National Autism Awareness Month this April carries extra meaning in the wake of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) new report on autism incidence rates. (more)
A critically acclaimed independent documentary about two men with autism creates new understandings and perceptions of autism. The film, "Wretches & Jabberers," will be shown Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 p.m., in the Palmer Lipcon Auditorium, Curtin Road, Penn State University Park. In the film, directed by Geradine Wurzburg, Tracy Thresher, age 42, and Larry Bissonnette, age 52, embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to put a new face on autism, the men travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland, where at each stop they challenge public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful message to reconsider competency. (more)
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. One in 110 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, yet there are no fully effective means of prevention, treatment or a cure. On April 2, Penn State Lehigh Valley will join hundreds of other businesses and organizations across the country to help shine a light on autism through the Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue campaign. During the campaign, the Nittany Lion Shrine at the north entrance of the campus will be awash in special blue light. (more)
Joanna McGowan's son, Christopher, was diagnosed with autism when he was just two years old. Since that day more than two years ago, McGowan, campus registrar at Penn State Brandywine, her husband, Dave, and their two sons have embarked on a difficult journey of healing, acceptance and never-ending love. (more)
Penn State Brandywine will host a special session for students called "Working with Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder" with Amanda Guld, director of professional development and training at Melmark, at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the Tomezsko Classroom Building, room 103. (more)
A puppet show called "The Language of Friendship" is teaching children about autism. Kimberly Bennett, an educational consultant, created the innovative program designed for youngsters between the ages of five and 12. (more)
"Groundbreaking research into animal behavior and autism," by Temple Grandin, whose autism directed her to devote her life to animal welfare, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, in Schwab Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus. A pre-event showing of the HBO Emmy winning biography of Grandin is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Foster Auditorium, Room 102 Paterno Library. (more)
More students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis are being accepted into college, and while many may have the grades, experts are concerned that some students do not have the appropriate social skills to maneuver through that crucial first year of college. For a teenager with ASD, living away from home and managing school work might be too much to handle without proper training and support.
This topic, along with many others related to autism, will be featured at Penn State's 2011 National Autism Conference, Aug. 1-4 at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. (more)
Penn State Public Broadcasting will show a new episode of "Conversations from Penn State" at 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 and again at 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, on WPSU-TV. The shows will give viewers an inside look at the World in Conversation Project, a study of dialogue surrounding social and cultural issues. Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey, co-directors of the project, talk about their race relations work and why it's okay to examine politically incorrect thoughts as a way to think through the issues. (more)
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. One in 110 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, yet there are no fully effective means of prevention, treatment, or a cure. On April 1 and 2, Penn State Lehigh Valley will join hundreds of other businesses and organizations across the country to help shine a light on autism through the Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue campaign. During the campaign, the Nittany Lion Shrine at the north entrance of the campus will be awash in special blue light. (more)
