People's Weekly World - July 3

HAVANA - At the Dora Alonso school for autistic children there are 58 students and 57 teachers. The school is bright, colorful and clean. It is in the middle of a campus full of schools. Once an army garrison during the dictatorial rule of Fulgencio Batista, the campus is now a living symbol of beating swords into ploughshares.

The young children and their teachers join hands in a big circle and dance to the rhythmic Cuban music. They end the outdoor dance session, surrounded by the lush tropical trees, and go inside for classes.

The school is equipped with computers to help speech-language acquisition, and classroom televisions are tuned to the Cuban educational channel. Physical therapists use combinations of massage therapies and equipment. I see a balance beam, mats, balls and a small treadmill.

The music room has drums, a piano, a tape and CD player, maracas and other instruments. The kids are playing rhythm sticks and the teacher is counting out loud. They stop when we come in. The teacher asks them to sing "Guantanamera," which they do while she plays the piano.

Each class has a mirror. "Very important to have a mirror in each classroom, so the child develops a sense of self," says Lorenzo Jorge Sosa, the school's director. One of the students in the music room stops and stares at himself for a minute or so.

The classrooms have books, toys, brightly colored pictures and the children's artwork. Each child has his or her own box of personal items with their photo on it, something that reminds me of my own children's early years.

A behavioral psychiatrist is with one child who cannot sit still. The boy does not talk. The psychiatrist is working with him, one-on-one, to increase his ability to sit still and have eye contact as well as acquire language. Sitting next to her is a small, friendly dog. "Children often respond to the dog more than to people," she says.

"This is not Cuba's first school for autism, but it does have a unique program," Sosa says. "Our school has medical professionals on staff, and works closely with doctors and other specialists. We work with the families and community to provide support and training. Our emphasis is to integrate the children into wider society as a whole. We have the duty to improve the children's quality of life."

Oh, and have I mentioned this? Everything is free of charge.

Home comes to mind again, but not because of the similarities. The words "free of charge" hit me hard.

Parents of U.S. school children with autism or other disabilities have to pay out-of-pocket for many services. If your child is in a U.S. public school, special education services are supposed to be adequate and free, a hard-won right. But as many parents, teachers and administrators know, these services are expensive and the school's other budget needs often compete. The federal government funds only 15 percent of special education costs, not the once promised 40 percent, and private schools are prohibitively expensive.

Cuban President Fidel Castro attended the opening of the Escuela Dora Alonso in 2002. Castro told the audience that there are about 600 million disabled people worldwide and less than 3 percent receive some kind of attention. "In our country," he said, "we have fought for and, fortunately, succeeded in providing attention for all children with problems."

I can't imagine our current president advocating for children. As a matter of fact, George W. Bush's policies have been a disaster for public education and children.

This is just a snapshot of the revolution in public education taking place in Cuba. Imagine a country that faces severe economic, political and social conditions, most of them imposed by the U.S. blockade - yet is, as a society, working to truly "leave no child behind."

I get emotional thinking about the possibilities in the U.S. No wonder there are so many barriers to travel to Cuba, I think: Americans may start to get socialist ideas for home.

I told the staff how moved I was by the school. And how great it would be to have more Americans be able to go to Cuba and have cooperative, neighborly relations.

But then I also think about the U.S. blockade and the new restrictions imposed by the Bush administration. Another emotion takes over. This time it's anger.

Terrie Albano is the editor of the People's Weekly World. She recently traveled to Cuba as part of a Communist Party delegation.

This article is part of a series based on that visit. She can be reached at talbano@pww.org.

BBC News - June 27

  A new charity has pledged to stamp out "quack" interventions for people with autism and similar disorders.

The Autism Intervention Research Trust says it will fund studies to see which treatments work and which ones do not.

Geoffrey Maddrell, its chairman, said there was no scientific evidence to support some existing treatments.

He said the charity would also fund research into new ways of treating autism and related disorders, which affect 500,000 Britons.

