The Lovely Kate Winslet Interview On Live With Kelly 03-26-2012 with Regards to Autism

Part 1 of the Kate Winslet on the Golden Hat Foundation

Part 2 of the Kate Winslet on the Golden Hat Foundation

Part 3 of the Kate Winslet on the Golden Hat Foundation

A Poem For Parents With Special Needs Children by Mari Nosal

I was referred to this Poem By Mari Nosal, an amazing advocate for autism and an author as well.

It comes from–>link

This Poem Is For My Son Who Has Aspergers – I could not be prouder of the young man he has become – even if I tried. :-0)

My Flesh and Blood

God sent you here to teach me

Some things I did not know

Through different eyes I now see

Individual paths that we all go

You’re not what I had dreamed of

The young man I thought you’d be

But you no question I love

God chose you just for me

The struggles they are worth it

We climb mountains every day

Together a fire we have lit

We’re a team in every way

On the mountain we slip and slide

Sometimes I get morose

Although it is a rocky ride

A life I never chose

I couldn’t imagine my life

With out you by my side

We do experience much strife

It floats in and out like the tide

In the end it’s worth the work

A special young man you are

Special awe of you does lurk

You have come so far

I know that you will continue to grow

I never have a doubt

Whatever paths you eventually go

May be a different route

I’ll love you for whoever you’ll be

Though different from my view

For you a great life I foresee

It will be up to you

As you go through life and become a man

And challenges confront your life

Please always remember the words I CAN

They’ll help with your strife

Remember that I love you

I always will be there

If you ever feel blue

Remember that I care

The struggles they’ll continue

Of this I’m very sure

I know I cannot change you

I know there is no cure

God sent you here to teach me

Some things I need to learn

Through your eyes I see differently

The world that I discern

All though it pains me greatly

To see you struggle as you learn

The world you venture into

Must be achieved in your own way

I can not do it for you

Your own path you’ll have to lay

You’ll fall and falter make mistakes

In God you’ll have to trust

For you my heart does sometimes ache

But let you go I must

I’ll always be behind you to help you when you fall

But you must venture out now

Your talents you must use all

You will make it on your own

I’ll be your cheering crew

Through your life much strength you’ve shown

Remember I believe in you

Blackberry Playbook with OS 2.0-A preliminary overview

RIM, Research in Motion recently updated their Blackberry Playbook to 2.0. To say the lease I am impressed so far. I would love to test one out and do a formal review especially among the autistic education community. If you can send us one or 2 that would help us to help autistic people via technology, music, and the arts and to improve the quality of life for autistic people.

I tried out the new version of the OS at CES and was quite impressed by the improved design, and email client.

Intuitive social integration–>

Smartphone and Tablet Work Better Together on the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0–>

M-Edge Super Shell for Ipad 2 a product review from Technewszone

I recently had the opportunity to try out M-Edges Super ShellCover for ipad. I was quite impressed by it’s design and durability. It should be a nice product to use for special needs kids who use Ipad’s as well as younger ones too. I let a local preschool borrow it for a day and they really liked its design, construction and ability to protect the Apple Ipad 2 from harm.

About M-Edge:

About M-Edge

M-Edge Accessories was founded in 2006 as a solution to the growing demand for fashionable and protective accessories for e-readers. Since its inception, M-Edge’s product offerings grew rapidly to include several lines of accessories for the most popular e-reader and tablet devices on the market, including iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the Kindle and Nook family of devices. M-Edge’s innovative e-reader and tablet accessories exude style and sophistication while providing complete device protection. M-Edge’s mission is to enhance the experience of everyone who comes in contact with the brand by creating innovative and stylish products, evolving with fast-changing technology, and inspiring them to reach their full potential.

M-Edge products are currently available in Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Staples, and RadioShack stores nationwide, as well as select Bed, Bath, & Beyond and Nordstrom stores. M-Edge has been featured in national publications such as InStyle, O, The Oprah Magazine, People Magazine, Engadget, Wired, and CNET.

