1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, ‘I love you,’ mean it.
5. When you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams
   don’t have much.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer,
    smile and ask, ‘Why do you want to know?’
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Say ‘bless you’ when you hear someone sneeze.
16. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
17. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for
    others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
18. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
19. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice
21. Spend some time alone.

Here it is

• Don’t eat rocks.
• Don’t take naps in the road.
• Don’t stoke fires with your fingers.
• Don’t throw a brick straight up.
• Don’t breathe car exhaust.
• If you ever meet the President, don’t offer him the surprise gift of a firearm by whipping it suddenly out of your coat pocket.
• For all pertinent tasks, use a hammer, not your fist.
• Walk around toxic waste dumps, not through them.
• Don’t stargaze with friends on a hilltop in a thunderstorm and use metal fishing rods as pointers.
• The stuff on the bottom of your shoe is not for internal consumption.
• If you need to get somewhere, and a freight train heading in the direction you’re traveling just happens to be nearby, resist the urge to stand in front of it and grab hold as it passes.
• If you want to pound on the radiator to tell the landlord to turn up the heat, don’t do it with your head.
• Don’t flip off the Mafia.
• If you’re riding a bicycle down a hill, turn your head before you spit.
• Wash behind your ears, not behind your eyes.
• Light birthday cake candles from back to front.
• Just because your body has orifices doesn’t mean you should put things into them.
• Don’t stick screwdrivers into electrical outlets.
• Although they are sold in grocery stores, batteries are not food. Do not break them open and drink what’s inside.
• The warning “Don’t try this at home” really means “Don’t try this at all.”
• Don’t bathe in a tub full of snow.
• Don’t iron clothes while wearing them.
• The expression “Life in the fast line” should not inspire you to live in the road.
• Don’t eat hot coals.
• Don’t escape in to jail.
• Don’t wash floors with cough syrup.
• Don’t kick porcupines with bare feet.
• Don’t sled down hills with interstates at the bottom.
• Sell at most one of your kidneys.
• Don’t lie down in a cattle pen.
• Forks need carry food no farther than your mouth.
• Don’t test the strength of your skull with a nail gun.
• Only squeeze the handle end of a sword.
• Don’t snap towels at passing cops.
• Don’t lick dry ice.
• Don’t pour salt in your eyes.
• Don’t microwave yourself.
• Don’t chase a bear into the woods to get a close-up photo.
• Don’t swallow toothpaste.
• Don’t chew Tylenol.
• Don’t bathe in gasoline.
• Don’t sneak up to a stallion and whack it on the rump.
• Don’t drink water that comes from swimming pools, puddles, bathtubs, dishpans, sewage pipes, radiators, oceans, acid rain, or toilet bowls.
• Don’t lick toads, bulls, or jellyfish.
• Don’t go swimming in a well.
• Don’t use the gum from underneath the seats at schools and movie theaters even though it’s free.
• Don’t kick stone walls very hard without wearing thick-soled shoes or boots.
• When using an acetylene torch, don’t feel the flame to see if it’s sufficiently hot.
• Better yet, stay away from acetylene torches altogether.
• Wear clothes.
• Use a pot holder when removing items from the oven.
• If someone shouts “Heads up!” don’t actually raise your head up. Cover it with your arms and duck.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• Don’t tie yourself to an airplane propeller.
• Don’t brush your teeth with a wire-bristled sanding wheel.
• When using a blow gun, draw your breath before placing your lips around the barrel.
• No matter how tempting it is to be one with nature, stay on the outside of all fences at the zoo.
• When sticking thumb tacks into bulletin boards, press on the flat end.
• Do not put butter or jam on the bread before placing it in a toaster

In recognition of World Autism Awareness Day April 2, CNN reports on the global impact, latest science and controversies related to the brain disorder. Watch for expanded coverage on CNN.com and CNN TV.

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — When her son Justin was a newborn, Shannon Kinninger looked up from the kitchen where she was washing dishes, and saw a large, heavy toy fall on his head. Justin didn’t cry.

Kinninger thought that was odd, and it wasn’t the only thing that seemed strange about Justin. At her weekly playgroup, she watched the other babies hit their developmental milestones more or less on schedule. Justin lagged far behind.

“When he was supposed to be sitting up, he wasn’t sitting up. When he was supposed to be holding his head up, he wasn’t holding his head up. When he was supposed to be rolling over, he wasn’t rolling over,” says Kinninger, a nurse who lives in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Kinninger brought up her concerns to her pediatrician, but he told her not to worry. “The doctor kept saying that boys develop more slowly than girls,” she says. “He kept reassuring me he’d be OK.”

