Blog by Summer Stech, Esquire – TACA’s Legal Advocate TACAnowblog series: Legal Advocacy The new school year is finally underway! Of course a new school year means it is time to start thinking about your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Although many annual IEP’s are developed in the Spring - due to the prevalence of... Continue Reading →
Stem cells and autism
By Lisa Ackerman We know stem cell therapy offer treatment solutions for many other conditions (such as leukemia, lymphoma and other issues.) A newly approved FDA pilot study will look at stem cell therapy from cord blood & autism as a possible solution for treatment. The timeline for this pilot study is 1-2 years. Some... Continue Reading →
An Immune Disorder at the Root of Autism
By Lisa Ackerman An article featured in The New York Times on August 25, 2012 titled "An Immune Disorder at the Root of Autism" (1) provided a breath of fresh air for families living with autism. It is important to note that New York Times writer Moises Velasquez-Manoff wrote the article as an opinion piece.... Continue Reading →
I have a dream…
Lisa Ackerman 49 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I have a dream speech." It is one of the greatest speeches of all time. This man and speech inspired a movement that defined history. Dr. King and his speech is STILL hugely significant 49 years later. The speech represents a rally cry... Continue Reading →
Gone Fishin’ – Part Two
By Lisa Ackerman Balance. Family time. Pedicure. Well, let’s not get crazy! All things I write about and rarely accomplish. Well for the next two weeks, I am doing it and I’m forcing my family to tag along. We are unplugging and getting away from it all. Mostly. By the time you read this we... Continue Reading →
A Three Hour Tour…
By Lisa Ackerman For years, there have been many comparisons between parenting a child with special needs or autism and the journey gone through inplanning a trip to Europe. Since I am a parent and this blog is focused on autism that is where this story will continue. The journey starts with you and... Continue Reading →
The Real Cost of Special Education: Considering the Return on Investment
Blog by Summer Stech, Esquire – TACA’s Legal Advocate TACAnowblog new series: Legal Advocacy Return on investment is defined as “a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments.” The benefit of the investment made is divided by the cost.[1] A greater benefit... Continue Reading →
The IACC reconvenes
By Lisa Ackerman Due to the Combating Autism reauthorization delays, the IACC met again this past week on July 10, 2012. Over one year has passed since their last meeting. Who is the IACC? (1) The IACC is described as follows: The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts... Continue Reading →
Heroes wanted
By Lisa Ackerman Think autism or disabilities is uncommon? Think again. We are all one step away from a disability. 15% of the world population have a disability. Be grateful for what you have. If you do not have a disability or don't have loved ones with disabilities there by the grace of God you go.... Continue Reading →
Autism: It takes an entire family
by Guest Blogger: Nancy Cook A Grandmother’s Journey Everyone talks about being a mother and how devastating it is when your child diagnosed with autism. I bring a different perspective, that of a grandmother. My grandson was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 3. That day I not only lost my grandson, but I lost... Continue Reading →
Moving Autism Forward by Team TACA 