From Disability Scoop..
A small, but promising study suggests that stem cells from a child's own cord blood may offer an effective treatment for autism symptoms.
Most children on the spectrum who received an infusion from their own umbilical cord blood showed improvements in behavior, communication and socialization, among other measures, while experiencing no significant downsides from the treatment.
The findings come from a study of 25 kids with autism ages 2 to 5 published Wednesday in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
All of the children who participated in the research had their cord blood banked at birth. For the trial, the kids were given a series of behavioral and functional assessments before receiving a one-time cord blood infusion. Follow-up assessments were conducted at six and 12 months after the infusion.
Not only did the researchers find that the treatment was safe, but parent reports as well as clinical assessments indicated that more than two-thirds of the children saw improvements in autism symptoms.
Most of the behavioral gains were seen in the first six months after the infusion, the study found, but they were sustained over the following six months.
"We are pleased that this study demonstrated the safety of treating children with ASD with their own blood," said Joanne Kurtzberg, a pediatric bone marrow transplant specialist at Duke Health who worked on the study. "We're also encouraged that, while small and non-randomized, there were observed improvements in a majority of the children reported by clinicians and parents."
While the findings are encouraging, researchers said that further study involving more participants is needed any firm conclusions can be reached about the effectiveness of cord blood infusions.
"We are now hoping to replicate these preliminary results in a Phase II randomized clinical trial for which enrollment is nearly complete," Kurtzberg said.
Friday, April 7, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
IN THE NEWS_ CITIES PRESSURED TO TACKLE SIDEWALK ACCESSIBILITY
The Seattle Times recently wrote about this important and timely issue..
Seattle is moving toward settling a federal lawsuit that could cost millions of dollars as thousands of curb ramps are built at intersections across the city to help make sidewalks usable for people with wheelchairs and other mobility issues.
three men with disabilities sued Seattle in 2015, alleging the city was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act because many sidewalks lack curb ramps- which make crossing the street possible in a wheelchair or scooter- and many of the existing curb ramps are not up to snuff.
Nearly three decades after the ADA became law, and despite what cities often say are the best of intentions, the courtroom has become a crucial way of forcing them into compliance. The Seattle case is among a flurry of ADA lawsuits across the country in recent years, many of which have forced cities to increase their spending on sidewalks and curb ramps by tens of millions of dollars or more.
"For many years I just had terrible experiences with Seattle sidewalks," said Conrad Reynoldson, one of the plaintiffs. "Three are public places I cannot safely go because they don't have curb ramps."
Reynoldson, 30, a disability-rights lawyer, has muscular dystrophy and has used a power wheelchair since he was 10.
He said he frequently has to use driveways to cross streets and is sometimes forced to drive his chair down the middle of the street as he navigates between driveways or when a center island without a ramp blocks his way.
"It has a real, direct impact on people's lives and their safety and it needs to be a priority to make us feel better," Reynoldson said.
"I have to swing out into lanes of oncoming bus and car traffic to make it up or down the sidewalk," David Whedbee, a lawyer and another plaintiff, said when the lawsuit was filed in 2015.
The plaintiffs, represented by Disability Rights Washington, among others, negotiated with the city for more than a year before filing the case, which became a class-action lawsuit last year.
The city, in court filings, denied virtually all of the allegations in the lawsuit, but Mayor Ed Murray said at the time that he was committed to increasing investments in curb ramps and other accessibility upgrades. It costs the city, on average, about $13,000 to build a curb ramp, a figure in line with similar cities nationwide.
In the last few months, both sides asked to push back their court date, saying they were moving toward a settlement.
The plaintiffs and the city's attorneys were jointly both in October and in February that they "have reached agreement in principle on the major terms of a settlement for class-wide injunctive relief."
The lawsuit doesn't seek money, just to force the city into building more curb ramps.
Linda Dardarian, one of the plaintiff's attorneys, said that negotiations were "fruitful and ongoing," and that she hoped for a resolution by this summer.
Plaintiff's attorneys, the city's attorneys, the mayor's office and the City Council all declined to comment on any specifics of a settlement, citing ongoing negotiations.
Seattle is hardly alone in dealing with issues over the accessibility of its sidewalks. Many other cities have settled similar lawsuits with deals that offer a very broad glimpse of what could be coming in Seattle.
In 2014, Los Angeles agreed to spend nearly $1.4 billion over 30 years to build curb ramps and fix its dilapidated sidewalks. At the time, lawyers called it the largest such settlement in U.S. history. the lawsuit that forced the city's hand was brought by Dardarian's Oakland, Calif. firm, among others.
In early march, Dardarian's firm tentatively settled a lawsuit against the city of Long Beach, Calif. the agreement requires long Beach to fix 16,000 curb ramps over the next 20 years at a cost of up to $50 million. It also requires Long Beach to spend up to $125 million over 30 years on other repairs to make sidewalks more accessible.
In 2009, in response to a lawsuit from disability advocacy groups, the California Department of Transportation agreed to spend $1.1 billion upgrading its sidewalks over a 30-year period.
A similar lawsuit in Oregon last year resulted in the state's agreeing to make $23 million in curb ramp and sidewalk upgrades this year and next.
Ten years ago, Chicago settled an ADA lawsuit requiring it to spend an additional $50 million over five years, building and upgrading curb ramps and sidewalks.
New York City is currently facing a similar lawsuit, alleging "decades of civil rights violation" committed by the city against people with disabilities.
And the U.S. Department of Justice, under a program called Project Civic Access, has reached settlements with 240 cities, counties and other local government agencies requiring them to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
While settlement talks are ongoing, Seattle has been working to improve the pedestrian experience for those with disabilities.
last year, the city received the results of a $666,000 consultant's study on the more than 28,000 curb ramps in Seattle. The city has a map and trip planner showing where curb ramps are, where they may be in bad condition and where they're missing.
And Seattle's Department of Transportation (SDOT) is building 500 to 1,000 curb ramps per year, to Mike Shaw, the agency's ADA coordinator. The number does not include ramps built by public utilities or other agencies.
The $930 million Move Seattle levy, approved by voters in 2015, aims to build 250 blocks of new sidewalks by 2024, with corresponding ramp construction and additional ramp repairs.
People with disabilities can request ramps at specific intersections, and SDOT is prioritizing building ramps near transit, government buildings and health-care facilities.
