News
In Memorium: Nancy Baughman
In Memorium It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Laura Poorman’s mother Nancy Baughman on Friday, May 26, 2017. In addition to Laura, she is survived by her husband David, her children Mike Baughman and Lisa Beck, grandchildren Mark, Bethany, Morgan, Natalie, Chelsea, Amanda, great grandchild Patrick, brothers Hershel Sandlin, David Sandlin,…
Read MoreWriting Contest Winner Disqualified By Odd Fellows Because He is Autistic
This story about how Autism Acceptance still has a long way to go was brought to our attention by our good friend Casey DePriest from Optimal Rhythms, Inc./Access Academy in Evansville. It seems that a young man named Niko Boskovic submitted an essay to a national writing contest held by the Odd Fellows, a national…
Read MoreOne Parent’s Plea for Better Laws / Police Training to Protect Autistic Children
We recently came across an article published on the Augusta Chronicle website that that we want to bring to your attention. This article, “People with autism need to be protected with new law,” was written by Kinshasa S. Reese, the mother of an autistic son and U.S. Army Reserve sergeant pursuing her master’s degree in…
Read MorePolice Training for Effective Relations with Autistic Community Comes to Little Rock
As a visit to our Celebration of Communication this past May from Police Officer Mark Merrell, who trains police and other first responders on how to improve relations and understanding with the disabled community, illustrates, we have been aware of the importance of proper training for first-responders in how to deal with autistic children and…
Read MoreAs Autism Awareness Grows, so do Facilities & Services for ASD Community, Pt. 3
Air Travel A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 showed that the prevalence of autism in the US has increased to 1 in 68 children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As awareness of autism and the needs of the ASD community grows among the general population,…
Read MoreAs Autism Awareness Grows, so do Facilities & Services for ASD Community, Pt. 2
Play Spaces A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 showed that the prevalence of autism in the US has increased to 1 in 68 children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As awareness of autism and the needs of the ASD community grows among the general population,…
Read MoreAs Autism Awareness Grows, so do Facilities & Services for ASD Community, Pt. 1
Amusement / Theme Parks A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 showed that the prevalence of autism in the US has increased to 1 in 68 children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As awareness of autism and the needs of the ASD community grows among the…
Read More“Life, Animated” – A Remarkable Story About Alternative Communication Comes to the Big Screen in Indianapolis
As the ABC News story, ‘Life, Animated’ Parents Describe How Animated Characters Helped Son With Autism Connect (Jun 29, 2016) reports, “Owen Suskind’s world came to a halt in 1993. The toddler stopped talking, showing affection and engaging in the world around him.” When his parents Ron and Cornelia took him to a doctor, they…
Read MoreMajor Autism Research Study with a Focus on Non-Verbals Published
In March of 2015, Frontiers, a community-rooted, open-access academic publisher released a new research study, Autism: The Movement Perspective, that takes an in-depth look at Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as cognitive and social disorders that, until now, have been characterized as a disruption in social interactions. In this research paper, the editors, Elizabeth B Torres…
Read More2016 Midwest Autism Summer Institute Coming to Des Moines June 27 – 28
We want to remind everyone that the 2016 Midwest Summer Institute is rapidly approaching. This year’s Institute, the theme of which is “Advocating for Access: the Right to Inclusion, the Right to Communication” will take place at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Des Moines, Iowa on June 27 and 28. The event is hosted by…
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