May 15, 2013

For immediate release.  For additional information, please contact:

Kim Thomas, Interim Director, 803-750-6988, Kim@scautism.org
Susan Leiby, Communications & Events, 864-346-4180, SusanL@scautism.org

South Carolina Autism Society Statement on DSM-5 Changes
American Psychiatric Association to Release New Autism Diagnostic Criteria

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) will release the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) this weekend at their annual conference.  The DSM-5 will include significant changes to the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

According to the APA, “The revised diagnosis represents a new, more accurate, and medically and scientifically useful way of diagnosing individuals with autism-related disorders.”  While the DSM-IV included separated diagnoses for Asperger’s, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Autistic Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), the DSM-5 eliminates the separate diagnoses.

The APA expects that, “Anyone diagnosed with one of the four pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) from DSM-IV should still meet the criteria for ASD in DSM-5 or another, more accurate DSM-5 diagnosis.”

The South Carolina Autism Society has been in communication with both state and national professionals regarding the DSM-5.  We are working with DDSN, MUSC, USC, and GHS to assess how these changes may affect individuals affected by autism.  It is expected that those qualifying for DDSN services under the DSM-IV will continue to qualify under DSM-5.  We anticipate no disruption in services.

We urge every government agency and service provider to at a minimum maintain current levels of service, and not reduce or eliminate services to any individual currently getting services due to the DSM-5 changes.  If you or a family member are denied services, or experience a reduction in services as a result of the DSM-5, please contact us at 803-750-6988 or 800-438-4790.

It will take some time for medical professionals, and others qualified to diagnose ASDs, to fully incorporate the new DSM-5 criteria.  As such, the full impact of the DSM-5 may not be known for some time.

Rest assured that the South Carolina Autism Society will continue to stay on top of this situation, and provide updates as appropriate.  We will continue to advocate on behalf of families affected by autism, to ensure that all individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders can reach their maximum potential.

To view the APAs fact sheet on Autism Spectrum Disorder under the DSM-5, visit http://www.psych.org/File%20Library/Practice/DSM/DSM-5/DSM-5-Autism-Spectrum-Disorder-Fact-Sheet.pdf.

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Join WACH Fox for the American Idol Finale on Thursday, May 16.

WACH Fox is hosting a finale viewing party brought to you by the South Carolina Autism Society.

So come out and join some of your favorite WACH Fox personalities at the Columbia Mariott on Thursday starting at 7 p.m.

We will have games, trivia, and you'll be able to interact with Janet Parker who will be in Hollywood for the finale.

Even if you can't attend the party, please consider making a donation to the SC Autism Society online, or by calling 1-800-GREAT-CAUSE. Your donation will help the Autism Society find new ways to help and better serve the families who speak for loved ones, as well as come closer to solving the many puzzles of autism spectrum disorders.

Visit http://scautism.org/index.php?option=com_dtdonate&task=authorizenetonce&Itemid=19 to donate now!

We would love your feedback on Strides for Autism.

Please complete the survey located at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SWMQNWH.  Thank you!!

Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College Produces Sensory-Friendly Performance of ‘Story Squad’ May 19

Columbia, S.C. (April 30, 2013):  Harbison Theatre is excited to reprise this Fall’s hit, ‘Story Squad’ for a sensory-friendly performance designed to engage all audiences, particularly those along the autistism spectrum and others who live with sensory sensitivity.  This sensory-friendly performance will be the first produced by a professional company in the Midlands and will be performed on Sunday, May 19, at 3 pm.

Sensory-friendly performances are productions slightly modified to create a more comfortable, enjoyable experience for audience members along the autistism spectrum and for those who experience other sensory sensitivity.  Loud sounds are quieter, surprising elements not as surprising; the lights over the audience are not as dark, and ushers are trained to unobtrusively alert parents and other audience members to upcoming mood, music, or lighting changes.  Sensory-friendly performances are also accompanied by social stories that help prepare audience members for the experience.  The social story for this Story Squad performance may be found at HarbisonTheatre.org/sensory-friendly-story-squad/.

The cast of Story Squad and the technical staff of Harbison Theatre have worked with Jessie Baughman, lead case manager for Palmetto Autism Interventions, and with Susanna Fomby, former Columbia residents and consultant to the sensory-friendly performance of The Lion King on Broadway, to tailor this performance for its guest audience.  Says Baughman, “Sensory disorders, common but not limited to individuals with autism, can make attending some events and outings challenging for families. By offering sensory-friendly performances, Harbison Theatre provides an inclusive and judgment-free environment in which Midland's children and their families can have an opportunity to experience the arts. Fostering programs for children to learn and share experiences together, despite disability, is essential to the community, and my hope is that more organizations in the Midlands follow the example of Harbison Theatre."

Darion McCloud, creator and captain of the Story Squad, agrees, “What a cool, unique way to engage our entire community. When Katie approached me with the idea we were all in. We are proud to participate and it’s a fun challenge.”

