a cellist,” says Adam’s mother, Rosanne Walden, who has fought for years to keep him in regular classrooms and is currently suing the L.A. Unified School District to allow children with autism access to gifted-learning programs.
Not just 'quirkiness' After more than four years of intensive therapy and treatments, Adam has reached the point where most people who meet him would at first just think he's a little eccentric or different. But, as many experts point out, autism is not simply "quirkiness" or an unusual personality trait, but a serious disorder capable of destroying families and children's futures. Like others with the condition, Adam's progress has been hard-won.
His struggles are increasingly shared by many across the United States as rates of autism continue to skyrocket. Some experts estimate that as many as 1 in 166 children born today will be diagnosed with an autistic disorder. Autism is now the second most commonly diagnosed serious developmental disability in children after mental retardation.
While the causes for the dramatic rise in cases over the past decade are the subject of much debate, one thing is certain: early diagnosis is crucial. By being aware of key symptoms to watch for, parents can help spot the disorder and, if necessary, ensure their child begins treatment.

“One of the factors in a good [autism] prognosis is early intervention,” says Dr. Sally Ozonoff, associate professor of psychiatry at the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis. “It’s been shown pretty clearly that starting an intervention at age 3 is better than 5, or starting intervention at 2 or potentially even earlier than that is better.”
But while most experts agree that beginning treatment for autism at an early age is important, the process of diagnosing children can be fraught with difficulty and makes the goal of early treatment sometimes easier said than done.
'Experts on things' First identified back in the early '40s, autism was once thought to be the initial stages of schizophrenia. The name derives from the Greek words “autos,” meaning “self,” which describes the often withdrawn and self-focused perspective people with the disorder appear to have.
“There was lots of confusion about what it was,” says Dr. Fred Volkmar, professor of child psychiatry, pediatrics and psychology at Yale University, who co-authored the latest definition of autism and related disorders in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition).
Decades of research have now made autism the most well-known disorder in a category recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as pervasive developmental disorders. In addition to autism, the category includes Asperger Syndrome, Rett’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, a catch-all category for children who clearly have impairments but don’t meet the criteria for any of the other disorders (see box below). In many cases, the differences between the various disorders are often slight and easily confused even by specialists.
Four times more common in males than females, according to the Cure Autism Now Foundation, autism affects people from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. It involves a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe, but all have three areas in common: communication problems, impaired social relationships, and unusual patterns of behavior.
“Most children come into the world set up to be experts on people,” says Volkmar. “But children with autism don’t have this. They’re set up to be experts on things, their inanimate environment.” Research shows they tend not to look at faces as much and have difficulty reading body language. They can also develop unusual behaviors, such as repeatedly twitching their fingers, rocking, spinning, or rolling their eyes.
Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders typically takes place around age 3 or 4 when a child has not begun speaking, although many children, such as patients with Asperger Syndrome, do develop language skills. In some instances, a child appeared to be making normal progress in most areas of development, but then began to regress. In other cases, parents were worried about their children long before the diagnosis, but were mistakenly reassured by their pediatricians that there was nothing to be concerned about.
If a parent suspects autism or other developmental delays, it’s important for them to push their doctor for an evaluation with a trained specialist, says the MIND Institute’s Ozonoff. “The fact is most parents are not going to bring this up unless there is a problem. Parents never want their child to have autism, so the only person who would pursue this is someone who’s really concerned.”
And for most parents, the initial diagnosis is devastating. “My first thought was that they’re wrong,” said Sara DiFucci of Albany, N.Y., whose 6-year-old daughter Amanda has mild autism. “The only autism I knew was from the movie 'Rain Man,' and my child was certainly not like that.”
Early warning signs In order to receive a diagnosis of autism or a related disorder, children must meet a certain number of behavioral criteria as described in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In general, the criteria are applicable to children around the age of 3 or older, so diagnosis at an earlier age is much more difficult.
But given the importance of early treatment, Ozonoff and her colleagues have begun a study to determine whether there are identifiable symptoms of autism in infancy. So far, the research has shown that there are indeed detectable signs of the disorder in many babies long before they reach the age when it would be easier to spot.