Still, there are somewhere around 40,000 sidewalk ends throughout the city that do not have curb ramps, Shaw said, although that includes intersections that may not need ramps because they're not pedestrian crossings, SDOT, citing ongoing litigation, declined to give a precise number on how many curb ramps are missing in the city.
And curb ramps, in a place as hilly as Seattle, are neither as easy nor as cheap to build as one might expect. Ramps, to be ADA compliant, must meet a variety of restrictions, on things like slope and direction.
"The slope of the ramp can't exceed 8.3 percent," Shaw said. "Well how do you build a ramp that doesn't exceed 8.3 percent on a street that's 15 percent?"
Because of terrain issues, the city's cost per ramp, averaging $13,000, can vary widely, ramp by ramp.
That number is just about in the middle of curb-ramp costs in other major U.S. cities, according to a report commissioned by Seattle last year.
In Boston, the average ramp costs about $9,000. In New York, it's about $12,000. In Bellevue, Wash. it's about $19,000, in San Francisco about $17,000 and in Los Angeles it's about $20,000.
"For people with disabilities this isn't a matter of inconvenience," David Carlson, the director of legal advocacy for Disability Rights Washington, said when they filed the Seattle lawsuit. "It is a matter of basic civil rights to safely and equally access one's community."
Seattle is moving toward settling a federal lawsuit that could cost millions of dollars as thousands of curb ramps are built at intersections across the city to help make sidewalks usable for people with wheelchairs and other mobility issues.
three men with disabilities sued Seattle in 2015, alleging the city was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act because many sidewalks lack curb ramps- which make crossing the street possible in a wheelchair or scooter- and many of the existing curb ramps are not up to snuff.
Nearly three decades after the ADA became law, and despite what cities often say are the best of intentions, the courtroom has become a crucial way of forcing them into compliance. The Seattle case is among a flurry of ADA lawsuits across the country in recent years, many of which have forced cities to increase their spending on sidewalks and curb ramps by tens of millions of dollars or more.
"For many years I just had terrible experiences with Seattle sidewalks," said Conrad Reynoldson, one of the plaintiffs. "Three are public places I cannot safely go because they don't have curb ramps."
Reynoldson, 30, a disability-rights lawyer, has muscular dystrophy and has used a power wheelchair since he was 10.
He said he frequently has to use driveways to cross streets and is sometimes forced to drive his chair down the middle of the street as he navigates between driveways or when a center island without a ramp blocks his way.
"It has a real, direct impact on people's lives and their safety and it needs to be a priority to make us feel better," Reynoldson said.
"I have to swing out into lanes of oncoming bus and car traffic to make it up or down the sidewalk," David Whedbee, a lawyer and another plaintiff, said when the lawsuit was filed in 2015.
The plaintiffs, represented by Disability Rights Washington, among others, negotiated with the city for more than a year before filing the case, which became a class-action lawsuit last year.
The city, in court filings, denied virtually all of the allegations in the lawsuit, but Mayor Ed Murray said at the time that he was committed to increasing investments in curb ramps and other accessibility upgrades. It costs the city, on average, about $13,000 to build a curb ramp, a figure in line with similar cities nationwide.
In the last few months, both sides asked to push back their court date, saying they were moving toward a settlement.
The plaintiffs and the city's attorneys were jointly both in October and in February that they "have reached agreement in principle on the major terms of a settlement for class-wide injunctive relief."
The lawsuit doesn't seek money, just to force the city into building more curb ramps.
Linda Dardarian, one of the plaintiff's attorneys, said that negotiations were "fruitful and ongoing," and that she hoped for a resolution by this summer.
Plaintiff's attorneys, the city's attorneys, the mayor's office and the City Council all declined to comment on any specifics of a settlement, citing ongoing negotiations.
Seattle is hardly alone in dealing with issues over the accessibility of its sidewalks. Many other cities have settled similar lawsuits with deals that offer a very broad glimpse of what could be coming in Seattle.
In 2014, Los Angeles agreed to spend nearly $1.4 billion over 30 years to build curb ramps and fix its dilapidated sidewalks. At the time, lawyers called it the largest such settlement in U.S. history. the lawsuit that forced the city's hand was brought by Dardarian's Oakland, Calif. firm, among others.
In early march, Dardarian's firm tentatively settled a lawsuit against the city of Long Beach, Calif. the agreement requires long Beach to fix 16,000 curb ramps over the next 20 years at a cost of up to $50 million. It also requires Long Beach to spend up to $125 million over 30 years on other repairs to make sidewalks more accessible.
In 2009, in response to a lawsuit from disability advocacy groups, the California Department of Transportation agreed to spend $1.1 billion upgrading its sidewalks over a 30-year period.
A similar lawsuit in Oregon last year resulted in the state's agreeing to make $23 million in curb ramp and sidewalk upgrades this year and next.
Ten years ago, Chicago settled an ADA lawsuit requiring it to spend an additional $50 million over five years, building and upgrading curb ramps and sidewalks.
New York City is currently facing a similar lawsuit, alleging "decades of civil rights violation" committed by the city against people with disabilities.
And the U.S. Department of Justice, under a program called Project Civic Access, has reached settlements with 240 cities, counties and other local government agencies requiring them to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
While settlement talks are ongoing, Seattle has been working to improve the pedestrian experience for those with disabilities.
last year, the city received the results of a $666,000 consultant's study on the more than 28,000 curb ramps in Seattle. The city has a map and trip planner showing where curb ramps are, where they may be in bad condition and where they're missing.
And Seattle's Department of Transportation (SDOT) is building 500 to 1,000 curb ramps per year, to Mike Shaw, the agency's ADA coordinator. The number does not include ramps built by public utilities or other agencies.
The $930 million Move Seattle levy, approved by voters in 2015, aims to build 250 blocks of new sidewalks by 2024, with corresponding ramp construction and additional ramp repairs.
People with disabilities can request ramps at specific intersections, and SDOT is prioritizing building ramps near transit, government buildings and health-care facilities.
Still, there are somewhere around 40,000 sidewalk ends throughout the city that do not have curb ramps, Shaw said, although that includes intersections that may not need ramps because they're not pedestrian crossings, SDOT, citing ongoing litigation, declined to give a precise number on how many curb ramps are missing in the city.
