New ADHD med approved

The FDA has approved Intuniv for treatment of ADHD in children. An extended-release form of guanfacine, "the way it works is unclear, but the drug is thought to directly (sic) engage receptors in the brain's prefrontal cortex."

"The Autistic Surfer"

Check out this very interesting article by Jonah Lehrer about surfer Clay Marzo, who has Asperger Syndrome.

"Mad But Glad"

-- An interesting video/program about Tourette Syndrome and creativity.

"ADHD on the track"

Here is another nice article about sports and ADHD. We have been urging our son to run as a menas of managing his ADHD. Now, he is training for a half-marathon that he will run with me in the fall. He is doing the half-marathon as a fundraiser for the Tourette Syndrome Asociation. I have to admit, however, that recently exercise has had no impact at all on O's distractibility.

Asperger Syndrome and cinema

Yesterday's New York Times featured this story about three upcoming films that focus on Asperger Syndrome.

What is the long-term impact of using ADHD medications?

Thanks to Carolyn K. for the heads-up about this article from Scientific American Mind.

This caught my eye

At the end of a story in our local paper about the most recent school board meeting, I saw this paragraph:

Two parents of special education students, who have regularly attended meetings since last fall, again talked about questions they submitted to administrators regarding their children. They had received answers to over 100 collective questions submitted and are now waiting for answers pertaining to their individual children. [The board president] said the questions are in the hands of district professionals and it would take time to answer them.

I expect there is more to the story than this. As a homeschooling parent, I am not "in the loop" with regard to issues in our local district. I do know that I have seen and heard a number of unkind remarks about these parents and about providing services and accommodations to children with special needs. I was rather suprised by this, since the townspeople who know us and who, more specifically, know my son, in general have been very tolerant, accepting and understanding. Perhaps I am merely hearing the opinions of the lunatic fringe?

At any rate, when I see that these parents have been advocating for their children for the past year, at least, and they do not seem to be making much progress, I wonder just how much of a battle we would have to wage to get O the accommodations he needs. But, again, perhaps there is more to the story....