Autism in Children Affects Not Only Social Abilities, But Also a Broad Range of Motor and Sensory Skills

 

A group of investigators from San Diego State University's Brain Development Imaging Laboratory are shedding a new light on the effects of autism on the brain.

   

The team has identified that connectivity between the thalamus, a deep brain structure crucial for sensory and motor functions, and the cerebral cortex, the brain's outer layer, is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorders.

The thalamus is a crucial brain structure for many functions, such as vision, hearing, movement control and attention. In the children with autism, the pathways connecting the cerebral cortex and thalamus were found to be affected, indicating that these two parts of the brain do not communicate well with each other. "This impaired connectivity suggests that autism is not simply a disorder of social and communicative abilities, but also affects a broad range of sensory and motor systems," Müller said.

To read the report in full go to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130625141216.htm
Free access to the article can be found at http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/136/6/1942.full

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

SC Assistive Technology Expo 2014

          FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO PRE-REGISTRATION NECESSARY!

Mark your calendars! The South Carolina Assistive Technology Program Expo is returning for another exciting year. Come see what's new in assistive technology and listen to free presentations by great speakers.

When: Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 9am-4pm
Where: Brookland Banquet and Conference Centre, 1066 Sunset boulevard, West Columbia, SC, 29169

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

 

Autism Affects Different Parts of The Brain in Men and Women

 

Autism affects different parts of the brain in females with autism than males with autism, a new study reveals.

Scientists at the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge used magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether autism affects the brain of males and females in a similar or different way. They found that the anatomy of the brain of someone with autism substantially depends on whether an individual is male or female, with brain areas that were atypical in adult females with autism being similar to areas that differ between typically developing males and females. This was not seen in men with autism.

"The findings suggest that we should not blindly assume that everything found in males with autism applies to females. This is an important example of the diversity within the 'spectrum' ...Autism as a whole is complex and vastly diverse, or heterogeneous, and this new study indicates that there are ways to subgroup the autism spectrum, such as whether an individual is male or female."

Free access to the article can be found at http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/136/9/2799.full

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Gene Linked to Common Intellectual Disability

University of Adelaide researchers have taken a step forward in unravelling the causes of a commonly inherited intellectual disability, finding that a genetic mutation leads to a reduction in certain proteins in the brain.
    

ARX is among the top four types of intellectual disability linked to the X-chromosome in males. So far, 115 families, including many large Australian families, have been discovered to carry an ARX  mutation that gives rise to intellectual disability.
"There is considerable variation in the disability across families, and within families with a single mutation. Symptoms among males always include intellectual disability, as well as a range of movement disorders of the hand, and in some cases severe seizures," says Associate Professor Cheryl Shoubridge, Head of Molecular Neurogenetics with the University of Adelaide's Robinson Institute.

"The discovery of this genetic link is an important step forward but there is still much work to be done. We're now looking further at the mechanism of the reduction in ARX protein and what that means for the brain at a functional level."

To read the article in full go to:

http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/10/22/hmg.ddt503

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

NEWS! Two New Tutorials Available

School of Medicine Library faculty, Roz McConnaughy and Steve Wilson, received a $5,783 outreach follow-up award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeastern/Atlantic Region for their Creating the InfoAble Portal project with the Columbia office of Family Connection, a support network for families who have children with special needs. With this award, six Family Connection offices will be interconnected with a videoconferencing system to improve access to technology for training sessions and support group meetings. In addition to developing tutorials for the InfoAble Portal and CDR Library, individuals from each of the Family Connection offices will receive in-person training in the use of these information resources and services.

As part of the “Creating the InfoAble Portal” Follow-Up Award, two new tutorials have recently been made available for the InfoAble Portal and the Center for Disability Resources Library.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

 

Last year, Family Connection South Carolina were able to provide 2,393 parent to parent matches. That is one-to-one support around a particular child's diagnosis or parent's greatest concern. For some of the families they were able to a national search for them if it was a rare of unusual diagnosis or circumstance. Of the families that were provided with support, 1,135 received a home visit to provide intensive 1:1 on asthma or on beginning a journey with an infant or toddler with developmental delays.

 

All this support is able to be provided thanks to the kind and generous donations of friends and family of Family Connection South Carolina. Family Connection South Carolina would like for you to continue to make a difference in the lives of SC children with special healthcare needs or disabilities by considering to make a donation this year.