And curb ramps, in a place as hilly as Seattle, are neither as easy nor as cheap to build as one might expect. Ramps, to be ADA compliant, must meet a variety of restrictions, on things like slope and direction.
"The slope of the ramp can't exceed 8.3 percent," Shaw said. "Well how do you build a ramp that doesn't exceed 8.3 percent on a street that's 15 percent?"
Because of terrain issues, the city's cost per ramp, averaging $13,000, can vary widely, ramp by ramp.
That number is just about in the middle of curb-ramp costs in other major U.S. cities, according to a report commissioned by Seattle last year.
In Boston, the average ramp costs about $9,000. In New York, it's about $12,000. In Bellevue, Wash. it's about $19,000, in San Francisco about $17,000 and in Los Angeles it's about $20,000.
"For people with disabilities this isn't a matter of inconvenience," David Carlson, the director of legal advocacy for Disability Rights Washington, said when they filed the Seattle lawsuit. "It is a matter of basic civil rights to safely and equally access one's community."
PHILLIES PHODDER
The Phillies are 1-2 out of the gate after losing today in Cincinnati..
Not to over-react..the season is young..but some observations..
The Phillies still continue to strikeout way too much. New hitting coach won't matter if your players aren't good enough. Guys like Galvis and Hernandez are what they are- marginal players. Add other average players to the mix- Saunders, Bucholtz, etc..and you've got an average club
Adam Morgan is what he is. He's a Kyle Kendrick-type. He will never be great, just good enough to hang around in the majors. Morgan is left handed, which give shim an extra reason to hang around. Another guy who had a good spring training but is merely average when the games are for real.
The Phils offense continues to struggle. No key hits. Franco and Joseph are struggling early, which means where do the RBIs come from? The offense doesn't steal enough bases (Roman Quinn, where ar eyou?) nor hit with enough power. They don't hit and run enough. They are just "there".
This year's edition also is boring and stupid. Base running mistakes, over-swinging, swinging at bad pitches. They are not entertaining. After tomorrow's opener, I don't see how the organization will promote this team. Who is going to go to Citizens Bank Park to see this group? Clearwater was fun because of the energy and freshness of the kids.
IF Mike Trout ever becomes available, I'm not worried about the Phils having the prospects to trade for him. Their farm system is deep. I worry that the front office won't be aggressive enough to do whatever it takes. Trout is entering his prime. He would bring a badly-needed face to the Phillies organization, a franchise player, a hometown hero who fans would come out to see. Despite GM Klentak's ties to the Angels, I worry the front office will over-evaluate their prospects and not do what it takes to get two-time MVP Trout.
To me, you do whatever it takes to get a once-in-lifetime player like Mike Trout. Maybe that's why the Angels will never trade him. But if they do, hopefully the Phillies make the Angels an offer they can't refuse.
After losing 2 out of 3 games to the woeful Reds, it shows how far the team still needs to go. Now comes the fun- 12 games against division-rivals Washington and the Mets. The Phils could be buried by the end of April, and start calling up kids by Memorial day.
Manager Mackanin needs to be more aggressive with what he has. More hit-and -run ( although that's tough when guys aren't getting on base consistently), more bunts to get runners in scoring position. Can't wait for the 3-run homer. It's not going to come.
Tommy Joseph has started off terribly. Is he feeling the heat of Rhys Hoskins in Lehigh Valley? Mikael Franco is also off to a slow start. Does he realize that Baltimore's Manny Machado will be a free agent ? Freddy Galvis still doesn't get on base enough. Does he see J.P. Crawford over his shoulder? Cesar Hernandez is inconsistent in his overall play. Can Scott Kingery be far behind at second base?
Obdubal Herrera has gotten a few early hits, but goes brain-dead at times on the bases and even in the batter's box. Will he always be an airhead or is he continuing his lackadaisical ways, despite signing a new contract over the winter?
Hopefully the Phils hold their own in the next 2 weeks. Key games ahead for the 2017 season and beyond.
Ryan Howard signed a minor league contract today with the Atlanta Braves. Strange and interesting move. It was thought Howard would end up in the American League as a designated hitter. The Braves must think he could back up Freddie Freeman at first base and be a power bat off the bench. Plus, Atlanta could always try to flip him at the trade deadline in July for a prospect. It will be weird to see Howard in a Braves uniform. I'm sure he will get a warm welcome when he does return to Citizens Bank Park.
Finally, sports is entertainment. The Phillies need some excitement. Will kids like Dylan Cozens and Hoskins bring that fun and hope back to Philly? Must the fans suffer through yet another long summer, patiently waiting for reinforcements? Hopefully the front office has patience with the prospects, let them simmer at Lehigh Valley and Reading, yet have short leashes with vets like Bucholtz,who, on 1-year contracts, will be Phillies history anyway after this season.
Not to over-react..the season is young..but some observations..
The Phillies still continue to strikeout way too much. New hitting coach won't matter if your players aren't good enough. Guys like Galvis and Hernandez are what they are- marginal players. Add other average players to the mix- Saunders, Bucholtz, etc..and you've got an average club
Adam Morgan is what he is. He's a Kyle Kendrick-type. He will never be great, just good enough to hang around in the majors. Morgan is left handed, which give shim an extra reason to hang around. Another guy who had a good spring training but is merely average when the games are for real.
The Phils offense continues to struggle. No key hits. Franco and Joseph are struggling early, which means where do the RBIs come from? The offense doesn't steal enough bases (Roman Quinn, where ar eyou?) nor hit with enough power. They don't hit and run enough. They are just "there".
This year's edition also is boring and stupid. Base running mistakes, over-swinging, swinging at bad pitches. They are not entertaining. After tomorrow's opener, I don't see how the organization will promote this team. Who is going to go to Citizens Bank Park to see this group? Clearwater was fun because of the energy and freshness of the kids.
IF Mike Trout ever becomes available, I'm not worried about the Phils having the prospects to trade for him. Their farm system is deep. I worry that the front office won't be aggressive enough to do whatever it takes. Trout is entering his prime. He would bring a badly-needed face to the Phillies organization, a franchise player, a hometown hero who fans would come out to see. Despite GM Klentak's ties to the Angels, I worry the front office will over-evaluate their prospects and not do what it takes to get two-time MVP Trout.
To me, you do whatever it takes to get a once-in-lifetime player like Mike Trout. Maybe that's why the Angels will never trade him. But if they do, hopefully the Phillies make the Angels an offer they can't refuse.
