By Thomas H. Maugh, Los Angeles Times

Women who give birth after age 40 are nearly twice as likely to have a child with autism as those under 25, but it is unlikely that delayed parenthood plays a big role in the current autism epidemic, California researchers reported Monday.

Click here for the full article.

Reporting from London – The British doctor whose suggestion of a link between the MMR shot and autism helped cause vaccination rates to plunge conducted his now-discredited research in a dishonest and irresponsible manner, medical authorities here concluded Thursday.

CANBY, Ore. –

When Curtis Jr. is around a service dog, you would never know he has autism. On Saturday the 7 year old from Canby worked with a dog from “4 Paws for Ability,” a nonprofit that trains service dogs for families all over the country. “The dog definitely makes a difference,” said Curtis Jr.’s father, Curtis Cottengim. He and his wife are saving to buy a service dog of their own for Curtis Jr. The family joins a growing number of those in Oregon working with dogs to help treat autism symptoms, according to findings from Lake Oswego-based Autism Service Dogs of America.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/82533042.html?

Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News

Birmingham — The enticing aroma of baking biscuits envelops the room, but workers at a nearby table remain focused on the task at hand: making more biscuits. There’s Alex, who kneads the dough standing up, pushing the light-brown mixture of flour and oil around the bowl. Josh sits, grasping the handles of a rolling pin, transforming a lump into a pancake. And finally, Evan pushes a dog-bone shaped biscuit cutter deep into the dough, pulling out tiny shapes for baking.The well-tuned trio is part of a student-run business at Seaholm High School designed for students with autism.

By April Dembosky

Most parents never think they’ll have to learn how to play with their own children. But if a toddler is diagnosed with autism, moms and dads can spend years with the child and a therapist, drawing with crayons and playing hide and seek. Research is proving that as parents color and stack building blocks with their kids, they are subtly teaching them to overcome cognitive, language and social delays.

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2485097.html

An industrial chemical developed to help separate heavy metals from polluted soil and mining drainage is being sold as a dietary supplement by a luminary in the world of alternative autism treatments. Called OSR#1, the supplement is described on its Web site as an antioxidant not meant to treat any disease. But the site lists pharmacies and doctors who sell it to parents of children with autism, and the compound has been promoted to parents on popular autism Web sites.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-autism-chemicaljan17,0,6466364.story

By RACHEL COOK | Post Register

She’s only 9 years old, but Rachel Pymm plays a critical role at Discovery Elementary School. The fourth-grader has taken an autistic classmate under her wing – teaching him to jump rope and encouraging him when he’s frustrated. “You’re doing a good job!” she told him during a recent lesson on cursive writing.

http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1058224.html

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) –

A new study adds to growing evidence that autism is caused by a miswiring of connections in a child’s developing brain, resulting in impaired information flow. According to researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston, it may be possible to one day treat the problem with drugs that target the molecular pathways that cause the miswiring.

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=634800

Bear Tooth Theatre Pub | Art House Monday premiere
Monday, January 18 at 5:30 & 8:00, $3 GA
The following agencies will co-host this special program:

Challenge Alaska, (beth@challengealaska.org)
SESA (Special Education Service Agency)
Stone Soup Group
State of Alaska-Autism Services Program (jimael.lawson@alaska.gov)

THE HORSE BOY (US/Mongolia 2009) documentary, 93 minutes
RATING: Not Rated (nothing objectionable)
Directed by Michel Orion Scott

How far would you travel to heal someone you love? An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, The Horse Boy follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia in a desperate attempt to treat his condition with shamanic healing. (Zeitgeist Films)

Official site: http://www.horseboymovie.com/

FastCap of Bellingham, Washington has donated a large supply of coffee caps to the AARC. The caps say “April is Autism Awareness Month” and will be available from your favorite barista (Starbucks, Kaladis, etc.) across Alaska During April! Thanks FastCap!