June 22, 2007

Advocacy
Senate Fully Funds the Combating Autism Act

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY 2008 spending
bill, including a 52 percent increase for autism-related activities
at the CDC and Health and Resources Services Administration. This is
the full amount authorized for these programs under the Combating
Autism Act.

Specifically, the bill provides $37 million for the
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Residency Program and the
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Training Program, which both
provide long-term, graduate-level interdisciplinary training, as well
as services and care for infants, children and adolescents with
disabilities. The Committee also provided $16.5 million for CDC's
autism programs, which include the Centers for Autism and
Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology (CADDRE) and the Autism and
Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The House also
provided $16.5 million for these programs.

Because funding levels for autism are different in the House and
Senate bills, they will need to be worked out in a conference
committee. ASA will be working diligently to ensure that autism
activities receive the resources they need.

Other Critical Programs Funded
The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
Appropriations bill also included increases for other programs of
interest to the autism community. The legislation provided $11.24
billion for Special Education State Grants, a 4.2 percent increase
over FY 2007, and $540 million to Special Education Grants for
Infants and Families, a 3.1 percent increase over last year.

Programs under the Developmental Disabilities Act also saw a
significant increase of 11 percent in the FY 2008 bill. The
legislation included $2 million in new funding to support a National
Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Center to promote leadership
by families of children with disabilities in the design and
improvement of family support services.

Unfortunately, neither the House nor the Senate included funding for
the newly authorized Lifespan Respite Care Act. This is a great
disappointment for the disability community, as the legislation has
broad bipartisan support. While funding for this year is now
unlikely, ASA will continue to work with its allies in the disability
community to see that this important program receives the funding it
needs.

One-Third of High School Students with Autism Receive General
Education Curriculum
Most high school students with autism take classes in general and
special education settings, but are less likely to actively
participate in these classes, according to a U.S. Department of
Education report, Secondary School Experiences of Students with
Autism (http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pdf/20073005.pdf).

According to the report, fewer special education students (48
percent) than general education students (66 percent) are reported by
teachers to respond "often" to questions in general education
classes. Nearly one in five students with autism (18
percent) "rarely" or "never" respond orally to questions. However,
the data also show that one-third of high school students with autism
receive the same standard general education grade-level curriculum as
other students in their academic classes. Forty-seven percent have
teachers who report making "some modifications" to the general
education curriculum, 12 percent of students receive a general
education curriculum with "substantial modifications," and 8 percent
receive a specialized curriculum.

Access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities is
gaining importance as schools are held accountable under NCLB for the
academic performance of all students.

Online Graduate Certificate in Autistic Spectrum Disorders available
from UND
A Graduate Certificate in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is now
offered online from the University of North Dakota. Participants can
earn this 12-credit certificate in one year while continuing to work
and live in their own communities.

Students will learn methods for working with ASD individuals, receive
specialized training designed for professionals and families, review
the latest research on providing quality lifelong services and gain
access to a support network.

Through online courses, participants will examine the:

history, characteristics and theory associated with the spectrum;
programs and methods discussed in professional literature;
chronic stressors experienced by caregivers and family members;
career options for the transition from high school through adult life;
legal issues related to providing lifelong supports; and
role of medicine for persons with ASD.
For more information, contact:
Toll free: 1-877-450-1842
E-mail: distancedegreeprograms@...
Website: www.conted.und.edu/ddp/asd

Conference
Join over 1,200 attendees at ASA's 38th National Conference, July 11 -
14, 2007, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale,
Arizona. This conference convenes top experts in autism with
professionals, family members, individuals on the spectrum and
service providers from around the world. For a full list of all
conference sessions, go to www.autism-society.org/conference. Rooms
are still available at the Marriott Residence Inn in Scottsdale, only
1 mile away (shuttle service provided).

New This Year! A special Continuing Medical Education (CME) track for
medical professionals held on Saturday, July 14, titled "Clinical
Implications of Environmental Toxicology for Children's
Neurodevelopment in Autism 2."

