MORE UPDATES

First:  since children with Moebius Syndrome sometimes, though by no means always, are affected by autism as well, note--working with pets can be a positive experience for children on the autism spectrum:

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Living with dogs, cats or other pets may help children with autism acquire social skills, researchers say in a new study that finds greater engagement among those with animals in the home.

In a survey of 70 families with children on the spectrum ages 8 to 18, researchers found that those with a pet displayed more prosocial behaviors.

“Children with any kind of pet in the home reported being more likely to engage in behaviors such as introducing themselves, asking for information or responding to other people’s questions,” said Gretchen Carlisle of the University of Missouri who worked on the study published recently in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Carlisle said that animals may serve as a social catalyst for children with autism, prompting kids to interact more than they might otherwise.

“Kids with autism don’t always readily engage with others, but if there’s a pet in the home that the child is bonded with and a visitor starts asking about the pet, the child may be more likely to respond,” she said.

Social skills continued to increase the longer families owned a pet, the study found. Children reported the strongest attachments with smaller dogs, though parents also indicated that their kids had deep bonds with other pets including cats and rabbits.

Of the families in the study, 57 had a pet of some kind. Most had dogs or cats, but the research also included families with fish, farm animals, rabbits, reptiles, a bird and a spider.

“Dogs are good for some kids with autism but might not be the best option for every child,” Carlisle said. “Kids with autism are highly individual and unique, so some other animals may provide just as much benefit as dogs.”


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And, on the physical differences/facial difference awareness front:  a positive development--note that a Super Bowl ad contained a young lady with Down's Syndrome:

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A third-grader with Down syndrome will be front and center on advertising’s biggest night of the year as part of a television commercial for McDonald’s.

Grace Ramsburg, 8, will be included in a one-minute TV spot for the fast-food chain alongside her brother, Adam, and father, Dale.

The commercial features restaurant customers stunned to learn that McDonald’s will be asking for nothing more than “lovin'” as a form of payment from select diners through Feb. 14.

The Naperville, Ill. family is seen embracing after being told “your total is one big family hug” in the ad that was filmed in December at two Chicago-area McDonald’s locations.

“All of the customers in our Super Bowl spot were random customers who had no idea they were being filmed to be in a commercial, let alone our Super Bowl commercial, until after the filming. So, this family was not specifically chosen but we’re thrilled they stopped into their local McDonald’s on that day to take part in this special commercial that is all about lovin’ our customers,” Lisa McComb, director of media relations for McDonald’s, told Disability Scoop.

The commercial will air during the first half of Sunday’s matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks and for two weeks following the game, McComb said.

Grace’s mom, Holly Ramsburg, said the family just learned Thursday that they would be included in the Super Bowl ad. She’s not sure if Grace grasps the enormity of it, but said she’s overwhelmed.

“There’s still misunderstanding and there’s still judgement,” Holly Ramsburg said of having a daughter with Down syndrome. “I feel like everyday when we go out and we’re able to get her face out there and get her personality out there it is wonderful.”

More than 111 million people watched the Super Bowl last year, according to Nielsen. Thirtysecond spots during this year’s game reportedly cost $4.5 million dollars.

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