Shannon and I interview Geradine Wurzberg director of the film Wretches and Jabberers.

The film is about the world travels of two middle-aged autistic men with severe communication difficulties. They travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland to meet other adults with autism and to share more information about autism to different parts of the world.

From IMDB:

In 'Wretches & Jabberers and Stories from the Road', two men with autism embark on a global quest to change prevailing attitudes about disability and intelligence. With limited speech, Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, both faced lives of mute isolation in mental institutions or adult disability centers. When they learned as adults to communicate by typing, their lives changed dramatically. Their world tour message is that the same possibility exists for others like themselves. At each stop, they dissect public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful challenge to reconsider competency and the future. Along the way, they reunite with old friends from the USA, expand the isolated world of a talented young painter and make new allies in their cause.

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Today I had a great talk with Dan Tedesco of HandHold Adaptive and the new iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) app called AutismTrack .

I talked with Dan a while back in episode 86 about their first product, iPrompts. One of the things I enjoy most about our conversations is the facsinating picture Dan paints for the future of these handheld devices and how they can help individuals with ASD.

Here is more about AutismTrack from their website:

AutismTrack™

A new app from the makers of iPrompts®! Featured by Apple as "New and Noteworthy"

AutismTrack™ is a portable, customizable data tracking tool that empowers caregivers of those with autism to easily track interventions, behaviors and symptoms. Checkboxes allow daily recording of any therapy, medicine or diet. Simple "sliders" allow rating of any behavior or symptom (e.g., eye contact, aggression and echolalic speech).

With multiple reporting features, this information can then be reviewed and shared, to help parents and other caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) answer the ongoing and ever-puzzling question: "What seems to be working, and what's not?"

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The other day I came across an article called “Aging with Autism.” It talks about adults with autism and working. As my son ages (he is ten now) I more often think about his future and how it will all play out.

So I contacted the Dr. Scott for an interview. Shannon and I discussed the Adult Autism and Employment Guide that he wrote (find it here) as well as his March 3-4, 2011 conference on autism and employment.

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Shannon and I talk with Marty Kelly who has twice made the trip to Central America for stem cell transplants for her autistic son. After the first trip, Marty noticed significant gains in many areas and decided to make a recent, repeat trip.

We discuss the process of how stem cells work and the procedure used for her son.

Marty feels, and explains, that there is no downside to a stem cell transplant other than it not working. However, stem cell transplants are not allowed to be done in the USA and the Mayo Clinic writes on their website that: ” A stem cell transplant poses many risks of complications, some potentially fatal. Although some people experience few problems with a transplant, others must endure frequent tests and repeated hospitalizations.” For more information, see here and here.

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