Life Among the 'Yakkity Yaks'

The Wall Street Journal (Feb. 23) - ""Who do you think made the first stone spear?" asks Temple Grandin. "That wasn't the yakkity yaks sitting around the campfire. It was some Asperger sitting in the back of a cave figuring out how to chip rocks into spearheads. Without some autistic traits you wouldn't even have a recording device to record this conversation on."
As many as one in 110 American children are affected by autism spectrum disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. But what causes this developmental disorder, characterized by severe social disconnection and communication impairment, remains a mystery.
Nevertheless, with aggressive early intervention and tremendous discipline many people with autism can lead productive, even remarkable, lives. And Ms. Grandin—doctor of animal science, ground-breaking cattle expert, easily the most famous autistic woman in the world—is one of them.
Earlier this month, HBO released a film about her to critical acclaim. Claire Danes captures her with such precision that Ms. Grandin tells me watching the movie feels like "a weird time machine" to the 1960s and '70s and that it shows "exactly how my mind works.""

NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

Join fall PACK! walking club

From Denice Stout,
Founder and Director of Autism Ability Advocates, Inc.

Dear Friends:
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often realize the importance of education and cognitive type therapies, but quite often the benefits of physical activity can be overlooked.
Studies have shown that physical activity can improve the overall quality of life of individuals with autism. Not only does it introduce the individual to a social environment and a chance to interact with others in the community, but it has also been demonstrated to improve behavior, decrease anxiety, and increase focus.
Autism Ability Advocates, Inc. will be sponsoring PACK! (Physically Active Cool Kids!). PACK! is a walking club that allows individuals with ASD to take part in a physical activity they can be successful at out in the community.
PACK! members and supporters will meet at O’Dell Weeks track on Thursdays at 6:30 P.M. beginning on September 9, 2010. There will be a total of ten walk dates. The goal is that the individuals with ASD will; 1) practice social skills and decrease inappropriate behaviors in the community, 2) become self-motivated to walk a one mile track, 3) participate in an activity that will enhance their physical fitness and overall quality of life, 4) encourage all modes of communication, and 5) be integrated into the community and removed from isolation and seclusion.
The deadline to turn in your application is Monday, September 6th, 2010. There is no membership fee. The cost of this program is FREE! We just need your commitment to have fun and attend all the walks with a positive attitude! There will be a $10 charge for PACK! t-shirts.
The application includes a short reinforcement inventory. This inventory will be used to provide ideas for incentives that will be used to motivate the individuals to complete the walk.
Acceptance into PACK! is based on a “First received – First served” basis.
Hope this sees you all well,
Denice Stout – Founder & Director

Autism Ability Advocates, Inc. * 470 Timberchase Lane * Aiken, SC 29803 * 803-215-7593 *dstout6@bellsouth.net

Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among US Adolescents Has Increased Significantly

ScienceDaily (Aug. 17, 2010) — Data from two nationally representative surveys indicates that the prevalence of hearing loss among U.S. adolescents increased by about 30 percent from 1988-1994 to 2005-2006, with 1 in 5 adolescents having hearing loss in 2005-2006, according to a study in the August 18 issue of JAMA.

Hearing loss is a common sensory disorder, affecting tens of millions of individuals of all ages in the United States. Adolescent hearing loss, although common, is not well understood, and can have important educational and social implications, according to background information in the article. Some risk factors, such as loud sound exposure from listening to music, may be of particular importance to adolescents.

An analysis of the data indicated that the prevalence of any hearing loss among 12- to 19-year olds was 14.9 percent in 1988-1994 and 19.5 percent (approximately 6.5 million individuals) in 2005-2006, representing a 31 percent increase in the prevalence of hearing loss over this time. The majority of hearing loss was slight. The prevalence of any unilateral hearing loss was 11.1 percent in 1988-1994 and 14.0 percent in 2005-2006, and any bilateral hearing loss was 3.8 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. Any high-frequency hearing loss (prevalence, 12.8 percent in 1988-1994; prevalence, 16.4 percent in 2005-2006) was more common than any low-frequency hearing loss (prevalence, 6.1 percent in 1988-1994; prevalence, 9.0 percent in 2005-2006) in both survey cycles.

