www.aspie-editorial.com

HEADLINES

“Damning report on disability care”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/uk__damning_report_on_disability_care.htm

“Investigation reveals appalling neglect by NHS of people with learning disabilities”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/24/learning-disability-neglect-nhs

“Kiwi link to UK drowning case”:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10562878

“Abortion doctor Mark Schulberg censured … An abortion specialist who failed to get legal consent before performing a late-term abortion on an intellectually disabled woman raped by her father has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct”:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25208485-23289,00.html

“Spider-Man rescues autistic Thai boy”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/spiderman_rescues_autistic_thai_boy.htm

“Case against Dr Andrew Wakefield, who linked MMR and autism, to cost over £1m”:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5913324.ece

“Gary McKinnon Updates”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/gary_mckinnon_updates_latest_round_in_extradition_battle_lo.htm

“New respite care team for county”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7945469.stm

“MSPs back wider hate crime laws … “Disabled people are four times more likely to be violently assaulted than non- disabled people,” he told MSPs.”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7951504.stm

“Boy aged TWO is youngest Briton to be threatened with an ASBO after he is accused of verbally abusing adults”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1163528/Boy-aged-TWO-youngest-Briton-threatened-Asbo-accused-verbally-abusing-adults.html

Get Connected “Brain Awareness Week – (Includes Educational Resources)”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/brain_awareness_week__march_16__22_2009.htm

RESEARCH

“Undetected autism in women manifests as Anorexia Nervosa”:

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/research-undetected-autism-in-women-manifests-as-anorexia-nervosa

“Online Medical Encyclopedia … Prescription Drug Information for Consumers”:

http://www.drug3k.com/

“Heightened level of amygdala activity may cause social deficits in autism”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142998.php

“Autistic people less likely to rely on gut instinct”:

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/research-people-with-autism-less-likely-to-rely-on-gut-instinct

“Scientists more likely to have autistic children”:

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/research-scientists-more-likely-to-have-autistic-children

“Parasite may trigger schizophrenia”:

http://in.reuters.com/article/healthNewsMolt/idINTRE52H6IP20090318

“Self harm … The number of people harming themselves deliberately has leapt by a third in the past five years, according to new figures seen by The Independent on Sunday. The biggest rise in self-harm and attempted suicide has been among young women between the ages of 16 and 24.”:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/selfharm-a-british-disease-1651314.html

“Epilepsy nearly doubles depression risk”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/epilepsy_nearly_doubles_depression_risk.htm

Australia “Half suffer mental illness at some point”:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25243308-23289,00.html

“Recession-depression on the rise/Maintaining your mental health in tough economic times”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/recessiondepression_on_the_rise.htm

“The long goodbye: The challenge of discontinuing antidepressants”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/the_long_goodbye_the_challenge_of_discontinuing_antidepress.htm

“Why is it difficult to recognize faces in photo negatives?”:

http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/why_it_difficult_recognize_faces_photo_negatives

“A shabby smokescreen for unproven treatments”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7960689.stm

New Book “Happy Pills in America – Our complex love affair with designer consciousness”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143067.php

EDUCATION

“Exclusion and reintegration: legal update”:

http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/exclusion-and-reintegration-legal-update-5311

“Funding bonus for autism support … There will be better training and support in mainstream education to raise awareness of autism among teachers. Funding to the Autism Education Trust will go up from £320,000 this year to £500,000 in 2009/10.”:

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Funding-bonus-for-autism-support.5082028.jp

“Louise Tickle on how disabled children are excluded from school trips”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/mar/24/school-trips-disability

“Unique approach to enhancing transitions for disabled students at University of Huddersfield”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142905.php

“120 jobs to go as autism school set to close”:

http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/4198150.120_jobs_to_go_as_autism_school_set_to_close/

“Fresh anxiety for autistic boy”:

http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunday-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=399925

“Website makes child’s play of LHC science”:

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2009/03/making-the-lhc-into-addictive.html

“Lessons learned from Spore: Its science and more”:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22888

EMPLOYMENT

“Redundancy & Disability”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/redundancy__disability.htm

Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Company”:

http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html

“Autism and the workplace: Strangers in a strange land”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autism_and_the_workplace_strangers_in_a_strange_land.htm

“Auties.org”:
Individuality, Diversity, Equality, Achievement

Auties..org is an Aspie & Autie friendly site for all people on the Autistic Spectrum who are ready to dare reach out to occupation and employment, open the doors to the community and market their abilities directly to the public and for those interested in supporting these pioneers.

