Bill Cosby and Toni Braxton Headline Concert for Autism Speaks

Bill Cosby and Toni Braxton Headline Concert for Autism Speaks April 9 at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center

Tom Brokaw Emcees a Night of Comedy and Music to Raise Funds for Autism Awareness and Scientific Research


Legendary entertainer Bill Cosby and six-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Toni Braxton will headline a star-filled night of comedy and music at the Concert for Autism Speaks on April 9 at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street, in New York City. NBC News' Tom Brokaw will serve as the master of ceremonies for the fundraiser for Autism Speaks, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research .

“Autism is a disorder that is robbing families of the chance to fulfill their dreams and experience the everyday joys most of us take for granted,” said Cosby. "For example, many children with autism are very limited in their ability to develop warm relationships with others, including their parents. We all need to do our part so that, with our help, these families will finally get the answers they so desperately seek.”

“When autism became a part of my family's reality, I was determined to join Autism Speaks
in its battle against this devastating disorder that is impacting thousands of families," said Braxton, who is currently headlining in a long-term engagement at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The mother of two children, one of whom has autism, went on to say, “So much progress is being made on all fronts – from the laboratory to Capitol Hill -- but all of us must continue to fight until we have found the cause and a cure for autism.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Bill and Toni for lending their remarkable talents to us for what promises to be a memorable evening,” said Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “With the recent passage of the Combating Autism Act, the future is far brighter for every individual and family affected by autism. However, the need to raise funds for awareness, treatment and research is as urgent as ever.”

Ticket information for the Concert for Autism Speaks will be made available in the coming weeks at www.autismspeaks.org.


[tags : disability epilepsy autism children pediatric neurology]

Autism Speaks Website

Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of the growing autism epidemic and to raising money to fund scientists who are searching for a cure.

It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright. Bob Wright is Vice Chairman and Executive Officer, General Electric, and Chairman and CEO, NBC Universal.

Autism Speaks and Cure Autism Now (CAN) recently announced plans to combine operations, bringing together the two leading organizations dedicated to accelerating and funding biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism spectrum disorders; to increasing awareness of the nation's fastest growing developmental disorder; and to advocating for the needs of affected families.

To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org/.








What is Autism? An Overview

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.

Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the same time, a German scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, described a milder form of the disorder that is now known as Asperger Syndrome. These two disorders are listed in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as two of the five developmental disorders that fall under the Autism Spectrum Disorders. The others are Rett Syndrome, PDD NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. All of these disorders are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors. For more discussion on the range of diagnoses that comprise Autism Spectrum Disorder, click here.

Autism Spectrum Disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Pediatricians may initially dismiss signs of autism, thinking a child will “catch up,” and may advise parents to “wait and see.” New research shows that when parents suspect something is wrong with their child, they are usually correct. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't wait: speak to your pediatrician about getting your child screened for autism.

If your child is diagnosed with autism, early intervention is critical to gain maximum benefit from existing therapies. Although parents may have concerns about labeling a toddler as “autistic,” the earlier the diagnosis is made, the earlier interventions can begin. Currently, there are no effective means to prevent autism, no fully effective treatments, and no cure. Research indicates, however, that early intervention in an appropriate educational setting for at least two years during the preschool years can result in significant improvements for many young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As soon as autism is diagnosed, early intervention instruction should begin. Effective programs focus on developing communication, social, and cognitive skills.


[tags : disability autism children pediatric neurology]

Training Manual to Tackle Sexual Issues faced by Children with Disabilities

A training manual to tackle sexual and reproductive health issues for children and teenagers with disabilities is in its final stages of development by the Health Ministry.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said that the manual would focus on the personal care and safety of the child with special needs to prevent them from getting abused.

"We have to face reality that sexual harassment will continue to happen," he told reporters on Tuesday after the media launch of the 24th Kiwanis Treasure Hunt.

"The manual is to help doctors and people to identify and treat. There are guidelines and procedures to follow especially when the person is unable to communicate effectively."

The treasure hunt is organised by the Kiwanis Club of Kuala Lumpur which hopes to raise RM125,000 to help the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation National Centre here, Joy Training Workshop in Malacca, Kiwanis Orphanage in Batu Pahat and other Kiwanis Club of Kuala Lumpur community service projects.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Chua said that Down Syndrome was the most prevalent chromosomal disorder which occurred about one of every 650 births.