Ozonoff has narrowed the preliminary results of the research down to six key symptoms in infants and toddlers that parents should watch for:

Children don’t orient or respond to their names
They don’t look at faces or make eye contact as much
They don’t show objects to others or point at things
They smile at others less
They don’t try to imitate others as much
They show less interest in other children

Whatever a child's age when the disorder is identified, once a reliable diagnosis has been made, the hardest part is figuring out what to do next. Some children with very high-functioning autism may not need major intervention, but given the serious impairments that usually accompany the disorder, most with an autism-related diagnosis will need long-term treatment.
“A disorder is an impairment, not just quirkiness,” says Volkmar. “We’re talking about things that take over a child’s life. They become a source of anxiety and stress, something that causes major problems.”
As many autism advocates point out, the goal of diagnosis and treatment is not to label or change a person’s fundamental personality, but to help children learn to live better in the world and give them more choices for the future. While autism never goes away, people with the disorder can go on to have meaningful, successful lives.
And, as the number of children with autism grows, society will increasingly have to make adjustments for their different perspectives and needs, researchers say.
“On top of normalizing an autistic child’s development, we have to prepare them to explain themselves to what will hopefully, one day, be a welcoming world,” adds Rosanne Walden.

Structural Basis for Autism Disorders

ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2010) — There is still much that is unknown about autism spectrum disorders, but a University of Nevada, Reno psychologist has added to the body of knowledge that researchers around the world are compiling to try to demystify, prevent and treat the mysterious condition.

"Autism is a unique developmental disability," states Jeffrey Hutsler, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, who recently completed a six-year study of brain tissue that, for the first time, provided physical evidence of short-range over-connectivity in the outer layer of the brain's cortex in those with autism disorders.
"It creates a lot of noise in the brain, so to speak," he explained. "There was a higher density of synaptic connections, about 20 percent."
Although this short-range over-connectivity had been hypothesized, Hutsler is the first to examine postmortem tissue samples and provide physical evidence of the condition. His research was published recently in the journal, Brain Research. He says his study supports the types of treatments the University is providing at its Early Childhood Autism Program, with early intervention behavioral therapies.
"This is in the layer of the cortex that is one of the last to develop, and a lot of these connections are refined after birth up to about age 4," Hutsler explained. "As you interact with the environment, you sculpt them out."
Those with autism are typically detached from their environment. Hutsler said that their interaction with the environment, or lack thereof, may interfere with that sculpting process. Early intervention with behavioral therapy during the preschool years may be able to aid that sculpting or weeding-out process.
Working mostly with 2- to 5-year-olds, tutors at the University's Early Childhood Autism Program spend a minimum of 30 hours per week, one-on-one with each child for at least two years. The tutors, graduate and undergraduate students who are under faculty supervision, use applied behavior analysis, employing positive reinforcement techniques that strengthen appropriate interaction and behavior, as well as decrease inappropriate behavior.
The program is very effective, with virtually all participants showing improvement and about 50 percent showing total recovery from the disorder, meaning they are indistinguishable from their peers when they enter elementary school, according to the program's director, Patrick Ghezzi.
In fact, Ghezzi has been asked to speak about the methods and the UNR Early Childhood Autism Program throughout the world, and has helped to start other programs modeled after Nevada's in countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, German and Portugal. The University's doctoral program in behavior analysis is one of a handful of such accredited programs in the country. Victoria Follette, chair of the University's psychology department, says that research such as Hutsler's is part of her department's increased emphasis in neuroscience research.
"Research in these areas is key to providing the scientific foundation for our understanding of this disorder and has both local and international implications in the treatment of autism," she states.
Ghezzi is glad to have Hutsler, who joined the University in 2006, as part of the University's psychology and autism research team, stating, "He's at the frontier of research in the biomedical field."
Hong Zhang, now a faculty member at Wuhan University in China, co-authored the study with Hutsler when he was a post-doctoral student of Hutsler's. Hutsler and Zhang credit the National Alliance for Autism Research for providing funding for the study, and also are grateful to the Autism Tissue Program, the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center and the Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders at the University of Miami for their assistance with the study.