To view the full article, follow the link in this post's title.

July and August newsletters are out!

This has been a big month for us! We sent out nearly 800 pamphlets, added five new patrons, and had over 30 checkouts. We also added several new titles, such as The Motivation Breakthrough, Learning Disabilities A-Z, and The Paralysis Resource Guide.

July's newsletter may be viewed here: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/july2010.pdf
August's newsletter may be viewed by clicking the link in this post's title.

To see this month's newsletter, follow the link in this post's title.

Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Aid Lab Animal Brain Cell Survival After Simulated Stroke

ScienceDaily (Aug. 24, 2010) Human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCB) used to treat cultured rat brain cells (astrocytes) deprived of oxygen appear to protect astrocytes from cell death after stroke-like damage, reports a team of researchers from the University of South Florida (USF) Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair.Their study was published in the August, 2010 issue of Stem Cell Review and Reports.

The USF study was carried out with astrocytes cultured in the laboratory (in vitro) and then subjected to oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) and glucose deprivation to model what happens in the human brain during a stroke.

Astrocytes, star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord, perform several functions, including support of cells that make up the blood-brain barrier separating circulating blood and spinal fluid.

"When we compared survival of astrocytes grown with and without human umbilical cord blood cells during a period of hypoxia and reduced nutrients, we found that the cord blood cells stabilized the brain cell environment and aided astrocyte survival," said lead author and professor Alison Willing, PhD. "However, the cord blood cells also had an impact on cytokines -- small proteins secreted by cells of the immune system -- and also on glial cells that carry signals between cells."

The researchers discovered that the HUCBs changed cytokine "expression" -- sometimes suppressing inflammation and other times enhancing it.


NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

New Norwegian Earplug Solution to a Deafening Problem

ScienceDaily (Aug. 20, 2010) Some 600 cases of noise-induced hearing impairment are reported by the Norwegian petroleum industry every year. A new, intelligent earplug is now set to alleviate the problem.

Norway's largest company, Statoil ASA, is taking the problems associated with noise exposure seriously. Over the course of four years the international energy company has led efforts to further develop an existing combined hearing protection and communication product for use on offshore platforms.

World's most advanced hearing protection device
A microphone on the outside of the new "offshore" version of the QUIETPRO earplug picks up ambient sounds. The sound is digitally processed, and unwanted loud noises are filtered out before the sound is sent to a speaker inside the earplug. Users can adjust the level of ambient sound, as desired.

A microphone on the inside of the earplug picks up speech signals through the skull. This means that users do not have to have a microphone in front of their mouth, as is the case with the ear protection devices currently used on most offshore platforms. Another advantage is that the microphone inside the ear does not pick up background noise in the way that a microphone in front of the mouth does.


NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

Buddy Walk

The Link2U (July, 2010, Volume 12, Number1) October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Buddy Walks are held across the nation to celebrate individuals with Down Syndrome.

This year Family Connection will host a Buddy Walk in Anderson, Columbia and Spartanburg. Family Connection hosts these events in celebration of individuals with Down syndrome, to promote awareness and understanding, and to raise funds to support local parent-to-parent programs and research through the National Down Syndrome Society. The Down Syndrome Family Alliance of Greenville will also host a Buddy Walk in Greenville.

Anderson Area Buddy Walk – Sunday, October 3rd at the Anderson University Athletic Campus. Registration begins at 1pm. Contact Sherry Fields at SherryFields@FamilyConnectionSC.org or 864-231-8100.

Columbia Area Buddy Walk – Sunday, October 17th at Saluda Shoals Park. Registration begins at 1pm. Contact Vanessa Clark at VanessaClark@FamilyConnectionSC.org or 803-252-0914.

