Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 31

WE) Lincoln Journal Star Friday, February 18, 2005 3E For Mi Wr lij. liTii'riiigiMiifc) nassM HUBBUB What's the best hand to write with? I i. J(rll PEPSI PRODUCTS STREET SCENE 6 PACK 24 oz. Bottles KIDS SAY "1, Where they learn the rules of sports Washington Post Here's what 8-to 12-year-olds said when they were asked where they learned the basic rules of sports: Mom or dad 70 percent Gym teacher 65 percent Coach 155 percent Watching sports on TV 50 percent Friends 49 percent Going to sporting events 27 percent Playing video games 27 percent Source: Harris Interactive i 01 MVnrw GENERAL MILLS yu- vriTl Im mm 20 oz. Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms or Honey Nut Cheerios iieenns mi LHj.wmn 1 1 mill IUHW.I.WJI This week's art is from Hannah Everett, 7, of Lincoln.

Hannah is a second-grader at Sheridan Elementary School. You, too, can see your art in Kids Corner. Send artwork to Erin Andersen, co Lincoln Journal Star, 926 Lincoln, NE 68508. Please include your name, age, address, telephone number, grade and school. r9 Tpuad jouadBipiMajTiMOjjsaqs.ji'jaiptaM PH0TOS.COM iW OUR FAMILY MAC CHEESE 7.25 oz.

5 stones into wet fabric paint if you want. Warning: Do not use glitter glue or white craft glue to stick anything to the CD. When the glue dries, it doesn't stick. To hang up your sun catcher: Since it will spin around, you want to decorate another CD and glue it to the back. It is best to decorate both CDs first and allow them to completely dry before gluing them together.

Glue a piece of fishing line between the two CDs. Let the fishing line stick out a few inches from the bottom. Thread a charm or crystal on the tail and tie it. Thread a needle on the other end of the fishing line and string on pom-poms, beads or craft-foam shapes. Leave some CD Friends Suncatcher What you need: A plain CD (the ones that come in the mail for free are perfect) A photo Scissors Double stick tape Fabric paint Flat-backed rhinestones (optional); Wliatyoudo: Cut your photo in a circle to go in the middle of the CD.

Use double-stick tape to attach it. Use fabric paint to make a decorative frame around the picture and hide the cut edge. Have each person in the picture sign hisher name with fabric paint and then decorate the CD. You can press flat-backed rhiner space in between each, so things look like they are floating. Tie the fishing line to a hook or curtain rod close to the window.

Source: "Best Friends Forever" by Laura Torres THE DECADENT COOKIES 10 to 12 oz. President's Choice Leant more Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- www.cdc.govncbdddchild. National Institute of Mental Health; Rockville, (301) 443-4513; www.nimh.nih.gov. i. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, '1 Bethesda.Md., 301 496-5133.

Red flags If your baby shows any of these signs, seek an immediate evaluation: No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by 6 months or thereafter. No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expres- sions by 9 months or thereafter. No babbling by 12 months. No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months. No words by 16 months.

No twoword meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months. ANY loss of speech or babbling or social skills at ANY age. Source: First Signs I 5W National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, (301) 496-5924; www.ninds.nih.gov. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore research, treatment and education for autism and related disorders, www.kennedykrieger.org Support organizations Autism Society of America, Bethesda, (800) 3AUTISM; www.autism-society.org. Autism Research Institute, San Diego, (619) 281-7165; www.autismresearchmstitute.com.

Cure Autism Now, a national foundation dedicated to the education and research into autism spectrum disorders, (888) 8AUTISM, or www.cureautismnow.org. First Signs a national organization dedicated to helping parents-whose children have autism. www.firstsigns.org. r. mm) i rf I V- SPLENDIDO PASTA FOT PRESIDENT'S CHOICE GROUND COFFEE enT 13 ox.

