Asperger's Conversations

Insurance Problems and Asperger's/Autism

Parents have a tough enough time as it is locating a good referral for either diagnosis or treatment of a spectrum disorder without having problems with insurance reimbursement.  Personally, I've had plenty of problems just getting my insurer to pay for specialty medical treatments (Cigna was the worst, Harvard Pilgrim only slightly better) that should obviously be covered.  I survived my Cigna nightmares and Harvard Pilgrim problems by ranting and raving (being nice doesn't help).  And the same is true for Asperger's/Autism...when parents are in HMO's and they are only offered low level assistance by therapists who don't know AS/Autism, then it may be time to get tough.  I say find out who in your area has experience or expertise in this area and demand that your insurer pay for that person (even if they are out of network).   Groups like The Asperger's Association of New England can provide good referrals, but it is up to parents to make sure their insurers will pay.  My suggestion:  If you are in the U.S., ask your state Insurance Office to help out.  Keep notes on all phone contacts with your insurer (always ask the name of the person you are talking to) and if you are getting nowhere...File a complaint with the State Insurance Office.

Sorry for the negative tone, but most agree that the U.S. medical insurance system is not working and ultimately we need to cut out the greedy middle guys who manage money, not care.

Asperger's Conversations Pauses: Time for a Snow Dance

With a monster snow storm brewing here in Southwestern New Hampshire, there is only one thing to do...stop working (my kid is doing her report on the Digestion System for Ms. Linn's class & I'm cleaning house)...and do the Spongebob Snowdance in Surry, New Hampshire:

Download SnowDance08.wmv (video: 9.5 MB; 2mins,30 secs)

Instructional Technology, Successful Classrooms, Asperger's: Podcast Interview with Sherry Newman

It was cold last week in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (just my luck!).  But that wasn't going to stop me from catching some sun...I sat outside and talked with Instructional Media Specialist Sherry Newman of Nova Southeastern University.  Sherry is working on her doctoral degree in instructional technology and working as a Middle School Technology/Media instructor.  We talked about kids and technology and the need to build more connecting and interactive classrooms.  And, we talked about where kids who are socially different, such as those with Asperger's, fit in and what they need from us to succeed in school and after school.

Click on the MP3 file below to listen to today's podcast interview:

Download Newman.mp3 (3.76MB; 10mins,57secs)

Jennifer Venditti's Billy The Kid: Podcast Interview

I spoke with documentary film director Jennifer Venditti about her new film, Billy The Kid, which follows a couple of weeks in the life of a 15 year old boy who has been diagnosed with Asperger's.   The film is engrossing and captures wonderfully the ups and downs of surviving high school while also living with personal social differences.  Catch the film if you can, but also check out the terrific clips posted on the web.

Click on the MP3 file below to hear today's podcast:

Download billtheKidMp3.mp3 (3.56MB; 10mins, 23 secs)

Billy The Kid by Jennifer Venditti

I am looking forward to interviewing Jennifer Venditti on Wednesday, the opening day in New York City of her new film about a teenager struggling with Asperger's and related problems. Check out the trailer above.

APA's Ethical Lapse on Torture (cont)

Democracy Now's Amy Goodman has been persistent in giving voice to psychologists who object to APA's refusal to preclude its members from participating in torture of military prisoners. I'm a bit embarrassed that I have only recently gotten up-to-speed on this issue (see previous post). I hope my fellow psychologists seriously consider resigning or withholding dues.

APA and torture

My very own American Psychological Association or APA has disappointed its members by refusing to follow the Amercian Psychiatric Association and others in not allowing its members to consult or participate in any way in torture of soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.  While condemming torture in their most recent statement, they failed to "go all the way" and ban psychologists involvement.  Blogger and psychologist Stephen Soldz has written of a movement by psychology departments in the US to protest APA's position by withholding dues.  A few hundred psychologists have already pledged to withhold dues as part of a formal protest of APA's weak stand on torture.  You can read about APA's explanation for their more moderate position which the ACLU has criticized for not going far enough.

The argument of military psychologists:  Better to be involved as consultants inorder to make sure it is done properly or humanely.  But is torture ever something that can be done "humanely?"  And can military psychologists truly be independent in a hierarchical system such as the military where many involved in torture hold higher rank than the consulting psychologists?  Just say no to your commanding officer??  I don't think so.

I'm considering attending more meetings about the topic such as the upcoming one in New York, but I think my fellow psychologists should consider either resigning or withholding dues.

Exercise and Asperger's/Autism

Another new study shows the benefits of exercise for executive functioning in overweight children ages 7-11.  The report at the Annual scientific conference of the Obesity Society made by researchers at the Medical College of Georgia state:

"Regular exercise may be a simple, important method of enhancing children's cognitive and academic development. These results may persuade educators to implement vigorous physical activity curricula during a childhood obesity epidemic," the researchers concluded.

While this study did not involve kids with spectrum disorders, I have personally observed a variety of benefits for those kids, too.  Individuals with a broad range of developmental problems are at higher risk for being overweight, which not only makes them feel lousy and adversely affects their health, but also further isolates them socially.  We've tried yoga in the past as well, but I think exercise deserves a close look for affected kids and adults.

Interview with John Elder Robison

In a previous blog entry I pointed to an interview with John Robison about his new book.  John Schnaars pointed me today to an interview with Robsion on Treatment Online.  Robison talks about problems in labeling and social skills development, among others.

Digital Ethnography at Kansas State University

C'mon, it's not just kids with Asperger's who are bewildered by how college profs run their classrooms.  Michael Caulfield and Jon Udell point to this interesting video by Michael Wesch and 200 of his students at Kansas State University:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

You don't have to be on the spectrum to be bored to tears by "talk chalk" and autistic-like lecturing by College Profs who don't get how web 2.0 can enrich their classes!  But a lot of kids are moving ahead anyway...I coach the Gilsum/Surry/Sullivan 10 and 11 year old soccer team who, up until this week, had never won a game (we beat Alstead 3-2 with excellent play...staying in position, passing and centering the ball).  Along with fellow coach Doug Thornton (he's the head coach, I'm the assistant), we keep in touch with our kids from the country schools by email to discuss strategy, share youtube links on great soccer plays, and review screencasts on strategy:

http://www.techsmith.com/community/blog/movies/soccer3.html

These kids do powerpoint presentations with embedded media files, podcast reports on passcode protected blogs, and some know more about producing mixed media than I do.  So if little kids can do it, why not college profs?  The time on your watch is now!