SPECIAL NEEDS Things to Do Special Needs Events

February 8, 4pm

Technology that measures how the eye’s pupil responds to light is showing promise in research as a childhood screening tool for autism with a goal of toddler-age interventions that could significantly affect a child’s development, a Washington State University researcher said.

Children with autism, on average, aren’t diagnosed until age 4, which misses crucial times when they are developing language and speech.

“We know that when we intervene as early as ages 18 to 24 months, it has a long-term impact on their outcomes,” said Georgina Lynch with WSU, previously a speech-language pathologist who worked with children with autism. “Intervening during that critical window could be the difference between a child acquiring verbal speech and staying nonverbal.”

Lynch is an assistant professor at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and a lead researcher in a study that used what is called a portable monocular pupillometer for testing one eye at a time to measure how the pupils change in the presence of light. There will be ongoing research, but the first study tested 36 children ages 6 to 17 who had previously been diagnosed with autism, along with a control group of 24 children with typical development.

The study published in Neurological Sciences found that children with autism showed significant differences in the time it took for their pupils to constrict in response to light. It also took longer for pupils to return to their original size after light was removed among children with autism.

The goal is to develop handheld technology that could be used as part of a screening procedure to offer an objective measurement of risk for autism, Lynch said.

“Currently, the tools that are used are all behavioral in nature. They’re subjective. They’re observing behavior or relying on a parent report of behavior. This would allow a pediatrician to have a confident additional marker to make that decision to do a full evaluation,” Lynch said. “It’s really important to understand that this is supporting the screening stage. It’s not a diagnostic process, but it bolsters that screening process to get to that diagnosis earlier.”

“As a clinician, I noticed this state in kids with autism spectrum disorder where their pupils were very dilated even in the presence of bright light,” Lynch said. “That system is modulated in the brain by cranial nerves rooted in the brainstem, and adjacent cranial nerves affect your ability to acquire speech and language.”

It gets a little more scientific, she said. “There are what we call primary process systems deep in the brain that are disrupted,” including some nerves that affect how pupils react to light. Other nerves in the brainstem function similarly, affecting speech, language development, and hearing.

“As we think of kids with autism, as all of those things are disrupted during development, the pupillary light reflex is a good noninvasive measure to look at whether this part of the brain is functioning efficiently.”

This pupillary light reflex is the research term for how pupils react to light.

With funds from the Washington Research Foundation, Lynch has begun additional research among a younger age group, eventually to include at least 300 young children ages 2 to 4 across more clinical sites that include Spokane, Seattle, and Pennsylvania, where a major autism center is located. The Northwest Autism Center, near the WSU Spokane lab, is one of the clinical sites for work with the young children.

An estimated 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by age 8, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many kids get misdiagnosed or missed because of the subjective nature of testing, which is often based on behavioral signs, Lynch said.

Lynch said her desire to improve autism screening grew from her experiences watching parents struggle through the cumbersome process of getting a formal diagnosis for their children. j disabilityscoop.com

This evening orientation is an overview of statewide CARD services for transition-age teens and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or a related disability. Registration for CARD services will be conducted at this orientation session. Transition-age teens with ASD who are under the age of 18 should be accompanied be a legal guardian who is over the age of 18. Adults with ASD are welcome to invite other family members who serve as means of support in their lives to register and attend the orientation session. Registrants will be asked to submit documentation of their qualifying diagnosis to complete the requirements needed to access CARD services. Please contact brett.walden@jax.ufl. edu for more information. The meeting will be held online via Zoom. Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) / 904-244-3056 / pediatrics.med.jax.ufl.edu

CARD Retro Diner

February 8, 5pm to 6pm

Adults with autism spectrum disorder will have the opportunity to engage in facilitated social conversations via Zoom. This event will temporarily take the place of the Breakfast Club Meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Center for Autism and Related Disabilities / 904-633-0760 / pediatrics.med.jax.ufl.edu

CARD Parent Support Group/Craft Group

February 8, 5:30pm

A Parent Support Group for parents of CARD constituents. Conversation-based and activity-based craft group for parents led by CARD clinicians. Parents will be able to join virtually from the comfort of their homes or come into the office.

Center for Autism & Related Disabilities / 904-633-0760 / 6271 St Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32217 / www.hscj.ufl.edu

Autism Creates Family Workshop

February 11, 10am to 11am

Utilizing two educational components — hands-on art workshops and the museum galleries — the Autism Creates program harnesses art and art-making activities as means of promoting expression and social interaction among children with ASD and their teachers, caregivers, and peers. Monthly workshops are hosted on-site at MOCA Jacksonville for up to 10 children with ASD and their families. Families will explore the galleries, create art, and participate in sensory activities. Held the second Saturday of each month from 10am to 11am. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited and registration is required.

MOCA Jacksonville / 904-366-6911 / 333

North Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / mocajacksonville.unf.edu

Sibshops

February 15, 5:30pm

Sibshop is a gathering of siblings across the ages to create community, build support, and share in the stories that make them unique as siblings of individuals with developmental, intellectual, social-emotional, and medical disabilities. Siblings will be able to join virtually. There will be in-person opportunities available soon. For ages 8 to 12.

UF Health Center for Autism and Related Disabilities / 904-633-0760 / pediatrics.med.jax.ufl.edu

Behavioral Detective Social Skills Club

February 23, 5:30pm

Behavioral Detective Social Skills Club focuses on teaching students important social skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or related disabilities (that are conversationally appropriate) ages 8 to 12. Students learn how to be “Behavioral Detectives” and develop strategies for dealing with difficult social situations. Participants will be given strategies on how to initiate interactions and conversations, stay on topic, think from another’s point of view, read other’s nonverbal language, give compliments and take criticism, take responsibility and let go of control, and how to accept making mistakes and apologize when they’ve been made. Additional topics covered include dealing with anger, being a friend, understanding sarcasm, jargon and teasing, and learning to be a self-advocate. The Club utilizes several different instructional methods, including visual organizers, ABA ideals, interactive games, peer support, and video modeling.

Center for Autism and Related Disabilities / 904-633-0760 / pediatrics.med.jax.ufl.edu

Chillax

February 27, March 6, 20, 27, 4:30pm

Created by Dr. Ben Springer, author of Happy Kids Don’t Punch You in the Face and Totem PD, Chillax is designed for children between the ages of 8 and 12 who are into superheroes, supervillains, and comic book universes. The program uses a cast of comic book characters created by Dr. Springer to help kids identify the supervillains (bad behaviors) within them and the superheroes (good behaviors) they can use to combat their supervillains. This super-fun, face-to-face program is designed to increase mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills and is offered for up to eight children ages 8 to 12. This group will meet in person four times.

UF Developmental Pediatric Center / 904633-0750 / 6271 St Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32217 / ufhealthjax.org