Category Archives: Uncategorized

SPARK Webinar 8/16: IEPs

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Click for the PDF of the Webinar: spark_snapshot_report1

Hello SPARK Community Partners!

See below for information about registering for SPARK’s August webinar featuring Jennifer Krumins, M.Ed.  During this webinar, Ms. Krumins will discuss how parents can take an active role in their child’s educational planning and she will answer questions such as:

What is IDEA, and why should you care?

Why is an IEP essential?

Why are you a critical component of the child’s IEP?

Who else is a critical part of the team?

How can you, the parent, build an IEP?

What do you need to know to be an effective team member?

Ms. Krumins is the founder/owner of Autism Aspirations and Autism Aspirations Academy. Prior to starting her own business, she taught in schools for 26 years in Ontario, Canada. She is a passionate international speaker, educator, Certified Leadership Coach, and author. Her Master of Education degree is in applied psychology, and she has studied special education and autism extensively throughout her career.

As a reminder, these monthly webinars are free to families who are registered with SPARK, and are also free for our Community Partners. 

SPARK Webinar: Creating Meaningful Individual Education Plans (IEPs): What Parents Need to Know

Jennifer Krumins, M.Ed.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

9-10am PST

Click here to register.

Finally, I have also attached the recently-released SPARK Snapshot Report, which describes the current SPARK cohort!

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions about the webinar or about SPARK.  I can be reached at 206-987-7917 or by email at emily.fox@seattlechildrens.org.

Bernier Lab Summer Gathering

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The Bernier Lab gathered in June for our end of the year picnic at Montlake Playfield.  Staff, students, volunteers and families joined us for an afternoon of kick-pall, playground and food! Thank you everyone for all that you do to support the Bernier Lab and it’s mission to advance our understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder!

We want to give a special thanks to #MyIntent for providing everyone with amazing necklaces and bracelets, hand stamped with each person’s intent!

Longitudinal study on 16p11.2 deletion vs duplication

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The 16p11.2 deletion or duplication mutation is found on chromosome 16, and prevalent in approximately 1% of people with ASD.  The findings of a longitudinal study about 16p11.2 deletion and duplication suggest distinct developmental trajectories.  Fifty-six children with these mutations (33 with a 16p11.2 deletion and 23 with a duplication) were followed for several years in order to observe developmental changes.  Spectrum News posted a great article about the study, performed by the Bernier Lab and colleagues. Below are excerpts pulled from the article, and the full text can be found here: https://spectrumnews.org/news/chromosome-16-mutations-augur-distinct-developmental-paths/

  • Deletions typically lead to an enlarged head and obesity, whereas duplications result in a smaller head and low body weight. Both mutations are associated with language problems, intellectual disability and autism.
  • The children with a deletion showed declines in motor and social skills, whereas those with a duplication remained relatively stable in these areas. Both groups of children showed an increase in verbal IQ — which is expected with age — but their behaviors and nonverbal IQ remained relatively stable.
  • The researchers did not detect any patterns that distinguish the subset of deletion carriers with autism from the rest of the children with the deletion.
  • Among children with a duplication, those who have autism have weaker communication and social skills and lower verbal and nonverbal IQs at age 2 than do those without autism. They also show losses in motor skills and greater gains in verbal IQ with age than those without autism.

Bernier R. et al. Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 174, 367-380 (2017) PubMed

New research into a cell’s mitochondria and ASD

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Hundreds of genes have emerged as candidates for Autism Spectrum Disorder.  However, other genes found in a cell’s mitochondria may also be involved in Autism.  Mitochondria, a cell’s organelle that generates the main source of the cell’s energy, may have variants in its DNA (mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA) that contribute to autism.

Follow the Spectrum News article on the University of Washington’s Dr. Zoran Brkanac research into mtNDA and ASD. https://spectrumnews.org/opinion/viewpoint/new-tools-strengthen-old-link-autism-mitochondria/