For Gearoid Mannion and his wife, Michelle, who live in County Clare, Ireland, air travel with their two autistic sons, Conor, 9, and Darragh, 7, is usually nothing short of a nightmare. The noise level, crowds and announcements at airports overwhelm the boys, and waiting in security and boarding lines is a concept that they don’t understand, Mr. Mannion said. “They get red in the face and start …
autism
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (and Chairs)
I love the theatre. I have learned though, that in order for me to actually go, I need to subscribe and commit to go on a regular basis. Can you relate? I won’t buy one-off tickets even with the best of intentions. Our Playhouse Square in Cleveland has an amazing Broadway Series that is great for this. I often call them my “seven dates per year.” There have been many times that I’ve arrived at the …
Walk In Her Shoes
A simple trip to the grocery store with a mom and her child who has autism. Walk in her shoes for just a moment. Have you seen her? Is this you? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below. Source: TODAY Parents …
Orange Effect Foundation Awards Grants to Help 11 Children
The Orange Effect Foundation board is excited to once again award more than $20,000 in grants to children in need during their June board meeting. Now 11 more children across the country will have access to speech therapy, summer speech camp, or even special speech-generating devices that help them communicate like never before. Several of the recipients have been diagnosed with Childhood …
How Technology is Changing Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and communication skills are integral to independence and well-being. As technology advances, speech therapists are using new and innovative ways to incorporate it into therapy sessions. Read more about three projects that synthesize technological advances and speech therapy. Kaspar the robot: helping children with autism communicate Meet Kaspar: he can be talked to, tickled, stroked, …
Parents Misread Early Signs of Autism
Many parents in the U.S. know little about autism and some have never heard of the disorder before, finds a study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Latinos specifically also tend to normalize autism symptoms or view them as a sign of family problems, such as an inattentive parent. The findings may help explain why Latino children with autism are diagnosed an …
The Stuff They Don’t Talk About During Autism Awareness Month
I am not sad because my kid has autism. You know what I'm sad about? It's all the other stuff that comes with the autism that can get bent. The crippling anxiety, the obsessive compulsive disorder, the sensory processing issues, the hyperactivity, and the one that makes life really freaking complicated, the intellectual disability. Ya see, this is the kind of autism that doesn't get talked …
Orange Effect Foundation Awards More Than $20,000 In Grants for Speech Therapy & Devices
CLEVELAND - April 13, 2017 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation continues to change lives. With more than $60,000 awarded for 620 hours of speech therapy and 5 communication devices, 2016 was a very big year for the foundation. However, if the first quarter of 2017 is any indication, this year will be even bigger. The Orange Effect Foundation is pleased to announce that following the first …
How Having a Son With Autism Changed My Life
Personal insight from an autism professional My son, Sean, was 2 years old when we first noticed something wasn’t quite right. He stopped pointing at things. He lost what little language he had been developing. Looking back, I realize his development hadn’t exactly been “neurotypical” up to that point. But my wife and I didn’t know that then. We also didn’t know our lives …
2017 OEF Golf for Autism
OEF Golf for Autism Announced for August 7th (Save the Date) The Orange Effect Foundation has one goal – to make sure those children who need speech therapy services get the funds or technology they need…to reach their full potential. For many families around the world, insurance or government grants don’t fund these activities. That’s why we have to step in and help. Our 11TH annual Golf …
Children of Color with Autism Face Disparities
African-American children are often diagnosed with autism at older ages than white children, missing years of potential intervention and treatment. Special correspondent John Donvan and producer Karen Zucker meet a black family who struggled to find community and resources for their son with autism, but are now helping others who need answers and support. Source: PBS.org …
App Gives Autistic Teen a Voice
Did you know that an I-Pad app can provide a voice for someone who has difficulty communicating verbally? One specific augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app enables users to modify and personalize it for specific situations, such as ordering lunch at a local sub shop. With this new "voice," users gain independence and self-esteem. Watch as a teen uses an I-Pad app to ensure that his …