The idea to produce a sensory-friendly version of the original show was that of Katie Fox, Director of Theatre Operations.  “Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College is a place where everyone belongs,” says Fox. “That includes audience members for whom theatrical performances may sometimes feel stressful.  We are grateful for the opportunity to welcome an audience with sensory sensitivity through our doors and we hope to see other performing arts organizations offer such performances in the future.”

About Story Squad:  Story Squad celebrates the myriad ways that humans communicate our stories – through spoken words, song, lights, music, and more.  The show is the first production born of the Harbison Theatre at MTC Incubator for New Artistic Work. The Incubator invited Darion McCloud, renowned and beloved storyteller, actor, and director based in Columbia, to create a new production that would be suitable for touring to other communities.  Mr. McCloud assembled his squad of musicians, actors, and storytellers and together they created Story Squad.  The show will tour both its original and its sensory-friendly performance.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/426698484092329/

Tickets: $10 all ages

This projected is partially funded by the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.

About Harbison Theatre
Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College presents high-quality performances and events that strengthen the education of our students, deepen our relationship with the community, and make the Midlands a region where people love to learn, work, play, and prosper. To learn about upcoming events, purchase tickets, and pursue volunteer opportunities with Harbison Theatre, please visit http://www.HarbisonTheatre.org.

Harbison Theatre on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HarbisonTheatre

Harbison Theatre on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HarbisonTheatre

About Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College is a comprehensive, multi-campus, public, two-year college serving the primary region of Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties of South Carolina. The college enrolls approximately 18,000 credit students annually, and provides continuing education to 30,000 individuals and hundreds of area businesses each year. MTC is the largest provider of transfer students to the University of South Carolina. www.midlandstech.edu.

Press Contact:   Katie Fox, Director of Operations, Harbison Theatre, FoxK@midlandstech.edu

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South Carolina is used to rivalries going on between the Upstate and Midlands regions. So let’s join in the action at Strides for Autism and settle the rivalry once and for all!

Upstate vs Midlands

Which Strides event can Fill the Bottle and collect the most loose change!

Start gathering up that loose change now! Empty your change-jar, dig to the bottom of your purse, search your sofa and car! There is bound to be some change just sitting around gathering dust! Pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters… we’ll even take those pesky half-dollar coins off your hands!

The winning region will hold a fun family event later this year!

So bring your change to Strides for Autism, and help us change the outcome for those with autism.

Upstate – you’re up this Saturday, April 13th at Heritage Park in Simpsonville. 8 am registration, 9 am event kickoff. Look for the kids with the buckets, or bring your change straight to the bottle near the SCAS Information Table.

Register now at https://scautism.org/strides/

Here are a few fundraisers to benefit the South Carolina Autism Society.  Please support them as you are able!

Apple Pie Fundraiser, to benefit Team Co-Jo in Strides for Autism

Fried apple pies and other baked goods for sale. Pies will be 1.00 and there will be bagged items for 1.oo a bag.

Old Hundred Grocery & Grill, 599 Old Hundred Road, Pelzer, SC.

Purchase items from Initials, inc. during the month of April, and Melony Davis will donate 50% of the proceeds to the South Carolina Autism Society!  Visit www.myinitials-inc.com/melonydavis to shop online!

April 2, 2013

For immediate release.  For additional information, please contact:

Kim Thomas, Interim Director, 803-750-6988

Susan Leiby, Communications & Events, 864-346-4180

South Carolina Autism Society Recognizes World Autism Awareness Day

April 2 Worldwide Event Declared by United Nations

The South Carolina Autism Society would like to encourage the community to recognize World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 2^nd.

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day, “to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives”.  UN Secretary-General Bon Ki-moon states, "This international attention is essential to address stigma, lack of awareness and inadequate support structures. Now is the time to work for a more inclusive society, highlight the talents of affected people and ensure opportunities for them to realize their potential. "

We at the South Carolina Autism Society believe that individuals and families affected by autism deserve to be acknowledged as valuable members of their communities.  We strive to ensure that services are available that enable those with autism to reach their maximum potential, and use their skills and talents to contribute to society.  We believe that individuals with autism spectrum disorders should have the opportunity to be fully included in their local community.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.  It has no known cause or cure.  Autism interferes with the development of the brain in reasoning, social interaction and communication skills.  People with autism typically have deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.

It is estimated that 1 in 88 individuals have an autism spectrum disorder.  It is four to five times more common in males, and occurs in all social and ethnic groups.  Family income, lifestyle and education do not affect the chance of occurrence.

To learn more about autism, please visit www.scautism.org.

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The South Carolina Autism Society is proud to be a partner organization for “Rethinking Autism”, a statewide Autism conference sponsored by the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council and Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. on April 24th at the Crowne Plaza in Greenville, South Carolina. Appropriate for everyone from self-advocates to professionals to caring community members, “Rethinking Autism” will showcase new and positive ways of living and working with autism and appreciating neuro-diversity. The conference seeks to open the doors of self–determination to persons with autism through presenting practical suggestions on how to develop effective and respectful accommodations and supports in the community, school and workplace.

Keynote Speaker Nick Pentzell is a college student and nationally acclaimed self-advocate. He is an accomplished author and has shared his views about living with autism in his award winning video "Outside/Inside.” His speech will also be available as a live webcast for those who can’t attend in person.