Time to Celebrate! Be sure to purchase your ticket for the ASA
Evening of Champions Gala & Silent Auction held on Friday, July 13,
from 6-11 p.m. It is a night to honor and unwind, see old friends and
meet new ones. This year's champions include:

Autism Research Institute
Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Jim Adams, Ph.D.
Denise Resnick
NARPAA
NATTAP
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
Tickets are $85 and corporate tables are available. This will be a
fun night for all with a silent auction, dancing and much more!

For more information please call (301) 657-0881 ext. 7, or e-mail
conference@...

Autism Resources
New Book: Asperger's Syndrome and Bullying: Strategies and Solutions
Bullying is a serious problem for people with Asperger Syndrome (AS),
both at school and in the workplace. Writing in an accessible,
informal style, author Nick Dubin describes the bullying behavior he
and other individuals have experienced, and the effect this has had
on their lives. He outlines the reasons for bullying behavior and the
danger of persistent recurrence if it remains unchecked. Dubin goes
on to provide a range of effective strategies to address bullying
that can be applied by parents, professionals, schools and
individuals being bullied.

This book offers individuals with AS who are being bullied the
opportunity to see that they are not alone, and it is an invaluable
source of advice for parents, teachers, professionals and personnel
managers.

Use this link below to order the book today.

For more information, contact Michael John Carley, Executive
Director, GRASP, at (646)242-4003 or mjcarley@....

"Summary of Biomedical Treatments for Autism" Available Online
James B. Adams, Ph.D., Full Professor at Arizona State University and
President of ASA's Greater Phoenix Chapter, has posted a "Summary of
Biomedical Treatments for Autism" on the website of ASU's
Autism/Asperger's Research Program where he is director. The summary
is primarily based on the book Autism: Effective Biomedical
Treatments by Jon Pangborn, Ph.D., and Sidney Baker, M.D., published
by the Autism Research Institute. This summary generally follows the
DAN! philosophy, which involves trying to treat the underlying causes
of the symptoms of autism, based on medical testing, scientific
research and clinical experience, with an emphasis on nutritional
interventions. Treatments discussed include improvement in diet,
addressing food sensitivities, GFCF diet, vitamin/mineral
supplements, high-dose vitamin B6 and magnesium, essential fatty
acids, digestive enzymes, gut treatments, amino acids, melatonin,
thyroid supplementation, sulfation, glutathione therapy, chelation
and immune system regulation.

This document is available at http://autism.asu.edu/. For further
information, please contact Jim Adams at (480) 965-3316 or
jim.adams@....

3rd Annual Zoowalk for Autism!

Saturday September 29, 2007, at the Phoenix Zoo
Join us for a great family event, and to support research on
effective treatments for autism. Over $300,000 has been raised for
research from over 7,500 participants!
Sign up your team now at http://www.zoowalk.org/.

100% of donations go to support autism research at ASU and nationally
via the Autism Research Institute and ASA.

Bittersweet Farms Harvest Festival
Bittersweet Farms is having a Harvest Festival on Sunday, September
30th, from noon to 5 p.m. at their farmstead in Whitehouse, Ohio. The
celebration will feature local vendors, live music, our own farm-
raised pulled pork and barbeque, Traveler's famous chicken dinners,
children's games, a corn maze, hayrides, a bake sale, wonderful
crafts and original artwork, pony rides, a farmers' market, and much
more! Admission is free; parking is $2. All proceeds from the
afternoon's activities will help fund Bittersweet's therapeutic
farmstead serving individuals with autism. For more information, call
Barb Nelson at (419) 875-6986, ext. 1241, or go to
http://www.bittersweetfarms.org/.

Autism Advocate: ASA's Premier Magazine on Autism Spectrum Disorders
Sports/Recreation-Themed 2nd Edition, 2007: Coming to Your Mailbox!
The Autism Advocate's 1st edition 2007 issue on adult employment
continues to be in high demand, with multiple requests coming in for
additional copies! We're thrilled that the community is able to use
it as an education tool for schools, employers and others. The 2nd
edition, 2007, focusing on sports and recreation for those with
autism, will publish in June before the ASA National Conference in
Scottsdale, Arizona, July 11-14.

Don't let your friends and family miss out on the Autism Advocate.
Forward the link below and get them informed!

Already a member? Go to www.autism-society.org/magazine to read the
Autism Advocate online.



Unsubscribe