It’s a Wonderful Life: Autism and the Holidays
Alicia Palelis offers some basic tips for autism parents to help get through the holidays season – and still enjoy it!
DOWN SYNDROME
Click here to view all Different Brains content about Down syndrome WHAT IS DOWN SYNDROME? Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. Down syndrome varies in severity and causes lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays. It also causes health problems to some […]
The Club of True Neurodiversity Champions
It was at the end of July, and I’d had a good day at the U.S. Autism and Asperger Association’s national conference in Tuscon, Ariz. From my spot at the author’s table, I had met many wonderful people in the autism community…
Navigating Adult Life and Autism with a SMILE
When our son Matt graduated from high school in 2013, his daily routines and patterns, developed for years within the same safe, supportive environment, came to an end. We asked ourselves, how can we fill 168 hours each week with meaningful, purposeful activities and not allow Matt to slide backwards.
College football player with Asperger’s did the ‘impossible’
Justin Hansen is a fifth-year defensive lineman for the Colorado State University Rams football team. He has 36 career tackles and hopes to play in the NFL. Doesn’t have to be the active roster, he’ll take the practice squad. Just to prove he can.
Findings may prevent early loss of synapses in Alzheimer’s
By Peter Bochner One of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of synapses — the structures that connect neurons in the brain. Synapses are required for all brain functions, particularly for learning and memory. In Alzheimer’s patients, most of the damage appears to take place in the part of the brain that […]
Autism Coaching in the Neurodiverse School System
I am a wife, daughter, mom to a son and daughter, a breast cancer survivor, a friend to many and an autism coach.
One blogger’s vote for note-taking by laptop vs. longhand
By Peter Bochner I recently listened to a webinar titled Engaging the Rewired Brain, in which presenter Dr. David A. Sousa discussed how computer technology is affecting the way students learn. As the father of a 14-year-old high school freshman girl whose school provides her with an Apple Macbook, I can verify that the learning […]
Global Brain Health Institute will focus on the worldwide dementia epidemic
By Peter Bochner Global Brain Health Institute will focus on the worldwide dementia epidemic The Global Brain Health Institute has been formed to help developing countries learn more about dementia and cope with the burden it places on patients, families and caregivers. The institute, which will be housed at The University of California San […]
Contrary to Popular Belief, Students’ Attention Spans Are Not Getting Shorter
By Peter Bochner Most people believe that technology is making the attention span of students shorter. But that’s because adults see their own kids bouncing from one thing to another and interpret that as a shorter attention span. Lekár najprv preskúma vašu anamnézu a životný štýl. Podľa Dr. Patela môžu niektoré lieky, ako sú […]
Boston University researching protein to help Alzheimer’s
By Peter Bochner Researchers at the Brain Plasticity & Neuroimaging Lab at Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) are studying a protein that they think might help grow new cells in the brain’s memory center, called the hippocampus. The Fall 2015 issue of the CAS magazine looks at the research into the brain […]
New York City to unveil plan for combating mental health disorders
Plans for a mental health initiative aimed at preventing and treating psychological disorders among New York City’s 8.4 million residents are expected to be released by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene next month. The plan, known as NYC Thrive, will be released sometime in December. A report released last week ahead of […]
Small business celebrated for defending employee with autism
By Peter Bochner The owner of an Anchorage, Alaska, restaurant is being overwhelmed with congratulatory emails and Facebook messages after she defended her delivery driver, who has autism, from a verbally abusive customer. The driver for the Little Italy Restaurante had inadvertently given the customer the wrong order before realizing his mistake, going back to […]
Production of The Nutcracker meets sensory needs of children with autism
By Peter Bochner Over the past few years, sensory-friendly dance performances that are specifically geared to children and students with autism have started to appear across the U.S. These productions implement environmental and technical changes to the usual production in order to meet the sensory needs of children with autism or autism-related disorders. To Ruth […]
Rutgers announces initiative to launch center to support adults with autism
Rutgers University is launching an initiative to establish a center that will give adults with autism the opportunity to live and work independently within a university setting. Rutgers Center for Adult Autism The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) will be located in two buildings on the university’s main campus in New Brunswick, N.J., […]
ADHD – What else could it be?