After losing 2 out of 3 games to the woeful Reds, it shows how far the team still needs to go. Now comes the fun- 12 games against division-rivals Washington and the Mets. The Phils could be buried by the end of April, and start calling up kids by Memorial day.
Manager Mackanin needs to be more aggressive with what he has. More hit-and -run ( although that's tough when guys aren't getting on base consistently), more bunts to get runners in scoring position. Can't wait for the 3-run homer. It's not going to come.
Tommy Joseph has started off terribly. Is he feeling the heat of Rhys Hoskins in Lehigh Valley? Mikael Franco is also off to a slow start. Does he realize that Baltimore's Manny Machado will be a free agent ? Freddy Galvis still doesn't get on base enough. Does he see J.P. Crawford over his shoulder? Cesar Hernandez is inconsistent in his overall play. Can Scott Kingery be far behind at second base?
Obdubal Herrera has gotten a few early hits, but goes brain-dead at times on the bases and even in the batter's box. Will he always be an airhead or is he continuing his lackadaisical ways, despite signing a new contract over the winter?
Hopefully the Phils hold their own in the next 2 weeks. Key games ahead for the 2017 season and beyond.
Ryan Howard signed a minor league contract today with the Atlanta Braves. Strange and interesting move. It was thought Howard would end up in the American League as a designated hitter. The Braves must think he could back up Freddie Freeman at first base and be a power bat off the bench. Plus, Atlanta could always try to flip him at the trade deadline in July for a prospect. It will be weird to see Howard in a Braves uniform. I'm sure he will get a warm welcome when he does return to Citizens Bank Park.
Finally, sports is entertainment. The Phillies need some excitement. Will kids like Dylan Cozens and Hoskins bring that fun and hope back to Philly? Must the fans suffer through yet another long summer, patiently waiting for reinforcements? Hopefully the front office has patience with the prospects, let them simmer at Lehigh Valley and Reading, yet have short leashes with vets like Bucholtz,who, on 1-year contracts, will be Phillies history anyway after this season.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
BASEBALL QUIZ
First week of the baseball season-and another baseball quiz.
1. Rank the following members of the 3,000-hit club by the fewest career strikeouts
A- Derek Jeter
B- Wade Boggs
C- Paul Molitor
D- Tony Gwynn
E- Rickey Henderson
F- Rod Carew
2. Which of the following players had the most home runs without ever leading the league in home runs?
A- Eddie Murray
B- Mel Ott
C- Frank Thomas
D- Eddie Mathews
E- Ernie Banks
3. Name four of the sx players who won the Rookie of the Year Award and also collected 3,000 hits
4. Who was the most recent player to lead the league in batting and in strikeouts in the same season?
A- Babe Ruth
B- Jimmie Foxx
C- Stan Musial
D- Roberto Clemente
E- Dave Parker
5. Rank the following players who scored 2,000 or more runs by all-time total
A- Babe Ruth
B- Ty Cobb
C- Rickey Henderson
D- Hank Aaron
E- Barry Bonds
6. Name the veteran third baseman who DIDN'T win a Gold Glove Award
A- Scott Brosius
B- Chipper Jones
C- Graig Nettles
D- Mike Schmidt
7. How many people who managed or played with the Braves made the Hall of Fame in 2014?
A- One
B- Three
C- Four
D- Five
8. Name the pitcher who had the most wins in a season without a loss.
A- Aaron Small
B- Tom Zavhary
C- Bob Gibson
D- Elroy Face
9. Which Hall of Famer said the following: "The pitcher has got only a ball. So the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting."
A- Hank Aaron
B- Babe Ruth
C- Barry Bonds
D- Ted Williams
10. Name the team the Indians beat 22-0 on August 31, 2004
A- Orioles
B- Yankees
C- Red Sox
D- Twins
ANSWERS-
1. 1-D; 2-B; 3-F; 4-C; 5-E; 6-A
2. C
3. The six are: Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripkin Derek Jeter
4. B (1933)
5. 1-C; 2-B; 3-E; 4-A and D
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. B
1. Rank the following members of the 3,000-hit club by the fewest career strikeouts
A- Derek Jeter
B- Wade Boggs
C- Paul Molitor
D- Tony Gwynn
E- Rickey Henderson
F- Rod Carew
2. Which of the following players had the most home runs without ever leading the league in home runs?
A- Eddie Murray
B- Mel Ott
C- Frank Thomas
D- Eddie Mathews
E- Ernie Banks
3. Name four of the sx players who won the Rookie of the Year Award and also collected 3,000 hits
4. Who was the most recent player to lead the league in batting and in strikeouts in the same season?
A- Babe Ruth
B- Jimmie Foxx
C- Stan Musial
D- Roberto Clemente
E- Dave Parker
5. Rank the following players who scored 2,000 or more runs by all-time total
A- Babe Ruth
B- Ty Cobb
C- Rickey Henderson
D- Hank Aaron
E- Barry Bonds
6. Name the veteran third baseman who DIDN'T win a Gold Glove Award
A- Scott Brosius
B- Chipper Jones
C- Graig Nettles
D- Mike Schmidt
7. How many people who managed or played with the Braves made the Hall of Fame in 2014?
A- One
B- Three
C- Four
D- Five
8. Name the pitcher who had the most wins in a season without a loss.
A- Aaron Small
B- Tom Zavhary
C- Bob Gibson
D- Elroy Face
9. Which Hall of Famer said the following: "The pitcher has got only a ball. So the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting."
A- Hank Aaron
B- Babe Ruth
C- Barry Bonds
D- Ted Williams
10. Name the team the Indians beat 22-0 on August 31, 2004
A- Orioles
B- Yankees
C- Red Sox
D- Twins
ANSWERS-
1. 1-D; 2-B; 3-F; 4-C; 5-E; 6-A
2. C
3. The six are: Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripkin Derek Jeter
4. B (1933)
5. 1-C; 2-B; 3-E; 4-A and D
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. B
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
IN THE NEWS- AS WHITE HOUSE GOES BLUE, TRUMP 'CURE' COMMENT DRAWS BACKLASH
Disability Scoop published this recent article..
For the first time ever, the White House turned blue for autism awareness, but not everyone affected by the developmental disorder is happy about it.
