Temple Grandin: A Breath of Fresh Air

Posted by Beth Finke on September 3rd, 2009

Imagine my happy surprise to switch on the radio Tuesday morning and hear Terry Gross interviewing Temple Grandin on NPR’s Fresh Air. Turns out the show was a re-broadcast. It’s “Animal Week” on Fresh Air, and their January 5, 2009 interview with Grandin was one of their best animal-related stories this year, so they decided to air it …Read More » »

Autism making daily routines impossible? Occupational therapy to the rescue!

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on April 14th, 2009

Did you know that April is both Autism Awareness Month and Occupational Therapy Month? Well, it is true — and I think it is a wonderful match! A press release put out by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) this month explains how occupational therapy practitioners can help people with autism participate in daily routines.

Though a December 2008 …Read More » »

Autism, amplify, Austin

Posted by Beth Finke on November 20th, 2008

Greetings from beautiful Austin, Texas. I’m sitting outside with my talking computer during a 15-minute break from sessions at the 2008 Convio Summit. Convio develops the software Easter Seals and a number of other non-profit organizations use for online fundraising, advocacy and Email marketing.

I first found out about Convio when I participated in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s …Read More » »

Acting normal in a world that thinks you’re not

Posted by Beth Finke on July 20th, 2007

This week’s episode of This American Life, features stories about the developmentally disabled and people with special needs. One is Johnathan, a man on the autism spectrum. The program originally aired on National Public Radio in 2002 and is being replayed this weekend.Stories about people who were told that they’re different. Some of …Read More » »