This meant, he said that 770 children in Malaysia were born with the disorder yearly and that about 46,200 children and adults have Down Syndrome assuming that the lifespan of a person with the condition is 60 years.

"This figure could even be larger, as no study has been done on the actual situation," he said.

He said that early detection and intervention were important to getting "better outcome" for babies with Down Syndrome adding that more than 90% of deliveries were in hospitals and all babies were examined by doctors before discharge.

Children who have Down Syndrome features will be followed up by the paediatrician and go through check ups for confirmation.

Dr Chua said that child developmental screening is also done at all health clinics, community clinics and mobile clinics throughout Malaysia and any suspected case of delayed development is closely monitored and started on early intervention programme.

There are also 140 health centres, which provide rehabilitation services for children with special needs including Down Syndrome.

Source
[tags : seic epilepsy seizures children pediatric neurology]

22 Apr Talk : Top 8 Ways to Improve Your Special Needs Child's Behaviour

FGA - Full Gospel Assembly has a support group for parents with children with special needs.
They have a special talk for parents coming up in April


TOPIC : Top 8 Ways to Improve Your Special Needs Child's Behaviour

SPEAKER : Ms Yammy Ang

DATE : 22 April 2007 (Sunday)

TIME : 3pm to 5.30pm

VENUE : House 1, Full Gospel Assembly, Kuala Lumpur


About the Speaker

Ms Yammy Ang is a mother of five children and parent of a special needs teenager. She was Special Mother of the Year in 2001.

She has a BSc in Phsyical Sciences (La Trobe University) and has been chairperson of Wings Melaka Early Interevention Centre for the past seven years.

We welcome you to join us and invite your friends who are interested in this area to come along.

[Its FREE]

For more information, please contact Wai Sze at 016 340 0849,
Jill at 016 394 4206 or email kwaisiong@yahoo.com.my



[tags : seic epilepsy seizures children pediatric neurology]

Health screening for all newborns

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry hopes to screen all newborn babies for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) or inherited metabolic diseases.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad said with a small investment so many lives could be spared from agony, deaths and hefty treatments in the future.

He said the ministry would ask for more budget allocation from the Government to provide the screening after the on-going two-year pilot project on screening of babies for IEM is completed in 2008. “It only cost RM3 for a child to be screened for the inherited metabolic disease and the small investment could save a lot of lives from agony, deaths and hefty treatments in future,” Dr Latiff told reporters during the Metabolic Camp II yesterday.

The pilot project, that started in September, is currently being carried out at government hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selayang, Alor Star, Penang, Kota Bahru, Kuching and Melaka, said geneticist Dr Choy Yew Sing, who is the chief investigator of the pilot project known as Newborn Screening for IEM. ,. Dr Latiff said it would cost the Government RM1.5mil to screen all 500,000 babies born each year in Malaysia.

“It is a small investment compared with the cost saved in future because with early detection, the right diet and treatment, many can lead normal lives,” he said.

IEM comprises a large class of genetic diseases involving disorders of metabolism such as mitochondrial disease, organic academia, urea cycle defects, glycogen storage disease, lysosomal storage disease and fatty acid oxidation defects.

It is due to defects in genes producing enzymes, which are essential in many biochemical reactions or metabolism in our body. If untreated, they may cause mental retardation, physical handicap and even death. If both parents carry the same defective gene responsible for one particular IEM, they run 25% risk of giving birth to a child with the particular inborn error of metabolic disease, said Dr Choy.

During a question and answer session, he said the lack of Q10 drug for mitochondria patients was due to difficulty in getting approval for the drug. “We lack report on the effectiveness of the drug. We are trying to obtain health technology assessment from other countries and also compile our own report,” he said.

He said the drug had been effective on one-third of his patients, however, for another one-third, there were still some problems while it was not effective at all for the rest. Mitochondria patients lack coenzyme Q that helps the cells produce energy and patients may experience symptoms such as vision or hair loss, heart attack, diabetes or cancer, he said.

The drug works as an anti-oxidant and helps the cells produce energy. Dr Choy said most of his IEM patients were Mitochondria patients. The disease was more common in the Asia region than other regions, he said.

By LOH FOON FONG
Source : STAR
[tags : seic epilepsy seizures children pediatric neurology]