What works educating young children with autistic spectum disorders

Aptos, California
(831) 688-6002

* Begin educational services as soon as a child is suspected of having an autistic spectrum disorder.

* Services should include a minimum of 25 hours a week, 12 months a year.

* What constitutes those 25 hours will vary according to the child’s chronological age, developmental level, specific strengths and weaknesses and family needs.

* Each child needs sufficient individualized instruction on a daily basis so objectives are implemented effectively.

* Objectives include achieving functional spontaneous communication, social instruction delivered throughout the day in various settings, cognitive development and play skills, and proactive approaches to behavior difficulties.

Source: Educating Children with Autism, Natioal Academy Press, 2001

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Aptos starts coalition to pressure Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors to slash government salaries

Troubled by recent government spending?

Join other Aptos residents to pressure local Santa Cruz County government to cut recent HUGE increases in top county salaries. See recent letters to Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 8, 2009.

Of course administrators such as the CEO for County of Santa Cruz has her hand out for more money. You can’t blame people for asking. You can blame those who gave the huge increases. That’s the Board of Supervisors.

Contact Cameron Jackson at cameronjacks@gmail.com for information. Join Facebook and get your friends to add their two cents.

Look for APTOS SLASHER on Facebook. That is Cameron Jackson on Facebook. Together let’s SLASH those HUGE, wasteful increases! Let’s start our Aptos Tea Party opposed to huge increases in gevernment spending. Cameorn Jackson 831 688-6002

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Push the reset button says Aptos resident Dale Bridenbaugh

from the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Opinion page, April 8, 2008
[bold added by Cameron Jackson, 831 688-6002]

“Thank you for calling attention to the large Santa Cruz County administrative pay increases reported in the Sunday, April 5 edition. With the hue and cry hyped nationally over unearned bonuses of AIG and others, it is easy to not see the microcosm happening locally. A 27 percent increase of a $200,000 plus salary (exclusive of the generous benefits package) is reminiscent of the millions of “bonuses” awarded to those on Wall Street. A similiar reporting that at least two assistants earned more than $200,000 “with overtime” is equally disturbing. Many small business owners in the county are working long hours of “overtime” just to stay afloat. If overtime hours are needed by county executives in these challenging times, they should be worked without extra compensation just as the majority of county’s taxpayers do to survive (or not). With businesses closing, retiree’s benefits eroding by 40 percent or more and large layoffs taking place, it is time to “reset” the economy to a more fair and equitable basis. Time magazine’s cover story last week argues that such a reset would likely be good for the country, and it can be argued that a similiar rest is past due here at home.”
Dale Brideenbaugh, Aptos

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Santa Cruz County leadership at its worst says Aptos resident Mark Willaman

from Santa Cruz Sentinel, Opinion page, April 8, 2009 [bold added by Cameron Jackson]

“I am the CEO of a software and service firm headquartered in Santa Cruz County. Although profitable, we froze salaries for all employees in 2008 pending a better economy. I took a pay cut. These prudent cuts helped us avoid making a single layoff. So it was with absolute disgust I heard about the pay raises of Santa Cruz executives. Their actions represent everything wrong with our nation and showcase leadership at its worst. In the midst of an historic recession when the county is losing money and cutting budgets, jobs and teachers, these bureaucrats have the audacity to raise their pay. Their excuse? To retain top talent. Hogwash. If they had any talent, the country would not be in its current shape. Where is the accountability? Shame on all of you who took part in this grotesque display of leadership.”
Mark Williams, Aptos

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How dumb can you get? Never in Aptos, but YES in San Francisco!

No Aptos, CA smart lawyer would do this!
Get this. A San Francisco attorney changed his vote while serving on a jury because:

1) his wife told him to do so;
2) he went out and looked at the scene of events and thus knew more;
3) to return to work.

Answer: Number three. The lawyer simply wanted to go back to work.

In a possibly unprecedented case, a San Francisco lawyer faces disbarment because he changed his vote to break the deadlock in order to return to work.

This is frm California Bar Journal, April 2009. And what do you think of that?? There is “stupid is” and “stupid does”. This is an example of “stupid does”. And maybe also is “stupid is”.

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Educating Children with Autism

Below is an excellent review of a book on autism I just bought through Amazon. A good read for a rainy day in Aptos, California.

