Here is the story of Torin and Kaia, both diagnosed on the spectrum and joined CARD as CARD clients.

DIAGNOSIS: Torin: PDD-NOS, Autism, Crohn’s and PANDAS (PANS); Kaia: PDD-NOS

AGE AT DIAGNOSIS: Torin: 21 months & Kaia: 18 months

BEGAN SERVICES WITH CARD: Torin: December, 2008 & Kaia: November, 2009

ABA HOURS PER WEEK: Torin: 46-50 hours & Kaia: Started with 30-35 hours per week but is currently in kindergarten and receives 13-20 hours per week

HOBBIES AND ACTIVITIES: Torin loves Justin Bieber, Jason Mraz, The Fresh Beat Band, and music in general. He loves walking, hiking, trampolining, horseback riding, playing the piano, swimming, merry-go-rounds, chase games, bike riding, playgrounds, tickles, and cuddling on the couch. Kaia loves singing and dancing, pancake Sundays, coloring and painting, gymnastics, creating her daily outfits, dressing up, playing with her dolls and playing waitress, tea parties, horseback riding, swimming, play dates, cuddling, and creating and running timed obstacle courses in the back yard with the neighbor’s kids.

For more information about autism go to http://centerforautism.com/

One of the chief concerns expressed by California families at last week’s rally at the capitol is the loss of ABA coverage for families who are being moved from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal.  As families move from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal, their ABA treatment is funded through regional centers, but 75% of these children will not qualify for treatment under the regional centers’ stricter standards.  Senator Steinberg and Senator Mitchell both expressed their frustration,  saying that they relied on a document from the Department of Health Care Services that said that services for these families would remain intact.  While the statement is technically true, it neglected to point out that, while services would still be covered, it would become much more difficult to qualify for them.

The law is on your side. Are you ‘insurance educated’?

On July 1st California passed a new law that requires health insurance companies to cover behavioral therapy for individuals with autism. See first hand in these videos ABA Therapy working on children with autism.

Join us, Blogging For Autism, as we partner with Autism Live to show our “Compassion in Action” this April for autism awareness month.

The host of Autism Live, Shannon Penrod, will be shaving her head on April 8th to show compassion for a young man that is battling cancer. How will you show your “compassion in action” for April?

Make a video of yourself showing compassion and upload it to Youtube and send us the link. Then watch and see if your clip is added to the Autism Live show!

Help us show “compassion in action” and let’s make a difference this April!

Check out this awesome series as it follows a young boy and his family as he undergoes therapy for autism. Inspirational to see the change that can happen in just one year with ABA therapy. Go Jack Riley!!

What a great video series documenting families journeys’ through autism with the help of ABA therapy. Truly inspiring to see that results are possible. If not with every family but just with some, hope is still hope. Change can happen.

How has ABA Therapy impacted your life? Does your child have behavioral therapy?

Sign the petition here: http://chn.ge/Rs7omC

 
Shannon the host of Autism Live attended the ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) 7th Annual Denim Diamonds for Autism fundraiser. More than 500 autism supporters attended, including Hollywood stars, corporate leaders, dignitaries, the community and you. Attendees enjoyed red carpet arrivals, cocktail reception (and VIP reception), an amazing silent auction, an extraordinary live auction, indoor seated dinner program, a special live musical performance by multiple award-winning singer/songwriter Brian McKnight, tenor George Komsky and an After Party with entertainment provided by none other than BOSS in the USA; a Bruce Springsteen tribute band featuring Phill Paolina.

Net proceeds from the 7th Annual Denim Diamonds for Autism fundraiser provided DIRECT HELP to children with autism, by way of resources and grants for therapy, medical care, assistance dogs, social skills programs, assistive technology, tuition for special needs schools, special needs camp, assistance to military families of children with autism and basic safety equipment (e.g. helmets and fencing).

Ask Dr. Doreen, on Wednesdays from 1pm to 2pm EST starting November 7, is a live interactive hour that allows parents, teachers and practitioners of children on the Autism Spectrum to ask questions of Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, a leading expert in the field of Autism.  Dr. Granpeesheh is the founder of The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, the world’s largest provider of quality ABA therapy for children with Autism.  Viewers are invited to ask Dr. Doreen questions and get answers in real time.  The show is part of Autism Live, a premiere source for Autism information on the web and is hosted by Autism mom, Shannon Penrod.  To view the live show visit www.autism-live.com

Autism Moms Shannon Penrod and Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson take on Ann Coulter?s recent tweet using the ?R? word. Nancy shares her early painful memories of the hearing the ?R? word being used to describe her brother. Shannon puts it in the perspective of an ABA Autism parent and suggests that we all put Ms. Coulter?s challenging behavior on EXTINCTION, by not buying her book and turning off the TV whenever Ms. Coulter is being featured. Just another reason not to mess with Autism Moms!