Can research really change the future of autism in Georgia? You can help find out more here!

 

SPARK - Emory - Autism Research

SPARK – Emory – Autism Research


In Georgia, there are an estimated 1 in 64 children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and likely as many adults. While we know it is most important to provide appropriate support to address challenges and to build strengths today, the Emory Autism Center (EAC) is also committed to understanding the complex biology associated with autism to gain a better understanding of causes and treatments. Therefore, Emory is working to reach out to people with ASD and their families to be part of the SPARK study.

The goal of SPARK is to accelerate autism research. By building a community of tens of thousands of individuals with autism and their biological family members who provide behavioral and genetic data, SPARK will be the largest autism research study to date. We need your help to get the word out!

The easiest way for a family, or an adult with ASD, to start enrollment is to go online to www.sparkforautism.org/emory or to contact Mr. Jermel Wallace directly (Jermel.L.Wallace@emory.edu or 404-727-8350). We have brochures, business cards, postcards and a flowchart of the registration process and would be happy to get that to you.

We would appreciate it if you could share this information with your clients affected by ASD. Possibly, display a poster and information cards in your waiting room and directly give information to individuals and families affected by ASD at any age. We can provide more copies anytime. Just let us know. Also, we would appreciate the opportunity to come and tell you more about the study in person. Mr. Wallace will follow-up with a phone call in the next few weeks.




Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum – please help with a new research project!

As you know at Patient Talk we are always very happy to help promote research into autism and ASD. A few days ago we were contacted by Elizabeth Hooks who is a doctoral intern studying School Psychology at Ball State University. Ms Hooks asked up to help her find parents of children on the spectrum to take part in a new project!

Hooks wrote “I am a doctoral intern studying school psychology at Ball State University and doing my internship at Kennedy Krieger. I was hoping you would be willing to post my dissertation recruitment flyer.

We are looking for kids with autism, ages 12-18, who have a 4th grade reading level. We are asking them to fill out a personality assessment form, which assesses for rates of anxiety and depression in neurotypical teens. We are hoping it can be used to accurately diagnose these conditions in teens with autism as well. We are offering a $15 itunes gift card and they will be entered into a raffle for 6 $100 visa gift cards.”

Ball State University - Autism Research

Ball State University – Autism Research

Liz Freeman Floyd, M.A., is a doctoral student in the School Psychology program at Ball State University. Her graduate training experience includes providing psychoeducational assessment and counseling therapy in both educational and clinical settings. Liz participated in the design and implementation of the Ball State Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder’s employment evaluation research study as a graduate research assistant and will intern with the Center during the upcoming academic year. Prior to entering graduate school, Liz served on the boards of directors of the national Autism Society, the Indiana Autism Coalition, and the Autism Society of Indiana. Following graduation she plans to provide assessment and counseling services to individuals and families living with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental differences.




Elizabeth Hooks, M.A., is a doctoral intern studying School Psychology at Ball State University. She is currently interning at the Pediatric Developmental Disorders Clinic and Neurobehavioral Outpatient Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) and is working to gain licensure as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Ball State University as well. During her graduate training, Elizabeth gained experience working in several school districts throughout Indiana and worked as an early intervention specialist for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. Following graduation, Elizabeth plans on providing assessment and diagnostic services for families, and behavioral (ABA) therapy to families who have children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.

David E. McIntosh, Ph.D., is the David and Joanna Meeks Distinguished Professor of Special Education at Ball State University. The author of numerous scholarly publications, Dr. McIntosh is editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed academic journal Psychology in the Schools. He was instrumental in the creation of Ball State’s Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder, an on-campus center founded to address critical gaps in services available to the autism community through research, training, and capacity-building activities. Dr. McIntosh’s research interests include the identification, assessment, and treatment of individuals on the autism spectrum. http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/teachers/directory/deptofsped/mcintoshdavid

Does your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder have difficulties with feeding? Please help us with some research?

Autism and Feeding Research

Autism and Feeding Research

Does your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder have difficulties with feeding?

http://bit.ly/1QMPCp2

From The Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research

Autism and relationships – please help two students at Deakin University with their Doctoral Research.

Autism and Relationships Research

Autism and Relationships Research

My name is Grace Hancock and I am a Doctor of Clinical Psychology candidate from Deakin University, Victoria.

 Both myself, and fellow PhD candidate, Laura Pecora, are conducting a study that may be of interest to females diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The project is being supervised by Associate Professor Mark Stokes. This study aims to increase knowledge about the experiences of friendships, relationships, and sexuality for individuals with ASD as they approach adolescence and early adulthood. The main aim of this research is to investigate the issues and challenges; as well as the positive factors that males and females on the spectrum face in their pursuit of fulfilling relationships and well being in all areas including sexuality.

 Given that there is extremely limited research of the experiences that are unique to this diagnostic population, we believe that improving the knowledge base in this area will work to increase awareness and foster greater understanding among parents, family, carers and supporters of persons with ASD. Furthermore we anticipate that the findings of this study will inform and enhance sex-education programs tailored specifically to address those concerns that individuals with ASD may experience. Accordingly, we are interested in responses from people who have a clinical diagnosis of High-functioning ASD or Asperger’s Syndrome, and are aged between 12 and 24 years, or their parents.

 Participation consists of answering an anonymous questionnaire, which can be accessed through the following link: http://psych.hosted-sites.deakin.edu.au/sbs


This should take approximately 25-35 minutes to complete.

 The study has approval from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee- (DUHREC: 2014-270).

 

Autism – Condition or Disorder? How should autism be described? What’s your view?

Autism – Condition or Disorder?

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity

That is it – really simple.

How should be refer to autism now that it constituent parts ( ie Asperger’s syndrome, Autistic Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified)) have all been rolled in together?

(I was told one of the reasons in the UK was that the responsible local government bodies were trying to say that Asperger’s syndrome was not serious enough to warrant funding.)

Anyhow in the last few years there are been a further conversation in the autism community about nomenclature.

Should we call it Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)?

What do you think?

Please take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments box below.

Many thanks in advance!