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Grandparent Support Group
"Very enjoyable."
"Informational"
"Want to bond with other grandparents"

These were some of the comments following the first meeting of the Grandparent Autism Support Group sponsored by Family Support Services at the Barber National Institute. The group for grandparents of grandchildren an Autism Spectrum Disorder will meet on the second Thursday of every month. Meetings will be held at the Barber National Institute; enter from East Bay Drive. (Free, handicap accessible parking available.)

The next meeting of the Grandparent Autism Support Group sponsored by FSS will held on Thursday, February 11 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the breakout rooms at the Barber National Institute. Jennifer Zona, a behavior specialist at the Barber National Institute, will address common behavioral concerns. The presentation will be followed by a time for questions and sharing.

Reservations are requested by calling Family Support Services at 814-878-5961. For information or questions, contact Joyce Krahe McDonnell, M.A. at 814-878-5905 or email her at JoyceMcDonnell@BarberInstitute.org. Reservations may be made with the Family Support Service office, 814-878-5961.

Two New Services for Children & Adolescents with Autism

The Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute is pleased to now offer two new services to support families living with the challenges of autism in our community. The first new program, Specialized Family Based Mental Health Services, is an intensive, in-home therapy for children and their families. The second program, Blended Case Management, offers professional assistance to locate, advocate and coordinate services that address the unique needs of children and teens with autism.

Families Needed for Autism Survey

A needs assessment is currently being conducted through the State's Autism Centers of Excellence established by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The University of Pittsburgh, which is coordinating the Center of Excellence for western Pennsylvania, is now looking for families and consumers to participate in the survey. Any families of school age children or adults on the autism spectrum that are interested in completing the survey should contact tracihemming@yahoo.com.

Adult Autism Connection

A new program, the Adult Autism Connection, offers adults with autism neuropsychiatric services designed to meet their unique needs.

Click here to read more...

American Academy of Pediatrics Recommend Universal Screenings for Autism

At its annual meeting in San Francisco on Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended universal screenings for all children at age 18 and 24 months. Parents or professionals who may have questions or concerns about the signs and symptoms of autism are encouraged to click here to forward their questions to us. Also, we recommend that you click to autismspeaks.org for additional information, including video clips contrasting the behavior of typically developing children and children with autism. The Barber National Institute strongly supports the Academy's recommended treatment that includes at least 25 hours a week of intensive behavior-based therapy, including educational activities and speech therapy.

For the full reports issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, visit AAP.org

How to Identify if Your Child Should be Evaluated

Autism is a spectrum disorder, with symptoms that can range from mild to severe. While every situation must be considered on an individual basis, the American Academy of Pediatrics lists the following "red flags" that it considers to be absolute indications for immediate evaluation:

• No babbling or pointing or other gestures by 12 months
• No single words by 16 months
• No two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months
• Loss of language or social skills at any age

In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics lists the following "pre-speech deficits" that may warrant further evaluation:

• Lack of appropriate gaze
• Lack of warm, joyful expressions with gaze
• Lack of the alternating to-and-fro pattern of vocalization between infant and parent that usually occurs at approximately 6 months of age (infants with autism spectrum disorders usually continue vocalizing without regard for the parent's speech)
• Lack of recognition of mother (or father's or consistent caregiver's) voice
• Disregard for vocalizations (i.e. lack of response to name), yet keen awareness for environmental sounds
• Delayed onset of babbling past 9 months of age
• Decreased or absent use of prespeech gestures (waving, pointing, showing)
• Lack of expressions such as "oh oh" or "huh"
• Lack of interest or response of any kind to neutral statements (eg. "Oh no, it's raining again")

Don't face autism alone. Rely on the experts.

Autism is a neurological disorder that typically appears prior to three years of age. It occurs in as many as 1 in 150 children and is about four times more common in boys than in girls.

There are no medical tests for Autism. Children with Autistic Disorder are found in all cultures and socioeconomic levels.

Autism is a spectrum disorder. The symptoms and characteristics are present in different combinations and with different levels of severity. Autism is one of five Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The disorders in the Autism spectrum are: Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

The symptoms of Autism involve three major areas of development and impact a child's abilities to:

• Engage in reciprocal social interactions with others
• Communicate with others in developmentally appropriate ways
• Participate in a range of activities and interests typical for the child's age and stage of development

The causes of Autism are not yet known and there is no known cure. Early identification and intervention are keys to optimizing the development of each child. Click here to visit our FAQ's section.