Analysis credits diagnostic change with increased cases of autism

“Autism Awareness” puzzle-piece ribbon magnet on a car
Photo by Cynthia Parkhill

On Disability Scoop, Shaun Heasley summarizes a new study suggesting that changes to autism diagnostic criteria may be more responsible than anything else for rising prevalence rates.

Researchers applied current diagnostic criteria to data from a 1980s study on autism prevalence.

I appreciate this study bcause it corroborates my argument: that improved detection is responsible for an increased number of cases of autism. I disagree with highly-politicized reactions to autism prevalence rates.

From the June 29 summary on Disability Scoop:

“The original study, published in 1989, looked at hundreds of Utah residents ages 3 to 25 who were suspected to have autism. Clinicians used DSM-III criteria to assess individuals as ‘diagnosed autistic’ or ‘diagnosed not autistic’ and ultimately found an autism prevalence rate of 4 in 10,000 in Utah at that time.

“But when a research team from the University of Utah applied current diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV-TR to records from participants in the two-decades-old study, they found that most who were deemed to be autism-free at that time would receive the label today.”

Speaking for myself, it was immensely reassuring to receive diagnosis in adulthood. For people like me, whose challenges went undetected while we were growing up, this study is additional good news. From Disability Scoop:

“The analysis found that 59 percent of those who were ‘diagnosed not autistic’ in the 1980s would qualify as having autism today, while an an additional 38 percent of people showed some characteristics of autism. 

“Meanwhile, those who were found to have autism in the 1980s study continued to qualify for the diagnosis using the current criteria, the study found. 

“‘The results of this study demonstrate a significant effect on ASD case status attributable to changing ASD criteria, particularly with regard to individuals with intellectual impairment,” the researchers said. “An important caveat, however, is that we were unable to determine whether it was the broadening of the criteria themselves, or the interpretation of the criteria, which lead to this effect.’”

Great article about yarn bombing and libraries

Yarn Bombing @ Your Library: Installation with Dewey number theme

The Spring 2012 issue of The Idaho Librarian, an online publication of the Idaho Library Association, features a great article, “Getting Bombed in Boise: Yarn Bombing and Libraries” by Ruth Patterson Funabiki.

Attention paid to yarn bombing in this article goes a long way toward promoting it as a legitimate art, particularly one that is of benefit to libraries.

I recently embarked on an advocacy project of leaving yarn bombing tags at libraries. These small-scale items take the form of crocheted banner messages that wrap around a railing or tree branch.

The tags bear messages like “Support Libraries.” “Love My Library.” One recent creation bears the Dewey classification number for books about knitting and crochet.

(I was taking a class in cataloging at the time and was simultaneously savoring Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain).

I am glad to see The Idaho Librarian and the Idaho Library Association encouraging the art of yarnbombing.as a way to enhance libraries' programming and public image.

Like the article states, “yarn bombing offers library users an opportunity for artful free expression.” As a yarn bomber, I choose to use this free expression to advocate for libraries.

In modified format, this blog entry is adapted from an assignment for Cuesta College class CIS 210, to write a letter of introduction.

Yarn Bombing @ Your Library: Berkeley bike racks

Post by Yarn Bombing at Your Library.

Dewey-classification inspired yarnbombing tag

At the George and Elsie Wood/St. Helena Public Library in St. Helena, Calif., I invited Anat Kolumbus to be part of my installation team for this yarnstorming tag, which displays the Dewey classification number for books about knitting and crochet.

New president for Autism Speaks

I learned this weekend, by reading a post on DisabilityScoop.com, that a new president, Liz Feld, has been appointed at Autism Speaks.

Articles are not letters are not articles

If I were to update my 2009 Toastmasters submission about submitting effective PR, I would be sure to emphasize: pick a news article format or “letter to the editor.” Don’t submit a mash-up of both.

Useful questions for information literacy

Among ideas being explored for the focus of a news curation team, Steve Buttry and Mandy Jenkins raise the question of how to evaluate, verify and attribute the information they curate.

Evaluation role is natural for curation team

At Digital First Media, Steve Buttry and Mandy Jenkins plan to launch a news curation team. The opportunity intrigues me because, as Jenkins rightly points out, “curation is what journalists have been doing since Gutenberg.”

‘Join the Journalists’ on TV8

The recent presentation by Record-Bee newsroom staffers, “Join the Journalists,” was filmed for broadcast on TV8. According to the TV8 program guide for the week of June 11 to 17, the program is scheduled to air at 10:02 p.m. (Pacific Time) tonight, 11:04 a.m. Thursday and 5:01 p.m. Saturday.

‘What does good service mean to you?’

“What does good service mean to you?” I decided to write about this question when I considered how readily I tell businesses that their actions have disappointed me. Do I as readily communicate about service that I consider to be exemplary? The purpose of this essay is to do just that.

‘Delete the adjectives’

“Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I’d have the facts.” ― Harper Lee

 With its Facebook status update on June 7, I Love Libraries shared this great quote. When re-posting it, I commented that this quote would be ideal on the in-box for community news submissions.

New fiction book about teen with Asperger’s

Fresh from earning an A in my Cuesta College course, Connecting Adolescents with Literature and Libraries, the Young Adult (YA) genre remains one that I gravitate toward naturally.

Too much Facebook privacy can be bad

On Lifehacker, Adam Dachis suggests that being too private on Facebook can hurt you because “When you post nothing, everyone else decides who you are.”

Hand-made grocery sacks extend life of T’s

Hand-made shopping bag with T-shirt logo and handwoven trim for straps

I had to retire a T-shirt from wear but wanted to preserve the logo because it had sentimental value for me. As it happened, I had a length of hand-woven trim that complimented the logo perfectly.

EcoArts opens June 10 in Middletown

Nature’s Eye, created by Marianne Martinelli’s second-grade class,
Coyote Valley Elementary School

This morning, Jonathan and I took a walk down Highway 175 to Middletown County Trailside Park. There, artists have been working to install exhibits for this year’s EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk.