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What’s the difference between autism and Asperger’s disorder?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-cashin-458270">Andrew Cashin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a></em></p> <p>Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg describes herself as having <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/02/greta-thunberg-responds-to-aspergers-critics-its-a-superpower">Asperger’s</a> while others on the autism spectrum, such as Australian comedian Hannah Gatsby, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/mar/19/hannah-gadsby-autism-diagnosis-little-out-of-whack">describe</a> themselves as “autistic”. But what’s the difference?</p> <p>Today, the previous diagnoses of “Asperger’s disorder” and “autistic disorder” both fall within the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.</p> <p>Autism describes a “neurotype” – a person’s thinking and information-processing style. Autism is one of the forms of diversity in human thinking, which comes with strengths and challenges.</p> <p>When these challenges become overwhelming and impact how a person learns, plays, works or socialises, a diagnosis of <a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder">autism spectrum disorder</a> is made.</p> <h2>Where do the definitions come from?</h2> <p>The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) outlines the criteria clinicians use to diagnose mental illnesses and behavioural disorders.</p> <p>Between 1994 and 2013, autistic disorder and Asperger’s disorder were the two primary diagnoses related to autism in the fourth edition of the manual, the DSM-4.</p> <p>In 2013, the DSM-5 collapsed both diagnoses into one <a href="https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596">autism spectrum disorder</a>.</p> <h2>How did we used to think about autism?</h2> <p>The two thinkers behind the DSM-4 diagnostic categories were Baltimore psychiatrist Leo Kanner and Viennese paediatrician Hans Asperger. They described the challenges faced by people who were later diagnosed with autistic disorder and Asperger’s disorder.</p> <p>Kanner and Asperger observed patterns of behaviour that differed to typical thinkers in the domains of communication, social interaction and flexibility of behaviour and thinking. The variance was associated with challenges in adaptation and distress.</p> <p>Between the 1940s and 1994, the majority of those diagnosed with autism also had an intellectual disability. Clinicians became focused on the accompanying intellectual disability as a necessary part of autism.</p> <p>The introduction of Asperger’s disorder shifted this focus and acknowledged the diversity in autism. In the DSM-4 it superficially looked like autistic disorder and Asperger’s disorder were different things, with the Asperger’s criteria stating there could be no intellectual disability or delay in the development of speech.</p> <p>Today, as a legacy of the recognition of the autism itself, the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/autism-in-australia/contents/autism">majority of people</a> diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder – the new term from the DSM-5 – don’t a have an accompanying intellectual disability.</p> <h2>What changed with ‘autism spectrum disorder’?</h2> <p>The move to autism spectrum disorder brought the previously diagnosed autistic disorder and Asperger’s disorder under the one new diagnostic umbrella term.</p> <p>It made clear that other diagnostic groups – such as intellectual disability – can co-exist with autism, but are separate things.</p> <p>The other major change was acknowledging communication and social skills are intimately linked and not separable. Rather than separating “impaired communication” and “impaired social skills”, the diagnostic criteria changed to “impaired social communication”.</p> <p>The introduction of the spectrum in the diagnostic term further clarified that people have varied capabilities in the flexibility of their thinking, behaviour and social communication – and this can change in response to the context the person is in.</p> <h2>Why do some people prefer the old terminology?</h2> <p>Some people feel the clinical label of Asperger’s allowed a much more refined understanding of autism. This included recognising the achievements and great societal contributions of people with known or presumed autism.</p> <p>The contraction “Aspie” played an enormous part in the shift to positive identity formation. In the time up to the release of the DSM-5, <a href="https://xminds.org/resources/Documents/Web%20files/Aspie%20Criteria%20by%20Attwood.pdf">Tony Attwood and Carol Gray</a>, two well known thinkers in the area of autism, highlighted the strengths associated with “being Aspie” as something to be proud of. But they also raised awareness of the challenges.</p> <h2>What about identity-based language?</h2> <p>A more recent shift in language has been the reclamation of what was once viewed as a slur – “autistic”. This was a shift from person-first language to identity-based language, from “person with autism spectrum disorder” to “autistic”.</p> <p>The neurodiversity rights movement describes its aim to <a href="https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/71531/1/JCU_71531_AAM.pdf">push back</a> against a breach of human rights resulting from the wish to cure, or fundamentally change, people with autism.</p> <p>The movement uses a “social model of disability”. This views disability as arising from societies’ response to individuals and the failure to adjust to enable full participation. The inherent challenges in autism are seen as only a problem if not accommodated through reasonable adjustments.</p> <p>However the social model contrasts itself against a very outdated medical or clinical model.</p> <p>Current clinical thinking and practice focuses on <a href="https://www.collegianjournal.com/article/S1322-7696(22)00122-6/fulltext">targeted</a> supports to reduce distress, promote thriving and enable optimum individual participation in school, work, community and social activities. It doesn’t aim to cure or fundamentally change people with autism.</p> <p>A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder signals there are challenges beyond what will be solved by adjustments alone; individual supports are also needed. So it’s important to combine the best of the social model and contemporary clinical model.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223643/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-cashin-458270">Andrew Cashin</a>, Professor of Nursing, School of Health and Human Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-autism-and-aspergers-disorder-223643">original article</a>.</em></p>

Mind

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Bruce Willis' daughter reveals shock new health diagnosis