http://www.auties.org/

“Prospects”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=473&a=2348

“AutismJobs”:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs

http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009

“Current job vacancies within the NAS”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=170

For further employment information, please view”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm

GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST

AFRICA “Mentally ill in Africa get little help”:

http://www.topix.net/content/ap/2009/03/mentally-ill-in-africa-get-little-help

“Autistic adults – Where are they now?”:

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-adults-with-autism-where-are-they-now

“Eye cancer girl is Marton dance school star … the plucky seven-year-old, who also has autism, refuses to be treated any differently, and is thoroughly enjoying her dance lessons at SB Dance.”:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/03/24/eye-cancer-girl-is-marton-dance-school-star-84229-23215573/

TWINS “What really counts on your birthday?”:

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090321/OPINION02/903210326/1014/rss04

“A wee Wii experiment”:

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/032209/nei_413172885.shtml

Social Pedagogy “Lessons from Europe on pedagogy”

What is pedagogy?

Is a system of theory, practice and training that supports the development of the whole child, and looks at all aspects of their life skills. Central to the approach is the idea that children are seen as competent and active people in their own right.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/03/19/111007/social-pedagogy-in-practice.html

“From Bipolar darkness, the empathy to be a Doctor”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/science/17prof.html?_r=1&ref=health

Potoki-Lupski Syndrome “Newtown mum’s quest to help son with rare syndrome”:

http://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/Newtown-mum39s-quest-to-help.5066325.jp

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy “Family and friends step in to help Cory”:

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Family-friends-step-help-Cory/article-770724-detail/article.html

“Brewery’s star turn for charity … Keighley brewery Old Bear has created a star-studded beer to raise money for the National Autistic Society.”:

http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/news_keighley/4215870.Brewery_s_star_turn_for_charity/

“Why a Worthing one-year-old loved Countdown so much”:

http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/worthing-news/Why-a-Worthing-oneyearold-loved.5094212.jp

UK

“The National Autistic Society”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/

“NAS England”:

http://www.england.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=582

“Autism in the UK: Treehouse”:

http://www.treehouse.org.uk/tell-autism/autism-uk

“Autism Connect”:

http://www.autismconnect.org/

Wales Autism Resource “Awares – Autism Cymru”:

http://www.awares.org/

“NAS Scotland”:

http://www.autism.org.uk/scotland

“The Scottish Society for Autism”:

http://www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk/index.php

“Autism Info”:

http://www.autisminfo.org/

“Autism N.I.”:

http://www.autismni.org/

“Autism Services Directory provided by NAS”

A free online resource called PARIS is a completely searchable database of thousands of autism services available across the UK. From schools, day services, outreach programmes and diagnostic services, to play schemes, support groups and training courses, the database can list them all.

http://www.info.autism.org.uk/Pages/Index.aspx?gn=292&tm=-1&gd=-1&ag=-1&ar=1&rs=-1

“BREAK – Break has been helping vulnerable people in your local community for over 40 years – giving them a break to improve their lives”:

http://www.break-charity.org/

“London – Includes The Best of London, London Multimedia(Quizzes, Photo Gallery, Video & Walking Tours) & Know Before You Go”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime/london.html

Quiz “How well do you know London?”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime/london-quiz.html

“Stages of Stonehenge Interactive”:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/stonehenge/map-interactive

“Stonehenge Quiz”:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/stonehenge/quiz-interactive

ADD/ADHD

“Frequently asked questions: Coexisting or comorbid conditions”:

http://www.healthcentral.com/adhd/c/1443/63905/frequently-conditions

“Understanding my ADHD(Includes Children’s Book Links)”:

http://add.about.com/b/2009/03/25/understanding-my-attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder.htm

“Dopamine system genes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis”:

http://www.citeulike.org/user/PaperCollector/article/4179976

“National audience of psychiatrists assembling in Chicago for conference on bipolar disorder and ADHD”:

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=142989

Modafinil “Drug being used to improve cognition affects dopamine, suggesting potential for abuse”:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-03/jaaj-dbu031209.php

“Safety concerns raised over wakefulness drug Modafinil”:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1885825,00.html

“Shire plc announces non-safety-related voluntary market withdrawal of a limited portion of Daytrana”:

http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?StoryID=131532&full=1

“Untreated adult ADHD raises some risks”:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.hs.expert16.1mar16,0,4317560.story?track=rss

“Sleep in adults with ADHD before and during treatment with methylphenidate: a controlled polysomnographic study”:

http://www.citeulike.org/user/shoshin/article/4215861

“Resource on Oppositional Defiant Disorder created for families by The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry”:

