On Monday June 13th, I attended the Public Hearings in Albany, from 11am, to 5pm, on "Abuse in NY State Run Facilities housing People With Developmental Disabilities/PWDD", in hearing room B, which was chaired by his honorable Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz, (D-Brooklyn), distinguished Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, (D-Long Beach), and other significant NYS Assemblyman, Abinanti, and Lentol and Bing, who all champion the cause for improving NY State run facilities for PWDD.

 

Here…

Continue

Spring has sprung. Even here in our northern woods, crocuses have given way to

daffodils and tulips, and people are planting gardens. College students will soon be

out for the summer, and high school students will follow a few weeks after.

Here at GRASP, we're getting ready for our annual benefit. In…

Continue

"Argument for Higher Education - A College Degree Makes You More In Demand

Here's the thing: Georgetown's "Hard Times" study also found that the unemployment rate among job seekers with no better than a high school diploma was "a catastrophic 22.9 percent." And if you didn't graduate high school? "An almost unthinkable 31.5 percent."

"If you don't have a college degree, you're out of the loop for a big chunk of jobs that have the requirement of an associate's or bachelor's…

Continue

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE



"Hello Everyone,



In order to help keep you more informed, we host monthly calls to update you on various disability issues as well as to introduce you to persons who work on disability issues in the Federal government.



This call is open to everyone, and we strongly urge and ask that you distribute this email broadly to your networks and listservs so that everyone has the opportunity to learn this valuable information.



I would… Continue

I am a mother of a 19 year old with Asperger's and he is graduating from high school this year.

I am so stressed out because I do not know what he is gonna do. It's so difficult for him to find a job because of his social skills... My husband, I still have to figure him out. I don't know if he's still on denial or if he even knows what's going on with his son. We have been separated for 8 months, I guess he waited until he was an adult. It has been difficult for my son.

I…

Continue

Continue

Continue

Continue

Dear all (with apologies to those outside the NYC area):   A reminder that this weekend, GRASP is hosting "Persons on the Autism Spectrum in Their Communities of Faith," a panel discussion about how our folks feel their behavioral differences are accepted or rejected by their respective…

Continue

http://laughinghelps2.blogspot.com/2012/04/professor-and.html

All:

 

DSM-5 developments have slowed down a tad, and we're partly responsible as we huddled close and (1) waited to see how the DSM Committee responded to the criticism, and (2) mapped out what we hope to, and can, do.

 

In short, the Committee isn't budging. Despite the controversy, the flawed field trials, the disingenuous damage control conducted by Committee members, and Fred Volkmar's certainty that more studies are forthcoming that back up the Yale and LSU…

Continue

Is anyone else out there bowled over by the overwhelming cost of higher education right now?  My daughter's behavioral pediatrician recommended a college that costs over $51K/yr including books, room & board, etc.  That's over $200K IF she gets through in four years (most students at this school graduate in five -- Ugh)!   The college gave her a nominal financial aid award, but it's not nearly enough to cover the gap between what they are charging and what we can afford to spend.   We…

Continue

As we prepare for the 2012 GRASP benefit on Tuesday, May 15 at the League of Women Voters' Ballroom (4 West 43rd Street, between 5th and 6th avenues)  in New York, we want to showcase the recipients of our usual three awards, and a fourth award that is special to this year only. This is the fourth and final of these four posts. 

 

The 2012 Distinguished Spectrumite Medal (The "DSM"):…

Continue

Autreat was the first known autistic-run conference of its kind in the world, and it has become a model for other Autistic community and self-advocacy events in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Autreat offers a special experience of freedom and acceptance for autistic people from all over the U.S. and Canada as well people who travel from overseas to attend.



Will you make a donation (link below) to support Autreat this year?



Our goal is to raise at least…

Continue

 

 

 

• Autism Light #173 is Michael John Carley
• Autism Puts Children At Risk For Bullying, New Study Shows
• New high in U.S. autism rates inspires renewed debate

 

 

***************************************************************

Autism Light #173 is Michael John Carley

 

Michael John Carley is from Brooklyn, New York. In late 2000 he and his then 4 year old son were diagnosed with…

Continue