Blue lights illuminated 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. recently as part of Autism Speaks' "Light It Up Blue" campaign/ The annual effort encourages landmarks around the globe to go blue for World Autism Awareness Day.
The move came alongside a presidential proclamation marking the day. which touched on everything from autism prevalence to the needs of those during transition and efforts to understand the causes and improve treatments for the developmental disorder.
The seven-paragraph statement also included some controversial points.
"my administration is committed to promoting greater knowledge of ASDs and encouraging innovation that will lead to new treatments and cures for autism," President Donald Trump wrote.
The comments- particularly the reference to curing autism- did not sit well with self advocates.
"After a decade of progress in which public conversations about autism have increasingly shifted away from tragedy and fear and towards acceptance and inclusion, the White House's actions signal a disturbing attempt to drag autistic people back to the margins," the Autistic self Advocacy Network said in a statement denouncing the president for his proclamation and for participating in the Light It Up Blue effort.
Talking about cures "does not help autistic people or our families," the group said, adding that such talk is "a dangerous fringe position."
Even Autism Speaks has moved away from using words like "cure." Last year, the group introduced an updated mission statement dropping such language in favor of a focus on "promoting solutions."
The White House was one of thousands of landmarks, homes and businesses in over 150 countries to participate in Light It Up Blue this year, Autism Speaks said. Other recognizable locations that went blue over the weekend included Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated that by participating in Light It Up Blue Trump was following through on a promise he made to the late Autism Speaks co-founder Suzanne Wright while she was battling pancreatic cancer last year.
"He said, if I'm elected president, in supporting this cause that you care so deeply about, I will light the White House blue. So it is Suzanne and Bob Wright's honor that this will occur for this great cause," Spicer told reporters recently.
Back in 2011, Autism Speaks asked the Obama administration to turn the White House blue for World Autism Awareness day, but was turned down. No reason was given for declining the request.
For the first time ever, the White House turned blue for autism awareness, but not everyone affected by the developmental disorder is happy about it.
Blue lights illuminated 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. recently as part of Autism Speaks' "Light It Up Blue" campaign/ The annual effort encourages landmarks around the globe to go blue for World Autism Awareness Day.
The move came alongside a presidential proclamation marking the day. which touched on everything from autism prevalence to the needs of those during transition and efforts to understand the causes and improve treatments for the developmental disorder.
The seven-paragraph statement also included some controversial points.
"my administration is committed to promoting greater knowledge of ASDs and encouraging innovation that will lead to new treatments and cures for autism," President Donald Trump wrote.
The comments- particularly the reference to curing autism- did not sit well with self advocates.
"After a decade of progress in which public conversations about autism have increasingly shifted away from tragedy and fear and towards acceptance and inclusion, the White House's actions signal a disturbing attempt to drag autistic people back to the margins," the Autistic self Advocacy Network said in a statement denouncing the president for his proclamation and for participating in the Light It Up Blue effort.
Talking about cures "does not help autistic people or our families," the group said, adding that such talk is "a dangerous fringe position."
Even Autism Speaks has moved away from using words like "cure." Last year, the group introduced an updated mission statement dropping such language in favor of a focus on "promoting solutions."
The White House was one of thousands of landmarks, homes and businesses in over 150 countries to participate in Light It Up Blue this year, Autism Speaks said. Other recognizable locations that went blue over the weekend included Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated that by participating in Light It Up Blue Trump was following through on a promise he made to the late Autism Speaks co-founder Suzanne Wright while she was battling pancreatic cancer last year.
"He said, if I'm elected president, in supporting this cause that you care so deeply about, I will light the White House blue. So it is Suzanne and Bob Wright's honor that this will occur for this great cause," Spicer told reporters recently.
Back in 2011, Autism Speaks asked the Obama administration to turn the White House blue for World Autism Awareness day, but was turned down. No reason was given for declining the request.
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER
This week in Philly sports..
PHILLIES-
Good to see the Phils win their opener for a change. They have a chance to go home and play division rivals Washngton and the Mets win momentum.They do have a concern with their closer. Gomez did the job during the first half of 2016, but he picked up where he left off yesterday, surrendering a 2-run homer in the 9th inning to make the game close vs. Cincinnati. It seems Gomez rarely has a 1-2-3 inning. He doesn't have the stuff of a Neris, Benoit or Ramos, who can all get key strikeouts without the ball being put into play. Gomez relies on his sinker, and if the ball is up, he gets hit.
At least the manager is aware and concerned as well. Hopefully Gomez is on a short leash, as the manager knows this is a critical year for the team ( and himself) and he can't afford to lose winnable games.
As stated here before, I would personally like to see Neris get the closer's role.Gomez was an effective 8th inning set-up guy before, and would thrive in that role again, if need be.
Without Tommy Joseph and Caneron Rupp contributing yesterday in the Phillies 4-3 win over the Reds, the team still banged out 10 hits, 7 of them for extra bases. Galvis ans Hernandez are not home run hitters, but their homers jump=started the team to victory. As long as they know their roles and don't swing for the fences each time. I think new batting coach Matt Stairs will keep them under control. Both Galvis and Hernandez know they are being pushed for their jobs by up-and -coming prospects. The Phils would love for them to play well this season and force the organization to make some hard decisions down the road.
John Kruk was good in his Phillies' debut in the broadcast booth. He has a certain homey, Richie Ashburn-type personality, like he is one of the fans, not talking down to the fans, as previous announcers after Whitey displayed ( think Jamie Moyer). He knows his baseball yet is entertaining too, as long as Kruk doesn't try too hard to be funny. Just be yourself.
Hopefully Aaron Altherr and Brock Stassi get playing time this summer. Good to see Howie Kendrick knock 3 hits in the opener.This Phillies roster is definitely deeper than previous teams. Mackanin will have a lot of flexibility from his bench.
Here's hoping Obdubal Herrera doesn't dog it this summer. He didn't slide yesterday on a play, and he has a history of making mental mistakes and being lazy on the base paths. The concern with signing him to a long-range contract was his motivation and desire. It's early, but I would feel better if he got off to a fast start.
Friday's home opener vs. the Nationals should be fun. Matt Scherzer vs. Vince Valasquez. Plenty of strikeouts in a good duel.
FLYERS-
The Flyers are now "Officially" dead, at least for this season. The team, their stepford fans and the media were kidding themselves for weeks with delusional thoughts of this team making the playoffs. They are still light-years away, and it will be interesting to see what GM Ron Hextall does this summer to improve the team. The goalie situation is a priority, as is what to make of Claude Giroux' bad season. A fluke or a sign of aging?