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=143500

ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)”- This website provides patients, doctors, and other medical professionals with a comprehensive examination of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), side effects, and other safety information for both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Our goal is to allow users of our website make informed decisions when taking (patients) or prescribing (doctors) drugs. We are providing unmatched information and analysis tools.

http://www.adverse-drug-reaction.net/

“adders.org”
Our objective is to promote awareness to AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and to provide information and as much free practical help as we can to those affected by the condition, both adults and children, their families in the UK and around the World via this website.

http://www.adders.org/

“ADDISS” The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…

http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html

“ADDA”:

http://www.add.org/index.html

“hi2u ADHD Pages”:

http://www..adhd..org.uk/

“CHADD”:

http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562

SPORT

“Medals haul for swimmer … Teenage swimmer Chloe Selman is planning her next challenge after winning six gold medals in the Nationwide Junior Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. The youngster from Foxhill has multiple learning disabilities, including mild autism. Chloe’s ambition is to compete in the Paralympics in London in 2012.”:

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Medals-haul-for-swimmer.5087183.jp

“Climb friends bump into Comic Relief team”:

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED12%20Mar%202009%2011%3A26%3A37%3A270

“Trek the Inca Trail – 22-31 May, 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863

“Trek Ben Nevis – 19-21 June, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1971

“Flora London Marathon 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1823

“It’s back! The London to Paris Bike Ride 2009 – 15-18 May”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1860

5-8 June, 2009 “Five Countries Bike Ride – England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1970

“Racecourse Bike Ride – 12 July, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2116

“Trek Hadrian’s Wall – 7-9 August, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2088

“Trek Jordan 2009 – 10-14 September”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1833

“Cycle India – 27 November – 6 December, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1832

“Sky Diving”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1726

MUSIC

“Melodia by The Vines”:

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/entertainment/article/202968

“A New Zealander’s delirium for sounds of ’80s mainstream”:

http://www.austin360.com/xl/content/music/stories/2009/03/0318xlsxswladyhawke.html

“Music lessons provide a workout for the brain”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16767-music-lessons-provide-a-workout-for-the-brain.html

“Here, nobody is judging your child … The event, which included upbeat sets from the acoustic Antonio Forcione Quartet and learning disabled and blind pianist Derek Paravicini, was ideal for youngsters with sensory integration difficulties such as autism who were able to dance, sing along and practice with instruments.”:

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2009/03/12/10286-here–nobody-is-judging-your-child/

“The AutisMusic Project”:

http://www.autismusic.com/

ART

“Spectrum Art”:

http://www.spectrumart.co.uk/gallery.php?id=5

“Drawn from experience”:

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090323/ART/57065431/-1/NEWS

“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art online”:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php

MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT

“Spoonface’s surprisingly happy tale … A play about an eight-year-old autistic girl dying of cancer doesn’t sound like the most enjoyable night out but Spoonface Steinberg is no ordinary play. Spoonface treats the audience to a truly uplifting philosophy on the world in a poetic tribute to the strength of the human spirit that rather surprisingly leaves them feeling more happy than depressed when the curtain comes down.”:

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/leisure/4229824.Spoonface_s_surprisingly_happy_tale/

From the Archives “Harry Connick Jr Interview – It is fascinating the whole Asperger Syndrome is really something I didn’t know a lot about it. I got to know about it a little better when I found out I was doing this role. It is interesting.”:

http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/6387/tcid/1

“What’s eating Gilbert Grape … Johnny Depp plays Gilbert, a young man working shifts in a convenience store to support his family (including autistic brother Leonardo DiCaprio and obese mother Darlene Cates), whilst carrying on with nervy married woman Mary Steenburgen. When Depp falls in love with holidaymaker Juliette Lewis, everything changes. Lasse Hallstrom, who made the brilliant coming of age movie My Life as a Dog, handles this slice of left-field Americana with the keen eye of an outsider, while countless quirky touches augment the simple storyline. And there’s a superb supporting turn from the young DiCaprio. “:

http://www.ripongazette.co.uk/1414/Films-on-TV–Mar.5090153.jp

“Actors for Autism”:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS

“Amazing mum of 14 creates a series of books … The books centre around the ‘Good Egg Gang’ with Splat as the main character. Two of the couple’s children have autism and so 2.5% of the proceeds of the books go to the UK National Autistic Society. They have even had one of the books made into an eleven minute animated pilot programme which they hope to sell to TV companies worldwide. They think that the series will have great appeal to children and their parents especially as the main character Splat is voiced by none other than Boyzone heart throb, Ronan Keating.”:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18500&Itemid=38

