Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Neuroplasticity in the Autistic Brain





An astonishing new science called "neuroplasticity" is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. In this revolutionary look at the brain, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., provides an introduction to both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they've transformed. From stroke patients learning to speak again to the remarkable case of a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, The Brain That Changes Itself will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.





 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Super Rose by Angela Centofanti

Hope for Kids with Autism in a New Story Book

Author Angela Centofanti has a beautiful daughter named Rose. She is one of the many children in the world who are born with the condition of autism, a neurological disorder that affects a person’s capability to communicate, socialize, empathize, and make sense of the world around them. The author, as all loving mothers would, strives to make her child’s life as fulfilling and as happy as possible.

A comprehensive research program at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center brings the author hope and a chance for her daughter Rose to live a full life. Super Rose is a celebration of this newfound opportunity, an illustrated storybook for beginning readers that teaches children about autism, and how caring and concerned parents, siblings, and medical professionals are striving to give autistic persons a better life.

As autism affects an estimated one in every one hundred ten children all over the world, everybody needs to know about this condition, if only to empathize and understand what the sufferers are going through. Parents with autistic children will also appreciate this informative storybook, lending them a ray of hope for a better life for their own kids.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.

About the Author
Angela Centofanti, along with Mark Centofanti co-founded The Growing Rose’s Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes and encourages autism research participation. Their daughter Rose had a life-changing experience while participating in a research study at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center in Columbus, Ohio. Rose had miraculous results and the family is convinced that research is the answer to treat and someday cure autism.

Super Rose * by Angela Centofanti
Publication Date: November 7, 2011
Picture Book; $15.99; 24 pages; 978-1-4653-8925-1
Picture Book Hardcover; $25.99; 24 pages; 978-1-4653-8926-8

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.


Monday, November 21, 2011

Surviving War, Surviving Autism: A Mother's Life Story By Kim Yen Nguyen

Single Mom of Three Autistic Children Writes Book About Surviving War, Surviving Autism - Press Release

LOS GATOS, Calif., Nov. 21, 2011 — Kim Yen Nguyen has published her first book, an autobiography about the challenges of surviving war, only to fight again for the livelihood of her family years later when autism strikes all three of her children. Touching experiences from the author’s trip down memory lane, including a chance encounter with John F. Kennedy Jr., unconditional love for her children, and the dedication of staff and teachers helped her to achieve an inner strength and enabled her to weather the turbulent storm of a divorce. As a single mom raising three autistic children, she went back to school and earned her pharmacy degree. This book will serve as a source of inspiration to those who face extreme challenges in their lives. A portion of the proceeds from the book will go to Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America.

This book is published by Robertson Publishing and is available at http://www.rp-author.com/knguyen as well as online through Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Please contact the author for any questions, to schedule interviews, or arrange for book signings.

Contact: Kim Yen Nguyen
Email: kimyennguyenauthor@yahoo.com
Phone: (408) 358-3565


Friday, September 30, 2011

OpEdNews - Article: The Dangers of Not Understanding Autism/Book Excerpt

OpEdNews - Article: The Dangers of Not Understanding Autism/Book Excerpt

I have recently been inundated with stories of children who were taken from their parents because they were running for the sake of running. One such story hails out of Calgary Canada and tells of a drug free joyous autistic girl who ran off to play forgetting to circle back for home. Dad called 911 and she was found shortly thereafter completely oblivious to any problems she may have caused. She was apprehended and since the children's aid was not able to help her as she was they chose to drug her – a lot.

Another story comes closer to home and is about a California boy who was tethered to keep him safe while the family was moving. This was reported and the child was removed. (Apparently no one saw that wonderful movie Babies wherein the Mongolians model this type of safe keeping or even bothered to watch most day care centers walking their line up of tethered kids to the park.)

One of my many life goals is to educate the general population and people in positions of authority on what is and isn't 'good for autism'. This is because I lived it.

More @ http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Dangers-of-Not-Underst-by-Lynette-Louise-110926-915.html

Thursday, June 23, 2011

“How to Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger’s” by Jennifer McIlwee Meyers

“How to Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger’s” by Jennifer McIlwee Meyers – A Book Review | Special Happens

There aren’t many books that find themselves on the “Must-Haves” in the mind of many parents, including me. So much literature around therapy, quick go-to guides on behavioral problem solving…so many wonderfully informative books written by some of the most educated individuals in the special needs community – and by parents too. You might not even notice that there aren’t many books written by individuals with Autism or Asperger’s. But there aren’t.

Within the special needs community and through reading various articles, books and essays, I’ve found listening to individuals with higher functioning Autism to be the most enlightening. Everyone is different, every child and adult working through the challenges of Autism is different, yet like much in life, there is a similarity threading through. One of these similarities surrounds the challenges in Autism with life skills. Teaching, learning and retaining the processes in the number of tasks associated in learning life skills may come easy to you or I, but these are one of the many difficulties in the challenge of autism.

More at http://specialhappens.com/2011/06/23/how-to-teach-life-skills-to-kids-with-autism-or-aspergers-by-jennifer-mcilwee-meyers-a-book-review/



Tuesday, June 21, 2011

New Book a Disservice to Individuals with Autism | Autism Key

New Book a Disservice to Individuals with Autism | Autism Key

A new book, The Science of Evil, is certainly not doing any favors for the autism community. Written by Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Cambridge and director of the university’s Autism Research Center, the book has a central premise that evil can be scientifically defined as a lack of empathy. Lack of empathy or a “Theory of Mind” is also described as a core feature of autism. Baron-Cohen writes:

"A theory of mind remains one of the quintessential abilities that makes us human (Whiten, 1993). By theory of mind we mean being able to infer the full range of mental states (beliefs, desires, intentions, imagination, emotions, etc.) that cause action. In brief, having a theory of mind is to be able to reflect on the contents of one’s own and other’s minds."


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Library to Unveil Autism Collection - Cranston, RI Patch

Library to Unveil Autism Collection - Cranston, RI Patch

The Autism Project is thrilled that the Cranston Public Library has agreed to house this collection and that they will become part of the library system so that all families throughout Rhode Island will be able to request them from their local library and have a resource to navigate the complexities of understanding and living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.” said Joanne G. Quinn, Executive Director of the Autism Project and mother to a child diagnosed with ASD.