To make a donation please visit:  https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=57-0901467

 

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

SSB BART Group Webinars

Don't Miss the Last Webinars of 2013! All SSB webinars are free to attend and closed captioning is provided

Adobe InDesign Accessibility Basics

Thursday, November 21st - 2:00-2:45 p.m. EST     Register Now! Creating accessible PDF documents in compliance with laws and standards such as WCAG and Section 508 not only allows your content to be available to the widest possible audience, but also plays a key role in optimizing documents for successful indexing by internet search engines. Utilizing accessibility features in Adobe InDesign documents will save content authors significant time and effort when converting to PDF. This overview webinar will look at: Methods to implement accessibility into InDesign documents The process of converting InDesign documents to Acrobat PDF Recognizing and repairing additional accessibility issues after conversion

2014 Accessibility Trends

Tuesday, December 3rd - 2:00-2:45 p.m. EST     Register Now! Don't miss this comprehensive look at key trends and developments expected for ICT Accessibility in 2014. SSB BART Group CEO Tim Springer will share projections in three key areas: Legal U.S. domestic market developments under the ADA, Section 508, CVAA and other requirements, as well as international legal progress Technology Key development paradigms and platform updates Users Demographic changes and improvements in assistive technology

Document Accessibility for Federal Government

Wednesday, December 11th - 2:00-2:45 p.m. EST     Register Now! This webinar, tailored for Federal Government, will provide a comprehensive overview of the key drivers for providing accessible electronic communications and documents for users with disabilities. Experts from SSB and Actuate will cover: Current legal requirements for the Federal Government imposed by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Common challenges facing government agencies required to provide customer communications in accessible formats Practical solutions for low-volume document creation and remediation Actuate's server-based software solution for high-volume communication document creation To learn more, please click on the above title. To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

"AMPLIFY! LIFE" - Grab Life by the Phone

Date: Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

Time: 9:00am – 11:00am

Location:

Assistive Technology Resource Center, 

Midlands Center, 

8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC

Presenter:

Jordyn Funderburk, Equipment and Outreach Specialist 

South Carolina Equipment Distribution Program (SCEDP)

Description: 

SCEDP is a state supported, non-income based program administered by the SC Office of Regulatory Staff.

SCEDP is aware of the daily challenges facing individuals who are hearing or speech impaired.  Telecommunications equipment distributed by SCEDP is carefully chosen to cover various needs and is distributed at no cost to qualifying South Carolinians.  Qualifying disabilities are:  hard-of-hearing, deaf, deaf-blind, blind/low vision with hearing loss, or speech impaired.   

Participants will:

Learn the procedure to apply for telecommunications equipment available through SCEDP.

Have the opportunity to have hands-on use of the various pieces of telecommunications equipment distributed by SCEDP.

Learn about hearing loss and how it affects everyone involved in that individual’s life.

Emphasis is placed on helping individuals become more independent through use of this free, state supported program.  SCEDP classes are presented on PowerPoint to facilitate a stress-free learning environment for attendees who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. 

ASL interpreters are available upon request. 

Attendance is limited to 15.

Cost:  There is no fee to register for this class, but pre-registration is required. 

To register for this workshop:

Complete the Amplify Life! Grab Life by the Phone online registration form.

For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Universal Design for Learning Workshop

There are still spaces available in both the morning and the afternoon sessions of the Universal Design for Learning workshop offered on November 20^th in Columbia.  

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Time:  9:00am – 11:00am OR 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location:
SC Assistive Technology Resource Center
Poplar Building, Midlands Center
8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC

Description: This is an introduction to the concepts of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Participants will be given examples on how to incorporate UDL into their teaching practices and additional resources for further exploration. This session will help meet the diverse needs of your students and develop an awareness of how to reduce barriers to curriculum.

Cost: Free, but pre-registration is required.

