By Lisa Ackerman Since 2011, TACA has been warning families about changes proposed to the diagnostic guide used to detect autism (formerly known as the DSM-IV). The DSM-5 is the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders released at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting in May 2013. This is a... Continue Reading →
Who is Dr. Bernard Rimland?
By Lisa Ackerman I am an old timer. Jeff was diagnosed with autism in 1998. Some folks have more time in this journey while others have less. There are several reasons why my family formed TACA; first, my son Jeff and the other was Bernie. Who is Bernie? Bernie was like an uncle to me;... Continue Reading →
Will your access to compounded medications be restricted or denied by a new Senate bill?
Do you obtain compounded medications for your child? Do you work with a doctor out of your home state? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, please read on. There is a potential Senate bill that could greatly affect your family. First some background: You have may or may not have... Continue Reading →
We Salute You
By Lisa Ackerman Raising children diagnosed with autism can be an enormous challenge. What’s harder? Raising children diagnosed with autism while you have a parent in active military duty. Many love Memorial Day weekend to enjoy extra time with the family. We must never forget the importance of this day and what it represents. At... Continue Reading →
Picnic V.10.0!
By Lisa Ackerman Every year, I am full of excitement; it’s not a major holiday or my birthday, but it is absolutely my favorite time of the year. It is PICNIC TIME! I am happy to share with you the upcoming 10th Annual Family Picnic on Sunday, June 2nd at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim,... Continue Reading →
Autism: It’s about the poop!
By Lisa Ackerman If it’s your snack time or you are bothered by a conversation about bowel movements, this blog is not for you. If you have a child living with autism – welcome to the most discussed topic (no matter what, try to enjoy your food!!) A new study supports what thousands of parents... Continue Reading →
She Must Really Like Kids
By Lisa Ackerman As the family walked away I heard Kenny say “She must really like kids.” He’s right, I do. If I am at a conference, gathering or event and there are kids around, you can find me interacting with the kids. I like hanging out, chatting and playing with them. You could say... Continue Reading →
Just because they don’t speak doesn’t mean they don’t understand
By Lisa Ackerman This past weekend, we had our 11th annual Real Help Now Conference in Costa Mesa, California (1.) It was a great event to educate and empower TACA families. I always love these events. My favorite part is always watching the parents as they leave; now ready to tackle their next steps to... Continue Reading →
Soup Nazi meets a soup nazi?
By Lisa Ackerman At TACA, during the long hours some pretty funny things occasionally happen. Monday was definitely one of those fun days. In April I wrote a blog called “No Soup for You” after the famous lines uttered by the iconic Soup Nazi from Seinfeld (1.) The goal of the blog was to give... Continue Reading →
Why Don’t More Celebrities Help?
By Lisa Ackerman Many families living with autism are FRUSTRATED that not much is seemingly being done to help the autism cause. As a parent, I am in agreement. After being on this journey for almost 14 years, it’s sad to see the lack of progress made in this area. There just seems to be... Continue Reading →
Moving Autism Forward by Team TACA 