The morning plenary “New Visions, New Possibilities” will emphasize the nature of sensory and movement differences, and the ways in which awareness of those differences can help us replace negative assumptions with a recognition of each person’s intellect, sociability and communicative capacity. Plenary Speaker Pat Amos is founder and past president of the Autism National Committee and has been an advocate for people with autism and their families across the nation for over 25 years.
Breakout sessions will include workshops on Sensori-motor Integration, Transitioning into Adult Life, Autism and the Arts, Social Skills, Self-Advocacy and more! The Children's Museum of the Upstate will bring portable exhibits to the Conference so the children with autism (and participants) can play and participate in the learning experience.

The Conference has been approved for various professional continuing education credits including social work and psychology by self-submission.

For more information and registration, click here.

March 20, 2013

For immediate release.  For additional information, please contact:
Kim Thomas, Interim Director, 803-750-6988

SC AUTISM SOCIETY STATEMENT ON NCHS REPORT ON AUTISM PREVALENCE
Estimates 1 in 50 Children Aged 6-17 Have an ASD

Today the National Center for Health Statistics released their report, “Prevalence of Parent-reported Autism Spectrum Disorder in School-aged U.S. Children”.  Their latest study is based on 2011–2012 data, collected from a random-digit-dial telephone survey of households with children aged 0–17 years in the United States.  Both landlines and cellphone numbers were part of the study.  Almost 96,000 surveys were completed, and the overall response rate was 23%.  Parents were asked if they had ever been told that their child had an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The report states, “Based on parent reports, the prevalence of diagnosed ASD in 2011–2012 was estimated to be 2.00% for children aged 6–17. This prevalence estimate (1 in 50) is significantly higher than the estimate (1.16%, or 1 in 86) for children in that age group in 2007.”  It also indicated that those diagnosed since 2008 were more likely to have “mild ASD and less likely to have severe ASD”.

It is important to note that this study is based solely on parent reporting.  No medical or educational records were reviewed, so the results cannot be clinically substantiated.

However, the results are consistent with the increase in ASD prevalence shown through other recent studies through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  These studies have indicated an increase in ASD prevalence from 1 in 150 in 2002 to 1 in 88 in 2008.  The results further support the need for additional services for individuals and families affected by ASDs, from early identification through adulthood.

We eagerly await the next round of CDC statistics based on 2010 data.  The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) is presently reviewing clinical and educational records in 12 communities across the United States, including in South Carolina.

To read the complete NCHS report, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf.

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Attention South Carolinians with lifelong disabilities, family members, and service providers!

Join us at the Statehouse March 6^th for the 24^th annual Disability Advocacy Day!

Click here for more information, including directions and FREE parking.

Our 2013 priorities include the following:

• Maintain current essential services.
• Emphasize the need for services NOW, not long waiting lists.
• Continue critical services provided by DDSN to individuals with disabilities and their families.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Registration in the Blatt Building                                                        8:30 – 9:30

Appointments with Legislators or Staff                                          8:30 – 9:15

Walk (Meet at Strom Thurmond Statue)                                       9:15 – 9:45

Press Conference                                                                                    9:45 – 10:00

Floor of State House/Balcony                                                             10:00 – 11:30

Self Advocacy Rally & Lunch                                                                11:30 – 12:30

Steps to take in NOW:

• Make an appointment with your legislators to discuss this year's top priorities.
• Ask your legislator to come out and walk with you on Disability Advocacy Day.
• Encourage local group homes and assisted living communities to bring their residents to DAD.

If you or your child lives in a group home or assisted living community, we want you to attend DAD, too! Please contact the assisted living community or group home to see if DAD is on the schedule for March 6. Ask if the home is planning transportation for DAD and, if you're a parent, offer to be a chaperone. There is a self advocate rally held at the end of the day, and it is always a highlight for attendees. With so many group home providers in the state, we should be able to flood our state house with self advocates.

For more information on the self advocate rally or if you are interested in speaking, contact Deona Lindholm at deonal@embarqmail.com or  (864)450.0607

• Donate your used shoes to show legislators that people are not just numbers.

Each shoe will represent someone who is not receiving the services they need to lead a happy, safe and healthy life. The shoes will fill the state house steps on March 6 to create a visual representation of just how many individuals are waiting to receive services.

Donations are accepted through the end of February at Family Connection, The Arc of SC, Team Therapy and Palmetto Language & Speech. If you do not live in Columbia and still wish to donate, contact Margie Williamson at Margie@arcsc.org or (803)431-5405.

To find out who your legislators are, visit www.sc.gov or call the voter registration office in your county.

Disability Advocacy Day Co-sponsors: SC Autism Society; Brain Injury Association of SC; The Arc of SC - Advocates for Rights for Citizens; SC Spinal Cord Injury Association; SC Human Service Providers, Inc.; The Disability Action Center, Inc.; SC Chapter - American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD); SC Respite Coalition; Family Connection of SC; Babcock Center, Inc.; People on the Go - Self Advocacy; IMPACT; PRO-parents.