Feel Good Story of the Week: Study Shows Autism Begins During Pregnancy

[Source:  Psych Central]

Emerging research presents new evidence that autism begins during pregnancy.

Investigators analyzed 25 genes in postmortem brain tissue of children with and without autism. These included genes that serve as biomarkers for brain cell types in different layers of the cortex, genes implicated in autism and several control genes.

Their findings are published in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Building a baby's brain during pregnancy involves creating a cortex that contains six layers," said Eric Courchesne, Ph.D., professor of neurosciences and director of the Autism Center of Excellence at University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego).

Language Developement in the News:  Social Feedback Loop Aids Language Development  

[Source:  Association for Psychological Science]

Verbal interactions between parents and children create a social feedback loop important for language development, according to research forthcoming in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. That loop appears to be experienced less frequently and is diminished in strength in interactions with autistic children.

"This loop likely has cascading impacts over the course of a child's development," says psychological scientist and study author Anne S. Warlaumont of the University of California, Merced. "Understanding how it works and being able to monitor its components while the children go about their daily lives may eventually lead to better strategies for helping parents and other adults interact most effectively with autistic children."

Autism in the Media:  Sesame Street To Focus On Autism 

[Source: Disability Scoop]

The nonprofit behind Big Bird, Elmo and Abby Cadabby is launching a new effort to reduce stigma surrounding kids with autism and help those with the developmental disorder learn life skills.

Through a new initiative dubbed "See Amazing in All Children," Sesame Workshop said it will create digital tools to help children with autism learn to play with others and complete everyday activities like brushing teeth, getting dressed and trying new foods.

Treatment for Paralysis in the News:  Paralyzed Men Move Legs Following Spinal Shock Treatment 

With the help of an implanted device that delivers an electrical current to the lower spinal cord, four young men who have been paralyzed for years are now able to move their legs voluntarily.

All four men were completely unable to move their legs before being implanted with the device, which sends the lower spinal cord a continuous electrical current similar to signals transmitted by the brain.

The treatment, called epidural stimulation, delivers an electrical current of varying frequency and intensity to specific parts of the lumbosacral spinal cord, which is connected to dense bundles of nerve fibers that control movement in the hips, knees, ankles and toes.

Technology in the News:  German Company Makes a 3D Food Printer for Those with Dysphagia  

[Source:  USA Today]

A German company, Biozoon, is working on a 3D-printed food extruder that creates food that literally melts in your mouth, allowing elderly patients with dysphagia - the inability to swallow - to eat without choking.

Biozoon uses molecular gastronomy to create food that can be "printed" using a standard extruder-based printer. The food solidifies and is completely edible but when it's eaten it quickly dissolves in the mouth. Over 60% of older patients have problems swallowing. This could save lives by ensuring they don't aspirate food crumbs into their lungs.

AAC in the News:  DynaVox Affiliates File For Bankruptcy   

[Source: Disability Scoop]

Three affiliates of DynaVox filed for bankruptcy this week, but the entity responsible for the assistive technology products long used by people with disabilities says it is unaffected.

DynaVox Inc. as well as DynaVox Intermediate, LLC and DynaVox Systems Holdings, LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this week.

The move, however, does not affect DynaVox Systems, LLC, the entity that produces education and 

communication products for those with special needs, officials with the company said.

"DynaVox will continue to serve its customers with the very best augmentative communication and educational products and services while focusing on accelerating the launch of several new products. The bankruptcy filings by non-operating affiliated entities will have no impact on the operations of the company," Derek Harrar, interim CEO of DynaVox Systems, LLC said in a statement.

PediaStaff Tip of the Week - Resume Tip:  Don't Sweat the Small Stuff  

Many people include too many jobs on their resumes that are irrelevant to their desired career path.  For example, while its important to show that you worked your way through college, its OK to consolidate those job experiences under your employment section in bullet form.

The interpersonal and problem solving skills you developed are probably more important to mention in this section, than all the specific duties in those positions.   Subsequently, use the space that you've saved, and add in more details about advanced coursework in your field of study, information about important projects, and ample description of career oriented internships.

PediaStaff Job of the Week:  Early Intervention SLP, Suburban Indianapolis, Indiana  

Instagram Post of the Week:  Egg Matching  

Autism Resource of the Week:  Children's Book List for Autism Awareness Month  

[Source: The Speech Bubble]

As part of Autism Awareness month I wanted share some books that you can share with your students:

Seasonal Resources of the Week:  Great Easter/Spring Materials from Chapel Hill Snippets  

Therapy Idea of the Week:  Flip Top Phonics (Or Anything) Game for Kids  

Once again, leave it to No Time for Flash Cards to come up with a fantastic idea to create a fun and colorful idea for all sorts of therapy goals.

We want Allison at No Time for Flash Cards to get your web hits, so i will say no more about what materials she uses, - and how to make it reusable - and let you learn all that when you get to her site.

Brilliant!