107.9 The River » autism

'Light It Up Blue' – April is Autism Awareness Month

John Riggs — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:12:00 +0000

The month of April is National Autism Awareness Month. This hits home to me as I have a son with autism. My son, Jaron, was diagnosed with autism a couple of years ago. I wasn’t shocked with the diagnosis as autism runs in my family and recognized some signs early on. He learns at his [...]

Amazing Six-Year-Old Boy With Autism Plays Billy Joel, Coldplay and More

Don Deane — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:30:51 +0000

It’s always exciting to see a young prodigy rock out on a musical instrument (especially since we can barely carry a tune ourselves). But six-year-old pianist Ethan Walmark is all the more impressive since he has Autism Spectrum Disorder and has been playing songs by ear since the tender age of four. In this clip, [...]

Controversy Erupts After Father Secretly Tapes Teachers Verbally Abusing Autistic Son [VIDEO]

Don Deane — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:00:14 +0000

Confused by reports that his autistic son had suddenly become violent at school, New Jersey dad Stuart Chaifetz made the child wear a recording device in an attempt get to the bottom of things. Shockingly, he discovered that a teacher and a teacher’s aide were verbally abusing learning-disabled children at Horace Mann Elementary School in the town of Cherry Hill.

Autistic Kids Get a Special Meeting with 'Sensitive Santa' [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:12:58 +0000

The bright lights, loud music and long lines can often keep autistic kids from engaging in a holiday ritual many children enjoy: an annual visit with Santa.

So one mall opened early last Sunday morning for some low-key “sensitive Santa” time.

Study Finds Autistic Kids Have Too Many Brain Cells — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:22:34 +0000

New research finds autistic children’s brains have far more neurons in the prefrontal cortex than those of kids who don’t have the disease. Study author Eric Courchesne, a professor of neurosciences at the University of California’s San Diego School of Medicine and director of the Autism Center of Excellence, said, “For the first time, we [...]