<p>Tallulah Willis, 30, has revealed that she was diagnosed with autism as an adult. </p> <p>The daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore took to Instagram to publicly share the news for the first time. </p> <p>"Tell me you're autistic without telling me you're autistic 😂," she wrote underneath a throwback video of her playing with her dad's ears during <em>The Whole Ten Yards</em> premiere in 2004. </p> <p>She continued opening up about her diagnosis in the comments. </p> <p>"Actually this is the first time I've ever publicly shared my diagnosis," she replied to a follower. </p> <p> "Found out this summer and it's changed my life," she added with a sun emoji. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4jRY7Av5b8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4jRY7Av5b8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by tallulah (@buuski)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>According to <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/autism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Health Direct</em></a>, Autism spectrum disorder is a "lifelong developmental disorder" which affects how people behave and interact with the world around them and "is caused by differences in how the brain develops".</p> <p>Many fans were quick to comment on the sweet father-daughter bond that her and Bruce share. </p> <p>"The moment when you look at each other !!! So much was said with just one look ❤" one wrote. </p> <p>"I love this so much and I love how unfazed he is while you’re playing with his ear. So precious!" another added. </p> <p>"This is so powerful. The love you share with your papa. He calmed you here, his very body , and that is beautiful. You are beautiful. ❤" a third wrote. </p> <p>A few others thanked Tallulah for her transparency and sharing her autism diagnosis. </p> <p>"My son is autistic too. And I love the saying, “you know one autistic person, you know…. one autistic person.” Because everyone is so different. My son had stims that look nothing like this. But that certainly doesn’t discount what calms you! Most importantly tho: thank you for this post," wrote one fan. </p> <p>"This made me cry! I'm also autistic and felt this through my soul. Die Hard was a favourite movie of my dad's &amp; knowing that you share the same diagnosis as me &amp; so many others warms my heart," another commented.</p> <p>Tallulah has always been candid about her mental and physical health, as she recently opened up about her experience with anorexia nervosa and told her followers that recovery is not linear and can sometimes be "messy." </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Autism and ADHD assessment waits are up to 2 years’ long. What can families do in the meantime?

<p>Reports have emerged from around Australia of waitlists of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/unacceptable-wait-to-screen-children-for-developmental-delays-autism-20220125-p59r1d.html">up to two years</a> to receive a diagnostic assessment for neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p> <p>Assessment delays can create additional stress for families who are already worrying their child may be developing differently.</p> <p>These waiting times are a symptom of the significant strain our health systems are under. System reform will take time, and in the meantime, there are many children who require urgent support.</p> <p>But supporting your child doesn’t need to be put on hold while you wait for assessment.</p> <p><strong>Why are waitlists so long?</strong></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/wondering-about-adhd-autism-and-your-childs-development-what-to-know-about-getting-a-neurodevelopmental-assessment-197528">Diagnostic assessments</a> are an important part of the <a href="https://www.autismcrc.com.au/access/national-guideline">clinical pathway</a> for children developing differently.</p> <p>Diagnoses can provide parents and carers with a deeper understanding of their child. A diagnosis allows the child, their family and the supporting health professionals to benefit from all the information we have about that diagnosis, to understand how best to <a href="https://www.autismcrc.com.au/access/supporting-children">support the child going forward</a>.</p> <p>One reason why our diagnostic systems are currently under so much strain is because of expanding diagnostic boundaries. The criteria for autism and ADHD have <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-deficits-to-a-spectrum-thinking-around-autism-has-changed-now-there-are-calls-for-a-profound-autism-diagnosis-194049">changed over time</a>, meaning more children meet criteria for these conditions than before.</p> <p>Another reason is that our health, disability and education systems often require a formal diagnosis for a child to receive support. This further increases demand for diagnostic assessments.</p> <p>Often, long waitlists result in children and families not getting timely access to crucial early therapy services. Delays can mean that many of the best opportunities to support children’s development early in life are missed, which can further <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1750946719301849">entrench developmental disability and disadvantage</a>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Parents turn to equine therapy for children with autism, ADHD as disability services wait times blow out <a href="https://t.co/JezFJ2TmuV">https://t.co/JezFJ2TmuV</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCaustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABCaustralia</a></p> <p>— Robert Koenig-Luck (@koenig_luck) <a href="https://twitter.com/koenig_luck/status/1645227611193475077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>However, importantly, there are many beneficial things that families can do in the meantime to pave the way for the future.</p> <p><strong>3 things families can do</strong></p> <p>While a diagnosis may help a child access support services, they are still able to access services without a diagnosis.</p> <p>If a parent is worried about their child’s development, then it is important they continue to seek out support services while the child is on a diagnostic waitlist.</p> <p>A GP is typically the best person to consult in the first instance. They can then refer the child and family to public or private therapy services. However, private service options may involve out-of-pocket expenses, which can create inequity in access to services.</p> <p>Parents can also take steps to:</p> <p><strong>1. Build connections with their child</strong></p> <p>A key part of all early supports is nurturing the connection parents have with their child. All children benefit from having frequent, meaningful time set aside to <a href="https://clinikids.telethonkids.org.au/information-hub/blog/serve-and-return-interactions/">connect</a> with their primary caregivers.</p> <p>During this special connection time, parents might focus on slowing down, approaching their child with curiosity, being open to following their child’s special interests, and trying a variety of communication strategies (including words, gestures or using pictures) to <a href="https://clinikids.telethonkids.org.au/information-hub/blog/shared-attention/">support communication</a>.</p> <p>Parents needn’t feel pressure to spend all their time engaging with their child – but any time that can be dedicated to this will be time well spent.</p> <p><strong>2. Gather information to support diagnosis</strong></p> <p>Diagnoses of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html">ADHD</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html">autism</a> are based on the observation of certain behaviours. A clinician will be able to observe some of these behaviours in their assessment, but they will also rely on information from parents about how their child usually behaves or interacts in different situations.</p> <p>Parents can support this process by noting examples of the patterns of behaviours they’ve observed. These might include special interests, repetitive activities, social interactions, emotional regulation, sensory preferences or how their child communicates.</p> <p>It is important parents don’t only note what a child finds difficult, but also their strengths and interests. Sometimes, the things a child is particularly good at can tell us just as much as their challenges.</p> <p><strong>3. Prioritise family wellbeing</strong></p> <p>While parents are often proactive in seeking support for their child, they can sometimes neglect their own need for support. Parents are the most important person in a child’s life, and parental capacity and wellbeing can have a significant influence on their child’s outcomes.</p> <p>While waiting for a diagnosis, parents should start to plan how they are also going to get the support they need. This can include staying connected within the community and making time for activities that bring them and their family joy.</p> <p><strong>Looking beyond diagnosis</strong></p> <p>When parents seek out a diagnosis for their child, they want help to support their child’s development. But long waits for assessment and diagnosis can present barriers between Australia’s health, education and disability systems and the help families need. The long waiting lists to receive a diagnostic assessment are at odds with what we know about the importance of early intervention.</p> <p>Recent <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2784066">clinical trials</a> have shown how providing support to babies and parents at the first sign of developmental concern can lead to <a href="https://theconversation.com/therapy-for-babies-showing-early-signs-of-autism-reduces-the-chance-of-clinical-diagnosis-at-age-3-167146">positive developmental outcomes</a> for children.</p> <p>This approach prioritises acting quickly over diagnostic clarity, and makes it more likely children and families receive support during critical times in brain development.</p> <p>As Australia seeks to reform our early childhood development system, the need of families to receive prompt support should be front of mind.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Can we have a twitter thread where we list all of the therapies and supports that parents -can- use to help their autistic kid? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OtherWaysThanABA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OtherWaysThanABA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SayNotoABA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SayNotoABA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskingAutistics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AskingAutistics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ActaullyAutistic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ActaullyAutistic</a></p> <p>My go-to is ear defenders/earplugs/sunglasses/hoodies/fidget toys/punching bag</p> <p>— AutisticSciencePerson, MSc (@AutSciPerson) <a href="https://twitter.com/AutSciPerson/status/1116527158564986880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/autism-and-adhd-assessment-waits-are-up-to-2-years-long-what-can-families-do-in-the-meantime-203232" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Autistic teen found three years after disappearing