EAGLES- quiet for now, with the draft approaching. Next week the schedule is released, always a fun time. It will be interesting to see if the league granted the Eagles' wish of having two of their west coast games in the fall be back-to-back to save on travel. Preferably, the two Los Angeles games against the Rams and Chargers be ion a Sunday and Thursday, ideally later in the year when the teams are out of playoff contention, and the weather is bad in the east. How many prime-time games will the Birds be in? Will they open at home? Will the division games be bunched together, as they were last year?
SIXERS-
Who cares? Better for the 76ers to lose their final five games for better odds in May's NBA draft lottery. It will be an interesting summer, with the draft and Summer League action looming. Will Embiid and Simmons be healthy for October? Will the Sixers start to bring in high-priced free agents? Will Brett Brown have a job?
Also...North Carolina won the NCAA Men's Basketball championship last night. President Barack Obama was right. He had them winning the tournament in his bracket ( beating Duke). Villanova's victory seems so long ago.
PHILLIES-
Good to see the Phils win their opener for a change. They have a chance to go home and play division rivals Washngton and the Mets win momentum.They do have a concern with their closer. Gomez did the job during the first half of 2016, but he picked up where he left off yesterday, surrendering a 2-run homer in the 9th inning to make the game close vs. Cincinnati. It seems Gomez rarely has a 1-2-3 inning. He doesn't have the stuff of a Neris, Benoit or Ramos, who can all get key strikeouts without the ball being put into play. Gomez relies on his sinker, and if the ball is up, he gets hit.
At least the manager is aware and concerned as well. Hopefully Gomez is on a short leash, as the manager knows this is a critical year for the team ( and himself) and he can't afford to lose winnable games.
As stated here before, I would personally like to see Neris get the closer's role.Gomez was an effective 8th inning set-up guy before, and would thrive in that role again, if need be.
Without Tommy Joseph and Caneron Rupp contributing yesterday in the Phillies 4-3 win over the Reds, the team still banged out 10 hits, 7 of them for extra bases. Galvis ans Hernandez are not home run hitters, but their homers jump=started the team to victory. As long as they know their roles and don't swing for the fences each time. I think new batting coach Matt Stairs will keep them under control. Both Galvis and Hernandez know they are being pushed for their jobs by up-and -coming prospects. The Phils would love for them to play well this season and force the organization to make some hard decisions down the road.
John Kruk was good in his Phillies' debut in the broadcast booth. He has a certain homey, Richie Ashburn-type personality, like he is one of the fans, not talking down to the fans, as previous announcers after Whitey displayed ( think Jamie Moyer). He knows his baseball yet is entertaining too, as long as Kruk doesn't try too hard to be funny. Just be yourself.
Hopefully Aaron Altherr and Brock Stassi get playing time this summer. Good to see Howie Kendrick knock 3 hits in the opener.This Phillies roster is definitely deeper than previous teams. Mackanin will have a lot of flexibility from his bench.
Here's hoping Obdubal Herrera doesn't dog it this summer. He didn't slide yesterday on a play, and he has a history of making mental mistakes and being lazy on the base paths. The concern with signing him to a long-range contract was his motivation and desire. It's early, but I would feel better if he got off to a fast start.
Friday's home opener vs. the Nationals should be fun. Matt Scherzer vs. Vince Valasquez. Plenty of strikeouts in a good duel.
FLYERS-
The Flyers are now "Officially" dead, at least for this season. The team, their stepford fans and the media were kidding themselves for weeks with delusional thoughts of this team making the playoffs. They are still light-years away, and it will be interesting to see what GM Ron Hextall does this summer to improve the team. The goalie situation is a priority, as is what to make of Claude Giroux' bad season. A fluke or a sign of aging?
EAGLES- quiet for now, with the draft approaching. Next week the schedule is released, always a fun time. It will be interesting to see if the league granted the Eagles' wish of having two of their west coast games in the fall be back-to-back to save on travel. Preferably, the two Los Angeles games against the Rams and Chargers be ion a Sunday and Thursday, ideally later in the year when the teams are out of playoff contention, and the weather is bad in the east. How many prime-time games will the Birds be in? Will they open at home? Will the division games be bunched together, as they were last year?
SIXERS-
Who cares? Better for the 76ers to lose their final five games for better odds in May's NBA draft lottery. It will be an interesting summer, with the draft and Summer League action looming. Will Embiid and Simmons be healthy for October? Will the Sixers start to bring in high-priced free agents? Will Brett Brown have a job?
Also...North Carolina won the NCAA Men's Basketball championship last night. President Barack Obama was right. He had them winning the tournament in his bracket ( beating Duke). Villanova's victory seems so long ago.
Monday, April 3, 2017
IN THE NEWS- 'SESAME STREET', 'POWER RANGERS' COULD HELP DISPEL AUTISM STEREOTYPES
From The Sacremento Bee...
On a sunny day on Sesame Street, Abby Cadabby asks her new neighbor Julia if she wants to play a game. Julia, a red-headed Muppet in a pink smock, doesn't answer at first. Instead, she stares straight ahead as she swings, then moves to the grass to play with her stuffed bunny, Fluffster. Abby, pouting and confused, asks Elmo why Julia doesn't like her very much.
"Julia sometimes does things differently because Julia has autism, "Elmo explains. "Abby can ask Julia to play again. Abby could use fewer words and wait a little bit. That usually works for Elmo."
A few beats later, the three Muppets are playing the game I spy, which Julia wins in short order.
"Sesame Street" producers have said they created Julia to help explain autism spectrum disorder to millions of viewers and present accurate portrayals of the condition on screen, countering decades of what critics have said are stereotypical depictions. Many households nationwide with family members on the spectrum are hoping Julia, along with a Power Ranger who has autism that was just revealed in a new movie, will change the way next generations of children view autism.
Showing a child with autism involved in positive group activities can help encourage children on the spectrum to engage with their peers while also teaching typically-developing children what to expect from friends and relatives, said Leonard Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis MIND Institute, which studies neurodevelopmental disorders including autism.
