From the Editor’s Desk
There is something magical about this time of year when the workaday world takes a backseat to preparations for the holiday season and time spent with family and friends. To honor the “occasion”, we’ve dedicated this issue of ASQ to families everywhere, and we bring you an unforgettable story of one family’s strength and courage in the face of circumstances that would make those of lesser “stuff” wither. Their story is complex; their reactions to difficult times, simple: What would LOVE do now?
Gifts are often a part of holiday celebrations, but the best of them are usually those that are intangible. You’ll find several “gifts” on the pages that follow beginning with part two of my interview with Dr. Lorna Wing. While her contributions to the autism community are too numerous to list, she shares with readers what she considers her greatest one to be.
Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, with colleagues, Drs. Ofer Golan and Emma Ashwin, approach the task of teaching empathy one emotion at a time, through an ingenious method known as The Transporters. You’ll meet Charlie the Tram, Nigel the Coach, and other emotion-based characters as you learn about the intriguing theory behind the methodology and the promising research findings associated with it.
We welcome Dr. Nancy Perry whose clinical experience with individuals on the spectrum uniquely qualifies her to tease apart the term high-functioning. We learn that it is not the label itself so much as the way we think about the term that influences our priorities. We also welcome Debra Mandell, Melissa Baker, and Terence Murphy from the Monarch Center for Autism. They discuss their high-powered approach to visual language, and do so through the stories of two endearing little girls at the school.
Dr. Barry Prizant teams up with Michael John Carley to discuss the all-important trust relationship between individuals on the spectrum and those who are not. They make the case for primacy of trust as the foundation for relationship-building. Regular columnist, Dr. Teresa Bolick, gives practical advice for dealing with “life in the social fast lane” in part two of her article on the subject. In this segment she discusses specific ways to improve those all-important “mind reading” skills.
The ever-popular Alyson Beytien focuses on her extended family—in this case her three brothers. She asked them how her sons’ autism impacted their lives, and they waxed eloquent, as the saying goes. Liane Holliday Willey turns in another outstanding interview—this time with one of the best-known individuals on the spectrum—Stephen Shore. If you have questions regarding self-advocacy, Stephen has some excellent insights to help you sort through this complex subject. Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly teams up with occupational therapist Patrecia Zebrowski to give great tips for making the holidays more hospitable for children with autism, and more enjoyable for the entire family.
In the special events department, we bring you the announcement of ASQ’s “Kids on the Cover” contest winner. We are also delighted to bring you a brand new feature—The World According to Teddy Bears—a cartoon strip especially designed for ASQ by Brendan Keeley, a young man from the UK with Asperger syndrome.
There is also much to keep your interest in the “journal” portion of the MAGAJOURNAL®: A layman’s guide to quality indicators for research; information regarding the brain region responsible for our sense of personal space; motor execution in children with autism; as well as fascinating abstracts regarding expressive language and information processing in children at the less-able end of the autism spectrum.
There is a great deal to look forward to in the spring 2010 issue of ASQ, beginning with our cover, featuring the “Kids on the Cover” contest winner. Drs. Mark Durand and Meme Hieneman share the terrific results of their five-year study on optimism training for families. Pat Crissey returns with an article on how to increase communication opportunities across environments; and autism advocate Donna Richards begins a brand new series on autism and everyday life, starting with how to make your home autism-friendly. And, as always you’ll find gems of wisdom from the “regulars”—Alyson Beytien, Teresa Bolick, Barry Prizant, Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly, and Liane Holliday Willey.
May you and your loved ones enjoy the wonderful holiday season. And as you traverse the pages of this family issue, do keep the following in mind:
The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.
~George Santayana, The Life of Reason
All the best,
Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
