AutismParents.NET!

A new one for the “might cause Autism” list … Winter Conception.

A new study has revealed that those conceived in winter have up to a 16 per cent greater risk of autism than those conceived in July.

The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism

• Abortions - (Prior abortions increase risk of autism in subsequent children)
• Air Pollution (Mercury in air pollution = more autism)
• Anti-Depressants (Mom on autism = more autism)
• Birth Weight HIGH (more weight = more autism.  Related, see big head.)
• Birth Weight LOW (less weight = more autism)
• Brain size (Bigger brains = more autism)
• Brain Cells (Too many neurons = more autism)
• Cell phones (More cell phones = more autism)
• Clever Parents (Smart parents = more autism)
• Clomid (Clomid = more autism, see IVF)
• Closely Spaced Births (Born soon after sibling = more autism)
• Complications at Birth (Catch all, any complication = more autism)
• Father’s age (older dad = more autism)
• Genetic (squirrely genes = more autism)
• Highways (Mom lives near freeway = autism twice as likely)
• Internet (Increased Internet usage = more autism)
• IVF (Invitro Fertilization) - (IVF = More autism)
• Lead (More lead exposure = more autism)
• Lyme Disease (linked to autism)
• Metabolism (Poor metabolism = more autism)
• Missing DNA (missing DNA in boys = more autism)
• Mother’s age (older mom = more autism)
• Neanderthals (Evolution vaguely linked to autism)
• Pasteurized Milk (Pasteurization = more autism)
• Pesticides (More pesticides = more autism)
• Premature birth (Premature baby = more autism)
• Rainfall (higher precipitation areas = more autism)
• Smoking (Mom smoking during pregnancy = more autism)
• Television (More TV watching = more autism)
• Tylenol (More Tylenol = more autism)
• Vinyl Flooring (House with vinyl flooring = more autism)
• Winter Conception (Mom and Dad get busy in the Winter = more autism)

3 Comments »
Filed under: Autism Causes, The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism

We are attending a Halloween costume party / sensory friendly movie (Monster’s Inc) tonight at a local special needs organization. I have mixed feelings about the sensory friendly movie. We spent a lot of effort getting our daughter to act appropriately at the real movies and the last sensory friendly movie event that we attended was an all out free for all. Kids running around everywhere, the lights left on, and the sound turned down. For my daughter, this means that she will most likely pat attention to anything BUT the movie. On the other hand, it is so much NOT like the regular movie atmosphere, that I don’t know that she will even equate it with going to a movie. It’s more like going to a party where the TV is on in the room.

With that said, I recognize that there are a lot of kids with autism who can never go to a regular movie, so this event is probably a blessing to them and their families.

No Comments »
Filed under: Autism Fun, Family

It looks like the bottleneck in the Senate was broken and the funding for the Combating Autism Act will flow.

WASHINGTON — The Senate sent President Barack Obama a bill Monday night to extend federal autism programs after Sen. Bob Menendez reached an agreement with a Republican senator who had been blocking the measure.

The passage of a three-year extension of the 2006 Combating Autism Act authorizes $231 million in funding each year for research, education and services.

More @ http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/CONGRESS-AUTISM_6156289/CONGRESS-AUTISM_6156289/

But is it enough?

Kim Stagliano is the mother of three daughters with autism and a member of the Combating Autism Act Reauthorization Coalition. She said the funding provided by the act isn’t used efficiently and she would have rather seen a shorter extension so that it could have been reworked and the money better spent.

“I can tell you that in the five years since CAA passed, we haven’t made an inch of progress in the battle, in large part because the NIH has become captured by a failed school of orthodox science in autism,” she toldThe Stir. “In these austere times, reauthorizing a broken bill for three years doesn’t make sense. Instead, a one-year extension would allow time to rebuild the act to better meet the needs of American families facing the daunting challenges of autism in terms of adulthood and life care, treatment, and prevention.”

More @ http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/126538/autism_research_funding_narrowly_saved

No Comments »
Filed under: Combating Autism, Politics

We went to see The Lion King 3D yesterday and it was an all around great family outing.  Going to the movies with a kid with autism is often a crap shoot.  Fine more times that not, but the occasional issue (like throwing Shrek action figure ten rows in front of us and scarring a nice family).  In any case, this time was great.  The movie was about the same as the other 20 or 30 times I’ve seen it, with the fringe benefit of a 3D headache.

The High of this good time was slammed back to earth with the Low of a seizure shortly after getting home.  It was 16 days since the last one and I knew that the odds were that we would have one soon.  In fact, according to my new attempts at seizure prediction, I knew that in the last 6 months, we have had a seizure within 16 days of the last one 90% of the time.

No Comments »
Filed under: Family, Misc, Seizures

We’re making a trip to Florida in the near future for a doctor visit and a quick trip to Walt Disney World.  We have always traveled with a stroller.  It makes getting through airport security MUCH easier.  However, she is getting a tad too big for the standard umbrella stroller.  I have gotten used to the dirty looks by judgmental people.  I am counting on karma paying them a visit at some point.  I noticed when searching for a big kid stroller that there is even a blog and a Facebook page where folks can go and practice being judgmental by mocking kids too big to be in strollers.  Granted, most of these kids at the WALK blog probably are too big for a stroller.  It is impossible to know what their circumstances are just from a picture.

Anyway, back to the issue at hand.  I am considering one of these bad boys …

Maclaren Major Positioning Push Chair

Developed especially for special-needs children, the Maclaren Major Positioning Push Chair meets the needs of parents for an everyday portable stroller to transport their child. The sturdy square-section, aluminum chassis with a metallic silver finish and 7″ (18cm) wheels withstand years of rugged service. Swivel-front wheels, square-grip handles, detachable footrest with three positions, brakes on each rear wheel, and a five-point safety harness are all standard features. Stroller easily folds to 46″ x 9 3/4″ x 8 1/4″ (117 x 25 x 21 cm) for transport and storage. Accommodates children up to 140 lbs. (63.5 kg).

Another option might be just getting a wheel chair from the airport.  I think she would probably be fine with this option.  She could play with iPad while waiting in the security line and the overly judgmental ”too big for a stroller” folks would be sufficiently satisfied that I am not a horrible lazy parent.

Related:

• Airport Security and Children with Autism
• Airport Security, Autism, and Vagus Nerve Stimulator
• AUTISM & AIRPORT TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS

No Comments »
Filed under: Autism Awareness, Autism at the Airport, Family, Parent Tips, Traveling with Autism