Busting the Autism Stereotypes

As with anyone with a physical or mental disorder, autistic people deal with a wide range of reactions from others, from full support to uncaring ignorance. Unfortunately, even those who support autistic family members, co-workers, and friends may not understand autism very well. This leads to stereotypes, which can result in hatred, embarrassment, or other unhappy situations. By becoming educated about autism, you can help others in your community cope with this disorder.

It is most important to note that not all autistic people are the same. Other diseases and disorders have their own sets of rules, but autism is such a complex medical condition, that everyone reacts differently to it. Autistic people are usually rated on a functional scale, with high-functioning people being able to hold jobs and low-functioning people needing 24-hour-a-day care. Symptoms include behavioral challenges, uncontrollable movements, speech and communication difficulties, and emotional inadequacies. Some show all symptoms, while other show few, and still others may have most under control to the point where you cannot tell they have autism at all.

Because every person is different, no one thing can be said about autism and be true overall. However, most autistic people have trouble communicating emotions. This does not mean that an autistic person does not feel. He or she simply cannot express this feeling. It also does not mean strong relationship bonds are not possible. On the contrary, many autistic people are happily married and in love. Forming relationships is more difficult for most, but can be accomplished over time.

Many people believe that being autistic coincides with being a genius in some aspect. While it is true that some autistic individuals have extraordinary math, music, and art skills, this number is nowhere near the majority-in fact, relatively few autistic people function outside of the normal range in any skill. This stereotype is perpetuated in the movies and on television, because the story of a talented person fighting disadvantages (such as autism) makes a good plot. However, this is not the norm, so nothing more than the best they can personally do should be expected from an autistic person. However, it is important to note that autism is not a form of mental retardation. Some autistic people are mentally retarded as well, but most are not and should not be treated as such.

In the end, the most important lesson to take away from your studies on autism is one of tolerance. You will probably need to be patient when dealing with autistic people, but by understanding a little more about the disorder, perhaps this will be easier. Learn what you can and spread the knowledge to those you know to help create a more tolerant setting for autistic individuals in your community.

Government Grants for Alternative Energy

In his State of the Union Address for 2007, President George W. Bush called for a 22% increase in federal grants for research and development of alternative energy. However, in a speech he gave soon after, he said to those assembled, I recognize that there has been some interesting mixed signals when it comes to funding.

Where the mixed signals were coming from concerned the fact that at the same time the President was calling on more government backing for alternative energy research and development, the NREL?the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of Golden, Colardo?was laying off workers and contractors left and right. Apparently, the Laboratory got the hint, because soon after the State of the Union Address, everyone was re-hired. The second speech of the President's was actually given at the NREL. There is almost unanimous public support for the federal backing through research grants, tax breaks, and other financial incentives of research and development of alternative energy sources.

The NREL is the nation's leading component of the National Bioenergy Center, a ?virtual? center that has no central bricks and mortar office. The NREL's raison d'etre is the advancing of the US Department of Energy's and the United States' alternative energy objectives. The laboratory's field researchers and staff scientists, in the words of Laboratory Director Dan Arvizu, ?support critical market objectives to accelerate research from scientific innovations to market-viable alternative energy solutions. At the core of this strategic direction are NREL's research and technology development areas. These areas span from understanding renewable resources for energy, to the conversion of these resources to renewable electricity and fuels, and ultimately to the use of renewable electricity and fuels in homes, commercial buildings, and vehicles.? The federally-backed Laboratory directly helps along the United States' objectives for discovering renewable alternative fuels for powering our economy and our lifestyles.

The NREL is set up to have several areas of expertise in alternative energy research and development. It spearheads research and development efforts into renewable sources of electricity; these would include such things as solar power, wind power, biomass power, and geothermal power. It also spearheads research and development of renewable fuels for powering our vehicles such as biomass and biodiesel fuels and hydrogen fuel cells. Then, it seeks to develop plans for integrated system enginnering; this includes bringing alternative energy into play within buildings, electrical grids and delivery systems, and transportation infrastructures. The Laboratory is also set up for strategic development and analysis of alternative energy objectives through the forces of economics, market analysis and planning, and alternative energy investment portfolios structurings.

The NREL is additionally equipped with a Technology Transfer Office. This Office supports laboratory scientists and engineers in the practical application of and ability to make a living from their expertise and the technologies they develop. NREL's research and development staff and its facilities are recognized for their remarkable prowess by private industry, which is reflected in the hundreds of collaborative projects and licensed technologies that the Laboratory now has with both public and private partners.

Glenn Beck Rally Rounds Up The Most Valuable Media Audience In America

Whatever you want to call them – tea partiers, birthers, truthers, patriots, or just Americans – these folks are powering some of the most lucr...