Spartanburg Area Buddy Walk – Saturday, October 23rd at the School for the Deaf and Blind track. Registration begins at 2pm. Contact Lisa Anderson at LisaAnderson@FamilyConnectionSC.org or 864-585-5462.

Greenville Down Syndrome Buddy Walk – Saturday, October 10th at 2pm at Furman University. Presented by the Down Syndrome Family Alliance of Greenville – www.DSFAGreenville.org.

Come on out and show your support for our ‘Special Buddies’ with Down syndrome.

Check Out Our New Donated Books!

Thanks to Family Connection of South Carolina, the Center for Disability Resources Library has recently been donated a number of new Fatherhood Resource titles that will soon be available to our patrons. These titles were purchased by Family Connection of SC using funds from the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) Grant provided through the National Responsible Fatherhood Capacity Building Inititive (NRFCBI).

For more information about the NRFCBI, visit:
http://www.fatherhood.org/grant.
For more information about Family Connection of SC, visit:
http://www.familyconnectionsc.org/ .

The following are the titles donated by Family Connection of South Carolina:

• Successful Fathers: The Subtle But Powerful Ways Father Mold Their Children's Characters
• Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem
• The Single Dad's Survival Guide
• What A Difference A Daddy Makes
• The Father's Book: Being A Good Dad In The 21st Century
• Helping Guys Become Men, Husbands, and Fathers
• The Custody Revolution: The Father Factor and the Motherhood Mystique
• Why Fathers Count
• Be Prepared: A Practical handbook for New Dads
• Custody For Fathers: A Practical Guide Through the Combat Zone of a Brutal Custody Battle
• Being A Good Dad When You Didn't Have One
• Championship Fathering
• Road to Fatherhood: How to Help Young Dads Become Loving and Responsible Parents
• Married With Special-Needs Children
• My Father Before Me: How Fathers and Sons Influence Each Other Throughout Their Lives
• Clear and to the Point: 8 Psychological Principles for Compelling PowerPoint Presentations

NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the Family Connection of South Carolina. web site.

CDC Forms Disability and Health Work Group

The Challenge (Summer 2010, Volume 3, Issue 6) "Largely due to the advocacy of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC), a group of stakeholders with which BIAA is actively involved with, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that it will form the first Disability and Health Work Group to advance the health of people with disabilities. With cross-agency representation, the work group will focus on incorporating disability status into CDC surveys, showcasing best practices, and ensuring relevant issues for people with disabilitiesare reflected in CDC programs and polices.

BIAA applauds the elevation of these issues within the CDC and plans to offer any assistance needed to further the group's work."

Repairing Spinal Cord Injury With Manipulated Neural Stem Cells

ScienceDaily (Aug. 18, 2010) — "One of the most common causes of disability in young adults is spinal cord injury. Currently, there is no proven reparative treatment. Hope that neural stem cells (NSCs) might be of benefit to individuals with severe spinal cord injury has now been provided by the work of a team of researchers, led by Kinichi Nakashima, at Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, in a mouse model of this devastating condition.

In the study, mice with severe spinal cord injury were transplanted with NSCs and administered a drug known as valporic acid, which is used in the treatment of epilepsy. The valporic acid promoted the transplanted NSCs to generate nerve cells, rather than other brain cell types, and the combination therapy resulted in impressive restoration of hind limb function. The authors hope that this approach, whereby the fate of transplanted NSCs is amnipulated, for example by administration of valporic acid, could be developed as an effective treatment for severe spinal cord injury."



NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

Splash Bash on August 21, 2010, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Shaw Air Force Base-Lake Wateree Recreation Area

Adults and young adults (14 years and older) with disabilities are invited to a day of swimming, play, and leisure sponsored by HealthSouth Columbia. The outdoor activities and equipment have been modified to be accessible for people with disabilities. Adapted equipment will include electronic trigger pulls, hunting chairs, electric reels, racing chairs, and carts for hunting.

Adapted activities will include tubing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, archery and other wheelchair sports. Mobi-Mat and the assistant dogs from P.A.A.L.S. will also be there. A variety of organizations, vendors and staff from the SC Assistive Technology Program will be present to talk with attendees about services and assistive technology products.

