Apr 02 2007

Autism Summit 2007

Written by press release; Autism Spectrum Disorders Support Group

Monday, 02 April 2007

NEW BEDFORD, MA - On Saturday April 7th 2007, the first Autism SUMMIT will take place at UMass Dartmouth. The SUMMIT will be held at the Visual and Performing Arts parking lots 9 & 10. April is Autism Awareness Month! The event is hosted by the Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group that meets biweekly at the South East Center on Brigham Street, New Bedford.

...For more information please contact Pam Maloney at 508-996-0408...Download the flyer click here

Over the past year and a half, parents have gathered, compiled information that complicates the entire system from first warning signs and diagnosis to adult services. Founder Pam Maloney visited the State House last July to discuss the prevalence of Autism especially in the Greater New Bedford area.

State Representatives Steve Canessa and Barbara L’Italien met with Pam and discussed many topics regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Maloney learned that State Representative L’Italien accomplished the line item for funding to Department of Mental Retardation that enabled DMR to split and have a division that would provide specific services for individuals with Autism. The group is planning a second trip to the State House to present information contributed from attendees during the SUMMIT. The group is looking for written family accounts of the moment something was not right to present. Especially interested in the length of time it took to get from the pediatrician to Autism specialist, all the stops in-between, struggles within school systems and the intimidating TEAM meetings. We also want stories of individuals struggling in school due to placement, lack of programs and services, transitioning and especially the transition after graduation. If you have a newly diagnosed child or family member with any form of Autism, this is for you!

The SUMMIT is open to the public and is on a first come, first serve basis. We can seat a maximum of 225 people. We will have resource tables, refreshments and raffles.

Facts on Autism:

Autism’s prevalence is 1:150 however Massachusetts has the statistics of 1:122 with the greater New Bedford being affected even worse.
Autism is 4 times more common in boys than girls
Autism is the third most common developmental disorder: more common than Down Syndrome or Cystic Fibrosis.
People with Autism usually have difficulty understanding language and social behavior
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability.
Some children with Autism have severe gastro issues that can cause behavioral issues due to the pain they may be experiencing

►Red Flags to look for

Some classic behaviors that may help you to recognize
characteristics of autism

Hand flapping
Lining up objects in a row or sorting objects by color, shape, size
things need to be in symmetrical order or shape
Lack of speech or sudden loss of speech/communication; screams or screeches to get needs and wants met
Avoids eye contact (lack of socialization skills)
Tends to play inappropriately and/or independently, seems anti social
Has difficulty in crowded areas like the supermarket or a restaurant
Reacts to being touched unexpectedly or too lightly
Seeks to crawl under chair or couch cushions, deliberately falls on floor, drags buttocks along floor (seeking sensory input)
History of yeast infections
Sensitivity to hair washing and hair cuts
Texture issues such as intolerance to certain clothing, tags, food textures, soaps, play dough, bubbles, sand, water and other substances that are irritant to the touch
Biting on shirt, fingers, many objects (This may be a sign of acid reflux)
Protruding belly “Buddha belly” (this may be a sign of yeast overgrowth which may affect the gut, travel to the brain and prevent speech)
Focuses on spinning of objects such as fans, wheels including spinning wheels on trucks, trains, cars etc., stims off of lights like Christmas tree, florescent lighting, blinking lights, strobes etc.
May only be able to eat certain food textures, colors or shapes, inability to tolerate combined textures such as vegetables in broth (soup) peanut butter with jelly or inability to tolerate food touching an other food on the plate
Has very little or no sense of fear
May have physical weakness in upper body

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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 April 2007 )