AutismConnect <autismconnect@...> wrote:
From AutismConnect Mon Aug 23 11:31:06 2004
A: alma_rosa_99@...
De: AutismConnect
Asunto: Latest news and [autismjobs] new vacancies 034
Fecha: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 11:31:06 -0700

Hello,

Contents:

1. Latest news items
2. Autism Cymru's latest training programme
3. AutismJobs


Key addresses:

1. www.autismconnect.org
2. www.autismjobs.org
3. www.autismcymru.org


1. It would be a serious mistake to believe that only the English-
speaking world is producing exciting autism research. I have access
to the latest information in nine languages, and whenever a study –
or a human-interest news story - strikes me as worthy of mention in
these other languages, I try to bring it to you on AutismConnect.

A case in point is the thrilling French study which emerged last
week, carried out by a team led by one of France's leading autism
experts, Dr Monica Zilbovicius. This study could well shed vital
light on the major communication problems suffered by individuals
with autism. The researchers detected irregularities in the way
autistic adults recognise the human voice, in the superior temporal
sulcus region of the brain. The researchers say this discovery could
support the hypothesis that the immense problems facing people with
autism might be linked to a number of deficits in perception of
social stimuli: voice, intonation, facial gestures, etc. The
researchers used brain scans to study how the brains of autistic
adults perceived the human voice in relation to other sounds. Five
people with autism and eight non-autistic volunteers were exposed to
sequences of sounds, alternating the human voice (words, but also
shouts and laughter) with other sounds (bells, cars, musical
instruments, animal cries). Their brain activity was recorded at the
same time. The researchers detected very clear differences between
the two groups. In the autistic individuals, the specific brain
region responsible for voice perception was not activated at all,
unlike in the control group.

Those interested in the intensive work going on around the globe to
pinpointing at least one of the many genes implicated in autism will
be encouraged by the news a California company, Perlegen Sciences
Inc. has been awarded a grant from the National Institute of Mental
Health in the United States for the first phase of what may be the
first high-density genome-wide study to determine the genetics of
autism. Perlegen will use DNA samples collected by the Autism Genetic
Resource Exchange (AGRE) - the world's largest publicly available
gene bank for autism research. Founded in 1997 by Cure Autism Now,
AGRE has collected important genetic material from over 500 families
with two or more children with autism. The Perlegen study will allow
scientists to analyse DNA with sufficient resolution to identify the
genetic variations which could play a role in autism, is one we could
have only dreamed about just a few years ago. Essentially, it is the
first high-density genome-wide association study that will be
performed in autism," he says. By assaying single nucleotide
polymorphisms from Perlegen's collection of over 1.5 million
validated markers, the research team aims to identify multiple
genetic variants that, together, contribute to the heritability of
autism. These SNP variants could then be developed into diagnostic
tools for clinicians and as potential targets for new therapeutics.

Some of you may remember the dreadful case of the eight-year-old
autistic boy, Terrance Cottrell, who suffocated during a
socalled "exorcism" a year ago in Milwaukee. Last week, the minister
who performed the ritual, Ray Anthony Hemphill, was jailed for 30
months' imprisonment. Now, I've talked to quite a few American
parents of children with autism over the past few days, and most of
them feel this sentence was ridiculously lenient. Hemphill was a
former maintenance worker with no religious schooling Apparently, it
was maximum term Hemphill could receive after a jury had convicted
him of child abuse - recklessly causing great bodily harm. Hemphill
was also ordered to pay US$1,224.75 in restitution. The District
Attorney E. Michael McCann said his office had decided against
homicide charges because the state would have been required to show
that Hemphill realised his actions presented a "great likelihood" of
causing great bodily harm or death to the boy.