Even though she felt frustrated, Kinninger accepted this explanation for years. Finally, when Justin was 4, she decided enough was enough. Justin wasn’t potty trained, and he had unusual repetitive behaviors, such as switching lights on and off for extended periods of time, or washing his hands over and over. Plus, he wouldn’t look at people — he looked “through” them.

She switched doctors, and the new pediatrician referred her to a developmental pediatrician. “He said, ‘He’s autistic. I knew five minutes after you came in,’ ” Kinninger says. “I thought, finally, we get a diagnosis.”

Now Kinninger thinks about all those lost years — from babyhood to 4 years old — critical years when Justin could have been receiving therapy for children with autism, but didn’t. She now tells other parents of children with autism they need to be advocates for their children, from the very first moment they show signs of having autism. Video Empowered Patient: Steps to take to get help for a child with autism »

Here, from mothers of children with autism, are ways parents should fight for their children with autism, from babyhood through the school years.

1. Trouble getting a diagnosis? Bring in video, letters.

If you’re concerned your child has autism, and you’re getting the same response Kinninger got from her pediatrician, remember doctor’s visits are often short, and your child may not be displaying the worrisome behavior you’ve seen so often at home. Alison Singer, executive vice president of Autism Speaks, an awareness and advocacy organization, suggests videotaping your child’s behavior and showing it to the doctor. “You could play it on your laptop, or even just bring in the video camera,” she says.

Getting a letter of support from your child’s day-care provider or preschool teacher might also help.

“Teachers are seen as other professionals, and a letter saying, ‘In 20 years of teaching, this behavior is really unusual,’ can go far,” says Singer, who has a 10-year-old daughter with autism. If your child isn’t in day care or school, even a letter from a neighbor who knows your child could help, she says.

Singer emphasizes that parents shouldn’t push their pediatrician for a diagnosis. “We’re saying, refer the child to a developmental pediatrician for additional screening and testing. Because when a parent thinks something is wrong with their child, they’re usually right,” she says.

Educating yourself about autism will also help you have a discussion with your pediatrician. Autism Speaks, First Signs, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all give excellent overviews. Autism Speaks’ Video Glossary has more than 100 video clips comparing the behavior of children with autism spectrum disorders with the behavior of a typical child.

2. Sign up for early intervention

Any child younger than age 3 with a developmental delay is eligible to receive services through Early Intervention, a government-mandated program that provides services to eligible children. Services are free of charge, and vary from state to state, but may include speech and language instruction and occupational and physical therapy.

To learn how to apply for Early Intervention, click on this state-by-state directory from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities and scroll down.

Early Intervention is invaluable because it links parents to services in the community, but Lisa Goring, mother of a child with autism and director of family services at Autism Speaks, warns that parents may also have to search on their own, since it can be hard to find services without a long waiting list. “There just aren’t enough service providers for the kids who need them,” Goring says. To find services on your own, wrightslaw.com, which offers information about special education law and advocacy, has a Yellow Pages for Kids that lists providers.

Long waits are so prevalent that Nancy Wiseman, founder and president of the advocacy group First Signs, whose 12-year-old daughter has autism, has a few suggestions for how to get in quicker. First, parents should stress the age of their child (many clinics will give priority to children under 3), and should ask the pediatrician to make a call to the specialist. More suggestions are in her book “Could it be Autism? A Parent’s Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps.”

3. Know your child’s rights in school

When your child enters public school, he or she has rights under federal and state laws. The U.S. Department of Education has information about federal laws and state laws. The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education has information about children’s legal rights as well.

Wiseman says that even with these protections, you’ll still have to work to get what’s best for your child.

For example, Wiseman moved to get into a different school district, and then a few years later, when that district no longer worked well for her daughter, she twice fought to place her child out of the district.

“It’s very frustrating to battle a school, and you really have to do your homework,” she says.

You and the district will come up with an Individual Education Plan. Wiseman recommends “The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child” by attorney Lawrence Siegel.

Also, school districts often have a Special Education Parent Teacher Association. Parents there can often give good advice on how to work with the school district.

4. Sign up for a research study

If you live near a major research university, Wiseman suggests finding out whether anyone is looking for children with autism for research studies. Sometimes, these universities will provide care for your child as part of the study. Wiseman’s group, First Signs, has a list, as does Autism Speaks.