Gourmet rv PRESIDENT'S CHOICE 3 II lAlS PRESIDENT'S CHOICE SWISS STYLE STICKS rn7Dj 4.4 ox. Blcxk Oliv Cd or Gruyara Chaasa Autism Continued from Page IE Yet, the CDC states in its own lit-: erature: "From audience research we know that most parents are not aware of the developmental milestones their children should be reaching. And many health-care professionals are unaware of the importance of acting early if they suspect a developmental delay." Although there are no scientifically proven preventions or cures for autism, "we do know early intervention can profoundly affect the outcome," said Nancy Wiseman, founder of First Signs, an educational advocacy group for autism. The earlier children receive therapy, specialized education and in- tensive family interventions, the hjore likely they are to lead normal or close to normal lives when it comes to social, emotional and intellectual abilities, say experts throughout the field. The theory is that younger brains are more pliable and easier to retrain, which helps children compensate for and overcome the intellectual, emotional and social problems triggered by autism However, frequently children are not diagnosed with autism or an autism spectrum disorder until age 5 or later even though parents often notice the signs and sudden changes in their children within the first nine to 18 months of life.

Parents report a baby that once cooed, smiled and stared into their eyes just stops; normal developmental milestones, such as babbling, playing peek-a-boo, turning to the person who calls their name and saying those words every parent longs to hear "mama, dada" never come. Play is odd, repetitive or incongruous with the activity. In Alexander's case it was little things, like lining things up, preferring to bealone rather than roll a ball back and forth to his parents, or carrying a telephone book and anwld Flintstones" vitamin bottle much the same way other children cling to a blankie or teddy bear. Some children are extraordinarily "hyper," "sensitive to light, sound, taste and touch" or out of control more than any average "terrible 2-year-old." For years the experts doctors, teachers, well-meaning experts, and even parents followed die same advice: "Be patient" "Just wait, it will happen. Your child just marches to a different drummer Today, experts are beginning to rfriT I CRISP THIN ORGANIC GRAINS bCKEAL rOD mm 1 I 1 VKMtilVErta COD a uiiunivUJ rWR fa'1' iv iv pi mumgraiiif Miiuoni Grains, Muesli or Raisin Bran CHOCOLATE V99 99' see it differently.

Developmental problems are not something a child will "grow out of," the CDC said. And the longer families wait for the diagnosis and treatment, the more the odds build against a child's successfully overcoming autism's challenges. Doctors used to think it was impossible to diagnose autism in children before the age of 5, said Dr. Rebecca Landa, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. "Only recently have they begun diagnosing kids under age 3," she said.

In fiscal year 2004, Congress appropriated $16 million to the CDC to support autism surveillance, research and a public awareness campaign. Families need to know what to look for, Landa said. So do doctors and health-care providers who miss the signs or are not adequately trained to recognize them, said Wiseman of First Signs. "Most physicians have an in-creasingly limited time and ability to diagnose developmental disorders," Wiseman said. "They are not taught how to screen.

They are not taught how to tell the difference between a typical and an atypical developmental delay." Delay in diagnosis is not only devastating for affected families and children, but incredibly costly for schools, governments and the country. "It's a problem that costs upwards of $100 billion," said Peter Bell of Cure Autism Now, a national advocacy group. A CDC survey of children in Atlanta with autism found: PRESIDENT'S CHOICE DIJON MUSTARD 12 oz. Regular or Old-Fashioned COVERED NUTS 26.5 to 33 oz. Raisins, or Candy mw President's Choice or S.I ox.

Seafood Sauca PRESIDENT'S CHOICE 99 7 LUXURY BISCUIT ASSORTMENT 35 ox. President's ChoKO FOR 30 percent who met the definition of autism had received a differ-ent diagnosis 62 percent of children with autism also have another developmental disability 68 percent of children with autism have a cognitive impairment of some kind or another. Yet, only 18 percent of children with autism who need early intervention receive it, Wiseman said. "Autism is a crisis," said Paul Potito of the New Jersey-based autism advocacy organization COSAQ But everyone from the CDC to advocacy groups, such as First Signs, COSAC and Cure Autism Now, believes it is treatable and some day soon will be curable. Pam Geiger already sees dramatic differences in Alex.

His vocabulary is larger. He maintains eye contact And last May, for the very first time he said, "Mama." "He's just a totally different child from when he first started," Pam Geiger said. Still, he's behind his 3-year-old peers. And even at the rate he's progressing, Pam doubts he will catch up in time for kindergarten. Perhaps it would be different if only he was diagnosed earlier.

Roach Erin Andarean at 473-7217 or Bandersenjoumalstar.com. 24 ox. or Con Queo mi eWWJ 13i3 XlZZl "0" IZZ2 S. St. 2145 S.

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