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2016 “Soul Walking” Calendar by Autistic Savant Artist Michael Tolleson

September 24, 2015 Living Autism 4 Comments

Calendar by Autistic Savant Artist Michael Tolleson

Examining my ability to paint; every stroke is instinctual since I have no training, and I rely on the use of the huge amount of stored information my Aspergers mind has observed and retained. Each painting a now create, regardless of size, is painted in less than 1 hour. When photographed during the process of creating a finished piece of artwork, my hand appears as a blur due to the movement of my hand and quickness of the application of paint to the canvas. This is the genius of a mind with Aspergers. In many ways I feel possessed during the actual act of painting, and I am reluctant to take credit for the finished work resting on the easel when I am done. What I do know is that the exploration of using a palette knife last year released me, and my use of brushes has now become less calculated and exact which allows the results to be much more impressionistic. I can now freely use both a palette knife and a brush while painting to get the desired results. The finished outcome is always a surprise to me.

Autism or Autistic? A label is too small for a human being’s magnificence

September 24, 2015 Living Autism 3 Comments

autism or autistic

A label is too small for a human being’s magnificence.

Am I Autistic or Do I Have Autism?

The National Autistic Society (NAS) has recently conducted a study on what to call people on the spectrum. You can read about it here. There seems to be a lot of debate as to whether one should say, “He or she has autism” or “He or she is autistic.” I’m on the autistic spectrum myself, and people have sometimes asked me, “Do you want me to say you’re autistic or do you want me to say that you have autism?”

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Biometric wristbands predict outbursts in people with ‪#‎autism‬ – ‪#‎safety‬ ‪#‎livingautismdaybyday‬

September 23, 2015 Living Autism 2 Comments

Biometric wristbands predict outburst in people with autism

Wristbands that measure surface skin temperature and heart rate could transform the lives of people with autism by predicting big behavioural shifts

Biometric wristbands that can “see inside” the bodies of people with autism and predict dramatic behaviour changes could be commercially available within two to five years.
Dr Matthew Goodwin, an expert on wearable bio sensors in autistic patients, claims that the ability to measure minute physiological changes such as surface skin temperature and heart rate could transform the lives of people with autism.
Together with his team at Boston’s Northeastern University, Dr Goodwin is working with a lightweight wristband, similar to a watch, which measures four physiological signals – heart rate, surface skin temperature, sweating, and three dimensional movements of the limb that is wearing the sensor.
The team is also exploring ways to stream information from wristbands live to mobile phones, via an app. This would enable a family member or teacher to closely monitor the person they are caring for.
People with severe autism, who are often unable to communicate through words or body language, are apt to dramatic behavioural changes that include self injury, aggression and running away.
Through ten years of research in America, Dr Goodwin and his team have established that body signals may be able to predict these sometimes violent changes before they happen, giving carers the opportunity to take appropriate action.
“The autistic children we’re working with can’t tell us what’s going on. They can’t say they have a headache, or ‘it’s too loud in here’ or ‘I don’t like this teacher’,” he said.
“If we want to understand them, we need to look at what their body is telling us – and we need to do this in a gentle, unobtrusive way.”

Model With Down Syndrome Makes Stunning Debut At New York Fashion…

September 23, 2015 Living Autism 1 Comment

Model With Down Syndrome Makes Stunning Debut At New York Fash…

Meet the model with Down syndrome who's changing perceptions everywhere

Posted by NowThis on Tuesday, September 15, 2015

one word.
ASTOUNDING!
kudos to both mom and daughter.

Bonaire girl with ‪#‎autism‬ overcomes early hardships on way to ‪#‎pageant‬ prowess

September 10, 2015 Living Autism Leave a comment

BONAIRE GIRL WITH ‎AUTISM

Kelsey, who has also been diagnosed with autism, was 11 months old when the two met, and she weighed just 11 pounds.

“When I walked into the room, there were 20 or so babies and toddlers,” Norris remembered. “One of them said, ‘Momma,’ and it was this one.”

From that time, Norris recalled a day when she could visit Kelsey but couldn’t bring her home yet. Always among the smallest of the group, Kelsey — along with other small children — was a target when meal time came around.

Others lost their bread, but Kelsey clinched hers in a fist and covered it with her body, taking a few kicks and pushes from older children but keeping her food.

“I think that tenacity, that will to live, kept her alive long enough until I found her,” Norris said.

