Autism Support Network & Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. Create Alliance to Help Families Affected by Autism

(Fairfield, CT / Macon, GA) April 21, 2009 – Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) and Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. (www.aacfinc.org) today announced a partnership to provide information, support and help reduce the financial burden experienced by families coping with autism so they can focus attention seeking the necessary assistance for their autistic loved ones. As part of the relationship, Autism Support Network will help promote the grass-roots efforts of AACF, Inc. to its thousands of members worldwide.

Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. was founded by musician/songwriter, performer and platinum-record producer Michael Buckholtz, who is a diagnosed Asperger with OCD. He and his family experienced the financial disaster of coping with autism. Michael Buckholtz's desire to ensure that families coping with autism get a level playing field financially comes largely as a result of seeing his own family struggle to make ends meet. He knew that other families were experiencing the same thing and spearheaded the creation of AACF, Inc.

“Michael and the AACF, Inc. are embarking on an effort that is truly needed today,” said Brian Field, co-founder of the Autism Support Network, “While there are organizations focusing on new therapies, treatments, and on early-childhood intervention, families who are uninsured or underinsured often find themselves in financial distress as they try to provide the best for their children with autism. It can be ruinous to the stability of the family. We are proud to support the philanthropic thrust of AACF, Inc. and Michael’s passion behind it.”

“I was struggling to find a voice through the usual online social networks when Brian came across AACF, Inc. and introduced me to the Autism Support Network,” said AACF, Inc. founder Michael Buckholtz. “As someone coping with autism every day, I now feel I have a comfortable place to discuss and share my grassroots humanitarian mission tailor-made for assisting families coping with autism. For me, Autism Support Network is the MySpace for the Autism Community."

Today 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, with a new case diagnosed every 20 minutes and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

According to a Harvard School of Public Health study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in the spring of 2007, the typical American spends about $317,000 over his or her lifetime in direct medical costs, incurring 60% of those costs after age 65 years. In contrast, people with autism incur about $306,000 in additional direct medical costs, implying that people with autism spend twice as much as the typical American over their lifetimes and spend 60% of those incremental direct medical costs after age 21 years. The societal costs to support a single person with autism is $3.2 million over his or her lifetime, and as a group, upwards of $35 billion each year in direct (both medical and non-medical) and indirect costs to care for all individuals diagnosed with ASD.

About Autism Support Network
Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) is a free global online community – rapidly growing with thousands of members around the world – connecting families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, providing support and insight, and serving as a resource guide for treatments, strategies and therapies.

About Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc (AACF, Inc.)
Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. (www.aacfinc.org) is an early-stage grass-roots program created with the singular mission to reduce the financial burden on families coping with autism so they can focus attention seeking the necessary assistance for their autistic loved ones.

Mystery of the Mind: Autism Today

While autism continues to mystify, new studies and treatments keep parents and children moving forward.

by Lisa Tabachnick Hotta, TVOParents

(April 17, 2009) -- April marks Autism Awareness Month. Defined as a neurological disorder which causes developmental delay, autism – also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects approximately one out of every 165 children born in Canada today. For parents who have initial questions about this widely-discussed topic, the TVOParents.com article Is it Autism? is a useful place to begin.

A vast amount of information is available on the subject of ASD and, perhaps because of this, parents may not know where to start. While the term "autism" is now almost universally known, misconceptions still exist. Brian Field is Co-Founder of Autism Support Network, a free online support community for those touched by ASD. He suggests that "The number one misconception about people with autism is that they are either savants, or completely incapable of any independent living – forced to a life of institutionalization." He explains further, "While there are those that exist on both ends of that spectrum, the vast majority of those with ASD live between those points and many have learned coping strategies that make their autism fairly invisible to the outside observer."

For those touched by ASD there exists both strong conviction and some confusion about ways in which the disorder should be treated. "The number one thing parents can do to help their children with autism is to seek professional early intervention," states Field. "The diagnosis can and should be procured by a licensed psychologist whose specialty is in ASD. This professional diagnosis can be used as a starting point in building individual therapeutic programs that are tailored to that child's needs." While early intervention and treatment is widely accepted as paramount for success, others feel strongly that autism should not take over. "I think that parents need to take a step back and make sure that their child’s happiness and well-being are recognized," says Lisa Rudy, a writer and parent to a child with "high-functioning autism." She adds, "[Let these children] explore the world, enjoy their lives, and enjoy some down time."

Support and happiness is critical for all human beings. This is especially so for children living with ASD. Besides seeking out the best medical or holistic treatments and keeping the family unit as a whole in mind, what else can parents do to best support a child with autism? "Help them any way [you] can. Support them with their problems and stand by them if they are frustrated with something," says Adam Thayer, a young adult with Asperger Syndrome who lives in Colorado. Thayer adds, "Parents can always help the child by talking to a counsellor…there is always help available." When it comes to success in the classroom, Thayer advises that, "Parents can also talk to teachers about their specific child and what their limits and needs are such as needing extra help, time, making friends or socializing. I felt like an outsider…but after a long period of time, I learned to make friends easier."

