Like many students across the Valley, Jodie Howard's son has struggled with distance learning since schools closed abruptly last March due to the coronavirus pandemic. He has autism and has a hard time understanding why his computer, once a source of gaming fun, now represents hard work and challenges as...
Some Autistic Youths Detained in UK In "Horrific" Conditions
LONDON — A British Parliamentary committee says some young people with autism or learning disabilities are being detained under "horrific" conditions and has called for an urgent overhaul of the medical system overseeing their treatments. In a report issued Friday, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said it heard "grim" evidence about how young...
Special-Needs Advocates Pack 1-2 Punch With BREN Clinic
Parents of special-needs children in the Valley have two bright, organized, and hardworking advocates in their corner. Meet Jodie Howard. After battling school officials to obtain needed services for her autistic son, she enrolled at San Joaquin College of Law to gain the knowledge to help him and others like...
Tech Can Aid Search for Wandering Adults with Dementia
LOS ANGELES — A new program that uses electronic bracelets to find missing people with dementia or autism has been launched in Los Angeles partly in response to the death of a 55-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease who wandered away from her husband during a visit to a museum. During...
Big Data Shows Measles Vaccine Doesn’t Cause Autism
By Jan Hoffman At a time when measles outbreaks are mounting among clusters of unvaccinated children, notably in Washington state, New York and Texas, a new large study published this week found no association between the measles vaccine and autism — a reason often given by parents for rejecting inoculation. The...
On the Record: Sen. Pan on Changing Vaccine Laws and When it May Happen
Richard Pan is the state senator who launched a thousand flame wars. To those who believe vaccines are essential for keeping school children safe from disease, the Sacramento Democrat is a hero and champion. [text-wrap] Richard Pan Interview from GV Wire on Vimeo. For those who have alternative views on...
'Sweet' Holiday Sounds Break Heart of Mom With Excluded Son
School holiday concerts and plays are a source of great pride for parents. The singing, acting, and costumes often provide joyful lifetime memories. But the holiday program Wednesday night at Figarden Elementary School triggered anguish in Chrissy and Michael Kelly. Special Needs Class Excluded That's because the school excluded Parker...