Join the Splash Bash festivities on August 21, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Shaw Air Force Base, Lake Wateree Recreation Area, 2030 Baron DeKalb Road, Camden, SC. A picnic lunch in the recreational hall at noon will recognize all those involved in this year’s event.

Free registration: Contact Michelle Azarigian-Rogers or call 803-401-1347 to complete the Participant Application Form.

To view the Splash Bash flyer, click the link in this post's title.

Prosthesis With Information at Its Fingertips: Hand Prosthesis That Eases Phantom Pain

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2010) — The pain of losing a body part is twofold, as patients not only suffer from wound pain. Often they are also affected by so called phantom pain. Unlike bodily wounds which will eventually heal, phantom pain often lasts for years and sometimes a lifetime.

"Phantom pain is very difficult to treat," says Professor Dr Thomas Weiss from the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. "Mostly they prove to be highly therapy-resistant," the professor at the Department for Biological and Clinical Psychology says. In many cases the symptoms persist, in spite of high dosages of painkillers. This puts patients at a high risk of medication addiction, according to the pain research scientist.

But now scientists of the University of Jena give cause for hope to the affected patients. Together with the trauma surgeons of the Jena University Hospital, business partners and supported by the German Social Accident Insurance (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung, DGVU) Professor Weiss´s team modified conventional hand prostheses in order to reduce phantom pain after an underarm amputation.

To view the entire article, follow the link in this post's title.

In Breakthrough, Nerve Connections Are Regenerated After Spinal Cord Injury

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2010) — Researchers for the first time have induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement after spinal cord injury, showing the potential for new therapeutic approaches to paralysis and other motor function impairments.

In a study on rodents, the UC Irvine, UC San Diego and Harvard University team achieved this breakthrough by turning back the developmental clock in a molecular pathway critical for the growth of corticospinal tract nerve connections.

They did this by deleting an enzyme called PTEN (a phosphatase and tensin homolog), which controls a molecular pathway called mTOR that is a key regulator of cell growth. PTEN activity is low early during development, allowing cell proliferation. PTEN then turns on when growth is completed, inhibiting mTOR and precluding any ability to regenerate.

To read the entire article, click the link in this post's title.

Does job coaching really work?

Can a government-sponsored job coaching program for individuals with intellectual disabilities really help someone get a job?

That’s what a team of USC researchers wanted to find out when they looked into a statewide job-coaching program offered through the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN).

“We’ve been collecting data on special needs–individuals in South Carolina for 13 years, focusing on both prevention of disabilities and quality of life issues,” said Suzanne McDermott, a professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. “As we turned our attention to people with intellectual disabilities who want to earn a real wage, we wondered if government-supported job coaching programs really work—are the programs any more effective than someone just going out and finding a job without assistance?”

The question is particularly relevant for South Carolina, which administers a federally mandated job coaching effort to assist the roughly 10,000 citizens who have intellectual disabilities and the basic abilities to hold down a job.

To read the article in full, follow the link in this post's title.

Webinar Announcement: SC Adult Sibling Leadership Network Community Involvement—Be a Fan of Special Olympics!

NOTE: Click image above to view newsletter...

SC Adult Sibling Leadership Network Community Involvement
Be a Fan of Special Olympics!

WEBINAR

presented by
Sue Maner

SC Special Olympics
August 25, 2010
12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Objectives:
• History of the Special Olympics
• Opportunities on the sports field
• Opportunities beyond the sports field
• How to get involved
To register call 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

email Melanie at burnettiandr@aol.com

Internet access and a telephone will be needed to participate via the internet.
(You may also access the audio portion only via telephone)

To learn more about the SC Adult Sibling Leadership Network or to receive a membership application, please call the numbers listed above or visit our website www.scadultsiblingnetwork.org

Public Hearing on S.C. Medicaid Managed-Care Plan

Public Hearing on S.C. Medicaid Managed-Care Plan

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010

10:00 AM

On July 1, 2010, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) filed a Medicaid state-plan amendment asking the federal government to make Managed Care mandatory for more than 500,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in our state, as well as allowing DHHS to qualify people for Managed Care who are currently ineligible.

