Know your options when it comes to occupational therapy

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on April 29th, 2009

What a pleasure it is to introduce guest blogger Sandra Schefkind, MS, OTR/L, pediatric coordinator for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Know your options when it comes to occupational therapy

By Sandra Schefkind

It’s no secret that parents want the best for their kids. When they’re at home they know firsthand what’s happening … but let’s face 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 » »

The cost of treating autism

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on November 13th, 2007

In a previous post titled “Autism…should health insurance cover treatment?” – I blogged about a parent who pushed through legislation in South Carolina to provide insurance coverage for autism services in that state. Now, a bill in the Ohio House would require health insurance companies Read More » »

Autism…should health insurance cover treatment?

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on August 17th, 2007

Listening to National Public Radio yesterday morning, I heard a news story about a parent who pushed through legislation in South Carolina to provide insurance coverage for autism services. 

As a person who has been a health care professional for over 25 years, it still amazes me that there is such a disparity Read More » »

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Autism

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on July 24th, 2007

What can reading a Harry Potter book teach us about autism? Well, ask a teenager with autism who also happens to be a Harry Potter fan — he can tell you!

James Williams is 18 years old and speaks about autism regularly at conferences. He spoke at the Read More » »

Book review: Roy Richard Grinker’s “Unstrange Minds”

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on July 17th, 2007

Recently I read the book Unstrange Minds:  Remapping the World of Autism by Roy Richard Grinker. Mr. Grinker has a daughter with autism. In this book he skillfully combines the story of his family’s journey through autism with comparisons of autism awareness, Read More » »

The P.L.A.Y. Project: our presentation at the ASA Conference

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on July 13th, 2007

Hello from the Autism Society of America (ASA) 38th Annual Conference in Phoenix. There are over 1,500 people attending the conference this year. They include representatives from nine Easter Seals affiliates plus headquarters staff.

This conference is unique because the attendees include Read More » »

Easter Seals’ P.L.A.Y. Project and Carson’s story

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on June 29th, 2007

I was recently in Ann Arbor, Michigan with my colleague Julie Dorcey from Easter Seals Michigan. We were there to meet with Richard Solomon, M.D. to prepare for an upcoming presentation. Easter Seals staff and Dr. Solomon will be giving the presentation on the P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Read More » »

Media and myths

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on June 27th, 2007

Recently I saw this article on the ABC News Web site titled “Media Coverage May Perpetuate Autism Myths.” Most of the article is related to the continuing discussions over the role of vaccinations in the cause of autism.

Although the article briefly draws attention to the benefits of treatment, they’re not yet making that Read More » »

Reflections of a Grandfather on Father’s Day

Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on June 15th, 2007

Marguerite Colston is the Director of Communication for the Autism Society of America and the mother of Camden, a 7-year old boy with autism. Margi is one of our new friends from the Autism Society of America and has been generous with her time, advice and wonderful stories of Camden. When talking of Father’s Day, she immediately Read More » »