By Brian Udell In medical parlance, the title = “The Differential Diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder”. However, a major stumbling block to understanding, treating and preventing this childhood epidemic is that it is considered a single organic entity, mostly of familial origin. Treatment usually involves strong stimulant medications, with serious side effects, in order to semi-successfully control a perplexing […]
For one veteran with PTSD, performing stand-up is the pressure valve
Adapted by Peter Bochner When Jeremy Cessna returned home after serving as a U.S. Army specialist with the 501st Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, he was plagued by nightmares. As reported by Jerry Wofford in Tulsa World, Cessna tried getting help for his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it wasn’t until he […]
TRAILER – Asperger’s, Autism, and the Square Root of 2: A Neurodiversity Documentary
To view the full documentary free of charge, please click here. “Asperger’s, Autism, and The Square Root of 2: A Neurodiversity Documentary” tells the story of one parent’s journey to discovering that his daughter, recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD), has a brain that works just a little […]
BIPOLAR DISORDER
Click here to view all Different Brains content about bipolar disorder What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms are severe and can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school […]
OCD
Click here to view all Different Brains content about OCD What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), once considered a type of anxiety disorder, is now regarded as a potentially disabling illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts, behaviors and rituals that can interfere with normal activities. Symptoms of […]
“Sesame Street” Joins Growing List of Shows with Autistic Characters
By Peter Bochner Sesame Street has become the latest television show to introduce a character with autism. A muppet character named Julia is now part of Sesame Street Workshop‘s new online initiative, called Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children. The storyline involving Julia, aimed at families with children ages 2 to 5, […]
Student-athletes’ brains should be tested before they suffer a concussion
By Peter Bochner Taking the time to give a student-athlete a quick brain test, known as a baseline test, can help a doctor monitor the consequences of a concussion should they receive one. In a story that appeared in the Oct. 19, 2015 edition of The Chicago Tribune, reporter Alison Bowen writes that the computerized […]
Giving Autistic Kids Superpowers via Google Glass
By Peter Bochner Researchers at the Stanford University are using Google Glass to help autistic children recognize and classify emotions. Google Glass is an optical head-mounted display technology that displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format. In an article posted today on the TechCrunch website, Nitish Kulkarni describes as part of the Autism Glass Project, […]
The Birth of the Chocolate Spectrum
By Valerie Herskowitz How I ended up here is a great mystery to me, because I never anticipated owning a small Micro Enterprise that trains and employs individuals with developmental disabilities, let alone a chocolate business! My background is as a speech pathologist for the past 38 years where I owned and operate a facility […]
Mental Boot Camp May Be Treatment for Concussions
By Peter Bochner A clinic in Provo, Utah, is claiming to have remarkable success in treating people, including some NFL football players, who suffer long-term consequences from concussions. According to a story by John Hollenhorst in the October 12, 2016 edition of The Deseret News, the claims of a breakthrough are still awaiting formal scientific […]
Apple ResearchKit Software Enables New Studies of Autism and Epilepsy
By Peter Bochner Apple ResearchKit, an open source software framework that makes it easy for medical researchers, scientists and developers to create apps that can gather data more frequently and more accurately from iPhone users, is enabling new research studies on autism from Duke University and epilepsy from Johns Hopkins University. Duke University and Duke […]
Anorexics Show Different Brain Activity
By Peter Bochner When choosing foods to eat, anorexia nervosa patients who took part in a recent study showed significantly greater activity in the region of the brain associated with habitual behavior than see in the brains of healthy people. The study, performed by research team assembled from New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, […]
At UCLA, young adults with autism build social skills
By Peter Bochner The Los Angeles Times recently wrote about nine UCLA students, the majority of whom have autism, who graduated from a16-week program designed to help them navigate the treacherous waters of social interaction. According to the story by Amina Khan, the goal of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills […]
CONCUSSIONS
Click here to view all Different Brains content about concussions What are Concussions? A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain functions. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination. If a concussive brain injury is mild, people usually recover fully, but […]
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Click here to view all Different Brains content about Alzheimer’s disease What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss, as well as a decline in language, problem-solving and other cognitive skills. Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative type of dementia, which means that over the […]
Renowned Neurologist And Author Oliver Sacks Dies At 82