To register for this workshop:

• Complete the Universal Design for Learning online registration form.  Choose morning or afternoon.
• For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

SC Assistive Technology Advisory Webinars

Creating Accessible Documents for JAWS or MAGic users

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Webinar (further information will be sent following registration)
Presenter: Freedom Scientific

Description:
Join us as Freedom Scientific gives an overview of creating accessible documents for JAWS or MAGic users. We will briefly look at how including headings for navigation in Word, as well as other things, can help JAWS users navigate more efficiently in documents. Do you know how to create column and row headers for Word tables that will read automatically for JAWS users? Can you create column and row headers in Excel that read automatically for JAWS users? You don't even have to own JAWS or MAGic to create accessible headers for Word tables or Excel ranges. JAWS takes advantage of the bookmark feature in Word and the define names feature in Excel to accomplish this. We will also discuss do's and don'ts for creating accessible PowerPoint presentations. On the Web, screen reader and screen magnification users can use headings, ARIA 

To register for this workshop:

• Complete the Accessible Documents for JAWS and MAGic online registration form.
• For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

Legal Considerations for Web and Information Technology Accessibility

Date: Thursday December 5, 2013
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Webinar (logon information will be sent)
Speakers:
Robin Wheeler, Attorney,  Access to Justice
Janet Jendron, SC ATAC Web Accessibility Committee Chair

Description:
Understanding the myths and realities of US law is important when it comes to web accessibility.

This webinar will cover

• People and devices affected by poorly designed web sites
• Broad concepts on how to make your site both accessible and usable
• State and Federal requirements for accessibility.
• Suits/complaints brought against agencies and companies

We'll also cover the following laws:

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA
• Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act - IDEA
• Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act

To register for this workshop:

• Complete the Legal Considerations for Accessibility online registration form.
• For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

WW: Universal Design for Learning

WW: Universal Design for Learning

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Time:  9:00am – 11:00am OR 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location:
SC Assistive Technology Resource Center
Poplar Building, Midlands Center
8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC

Presenter:
Kathleen Heiss, M.Ed, ATP
SC Dept of Education Assistive Technology Specialist          

Description: This is an introduction to the concepts of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Participants will be given examples on how to incorporate UDL into their teaching practices and additional resources for further exploration. This session will help meet the diverse needs of your students and develop an awareness of how to reduce barriers to curriculum.

This workshop has a maximum of 15 participants.
This training is in the Assistive Technology Resource Center, so no food or drink please.

Cost: Free, but pre-registration is required.

To register for this workshop:
Complete the Universal Design for Learning online registration form.  Choose morning or afternoon.
For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

2013 TASH Conference

2013 TASH Conference

For more than 37 years, the TASH Conference has impacted the disability field by connecting attendees to innovative information and resources, facilitating connections between stakeholders in the disability movement, and helping attendees reignite their passion for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life.

The TASH Conference is attended by professors and researchers, public policy workers, special and general educators, school administrators, self-advocates, family members, adult service providers, students, and a variety of other professionals and advocates. Each year, the TASH Conference is the one place where stakeholders from every aspect of the disability community come together to learn, share and grow in our collective effort to advance inclusion and human rights for people with significant disabilities.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association Newsletter

 

 

The South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association Newsletter is here!

To view the newsletter, click here.
If you would prefer to receive a hard copy, please email info@scspinalcord.org.



To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

 

Greenville County School District Surplus Action - Pediatric Equipment

Greenville Co. School District Surplus Auction

 

ABSOLUTE NO RESERVE AUCTION!

 

When: Wednesday November 20th, 2013

Time: 11 a.m. (preview 10 a.m. auction day only)

Where: School District Warehouse. 2 Space Dr., Taylors, SC, 29687

 

Restaurant Equipment, Food Service Items, Auto Repair Equipment, Shop Equipment, Special Education Items, Musical Instruments & Misc. Supplies

 

 

 

 

 

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

 

EASI Webinars on Functional Contrasted to Technical Accessibility

 

EASI Free Webinar The Low Hanging Fruit of Web Accessibility

Nov 18 11 Pacific noon Mountain 1 Centraland 2 PM Eastern (all standard time!)
Presenter: Terrill Thompson
Technology accessibility specialist Terrill Thompson will share a few simple steps that anyone can take to improve the accessibility and usability of their websites and electronic documents.
Register for this Webinar on Nov. 18 with Terrill Thompson

EASI Webinar: Practical Web Accessibility

Nov 14 11 Pacific noon Mountain 1 Central and 2 PM Eastern (all standard time!)
Presenter: Jared Smith
It's easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of web accessibility and overlook practical principles and techniques that often have a bigger impact on the end user experience. This webinar will help everyone take a step back and view accessibility with a new perspective that focuses on the user experience and practicality, while using guidelines, tools, and techniques to help us achieve high levels of accessibility.
Use this link to register for the Nov. 14 Webinar with Jared Smith

