Test Detects: Panel of Proteins “Researchers found 55 genes that produce factors that differ in autistic people from nonautistic; that trial detected autism with 70% accuracy.” In the near future a blood test will allow a more accurate and cheaper way to diagnose autism. Source: Time magazine, February 11, 2013, Page 18, Health and Science nadia

A study published by the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that students with ASD are interested in enrolling in the following majors: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Likewise, the director of the Autism Research Center in the University of Cambridge U.K. said: “It may be that people with autism naturally think like

Unlike “regular”, off-the-spectrum people, students with autism in high school know very well what they want to do after they leave high school. Whether it’s doing further studies or finding a certain kind of job, the picture is clear in their mind. Since everybody on the spectrum got at least a strength in one area

Six organizations in U.S. recognized for innovative, high quality autism programs. Find out about the great programs helping individuals with autism to move on with their life in their adulthood. They provide guidance about education, employment, performing arts, community life… www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/six-organizations-us-recognized-innovative-high-quality-autism-programs Reference: Autism Speaks nadia shanab

The 57 th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society (BPS), held Feb 2-6, in Philadelphia, Pa will present new work to examine which genes are responsible for autism disorders. “Autism is the most inheritable of neurodevelopmental disorders,” according to Rajini Rao of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. Reference: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130201095929.htm

Anecdote A student was in the middle of writing on a lined paper, but wasn’t really staying on the line. I told her: “Write on the line please!” Usually, this particular student is good at staying on the line, but for some reason she wasn’t doing it at this specific moment. Not to my surprise

Increased risk for autism linked to older maternal age. A research analysing the link between maternal age and the risk of having children with autism. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426104959.htm nadia schanab

How would you feel if you asked a child to run, and her response was to run in her very same spot she was standing on? Anecdote It is the PE class and the routine activity is to start off by running a lap to warm up. All the kids are running and even racing

Anecdote: Inflexibility After reading a lullaby (poem) to her class, the teacher wanted to bring out the best of the poem. She decided to act out and animate the message that the poem was trying to convey. She picked up the little, light-weighted kids to model the mother’s character in the poem. One of the

I once wrote an article about the benefits of playing Mozart’s adapted music for children in classrooms. My experience was very successful in reducing the number of temper tantrums that some autistic child used to have. Listening to Baby Mozart’s CD helped children relax and focus on their tasks. The classroom was more peaceful and