2014 Mid-South Autism Conference

2014 Mid-South Autism Conference 

Date:  June 19 - 21, 2014

Where:  University of Memphis, Fogelman Executive Conference Center

Participants & Features:   

• Speakers including Temple Grandin, autism experts, and more
• Breakout sessions
• Lunch all three days
• Vendors from all over the Mid-South

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.midsouthautismconference.com/ or call (901) 231-1931.   This event is being sponsored by Transformations Autism Treatment Center.  

Missing Woman With Intellectual Disability Found Dead Between Parked Cars

“This article is devastating. It breaks my heart to read a story about how little compassion we have for someone who is not only poor, but who also has a disability.  Most everyone in this country would be outraged if this was a blonde or toddler!  “

It saddens me to realize we still live in a country where an immediate investigation is not always the first plan of action."

Carlene Leaper, Executive Director 

To read more, please visit:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Missing-Woman-Found-Dead-Between-Parked-Cars-249065901.html

In First, Contestant With Special Needs On ‘Wheel Of Fortune’

There have been many recent tales of “Wheel of Fortune” woe, including the unfortunate “Boozing my shore excursion” lady. And the weirdness of the lucky guess “New baby buggy” guy.

But Wednesday, the show had its first inspirational contestant in quite awhile with Trent Girone. The 21-year-old Peoria, Ariz., resident is a self-described “Wheel of Fortune” fanatic, but more important, he’s the first contestant with special needs ever to compete on the show. Girone has had nine brain surgeries and has both Asperger’s and Tourette syndromes, but that didn’t stop him from taking early control of the wheel by successfully guessing the first puzzle, “a smashing success.”

 To read more, please visit: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/05/02/in-first-wheel-fortune/19330/

Helpful link about autism

Check out this helpful link for information about autism screening, diagnosis, and treatment: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-parents-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/index.shtml

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is national Autism Awareness Month and The Arc and The Autism NOW National Autism Resource & Information Center are working to empower people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with the information and resources they need to live their lives to the fullest potential. We are also working to help others become more accepting of people with ASDs.

Just this month, the CDC declared that 1 in 68 (a 30% increase from previous figures) children may be impacted by autism spectrum disorders, so it’s a fair bet that each one of us knows someone with autism or someone who has a family member or friend with autism. Since this disorder is a spectrum and not everyone with a diagnosis of ASD “appears” to have autism, you may know someone on the spectrum and not even realize it.

That’s why it’s important to dispel all of the myths and misinformation to understand and accept what having an ASD really means. And that’s why The Autism NOW Center (www.autismnow.org) exists, to weed through the volumes of information out there and provide high-quality, vetted resources and information to people with autism and other developmental disabilities, their family, friends, colleagues, teachers, employers and others.

To promote awareness and acceptance, we invite you to view and share a new video about Autism NOW and learn more. Also, we encourage you to join in the conversation! Follow us online and on Autism NOW’s blog  and read the personal stories of people with autism in a series of guest posts during April. And use the hashtag #AutismAware to generate discussion about autism awareness and acceptance.