Title: Educating Children with Autism
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academy Press

A profound and arresting analysis of interventions, January 30, 2003
By John Harpur

My contact with autistic children and teenagers is primarily through research into social skills teaching. I have a assembled a small library of key texts and until I read this one, I found my library incomplete in one area – a review of intervention programmes. This book is simply superb is its coverage of the various principles that inform current interventions, its analysis of the outcomes of several commonly cited progrmmes, and the scope for future work.

However, this book is not ‘selling’ any particular intervention and that may dismay some parents particularly. It is geared more towards informing professionals in the field about options, choices and consequences associated with interventions. And boy is it thorough!

There is a huge amount to be gained from this book. I found reading it to be very stimulating but pleasurably slow, since every page has thought provoking observations.

I would certainly recommend that anyone pursuing interventions not pass over this book, be they parent, teacher or health professional. I genuinely cannot see this book disappointing an interested party. Parents of children with Asperger Syndrome may feel a little let down however, given the lack of attention their special requirements. Other books, such as Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents, may be of help to them.

To see other reviews go to Amazon.

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St. John’s Espiscopal church moves to Aptos

buildingahomesign
Know where the best gas station is in Aptos? Yes, it is the Unocal gas station near the entrance to Sea Cliff State Beach. They are the best gas station in Aptos because they have real mechanics that FIX cars.

Across the street from the Unocal gas station, thre used to be a large field. Low income housing built on one parcel. More low income housing comes soon. There is a sign saying that a park is coming. Dont hold your breath.

And in that field, across from the best gas station in Aptos, is where St.John’s Episcopal Church moves soon. Very soon.

Soon, St. John’s will knock on neighborhood doors. They will ask you a few questions. Such as: What do you like about the community? How can St. John’s as a church be a Good Neighbor? What hopes and dreams do you have for your community?

You can check out St. John’s web site at: http:www.sjlife.org

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substantial communication AND social delays in small children?

Does your child have substantial communication AND social delays? Live in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Sen Benito or Santa Clara County?

If under age 3, call San Andreas Regional Center and ask for Early Start services (for ages 0 to 3). San Andreas Regional Center has offices in Watsonville (831) 728-1781, Salinas (831) 759-7500) Gilroy (408) 846-8805 and Campbell (408) 374-9960. Visit the regional center web site at www.sarc.org


If over age 3, also call San Andreas Regional Center and ask for an evaluation for autism. Call your local elementary school and in writing request assessment for “autistic-like” education services. Keep a copy of your school request and send a second copy if you do not hear back in two weeks. And go to your pediatrician for a hearing and vision assessment and physical check up. Ask ahead of time whether your doctor uses CHAT or some other rating scale for autistic spectrum symptoms.

If your pediatrician does not use an autistic spectrum rating scale, ask for one from Dr. Cameron Jackson. She will send one to you to fill out and take to your MD and appointments with health professionals.

You can email Dr. Jackson at DrCameronJackson@gmail.com or call (831) 688-6002. Dr. Jackson specializes in psychological assessment including the diagnosis and treatment of autistic spectrum disorders. Her office is in Santa Cruz, CA.

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Autistic children hot with fever do better

New theory of autism is that the brains of autistic children are normal – simply disregulated. This means that autistic symptoms might be reversible.

The locus coeruleus nordenergic (LC-NA) produces fever and also controls behavior. When autistic children get fevers their autistic symptoms reduce. Thus drugs that target the LC-NA offer a new therapeutic approach. Autism may be reversible. For more information go go http://www.aecom.yu.edu

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broader drug training for allied health professionals?

Where can parents find a child psychiatrist treating bipolar disorder in children and adolescents? That question is the most common question posed to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation http://www.bpkids.org

There are only 74,181 child psychiatrists for the U.S. population of 73,675,6002. So parents drive for hours or have long waits. There is legislation pending to make it easier for child psychiatrists (M.D. with training in drugs) to forgive their medical education costs.

There are a whole bunch of reasons why there are fewer psychiatrists today and likewise fewer child and adolescent psychiatrists. For sure there needs to be more allied health professionals with a solid understanding of drugs and their effects on children and adolescents. And there are ways to encourage other professionals to get appropriate education and training.

It makes sense to broaden drug knowledge for a wider number of health professionals working with children: clinical psychologists, school psychologists, clinical social workers, nurses etc. Why not give incentives to a wide variety of health professionals to get the necessary training?

In California, psychologists must complete 36 CEU’s every two years for re-license. Why not let psychologist write off as a tax credit all costs related to drug education. That likely would spur psychologists to get training in drugs.

Primary care MD’s report that about 20 percent (one in five) children under age 18 have a mental disorder with at least mild functional impairment.

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