EASI Webinar: Even Easier Captions with YouTube

Mon. Dec. 2 at 11 Pacific, noon Mountain, 1 Central and 2 PM Eastern (standard!)
Presenter: Ken Petri

With continually improving speech recognition and new tools to assist the captioning process, YouTube has become (if it wasn't already) the DIY captioner's best friend. This one-hour, free webinar will review and demonstrate recent improvements to YouTube's built-in captioning tools. The webinar also will go over how to use YouTube as a core component for captioning material delivered outside of YouTube. In addition, accessibility of the YouTube player itself will be discussed, along with mention of tools content producers can leverage to enhance video accessibility for everyone.

Register for the December 2 Webinar on YouTube

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

 

Choosing the Best Assistive Technology for Your Child and Your Budget

Assistive Technology Seminar for Literacy Skills:

Choosing the Best Assistive Technology Solutions

for Your Child and Your Budget

When: Friday, November 22, 2013

Time: RSVP for the time that suits your schedule.

12 – 1:30 PM or 3:30 – 5 PM

Cost: Free 

Registration: Tracey Ely tectracey@gmail.com or 803-252-5051

Meeting Location: AT Resource Center located in the Poplar Building on Midlands Center Campus

Use your GPS or Mapquest to find 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC. You will see a small sign that says “Midlands Center.”

Upon arriving at Midlands Center Campus, follow these directions to the SC Assistive Technology Resource Center:

- Turn at the entrance to Midlands Center onto Azalea Avenue

- Pass Crape Myrtle Drive on the left and MC Evergreen Drive on the right

- Turn left onto MC Poplar Drive and park

- Go in the entrance of the Developmental Pediatric Clinic

- The AT Resource Center is across the hall from the waiting room - Room A 128

If you don’t use GPS or MapQuest, you will find detailed driving directions to the SC AT Resource Center at our website:http://www.sc.edu/scatp/directions.htm.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Assistive Technology Online Network

Assistive Technology Network has just had an article published in the AT Journal about the Assistive Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) and the Web Testers Program.  The online issue is dedicated to “Web Accessibility Growing Pains.”

Below is a list of the articles in this issue; many of them might be of interest:

• Coming Soon! New Web Accessibility Standards, Andy Winnegar
• Approaching Accessibility, John Brandt
• The ATbar -- a Better Web Experience
• WAVE5 -- Packed with Powerful Evaluation Tools, Sue Reeves
• Upcoming Free ATC Webinars on Accessible Web Sites and Docs
• Read to Me.... Please, Anna Colley
• It Takes a Village, Janet Jendron
• Planning Your Accessible Web Site
• More Web Accessibility Validators

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

"AMPLIFY! LIFE" - Grab Life by the Phone

Date: Tuesday, November 19th, 2013
Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Location:Assistive Technology Resource Center,
Midlands Center,
8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC

Presenter:Jordyn Funderburk, Equipment and Outreach Specialist
South Carolina Equipment Distribution Program (SCEDP)

Description: 
SCEDP is a state supported, non-income based program administered by the SC Office of Regulatory Staff.

SCEDP is aware of the daily challenges facing individuals who are hearing or speech impaired.  Telecommunications equipment distributed by SCEDP is carefully chosen to cover various needs and is distributed at no cost to qualifying South Carolinians.  Qualifying disabilities are:  hard-of-hearing, deaf, deaf-blind, blind/low vision with hearing loss, or speech impaired.   

Participants will:

• Learn the procedure to apply for telecommunications equipment available through SCEDP.
• Have the opportunity to have hands-on use of the various pieces of telecommunications equipment distributed by SCEDP.
• Learn about hearing loss and how it affects everyone involved in that individual’s life.

Emphasis is placed on helping individuals become more independent through use of this free, state supported program.  SCEDP classes are presented on PowerPoint to facilitate a stress-free learning environment for attendees who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. 

ASL interpreters are available upon request. 

Attendance is limited to 15.

Cost:  There is no fee to register for this class, but pre-registration is required. 

To register for this workshop:

• Complete the Amplify Life! Grab Life by the Phone online registration form.
• For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Toys for Children with a Disability

Each year as we enter the holiday season, we are asked for resources for toys for children with a disability. We hope the resources below are helpful.

