We are doing a fundraiser using their fundraising options. If you want to help us donate ipads to autistic class rooms and families, please participate in their fundraising efforts and let them know that we referred you.

I am as I have mentioned before an autistic brainiac, like science fiction, Harry Potter, Stargate, Science Fiction and Technology. My wife told me about James Durbin, he is currently on American Idol, and is an amazing singer. James was just 9 when his musician father died of a drug overdose and soon after James was diagnosed with Tourette and Asperger’s syndrome. I can relate to the Asperger’s syndrome, have experienced it as well.

But James, 21, met an “angel” Heidi, his now wife, and they have one young child together. Still, the family is struggling as James is unemployed, but hopes to America’s next Idol. He is an autistic individual who is talented and is trying to make a difference for his family

While auditioning, James sang Muddy Waters’ “You Shook Me” and also sang a little of Steven Tyler’s “Dream On.” He is quite good. I hope that he makes it far both on American Idol and in his life.

Here is a YouTube clip of his story:

and another

Please check it out and support him in his efforts especially if your family is touched by autism as mine has been.

I have been trying to do fundraising to help donate ipads for free to autistic kids, so far we have not had any help.

Here is an article that speaks with regards to benefits of Ipads to Educating Autistic Kids–>

Buying iPads for autistic students may draw taxpayers’ ire in this tough budget season, but some educators say it is a cheaper and more effective way to help them.
An iPad costs about $600 and the “apps,” or programs to load on it, another $100 to $200, said Mike Cummings, the acting superintendent in Milford.
Milford recently purchased three iPads and provided them to families of autistic students to use at home. The district owns the electronic devices, which must be returned. Please click below for more information…

Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/EDUCATION-MATTERS-Schools-using-iPads-to-help-1045131.php#ixzz1FsqicLHl

I saw a recent article with regards to the link between Autism and vaccines. Personally, I am not sure, my daughter especially was speaking at 6 months, and was almost potty trained at 1 year and then she had her shots and her potty training training and language development got much worse.

Here is an article from the Augusta Chronicle, that refers to a planned study to figure out if there is a link or not once and for all:

http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/letters/2011-03-07/let-vaccine-study-settle-autism-dispute

It is interesting and thought provoking.

My wife, 3 kids and I went to a Special Olympics sponsored West Coast Conference women’s basketball game between St. Mary’s College and University of San Diego. We appreciate the opportunity to have attended the event. The kids did too.

If you have autistic kids, the Special Olympics is a super organization to be a part of. Here is a link to the Special Olympics:

http://www.specialolympics.org/Locations/Special_Olympics_NA_Nevada.aspx

Here is a link to the Western College Conference, who we also appreciate for allowing for us and the kids to attend one of their Women’s basketball games at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas.

http://www.wccsports.com/

Here is a link to the Orleans Hotel–>http://www.orleanscasino.com/

I saw a recent article on www.lilliespad.com in reference to Apple’s works with new technology to help with communication and education for people with special needs and communications challenges.

Apple has shown interest in new technology that would make it possible for content to be delivered to multiple users with unique disabilities, dynamically catering to each of their specific needs in a setting like a classroom.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week revealed a new patent application from Apple entitled “External Content Transformation.” Discovered by AppleInsider, the document describes a method for disseminating content from a host computer in a format tailored to accommodate a user’s disability, identified from their client machine.

For example, Apple could dynamically distribute content tailored for relatively simple needs, like larger font sizes or screen sizes. In more advanced examples, content could be re-purposed as synthesized speech in a variety of languages, or in Braille.

Their website, plus Apple Insider are both work checking out on a regular basis.

Apple Insider can be found at www.appleinsider.com

I had recently saw an Article about Temple Grandin Speaking at Druryn University, I am quite intrigued by her talk. I plan to see the recent movie about her life. She is a fellow high functioning Autistic/Asperger’s person.She seems to have lived a remarkable life and is quite bright and influential in her works. I would love to also achieve renown in my efforts to talk technology and help people affected by autism.

Temple Grandin, who didn’t talk until she was 3 1/2 because of autism, didn’t have to utter a word Thursday before she got her first standing ovation at Drury University.Mary Failla, a single mother raising an autistic son, teared up as soon as she saw Grandin, now 63 and a college professor, author of six books and the subject of an HBO movie. The disease, the cause of which is unknown, affects social and communication skills, but Grandin told an audience of about 2,500 that she would not choose to not have autism.

“I often get asked, if I could snap my fingers would I want to not have autism?” Grandin said. “No. I like the logical way I think. I don’t like the emotional sloppy imprecise way that most people think.”

http://www.theautismnews.com/2011/03/04/autistic-professor-temple-grandin-inspires-crowd/

She is quite an inspirational speaker it seems. I recently reached out to her organization but have not hear anything back so far.

There is an amazing autism documentary on the horizon that will be released just in time for Autism Awareness Month in April. Directed by Gerardine Wurzburg, “Wretches & Jabberers” follows two grown men with autism as they embark on a world quest to change attitudes and perceptions about their disorder. Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland, deliberately challenging people’s attitudes and assumptions about their intelligence and capabilities.

I was recently on the web and found this article from http://www.autismkey.com/autism-documentary-by-oscar-winning-director-set-for-release/

Here is an article with regards to FaceSay, the exciting new product that I spoke about the other day it was published by Ingrid Maria Hopkins, Michael W. Gower, Trista A. Perez, Dana S. Smith, Franklin R. Amthor, F. Casey Wimsatt and Fred J. Biasini.

They have a link download the paper on their site.

Abstract
This study assessed the efficacy of FaceSay, a computer-based social skills training program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This randomized controlled study (N = 49) indicates that providing children with low-functioning autism (LFA) and high functioning autism (HFA) opportunities to practice attending to eye gaze, discriminating facial expressions and recognizing faces and emotions in FaceSay’s structured environment with interactive, realistic avatar assistants improved their social skills abilities. The children with LFA demonstrated improvements in two areas of the intervention: emotion recognition and social interactions. The children with HFA demonstrated improvements in all three areas: facial recognition, emotion recognition, and social interactions. These findings, particularly the measured improvements to social interactions in a natural environment, are encouraging.

Here is the link for more information–>link,

Courtesy of You Tube and Cnet, your welcome for the free advertising…
Here is the press video from Mr. Steve Jobs at Apple.