“Lack of health coverage for autism divides Michiganders - Detroit Free Press” plus 3 more |
- Lack of health coverage for autism divides Michiganders - Detroit Free Press
- Amerigroup Foundation Helps to Standardize Autism ... - PR-USA.net
- OU specialists launch autism project - Oklahoma Daily
- Cooking with special needs in mind - NWI.com
| Lack of health coverage for autism divides Michiganders - Detroit Free Press Posted: 06 Jun 2010 01:01 PM PDT Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. Typically, developing kids are like sponges, soaking up what's around them and instinctively learning, in part, by mimicking what they see. Even infants search for faces, reacting to the smiles and coos. An autistic child doesn't have that same social learning instinct. Jim and Amy Youngblood of Highland knew something was wrong when their son, Ben, was just an infant. He didn't respond to people in the room: "He'd literally look through people," Jim Youngblood recalled. He banged the doors on cupboards relentlessly. Rather than playing with a toy car, he was fixated on its spinning wheels so much so that he went into an inconsolable rage if his parents tried to distract him. At 1 1/2, Ben was diagnosed with autism. As the Youngbloods struggled with how to help their son, they were stunned once again: Behavioral therapy -- the best and possibly only hope that Ben would one day be able to speak and, they were told, maybe even be semi-independent -- would not be covered by their medical insurance. "You're being told in one breath that ... there's hope and, even if things aren't going to be perfect, they can be manageable. But then it's, 'By the way, it's going to be extraordinarily expensive so it might be out of your reach,' " Youngblood said. These days, Youngblood refers to his family's "burn rate" when he talks of the family income. "My daughter's college fund is gone. We went from being responsible and well-prepared, and now we're just living on the edge," he said. He wants to be clear: Therapy was critical; his son can talk these days, though there's much more to do. The family is still meeting its bills, and so what if there hasn't been a lot of money for new clothes and such? "We're ... going to be OK," he said. "But we have given up a lot, and we've burned through a couple of hundred thousand dollars." Insurers and opponents of the legislation have noted that there's no sure-shot therapy. Autistic children can range from high- to low-functioning, and what therapies work for some -- whether behavioral, music and art, or even horse-back riding -- won't for others. Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Amerigroup Foundation Helps to Standardize Autism ... - PR-USA.net Posted: 06 Jun 2010 08:50 AM PDT Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. The Amerigroup Foundation today presented Pathfinders for Autism with a $16,800 donation to be used to purchase 240 autism toolkits that will be distributed to pediatric practices across Maryland. In partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics-Maryland Chapter, Pathfinders for Autism is active in a State of Maryland pilot program to train health care professionals on the importance of standardizing developmental screening tools at recommended intervals. These DVD toolkits, which will be combined with customized local resources and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will allow pediatricians to share early autism identification information, effective therapies, treatments and social activities with families affected by the complex neurological disorder. This partnership and the toolkits will ensure that children with developmental delays are identified sooner and referred for intervention services at an earlier age. "We are excited to support Pathfinders for Autism in the drive to educate providers and help more children live happier and more productive lives," Amerigroup Foundation Chairman John E. Littel said. "It is at the very core of our mission as a Company." "The State of Maryland is committed to developing a long-term, comprehensive approach to supporting children and adults on the autism spectrum," Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Michael E. Busch said. "Innovative partnerships, like the support from the Amerigroup Foundation and Pathfinders that we celebrate today are an important step to ensuring rich, productive lives for people on the spectrum." The CDC estimates that 1 in 110 children has autism and approximately 80 percent are boys. In Maryland, estimates are 1 in every 142 children. "Relationships with generous supporters such as the Amerigroup Foundation are what make our work possible," Pathfinders for Autism President B.J. Surhoff said. "Research has shown that early diagnosis and intervention are keys to helping children with autism. As we celebrate our organization's 10th anniversary, we appreciate the partnership with Amerigroup to help further our efforts in early detection." About the Amerigroup Foundation The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup Corporation, a multi-state managed health care company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Foundation works to create healthy communities by fostering access to health care, encouraging safe and healthy children and families, and promoting community improvement and healthy neighborhoods. For more information about the Amerigroup Foundation, visit www.amerigroupcorp.com/foundation. About Pathfinders for Autism Pathfinders for Autism is a parent-sponsored, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families. For