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An autistic teenage boy who was reported missing in northern California a full three years ago has been found outside a petrol station in a completely different state. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Connerjack Oswalt was just 16 when he wandered away from the family home near San Francisco in September 2019, and has not been seen by family members – until now.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1,200 kilometres and three years later, the now 19-year-old was identified when a “concerned community member” reported seeing a man sleeping outside a petrol station west of Salt Lake City, Utah. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This morning, he’s very cold, he’s shivering, he’s obviously had a rough night,” Sheriff Justin Martinez said in a Facebook post on April 9.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After letting the mystery teen sit in a police vehicle to warm up, research began into who it might actually be. In the wake of community reports of a man seen recently in the area pushing a shopping cart, police were able to slowly piece it all together.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Through past interactions and the Saturday interaction, it was clear to deputies that the man communicated differently,” the sheriff’s office posted, while also referencing an autism awareness hashtag since the man had refused (or was unable) to provide his name.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After searching through the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children website, police eventually found Oswalt’s likeness on a missing poster.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">🤔Where has he been?</p> <p>In 2019, 16 y/o Connerjack Oswalt ran away from his family and was reported missing out of California.</p> <p>Nearly 2.5 years later, Connerjack's family learned he was alive thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/SummitCountySO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SummitCountySO</a> deputies &amp; dispatchers.<a href="https://twitter.com/fox13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fox13</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AutismAcceptanceMonth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AutismAcceptanceMonth</a> <a href="https://t.co/WM5ST0MvpR">pic.twitter.com/WM5ST0MvpR</a></p> <p>— 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐞 (@brian_schnee) <a href="https://twitter.com/brian_schnee/status/1515462784003190785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Deputies began making phone calls and were able to make contact with Connerjack’s mother,” Sheriff’s Lieutenant Andrew Wright said.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His mother told authorities Oswalt had a distinctive birthmark on his neck. Deputies found the mark on Oswalt, Lt Wright said.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oswalt’s mother Suzanne Flint told Fox 13 News she had “never stopped looking” for her son. “There wasn’t a day I wasn’t searching for him, in some form or fashion.”</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In one of two bodycam videos released by the sheriff’s office, Oswalt’s stepfather is seen exclaiming in disbelief as police show him a mug shot of Oswalt to confirm it was the same person.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is it him?” Oswalt’s mother can be heard saying on speaker phone.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A little bit older, but yeah,” Oswalt’s stepfather responds.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My sweetheart’s alive,” the mother is heard saying, while sobbing on the phone. “Can you go get him please?”</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oswalt’s stepfather and grandfather then travelled to Park City, Utah, to identify him in person and be reunited.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Investigators remain unsure as to exactly how he ended up 1,200 kilometres away in Salt Lake City.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This remains the big question,” Lt Wright told USA TODAY. “Where did his journey take him over the past two and a half years? We suspect he didn’t give identifying information because he was scared of police.”</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><em><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Images: Clearlake Police Department / Summit County Sheriff’s Office</span></em></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-51bf8c7c-7fff-9f79-2646-8cc39810f4af"></span></p>

Caring

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"He couldn't yell for help": Heartbroken dad speaks out

<p>The heartbroken father of six-year-old Joey Vines has spoken out about the tragic death of his young son. </p> <p>Joey's father Steven told police that while they were searching for the young boy while he was missing, he would not answer as he was non-verbal and unable to call for help. </p> <p>Police joined the frantic search for Joey on Sunday afternoon after he was reported missing in the Perth suburb of Booragoon. </p> <p>Just 90 minutes later, he was found unresponsive in their neighbours' swimming pool and tragically died later in hospital. </p> <p>Steven said life would never be the same without his "beautiful boy". </p> <p>“He was a beautiful little autistic boy, who couldn’t yell for help because he was non-verbal,” he told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/six-year-old-boy-couldnt-yell-for-help-after-falling-into-neighbours-pool-in-booragoon-c-6234952" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>.</p> <p>“He was a bloody special, special kid.”</p> <p>"We loved him to death and everyone that was in his life, he melted their bloody hearts."</p> <p>Joey leaves behind five siblings, who have all been left devastated by the accident. </p> <p>Steven said, “He couldn’t talk but we knew how to communicate with him. We loved him to death.”</p> <p>The six-year-old had just started school again at a facility for special needs children and was coming along in “leaps and bounds”, according to Steven. </p> <p>WA premier Mark McGowan offered his condolences to the grieving family. </p> <p>“Obviously a shocking thing and we were all hoping for the best, but it didn’t turn out that way. So can I pass on all our thoughts to little Joey’s family,” he said.</p> <p>Police say the death is not suspicious and a report will be prepared for the State Coroner.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News footage / WA Police</em></p>

