Positively Autism ~ Intelligence Testing and Autism ~ September/October, 2008

Intelligence Testing and Autism
Volume 3, Issue 6 ~ September/October, 2008

Positive Autism News

Student with Autism Serves on Governor's Youth Council
High School senior Michael Mayes recently became one of the students to serve on Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's Statewide Youth Council. The council gives young people the opportunity to relay their concerns about community issues to state legislators. Michael plans to use his place on the council to advocate for other children with autism. Of the potential of her son and other children with autism, Michael's mother says, "Many autistic kids have extraordinary gifts. "It's just a matter of finding out what that gift is and helping kids to develop it."
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An Artist with Autism
Ben Carroll, age 14, is an artist who loves to paint and draw animals. "The friendlier animals," he says, not the "scary animals that eat other animals." Ben also has autism. Of his artistic talent, Ben says, "When I paint, I always draw lightly and gentle. ... I do a very, very beautiful job."
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Teen with Autism Gives Speech on Inclusion
Jacob Artson, a 16-year-old with autism, recently gave a speech about the condition at a conference on building inclusive Jewish congregations and communities. Jacob and his father were both featured in the keynote address at the Los Angeles conference. On inclusion, Jacob says, "It doesn't actually take any training to be a leader who models inclusion. It just takes an attitude that all people are made in God's image and it is our job to find the part of God hidden in each person."
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Autism Researcher Profiled
A recent news feature on professor Simon Baron-Cohen highlighted some of the strengths and gifts associated with autism. Specifically mentioned is having a high level of attention to detail. In the article, Baron-Cohen states that it is important to recognize these strengths because they can often lead to talents, such as art or mathematics. Baron-Cohen also hopes that we can develop methods that target the challenges associated with autism while, "supporting people with autism [so] that their strengths can blossom."
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