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A brother or sister can be disappointed or frustrated when an autistic brother or sister doesn’t indulge into play or other activities. Instead the child comes across the tantrums and the aggression of the autistic sibling and may be terrified for his or her own safety and perplexed by the sibling’s behavior. In this kind of situation, explanations may be of little use but concrete intervention from parent’s side may prove to be helpful.

Although many children will respond to another child’s mental or physical disability with curiosity, kindness or matter-of-fact acceptance, others may react with ignorance, fear or cruelty. For the sibling of a child with autism, these negative reactions can be more painful and may come to the forefront while they grow up with the brother or sister who has autism or any other special need. (continue reading…)

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April is Autism Awareness Month. Whether you’re a parent of an autistic child or know someone with an autistic child, the increase in autism is apparent across society.  Prior to 1990, only 1 child in 2500 was diagnosed autistic. According to a new government study from October 2009, the prevalence of autism diagnosis is now 1 in every 91 children.

Autism is a neurological condition. Looking at the last 20 years, what has changed to give a 27-fold increase in autism spectrum disorders?

In my opinion, autism is a multi-level problem with complicated origins. Here are six of the most commonly cited potential causes of autism’s rise: (continue reading…)

Many over the counter ointments, like vapor rubs, contain petroleum products along with nasty chemicals and things you can’t even pronounce.

Thera Wise has a line of bio-active ointments that are plant derived, paraben free and petroleum free.

The “bio-active botanical extracts and therapeutic nutrients start the healing process from deep within the skin” and the “all natural plant extracts of organic chamomile, argan kernel, grape seed, barley beta glucan, witch hazel, calendula, sea buckthorn, organic rose hip seed and olive fruit reduce inflammation, rejuvenate and restore delicate skin tissue.” (continue reading…)

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We are all aware of charitable walks, but have you ever heard of a bounce? Well, the Autism Society and Pump It Up have collaborated to host Bounce for Autism, a fundraising event to support families with autism. The event raises awareness and funds that provide care, support, treatment, and research. Pump It Up is America’s #1 Inflatable Party Zone. Each location has bounce houses, slides, obstacle courses, and more. The event is a great way to get the entire family engaged and to have fun while supporting a good cause. There is no age requirement, but bouncers must be at least 34 inches tall. Bouncers can form a team, join an existing team, or register individually. Each participant has the ability to create a personal fundraising page on the event’s website that allows the person to send emails and track donations. The event is approximately two hours, and participants bounce for about 30-45 minutes. For those who unable to attend the event, it is possible to be a virtual participant. (continue reading…)

by Barbara Loe Fisher

The results of a 2009 survey evaluating the vaccine safety concerns of American parents was recently published in the journal Pediatrics (1). Out of the approximately 1500 parents, who took the survey, 23% believe that vaccines cause autism in healthy children. But more than 50% were worried about serious adverse health effects of vaccination. The vast majority said they believe that getting vaccines is a good way to protect children from disease and follow their doctor’s recommendations. Still, more than 30% of those surveyed believe that parents should have the right to refuse vaccines that are required for school for any reason.

Most parents want to trust what their doctors tell them about vaccination. Mothers and fathers depend upon their doctors to give them good advice; but when the health of their child or a child they know deteriorates after vaccination (2), parents logically start to ask questions. And when they are belittled or even threatened for asking those questions, (3, 4) the relationship between doctor and parent is never the same again. (continue reading…)

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Obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease rates are all higher among people in lower income brackets. Even with insurance and subsidized health care options through programs like Medicaid, people with lower incomes tend to get less preventative care. At the end of the day, people in the highest socioeconomic group have an average life expectancy more than 4 years higher than people in the lowest income bracket.

While the exact causes of income-related health disparities is open for study and debate, the results are clear: wealth buys health. (continue reading…)