News

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Young HERO with autism jumps out Maccas drive-thru window to save choking customer

<p><em>Image: Kare11</em></p> <p>A 15-year-old McDonald’s worker potentially saved a customer’s life by jumping through the drive-thru window after she noticed the woman choking on a chicken nugget.</p> <p>Sydney Raley was working a shift at McDonald’s in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, handing customers their orders in the drive-thru when she realised something was wrong with the person she was serving.</p> <p>“I noticed that she was coughing profusely, and her daughter just had this look on her face like sheer terror,” she told the local news station KARE11.</p> <p>“I could tell, oh crap, she’s choking!’ Just seeing that visceral reaction I knew I had to act fast.”</p> <p>Sydney had done first-aid training when she was 11 years old, so she immediately jumped out the drive-thru window and told the customer to get out of the car and instructed her daughter to call for help.</p> <p>The Heimlich manoeuvre didn't work the first few times, so she called upon another customer who was waiting for his food to come and help.</p> <p>The other customer was able to dislodge the chicken nugget stuck in the woman's throat.</p> <p>“It could’ve ended a lot worst but I am super thankful for that bystander who helped so much,” she said.</p> <p>Police officers from Edina Police Department arrived at the scene to assist the woman and rewarded Sydney with $100 – from the fund police use to give back to those who do good in the community.</p> <p>Just after emergency services had arrived at the McDonald's, Sydney's parents arrived to pick her up. Her father Tom told CNN they saw the ambulance and police car out the front and for a moment were worried they were there for something to do with Sydney.</p> <p>He told the station he is extremely proud of her.</p> <p>"I always tell her she has a gift, because she's autistic," said Tom.</p> <p>"She can remember anything – do anything."</p> <p>The police Sergeant was also proud of the 15-year-old.</p> <p>"We’re very proud of Sydney. She’s a great example of how all of us – no matter our age or position – can make a difference in our communities," Sergeant Scott Mittelstadt said, according to the department's Facebook post.</p>

Caring

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Heading off autism diagnoses early

<p><span style="font-size: 14px;">Australian researchers have shown for the first time that early intervention with parent-led therapy can help to reduce autism diagnoses in children that exhibit early signs of the condition. The study, </span><a style="font-size: 14px;" rel="noopener" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2784066?guestAccessKey=4de62efc-31a1-4b0d-ae0f-fd3c858b2253&amp;utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=092021" target="_blank">published</a><span style="font-size: 14px;"> in </span><em style="font-size: 14px;">JAMA Pediatrics</em><span style="font-size: 14px;">, found that a specific type of video-feedback-based therapy has the potential to reduce the clinical diagnosis of autism in children by two-thirds at age three.</span></p> <div class="copy"> <p>Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects children’s social skills, communication and behaviour.</p> <p>Around 2% of Australians have been diagnosed with autism, but more than half of all kids receiving support under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have an autism diagnosis. The average age of diagnosis is around 3 or 4.</p> <p>In an <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/news-briefing-early-help-can-reduce-autism-behaviours-in-kids" target="_blank">AusSMC briefing</a> on the JAMA research, lead researcher Professor Andrew Whitehouse, from the Telethon Kids Institute, said that the first two years of development are too important to be missed.</p> <p>“Anyone who’s seen a child develop language knows just how extraordinary that brain is in the first two years of life,” Whitehouse says. “And because we’re waiting and seeing during that period our therapies are currently missing that really critical period of brain development to support. Rather than providing starting support at age three, we’re saying let’s identify parental concerns, and then verify that with clinical observation in the first year of life.”</p> <p>The team identified that babies under a year old who begin to develop the behaviours associated with autism, such as differences in the way that they interact with the people around them, can fall “out of sync” with the interactions required for their brains to continue to develop.</p> <p>“So this can lead to what we call a developmental cascade, where disability becomes more entrenched over time,” says Whitehouse. “The children have an early vulnerability, which we know is genetic in origin, but because they are actually interacting with their caregivers in a different way, that disability becomes further and further entrenched.”</p> <p>This is where the therapy, called iBASIS-VIPP, is able to help. It involves a therapist filming the parent or caregiver interacting with the child who is suspected of developing autism. The therapist is then able to work with the parents, and highlight ways for them to alter their behaviour to support and enrich their child’s interactions using subtle changes to their everyday routines.</p> <p>Co-author of the research, Associate Professor Kristelle Hudry from La Trobe University, says this parental behaviour change at such an early stage of development can provide significant improvements in child communication skills and more generally for their development.</p> <p>“The hope then is that this changed parent behaviour will lead to increased child skills through the parent implementing these subtle changes in their everyday routines, all day every day, at home in everything that they’re doing, Hudry says. “And then ultimately that this will bring improvements in child social communication skills… and impact their skills to such an extent that the likelihood of autism is changed.”</p> <p>The Australian trial provided 10 fortnightly sessions of the therapy over five months for babies exhibiting early signs of autism between nine and 15 months of age.</p> <p>After following up with those families over three years, the trial found that only 6.7% of children receiving the therapy met the criteria for autism, compared to around 21% of children who did not receive the therapy.</p> <p>“That’s a significant reduction, and that’s the first time that has ever been shown that a pre-emptive support can be so effective in supporting development, that it actually reduces the likelihood that children go on to receive a diagnosis of autism,” says Whitehouse.</p> <p>The critical point here is that although those children have a lower likelihood of subsequently receiving a diagnosis of autism, they still require support services. Whitehouse says that the current system is flawed as it uses a diagnosis as the trigger or entry point to receive support. He says a needs-based service rather than a diagnosis-based service should be provided.</p> <p>Whitehouse also emphasises that they aren’t ‘curing’ autism and that the aims of the study are not about seeking a cure, but rather to “reduce the level of autism behaviours to the point that we can actually remove barriers in their life so children can reach their full potential”.</p> <p>Hudry and Whitehouse both make it clear that parents are not the cause of autism, but that parents are able to provide a key way to support their child’s development to reduce the barriers that autism can create.</p> <p>“This therapy is about working with each child’s unique differences,” says Whitehouse. “It’s not about trying to make kids more typical; it’s about actually identifying and nurturing and celebrating those differences and using them as a foundation for further development.”</p> <!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=166915&amp;title=Heading+off+autism+diagnoses+early" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> <!-- End of tracking content syndication --></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/parent-led-autism-therapy-for-babies-reduces-behaviours/" target="_blank">This article</a> was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/steven-mew" target="_blank">Steven Mew</a>. Steven Mew is a media officer at the Australian Science Media Centre.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Science Media Centre</em></p> </div>