So, whether early intervention is sought or a diagnosis is made later in a child’s life, where do parents of children with ASD stand today? "Parents are largely in two camps; one is seeking a "cure" for their child, while the other is seeking strategies to help empower their kids," says Field. "While this seems like a fine line, psychologically, it’s really fairly significant." One holistic approach involving both strategy and cure is diet. New studies show a link between gluten or casein intolerance and symptoms of autism. Autism Society Canada’s web site includes a summary on these findings:

"Many parents and an increasing number of doctors are reporting improvement in children with autism with the use of various nutritional supplements and changes in diet. Over the past decade, there have been suggestions that adding essential vitamins such as B6 and B12 and removing gluten and casein from a child's diet may improve digestion, speech production, allergies and behaviour. Experts and researchers disagree about whether these dietary therapies really work or if they are scientifically valid."

Whatever treatment or approach is chosen – pharmaceutical drugs, holistic treatments, diet changes, cognitive therapy or a combination – the world of ASD continues to mystify. But one thing is clear - children, parents and teachers who are touched by autism will benefit from finding experts and other parents with whom they can share the latest information and find support.

Autism Support Network & the Israeli Society for Autistic Children Form International Alliance

Together strengthen, expand support and awareness for children and adults with autism

(Fairfield, CT -USA / Givatayim, Israel) March 10, 2009 – Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) and the Israeli Society for Autistic Children (ALUT) (www.alut.org.il) today announced an international alliance to help foster support and greater guidance for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The partnership provides for free online community support for those in region and broadening the awareness of ALUT services to the thousands of global members on Autism Support Network.

Brian Field, co-founder of Autism Support Network, stated “A key goal for the Autism Support Network is to raise awareness of regional services that can assist those with autism of any age. ALUT’s broad range of programs from autism rights advocacy, early intervention, adult support, occupational training and work placements in normative environments is highly commendable. They are an organization with which we are proud to partner.”

“The parents and siblings of a child diagnosed with autism go through a very difficult time and need both emotional and professional support,” said Rachel Rosenman, Director of Resources for ALUT, “While ALUT provides services to help in this function, we hope that through our efforts with Autism Support Network we will be able to extend our reach and the availability of peer-to-peer support overall.”

Today 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, with a new case diagnosed every 20 minutes and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. Reported incidents of autism in Israel are currently 1 in 200. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

About Autism Support Network
Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) is a free global online community – rapidly growing with thousands of members around the world – connecting families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, providing support and insight, and serving as a resource guide for treatments, strategies and therapies.

About the Israeli Society for Autistic Children (ALUT)
The Israeli Society for Autistic Children (ALUT) (www.alut.org.il) is the predominant NGO in Israel, with branches all over the country. ALUT’s mission is to protect the rights of those with autism, regardless of socio-economic status, religion or origin and to provide the best available treatments and education, secure their future and to make them integral part of society. Initiated in 1974 by parents of children with autism, it today has many esteemed, professionals, public figures and parents involved in its operation.

Autism Support Network & Parenting Special Needs Magazine Form International Alliance

Content Distribution Agreement Furthers Autism Support Globally

(Fairfield, CT) January 13, 2009 – Autism Support Network and Parenting Special Needs Magazine today announced an alliance to help foster support and greater guidance for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The agreement syndicates Parenting Special Needs Magazine’s content to the thousands of members from around the world actively engaged in Autism Support Network’s free online community.

Brian Field, co-founder of Autism Support Network, stated “Our members constantly seek additional direction and guidance in navigating the often difficult pathways of raising a child with autism. The practical tips and real-life lessons -- shared from others that have gone through it -- that Parenting Special Needs Magazine is able to deliver to our members will provide valuable insights across our community.”

“We are proud to be associated with Autism Support Network and its broad global audience,” said Chantai Snellgrove, founder and editorial director of Parenting Special Needs Magazine. “Our hope is by bringing together the ‘world-wide’ parenting special needs community, we will become stronger, using one voice to raise awareness and advocate for our children. Gaining tolerance and acceptance for all individuals with different abilities is a key mission of ours.”

Today 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, with a new case diagnosed every 20 minutes and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States today. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

About Autism Support Network
Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) is a free global online community – rapidly growing with thousands of members around the world – connecting families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, providing support and insight, and serving as a resource guide for treatments, strategies and therapies.

About Parenting Special Needs Magazine
Parenting Special Needs Magazine(www.parentingspecialneeds.org) is a free online subscription publication acting as a resource for parents, friends, caregivers, and siblings to “connect” with each other as well as to help with the many aspects that come into play when dealing with individuals with special needs.