5. Get support from other parents
Health Library

* MayoClinic.com: Autism

Judith Steuber, who raised two grandsons with autism, said that if she had to do it all over again, she would do one thing very differently. “From the beginning, I wish I’d had more support from other parents,” says Steuber, who now acts as a mentor for special-needs parents in her school district. “I think that makes a big difference.”
advertisement

Autism Speaks has a state-by-state list of support groups. You can find a chapter of The Autism Society of America here.

There are electronic support groups on Yahoo, the Berkeley Parents Network, and Autism Web. The Arc has support groups for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; Wiseman says many have a large number of parents of children with autism.

No longer considered rare, the latest estimates indicate that thousands of children are born each year with the isolating brain disorder autism. Unfortunately, many families may remain in the dark for years before autism is properly diagnosed and treated. Now, however, new research is leading to a greater understanding of the causes and nature of the disorder, which should lead to improved treatment. New information indicates that early diagnosis is key, and that several genes may be involved. Genetic studies along with imaging studies may lead to biologically based diagnostic techniques that could help speed detection and allow early, more effective intervention.

 ———————————–

He acts aloof and withdrawn, and doesn’t understand social cues. An introvert, his parents suspect. He also seems oddly obsessed with highways and recites road-related facts. A quirky little guy, they think.

Later, however, a doctor diagnoses the child with autism.

Approximately one out of every 250 to 166 babies will develop autism or a related disorder, which can impair a child’s ability to interact socially and communicate. The brain disorder affects individuals differently, but all show abnormal responses to other people. Babies with autism also tend to start speaking later than normal, if at all. Those who can communicate may talk a lot about something they really like instead of having a back-and-forth conversation.

Key to helping these children is the early detection of their autism, followed by specialized assistance. Once confirmed, several methods may be employed to treat and control the disorder. New research is leading to:

• A better understanding of the nature of autism and the major role of genetic factors.
• The development of biologically based diagnostic techniques that could help identify autism earlier, and thus improve treatment.

Today, autism cannot be identified biologically with a simple medical test like a brain scan or a blood test. Instead, a diagnosis is made on the basis of behavioral symptoms observed or discussed in the doctor’s office. Many children spend their first years of life undiagnosed and untreated. Forty percent of children with autism wait more than three years for a clear diagnosis, according to one survey. Other research indicates that most children are accurately diagnosed by 2 to 4 years of age, but in some cases not until age 6. Researchers believe that reducing the time lag in diagnosis may help children gain the full benefit of available interventions.

Although there is no cure, research indicates that many with autism can respond well, especially early in life, to highly structured, specialized education programs designed to correct behaviors, teach social skills, and aid language. The young brain is thought to be particularly adept at modifying its connections and function. Researchers believe that starting interventions early may take advantage of this malleability and improve a person’s function.

To positively diagnose autism, two components are recommended. One is a “well child” check-up that includes a developmental screening test for a range of behaviors involving speech, social skills, and unusual movements. Then, if indicators of autism are found following this screening, a team of experts conducts a comprehensive evaluation.

In order to help speed detection and start treatment earlier, scientists recently began to scrutinize the brains of those with autism and uncover specific biological signs of the disorder. Converging evidence from multiple groups of scientists suggests that portions of the autistic brain are actually enlarged in early life. Research continues on the use of medications to treat behavioral disturbances in autism.

In other work, scientists hope to gain insight into the roots of the brain changes by studying genes and brain tissue. Our genes control brain development and function. Research suggests that several abnormal genes, including some that may alter brain architecture, likely play a role in autism. While no single gene for autism exists, about five genes recently have been identified as contributing to some cases, suggesting that multiple genetic differences work together to promote the disorder. Genes may interact with environmental factors, which also could play a role.

Some of these genes appear to exert their effect at the synapse–the junction where nerve cells communicate with each other. Other work indicates that a gene may be responsible for controlling the number of nerve cells in a structure called the cerebellum that sits at the back of the brain (see illustration) and may contribute to abnormal brain function in autism. Once the genes that increase a person’s risk of developing autism are clearly determined, scientists should be able to develop a simple blood test that establishes whether a newborn harbors any of these abnormal genes. Eventually, researchers also may be able to design methods that counter the genes’ actions and treat the disorder, further breaking children free from the world of autism.

As research moves forward, children with autism will be diagnosed sooner, treated with a greater array of options, and start to connect with peers, parents, and loved ones.

Post-mortem studies and recently developed imaging techniques have helped to identify some of the major brain areas implicated in autism. The areas include the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and temporal lobe–particularly the amygdala. The disorder may result from the failure of various parts of the brain to work together.

Autism Video

Are people with autism trapped in their own world? Or are the rest of us just trapped in ours?

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/