Mind

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Autistic boy’s heartbreak over support dog “stolen”

<p><span>A seven-year-old boy and his family were devastated after they lost their beloved support dog.</span><br /><br /><span>Xavier’s family said their family's life had improved immeasurably when they met their pup Blue.</span><br /><br /><span>“She likes playing soccer with me. She likes snuggling me when I’m sick,” Xavier told <em>7News.</em></span><br /><br /><span>“When I was upset she would always come near me and let me fiddle with her ear.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843408/xavier-puppy-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a27c495275d24f3c8e6b54faa6eea330" /></p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em><br /><br /><span>Their spaniel puppy was taken into the home for Xavier, to be a support pet as he lives with autism.</span><br /><br /><span>His mum, Sarah Rodgers, said her son’s behaviour had improved significantly since Blue came into their life back in April.</span><br /><br /><span>“We travel quite a lot with horses, and for Xavier to be out in an environment that’s quite chaotic at the horse shows, it’s about giving him something that gives security,” Rodgers explained.</span><br /><br /><span>“He doesn’t cope with very well with lots of noise, lots of activity.</span><br /><br /><span>“Blue just gives him that moment to centre. When he gets overwhelmed ... Blue would come up and lick him in the back of the head and go, ‘hey, it’s OK’.</span><br /><br /><span>“If he was walking through a crowd and was starting to get overwhelmed, Blue would walking in front of him and go, ‘hey, it’s OK’.</span><br /><br /><span>“When he gets super upset and can’t communicate to us why he gets upset, he would sit with Blue and let him fiddle with her ear.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843410/xavier-puppy.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5fdf30d58bed4d8ca01ae61bf45a8b2d" /></p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em><br /><br /><span>Sadly, Blue disappeared over a week ago from the family’s property in Bellmere, in the Moreton Bay region of Queensland.</span><br /><br /><span>Rodgers revealed she had to deliver heartbreaking news to Xavier: “Maybe she’s not coming home, mate.”</span><br /><br /><span>“It was really hard,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>Rodgers said Blue vanished from their home when she left for the morning school run.</span><br /><br /><span>Police are investigating the suspicious disappearance, with Rodgers saying a witness reported seeing a woman carrying the dog that morning.</span><br /><br /><span>“To think that someone ... may have had an issue and didn’t bother coming to talk with us, or may have decided they wanted to make a point, again without coming to talk with us, I find that really hard and I can’t explain that to him,” Rodgers said.</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Schoolgirl with autism handcuffed by police

<p><span>Autism advocates are begging for change from the NSW government after it was revealed young children are being forcibly handcuffed, strapped down to hospital beds and forced to take powerful sedatives.</span><br /><br /><span>Anger-inducing video footage recorded earlier this week shows a nine-year-old girl from south-west Sydney screaming as she is handcuffed and led away by police officers, following a meltdown at school.</span><br /><br /><span>Families and support workers say that kids who have challenging behaviours and complex needs are falling through the cracks due to a lack of mental health and inpatient services for their age group.</span><br /><br /><span>Advocates say these young kids are instead undergoing traumatising experiences by cycling through emergency departments and apprehensions by police.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838498/autism-children-support-services.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ed6a91a802db4421811e4f4f7baad938" /><br /><br /><span>Makayla, nine, has struggled due to her combination of conditions including autism spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD and anxiety that result in uncontrolled and sometimes violent outbursts.</span><br /><br /><span>"I just want to be a normal family," Makayla told 9News.</span><br /><br /><span>"I want to make mummy proud."</span><br /><br /><span>However, the young girl says she lives in fear of a voice in her head and the fallout from her own meltdowns.</span><br /><br /><span>Makayla has on numerous occasions been handcuffed and put into paddy wagons.</span><br /><br /><span>While this heinous act might seem like it is illegal, the NSW government allows it under the Mental Health Act.</span><br /><br /><span>Makayla’s mother Megan, who has been attacked by her daughter during outbursts, said her child needs more specialist help.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838497/autism-children-support-services-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/739f46469339457d92954099a33c0e94" /><br /><br /><span>Unfortunately, she has been told by medical staff that Makayla is a child who has "fallen through the cracks" of the system.</span><br /><br /><span>"We're just being stonewalled everywhere we go," she said.</span><br /><br /><span>Megan stressed that she doesn't lay any blame at police, health workers, carers, school or emergency staff who respond to incidents.</span><br /><br /><span>Instead she blames the system as it is failing to provide much-needed specialist interventions, treatment and support for young kids like Makayla.</span><br /><br /><span>Grace Fava is CEO of the Autism Advisory and Support Service and operates Australia’s only 24-hour hotline for struggling parents and carers of kids with autism.</span><br /><br /><span>She claims there are so many parents like Megan, whose families have been torn apart, unable to cope and felt isolated.</span><br /><br /><span>"For every one that comes through to us, there are at least another 100 that are crying out begging for help," she said.</span><br /><br /><span>"The system is letting them down. I'd say the system is broken but as somebody once eloquently put it, there is no system."</span><br /><br /><span>Ms Fava says these children often end up in teen or adult mental health services.</span><br /><br /><span>Unfortunately, this means they may be exposed to drugs, self-harm and inappropriate behaviour.</span><br /><br /><span>These children are also at a higher risk of turning to drugs and ending up in the justice system when they get older.</span></p>

News

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Will Callaghan's mum reveals how he survived

