Kennedy Krieger Institute

When the handwriting on the wall spells autism - The Washington Post - November 12, 2009
The Washington Post’s The Checkup blog featured an entry from Jennifer LaRue Huget on the autism and handwriting study. In her post, Huget provides an overview of the study, noting that researchers are from Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins. Children with ASD who performed best on the handwriting test clenched the forearm of their writing hand with their non-writing hand.

Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills: New Insights into Autism - Psychology Today - November 11, 2009
Psychology Today’s Brain Sense blog featured the handwriting study published in Neurology. Faith Brynie, a scientific and medical writer, provides an overview of the study and quotes Dr. Amy Bastian.

Writing Study Ties Autism To Motor-Skill Problems - NPR's Morning Edition - November 11, 2009
Today, NPR Morning Edition featured the following story on the handwriting study published in Neurology. Jon Hamilton reported that many children with autism not only struggle with social skills and communication, they also have great difficulty with handwriting. Amy Bastian, Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory of the Kennedy Krieger Institute says that this study is indicative of a much larger problem with motor skills, and this problem may carry over into social interactions in children with autism.

For Intelligent Children With Autism, Handwriting Is Barrier - ABCNews.com - November 10, 2009
The article introduces Barbara Wagner, a mother of two boys with autism, whose eldest son participated in a study on handwriting in children with autism. The article explores the notion that children with autism may have an inability to recognize fully the actions and cues of others, explaining many of the characteristic behaviors of autism. Dr. Bastian said that although this is not a proven fact, a lack of certain fine motor skills may inhibit a person with autism’s ability to understand some of the nonverbal communication cues sent by others.

Kids With Autism Need Handwriting Help - WebMD.com - November 9, 2009
The article introduces Jennifer Toney and her son, Alex who has autism and describes the difficulty Alex experiences with writing numbers and letters. Amy J. Bastian, PhD, PT, and colleagues at Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute, have identified a central clue [to poor handwriting]. Using a test that dissects five separate aspects of handwriting, they showed that normal-intelligence kids with autism can align, size, and space their letters as well as normal kids. The problem is that they have great difficulty forming their letters -- suggesting that the problem relates to motor control.

Twin Study Underscores Role of Genes in Autism - ABCNews.com - October 22, 2009
When one identical twin develops the developmental disorder autism, the risk of the other developing it is high -- substantially higher than it is for fraternal twins, a new study confirms.

Autism Diagnosis - Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists - October 13, 2009
Dr. Amy Keefer offers advice to parents after a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

Celebrating Kara's care - Baltimore Sun - October 11, 2009
Featured in this article are April and Tom Darchicourt, parents of Kara, who received care at Kennedy Krieger before passing away. The Darchicourt's organized the Toy Run in honor of their daughter and to bring excitement to the children being treated at Kennedy Krieger.

Grandparents Can Join the Hunt for Causes of Autism - U.S. News & World Report - October 6, 2009
Nancy Shute features the IAN Project's Grandparents Survey as well as the latest twins research. Read more for an overview of the IAN Project, find links to the study abstract and reasons why IAN is impacting autism research.

Brain injury can be mild or serious - Baltimore Sun - September 21, 2009
In this expert piece Dr. Beth Slomine of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at Kennedy Krieger offers five tips of advice relating to head injuries, specifically when and how to seek help.

Reaching Past Spina Bifida - Today in PT - August 17, 2009
At Kennedy Krieger, patients with spina bifida (SB) receive traditional PT such as gait training, bracing, wheelchair consultation, and transfer and mobility training. However, Karen Good, PT, OCS, staff physical therapist and neuroscientist, has developed a unique program that goes beyond classic PT to help maximize each patient’s mobility.

'Benefits Go Beyond Sports' Autistic Children Find an Outlet In Swimming - The Washington Post - July 22, 2009
Justin Etherton, 13, participates in competitive swimming and according to his parents it “has been the best thing that has every happened to him.” Justin races each week as a member of the Kenmont swim team. Team members have embraced him and root for Justin as he races, and although he finishes behind the other swimmers, swimming has provided him an important social outlet that serves as “invaluable therapy,” according to his parents.

iPhone App Gives Voice to Those Without - News Channel 8 - July 16, 2009
Brittany Perkey was involved in a tragic car accident and was in a coma for five and half months. She started undergoing extensive speech therapy at Kennedy Krieger and has been using an iPhone application called ProLoQuo2Go to talk for her.

Think safety before diving in - The Baltimore Sun - July 6, 2009
Dr. Cristina Sadowsky of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute offers tips on how to prevent diving injuries at the pool.

