As part of National Autism Awareness Month in April, CNN ran some interesting feature stories on a number of people who are suffering from the disorder. One young man featured, Bobby Smith, 10, has a story that should serve as an inspiration to family members of those who suffer from autism. Smith was non-communicative for the overwhelming majority of his childhood. He was diagnosed with the moderate-to-severe end of the autism spectrum as a toddler. “[Bobby] cannot tell us if something hurts, why he is upset or happy, where he would like to go, what happened at school today, what he would like to do for his birthday, what he would like Santa to bring him for Christmas,” Cheri Smith, Bobby’s mother told CNN in 2012. At the time of the 2012 interview, Cheri was looking for help and answers, as Bobby’s behavior was getting worse and he was unable…
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Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Home
Autistic Boy Learns How to Communicate, Serves as Inspiration
June 4, 2014Michigan Teen to Carry Brother On Back for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Walk
May 28, 2014A Michigan teenager attempting to raise awareness and money in the fight against cerebral palsy will carry his seven-year-old brother 40 miles on his back in a fundraiser walk. According to Today.com, Hunter Gandee, 14, has been carrying Braden, who has the disorder, on his back for as long as he can remember, to beaches, up and down mountains, and often just through their local grocery store. Hunter said he sees Braden as an inspiration. “Every day of his life so far has been harder than any single day of mine,” Hunter told TODAY.com. “He fights through it. He’s a trooper.” Braden reportedly supports his older brother by attending all of his wrestling matches. “He’s very special to me,” Braden said of Hunter, according to Today.com. “He always helps me out. He’s always there for me.” Due to his diagnosis, Braden struggles to walk and sometimes, to speak, the first…
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Autistic People More Likely to Suffer From Diabetes and Heart Failure
May 21, 2014According to DisabilityScoop.com, a study recently found that adults with autism are at higher risk for a variety of health problems ranging from diabetes and obesity, to heart failure. The web site reported that in a review of insurance records from nearly 23,000 adults, “medical and psychiatric issues are much more prevalent in those with autism as compared to individuals without the developmental disorder.” “Nearly all medical conditions were significantly more common in adults with ASD than controls, including diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy, sleep disorders, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity,” researchers at Kaiser Permanente Northern California said in a study summary. The researchers reportedly looked at medical records for individuals ages 18 and older, enrolled in the insurer’s health plans between 2008 and 2012 to evaluate the frequency of psychiatric, behavioral and medical conditions. Researchers found that among people with autism, nearly one third of people had obesity or hypertension, conditions…
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