This state plan amendment was filed without public input, comment or expertise.

CMS, the federal agency over Medicaid, is very concerned about DHHS' lack of transparency and public input in this process. Consequently, it has set up a public hearing by telephone for Monday, August 23, at 10 a.m. This will be your opportunity as a South Carolinian to let CMS understand how DHHS' proposed changes would impact you or the people you serve.

To participate, call (877) 251-0301 and provide the operator with the conference ID 93410633. CMS suggests you call in 10 minutes prior to the 10 a.m. start time. If you have further questions, contact Sue Berkowitz at sberk@scjustice.org.

Signs of Autism May Show in Early Infancy

TUESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Signs of autism may show up in babies as young as 1 month old, a new study shows.

But the tip-offs are not the usual red flags, such as a lack of eye contact or smiling, the researchers noted.

Instead, they found babies who needed neonatal intensive care and were later diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder were more likely to have abnormal muscle tone and differences in their visual processing than babies who went on to develop normally after time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The differences, which were subtle and probably not something parents would easily spot, were picked up by trained experts closely observing babies, said study co-author Ira Cohen, chair of the psychology department at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities.

To view the entire article, follow the link in this post's title.

Plain cells turned into beating heart cells: study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two studies published on Thursday show new ways to fix damaged hearts, one by turning structural heart cells into beating cells and another by restoring a primordial ability to regenerate lost tissue.

The two approaches need more work before they can be tried in humans, but they represent big steps forward in the new field of regenerative medicine.

Stem cell researchers know they can reprogram these ordinary cells by adding three or four genes to take them back to an embryonic-like state. Teams are working to fine-tune these so-called induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells.

Taking this approach a step further, Dr. Masaki Ieda and colleagues found the genes that, in a developing embryo, turn an immature cell into a beating heart cell or cardiomyocyte.

They used these three genes called Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 to convert mouse heart fibroblasts -- which provide structure but which cannot beat -- into the beating cells.

"Scientists have tried for 20 years to convert nonmuscle cells into heart muscle, but it turns out we just needed the right combination of genes at the right dose," Ieda, now at the Keio University School of Medicine in Japan, said in a statement

To view the full article, follow the link in this post's title.

Scientists Use Stem Cells to Help Rabbits Grow New Joints

WEDNESDAY, July 28 (HealthDay News) -- For the first time, scientists have been able to grow an entire joint from stem cells, albeit in rabbits not humans. And the joints worked.

"The rabbits were able to hop and walk and bear weight, virtually like normal rabbits," said Dr. Jeremy Mao, senior author of a paper published online July 29 in The Lancet. "This was the first regeneration of the entire joint with restored functioning."

If replicated in humans, the researchers are hoping these regenerated joints would last longer than artificial joints, which have a life span of about 10 to 15 years right now.

This is especially important given the number of younger people (65 and younger) who are now requiring joint replacements, often because of osteoarthritis, the authors stated.

Currently, damaged joints are replaced with joints made of titanium or stainless steel. They have a number of drawbacks, including limited life span.

To view the full article, follow the link in this post's title.

August 2010 Newsletter Out!

This has been a big month for us! We sent out nearly 800 pamphlets, added five new patrons, and had over 30 checkouts. We also added several new titles, such as The Motivation Breakthrough, Learning Disabilities A-Z, and The Paralysis Resource Guide.

To see this month's newsletter, follow the link in this post's title.

"Be Healthy...Read Healthy" Project Featured In Chester's News and Reporter

"The Chester County Library has been selected for a new project administered by the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. The Be Healthy...Read Healthy project aims to increase access to health information for underserved individuals in rural and urban communities throughout South Carolina.

As part of the project, the School of Medicine Library has selected consumer health and disability information resources which are now available at the main branch of the Chester County Library."

