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Monday, March 25, 2019

Helena Autism Conference

THE 3 RD ANNUAL AUTISM CONFERENCE
 
TRANSITIONING FROM CHILDHOOD & ADOLESCENT TO ADULT SERVICES
  PRESENTED BY
 
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SCIENCES CLUB of HELENA COLLEGE
           
APRIL 5 TH
5 PM – 8 PM
AT HELENA COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
DONALDSON CAMPUS
STUDENT CENTER
1115 N Roberts St, Helena, MT 59601
 
FEATURING ·
CAROLYN LONG - KEYNOTE SPEAKER · PANEL DISCUSSION ·INFORMATIONAL POSTER PRESENTATION
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL:
(PRESIDENT OF SPSC) TIA.NORINE@MAIL.HELENACOLLEGE.EDU                             (ADVISOR OF SPSC) NATHAN.MUNN@HELENACOLLEGE.EDU
 
FREE FOR         ALL AGES
RAFFLES
RELAXATION BASKET
FILLED WITH TREATS, GAMES & MORE
&&&
A GIFT CARD DONATED BY DERMAWERX
CUSTOM TATTOO
 
HORS D’ OEUVRES PROVIDED
Sponsors
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL & SCIENCES CLUB
OF HELENA COLLEGEPicture 2
 
MONTANA AUTISM CENTER UNIVERSITY OF MTPicture 1
 
DERMAWERX CUSTOM TATTOO
 

Birth seasonality and risk of autism spectrum disorder

There was a modest increase in risk for children born in the fall and a modest decrease in risk for children born in the spring. Solar radiation levels around conception and the postnatal period were inversely correlated with seasonal trends in ASD risk. In the first multinational study of birth seasonality of ASD, there was evidence supporting the presence of seasonal trends in Finland and Sweden. The observations that risk was highest for fall births (i.e., conceived in the winter) and lowest for spring births (i.e., conceived in the summer), and sunlight levels during critical neurodevelopmental periods explained much of the seasonal trends, are consistent with the hypothesis that a seasonally fluctuating risk factor may influence risk of ASD.

Read more here at Springerlink.

Friday, March 22, 2019

ADOS 2 Training - Polson FULL

Polson

June 11/12, 2019

ADOS 2 Clinical Training ( 2day event)
DR Lauren Swineford - trainer
Registration for the ADOS 2 Two Day Clinical Training in Polson MT on June 11 & 12. 2019. Sessions are from 9 am to 5 pm daily. You will be required to sign in and out each day and must attend the sessions in their entirety. Those registering will be required to have and bring an ADOS-2 Manual ( WPS Product #W-605M) it is required..
You cannot have previously received this training in Montana
Registration is limited to 30 so if there is a question regarding your attendance- PLEASE do not register if you cannot attend all day both days.
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL AND REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED.

Autistic children’s sleep problems may stem from sensory issues

Heightened sensory perception in toddlers with autism predicts sleep problems at around age 7, according to a new study1.
The findings suggest that sensory sensitivities interfere with sleep in children with autism. They also hint that adjusting for these sensitivities — by minimizing background light or noise at bedtime, for example — could ease the children’s sleep difficulties.

Levels of autism in China similar to the West, joint Chinese-UK study shows

The first large-scale study of autism in China has revealed that around one in a hundred people in the country has an autism spectrum condition—the same figure as found in the West.

Read more here.

Jenny McCarthy's Autism Charity Has Helped Its Board Members Make Money Off Dangerous, Discredited Ideas

Camel’s milk. B12 lollipops. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers. “Ion-cleansing” foot baths. Chelation therapy. Gluten-free diets. Casein-free diets. Massive doses of nutritional supplements. All of these products and services have two things in common. First, mainstream (and widely trusted) medical bodies don’t recognize them as a reputable or effective treatment for autism. Second, they’re all recommended by—and in some cases sold outright through—Generation Rescue, a charity for autistic kids and their families whose board president and most famous face is actress Jenny McCarthy.
A deep dive into the world of Generation Rescue has revealed that the organization doesn’t just promote ineffective or medically unproven or downright debunked treatments for autism (all of which has been demonstrated before): The organization and the people associated with it profit from them, too. In two cases, Generation Rescue has heavily promoted products owned by past board members, at the time they served on the board: hyperbaric oxygen chambers and B12 lollipops, both of which have been presented on GR’s website as near-miraculous treatments for symptoms of autism.

A Mother's Exposure to Pesticides During Pregnancy May Raise Children's Autism Risk

The scientists found that women who were pregnant and who lived within a 2,000 meter radius of a highly sprayed area were anywhere from 10% to 16% more likely to have children diagnosed with autism than women who lived in places farther away from sprayed areas. The researchers reviewed spraying of 11 popular pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, diazinon and permethrin (often used to control ticks). When they looked at diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder that also came with intellectual disabilities, they found on average 30% higher rates among children who were exposed to the pesticides while in utero. Exposure in the first year of life increased the risk of autism by up to 50% compared to those not exposed to certain pesticides.

Read more here at Time. 

Archived Webinar - Visual Communication Strategies for Nonverbal Students


View the archived webinar here. 

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Community Investment Fund

The application period for 2019 funding is now open!
Do you have an interesting idea or project to promote inclusion for people with disabilities? Would a small amount of start-up funds help you get your project off the ground? Applications for the Community Investment Fund are now being accepted...complete and return your application before the May 1, 2019 deadline. Please note: due to University contracting requirements, successful applicants will be required to have liability insurance and either Workers’ Compensation coverage or a Workers' Compensation exemption certificate. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by June 30, 2019.
Directions for using PDF form: Open the PDF file and save it to your desktop. Fill out the form and save it again. Then either print a hard copy of the application and submit it by mail or fax, or attach the PDF form to an email and submit it electronically.

The Etiquette Guide for Surviving the Workplace for Autistic People of Colour

Introduction

This guide was borne out of a recent exchange with another autistic person of colour and wondering how to deal with racism (and other oppressive stuff) at work because, for both of us, our usual method of treating the person like they no longer exist isn’t really a feasible strategy for keeping your job.
The guide, of course, comes with certain caveats and limitations. Since it assumes that you’ve managed to accomplish an already difficult task: getting a job as an autistic person of colour. This isn’t really an easy thing to do. There are a lot of barriers. If you have a job, great and congrats. If you cannot get one, I understand and you’re still worthy.
There are a lot of steps involved in actually getting a job. Steps that I can’t really discuss because I’m terrible at getting jobs. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably terrible at getting them too.

Friday, March 1, 2019

Archived Webinar - Autism and Visual Supports: Powerful Strategies for School, Home, and the Community

Because most students with autism are visual learners, they benefit from the consistent use of customized visual supports. In this edWebinar, we will explore three categories of visual supports: Visual Instruction (adapting instruction so it is presented visually), Visual Organization (using visuals to organize activities and daily schedules), and Visual Expression (using visuals to facilitate expressive communication). We will examine how to effectively use visual supports in school, at home and in the community to optimize students’ participation in all aspects of their day. The presenters will:
  • Review visual supports that can be effectively used in the classroom<
  • Examine real-life applications of visual supports (photos and videos) for use in the community and at home
  • Demonstrate how to organize activities and transitions to promote students’ success
  • Discuss the benefits of using assistive technology

Real-life examples, tips, strategies, and resources will be shared during the presentation. This edWebinar will be of interest to preK-12 teachers, librarians, school leaders, paraprofessionals, therapists, and specialists. Time will be provided for a question and answer session.
View the archived webinar here (registration required.)