Scientifically evaluated

Mr Maddrell said independent research was needed to help people with the condition.

"Hundreds of treatments and other methods of intervention are available but few have been scientifically evaluated and there are still large numbers for whom there is currently no effective help.

"In many instances, exaggerated or misleading claims are made for specific approaches.

"In the UK, only 8% of autism research activity is currently concerned with intervention and the new research trust has been established to address this vital need".

The new charity has the backing of the UK's National Autistic Society.

"With raised awareness of the autistic spectrum, we have seen a marked increase in the number and type of interventions but have very little scientific evidence as to their usefulness," said Richard Mills, its director of research.

"There are also many people affected by autism out there who are struggling to have any kind of quality of life and for whom current ways of working seem to make little positive difference."

The government also gave the new charity its backing.

"We recognise the importance of good quality research into autism and welcome all initiatives which aim to improve our knowledge and understanding of autistic spectrum disorders," said Health Minister Stephen Ladyman.

"We wish the Autism Intervention Research Trust every success in their work."

News-Medical.net - June 29

Twice daily treatment with Strattera® (atomoxetine HCl), approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), showed children with ADHD fell asleep faster (12.1 minutes relative to baseline versus 39.2 minutes relative to baseline, p<.001) compared to three-times daily treatment with methylphenidate, according to study results presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting. The results were based on comparisons before treatment and during treatment.

Parent and child diaries also showed that children on Strattera had less difficulty getting out of bed in the morning versus children taking methylphenidate. Additionally, parent diaries showed children on Strattera were less irritable compared to methylphenidate.

"Sleep difficulties related to methylphenidate therapy can represent a considerable source of concern for patients and families of children with ADHD," said study author Judith Owens, M.D., MPH, Child and Family Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, R.I. "The availability of an effective medication option that may help patients to fall asleep faster is useful in the treatment of ADHD."

Although patients had a greater decrease in the number of wake bouts (episodes of wakening) with methylphenidate (-1.3 for Strattera patients compared to baseline versus -4.4 for methylphenidate patients compared to baseline, p=.011), Strattera allowed patients to sleep longer relative to methylphenidate (-15.3 minutes compared to baseline vs.. -29.6 minutes compared to baseline, p=.016).

A total of 85 children were randomized to a double blind, cross over trial in which participants were treated with Strattera or methylphenidate for seven weeks and then alternated therapy. A portion of three patients' data was removed as they had difficulty utilizing the monitors. After collecting baseline measures, children were treated with Strattera (mean dose 1.56 mg/kg) or methylphenidate (mean dose 1.12 mg/kg) for seven weeks each, separated by a washout period. Relative to baseline, the data indicated that methylphenidate increased time to sleep onset significantly more than Strattera -12.1 minutes for Strattera vs.. 39.2 minutes for methylphenidate, p<.001. For children and adolescents, maximum approved label dosing for Strattera is 1.4 mg/kg/day or 100 mg, whichever is less.

"When kids get the sleep they need, they may be less irritable. This may impact a variety of settings - at home, at school, and in social situations," said A.J. Allen, M.D., Ph.D., Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company.

By SCRIPPS HOWARD - QCTimes.com - July 1

A growing body of research suggests that childhood lead poisoning is far more harmful - and its effects on society more profound - than was commonly understood just a few years ago.

Many scientists now believe that even low levels of lead that are under the government's official safety threshold can significantly reduce IQ in children. Spread across the population, these low level exposures may be depressing the intelligence of society at large.

While it has been known for a century that lead is harmful, especially to children because their brains are still developing, scientists are measuring subtle but significant damage at much lower levels than previously studied.

And, while studies of effects of lead on children have historically focused on intelligence, scientists are also coming to believe that lead's impact on behavior may be just as significant.

Scientists say it is likely that lead may be a factor in attention disorders, juvenile delinquency, violent criminal behavior, drug abuse, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, learning disabilities like dyslexia and possibly major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

Although the case is not conclusive, many scientists believe lead exposure is a significant cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both lead and ADHD are strongly associated with failure in school and delinquency.