Be Healthy...Read Healthy Featured In SC State Library Newsletter

The 'Be Healthy...Read Healthy' project was feature in the South Carolina State Library's summer newsletter! Be sure to check it out at the link in the post's title!

Thought-Controlled Prosthetic Limb System to Be Tested on Human Subjects

ScienceDaily (Aug. 4, 2010) — "The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a contract for up to $34.5 million to The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., to manage the development and testing of the Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) system on human subjects, using a brain-controlled interface."

NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Major National Conference on Abuse of Adults With Disabilities

21st Annual NAPSA Conference

“Healing the Culture of Abuse”

WHEN: November 8-10th, 2010

WHERE: Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, CA

HOW: Go to: http://www.regonline.com/2010_napsa_annual_conference

NAPSA Members use code: MEM2010 for discounted rate

On November 8-10, 2010, the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), partnering with the University of California Irvine, Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect, will host their annual national conferences at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, San Diego, California. Other conference partners include Dr. Nora Baladerian and the California District Attorneys Association.

The Archstone Foundation has provided funding for thirteen $1,000 scholarships for APS professionals from California, and the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice is also providing scholarships and other support to the conference (Note: Points of view expressed in this event are those of the organizers and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice).

2010 NAPSA Conference Registration Fees

Pre-Conference: $75 ($55 with NAPSA Conference Registration)

Members: $325

Non-members: $400

These rates are effective until 10/08/2010; after which the conference member fee increases to $400, the non-member fee to $475, Pre-Conferences to $100, and Post Conference to $120. Please be sure to note the refund policy on the conference registration site.

NEW! Post Conference* $95 ($75 with NAPSA Conference Registration)

*See details about National Financial Abuse Summit below

New SC Exchange Listings

We are including the latest listings on the Assistive Technology Exchange website. There are many items listed for sale or free, as well as items that are needed. These items are not located at any one place or warehouse. These are all items that are currently owned by someone else who is willing to sell at a reduced price or even for free in some cases.

If you have questions about items listed below, you must log on to the AT Exchange.

There you will find the contact information for these items.
You must login (or create a new account if you are a new user) to see the sellers contact information.

If you have already logged in (or at least tried to) and still have questions please email Catherine Leigh Graham of call her at 803-434-3189.
Note: If you can’t get Catherine, email Janet Jendron or call her at (803) 446-2566.

Items Available

Computers and related
9 Pin Printer
Keyboard
Keyboard
Mouse
Mouse
Modem
Printer
Computer Speaker
Printer
9 Pin Printer
Monitor/Modem in one
Modem
Modem
Mouse
Mouse
Speakers
Fax Machine
Keyboard
Computer Monitor
Intelligence Unit
Scanner

Daily Living
various tracheotomy supplies
Keyboard
Large Urinary Drainage bag
Freedom External Catheter 35 mm #8400
LIFT
Skin Prep Protective Wipes
Stomahesive Strips
Feeding Pump
Cath adapter tips
Winsford Feeder
Nutrene Jr. Formula
Boys Shoes For AFO's
Commode/Shower Chair
Jevity 1cal

Environmental Adaptations
10 Foot and 12 Foot folding ramps
Vitaeris 320 Hyperbaric Chamber
Ceiling Track Lift
Therapy Cooler

