A 4-year-old boy with autism had a meltdown on a United Airlines flight, so the crew showered him with affection. Lori Gabriel’s son Braysen Keen has autism, is non-verbal and panics in overstimulating places such as airports and restaurants. Still, the Magnolia, Texas mom felt confident about an August family trip to San Diego — after all, Braysen managed fairly well on a recent flight to Kentucky and this time, Gabriel had the support of her boyfriend (Braysen’s father) and his parents. However, on the way to the airport, Braysen was cranky. “I figured he would sleep on the plane,” Gabriel tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “I didn’t think it would turn out this way.” Before the 3-and-a-half hour flight, the family was...
Ken Cross, retail manager at the Northern store in Baker Lake, said he first started noticing something different about his daughter Natalie when she was a toddler. She didn’t seem to be reaching the same developmental milestones passed by other children her age — crawling, walking, talking. She had behavioural issues. They thought maybe she had hearing problems. Eventually Natalie, now five, was diagnosed with autism, a spectrum disorder that can cause exceptional strengths in children related to music, art and memory, for example, but a long list of challenges too, which can include social impairment, behavioural and communication problems, language deficits, abnormal responses to stimulation and dependence on routine. Once Cross and his wife absorbed the news, they had...
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. We empower people with autism and their families with resources, online tools and information covering the life span. How You Can Support Us In Our MissionDonate your car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or boat to Autism Speaks by simply completing the form below and we'll reach out to you to arrange the pick-up of your vehicle donation, at no cost to you. You may qualify for...
When his son, Chase, began nearing adolescence, Chadd turned to resources on the internet — such as YouTube — looking for guidance on what to expect. But as a dad to a child with autism, he found that the World Wide Web came up short. “Every parent who has a child with autism wonders what their child will be like when they hit puberty, or how they’ll be in high school, or after they graduate,” says Chadd. “I saw YouTube channels featuring autism as a topic, but they always featured toddlers or young kids.” “There was a huge void of channels showing the experiences of adolescent or teens or young adults with autism.” So in 2008, when his son turned 10, Chadd...
(CNN) - Personal trainer Mark Fleming flashes an encouraging smile as he pushes a young man through the paces. It's a simple exercise, stepping over a hurdle. But for his client, there's nothing easy about it. Fleming understands. He knows a lot about life's hurdles. And like his client, he is on the autism spectrum. "I think it is important to help others on the spectrum to achieve the life that they desire. And exercise is a great way to do that," Fleming tells CNN. "I have them do this exercise to get the brain working... Coming to a new place can be challenging to an individual with autism." Spotting a disturbing trend Fleming graduated from the University...
