Autism Toll-Free Resource Line

The Autism Research Institute is offering information and contacts through its new toll-free resource line at (866) 366-3361, under the leadership of Unlocking Autism.

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Illinois passes autism bill

Gov. Rod Blagojevich (IL) is expected to sign legislation passed this week requiring insurers to provide up to $36,000 in coverage annually for the diagnosis and treatment of autism until the patient turns 21. The coverage mandate applies only to fully insured individual and group policies and will not apply to self-insured benefit plans. At least 4,500 Illinois families are expected to qualify for the expanded coverage. child-autism-parent-cafe.com

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Childhood Language Disorder Linked to Autism Gene

Simon Fisher, University of Oxford geneticist and researcher led the study explaining why some children develop language difficulties. The condition known as specific language impairment affects 2-7 percent of pre-school children and is as common as dyslexia. Tests on children from 184 families showed children who carried certain changes in the gene CNTNAP2 had reduced language abilities characteristic of the common disorder. An earlier study had shown that the same gene hinders language ability in autistic children. Researchers do not know exactly how changes to the gene interfere with language development. One possibility may be that changes in CNTNAP2 somehow interferes with production of a type of protein called a neurexin important to the fetal development of the nervous system and eventual language ability. child-autism-parent-cafe.com

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NY - Transition Fair 2008

Transition Fair for Students with Developmental Disabilities

Saturday, November 15, 2008
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains, New York
(Just off the Bronx River Parkway in White Plains, NY)

For more information call (914) 995-5244

Older Fathers Linked to Autism in Children

The British Journal of Psychiatry reports that researchers in Japan have found older fathers are twice as likely to have autistic children as younger men while the mother's age has no influence on the likelihood of her offspring developing the disorder.

An analysis of 84 kids with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and 208 children without the disorder found that fathers over 33 years were 1.8 times more likely to have children with autism than fathers under 29 years. Men who fathered children between the age of 29 and 32 years were 30 per cent more likely to have an autistic child, the study found.

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First Autism Summit - Cleveland, OH Oct. 10th – 12th

Autismtoday.com and Rainbow Babies & Children`s Hospital are co-hosts of the first annual international autism summit of 2008. Parent advocates, doctors, educators address the latest issues on Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Extraordinary speakers and workshop leaders get your questions answered. Network and share experiences with others. New national and local Autism and Asperger’s resources.

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