"There's still a lack of integration for students on the spectrum in the classroom, because teachers don't know how to support them often, and children don't necessarily understand the way they behave and the things they might need," Abbeduto said. "If (children) have knowledge of what autism is, they won't be fearful of people who interact with the world differently,"
Autism spectrum disorder is an umbrella diagnosis given to people often marked by differently evolved communication skills and other developmental traits. People with autism might avoid eye contact, not engage with people, focus intensely on tasks or repeat phrases and behaviors, among other differences. Autism prevalence has climbed in recent years, and the disorder now affects an estimated 1 in 68 children in the U.S.
Julia won't appear on "Sesame Street" until April 10, but in preview clips she speaks in fragmented sentences, usually only when prompted. She doesn't always greet other characters or answer their questions. She also flaps her hands when she's excited and is extra sensitive to loud noises- traits common to some people with autism. Still, she happily sings along to the show's theme song and plays peek-a-boo with Elmo.
Ava Neyer, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., said she's looking forward to using "Sesame Street" to explain autism to her twin 4-year-old boys, one of whom has autism. Eric, the more withdrawn of the twins, was diagnosed with the disorder at 17 months and has a harder time making friends than Alan.
She said the new "Sesame Street" character will paint a positive picture of autism for Eric while teaching Alan and his typically-developing classmates that :different"doesn't mean "bad."
"When my son goes to kindergarten, I want the teacher and everyone to be upfront about his diagnosis, so the children will know how to interact with him," Neyer said. "If the children have seen 'Sesame Street,' if they've seen people interacting with autistic people in sa positive way, I think that would really help him to be able to integrate."
In one "sesame Street" clip, Julia is seen making a "boing-boing" sound with her mouth and hopping around enthusiastically- a typical behavior for some children with autism who enjoy movement and repetition. On a real school playground, students might tease the bouncing classmate, but on "Sesame Street," the Muppets watch Julia and join in, creating a new playground game called "boing-boing tag."
Kim Tozer, executive director of Sutterville Preschool in Sacremento, Calif., said she's seen more children with autism spectrum disorder in her classroom in recent years. They are sometimes ridiculed for playing differently or not joining in group games, she said, although
she teaches her students to be patient with their classmates on the spectrum . She said she hopes the new "Sesame Street" character will bring the message home.
"They don't flow as easily in whatever aspect, whether it's noise or touch or how they're processing what's going on. They're a little bit different, and kids will pick up on that," Tozer said of children on the spectrum. "We can teach them, even as early as age 3 or 4, to be a little quieter or five them a little extra time. It teaches tolerance, when they're all together."
Just as "Sesame Street" announced Julia's debut, the makers of the new "Power Rangers" movie, released in March, announced that Billy, the blue ranger, is on the autism spectrum. They have not released further details about what traits the character possesses, although one Vox review notes that Billy has trouble reading people's emotions and doesn't get his fellow Rangers' jokes.
Johm Matthias, of Roseville, Cailf., said he looks forward to taking his 15-year-old son Wesley, who has autism, to see the film. In particular, he's curious to see if Wesley, who has trouble forming full sentences but loves going to the movies, will connect with the character he shares a diagnosis with.
"His awareness of autism itself is there, but it's there in a very limited way," Matthias said. "He doesn't really understand in what way he's different or other kids on the spectrum are different. I am kind of excited for him to see the character and see if he'll recognize any similarities."
Matthias hopes the film will at least help stop the bullying that many teenagers with autism experience. About 63 percent of students on the autism spectrum experience bullying at some point, according to a 2014 study from the Interactive Autism Network.
"Maybe (kids) will be less apt to do that if one of their superheroes has the qualities they might have made fun of," Matthias said. "So, all of a sudden, it's not such a big negative."
When most people think of autism in popular culture, they still remember the 1988 film "Rain Man," said Jack Gallagher, a Sacremento actor and playwright whose 21-year-old son, Liam, has autism. The iconic Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman film, which won the Academy Award for best picture, helped raise awareness about autism, he said, but it was also misleading.
"If I were portraying someone on the spectrum, I would portray them as a normal person with some quirky social issues, and not as someone who can count every toothpick on the floor or tell you every president's middle name," Gallagher said, referring to a scene from the film. "For a long time there were a lot of stereotypical qualities that were given to folks on the spectrum, and now people understand that's not true. I hope these characterizations are more accurate than they used to be."
Spot-on portrayals of autism can be difficult, considering all of the different ways the disorder manifests, advocates said. Some people with autism, especially those with what's called Asperger's syndrome, are known as extremely intelligent but aloof (think Alan Turing of "The Imitation Game"). Others, such as Arnie in the 1993 film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" have lower cognitive abilities and struggle to understand concepts such as safety and etiquette.
Writing a single character that encompasses all traits of those with the disorder would be impossible, said Alex Plank, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and producer with autism who advises on movies and TV shows. But creating more characters of autism of any stripe- as long as they aren't offensive- will help combat stigma, he said.
When Plank, now 30, began consulting on the 2013 television series "The Bridge," which featured a protagonist with autism, he said the actress, who was not on the spectrum, was extremely serious when she played the character- one of several misconceptions he works to erase.
"A lot of times there's a character who doesn't smile, ever. And that doesn't make sense to me- I smile a lot," Plank said. "Another problem I see is that the character doesn't have empathy. What people don't realize a lot of the time is that autistic people have empathy. They may have trouble expressing it, but they have as much if not more of it than anyone else."
Neyer said she hopes that the growing viability of people with autism in pop culture will lead to more opportunities for them in the real world, where many adults on the spectrum struggle to find accommodating workplaces or educational settings.
"Sesame Street" is showing videos where the children are joining into autistic world, into their games, and meeting them where they are instead of trying to pull them out and make them act neurotypical," she said. "I just hope they can change the mindset around autism."
On a sunny day on Sesame Street, Abby Cadabby asks her new neighbor Julia if she wants to play a game. Julia, a red-headed Muppet in a pink smock, doesn't answer at first. Instead, she stares straight ahead as she swings, then moves to the grass to play with her stuffed bunny, Fluffster. Abby, pouting and confused, asks Elmo why Julia doesn't like her very much.
"Julia sometimes does things differently because Julia has autism, "Elmo explains. "Abby can ask Julia to play again. Abby could use fewer words and wait a little bit. That usually works for Elmo."
A few beats later, the three Muppets are playing the game I spy, which Julia wins in short order.