more information, visit www.pathfindersforautism.org. Contact: Tara J. Wall Amerigroup Corporation Senior Vice President, Communications (757) 518-3671 Source: The Amerigroup Foundation Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| OU specialists launch autism project - Oklahoma Daily Posted: 03 Jun 2010 05:48 AM PDT Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. OU Health Sciences Center researchers announced a pilot program Wednesday that aims to help physicians catch autism in children at an early age. The Autism Workforce Initiative includes a training program for physicians and an intensive early intervention program for young children suspected of having autism. The intervention program is designed for children as young as 15 months old, said Bonnie McBride, principal investigator for the Early Foundations Project. It is estimated that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with some type of autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's a pretty significant increase in the last 10 years," McBride said during a news conference. Children in the program receive 17 hours per week of help, up from the 2 to 4 hours per week currently offered, McBride said. The program includes activities such as intensive teaching, play groups, weekly home visits and monthly education support for parents. Children enrolled in the program receive 17 hours per week of help through activities such as play groups, intensive teaching involving behavioral techniques, weekly home visits and monthly parent education nights, she said. The initiative has sites in Oklahoma, Cleveland and Canadian counties, and McBride said plans call for a site in Tulsa County soon. Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Cooking with special needs in mind - NWI.com Posted: 06 Jun 2010 11:28 AM PDT Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. When Susan K. Delaine's son was diagnosed with autism in 2002 there was little information available about this disorder that affects about one in every 100 people. "It was right at the cusp of that epidemic of autism diagnosis and awareness," says Delaine. "We didn't know what to do." But Delaine is not the type to wait for someone else to come up with answers. "I spent a lot of time and effort in figuring out how to help my son, how to feed him so he'd grow healthy and how to create the rights meals for his food sensitivities. Through trial and error, Delaine found that a gluten-free and dairy-free diet in conjunction with healing arts made a big difference in both his physical and emotional health. The book contains not only 101 gluten-free (GF) and casein-free (CF) recipes but also a guide to reading food labels, a simple and easy guide to preparing family friendly meals that can improve digestion and immunity, food substitutions including alternatives to refined white sugar—such as agave nectar—and autism resources. There's an emphasis on whole and healthy foods. "It's amazing the way food has become more and more processed over the last 10 to 15 years," says Delaine, who avoids using packaged ingredients whenever possible. The recipes in her book don't contain wheat, rice, barley, oat, egg, milk, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. She also offers 23 "raw" recipes for foods that haven't been cooked at more than 118 degrees. "A diet with raw foods is vital for proper digestion," says Delaine, noting that raw foods contain enzymes to aid in digestion without over-taxing the body, are detoxifying, nutritious and help boost the immune system. "These are good for everyone, especially those with autism and allergies." Her book contains colorful photos of recipes such as Blueberry Banana Sorbet, Sesame Ginger Chicken, Sweet Potato Casserole, Quinoa Salad with Sweet Chili Sauce and Velvet Pudding. There is also a healing arts guide. "Healing arts are important," says Delaine who believes that yoga, meditation and Reiki, a Japanese method for promoting healing through the laying of hands, can be effective in working with autistic children. "It's important to combine the diet with healing arts so that energy flows properly which integrate complimentary therapies as part of the healing process." Delaine says that she wrote the book as a way to help others. "I didn't expect anything, I did this as therapy for myself and to have something on paper in case I die that can help others who have children with autism," she says. Symptoms of autism include difficulty communicating, tantrums, obsessive attachments to objects, unresponsiveness, odd and repetitive behaviors or speech and poor social skills. But besides food, there is another important component for parents of children with autism to understand. "There's a normal grief process," says Delaine. "But we have to move forward. One thing that I can't stress enough is that parents have to remember to love their child as much if not more after the diagnosis." Kabobs: Sauce: Alternate grilled chicken and green pepper on kabob sticks. Place the kabobs on serving plates and set aside. Combine sauce ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Scoop sauce with a ladle and pour over kabobs and onto the bottom of the plates. Fresh fruit, if using . . . Place all ingredients in a blender. Puree at high speed until mixture becomes smooth. Pour contents into freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze. Serve frozen. Use ice cream scoop to serve. Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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