“MMR Vaccines do not cause autism”, that was the ruling made by three different special masters or judges in response to the cases they were hearing if vaccines cause autism.

Click below to read the article:

Vaccines Exonerated on Autism

Because of this scare, there is an increase in the number of Measles cases. Click here to read.

But still there are puzzling cases which baffle experts, click here to read.

So many things to read but still, knowing the correct information always help in the quest for answers to the questions parents have in their minds

Special needs parents? Whatever happened to children with special needs? Who are these people?

I am so happy to brag write about this. Woohoo!
Click here to read my article posted at FilipinoMomBlog.

This is a brief explanation of Simon Baron-Cohen about Autism explained in 100 words:

Simon Baron-Cohen

Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) occur in 1% of the population, are strongly heritable, and result from atypical neurodevelopment. Classic autism and Asperger Syndrome (AS) share difficulties in social functioning, communication and coping with change, alongside unusually narrow interests. IQ is average or above in AS with average or even precocious age of language onset. Many areas within the `social brain’ are atypical in ASC. ASC has a profile of impaired empathy alongside strong `systemising’. Hence, ASC involves disability (when empathy is required) and talent (when strong systemising would be advantageous). Psychological interventions that target empathy by harnessing systemising may help.

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Here is CHAT, a Checklist for Autism in Toddlers that you can check out for those children in the toddler years. Click here.

Parents expect a lot when they have their children go into therapy, whether it is occupational therapy or speech and/or language therapy and physical therapy.

Of course, they expect a lot because they pay a lot of money to be able to get these services for their children.

Here in the Philippines, parents/families of children receiving therapy services pay for these services, unlike those children in other countries who get these as part of their tax benefits.

Getting into these therapy services don’t mean instant relief and instant improvement of the developmental and behavioral problems that need to be addressed.

So what should parents expect during the first few weeks of therapy?

Below are a few observations I have made during the course of working with these therapists:

continue reading this entry »

We chanced upon the Colors of Autism Spectrum Paintings and Photographs exhibit at the SM North EDSA’s The Block Saturday night.

We seldom venture to this mall nowadays so I was so happy to be able to see the exhibited works of children with autism.

Here are some of the photos that I quickly took. My son was starting to have a tantrum and didn’t want to stay on that floor because he wanted to eat already. This is going to be a separate post.

Colors of Autism Spectrum, August 29 - 31, 2008, The Block, SMNE

Some of the photos and news articles in the exhibit.

Sit.

One of the first things children need to do before they are ready to do some learning.

Sit.

One of the precursors in determining the attention span of a child.

Of course,not because a child is sitting down does not mean that the child is ready to learn.

For children with language processing problems, this is how to tell them to sit down. Not “Come sit here on the red chair.” or “I need you to sit now so we can start our lesson.” Chances are they will not be able to grasp if the message was about coming, sitting, the red chair, the starting, the lesson.

Why do children need to learn how to sit?

They sit when they eat. They sit when they do table top activities. They sit when they need to have a haircut. They sit in church. They sit when they are traveling. They sit when they wait for their turn at the doctor’ clinic. They sit when they watch tv and play with their computer games.

On the other hand, sitting does not mean that there is learning happening. There are those who just sit and not squirm but are not really learning anything.

Some children learn better when they are on the move.

Those schools that have the “Sit-down-and-listen-to-the-teacher” method should be avoided, if there are other alternative school. Children are active individuals and they won’t sit still for a long time. It is important to alternate both movements and table-top activities for them.

Click these Symptoms of ADHD and What to do if you Suspect Your Child has a Learning Disability?

This article, A Letter to My Grandmother by Dale S. Brown describes what she went through when she was growing up.

Another wonderful read: Beware the Sitting Trap.