Specifications:

FEATURES

Made from ultra-protective closed-cell foam that helps absorb shocks if iPad is dropped
SuperShell wraps around all iPad borders with thick, high-impact corners for maximum protection
Opening for rear facing camera and speaker
Allows access to all ports and buttons
Push buttons for volume and power
Finely dimpled texture allows for no slip grip
SPECIFICATIONS

Patent Pending
Compatibility:

Weight: 9.6oz
Dimensions: 9.5in x 11.3in x 1.1in

OVERVIEW

Look – it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no wait – it’s SuperShell! This kid and family-friendly foam frame for iPad is the perfect addition to the superhero’s utility belt. The SuperShell is made from ultra-protective closed-cell foam that helps absorb shocks if the iPad is dropped. The case wraps around the iPad and provides access to the rear facing camera and speaker, with push buttons for volume and power. The finely dimpled texture and ridges create an easy, handheld grip while the thick, high-impact corners provide maximum protection. Available in superhero colors like Atomic Green, this case will save the day!

M-Edge, a leading edge manufacturer of innovative tablet and smart phone cases, now has a case they say can be said to be kid proof. They can also be used by people that are rough on such products.

I would definitely recommend it anyone who needs to protect their Ipad 2 from harm!!!

Here are some images of the product that I tested–>

A video review from CES from our friends at State of Tech:

I wish that they had one for my HTC View 4g in blue or orange.

It is available on their website at http://www.medgestore.com/products/ipad2-supershell.psp?device=ipad2

If we ever get funded to give away Ipad’s to autistic children and young adults as is our mission and dream, these would be a great addition to include with each one!!!

Please check out our other autism related articles and reviews as well–>https://technewszone.com

A nice article from Autism Support Network–>Autism & living on purpose by Lena Rivkin

A link from Autism Support Network and the original article–>http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/autism-living-purpose-3789343

I never know when to stop saying Happy New Year. I strive to hold onto the feeling of renewal, hope and fresh starts that the New Year provides. But holidays quickly recede into the rear view mirror, since the business of living demands our full and present attention, until the next round of designated pre-programmed holiday landmarks sneak up on us. Of course we all endeavor to
live as if every day were a holiday or the first day of the rest of our lives, but that eventually becomes exhausting- usually around mid-January.
However, for those of us with special needs children or siblings, we consistently struggle with how to make the every day more meaningful and resonant for them. My brother, Phillip, is a severely autistic adult and lives in a group home administered by New Horizons. I feel a certain amount of self-imposed pressure to make each visit with my brother intently unique: for his wellbeing, his development, to bring some joy into his quiet little world.
This year I’m resolving to invent cost effective yet special monthly ‘holidays’ for Phillip. And I believe this is an idea we can all build upon and re-invent with our particular families in mind. Each family has a favorite activity- whether our monthly ‘holiday’ is organized around a favorite sport or place to go, making food, music or art together; it is within all of us to find creative ways to make family time together vivid, fun and commemorative.
In my brother’s home we celebrate everyone’s birthday, even if it’s staff or a family member. This creates a loving and fun-filled family-style environment where any seemingly ordinary day is special to someone and worthy of attention. And exposing our special needs family member to variety, to change and the world outside them is as important for them as it is for us. New Horizons places a special emphasis on frequent group outings, which many of the clients anticipate with glee.
As a child I would veer from being overly protective of my brother to being embarrassed by him. Once, when our parents took us to a restaurant Phillip casually helped himself to another diner’s french fries while we were walking to our table. He was ten and figured that since he loved french fries he was welcome to them, no matter whom they belonged to. Our parents had a great sense of humor about Phillip, but I was seven and wanted to crawl under the table. We both have grown up in our own ways- I’m no longer concerned about what the world thinks of my brother and he no longer helps himself to other people’s meals!
I know it’s crucial to take Phillip out into the community. Society needs to be exposed to every kind of person. We all need to swim together among our differences and commonalities. Hopefully bringing Phillip and his friends from New Horizons out shopping will promote education and understanding as to how other families cope with life’s challenges. Our special needs siblings and children have guided us to open our hearts to people with disabilities- and out in the world, Phillip sweetly wins the hearts and minds of people who once eyed him with apprehension.
One of the myths of individuals with special needs is that there is a lack of emotional sensitivity and limited interest in the outside world as compared to higher functioning people. When someone does not communicate verbally or with socially acceptable body language, it is easy to dismiss this person as being unworthy of our attention. Besides, we are all deeply consumed with making our lives tick like Swiss clocks; it’s increasingly difficult to make time we just don’t have for those of us with complicated needs.
A thoughtful and insightful friend recently asked if I shared information about my life with Phillip. I was stunned to consider the notion of my brother wanting to know about my life. I’ve usually been so consumed with caring for him, that the one person who has known me longer than anyone living- has a severely limited knowledge of me … because it never occurred to me that the details of my life would matter to him.
On my next visit I was taking Phillip to get his haircut. Phillip truly loves going anywhere but he especially loves getting his haircut because Catalina, his stylist, dotes on him and has one of his needlepoints framed on the wall of her Dominican Salon. It’s very moving to see people take time for Phillip and for them to create meaningful moments for him. Catalina is one of these people.
In the car ride over I knew Phillip was excited because he was humming. I decided to talk to him the way I would talk to a friend. I casually chatted to Phillip about my latest art project. As I was talking, my brother stopped humming, looked me straight in the eye and held my gaze. I could tell he was paying attention to me. This was a deeply teachable moment… for me. Believing that my life is as important to my brother as his life is to me is one of the light bulb moments that make regular, ordinary days anything but.
The bar has been raised. Here’s to a new year of discovering what tiny gestures can contribute meaning and love to our deeply special families. Having a monthly celebratory goal can keep the feeling of a new year with new hopes alive longer than the resolutions that dissolve somewhere around January 15th.
Lena Rivkin, M.F.A., is an artist and graphologist living in Los Angeles.

