Groundbreaking findings on autism to be presented at Carnegie Mellon international symposium

September 30, 2008

PITTSBURGH--Today's autism research draws on a variety of scientific disciplines, from genetics to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to neural development. At the 35th Carnegie Symposium on Cognition, "Development and Brain Systems in Autism," 16 of the world's most prominent autism researchers will present their latest groundbreaking findings on the disorder and discuss the direction of future study that will continue to improve scientists' understanding of autism.

The symposium, hosted by the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, will take place Oct. 17-18 in the Adamson Wing, Baker Hall.

"As scientific inquiry sheds more light on the fundamental nature of autism, the work being done in particular fields, such as genetics and brain imaging, begins to inform investigation and discoveries in other relevant areas," said Marcel Just, the D.O. Hebb Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon, who is one of the symposium's organizers. "The presentations at this symposium will highlight the value that these interdisciplinary approaches hold for future autism research."

The symposium will provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge autism research and how different disciplines inform research in other areas. A number of fascinating projects will be discussed, including a follow-up study of Hans Asperger's original patients from the 1940s, along with a description of the brain basis of the social difficulties in autism, and an investigation of how autism emerges in a child's behavior even before the child is diagnosed.

"The researchers presenting at this symposium are the pre-eminent investigators in the field," Just said. "Their investigations provide surprising new answers to several of the longstanding puzzles of autism. For example, how is someone very competent at visual perception tasks, yet rather awkward socially? How is it that a year-old toddler seems within the normal range, but shows clear symptoms of autism at the age of two? How is it that each part of the brain of a person with autism is rather typical, but the system as a whole behaves atypically?"

Carnegie Mellon University

---

---

	1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger's, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition by Ellen Notbohm (Author), Veronica Zysk (Author), Temple Grandin (Foreword) Winner of Learning Magazine's Teachers Choice Award, the first edition of 1001 Great Ideas has been a treasured resource in the autism community since 2004. Now, in this expanded edition, Ellen Notbohm (best-selling author of the revolutionary book Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew) and Veronica Zysk (award-winning author and editor of Autism Asperger's Digest magazine) present parents and educators with over 1800 ideas try-it-now tips, eye-opening advice, and grassroots strategies. More than 600 fresh ideas join tried and true tactics from the original edition, while many ideas pick up where the first edition left off, offering modifications for older kids, honing in on Asperger's challenges, and enhancing already-effective ways to help your child or student achieve...
	Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm (Author) Winner of an iParenting Media Award and Honorable Mention in the 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards! Every parent, teacher, social worker, therapist, and physician should have this succinct and informative book in their back pocket. Framed with both humor and compassion, the book defines the top ten characteristics that illuminate the minds and hearts of children with autism. Ellen's personal experiences as a parent, an autism columnist, and a contributor to numerous parenting magazines coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum. Don't buy just one of this book- buy one for everyone who interacts with your child! Give the gift of understanding. Helpful chapters include: My sensory perceptions are disordered Distinguish between...
	Autism By Hand by Lorca Damon (Author) "I never wanted to write this book. I can’t write this book, it hurts too much. But I have to because this book wasn’t there when I needed it. It’s not a human-interest story or a self-help book or an instruction manual on how to raise an autistic child. It’s simply a well-thought out laundry list of everything I did to help my daughter be the best person she could become and I did it in the dark because this book wasn’t there for me." from the Introduction
	Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs by Chantal Sicile-Kira (Author), Temple Grandin (Foreword) Based on nearly two decades of Chantal Sicile-Kira's personal and professional experiences with individuals and families affected by this growing epidemic, Autism Spectrum Disorders explains all aspects of the condition, including: - The causes of autism spectrum disorders - How to properly diagnose ASDs - Treatments based on behavioral, psychological and biomedical interventions - Coping strategies for families - Educational needs and programs - Living and working conditions for adults with ASD - Community interaction - Teaching strategies and resources for educators and other professionals
	Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism (Vintage) by Temple Grandin (Author) Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a gifted animal scientist who has designed one-third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. She also lectures widely on autism--because Temple Grandin is autistic, a woman who thinks, feels, and experiences the world in ways that are incomprehensible to the rest of us. In this unprecedented book, Grandin delivers a report from the country of autism. Writing from the dual perspectivies of a scientist and an autistic person, she tells us how that country is experienced by its inhabitants and how she managed to breach its boundaries to function in the outside world. What emerges in Thinking in Pictures is the document of an extraordinary human being, one who, in gracefully and lucidly bridging the gulf between her condition and our...
	Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders by Barbara Sher (Author) A resource of fun games for parents or teachers to help young children learn social and motor skillsBarbara Sher, an expert occupational therapist and teacher, has written a handy resource filled with games to play with young children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other sensory processing disorders (SPD). The games are designed to help children feel comfortable in social situations and teach other basic lessons including beginning and end, spatial relationships, hand-eye coordination, and more. Games can also be used in regular classrooms to encourage inclusion.A collection of fun, simple games that can improve the lives of children with ASD or other SPDs.Games can be played by parents or teachers and with individual children or groups.Games are designed to make children...
	The Myth of Autism: How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children by Michael Goldberg (Author), Elyse Goldberg (Contributor) The explosive account of one doctor’s quest to convince the world that autism, as we understand it today, does not exist.Experts agree that America is in the midst of a disturbing epidemic of what has thus far been diagnosed as autism. In just thirty years autism diagnoses have risen from 1 in 5,000 children to 1 in 110, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in the history of our society there has never been an “epidemic” of any developmental or genetic disorder—it is scientifically impossible. So what is this mysterious affliction known as “autism,” and how can we stop it? Dr. Goldberg and his colleagues illustrate why autism cannot be genetic, but is a symptom of a treatable neurological disease that attacks the brain’s immune...
	Autism's Hidden Blessings: Discovering God's Promises for Autistic Children & Their Families by Kelly Langston (Author) Encouragement and inspiration for special needs families God has a unique and magnificent purpose for every child-a purpose that is no less important for special-needs children. Through the story of her own ongoing struggles and victories raising her autistic son, Kelly Langston brings to light God's promises for exceptional kids and highlights covenants that assure special-needs parents of their children's potential and beauty.
	Brains, Trains & Video Games: Living The Autism Life by Alicia Hart (Author), Brianne Bolin (Editor), Ewan Nees (Editor), Tera Swango (Editor) Brains, Trains & Video Games: Living The Autism Life details the emotional, humorous and often profoundly insightful journey of an everyday family raising a child with autism. This is a book about life with Ewan—the center of one family's universe and the gravity that holds them together. Far from being the stressor that causes this family to disintegrate, autism has made this family what it is today. A family that laughs more than it cries, and a family that eagerly awaits for the next Ewanism to spring forth from the lips of this solar system’s sun. Over the years we have built a bridge between his world and ours, his brain and ours, and his perspective and ours. Join us on the journey we’ve taken to help create a world of possibility for our son—a world filled with words,...
	Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues, 2nd Edition by Maria Wheeler (Author), Carol Stock Kranowitz M.A. (Foreword) Individuals with autism are reportedly one of the most difficult populations to toilet train. This second edition offers effective strategies that take the child's physical and emotional sensitivities into account instead of trying to force traditional methods. Easy-to-read bulleted lists offer more than 200 do's and don'ts, along with over 50 real-life examples, to help make the process more of a lesson and less of a battle for all involved. The young trainee will learn to overcome fear of the bathroom, properly use toilet paper, flush once, wash hands, and more. The toilet trainer will learn how to overcome challenges caused by communication needs, sensory sensitivities, motor challenges, anxiety levels, etc.