Instructions for building your own switch and battery-device adapter
For use with toys with a basic on/off function.

Toys R Us

A toy guide for differently-abled kids comes in English and Spanish. Ask for a copy here.

Fat Brain Toys® Special Needs Resource Center

Toys and other items selected for children with disabilities.

Autism Community Store

Products for kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorder, ADHD and other special needs.

Enabling Devices

Toys and products for kids of all ages with disabilities.

 To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Free Webinars from the Accessible Technology Coalition

Education Topics
Basics of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in K-12
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

Current Trends in Assistive Technology for K-12
Thursday, November 7th, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

Enable & Engage with Adaptations & Supports for Children with Significant Needs
Wednesday, November 15, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

Using eFlashcards in the Classroom 
Monday, November 18, 2013 from PATINS
7 AM Pacific, 10 AM Eastern

Universal Design for Learning and Teaching
Thursday, November 21st, 2013 from ATCoalition
1 pm Pacific, 3 pm Eastern

iPad Apps for Children with Visual Impairments: Explore, Learn and Communicate
Thursday, December 5th
1:30 PM Pacific, 4:30 Eastern

Accessible Websites and Docs
WAVE and WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind)
Thursday, November 14th, 2013 from EASI
11 AM Pacific, 2 PM Eastern

The Low Hanging Fruit of Web Accessibility
Monday, November 18th, 2013 from EASI
11 AM Pacific, 2 PM Eastern

Advanced Accessible PDF - Part 2: Tables, Forms, and More!
Thursday, November 21, 2013 from ADA National Network
11 AM Pacific, 2 PM Eastern

Recent Accessibility Enhancements to YouTube
Monday, December 2nd, 2013 from EASI
11 AM Pacific, 2 PM Eastern

Section 508 Refresh - Using WCAG 2.0 to Evaluate Document Accessibility
Thursday, December 5th, 2013 from ADA Online Learning
11:30 AM Pacific, 2:30 PM Eastern

General AT and adults
Switch Assessment
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

How ALS Caregivers Can Benefit from Assistive Technology
Monday, November 18, 2013 from ALS Assn.
11 AM Pacific, 2 PM Eastern

Switch Mounting
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

Using Technology to Stay On Time, On Task & Organized
Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 from AT Network
3:30 PM Pacific, 6:30 PM Eastern

Communication AAC
Increasing Communication Skills in Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Group Homes
Tuesday, December 3, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

Advancing Communication and Choice-Making Skills Aided with Technology
Thursday, December 5th, 2013 from AbleNet
9 AM Pacific, Noon Eastern

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Assistive Technology in the Workplace

Join Able South Carolina and the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 from two until four o'clock in the afternoon in our Columbia office for an insightful training on the available assistive technology for the workplace. Individuals with disabilities will get to learn about assistive technology, reasonable accommodations under The Americans with Disabilities Act, how to negotiate a reasonable accommodation, and hear stories from people who use assistive technology in the workplace.

To attend the training and request accommodations, please contact  (803) 779-5121, TTY- (803) 779-0949, or by e-mail at dtempio@able-sc.org.


When: Wednesday, November 13th
Time: 2-4PM
Where: Able South Carolina, 136 Stonemark Lane, Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29210

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Help for the Chıld with Autism

Help for the Chıld with Autism

Waiting another decade for approval of a new drug is an agonizing prospect for the parents of a recently diagnosed child. Initial despair, however, can be tempered by the knowledge that a few good treatment options already exist. The latest research has shown that the brain of a toddler with autism can learn and change in response to behavioral therapies that enhance the child's social or language skills or that address another common problem: difficulties in engaging in play and other typical toddler activities. The flexibility demonstrated by the young child's brain opens new possibilities for intensive one-on-one therapy with trained professionals and parents to alleviate the difficulties with speech and social interactions that are a hallmark of the disorder.

One early intervention method derived from developmental psychology and applied behavior analysis (a technique for improving cognitive, language and social skills) is known as the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). An ESDM therapist tries to deal with the difficulty a child with autism has in heeding social cues—facial expressions, gestures and spoken words. ESDM and other programs—such as Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation—draw the attention of children to faces and voices. Healthy young children react more to a face than to a block, yet the pattern reverses for the child with autism, who typically responds more to an object than to a parent's gaze.