"Sesame Street" producers have said they created Julia to help explain autism spectrum disorder to millions of viewers and present accurate portrayals of the condition on screen, countering decades of what critics have said are stereotypical depictions. Many households nationwide with family members on the spectrum are hoping Julia, along with a Power Ranger who has autism that was just revealed in a new movie, will change the way next generations of children view autism.
Showing a child with autism involved in positive group activities can help encourage children on the spectrum to engage with their peers while also teaching typically-developing children what to expect from friends and relatives, said Leonard Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis MIND Institute, which studies neurodevelopmental disorders including autism.
"There's still a lack of integration for students on the spectrum in the classroom, because teachers don't know how to support them often, and children don't necessarily understand the way they behave and the things they might need," Abbeduto said. "If (children) have knowledge of what autism is, they won't be fearful of people who interact with the world differently,"
Autism spectrum disorder is an umbrella diagnosis given to people often marked by differently evolved communication skills and other developmental traits. People with autism might avoid eye contact, not engage with people, focus intensely on tasks or repeat phrases and behaviors, among other differences. Autism prevalence has climbed in recent years, and the disorder now affects an estimated 1 in 68 children in the U.S.
Julia won't appear on "Sesame Street" until April 10, but in preview clips she speaks in fragmented sentences, usually only when prompted. She doesn't always greet other characters or answer their questions. She also flaps her hands when she's excited and is extra sensitive to loud noises- traits common to some people with autism. Still, she happily sings along to the show's theme song and plays peek-a-boo with Elmo.
Ava Neyer, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., said she's looking forward to using "Sesame Street" to explain autism to her twin 4-year-old boys, one of whom has autism. Eric, the more withdrawn of the twins, was diagnosed with the disorder at 17 months and has a harder time making friends than Alan.
She said the new "Sesame Street" character will paint a positive picture of autism for Eric while teaching Alan and his typically-developing classmates that :different"doesn't mean "bad."
"When my son goes to kindergarten, I want the teacher and everyone to be upfront about his diagnosis, so the children will know how to interact with him," Neyer said. "If the children have seen 'Sesame Street,' if they've seen people interacting with autistic people in sa positive way, I think that would really help him to be able to integrate."
In one "sesame Street" clip, Julia is seen making a "boing-boing" sound with her mouth and hopping around enthusiastically- a typical behavior for some children with autism who enjoy movement and repetition. On a real school playground, students might tease the bouncing classmate, but on "Sesame Street," the Muppets watch Julia and join in, creating a new playground game called "boing-boing tag."
Kim Tozer, executive director of Sutterville Preschool in Sacremento, Calif., said she's seen more children with autism spectrum disorder in her classroom in recent years. They are sometimes ridiculed for playing differently or not joining in group games, she said, although
she teaches her students to be patient with their classmates on the spectrum . She said she hopes the new "Sesame Street" character will bring the message home.
"They don't flow as easily in whatever aspect, whether it's noise or touch or how they're processing what's going on. They're a little bit different, and kids will pick up on that," Tozer said of children on the spectrum. "We can teach them, even as early as age 3 or 4, to be a little quieter or five them a little extra time. It teaches tolerance, when they're all together."
Just as "Sesame Street" announced Julia's debut, the makers of the new "Power Rangers" movie, released in March, announced that Billy, the blue ranger, is on the autism spectrum. They have not released further details about what traits the character possesses, although one Vox review notes that Billy has trouble reading people's emotions and doesn't get his fellow Rangers' jokes.
Johm Matthias, of Roseville, Cailf., said he looks forward to taking his 15-year-old son Wesley, who has autism, to see the film. In particular, he's curious to see if Wesley, who has trouble forming full sentences but loves going to the movies, will connect with the character he shares a diagnosis with.
"His awareness of autism itself is there, but it's there in a very limited way," Matthias said. "He doesn't really understand in what way he's different or other kids on the spectrum are different. I am kind of excited for him to see the character and see if he'll recognize any similarities."
Matthias hopes the film will at least help stop the bullying that many teenagers with autism experience. About 63 percent of students on the autism spectrum experience bullying at some point, according to a 2014 study from the Interactive Autism Network.
"Maybe (kids) will be less apt to do that if one of their superheroes has the qualities they might have made fun of," Matthias said. "So, all of a sudden, it's not such a big negative."
When most people think of autism in popular culture, they still remember the 1988 film "Rain Man," said Jack Gallagher, a Sacremento actor and playwright whose 21-year-old son, Liam, has autism. The iconic Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman film, which won the Academy Award for best picture, helped raise awareness about autism, he said, but it was also misleading.
"If I were portraying someone on the spectrum, I would portray them as a normal person with some quirky social issues, and not as someone who can count every toothpick on the floor or tell you every president's middle name," Gallagher said, referring to a scene from the film. "For a long time there were a lot of stereotypical qualities that were given to folks on the spectrum, and now people understand that's not true. I hope these characterizations are more accurate than they used to be."
Spot-on portrayals of autism can be difficult, considering all of the different ways the disorder manifests, advocates said. Some people with autism, especially those with what's called Asperger's syndrome, are known as extremely intelligent but aloof (think Alan Turing of "The Imitation Game"). Others, such as Arnie in the 1993 film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" have lower cognitive abilities and struggle to understand concepts such as safety and etiquette.
Writing a single character that encompasses all traits of those with the disorder would be impossible, said Alex Plank, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and producer with autism who advises on movies and TV shows. But creating more characters of autism of any stripe- as long as they aren't offensive- will help combat stigma, he said.
When Plank, now 30, began consulting on the 2013 television series "The Bridge," which featured a protagonist with autism, he said the actress, who was not on the spectrum, was extremely serious when she played the character- one of several misconceptions he works to erase.
"A lot of times there's a character who doesn't smile, ever. And that doesn't make sense to me- I smile a lot," Plank said. "Another problem I see is that the character doesn't have empathy. What people don't realize a lot of the time is that autistic people have empathy. They may have trouble expressing it, but they have as much if not more of it than anyone else."
Neyer said she hopes that the growing viability of people with autism in pop culture will lead to more opportunities for them in the real world, where many adults on the spectrum struggle to find accommodating workplaces or educational settings.
"Sesame Street" is showing videos where the children are joining into autistic world, into their games, and meeting them where they are instead of trying to pull them out and make them act neurotypical," she said. "I just hope they can change the mindset around autism."
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