Cinemas turn up lights, turn down sound for families touched by autism

At a recent screening of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" at the AMC Northbrook Court 14, the lights were a little brighter and the sound a little softer, and there were no ads before the feature film.Most of the moviegoers who had nestled into their seats probably didn't realize the screening was a special event part of a program that welcomes those affected by autism to gobble some popcorn, slurp a pop and enjoy the show.The screening was the latest installment in the AMC theater chain's Sensory Friendly Screenings. Audience members are invited to roam the aisles, dance, sing and talk out loud."It's a good time for families with members on autism spectrum, any special-needs person or anybody who wants to come and enjoy this atmosphere," said AMC's Cindy Huffstickler, who was part of the team that helped develop AMC's program, in conjunction with the Autism Society.The changes, while subtle, make moviegoing more relaxing."A lot of the time, people with autism have sensory sensitivity that makes loud noises physically painful," said Carin Yavorcik, an Autism Society spokeswoman and another team member. "A couple of parents have told us their child was afraid to go into the theater, and in a totally dark room, the flashing lights can be confusing."The Sensory Friendly Screenings have their roots in Elkridge, Md., where in July 2007, Marianne Ross took her daughter, Meaghan, to see "Hairspray." The 7-year-old clapped and danced to the music, which prompted the theater manager to throw the pair out.Meaghan, who has autism, was responding to the film the way her mind told her to react. The theater manager was reacting to a situation he didn't fully understand.Fast-forward to November of that year at the AMC Columbia 14 theater in nearby Columbia, where Ross had helped organize a screening of "Bee Movie" targeted to families affected by autism. Three-hundred people packed the house."It was wonderful," said Ross. "Kids were clapping and laughing. It was just really nice not to have to worry about kids getting shushed or laughed at."Currently, some 90 AMC theaters host Sensory Friendly Screenings in about 45 domestic markets. Warrenville's AMC Cantera 30 and the AMC South Barrington 30 theaters also participate.The Kerasotes chain of theaters offers a similar program, All Star Saturdays, geared toward families living with autism.AMC "saw the success of the program in Columbia and felt like this was the right thing to do: helping people who had not had the ability to see a movie," said Huffstickler. She would not provide attendance figures. "A lot of times, this is the first time they've gotten to do this type of activity as a family."For the monthly events, AMC chooses current feature films rated G or PG. They avoid 3D pictures. (During the April 10 Sensory Friendly Screenings, participating theaters will show the 2D version of "How to Train Your Dragon.") The price is the same as other morning movies: $6 a person, with free admission for children under 2.The screenings are marketed via e-mail from the national Autism Society and their member chapters, which also distribute fliers at their events and in schools and doctors' offices. Most effective, said Yavorzic, is word of mouth.Kinks still need to be worked out with logistics, such as alerting ticket buyers at the box office that the film they're seeing is part of the program. At the most recent screening in Northbrook, one woman decided to leave upon learning that she and her brood had stumbled into. Eric Smith, seated a few rows ahead with son Evan, gently convinced her that the experience would hardly be different than another showing."So many parents can't take their kids to the movie, so this is great," said Smith, of Grayslake, president of the Autism Society Northeast Illinois Chapter. He has been to a half dozen screenings with Evan,17, who he said lands near the severe end of the autism spectrum, which makes verbalizing a little tricky.At the front of the theater was the Bianco family. Paul had reservations about taking his son Sam, 5, to his first film since he has cognitive and sensory issues, as well as trouble vocalizing his feelings. Therapy is helping to address problems with crowds.The boy rocked a bit in his chair and fidgeted a few times, but overall he enjoyed his inaugural theater experience. And dad was relieved."Would I take him on opening weekend to a filled theater? No," said Paul Bianco, who had traveled to Northbrook from Chicago's Roscoe Village neighborhood, "but I would take him to a theater where there weren't big crowds or the fear of disturbing others. He liked the movie, and everybody enjoyed themselves."

Page Cited: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-x-n-autism-movie-20100402,0,4606973.story

Missouri House Passes Autism Insurance Bill

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (St. Louis Public Radio) - The Missouri House has passed legislation that would mandate insurance coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

Lawmakers had said that autism legislation would be a top priority this year. The bill would require insurance providers in Missouri to cover up to $36,000 a year for behavioral therapy for kids age 18 and younger with autism.

The Senate version differs. It would provide $55,000 of coverage per year for those with autism under age 21. State Senator Eric Schmitt (R, Glendale), whose 5-year-old son Stephen has autism, remains hopeful that a compromise can be reached.

"These therapies that we're talking about are the difference between a mom being able to take her daughter to a movie, a dad taking his son to a ball game, a child having meaningful relationships and friendships, being invited to a birthday party, a lot of things that we just take for granted," Schmitt said.

House leaders were roundly criticized in 2009 for not holding a vote on autism coverage. But House Speaker Ron Richard (R, Joplin) defended last year's inaction before reporters today at the Governor's Mansion.

"I mean, you all just kicked me in the butt every week on autism last year...I'm telling you, there wasn't a consensus! We made a consensus happen (this year) through (House Minority Floor Leader) Paul (LeVota) and I working through the process, and now it's a bill that we're proud of," Richard said.

St. Louis Public Radio also made calls to the Missouri Insurance Coalition for this story, but so far they have not commented. The group has said that mandating coverage for treatment of autism would harm small businesses.

Source:

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