AWARENESS UPDATES

On toys for kids with disabilities, autism, and more.  Read on:

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From:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/11/19/toymaker-playtime-inclusive/19860/

The maker of childhood classics like Mr. Potato Head, Play-Doh and Connect 4 is looking to ensure that kids with developmental disabilities know how to engage with its toys too.
Hasbro Inc. said Wednesday it is introducing a series of online videos and other tools to help children with disabilities learn to play with seven toys in its lineup.
The offering called “ToyBox Tools” is designed to help kids learn what each toy is all about, how to put the item together and presents children with alternative ways to engage independently or with peers.
The initiative emerged from employees at Hasbro concerned that kids with developmental disabilities were losing out on valuable opportunities to connect with others through play, the company said.
Hasbro officials described the effort as a pilot program and said they will continue to refine the tools, which are available online for free, based on feedback from experts and consumers. The company indicated that it may develop similar resources for additional toys in the future.

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From:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/11/18/pope-destigmatize-autism/19856/

For the first time, Pope Francis is set to meet with individuals with autism and their families during an international conference on the developmental disorder.
The pope will meet with families on Saturday, the Vatican said.
The gathering, which will include prayer and song, will cap a three-day conference put on by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers that officials indicated will bring together more than 650 people from 57 countries.
Organizers said their aim is to “help break the isolation and, in many cases, the stigma” experienced by people with autism and their families.
Speakers at the conference are expected to include researchers from the University of California as well as Bob and Suzanne Wright who co-founded Autism Speaks, among other advocates and experts from around the globe.
Topics on the agenda range from biological research and behavioral treatment options to the pastoral and theological aspects of supporting people on the spectrum.

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But also--from:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/11/20/seinfeld-doesnt-autism/19864/

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is backing off comments he made earlier this month suggesting that he may be on the autism spectrum.
In an interview with Access Hollywood, Seinfeld clarified that he does not have the developmental disorder.
“I don’t have autism. I’m not on the spectrum,” the 60-year-old comic said. “I just was watching this play about it and thought, why am I relating to something? I related to it on some level. That’s all I was saying.”
Seinfeld’s comments come just weeks after he told NBC News that he sees traits of autism in himself, explaining that he’s very literal and often struggles with social engagement.
“I think on a very drawn-out scale, I think I’m on the spectrum,” he said at the time.
The suggestion that Seinfeld, who’s currently promoting his web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” might have autism sparked controversy among those affected by the developmental disorder.
Some advocates welcomed Seinfeld’s acknowledgement, but others criticized the celebrity arguing that by attempting to self-diagnose he was making light of a disorder that can bring significant challenges.

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