In the years since, the two have bonded while Kelsey developed a variety of interests. She does gymnastics, dance and even cheerleading, and her mother has been there every step of the way.

“I always kiss her,” Kelsey said.

Through her gymnastics and dance classes at KidsAmerica in Perry, Kelsey became interested in pageants. In the last year, she’s competed in 40 pageants and won 35 titles, and just two of those were specifically for special needs children.

The others had Kelsey working with and competing against the general population of participants, and that has been a good experience for her, Norris said.

“Since she’s started pageants, eye contact, the ability to walk up to peers she doesn’t know … has improved,” she said.

Finally a Place Where You Never Have to Say I’m Sorry is Not Just a Slogan!

September 5, 2015 Living Autism Leave a comment

FINALLY A PLACE WHERE YOU NEVER HAVE TO SAY I’M SORRY IS NOT JUST A SLOGAN

The gym hopes to eliminate that stigma. Their slogan is, “Finally a place where you never have to say ‘I’m sorry’.” Green said, “It’s just nice to be in a place where he can be himself. Where he can yell, and he can jump and he can climb.”

The gym has 31 locations in 10 different states. CEO, Dina Kimmel whose own son has autism, started it 5 years ago. She says 1 out of 5 kids are affected by a sensory processing disorder and says the gym is needed for those kids to grow.

The gym has swings, a zipline, a trampoline and monkey bars. Visitors will also find a calming room and a therapy room and classes such as yoga and dance. It’s the only program of its kind like in Western New York. Kimmel said, “Those numbers are high and they are not going anywhere. This is a neurological disorder so it’s not like the other indoor play gyms. It is for fun, but it also serves a bigger purpose.”

A study shows people with autism may have better creative problem solving capabilities

August 31, 2015 Living Autism 2 Comments

A study by researchers in UK has found that people with autism may have better creative problem solving capabilities than those without and generate more original and creative ideas, breaking the myth that they lack creativity.

The results were confirmed by a survey that involved 312 people online who were given a questionnaire asking if they had autism. The questions also assessed if they might have some traits of the autism even if there was no formal declaration of the disorder.

Researchers were able to test the creativity of these participants by seeking interpretations of images that were supposed to be deeper than they seemed.

Secondly they gave participants one minute to list out maximum uses for simple objects like a brick or a paper clip.

The results of the research show that people who said that they have autistic traits and those who suffered from autism usually came up with lesser options but interesting responses than normal people.

A Schoolboy With Autism Hands Cards To Stop Strangers Judging Him

August 29, 2015 Living Autism 1 Comment

An eight-year-old boy, with both autism and ADHD, has come up with a novel solution for stopping strangers from staring at him – and is simultaneously raising awareness for the conditions that affect so many children and adults.

Daniel Booth’s conditions mean that he struggles to cope with changes in his routine and his behavior often causes people to stop and stare at him when he’s out and about with his parents.

The schoolboy didn’t want that to be the case, so he decided to create cards explaining his diagnosis and why he acts the way he does. His mum Karen, 36, helped him design his cards, which he now hands out when he feels the need to.

Local surfers and volunteers give children with autism the chance to experience the water

August 29, 2015 Living Autism Leave a comment

Thousands flocked to the beach for a day dedicated to children and their families who experience the day-to-day challenges of autism.

“We registered our limit of 200 participants from several different states in record time,” said Don Ryan, president of Surfers for Autism, Inc. “We registered 300 volunteers online and had another seventy-five show up today. Sixteen restaurants are catering today for free.”

“It’s fun,” said 9-year-old Mackenzie Herrick, who wasted no time getting back on the board every time she fell off. Standing up on the surfboard, she raised her arms in the air to celebrate as she rode a wave toward shore.

The Benefits of Helping Preschoolers Understand and Discuss Their Emotions

August 27, 2015 Living Autism Leave a comment

Increasingly, research confirms the efficacy of explicit training in emotional intelligence starting at a very young age. According to multiple studies, preschoolers who participate in social-emotional skills programs exhibit less aggression and anxiety and become better social problem solvers. While these outcomes may make for a more peaceful classroom environment, the benefits outlive preschool: prosocial behavior in early childhood is strongly linked with future academic performance and mental health. In other words, when children learn how to calm themselves down, use language to express their feelings and treat others with kindness, they are laying the foundation for future success and wellness.