Looking back on autism and special education in 2012

The year 2012 was an eventful year in the realm of special education and autism, from the domains of research and treatment to vital legislation mandating coverage of behavioral therapies by insurance companies. As we move on to 2013, it is important to consider the breakthroughs, as well as setbacks, during 2012, in order to move forward.

Research

• Scientists looked into precursors in infants and found that direct measures of brain functioning during the first year of life can be associated with a later diagnosis of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/precursors-infants-may-indicate-later-em...
• New methods were investigated by researchers in order to facilitate earlier diagnosis of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/new-studies-aim-for-earlier-diagnosis-of...
• Scientists discovered specific neurological markers in the brain in high-risk infants which indicated later emerging autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/research-finds-that-autism-can-be-detect...
• Scientists found genetic markers that point to abnormal brain and neuronal growth that may contribute to the development of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/genetic-defect-may-explain-abnormal-brai...
• Two studies looked at genetic mutations and abnormalities in pregnancy as possible precursors to the development of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/new-studies-seek-cause-of-autism-wake-of...
• Head lag in infants was seen as a possible indicator of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/head-lag-infants-may-be-early-indicator-...
• Multiple studies indicated that brain scans could be used for early diagnosis of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/multiple-studies-suggest-that-brain-scan...
• Father's age was again implicated in the development of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/father-s-age-is-implicated-the-developme...
• A dysfunction in the neuronal circuitry caused by autism was found to be reversible. http://www.examiner.com/article/neuronal-dysfunction-found-autism-can-be...
• Neural processing differences were found to possibly lead to many of the hallmark behavioral deficits found in autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/neural-processing-differences-may-lead-t...
• Half of children diagnosed with autism were found to engage in elopement. http://www.examiner.com/article/study-finds-that-half-of-children-diagno...
• Infants who were diagnosed with autism at six months of age are developmentally similar to those who were not diagnosed on the autism spectrum. http://www.examiner.com/article/autism-difficult-to-identify-infancy-stu...
• Low levels of cellular adhesion molecules in the brain were found to be a sign of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/deficits-cellular-adhesion-molecules-cou...
• Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases were found to be linked to rise in exemptions. http://www.examiner.com/article/outbreaks-of-vaccine-preventable-disease...

Treatment

• A study from the CDC indicated that half of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders were identified after five years , rather than the recommended two years of age. http://www.examiner.com/article/study-suggests-that-children-with-autism...
• Research indicated that autism was underdiagnosed in girls due to a gender bias. http://www.examiner.com/article/autism-may-be-underdiagnosed-girls-due-t...
• Hispanics were also found to be underdiagnosed with autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/study-finds-that-autism-and-developmenta...
• An antioxidant supplement was found to alleviate symptoms of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/study-finds-that-antioxidant-may-reduce-...
• Pharmaceutical companies aimed to release drugs for treatment of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/pharmaceutical-companies-plan-release-of...
• Sensory integration therapy was found to be ineffective for the treatment of autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/sensory-integration-therapy-ineffective-...
• Changes to definition of autism, and other developmental disabilities was approved for publication in the DSM-V. http://www.examiner.com/article/changes-to-autism-definition-approved-fo...

Politics and Insurance

• SB 946 went into effect July 1, mandating insurance companies cover treatments for autism and other developmental disabilities. http://www.examiner.com/article/questions-regarding-california-autism-in...
• Blue Shield of California agreed to retroactively cover applied behavior analysis as a form of treatment for autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/behavioral-therapy-for-treatment-of-auti...
• Cigna and Healthnet also agreed to cover behavioral therapy as a form of treatment for autism. http://www.examiner.com/article/cigna-and-healthnet-now-cover-behavioral...
• The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which manages benefits for federal government employees, determined that behavioral therapy merits insurance coverage for the treatment of autism for federal employees. http://www.examiner.com/article/government-expands-insurance-coverage-of...
• Automatic spending cuts threatened to cut $900 million from special education funding. http://www.examiner.com/article/automatic-spending-cuts-may-take-900-mil...
• A group of Democratic senators urged the Obama administration to mandate insurance coverage of autism treatment in the form of applied behavior analysis therapy. http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-administration-pressured-to-deem-a...
• President Obama was reelected, ensuring greater funding for education and special education programs. http://www.examiner.com/article/president-obama-is-the-only-choice-to-su...

Popular Culture

• A father spoke out against his autistic son being abused in his classroom. http://www.examiner.com/article/perspectives-on-stopping-abuse-of-childr...
• Comedy Central's "Night of Too Many Stars" raised over $3.1 million in grants to 41 programs in 13 states. http://www.examiner.com/article/comedy-central-s-night-of-too-many-stars...
• The tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut unjustly placed those with autism in a negative light. http://www.examiner.com/article/autism-and-asperger-s-syndrome-not-assoc...

Here's looking forward to more research, greater availability of treatment and wider acceptance of those with autism and other developmental disabilities in 2013.

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