Author and respected neurologist Oliver Sacks has passed away at the age of 82. Dr. Sacks may be best known as the inspiration for the film Awakenings, starring Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro. The film told of Oliver Sack’s research and attempts to bring encephalitis patients out of their persistent comas. He also authored a […]
UNDIAGNOSED
What about the Undiagnosed? Some conditions or disorders are hard to diagnose, and there are several reasons why. Many conditions have similar symptoms. Some children have a number of problems that do not fit into one specific disorder. There are substantial variations in the degree to which a child might be affected by a disorder […]
ANXIETY
Click here to view all Different Brains content about anxiety What Are Anxiety Disorders? Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at one time or another, for instance, when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making a big decision. Anxiety disorders, however, are different. The distress they cause […]
DEPRESSION
Click here to view all Different Brains content about depression What is Clinical Depression? Clinical depression is more than just the blues — the temporary feelings of sadness we all have from time to time. It is a serious condition that affects all aspects of a person’s everyday life, including eating, sleeping, working, relationships, […]
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Click here to view all Different Brains content about PTSD What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? When in danger, it’s natural to feel fear. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or avoid it, i.e., the “fight-or-flight” response. But people with post-traumatic stress disorder […]
ADHD
Click here to view all Different Brains content about ADHD What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, but originally known as attention deficit disorder, or ADD) is a brain/behavioral disorder that affects about 10% of school-age children. Boys are two to three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed […]
DYSLEXIA
Click here to view all Different Brains content about dyslexia What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia, also known as reading disorder, is a learning disability characterized by a person having trouble with reading despite normal intelligence. Problems may include difficulties in spelling, reading quickly, writing words, “sounding out” words in the head, pronouncing words when reading […]
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Click here to view all Different Brains content about autism What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development ( a spectrum disorder means there is a wide variation in how the disorder affects people). These disorders are characterized, […]
ASPERGER’S SYNDROME
Click here to view all Different Brains content about Asperger’s Syndrome What is Asperger’s Syndrome? Asperger’s syndrome, also called Asperger’s disorder, is a type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). PDDs are a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of many basic skills, most notably the ability to socialize with others, to communicate, and […]
Mayor Tim Ryan on Neurodiversity
Mayor Tim Ryan defines neurodiversity and contextualizes it with contemporary politics. Video included.
Hypersensitivity and Aspergers & Autism
Limiting Choices for Someone With Asperger’s Syndrome
The Importance for Rules and Rewards for Someone on the Spectrum
Creating a Safe Place for Someone on the Spectrum
The neurodiverse excel at creative thinking according to new study
A new study showing that people with autism display higher levels of creativity has been welcomed by campaigners, who say it helps debunk a myth about people with learning disabilities. Scientists found that people with the developmental condition were far more likely to come up with unique answers to creative problems despite having traits that […]
For Its Own Good, American Business Must Embrace Neurodiversity
All businesses can take a hint from Apple and Google: if you want your business to thrive in the 21st century, you better tap into the wonderful talent pool of those whose brains might be a little bit different. As journalist Brenda Sniderman points out in her October 30, 2014 article in Forbes Magazine “Neurodiversity: A […]
Sad Because You Don’t Fit In? Don’t “Bee”
The Bee Girl It’s known as the Bee Girl music video, and if you ever saw it, you probably haven’t forgotten it. It was a very popular music video back in the early 90s for the song “No Rain” by the rock group Blind Melon. I had never even heard of […]
Asperger’s syndrome student’s socialization skills soar, leading to award nomination
Whether you want to call it a stereotype or a defining trait, if there’s one constant among Asperger’s syndrome individuals, it’s that they have a hard time socializing. They’re socially awkward and uncomfortable around people. For many Aspies, it’s hard to make friends, particularly when you factor in a major transition, like moving to a […]
Autism Awareness Month: Jacqueline Laurita posts on loving her autistic son
As you may know, one of the major points of my book Aspertools is that kids with Asperger’s and autism have different brains, which process information differently. Another is that, the parent of a child with a different brain must love that child unconditionally. Today I’m saluting Jacqueline Laurita, one of the Real Housewives of […]
Kudos to Comedy Central’s “Night of Too Many Stars”
It’s not just that they have raised over $18 million for the autism spectrum disorder cause since Comedy Central inaugurated the “Night of Too Many Stars” in 2006. It’s not just that it’s funny, entertaining, and does so much to raise awareness about different brains. It’s not just that they help real programs survive and serve. […]