<div class="body_text "> <p>Penny Callaghan, the mother of 14-year-old autistic boy William Callaghan who survived in dense bushland for two nights, opened up to<span> </span>The Project’s<span> </span>Waleed Aly about how William survived.</p> <p>She revealed that it was characteristics of William’s intellectual disability that helped him survive without food or water on Mount Disappointment as temperatures hit almost 0 degrees.</p> <p>“I had people constantly around me reminding me of his strengths, he is constantly on the move remember, he is very fit,” Ms Callaghan explained.</p> <p>“He’s used to being out in the cold. He likes being outside all the time regardless of the temperature. It’s almost as though he can’t feel it,” she added.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">"I’m immensely moved because it means there are people in the community that do care and want to make a difference, his life was at stake and here they are all these people wanting to protect him." <a href="https://t.co/hJeeYkxU6q">pic.twitter.com/hJeeYkxU6q</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1272828730684190720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>She also believes the way William managed to source water was key to his survival.</p> <p>“Unlike your typical children, he will just drink from a puddle and not see anything wrong with that. In the wilderness that’s perfectly fine and that’s probably what got him through,” she said.</p> <p>She’s described the response from the public as “immensely moving” and said that it hasn’t always been like that.</p> <p>“My experience with the general public and autism hasn’t always been terrific,” she admitted.</p> <p>“I’m immensely moved because it means there are people in the community that do care and want to make a difference, his life was at stake and here they all are, all these people wanting to protect him.</p> <p>“This little person is loved, that often isn’t demonstrated in the wider community because he’s different,” she said.</p> <p>She said that William has “definitely been affected” by the ordeal as well.</p> <p>“He’s very happy to be home and he’s quite clingy with me. He often is that way when he has been distressed,” she said.</p> </div>

News

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Stepdad of missing autistic teenager heartbroken as he recounts family turmoil

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>The stepdad of William Callaghan has explained the heartbreak and turmoil his family was feeling after his stepson William was lost in dense bushland for several days.</p> <p>The autistic 14-year-old went missing on Monday afternoon during a walk with family, but was found on Wednesday.</p> <p>His stepdad, Nathan Ezard and mother Penny were in “autopilot” in the moments leading up to reuniting with William.</p> <p>“The time up there was excruciating,” Mr Ezard told Nine’s Today program on Friday.</p> <p>“For all of us who work with Will, who are part of Will's life, one of our biggest fears is that he will go missing on our watch. And it's excruciating.”</p> <p>“It's any dad's worst fear to lose a child in the bush or whatever like that. To have your kids in harms way is just horrible.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">William Callaghan's father has broken his silence. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/tLxXQpkJCM">pic.twitter.com/tLxXQpkJCM</a></p> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1272258766491303938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Overwhelmed, Ezard recalled when the volunteer, Ben Gibbs, who found William saying that he looked like an angel.</p> <p>“And that is how Will looks,” a beaming Mr Ezard told the Today Show.</p> <p>“He is a little angel, he really is sent from heaven. He’s just beautiful.”</p> <p>As William is autistic and non-verbal, it added extra challenges in trying to find him, which involved hundreds of volunteers. PA systems were playing his favourite song, the Thomas the Tank Engine theme son as well as urging locals to cook bacon and onions to coax Will towards familiar smells.</p> <p>Ezard explained that raising Will came with “positives and negatives”.</p> <p>“While it's really difficult, it is just such a pleasure to be part of Will's life. So, yes, we struggle but it's more that we struggle for Will. It's just an honour to be part of his existence,” he said.</p> </div> </div> </div>

TV

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Mother's fury after autistic son is kicked off flight

<p><span>A mother says that she’s furious after her and her 21-year-old autistic son were kicked off a flight as staff claimed her son Nicco was “too violent”.</span></p> <p><span>She spoke to <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6135935/hamilton-mother-son-disabilities-swoop-airline-flight/"><em>Global News CA</em></a> about the incident.</span></p> <p><span>“He’s 21 but he’s mentally like a small child,” said Nicco Iavarone’s mother, Andrea Iavarone.</span></p> <p><span>“So if a small child were on an airplane and had a little temper tantrum and hit and pulled their mother’s hair, would they kick that mother off the airplane? Because it was exactly like that.”</span></p> <p><span>Andrea said that the airline staff were aware that Nicco was special needs as they let them pre-board under those circumstances.</span></p> <p><span>As the plane left the runway, Nico started acting out and hitting Andrea as well as pulling her hair.</span></p> <p>“He’s special needs. He’s non-verbal, so he doesn’t really have a way to voice what frustrates him —  so sometimes you get moments of agitation where he gets a little bit frustrated,” said Andrea.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4U3CXFF04p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4U3CXFF04p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">#Discrimination #Swoop #FlySwoop #swoopairlines Nicco is a special needs child who is just kicked off swoop airlines because they say he is violent… And they were concerned about the safety of other passengers even though he had the window seat and his mother was sitting next to him at the time . Shocked and in disbelief. Please share this post as this is discrimination in the worst way!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/livebe4udie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Andrea Iavarone</a> (@livebe4udie) on Nov 1, 2019 at 7:22am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>One flight attendant saw the incident and spoke to another attendant, where they quickly informed that “Nicco’s not going to be flying with them today”.</p> <p>“They said, ‘He’s violent’ and ‘We’re worried for the safety of our passengers.’ I said, ‘How can you be that worried about the safety of other passengers?'” added Andrea, who said she was in disbelief.</p> <p>“Then [the flight attendant] said, ‘We’re worried about your safety’ and I said, ‘I deal with this everyday and he’s fine once he gets up in the air. We’re going to be just fine,'” she said.</p> <p>After expecting to speak to someone in charge, the attendant denied this request and the family were escorted off the plane.</p> <p>The family were offered a credit with the airline, but nothing for the cost of Nicco’s ticket.</p> <p>Gabor Lukacs with Air Passenger Rights was unhappy with the outcome.</p> <p>“At best, from the airlines, this was a misunderstanding. At worst, this was a discrimination of a person with disabilities,” he said.</p> <p>“The least they should’ve done once it was clear that this is not an unruly passenger but someone with mental disabilities, is make it as good as possible by putting them on the next available flight on whatever airline is available.”</p> <p>After Andrea posted the story online, the airline has now refunded both tickets and hopes that the incident sparks change within the airline industry.</p> <p>“He’s special needs. He doesn’t have a voice so I need to speak up and make people aware how they’re being treated,” she said. “Instead of making accommodations or trying to find ways to try and make the flight easier, they’re just deciding that they would rather not deal with him and have him off the plane.”</p>