I was really impressed by the article, my 3 kids are on the spectrum as am I. One of my son’s is similar it seems to Phillip in many respects, he is 15 almost 16 but I unlikely to live on his own, we do not know for sure but it seems likely that he will not be able to handle himself.

Read more: http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/autism-living-purpose-3789343#ixzz1mH7nICtl

Read our articles on tech and autism as well–>link

We are seeking donors, and sponsors to help us to help people with autism and their quality of life.

Advocacy for Autism, A Personal Appeal our post thanks to EDA Cafe

I would like to thank EDA Cafe for the article that they published about our intent to help autism:


AUTISM ADVOCACY AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS ZONE
By David Joseph Berkowitz

As an individual with high functioning Asperger syndrome, a kind of autism, and the father of three kids who are also on the spectrum for this disorder, I have always felt a need to make a difference for the people with autism. I dream of establishing a national organization like the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society to make living on the spectrum better for those with autism related disorders. Utilizing my knowledge and passion for technology with my personal experience and interest in autism, I launched https://technewszone.com, on January 11, 2011 .

We are a tech-focused state nonprofit. As we get funded we intend to help those on the autism spectrum by using technology-tablets and related computer technology plus the gift of music and the arts, to make the lives of people with autism better, and to support their families and the educational facilities that serve them.

We have a unique approach, view point and ideas.

Our Plan:

Our intent is to give the gift of technology through donated tablets and along with proper training to children and young adults with autism, their families, and the educational programs and schools that could make use of them. We also plan to fund applications to use with the technology.

Tablets are a very kinesthetic device which seems to make learning easier for many people with autism. Tablets like Apple iPads aid in education and improve the level of involvement in many aspects of their lives. However, a decent tablet runs $400-$800 which is very expensive for most families of people with autism.

Our second intent is to give the gift of music and the arts. Schools are very short on funding especially for the arts and music. Most parents of kids with autism cannot afford instruments, band trips, choir events and other arts materials. We want to help.

We will donate musical instruments to people with autism and education to improve quality of life. In addition, we will give the resources to provide help to theatre programs in both private and in public schools, as well as other arts that accept people with autism in their programs. We strive to promote inclusion and acceptance.

In order to further the quality of life for people with autism we want to expose them to cultural events. We will donate tickets, to musical events, theater, and other arts to enrich their lives.

