Book review: Jenny McCarthy’s “Louder Than Words”


Posted by Beth Finke on February 8th, 2008

Jenny McCarthy’s book Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism is about her son Evan, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2005. When the book came …Read More » »

Super Tuesday, autism, and secret ballots


Posted by Beth Finke on February 4th, 2008

Tomorrow’s Super Tuesday! If you live in one of the states holding a primary, you might want to take a last-minute look at what the candidates have to say about autism before you duck into the voting booth.

In November, Katy Beh Neas blogged about autism being …Read More » »

Book review: Nancy Wiseman’s “Could It Be Autism?”


Posted by Beth Finke on January 22nd, 2008

When it comes to treating autism, the earlier the intervention the better. That’s why I like Nancy D. Wiseman’s Could It Be Autism?: A Parent’s Guide to the …Read More » »

Book review: Dion and Stacey Betts’ “Yoga for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders”


Posted by Beth Finke on January 14th, 2008

My husband loves doing yoga. Mike can spend an hour stretching on a mat and end up feeling relaxed and invigorated.

And me? After just two minutes on the mat, I’m frustrated. Rather …Read More » »

Support for families with autism


Posted by Beth Finke on January 11th, 2008

When Gus was little, and every minute of every day was spent dealing with his disability, a social worker suggested Mike and I go to a parent support group.

I told the social worker this idea was absurd.  

Why on earth would Mike and I spend a treasured evening out talking with other parents about the very thing consuming us all day …Read More » »

Jamie Smith, our very Special Olympian


Posted by Jim Williams on December 13th, 2007

How exciting it was to pick up Sunday’s Chicago Tribune and see the terrific front page article on Jamie Smith! Jamie is a 24-year-old Special Olympian medal winner. He’s a man with autism, strong in more ways than one.

On Tuesday, December 11, Jamie’s mother Alice — along with Wendy Murphy …Read More » »

Book review: Mary McHugh’s "Special Siblings"


Posted by Beth Finke on September 11th, 2007

In Special Siblings: Growing Up With Someone with a Disability, Mary McHugh doesn’t shy away from the troublesome aspects of sibling relationships — she addresses them. It is emotional and enlightening; I recommend this …Read More » »

Labor Day, autism and unemployment


Posted by Beth Finke on August 31st, 2007

A Wall Street Journal article (subscription only) this summer, titled “Erasing ‘Un’ From ‘Unemployable’ “, opens with a story about Harrison Mullinax, an 18-year-old in Anderson, SC who has autism.

“Unlike most who are autistic,” the article reads, “he now has a real job.”

The article goes on to talk about efforts to …Read More » »

Five stars for the new autism bookstore!


Posted by Beth Finke on August 27th, 2007

Check out the new “Bookstore” link on our autism Web site – the list features books reviewed on this blog, and every time you order a book through our bookstore, a portion of that sale will go to Easter Seals.

Ellen Harrington-Kane, assistant vice president for medical rehabilitation and …Read More » »

Autism, women and social success


Posted by Patricia Wright on August 9th, 2007

As an educator who focuses on autism, and as a woman, I found this recent article in the New York Times Magazine to be a call to action.

Author Emily Bazelon gives testimony to the significant needs of young women with high-skilled autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The emotional distress, anxiety and depression young women …Read More » »