Travel Trouble

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Mother travelling with autistic child touched by airline’s moving gesture

<p>A mother with an autistic son has thanked her fellow United Airline passengers for their empathy and compassion as her four-year-old Braysen had a meltdown mid-flight.</p> <p>Mum Lori Gabriel took to Facebook to share her experience on the three-and-a-half-hour service from San Diego to Magnolia.</p> <p>"So my little flyer (he's autistic but normally loves to fly) didn't have such a good flight home," she wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>"Trying to get him to stay seated was impossible he wanted to sit on the floor in the hall and in first class."</p> <p>Gabriel told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mom-of-boy-with-autism-says-airline-touched-our-hearts-during-sons-meltdown-185043597.html" target="_blank">Yahoo</a></em><span> </span>that she didn’t think it would end this way.</p> <p>“I figured he would sleep on the plane,” Lori explained.</p> <p>“I didn’t think it would turn out this way.”</p> <p>It was a battle to keep Braysen seated, as he was in the middle of a meltdown.</p> <p>“He was screaming, hitting and kicking me, and pulling my hair. I thought, ‘Everyone must hate us,” Lori said.</p> <p>This turned out to be false.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flori.gabriel.77%2Fposts%2F3478719012141863&amp;width=500" width="500" height="789" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>There was an unexpected amount of support that came from unlikely places, including fellow passengers and crew members who were highly accommodating.</p> <p>"To the man in first class seat 6C you rock thanks for playing with Braysen and not minding him kicking your seat or messing with you! He loved your high fives!" Lori shared in a Facebook post.</p> <p>However, it was a note from an off-duty airline staff member that meant the most to the Gabriel family, which she included in the Facebook post.</p> <p>"Do not<span> </span><u>EVER</u> let anyone make you feel as though you are an inconvenience or a burden. He is a blessing. God bless your patience, you love, your support, and your strength. Continue to be super woman. And know you and your family are loved and supported."</p> <p>The note is signed: "United Family".</p>

Mind

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“Your heart just leaps”: Waleed Aly shares very personal story

<p>Waleed Aly has made an emotional revelation as he shared his son’s autism diagnosis, recounting the relief he and his wife felt when they found out.</p> <p>During a segment about comedian Tom Gleisner’s work with Learning For Life Autism Centre, Aly said that receiving a clear autism diagnosis for his son Zayd “opened up doors".</p> <p>“I know when we got our diagnosis for our son we actually had the opposite reaction to the guy in the package,” said Aly on last night’s episode of <em>The Project</em>.</p> <p>“I didn’t worry, it didn’t hit me in the face – it actually explained a lot of things and it opened up doors.”</p> <p>The 40-year-old, who is known to remain private about his personal life, said that alongside the relief, he realised that he had to approach parenting differently.</p> <p>“Then what happens is you’ve got to try and reorientate everything, so that you’re communicating with the kid in a way that actually works with the way their brain works,” he explained.</p> <p>“And when you do that and you get those moments where a door opens, and suddenly they do something … your heart just leaps.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">'You've gotta try and re-orientate everything so that you're communicating with the kid in a way that actually works with the way their brain works, and when you do that and you get those moments where a door opens...it's unbelievable and your heart just leaps' - Waleed Aly <a href="https://t.co/4sH5Cphp1e">pic.twitter.com/4sH5Cphp1e</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1132936679768121344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">27 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p>But despite it all, Aly did admit to worrying about Zayd’s future.</p> <p>“The thing that is really scary about it is you actually don’t know what their ceiling is,” he said.</p> <p>“So all the things that you would normally take for granted like when they have a career, when they get married or whatever, you’re just facing an unknown. You don’t know if those things will ever be possible.</p> <p>“And when you see something you don’t know is possible it changes your world, it’s really powerful.”</p> <p>Aly has been married to his wife Dr Susan Carland for 17 years. The couple share two children; 15-year-old Aisha and 11-year-old Zayd.</p> <p>Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/tvweek" target="_blank"><em>TV WEEK</em></a> in 2016 about Zayd’s diagnosis, <em>The Project</em> host said that is was “a major thing for us".</p> <p>“He’s a lovely little man, and it’s lovely watching him grow through all these things,” he said.</p> <p>“Because of the early diagnosis, he was able to get the support he needed. He’s just coming on in leaps and bounds.”</p>

Caring

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The shopping initiative Coles has just introduced to 173 stores

<p>Coles will be expanding its Quiet Hour initiative to 173 stores from today, where they will dim the lights, turn down the music and reduce in-store distractions.</p> <p>The supermarket giant said that they want to provide an autism-friendly shopping environment which is why they will be adding an additional 103 stores nationwide in order to give a “more inclusive environment for all customers".</p> <p>Receiving an influx of support from parents of autistic children, Quiet Hour was first introduced in August last year and now will be put in place in 56 stores in New South Wales, 27 in Queensland and 20 in Western Australia – every Tuesday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.</p> <p>“It’s been very positive,” said Sarah Miller, a mother of two autistic children, Cameron and Kevin.</p> <p>“Shopping is one of those life skills that as a parent I need to teach my boys, not just actually going to the shops but making healthy choices, spending money, going through the cash register. With this, I’m able to take a bit more time.”</p> <p>Ms Miller said that Kevin, 6, would get “very upset” and “worked up, particularly in busy environments with lots of lights and things going on". </p> <p>"The stigma of shopping with kids on the spectrum is pretty difficult,” she said.</p> <p>To counteract that issue, she said that in the past she would try not to take both children at once on a shopping trip, but often at times, that was not possible. “I would try to divide and conquer,” she said. “Now I make a point of putting (the Tuesday shopping trip) on my visual calendar, just like I would book in speech therapy, occupational therapy appointments. For my boys that becomes familiar.”</p> <p>Ms Miller said Quiet Hour also allowed her to meet parents in the same situation.</p> <p>“We’ve listened to our customers, and our store teams have worked hard to make our stores more welcoming and responsive to the needs of the local communities in which we operate,” said Coles managing director John Durkan in a statement.</p> <p>“We initially started with 70 Quiet Hour stores across the country, and now we’re thrilled to be more than doubling this figure to make Quiet Hour more accessible for our customers and help make a difference to their shopping experience at Coles.”</p> <p>Coles developed the program in partnership with Autism Spectrum Australia. During Quiet Hour, lighting is dimmed, Coles Radio is switched off, register and scanning volume is reduced to the lowest level and PA announcements are stopped except in emergencies. Collection of trolleys are also put on hold and additional customer service staff are on hand.</p> <p>What do you think of the Quiet Hour initiative? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Money & Banking