Mobility
Squiggles Early Sitting System
Child wheelchair
Convaid Upright Wheelchairs - EZ Rider
Essential Walker
Swan R82 Toilet Seat
(2) 8 x 1 1/4 tires & (3) tubes
(2) J2 backrests - 13" wide
PRC 24 x 1 3/8 wheelchair tube
Left Arm Brace
Right hand splint
Neck Brace
Car Seat Travellers Plus (older kid)
Potty Chair
Bruno SRE 2000 Stair Lift
2 Aluminum Canes
Invacare Walker
ACCESSIBLE 2000 FORD E 150 VAN
Columbia Car Seat
Power Wheelchair
Power Wheelchair
Bath Chair
Invacare Walker model 6271
Invacare Walker model 6270
Reduced Gap Half-Length Bed Rail - Invacare
Model B330AL Joerns low height electric bed
Model B675 electric bed
Hoveround MPV4 Scooter
Pride LX 12 Power Wheelchair
Therapeutic Wheelchair Cushion
Therapy Air Mattress APM2
Youth Caregiver Operated Wheelchair
Child's Corner Chair
Small Gait Trainer Reduced
High Low Chair Reduced
Patient Lift Device
Power wheelchair
Power wheelchair
Power Wheelchair
Jazzy Pride 1121 Power Wheelchair
Jazzy Power Chair
Power Patient Lifter
Reclining Shower Chair
Craftmatic 1 Bed
Pride Jet 2 HD(Heavy Duty) Scooter
Merits P182 Powerchair
Stander

Other
Nebulizer
Halo Helmet

Recreation
Quickie Trike Handcycle
Tape Player w/ switch plate
Pool Lift
Rifton Adaptive Tricycle
Swing Seat

Speech Communication
Assistive Tech Speech Communicator
Speech Communication Device

Vehicle Modification and Transportation
Electric wheelchair lift for transport.
Handicap Van
Van with lift
tilt-a-rack
2000 Chevy Venture with w/c lift
Wheelchair Accessible MiniVan
Harmar Wheelchair Lift
Wheelchair lift
Dodge 2500 W/C Accessible Van

Items being Sought
Computers and related
Used computer.
used computer

Daily Living
Heavy duty shower chair & toileting adaptive aid
CCTV Video Magnifier
Dehumidifier
Geriatric Recliner
Emergency System
CPAP with humidifier
Recumbent Bike
Sure Hands Ceiling Hoist
E&J Shower Wheel Chair

Environmental Adaptations
Portable Wheelchair Ramp for Van
Portable Wheelchair Ramp

Hearing
Hearing Aid and Eyeglasses

Learning
Switches
Big Mack Switch

Mobility
feeding chair
potty chair
Bath Lift - Battery Operated
gait trainer for child
Lightweight 16x16 wheelchair
Walker
Clinitron Bed
Standing Frame
Lift Chair
Standing Frame
Used Manual Wheelchair
Electric Adjustable Bed(not hospital)
Personal Lift
Lift Chair

Recreation
Hand cycles & adapted tricycle
Kayak

Speech Communication
Step by Step Communicator
AAC Device
Communication Device
Easy Talk16

Vehicle Modification and Transportation
Vehicle
Van Wheelchair Ramp
Side Door Van Handicap Lift
Hi Top Handicap Van
Power Rear Vehicle Mounted Scooter Lift
Powerchair Transport Accessories
Exterior Power Chair Lift with a Hitch
Exterior Power Chair Lift with a Hitch

To view the SC Exchange website, click the link in this post's title.

Conference: Perspectives In Autism

2010 South Carolina Autism Society Annual Conference
Friday, October 8-Saturday, October 9, 2010

Columbia Conference Center, 169 Laurelhurst Ave., Columbia, SC

Jerry Newport will present on the topic, “We Will Outlive You,” focusing on the fact that most people with any kind of autism will outlive their parents and other people prominent in their early support community.

Jerry Newport is an internationally known author, advocate and person with Asperger syndrome and is married to a Mary, who also has Asperger syndrome. Both Jerry and Mary are also savants and were featured twice on “Sixty Minutes,“ the second time after a movie they inspired, “Mozart and The Whale.”

Ann Palmer will present “Autism: Beyond the Diagnosis”

Ann Palmer is an author, a parent, and a professional in the field of autism. She will discuss the impact of parenting a child with autism from the time of diagnosis through adulthood. From her own experience as a parent and her many years of working with families, she will share what family members go through following the diagnosis and some of the surprising consolations that come from this experience. She will also discuss her personal experience of parenting a son with autism who attended college and some of the strategies they used to prepare for this transition and help her son be successful in college.

The SCAS's website and conference info may be viewed by clicking the link in this post's title.