Sept 3, 2018, Ames (IA) Tribune: Collins-Maxwell’s new therapy dog is settling into her position at the elementary school http://www.amestrib.com/news/20180903/collins-maxwell8217s-new-therapy-dog-is-settling-into-her-position-at-elementary-school Kimber, the 3 1/2-year-old black lab, is at work when she’s inside the school, and because of the way she’s been trained, any attention from a person — such as petting, or hugging — is supposed to be earned. “She’s here to do a job,” said Grandon, who has also made a place for Kimber in his home, along with his wife, Kristin; two daughters, Mia, 7, and Ellie, 4; and two other pets, a 4-year-old goldendoodle and a 2-year-old cat. … Allen holds the dog in her room for a reason: to help children with special needs in special ways. … Kimber also can help calm down a child who might be having a difficult moment. In fact, both Grandon and Allen agree that’s probably Kimber’s number-one mission in the school — being a calming, soothing presence for a child in need of one. … This was one way Kimber was utilized to help other students in the school, and Grandon said it’s important to note, Kimber is not just for the kids in special education. She’s there for all kids, and can help to calm down any child who has a difficult moment. … “It’s exciting for a school our size to have a therapy dog.”
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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