By Lisa Ackerman On March 31, 2016 the CDC issued their new official rate of autism per their latest survey (1.) The rate is 1 in 68 US children has a diagnosis of autism. For this first time in over a decade the rate compared to their 2010 survey results is flat. It is important... Continue Reading →
April #Autism Action Month: Action Speaks Louder than Awareness
By Lisa Ackerman I am more than aware of autism. This is the 16th Autism Awareness Month my family has experienced. There are many families like ours who want more than awareness, we want people to be educated about autism and to share that knowledge with others. This month provides TACA members with an... Continue Reading →
Season 1 Episode #1- Janice Kern
We are so excited to announce the brand new TACA Podcast! This is an expansion of our intentional dialogue that we long to have with families around the country about real life, challenges, triumphs, best practices, and best therapies that exist today. It is our hope that we will be able to reach more families, spread hope... Continue Reading →
TACA’s Doctor Appreciation Day
By Jackie Moore On March 30th, 2016 TACA will hold the first TACA Doctor Appreciation Day in partnership with Houston Enzymes to recognize physicians who have dedicated their practice to help children with autism. This past summer, the autism community lost Dr. Jeff Bradstreet. The first couple of days after he died, I read... Continue Reading →
Why Would a Government Panel Question Universal #Autism Screening? UPDATE
By Lisa Ackerman Editors Note: this blog originally posted in August 2015. There are new updates to this story below. When a serious developmental disability increases from 1 in every 10,000 US children in 1970 to 1 in 68 in 2015, how should the government respond (1)? One would think perhaps scale up screenings?... Continue Reading →
#Presidential Candidates Let’s Talk #Autism Plan
WHY HAVE A PLAN IN THE FIRST PLACE? As a country, we need to address this important health issue affecting 1 in 68 every US Children (1.) A more recent parent survey shows the number even higher at 1 in 45 (2.) Candidates need to know this should be a front-of-mind issue affecting many families living with autism. They also need to know we need help.
The IACC needs to address #autism and #wandering. How can parents help.
By Lisa Ackerman The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is meeting again on January 12, 2016 (1.) On the TACA blog we have written about the IACC for years (2.) Let me catch you up: IACC was founded by funds from the Combatting Autism bill in 2006. About $3 billion has been spent. Sadly,... Continue Reading →
Things that go bump in the night
Guest blogger & Autism Super hero sibling: Culzean Giammatteo After the school year came to a close in the summer of 2013, I spent most of my time indoors, on whatever electronic device I had access to, reading. On this particular evening I was reading like I normally do and my brother, Vico, was... Continue Reading →
#GivingTuesday: This history & how to help non-profits
By Lisa Ackerman What comes after Thanksgiving Thursday? First, Black Friday. Then, Cyber Monday and don’t forget #GivingTuesday! Today is a day to support nonprofit organizations across the country. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become traditions in the United States, organizers are seeing #GivingTuesday as a tradition celebrating the joy of giving.... Continue Reading →
#Autism is now 1 in 45 – will anyone listen?
By Lisa Ackerman In December 2013 the University of Minnesota published a study regarding the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) population in Minneapolis. The results documented the ASD overall rate: 1 in 48. Another major finding from the Somali population showed autism rates are 1 in 32 (1.) In a new report released today two startling findings (2)... Continue Reading →
