My Son’s Autism and Disability: Unintended Consequences of a Polarised Debate
My Son’s Autism and Disability: Unintended Consequences of a Polarised Debate The social and medical models of disability What could possibly motivate a busy parent like myself, with not enough hours in the day, to take time out to write about the social and medical...
Brain Plasticity in Autism- new approaches from Yale University
All brains are able to change by forming new neural connections. This ability to change is known neuroplasticity or brain plasticity. The capacity of the brain to, under the right circumstances, re-organize itself physically and functionally underpins trans-cranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment modality. Harry D. Schneider PhD, MD, MPH, Consultant in Neurolinguistics to the Joy Hirsch PhD, Director of Brain Function Laboratory, Yale University School of Medicine, will share his decades of research and clinical experience of tDCS…
Synchrony 2019 – Translational Research in Autism symposia
The first Brain Foundation annual symposia, Pleasanton, California 8-10 of Nov 2019, aimed to connect researchers with clinicians, donors & stake holders to help translate research efforts into evidence-based treatments for autism and its co-morbidities. It highlighted the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, detailed diagnostics and personalised treatment…
Transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS – a novel treatment for autism?
One of the treatment modalities that has shown the greatest promise for reducing symptoms of autism in recent years is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The most recent study confirmed and expanded on the findings of previous investigations, which strongly indicate that tDCS could have positive effects on cognition, behaviour and physical health, and improve quality of life and autonomy for a large percentage of individuals with autism.
Misperceptions of ASD Neurodiversity and Health Recovery
As a Chartered Psychologist, child development researcher and author in the autism/ASD field, I frequently meet misperceptions of neurodiversity in relation to programmes for autism and health recovery. Somehow or other the belief has developed that to offer such help to an individual on the autistic spectrum is to deny their neurodiversity. In this blog I suggest a new way of looking at this subject…
Cannabis for Treating Core and Comorbid Autism Symptoms – Where are we at?
Several studies published in recent months investigated the effects of cannabis-based products for treating autism. Although the studies were open-label and relatively small in scale, the overall results were overwhelmingly positive, with statistically significant improvements in social communication, language, restrictive/repetitive and challenging behaviours.
An Introduction to Vision Therapy as a Treatment for Autism
I hope that my journey in vision therapy will serve not only as a roadmap for people with mild autism to find their way out of the labyrinth of disability but as something that can provide clues to help those with more severe autism find their way to a life more fully lived.
Turning the Tide of Behaviourism
treatments for core autism symptoms Please find below some thoughts from Romulus Campan, an adult with autism and a delegate at our recent conference. I had the pleasure of talking to Rom at the conference. I cannot remember the last time I met someone so open-minded,...
Autism acceptance – false dichotomies and the damage done
When discussing autism—especially on the internet and in the media—there are way too many people who recklessly engage in false dichotomy. It’s a kind of extremism that gets us nowhere…I can say with 100% certainty that while I seek treatments for my child with autism, my acceptance of him is unconditional.
The Spectrum of Awareness: Shining a Light on Severe Autism
With the celebratory tone of autism awareness month, it’s easy to overlook common aspects of the autistic experience that no reasonable person would salute. To achieve a meaningful level of autism awareness, one that benefits all autistic individuals, we need to tell the stories that are hard to hear.
What is wrong with The Labour Party’s “Autism Neurodiversity Manifesto” and autism identity politics?
Recently in the UK, a “Neurodiversity Manifesto” has been shared by the Labour Party. It has five key principles, each of them lacking in nuance, unreflective of the lived experiences, and ignoring research data.