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Neighbours send heartless letter to mum of girl with autism

<p>A Florida mother has been left shocked and heartbroken after her neighbours called her 16-year-old daughter with autism a “burden” and threatened to evict the family in a cruel letter.</p> <p>The letter, signed by “Plaza of Bal Harbour Residents,” said tenants were tired of the “hefty” girl’s “screaming and outbursts,” and told the mum that the building pool is not a “babysitting facility.”</p> <p>The anonymous letter, which was left on the family's front door and is dated April 17, reads: “Please be advised—the 300 residents of this building will not compromise their quality of life any longer.</p> <p>“You have a daughter with major issues. Your daughter cannot be socialised with others.</p> <p>“Her lack of impulse control, her screaming and outbursts—are not acceptable to the residents in this building.</p> <p>“We have sought legal counsel. </p> <p>“The choice is yours. Either you move out of the building on your own volition, or the residents of this building will take action and you will be forced to move.”</p> <p><img width="461" height="346" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/0bd674a4978342077f1294d6c6b6e597" alt="Picture: Supplied" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The anonymous note then slams the parents for letting their daughter use the building's swimming pool, adding: “People cannot and do not wish to swim in the pool during the four hours she stands and screams in the pool—incessantly, every afternoon and night.”</p> <p>The letter writer also cruelly describes the 16-year-old girl as “large framed [sic] and hefty”.</p> <p>“She jumps up and down and disturbs all of the neighboring residents beginning at 5:30 AM every day,' that person added before renewing their threats towards Batsheva's parents.</p> <p>“YOU DISREGARD and DISRESPECT all of the other residents in this building; therefore, we will do EVERYTHING to take action.</p> <p>“The right thing to do would be to take your daughter to a facility that can accommodate disabled people like herself, where you would not be infringing upon the quality of life of others—who worked hard their whole lives—to live and enjoy the peace and quiet of this condo building.”</p> <p>The shocking note ends with the sender telling the family: “We are not responsible for your daughter's diagnosis.</p> <p>“And you have no right to burden us with her diagnosis.</p> <p>“We urge you to do the right thing and find another living situation as soon as possible.”</p> <p>On receiving the note, mum Leah Solomon told Fox News: “I went into shock. As much as it hurt, it made my blood boil and I was fuming. I was not going to let anyone refer to my daughter like that.”</p> <p>Solomon said her daughter, Batsheva, has severe autism and is non-verbal. She attends the South Florida Autism Charter School in Hialeah.</p> <p>While she says it’s “challenging” at times to raise a child with autism, Solomon emphasised there is “no other love like” it.</p> <p>“Our children ... come to show us unconditional love,” she continued. “It’s important for parents of children with any disability to know they are not alone, and they should never allow people to hurt their children. We are doing the best we can as parents of such a complicated disability.”</p> <p>The management at the condominium told the family they did not condone the “disturbing” letter, WPTV reports, and said a tenant, who has no official capacity, drafted it.</p>

Caring

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Mum of autistic teen receives “despicable” letter from anonymous neighbour

<p>A Queensland mother has been flooded with support after posting a shocking letter she received from a neighbour to Facebook.</p> <p>Magenta Quinn, who lives in Brisbane with her autistic teenage son, was gobsmacked when she found an anonymous letter complaining about the noise coming from her house.</p> <p><img width="600" height="494" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815730/intext.jpg" alt="Intext" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“I am one of your neighbours and wish to remain anonymous to avoid any conflict,” the neighbour wrote.</p> <p>“When you moved in we heard these strange moaning and shouting coming from your garden every day and night, for which we were concerned may be illegal activities, so we contacted the police who in turn have visited your premises.</p> <p>“They informed us of your situation that a person in your family is suffering from a mental illness and that was the source of the noise.”</p> <p>While the writer of the letter claimed they “sympathise” with the situation, they said the “disturbing” noise coming from the property every day was “not fair on the community”.</p> <p>“I would kindly request that you consider your neighbours and try to limit the amount of time that is spent in the garden such that we do not have to listen to the disturbing noise daily and sometimes before 6am.</p> <p>“I am giving you the opportunity to help us live together in this community without it becoming a constant battle. If this continues at the regular intervals it has been, I intend to make formal complaints against your address to council to help resolve this issue. Yours sincerely, Neighbour.”</p> <p>A flabbergasted Quinn took to Facebook to share the letter, writing that although she understood where the neighbour was coming from, they had no idea what it was like to live with it 24/7 for 17 years.</p> <p>“Having 3 police turn up at my doorstep at 10:30 at night when I’m new to the area may have made you feel you are avoiding confrontation, but for me it was alarming to say the least,” she wrote.</p> <p>“Talking with council won’t help, he's not a dog, it’s a person. If you’d like to take him on a holiday so I can get some rest that would be awesome. Otherwise, please feel free to come and chat with me, there’s a lot you do not understand.”</p> <p>Commenters were firmly on Quinn’s side, describing the note as “despicable” and the neighbour as “cowardly”. What do you think? Tell us in the comments below, was the letter inappropriate? Or was the neighbour justified in sending the note?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Magenta Quinn/Facebook.</em></p>

Caring

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