I feel that many people with autism are talented in the arts and music. Even if not talented in the arts, I feel they can definitely benefit from the exposure to arts, music and technology.

A version of this article was originally published on The Autism Spot, an excellent resource for autism related topics.

http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Guest-Piece-%E2%80%93-Autism-Advocacy-and-Technology-News-Zone

Please help us help others for the holidays!!

We need your help to donate of tech, music and the arts for the upcoming holidays. We want to give tablets to people with autism, as well as gift cards and tickets to concerts to make their holidays happier. Please go to our website now and make a donation today to help us make a difference for people with autism and their families. Even a $ 5.00 gift card or a donation on our website will make a huge difference in the quality of life for people on the autism spectrum.

We are also seeking corporate sponsors who can help us in 2012 as well.

In addition we need media exposure so please put a link to this article on your website as well.

Our tech and autism blog is https://technewszone.com, and we will soon have our autism nonprofit site up as well at http://www.autismhelpusa.com as well soon.

To make a donation–> https://technewszone.com/tech-news-zone-and-paying-it-forward-for-autism-zone/donate-today-autism-technology-music-arts/

I am smart, different, and am going about it on my own; I am not rich and need support so that I can help other people with autism. If you are interested in helping our organization, Autism Advocacy and Technology News Zone, Please do not hesitate to contact me.

David Berkowitz, President and Executive Director

Autism Advocacy andTechnology News Zone, Inc. A Nevada Nonprofit Corporation

www.technewszone.com
Twitter: itechnewszone

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Advocacy-and-Technology-News-Zone-Inc

Email: davidb@technewszone.com

Please click here to go to Edacafe to see the article–>http://www10.edacafe.com/nbc/articles/1/1035325/Advocacy-Autism-Personal-Appeal

We will be featured in a Radio Interview on Las Vegas Radio Channels 107.9 and 105.7 on 5/8/11 at 6:30 am

I would like to let people know that we will be on the radio on Beasley Broadcastings Las Vegas Channels 107.9 and 105.7 on Sunday the 8th at 6:30 am. I would like to thank Camila Buechler at GGB/Beasley Broadcasting for the chance to do a Radio Interview on our Nonprofit.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Conversations-With-Your-Community/134706296576356

My life with Aspergers an introduction and opinions

I have been told by friends, family, spouse, and my childrens’ counselor’s that I seen like I might have Asperger’s if so it would explain a great deal. One thing that I have noticed is that my memory involving numbers is really good. I hardly ever forget phone numbers, dates and license plate numbers.
I also feel more detached that other people. It is hard to explain but at many times in my life I have felt not fully interfaced. I played sports on occasion and was never really good at it. In addition, I always was very aware that the people who were playing it seemed more involved. I have asked other people what they liked about playing this or that game and I was told the rush of playing it. I have never really felt the so called adrenalin rush of much in life. It is as if I played the part, but it never has been real for me. My life has been like a 2 d movie, where everyone else’s has been 3d and theirs has had better sound as well.
Academics in school were easy, I never really had to try. I never quite got the social, sports or other activities. I have always had trouble reading people. The ironic thing is that I am one of the people who can read a 1200 page book in 2-3 days. When I was out of work 2 years ago, I read all of the twilight books in less than a week, but that has not made me rich, famous or popular.

In regards to friends, I have always wanted them, but other than my wife, and kids, I have no real friends.
I was told by people back in school, you are “trying to hard”, I still do not get what that means.

I am also overly analytical, nothing really, as people have told me comes naturally. Nothing has “come naturally.” My life has been one trying to make friends, understand their interests and trying and failing to be like them.
I am a person that takes nothing at face value.
I have a religion but do not really get it. I find reincarnation intriguing. I question everything, and am a seeker of knowledge.
We live in a world where people accept certain things without question and question other things without seeking the reality of the answer.
I have spent my life being told certain, things, but unlike other people I seek greater understanding constantly.
I wonder a great deal.

What are other people thoughts about spirituality, and autism?

Does anyone else who is Asperger’s have past life memories?

Have any of you felt as I have felt when it comes to playing sports, or making friends?

If so let me know about it and I will post your experiences as well.