Finally, please take a moment or two to dip into the extraordinarily
heart-warming story of Britanny Maier. Brittany was born four months
premature and weighed just 1 pound, 5 ounces. The doctors gave her a
5 to 10 per cent chance of surviving. At 15 today, she is blind,
autistic and mentally retarded. But she is also what Dr Andrew
Adesman - an autism specialist at the Schneider Children's Hospital
at New Hyde Park in New York State - calls a prodigious savant. That
is the highest level of savant, someone who has an extraordinary
talent despite developmental disabilities. (There are believed to be
fewer than 50 prodigious savants in the whole world.) Britanny has
been able to play a song on the piano after just hearing it since she
was five. She's been composing music since she was 10. She has a
repertoire of more than 15,000 songs she can play from memory, and
has released her own CD.


2. Autism Cymru has announced its new Education and Training
Programme for 2004-2005. Topics covered include: Autism and
employment issues; Developing Communication Strategies/Sensory
Issues; Positive Behavioural Support and Autistic Spectrum Disorders;
Understanding and Working with ASD; Supporting Children with ASD in
Mainstream Education, Asperger's syndrome, and a TEACCH 5-Day
Intensive Programme.

Among the speakers are: Professor Simon Baron Cohen, Dr Glenys Jones,
Tanya
Bream, Professor David Allen (Wales), Prof. Michael Fitzgerald
(Ireland), Matthew Hesmondhalgh, Karen Guldberg, Dr Steve Hinder, Dr
Jack Wall; John Clement, Bryan Craig, Erica Gould and Val Cumine.

For the full programme, go to: www.autismcymru.org or: www.awares.org


Book early to avoid disappointment!



3. We are delighted to announce the following vacancies on
autismjobs.

Positions in this issue are:


* Support Worker
* Carers



To find out more about these jobs:

* Read this newsletter and click on the links within each advert.

To enquire about placing an advert:

* Send an e-mail with your contact details to support@...

* We would also appreciate it if you would forward this e-mail to any
employers who you know are recruiting.

Adam Feinstein, Editor, AutismConnect

PS - unsubscribe details are at the bottom of this newsletter



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Employer : Prior's Court School
Job title : Support Worker, Residential Department
Region : South East England
Salary : from £14,222
Closing Date : 31/8/2004
Job Ref. :
Full/Part : Full

Job Function : Support

Follow this link to learn more about this employer -
http://autismconnect.c.topica.com/maaczPzaa9oVua5kHr9b/

Job Description:

We are looking for people who are caring, committed, full of energy
and flexible, who want to become part of an enthusiastic and
supportive team. We currently have vacancies in the role of Support
Worker in the Residential Department, to provide support to pupils
with autism, learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.
Excellent Induction training and ongoing personal development package.

Rota system: average 36 hours per week of early and late shifts
Holidays: 12 weeks (paid)

Follow this link to learn more about this employer -
http://autismconnect.c.topica.com/maaczPzaa9oVua5kHr9b/

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Employer : Relative (brother)
Job title : Carers
Region : South East England
Salary : £10 - £12 p.hr / £45 pn sleep in
Closing Date : 3/9/2004
Job Ref. : AJ/1
Full/Part : Part

Job Function : Support / Sleep in worker

Follow this link to learn more about this employer -
http://autismconnect.c.topica.com/maaczPzaa9oVva5kHr9b/

Job Description:

I am looking for people who are caring, committed, full of energy and
flexible, who want to be part of an enthusiastic and supportive
family.

To provide support for my two younger brothers who have autism and
learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.

Experience of direct work with clients with autistic spectrum
disorder and range of behavioural is essential.

This would be highly rewarding work and would suit people with
creative, friendly and flexible attitude that would relish the
challenge to support my brothers achieving their goals in
independence living skills.

L & M are two young men who are use to structured routine, and really
enjoy being out in the community, going for long walks etc.

Please contact Margaret Farrell on 0207 642 0038

Follow this link to learn more about this employer -
http://autismconnect.c.topica.com/maaczPzaa9oVva5kHr9b/

To view all of these jobs and more: visit www.autismjobs.org

To go straight to AutismConnect: visit www.autismconnect.org

To visit Autism Cymru: www.autismcymru.org