“The Parents Guidebook for claiming allowances and benefits for their children with childhood disorders including Autism, Asperger syndrome, ADHD, Dyspraxia (DCD) and Dyslexia”

Author: Dr. James Duncan

http://www.mugsy.org/cgi-bin/apf4/amazon_products_feed.cgi?Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=B001PPQ2HO&templates=default&locale=uk

“Hygiene and Related Behaviours: A Fun Curriculum with a focus on Social Understanding”

Author: Kelly Mahler

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9030.htm

“Students with Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel”

Authors: Lorraine E. Wolf, Ph.D., Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed. D., and Ruth Bork, Ms. Ed

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9026.htm

“Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism – Updated and Expanded Edition”

Authors: Temple Grandin and Kate Duffy

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9027.htm

“Sensitive Sam: With the help of his OT, Sam’s sensory adventure has a happy ending!”

Author: Marla Roth-Fisch

http://www.futurehorizons-autism.com/p-285-sensitive-sam-with-the-help-of-his-ot-sams-sensory-adventure-has-a-happy-ending.aspx

“Asperger’s Huh?: A Child’s Perspective”:

Author: Rosina Schnurr

http://www.futurehorizons-autism.com/p-38-aspergers-huh-a-childs-perspective.aspx

“Too Safe for Strangers … Most children, especially children on the autism spectrum, accept adults’ friendliness at face value. Sometimes it can have tragic consequences. Written by a Deputy Sheriff, this book is credited with foiling at least 22 stranger abductions.”:

Author: Robert Kahn

http://www.futurehorizons-autism.com/p-84-too-safe-for-strangers.aspx

“Autism and Loss”

Authors: Rachel Forrester-Jones and Sarah Broadhurst

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781843104339

MOVIE

“Monsters Vs Aliens” (PG) 3D Adventure

UK Release Date 3^rd April 2009
When Susan Murphy is hit by space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. Captured by the government she is renamed Ginormica and locked up with a ragtag group of other monsters. When an alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country, these Monsters are drafted in to combat the Alien Robot and save the world from imminent destruction. With the voices of Reece Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie and Keifer Sutherland.

Official Site

http://www.monstersvsaliens.com/

Official Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipNYLBnv6Dg&NR=1

VIDEO GAME

Coming Soon EA Sports Active Personal Trainer(Wii) 3+

Release Date May 22, 2009

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001QTVY18/ref=pe_15681_15029551_fe_txt_2/

“Disability no barrier to gaming … training prosthetic limbs isn’t the only way that music video games such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band and SingStar are surprising people. Music games have sold tens of millions of copies, and they are starting to show up in hospitals, laboratories, and classrooms. … Of the people who volunteered to be surveyed for the report, 19% had gone from playing music video games to taking up instruments.”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7935336.stm

TECH

Celebrating Ada Lovelace: The ‘World’s First Programmer’

Lovelace is dubbed the first programmer because in 1843 she wrote a series of instructions for Charles Babbage’s proposed mechanical computer that would calculate Bernoulli numbers. She was the first to make a conceptual leap that had huge effects nearly 100 years later when electronic computers arrived.

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2009/03/ada-lovelace-day.html

PHYSICS & MATH

Stephen Hawking’s Bedtime Stories

Stephen Hawking barely needs an introduction, but his recent direction does. He is packaging the universe for the younger generation. With his daughter Lucy Hawking, he has branched out into writing children’s books.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20127001.100-stephen-hawkings-bedtime-stories.html?full=true

LEGO CLUB CHARITY CHALLENGE UPDATE

In 2008 the LEGO Club ran the first ever LEGO Club Charity Challenge. You were asked to raise money for the National Autistic Society (NAS) to help build a playground at one of the NAS run schools. I’m proud to announce that with your help we have so far raised a total of £32,514.10!!

The grand prize winner of the 2008 LEGO Club Charity Challenge is Sam Austin age 9 who raised a whopping £1,136.11!! Sam raised the money by doing lots of activities from a sponsored sniff to a quiz night! Thank you to Sam and all the other LEGO Club members who sent in their generous donations.

Don’t forget that the LEGO Club Charity Challenge has kicked off again for 2009! For more details including how you can win a year’s supply of LEGO toys call 01753 495 180 or email clubchallenge@LEGO.com and ask for a sponsorship pack.

Take Care,

Julie