Imagine an epidemic that affects one out of 151 children, astounding the nation with no known cause or cure.
Unfortunately, for those individuals and families affected by autism, this is a reality.
Autism, a disorder that has been exponentially growing in the United States, was the topic for a conference at the Regina A. Quick Center earlier this month. A dedicated audience spent the day listening to doctors, parents of autistic children and volunteers in special care schools who presented material explaining some of the lesser known facets of the disorder.
All nine speakers at the convention “Translating Autism Spectrum Disorders: Bench to Bedside and Beyond” held different opinions on the subject, either expressing hope in biomedical or genetic research or the desire to discover a cure through social and physical treatment.
The goal of the conference was to provide a forum for dialogue between research and treatment methods.
Fairfield University psychology professor Michael Weiss, presented multimedia explaining unnoticed similarities in the body movement of autistic individuals.
He expressed enthusiasm for the subject and said he believed we must realize there is “no explanation of the disorder.”
“People often use the teleological argument saying, ‘why are they doing that? Because they are autistic. Why are they autistic? Because they are doing that,'” he said.
The event was co-sponsored by Giant Steps CT, a program in which Weiss is involved that is Connecticut State-approved private school for students ages 3-21 years old diagnosed with ASD and other neurological impairments, Fairfield University, and Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services.
The use of technology to improve autistic peoples’ communication was one facet that interested many in the audience.
Dr. Roz Picard, for example, introduced a special-made laptop, the OLPC XO, designed to encourage social activity, and a unique device called the “ScreamBody” created by artist and engineer Kelly Dobson,.
Picard explained that she was “hesistant to show” a video presenting the invention; however, the sight of a woman screaming into a soundproof pouch on her belly brought smiles to the audiences faces.
Although the audience’s reaction may have expressed that the invention is purely for entertainment value, Dobson explained in the video that the “ScreamBody” is useful when a person wants to scream in “situations where it’s just not permitted.”
In a joint presentation, Dr. Howard Shane and Marie Duggan, a parent of an autistic child, focused on the communication difficulties and possible solutions that are accessible at home.
The two showed how visual representations and symbols, including their “if this happens, then this happens” diagrams, which can be visually depict to an autistic children surrounding actions and cause and effect relationships.
Duggan showed home videos of her home and car, in which every surface and wall were covered with pictures of items or actions.
Duggan explained that this helped her son, Michael, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, to feel at ease.
“It works like a charm,” she said. Many doctors also explained more scientific findings relating to autism, including Dr. Margaret Bauman’s presentation of how research of the cerebellum may help to unlock the mystery of the disorder.
Some of the speakers may disagree what route is the key to uncovering the mystery of ASD; however, all speakers and participants shared the commitment to autism research and the discovery of treatment and cures. Ausi
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