Monthly Archives: May 2018

Science & Research

New Wearable Detects Meltdowns Before They Happen

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A new wristband may give autistic people and our caregivers warning that a meltdown is coming up to three minutes before they happen. A version of the wristband is already FDA approved and on the market to help detect seizures. Dr. Rosalind Picard of MIT presented the results on Friday at the 2018 International Society for Autism Research annual meeting in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. ­­ During her keynote, Dr. Picard emphasized the importance of looking beyond neurotypical facial expressions and cues to determine how autistic people feel. Dr. Picard began her keynote by stressing the importance of autistic feedback in her work. She recalled an autistic friend's observation that “my biggest problem is not understanding the emotions of others. My biggest problem is you are not understanding my emotions.” Alexithymia, or difficulty understanding how one feels, is a common problem in the autistic community. This can often lead to situations in which someone does not notice … Continue Reading ››
News

AARP Calls the Cops on Disabled Protesters

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Today, ADAPT protested at major nonprofits in Washington DC, to demand support for the Disability Integration Act. By the end of the day, both  the Heritage Foundation and Center for American Progress  expressed their support for the bill. AARP, however, decided to call the police to disperse disabled protesters. AARP represents the interests of older Americans and reports a membership of over 38 million Americans. The Disability Integration Act prevents state and local officials and insurance companies from denying community-based long term services and supports to disabled people. First introduced by Senator Charles Schumer, the bill has bipartisan support, as well as support from such prominent non-governmental organizations as the ACLU, Move On, The Arc, and Human Rights Campaign. ADAPT members used their bodies and wheelchairs to block AARP employees from entering and exiting the building. “Many American’s spend decades in their homes; they build lives there and raise their families. Their … Continue Reading ››