An ESDM therapist tries to encourage the child to focus attention. The professional will present a toy, perhaps name the toy in an inviting way and, when the child looks, will share it and start to play. The therapist tries to keep a child engaged in rounds of play intended to cultivate a nascent liking for social activities, all the while teaching social and communication skills.

ESDM has now begun to receive validation from formal scientific studies. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, Geraldine Dawson of Duke University and Sally J. Rogers of the University of California, Davis, have evaluated the technique and have recently reported the strongest evidence to date of the effectiveness of an early intervention for autism.

After two years of intensive training beginning anywhere from 18 to 30 months of age, children paid attention more to faces than did youngsters with autism in non-ESDM behavioral programs. The children who received ESDM scored higher on cognitive tests: their developmental quotient (an IQ test for very young children) rose in the study by 10.6 points more on average than did that of children in non-ESDM behavioral programs. The severity of social deficits and repetitive behaviors diminished, although some symptoms not directly related to autism lingered.

Imaging shows that the brain undergoes desirable changes as well. Brain areas activated when a child looks at faces lit up more in children with autism who received ESDM relative to those in in non-ESDM programs. In fact, the brain response of the ESDM-trained youngsters was identical to that of typical four-year olds. When charting electrical brain activity with electroencephalography (EEG), the researchers noted an increase in power (the amount of energy in the signal) for certain types of brain waves known as theta oscillations in an area below the brain's surface called the hippocampus, so named from the Greek hippokamposbecause it resembles the shape of a seahorse. Increases in theta power correlate with more focused attention and short-term memory function.

Researchers also found a reduction in the power of alpha oscillations—which generate EEG recordings that cycle up and down more quickly than theta waves—in several regions, including the hippocampus. A lower level of alpha power hints that the brain was becoming more attuned to people's faces. Increased theta and decreased alpha together reflect higher levels of electrical activity at the surface of the brain, or cerebral cortex, and specifically in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices that are involved in the perception of faces. Observing these changes, the researchers conjecture that ESDM may spur brain changes in the treated children that may explain their higher scores on cognitive tests.

ESDM brought about these changes after more than 2,000 hours of intensive therapy over the course of two years, a labor of two hours twice daily for five days a week. A drug that could replace or hasten this process would make a world of difference to children and their families. The latest research has started to target a range of medications that address symptoms, including impaired social communication, hyperactivity and inattention, as well as repetitive, ritualistic behaviors and sleep disturbances.

A leading prospect for a drug that could mimic the benefits of ESDM is the brain hormone oxytocin, which has made headlines in the popular science press variously as the “cuddle” chemical, the “moral molecule” and the “trust hormone.” Known in the medical textbooks for its role in pregnancy, oxytocin readies a woman's body for childbirth. As levels rise, breasts swell and fill with milk, and later the hormone triggers labor. In the past 25 years researchers have learned that oxytocin, present in men as well, appears to play a role in promoting the bonding of infant to mother and cementing trust between friends. The hormone may even induce a sense of attachment to the baby in fathers-to-be.

Hope that oxytocin might help youngsters with autism comes from the observation that when the compound is administered in single doses either intravenously or within the nasal passages, the child with autism who normally fails to distinguish whether a new acquaintance is being “mean” or “nice” can suddenly detect the difference. Genetic studies add further evidence of oxytocin's role as a chemical that acts as a general social sensitizer and one that does so particularly in individuals with autism. Mice genetically tweaked to shut off the gene CD38, involved in making oxytocin, display less trust and recognition of other animals. Also, patients with autism have fewer oxytocin “receptors”—proteins that bind to oxytocin and convey its messages into specific nerve cells—and therefore lower levels of oxytocin.

These findings pave the way for larger studies. The nih is now providing $12.6 million for five institutions to conduct a trial of intranasal oxytocin in which patients are randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The Study of Oxytocin in Autism to Improve Reciprocal Social Behaviors (SOARS-B) should determine within a few years whether oxytocin becomes a routine part of treatment. Ascertaining whether the hormone is an effective drug is especially important because a large number of parents already administer oxytocin to their children with autism, using prescriptions from physicians allied with the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) faction. Yet the evidence so far is not conclusive enough to justify the practice. If oxytocin receives validation through this study, it might be recommended to facilitate ESDM by readying a child to respond to the ministrations of a therapist.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.