Kennedy Krieger outpatient center set for grand opening - Maryland Daily Record - May 28, 2009
The Weinberg Building celebrated its official grand opening today!

Redirecting a 5-year-old's rage - Charm City Moms - June 29, 2009
The mother of a 5-year-old submitted a question on how to redirect her 5-year-old’s anger. Susan Parks, director of Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Behavior Management Clinic, differentiates between tantrums and behavior labeled as rage. She also advises parents on how to discern the underlying function or purpose of the behavior and how caregivers should address the behavior.

Kennedy Krieger garden cultivates hope, healing - Baltimore Sun - May 23, 2009
Read about the new therapy garden at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where children and young adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic injuries receive physical and occupational therapy integrated in nature.

Changes at Kennedy Krieger Institute make the hospital friendlier for patients - Baltimore Sun - May 20, 2009
Read about the new Outpatient Center in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building. Don't forget to check out the photo gallery for a first glance!

Devices Aim to Help Children With Autism Speak - Washington Post - April 28, 2009
This article talks about the variety of devices that help children with autism express their needs, ranging from notebook-size plastic boxes to devices that resemble a Blackberry.

A Scholar's Inventive Approach To Leonardo - Washington Post - April 27, 2009
This article profiles Dr. Jonathan Pevsner and highlights his role on the Discovery Channel series "Doing da Vinci." It describes his fascination with Leonardo DaVinci and how it originated and also provides a glimpse into both his work at Kennedy Krieger and his life at home.

Concert supports research on syndrome - Baltimore Sun - April 26, 2009
This Baltimore Sun article profiles Ida Heck and her daughter, Jenna, who has Sturge-Weber syndrome. Dr. Anne Comi provides information on Sturge-Weber, stating that one child in 20,000 is born with Sturge-Weber and most pediatricians don't know it exists, while others have only an elementary understanding of how it affects carriers. To help raise awareness and money for research, the Heck family began the Bands on the Bay fundraiser, an annual concert, auction and barbecue dinner that features Annapolis-area bands and prominent athletes. The Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center primarily uses the aid to fund studies on what causes the syndrome, treatment optimization and improving early diagnosis.

Catching Autism Early - Maryland Morning Your Public Radio - April 17, 2009
Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute are finding new ways to catch the attention of infants and toddlers with autism, and change the way their brains develop. Dr. Rebecca Landa, the director of the Institute's Center for Autism and Related Disorders, or CARD, appeared on Maryland Morning to talk about CARD's latest research.

Racers Prepare For Kennedy Krieger ROAR For Autism - WJZ Baltimore - April 23, 2009
Gretchen Townsend talks about her and her family's experience with Kennedy Krieger and the upcoming ROAR event. Gretchen's son Brendan has autism and the past year of treatment at Kennedy Krieger has been a good one. She expresses her gratitude for Kennedy Krieger in the story, saying it's a world leader in autism, education and intervention. The piece also features Dr. Kay Holman and closes with details about ROAR.

Family rallies against autism - Towson Times - April 22, 2009
Gretchen Townsend and her family are profiled in this article. Gretchen speaks about how autism has personally affected their family and their subsequent involvement with ROAR for Autism and the Early Achievements program at Kennedy Krieger.

What you can do to help a child cope with autism? - Good Morning Maryland - April 14, 2009
Dr. Brian Freedman, the Clinical Director at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, appeared on Good Morning Maryland, the morning show for the ABC affiliate in Baltimore. Interviewed by host Megan Pringle, Dr. Freedman spoke about autism in general, the importance of early detection and intervention, and ROAR for Autism!

Cyber Scout Puts Autism Studies On Faster Track - NPR - April 8, 2009
Since launching two years ago, Kennedy Krieger's Interactive Autism Network (IAN) has registered more than 10,000 families nationwide and has just opened enrollment to adults with autism. This growing Web-based autism registry is helping researchers in the field with one of their biggest problems: recruiting.

Magic in the Water - Baltimore Sun - Jan. 5, 2009
Trips to the National Aquarium are key to a Kennedy Krieger program that helps autistic youngsters master social skills.

Early Warning Signs of Autism - Good Morning America - November 2008
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed guidelines for detecting autism and getting early treatment, with the help of Rebecca Landa, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Miracle Girl - Washingtonian Magazine - Nov. 1, 2007
Erin and her twin sister were attached at birth. The risky surgery that separated them left Erin partially paralyzed, and no one knew if she’d ever walk. Now three years old, she’s defying the odds.