Lead's toxic legacy over the past century and continuing today rivals that of tobacco or asbestos, said David Rosner, a Columbia University professor and co-author of "Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution," a history of the lead and plastics industries. While lead poisoning is often perceived as a problem that has been conquered, families across the country are still discovering its dangers first hand.

In Redmond, Ore., Kara Burkhart's 4-year-old son, Colton, was hospitalized last summer with lead levels in his blood 13 times greater than the government says is safe after swallowing a nickel-sized gumball-machine toy made with lead. Doctors tell the Burkharts that Colton will have to battle lead's effects all his life.

Mark and Charlene Sirca's 104-year-old dream home in Bethesda, Ohio, turned into a nightmare when one of the couple's 2-year-old triplets ate paint chips while playing on the front porch. His lead level soared 150 percent above what is considered safe and he recently suffered a seizure.

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eMediaWire

Two teens with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, have created a website called WrongPlanet.net for others who have the disorder.

(PRWEB) July 1, 2004 -- Two teens with Asperger's Syndrome, Dan Grover of Vermont and Alexander Plank of Virginia, have announced WrongPlanet.net, a community website for other individuals with the syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome is a high functioning form of autism. Individuals who have it typically exhibit problems with social understanding and reading body language, and sometimes a host of other symptoms, but usually have very strong interests and obsessions. "This makes a lot of kids - and adults - who have it," said cofounder Dan Grover, "feel like they're living on the wrong planet."

The teens have launched their website, called WrongPlanet.net http://www.wrongplanet.net , aiming to provide an online resource and community for those who have the disorder. While a myriad of other Asperger's resources exist, the teens say, the websites out there do not fit the task.

"Most of the existing resources are aimed at helping parents and educators, while others encourage a hatred towards the largely neurotypical society. We need to have a forum where our goal is to try to coexist better in this world, not isolate ourselves from it," said Alexander Plank, cofounder. "Really what the goal is," Dan added, "is to alleviate those with Asperger's from this pressure that they need to conform to fit in. What is best is to learn how to use your uniqueness to your advantage and find your place in the world."

In addition to its forums and chatroom, the site has weekly polls, a blog (or web journal) feature for all members, and a content system that lets members submit their own poetry, stories, and articles. There is also a news system, to keep the site updated with the latest news that is likely to be useful to those with Asperger's.

The articles section contains articles written by Dan, Alex, and several others. Topics include coping skills, social skills, tips for sleeping, anxiety, bullying, and others specifically geared towards those with Asperger's.

The teens have been working hard over the past two weeks on the website. Alex and Dan had to communicate through instant message, being many miles apart from one another. "It's been challenging at times," Grover reflected, "with Alex and I working on the site's code at the same time. We had to be careful not to step on each other's toes!" The two, after having worked extensively on the site, its programming, graphics, and content, now feel it's ready to announce to the world.

The site is powered by PHP-Nuke, an open source online community software program that utilizes PHP and the MySQL database system. "But it's much more," Alex was quick to add," than the standard PHP-nuke package. Dan and I have added many features and refined what the software comes with out-of-the-box."

Later to join the efforts was another autistic teen, Ashley Bernard. "The boys put a lot of work into the website," she said," and I spent plenty of time helping them with ideas. I think that many people with Asperger's and other autistic disorders will benefit from the information and fun of the website."

The website was launched last Friday, and since then it has already enjoyed an overwhelming amount of success. "In just three days since the launch," Grover said, "we've gotten over 50 members, and that figure is rising fast. People like the website a lot. We've never had that sort of success with any of our sites, both Alex and I."

The teens, who are looking forward to meeting more new members of their site, have one final message, "We hope that many aspies [people with Asperger's come to our site and it helps them cope better in the world; we've spent a great deal of time and effort on making this project close to perfect."

The text of this press release is placed into the public domain.