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Eye-Tracking Tool May Help Diagnose Autism More Quickly and Accurately, New Studies Suggest

By Jacqueline Howard and Deidre McPhillips, CNN
Updated 11:36 AM EDT, Tue September 5, 2023

Most families of children with autism may face long wait times to diagnose their child with the disorder, and once a diagnosis is made, it sometimes may not be definitive.

But now, two studies released Tuesday suggest that a recently developed eye-tracking tool could help clinicians diagnose children as young as 16 months with autism – and with more certainty.

Kids’ developmental disability diagnoses became more common during pandemic, but autism rates held steady, CDC report says
“This is not a tool to replace expert clinicians,” said Warren Jones, director of research at the Marcus Autism Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Nien Distinguished Chair in Autism at Emory University School of Medicine, who was an author on both studies.

Eye-Tracking Tool May Help Diagnose Autism More Quickly and Accurately, New Studies Suggest full article

Nearly 99% Of Adults With Autism Have No Employment Services

by Michelle Diament | August 22, 2023

Hardly any adults with autism are receiving supports to help them find or keep a job, new research shows, and even among the few who do, the services are often far too short-term.

Some 1.98 million working-age individuals on the spectrum – or almost 99% – accessed no employment supports through Medicaid or vocational rehabilitation between 2008 and 2016, according to findings published this month in the journal The Milbank Quarterly.

Nearly 99% Of Adults With Autism Have No Employment Services full article

P.E.I. Mom Tracks Son in Toronto on Social Media, Struggles to Bring Him Home

Joanna Lavoie
CP24 Web Content Writer
Published Aug. 15, 2023

A Prince Edward Island woman’s months-long quest to bring her estranged son home from Toronto highlights the challenges families face accessing health care options for loved ones living with mental illness and the gaps in social supports, says one local street nurse.

Five years ago, Marlene Bryenton’s adult son started experiencing delusions and was diagnosed with a serious mental illness, she says. He was initially staying in various places in the Maritimes, but earlier this year relocated to southern Ontario.

P.E.I. Mom Tracks Son in Toronto on Social Media, Struggles to Bring Him Home full article

As Canada Prepares to Expand Assisted Suicide, Advocates Warn of Threat to Mentally Ill

By Daniel Payne
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 31, 2023

Mental health advocates and pro-life activists are expressing concerns over a possible expansion of Canada’s assisted suicide rules that would permit residents
to seek fatal medical treatments even if they are not suffering from a fatal affliction.

Canada first legalized assisted suicide in June 2016 for adults suffering from irreversibly deadly illnesses. In 2021 the Canadian government said it would wait an additional two years to extend those services to mentally ill citizens to “study how MAiD [medical assistance in dying] on the basis of a mental illness can safely be provided.”

As Canada Prepares to Expand Assisted Suicide, Advocates Warn of Threat to Mentally Ill full article

Delay of Eligibility for Medical Assistance In Dying for Persons Suffering Solely from Mental Illness Proposed by Ministers of Justice and Health

From: Department of Justice Canada
February 2, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Government of Canada

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a complex and deeply personal issue. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians’ needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and freedom of choice.

Under Canada’s current MAID law, persons suffering solely from a mental illness who meet all eligibility criteria and for whom all applicable safeguards are met would be eligible for MAID as of March 17, 2023. However, today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, introduced legislation to extend the temporary exclusion of eligibility for MAID where a person’s sole medical condition is a mental illness until March 17, 2024.

Delay of Eligibility for Medical Assistance In Dying for Persons Suffering Solely from Mental Illness Proposed by Ministers of Justice and Health full article

Study: Even With Fivefold Increase, Autism Likely Undercounted

by Shaun Heasley | January 26, 2023

New research suggests that autism prevalence rose as much as 500% in recent decades, but it still may be underdiagnosed.

In an analysis of data on 8-year-olds in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area between 2000 and 2016, researchers found that the number of children with autism and intellectual disability doubled over the time period. Among those without intellectual disability, however, the increase was fivefold.

Still, the study published online Thursday in the journal Pediatrics finds that disparities in diagnosis persist and many kids may remain overlooked. Children from affluent areas were 80% more likely than those from underserved areas to be flagged as having autism with no intellectual disability while Black children in this category were 30% less likely to be identified as compared to white kids.

Study: Even With Fivefold Increase, Autism Likely Undercounted full article

McDonald’s Fired Man Who Worked There 37 Years In Violation Of ADA, Lawsuit Says

by Julia Marnin, McClatchy News/TNS | January 27, 2023

A man who received awards and accolades for his work as a McDonald’s grill cook was fired after 37 years of working for the fast food giant, federal officials said.

Two months after a different franchisee became the new owner of the McDonald’s in Deptford, N.J., it fired him because he has autism, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

But firing the grill cook violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal agency said.

Now the McDonald’s franchisee, JDKD Enterprises, L.P., has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle the disability discrimination lawsuit, the EEOC announced.

McDonald’s Fired Man Who Worked There 37 Years In Violation Of ADA, Lawsuit Says full article

Denied Long-Term Disability for Mental Health Issues: Your Rights

December 16, 2022

In Canada, long-term disability (LTD) claims for mental health issues make up the lion’s share of claims filed each year.

Despite mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, being recognized as conditions that can affect your ability to do your job, many insurance companies still turn down legitimate claims.

By refusing to provide you with disability benefits, insurers are able to bolster their bottom line.

Not only does this prevent you from accessing crucial financial support, but it can add to the mental and emotional distress you are already dealing with before applying for disability benefits.

Denied Long-Term Disability for Mental Health Issues: Your Rights full article

International Para Athletes Flocking to Cutting-Edge Accessible Program in Cochrane

Timm Bruch
CTV News Calgary Video Journalist
Published Dec. 3, 2022

It’s only a few months old, but a para snow program in Cochrane is already gaining international attention.

The Canadian Para Snow Sport Training Centre officially launched in September. Based out of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, it offers wheelchair and visually-impaired athletes training in multiple disciplines, both on and off the slopes.

“For me, it means a lot,” para alpine skier Hanna Chilson said. “Every day we are out training and learning new things and improving our abilities. Everything we need is in this building.”

The centre offers an accessible gym, swimming pool, arena and physio facility.

International Para Athletes Flocking to Cutting-Edge Accessible Program in Cochrane full article

Local Diabetic With Vision Loss Pushing for Legislated Accessibility on All Medical Equipment

Author of the article:Dave Battagello
Publishing date:Nov 22, 2022

Slowly making progress on getting changes secured with manufacturers on insulin pumps to accommodate those with vision loss, a local man is among those now focused on seeing new federal legislation put in place so all medical equipment must pass accessibility tests.

Ryan Hooey, 36, of Tecumseh has been dealing with diabetes since childhood and lost his eyesight almost overnight because of the disease roughly 10 years ago due to diabetic retinopathy.

Canada has one of the highest rates of retinopathy – 25.1 per cent of people living with diabetes – which is the leading cause of sight loss in working-age adults. An estimated 750,000 Canadians live with the condition.

Local Diabetic With Vision Loss Pushing for Legislated Accessibility on All Medical Equipment full article