Tag Archives: autism

April is traditionally dedicated to the subject of autism. In the past, the phrase “Autism Awareness Month” was used in connection with this month, but Tom Flis, behavioral services manager at Sheppard Pratt, says that a current movement is aimed at focusing on autism acceptance. Learn more about the significance …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as “a developmental disability that is caused by differences in how the brain functions. People with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in different ways.” About one in 59 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum …

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the United States with a growth rate of more than 1,100 percent, according to the Autism Society. But ASD is still greatly misunderstood by the public. What is ASD? Autism is a complex developmental disability and affects a …

Lives: Baltimore County Children: 2 daughters in elementary school Occupation: Executive Director of the Hearing and Speech Agency of Baltimore What sparked your interest in your field of work? I have a very distinct memory of being in high school and deciding to pursue speech language pathology. I had investigated …

Baltimore played host to the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area Autism Conference late last month. The conference was sponsored by Future Horizons, Inc., an organization whose mission is to provide resources, both human and literary, to help educate and support those within the autism world. Books, research, conferences and speakers who work …

Lisa Wilson says she sensed “something wasn’t right” when her son Phoenix was around 18 months old. “He was losing skills,” Wilson remembers. “He had a few words, then he lost them. We didn’t know it was autism. We knew next to nothing about autism.” Wilson turned to the internet, …

It stands to reason that the people in one’s life—be they acquaintances, friends, neighbors, family members, teachers, doctors or baristas—don’t really know what it’s like to raise a child whose needs, challenges and gifts are different from those of the average child. Unless they have walked that path themselves. Baltimore’s …

When I was in first grade, a boy in my class used to chase me around the playground and attempt to land a big fat wet kiss on my face. I couldn’t run away fast enough. As Valentine’s Day approached, I wanted to hide under my desk or skip school …

Hope Springs Eternal Born 94 days early and weighing not even a pound, Kayleigh Hope Klatt wasn’t expected to survive the hour. The fact that she is now a sassy, happy-go-lucky 2-year-old who loves to play outside and makes her parents read “Fun Dog, Sun Dog” several times a day …