I was looking for information on James Durbin and how he is doing and found the following news release. We wish him the best of luck–>

James Durbin Has Shot At Final 10 On ‘American Idol’
James Durbin
FOX
More
BY AMY LARSON, KSBW Action News 8

Wednesday is a big night for Santa Cruz’s James Durbin.

Durbin, an unemployed 22-year-old with Tourette’s syndrome, will perform again on “American Idol,” with hopes that voters will not boot him off this week.

The contestants, competing on the most-watched TV show in the country, have been whittled down to 11. During her talk show Monday, former “American Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres picked Durbin to make it to the final three.

Win or lose, Durbin is already a surprising overnight celebrity.

For the rest of the story click here—>http://www.ksbw.com/r/27362500/detail.html

I was referred to this video by the fine folks at http://www.integratedlistening.com/autism-case-study-magie-mcdonough/

They offer excellent support and services for special needs people. Please give them a look. I was quite impressed by what I saw.

I found a very interesting article, that brings to the light concerns that many of us have in regards to autism.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Over the next 10 to 15 years, an estimated 800,000 children with autism will age out of their school systems and look to state and federal governments for support services and resources to meet their many needs.
That statistic is among several staggering facts detailed in “Autism: Coming of Age,” a film produced by award-winning filmmaker Catherine Sager for Springfield, Ma public television station WGBY, and sponsored by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual).
“Autism: Coming of Age” begins airing this month on local PBS affiliates across the country through the rest of the year. (Call your local PBS station about air dates or check MassMutual’s Facebook page for listings – Facebook.com/MassMutual)
The hour-long documentary provides an inside look at the lives of three adults with autism and their families. “Autism: Coming of Age” includes expert commentary from advocates and state government officials who detail the long-term challenges of providing quality care to adults with autism.

Please click here for more of the story–>http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/public-television-documentary-highlights-crisis-for-adults-with-autism-118793024.html

Mother sets out to buy iPads for other autistic children

Tara Oathout couldn’t believe it. Her son, Grady Oathout, who will turn 4 in August, was asking for fruit after just getting back to grandma’s house after lunch at a restaurant, where he had eaten more than anybody at the table.

“He’s always hungry,” said Tara Oathout as she walked into the kitchen to fetch him something to eat. “Amazing.”

Actually, it was amazing, but not only because he wanted more food so soon after a big lunch. Grady, who has autism, didn’t ask his mommy for a banana in the conventional way –– by activating the anatomical mechanisms that produce human speech –– because Grady doesn’t talk. Instead, he asked by using his Apple iPad.

“How about a banana?” Tara Oathout asked, offering a chunk to Grady.

He smiled, pushed the banana into his mouth and instantly returned to the electronic device that has, in ways both large and small, opened lines of communication that those who love him once feared were closed off for life.

She is helping autistic people get ipads in a similar manner to what we are trying to do.

For the rest of the story, click here—->http://www.carmitimes.com/lifestyle/x1234548026/Mother-sets-out-to-buy-iPads-for-other-autistic-children

This is a shout out to a fellow aspie, James Durbin is now in the top 11 of Idol 2011. I wish him good luck!!!

Here is a Youtube Clip–>

Let’s hear it for another Aspie, a 12 year old autistic young man of high intelligence–>

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:23 PM on 24th March 2011

A 12-year-old child prodigy has astounded university professors after grappling with some of the most advanced concepts in mathematics.

Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 – higher than Albert Einstein – and is now so far advanced in his Indiana university studies that professors are lining him up for a PHD research role.

The boy wonder, who taught himself calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry in a week, is now tutoring fellow college classmates after hours.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369595/Jacob-Barnett-12-higher-IQ-Einstein-develops-theory-relativity.html#ixzz1HZPNESCv

I love this video and what they are doing to support autism!!!
I would love to take part in a future one or help in any way that I can!!!

Please take a look at a new interesting application for non-verbal adults and children. It will support Android first and then Ipad soon. Please take a look at it and let me know your thoughts.

Here is a link to their site–>
www.discovermyvoice.com

The idea for MyVoice has been a long time coming. As parents of a child with autism, we understand, at a very deep level, the desire to be able to communicate with your child even on a basic level, and the frustration of not being able to do so. We experimented with many many different methods of communication, from sign language to icon boards, and none were satisfactory. Some were free (sign language) and some were very expensive (thousands of dollars for a dedicated AAC device) but they all suffered from the same flaw: they required an abstract connection between a thing and a concept that our daughter wasn’t getting. A picture board solved this to some degree but was neither portable nor easily modifiable. Enter MyVoice. It allowed us to create a “digital” picture board as well as let her hear the phrase spoken every time she requested something. She not only heard the phrase, but she heard it in the exact same way every single time. After a few weeks of using MyVoice, she began to get it. In the 10 years since her diagnosis she’s never used a word appropriately (except in mimicking what we said) until now. Now, on occasion she’ll say the word before touching the picture. Her temper tantrums (which were mostly due to lack of an ability to express her desires) have dramatically reduced. Now we’d like to try to do the same thing for other non-communicative children, and help some charities along the way.

Click here for more info–>www.discovermyvoice.com

I noticed another group that is also helping to support autistic people as well. It was posted on ksby.com. I have been to San Luis Obispo, it is a really beautiful place as is the event mentioned below.

It was standing room only at the Arts for Autism Gala in San Luis Obispo Saturday night.

The crowd packed the Rossi Grand Lobby at the Performing Arts Center to show their support for the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center.

The night started with an art exhibition and reception and ended with a performance of the Firebird Ballet.

Please click here for the rest of the story–>http://www.ksby.com/news/arts-for-autism-draws-big-crowd/