Category: Blog Posts

NBC has developed a new sitcom called “Parenthood”. It is
based around the challenges of raising children and starting life over. What I
found interesting about this new show is that one of the main characters, Adam
Braverman, has a young son with Asperger Syndrome. Yes, it looks like
Hollywood’s interest in Asperger’s continues to grow.

Jason Katmin’s, Parenthood’s writer and executive producer, has a 13 year old
son with Asperger Syndrome and wanted to use this opportunity to raise public
awareness about the disorder and reduce the stigma around it. Wednesday morning
after the second episode aired, “Asperger Syndrome” was one of the
top Google searches. It looks like Jason Katmin’s hope is becoming a reality.

If you would like more information on Asperger Syndrome, please visit Asperger Syndrome
Frequently Asked Questions on my website.

Many of you have had the privilege of meeting my Office Coordinator, Michelle Lathim, in person. Michelle has been diligently working for me for a number of years and has truly been a blessing. I wanted to take this opportunity though to share a little bit about the work Michelle has been doing outside of my office.

For several years, Michelle and her husband Dwight have been volunteering at their local church to organize divorce recovery support groups. With divorce statistics on the rise, Michelle and Dwight recognized that this is a major need in the community. The groups have been a success and have multiplied!

The Lathim’s work was recently recognized by the New Heights Church. Last weekend they were asked to be the Keynote Speakers at the New Heights Navigate Gorge Getaway, a two day retreat for parents of young children who need time to relax and refresh their marriage.

I was thrilled to see that this wonderful opportunity that was extended to Michelle and Dwight. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. I will continue to blog about their future speaking engagements.

Many people who work in family-owned businesses, or family firms, have never
stopped to think of the concerns that are unique to family businesses. While
about half of the gross national product comes from family owned businesses,
and roughly half of America’s workers are employed in family firms, the family
business is seldom seen as having issues of any significant difference than
other sole proprietorships, partnerships or corporations.

Inc. Magazine decided it was time to dig deeper into family business
issues. Author, Christine Lagorio recently posted the article entitled, How to Run a
Family Business, which discusses how to run your family business the
right way. She interviewed experts on this topic asking them to share their
advice and lessons learned. Since I’m a Family Business Coach and the author
of, Entrepreneurial
Couples – Making it Work at Work and at Home, I was able to share some practical tips for family businesses.
I discussed the value of determining what your family style is and working that
into your business, as well as the importance of writing a formal
business-partnership agreement. Click here to
read the article in its entirety.

If you would like to learn more about family business or being an
entrepreneurial couple, please visit the
Entrepreneurial Life section of my website.

Asperger Syndrome: Partner and Family of Adults with ASD Meetup Support
Group was established in Portland, Oregon back in April 2009 and I am happy
to say that it is growing by leaps and bounds. The discussions we have are
honest and candid. They have proven to be beneficial no matter what stage of
life you are in with your partner or adult Asperger family member.

Our group also consists of extremely talented people with a wealth of
information to share. The next Meetup is scheduled for March 20, 2010 at
the Old Wives Tales Restaurant in Portland, Oregon at 1 p.m. It is very
heartwarming for me to see that members are willing to give of themselves to
each other. Even though the Meetup lasts but two hours, many members choose to
stay for another hour or two because the friendships are growing. If you are
interested in attending, please click
here for more information.

Another amazing experience is that members that live in different states, even
different continents, join in. Through our message boards members from afar can
reach out and be touched. For instance, we have had over 350 posts to the
message board on the subject “Patients Not Believed About The Difficulty Of
Their Lives” written by Bronwyn Wilson.

Please visit our message boards to read the discussions on a whole host of subjects
from increased meltdowns on the weekends, to learning patience and acceptance,
to the latest science and genetic research, to fatigue and self-care, and more.
Sharing is what it is all about.

Oren Shtayermman, a professor from the Department of Interdisciplinary Health
Sciences at the New York Institute of Technology, recently wrote a book review
of Life with a Partner for Spouse with Asperger Syndrome: Going
Over the Edge? His review was published by the
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. I was very pleased with
the review and wanted to share it.

I was particularly impressed about how supportive it was of NT’s living in
these types of relationships. For example, Shatyermman writes,  “The
author reveals in a sensitive and emotional manner, the encounters and endeavors
women (and few men) are faced with while living in a world where spontaneity,
empathy and social cues rarely appear.”

The book review concludes with this statement, “This is an exceptional
book which sheds light on a population often left out of the focus of treatment
and in need of further exploration vis-a-vis issues they encounter as well as
the possible ways to deal with those.”

Please click here to view the book review in its entirety.

A new study performed by the Neuropsychology Group, Institute of Cognitive
Science in France suggests that inhaling Oxytocin may be beneficial for people
who have high function autism (HF-ASD). Oxytocin is a hormone that acts as a
neurotransmitter in the brain and is thought to have an impact on emotions and
behavior. Oxytocin is also referred to as “the love hormone.”

The study was centered around a virtual ball toss with 13 adults with HF-ASD or
Asperger Syndrome between the ages 17-39. The patients were randomly given
either the Oxytocin nasal spray or a placebo spray. Those who inhaled Oxytocin
improved in their ability to differentiate “good” players versus
“bad” players by responding to more social cues. They also saw an
improvement in gazing at the other players in the face and eyes.

This study is still in the beginning stages of research. There is much to be
discovered in how much Oxytocin should be given and how often. Long-term
effects of this hormone are also unknown at this time. For a complete look at
this recent study, I recommend reading – Oxytocin Improves Social Interaction in High-Functioning Adults With
Autism.