We're Moving!

Well, sort of. The Pollard Memorial Library recently launched its new web site. In addition to a new design, the new web site now houses the Pollard Memorial Library's Autism Resource Guide. As such, this blog will no longer be maintained or updated. Instead, I will be updating it on the library's web site. It's the same information, just in a different format. To access the Autism Resource Guide via the library's web site, click here. Make sure to bookmark it!

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1 in 110

1 in 110: Autism Spectrum Resources for Families

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 110 children in the United States is on the autism spectrum. Youth Services Staff has compiled a list of autism spectrum resources for families. The best place to start, if you suspect your child might be on the spectrum, is to have your child screened. The earlier your child starts therapies, the better. If your child is under age three there are two local agencies, South Bay Early Intervention and Thom Anne Sullivan Center, that provide screening services. If your child is age three or older, contact the Lowell Public Schools for assistance.

Information contained in this blog does not constitute library endorsement of a treatment, agency or advocacy group. The library maintains that it is up to the parent/legal guardian to determine proper treatment for his/her child. This blog is solely a place of information for the huge array of materials related to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

If your family uses a service or has a favorite autism spectrum website that is not listed, please let us know so we can share with others in the community. Contact Molly Hancock, Coordinator of Youth Services at mhancock@mvlc.org.

Friday, March 30, 2012

April Vacation Activities from LifeLinks

I just got an April vacation flyer from LifeLinks. All events are free but do require registration.

Monday, April 16
9 AM - 11:45 AM
Join us at Cedarland in Haverhill for an hour of swimming, an hour in the playcenter, and a 45 minute party with pizza, drinks, and ice cream!

Tuesday, April 17
3 PM - 5 PM
Come to Heritage Farm in Lowell and make crazy ice cream concoctions at the sundae bar, get your carica-ture done, and get your face painted at this fun family event!

Wednesday, April 18
10:30 AM - 12 PM
We’ll be bouncing and tumbling on inflatable equipment and trampolines at Jump On In in Lowell! The event also includes a lunch of pizza and a juice box.

Thursday, April 19
1 PM - 2 PM
Unleash your creativity at Brickapalooza in Tyngsboro where you and your friends can build your own Lego creations!

Friday, April 20
10 AM - 12 PM
Join us for a private viewing of ‘Mirror Mirror’ at Showcase Cinemas in Lowell!

All events are FREE and require registration.
Space is limited for each event. These are NOT drop-off events.
Please contact us for details.
RSVP to 978-349-3040 or familysupport@lifelinksinc.net

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

A Storytime for ALL of Us!

April is Autism Awareness Month! In honor of that we will be offering a special family storytime. ALL families are welcome and we hope that families on the Autism Spectrum and other special needs families will join us too. For the occasion a friend from NuPath will visit and share a story. Please join us for a fun morning featuring stories, songs, and more.

Saturday, April 14th at 10 AM

If you have questions contact Molly Hancock, Coordinator of Youth Services at 978-970-4124 or by e-mail at mhancock@mvlc.org.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Medications

It can be challenging getting children to take medication. With sensitivities to taste and texture, it can be even more challenging with someone on the spectrum. Here are some tips from the Autism Treatment Network:

Today’s “Got Questions?” answer comes from pediatric nurse practitioner Lynn Cole, associate director of clinical services at the University of Rochester’s Division of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, one of 17 Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (ATN) sites.

My son fights taking pills and liquid medications or supplements, though he likes “gummy” vitamins. Do you have any tips?

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refuse certain foods because of sensitivities to tastes or textures. Some also have trouble swallowing medicines, vitamins and other supplements in pill form. Clearly this is of concern because it can make it harder to treat illnesses or address nutritional deficiencies.

We often discuss such issues with the families who visit our ATN center. They’ve shared their success with a number of tactics. The most common – and often successful – approach is to make the medicine or supplement more acceptable – keeping in mind your child’s likes and dislikes. For instance, some supplements and medicines can be crushed and mixed with a favorite food such as applesauce or yogurt or a favorite drink such as apple juice. You might even try disguising it in a squirt of chocolate syrup. But it’s very important to ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s okay to crush or mix a given medicine as some can irritate the mouth or throat or are designed to release slowly over time.

Other times crushing and mixing simply doesn’t work. If this is the case with an important medicine, consider working with your pharmacist and/or doctor to find an alternative medicine in a form or taste your child will accept.

Compounding pharmacists have expertise in mixing drugs to meet special needs. Your doctor or regular pharmacy may be able to refer you to compounding pharmacist in your area. You can also try a web search using your zip code and the phrase “compounding pharmacy.”

While these strategies can work well for the occasional distasteful medicine, they are not an ideal long-term plan. Over the long run, your child’s health will be better served if he learns to take medicines, including pills.

Many families give up prematurely on teaching pill swallowing In fact, most children can learn this skill – given time and patience and some guidance. I’ve found a number of helpful resources. One of my favorites is the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System website, www.pillswallowing.com. In addition, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and some other behavioral specialists have expertise in this area. So I encourage you to enlist the help of your child’s health and educational team.

In addition to pill swallowing “lessons,” families can consider other behavioral strategies. Many of our families report success with the following:

* Pair a difficult task, like taking medicine, with a favorite activity like swinging, a little computer time or simply playing a favorite song.
* Create a daily schedule that includes medicines. Children with ASD often benefit from a predictable daily schedule. Including medicines in that schedule makes the task more predictable and your expectations clearer to your child.

* Use visual supportsto help a child understand the daily medicine routine. For instance, visual supports can help a child learn each important step to swallowing a pill and can even be used to help make the connecting between taking the medicine and getting to enjoy that favorite activity (by showing a picture of a child taking medicine paired with a picture of the activity). You can download the ATN’s free Visual Supports Tool Kit here.

Know that taking medicines, vitamins and other supplements tends to get easier over time. The earlier you can start teaching these skills and employing helpful behavior strategies the sooner you can help ensure your child’s long-term health.

Visit our ATN page to see if there is an Autism Treatment Network clinic near you. For more information on the Visual Supports guide and other helpful ATN Tool Kits, please see our “Tools You Can Use” page.

A Very Special Saturday











Thursday, March 8, 2012

Event for Special Needs Families

Don't forget about our Very Special Saturday for Special Needs kids and their families. It's happening this Saturday at the library. Hope to see you there!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

iPad Grant

From the Autism Cares website:

Autism Speaks iPad 2 Technology Grant

Through the generosity of Wyndham Worldwide, the Pickle Foundation, and Heather Nix of Washington, Autism Speaks will select 160 individuals with autism to receive an Apple iPad 2!

Eligible applicants are individuals who:
- Have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder by a licensed professional,
- Reside in the United States,
- Have limited income and cannot afford to purchase an iPad.

*Note: If you already submitted an application for the HP Slate 2 grant in December 2011, you will automatically be considered for the iPad 2 grant and there is no need to re-apply.

Technology Grant Timeline

February 29: Online Application Opens
March 7: Application Closes
March 8-29: Review Committee Selects Recipients
March 30: Recipients Announced!!

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by the person with autism or an immediate family member of the person with autism. The Technology Grant Review Committee will review eligible applications based on established criteria and select the iPad grant recipients. Some applicants will be contacted by staff for follow up information. All applicants selected to receive an iPad 2 will be contacted on March 30. Others will receive an email informing them of their status.

For more information and for an application click this link.