Maurice celebrates autism services in Wisconsin

Posted by Bob Glowacki on October 29th, 2009

I am writing to give a huge thanks and “shout out” to our good friend Maurice Snell. Before I left for Capitol Hill Day and the Easter Seals National Convention last week, Maurice came to Milwaukee to share his story with …Read More » »

Dr. Lars Perner’s personal perspective on “special interests”

Posted by Patricia Wright on October 16th, 2009

In my blog post yestrday, I talked about a Danish entrepreneur who used a great business strategy. He found an area of special interest, and employs people with autism who have that special interest.

I warned against assuming people with autism all have the same special interest. A good example: Lars Perner.

Dr. Perner is an assistant professor of clinical …Read More » »

“The Story” on Disability Employment Awareness Month

Posted by Beth Finke on October 13th, 2009

It’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, and An NPR show called The Story contacted me last week to record an interview. If you’ve never heard The Story, here’s a description of the show from their Web site:

At a time when “celebrity rules” and the only “ordinary” people we see are faces in the crowd, The Story reminds listeners that their …Read More » »

Is clumsiness a sign of autism?

Posted by Beth Finke on September 29th, 2009

Patricia Wright’s post about surfing star Clay Marzo Included a quote from an Outside Magazine article that really caught my eye.

While many children with Asperger’s are marked by their lack of coordination — “motor clumsiness” is a very common trait — Clay moves in the water with an uncommon grace.

I’m reluctant to admit this, being the Easter Seals …Read More » »

In memory of Roger McCarville

Posted by Beth Finke on September 18th, 2009

Easter Seals is mourning the death of Roger McCarville, who died of pneumonia on September 7. You might recognize Roger’s name — Matt McAlear published a post here about Roger McCarville’s A Wider World show …Read More » »

Star surfer champions his autism

Posted by Patricia Wright on September 16th, 2009

Want to learn more about autism? Spend time with someone who has autism!Surfing star Clay Marzo is doing his part by educating his fellow surfers. Clay was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome a few years ago, and he has been informing the surfing community about disability ever since. Marzo’s participation in surfing contests gives his fellow surfers the …Read More » »

A thank-you to Eunice

Posted by Beth Finke on August 12th, 2009

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, an advocate for people with physical and developmental disabilities, died yesterday. Shriver was a co-founder of the Special Olympics, an organization she hoped would develop confidence and social skills for …Read More » »

Alan Jackson’s donation is “Right on the Money”

Posted by Beth Finke on August 5th, 2009

My job as moderator of the Easter Seals and autism blog rarely takes me to the world of country music, but thanks to the generous donation country music superstar Alan Jackson recently made to Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau counties, my eyes (okay, my ears!) have been opened.

First, some background. Alan Jackson agreed to do a benefit for Easter …Read More » »

Congratulations to high school grad with autism

Posted by Beth Finke on June 30th, 2009

Yesterday’s New York Times featured a terrific story about a high school graduate who has autism. Dan Mulvaney’s story starts like so many others about kids diagnosed with autism:

Dan seemed on a normal developmental track for his first three and a half years until things went haywire. His speech suddenly stopped. He sat in a corner gnawing on …Read More » »

Hope for adults with autism

Posted by Beth Finke on June 16th, 2009

You know the prevalence of autism statistic — that one we hear all the time about one in 150 children having autism? Well, until I read Patricia Wright’s Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism post last week, I just assumed that number had been measured fairly recently. But it turns out that the original findings …Read More » »