Publish Date: 08/31/2010 17:21

http://www.businessinsider.com/restoring-honor-2010-8

Christopher Hitchens: Glenn Beck Rally Was 'Waterworld Of White ...

Glenn Beck's rally was large, vague, moist, and undirected--the Waterworld of white self-pity.

Publish Date: 08/31/2010 9:40

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/christopher-hitchens-glen_n_700220.html

Glenn Beck Rally Attendance: How Many Attended 'Restoring Honor'?

Tens of thousands of people were in attendance for the Glenn Beck rally "Restoring Honor" this past weekend in Washington, DC, which largely delivered a religious, not political message. But what was the final count?

Publish Date: 08/30/2010 18:20

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/30/glenn-beck-rally-attendance_n_699713.html

Political Wisdom: Glenn Beck's Rally - Washington Wire - WSJ

A roundup of analysis on Glenn Beck's Saturday rally on the National Mall.

Publish Date: 08/30/2010 8:02

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/08/30/political-wisdom-glenn-becks-rally/

Glenn Beck rally at Lincoln Memorial on anniversary of MLK's ...

Glenn Beck plans to have a rally Saturday in Washington, DC Like most made-for-TV events in Beck's career, this seems innocent enough. Only problem for some is it is scheduled to be held at the same location, the Lincoln Memorial,...

Publish Date: 08/26/2010 16:23

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2010/08/glenn-beck-rally.html

Al Sharpton Reacts To Glenn Beck Rally | Bill O'Reilly | Mediaite

Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally was initially designed and promoted to reclaim the civil rights movement, which raised the ire of Beck's political foes, particularly since the rally coincided with the anniversary of MLK's I Have a ...

Publish Date: 08/31/2010 8:50

http://www.mediaite.com/online/al-shapton-and-bill-oreilly-debate-the-merits-of-glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally/

Michael Douglas Cancer Went Undetected

Michael Douglas is battling back against cancer....Pretty moving stuff. Two weeks after revealing doctors had found a tumor in the actor's throat,

Publish Date: 09/01/2010 8:30

http://www.popcrunch.com/michael-douglas-cancer-chat-on-letterman/

Michael Douglas' Cancer Treatment to Affect 'Wall Street 2' Promo

Michael Douglas has accepted he will have to skip promotion duties for the upcoming "Wall Street" sequel as he continues to battle throat cancer. The 65 year old is scheduled for weeks of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy ...

Publish Date: 09/01/2010 4:11

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0005962.html

Michael Douglas Talks Cancer With Letterman: Stage 4, 80% Odds (VIDEO)

Michael Douglas went on Letterman Tuesday and talked about the recent news that he has throat cancer.

Publish Date: 08/31/2010 23:49

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/michael-douglas-talks-can_n_701434.html

Michael lDouglas talks about his cancer

Michael Douglas says the percentages for him beating cancer are good. Submit your videos at itn.co.uk . Follow us on twitter at twitter.com .

The Power of Music - Musical Therapy to Treat Autism

Musical therapy is a relatively new treatment method for autism patients, but one that should not be overlooking when discussing options. Patients who receive musical therapy often should great improvement in temperament and learning skills. Music connects to the non-verbal part of our brains, making it a perfect therapy for disorders in which the patient has trouble communicating, such as autism. Research this innovative treatment method if you are looking for some help with autism and haven't had much luck in the past.

Musical therapy is effective because it can be used in conjunction with learning social skills. Music is a very non-threatening medium for patients, and many games can be played using music to help improve social and behavioral skills. By encouraging eye contact while singing or using instruments that need to get close to the face, musical therapy can help autistic individuals break social barriers.

The number one way that musical therapy can help children, as well as older autistic patients, is by helping with the development of speech skills. Music is a way to connect the verbal and non-verbal functions in the brain. Autistic individuals may have various forms of speech problems. Some can only hum, grunt, or make other non-word noises, while others babble nonsensical phrases or cries. Still others gain the capability to put together phrases and sentences to communicate with the world, although these usually lack emotion. Autistic people are known for monotone voices. However, no matter how skilled the individual is with speech, he or she can participate in musical therapy by clapping rhythms, humming along, or doing simple echoing songs.

Autistic individuals are commonly found to be particularly good at music. Some, for instance, have perfect pitch. Others can play a particular instrument very well, with little instruction. Even if he or she shows no genius musical ability by normal standards, you may find that a particularly hard to deal with autistic person has abilities in music that exceed his or her other abilities. A musical therapist can use music as a way to link this kind of learning with other kinds of learning, not only as speech development and social behavioral development as previously discussed, but also as a way to communicate emotions and develop memory.

By using all of these techniques in conjunction with one another, musical therapy can work wonders with people who are autistic. Trained professionals can use music to teach children and others how to communicate in nonverbal ways, making it easier for patients to learn. Research the musical therapy option to provide you or your child with another choice when treating autism.