Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski

ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS OF EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND PARENTS ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Tanja STANKOVA, Vladimir TRAJKOVSKI
JOURNAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION 2010; 11(3-4): 16-29

Abstract

The right to work is one of the fundamental human rights in all developed countries around the world. The employment, actually the right to work of persons with disability is the final phase of the long and complex process of their rehabilitation that affects the possibility of their integration in the community.
The main objective of this research is to investigate the possibility of employment of people with autism, based on the attitudes and opinions of employers, employees and parents of the children with autism.
The basic tasks of this research are: to determine whether the employers would employ a person with autism; weather employers and the employees know what autism is; weather according to employers and employees people with autism are able to perform their job duties in complete and weather the parents of children with autism
would like their child to be employed.
We conducted this research in a period of 3 months and included 130 respondents. Obtained data were collected, grouped, tabled and processed with standard statistical program Microsoft Office Excel 2003, applying Ç2 tests and Fisher's Exact test. Statistical important difference was at the level of p<0.05. From the analysis and the interpretation of the results, we concluded that in the Republic of Macedonia do not exist positive atmosphere, for
employment of the persons with autism, the employers do not want to employ a person with autism. The professionals must engage more deeply in this problematic in order to achieve a complete integration of the people with autism in the society.

Open Access Week

In order to promote Open Access at the Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation will organize a lecture in which Prof. Vladimir Trajkovski, chief-editor of Open Access Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation (JSER) will present the journal to the wider audience. For more information about JSER visit http://jser.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/
The guest speaker, Dimitar Poposki, Information Science PhD candidate, will speak about the use of Open Access, Open Source software for Academic Publishing and Digital Preservation and E-learning (E-print, DSpace and Moodle). The creation and use of Open Educational resources in the context of Open Access will also be mentioned.
JSER editor-in-chief

Avicii & Sebastien Drums - My Feelings For You

Celiac Disease Presenting as Autism

Stephen J. Genuis and Thomas P. Bouchard

Journal of Child Neurology, January 2010; vol. 25, 1: pp. 114-119., first published on June 29, 2009


Abstract

Gluten-restricted diets have become increasingly popular among parents seeking treatment for children diagnosed with autism. Some of the reported response to celiac diets in children with autism may be related to amelioration of nutritional deficiency resulting from undiagnosed gluten sensitivity and consequent malabsorption. A case is presented of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with severe autism at a specialty clinic for autistic spectrum disorders. After initial investigation suggested underlying celiac disease and varied nutrient deficiencies, a gluten-free diet was instituted along with dietary and supplemental measures to secure nutritional sufficiency. The patient’s gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated. This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction and suggests that in some contexts, nutritional deficiency may be a determinant of developmental delay. It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.

Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization Findings in a Cohort Referred for an Autism Evaluation

G. Bradley Schaefer, Lois Starr, Dianne Pickering, Gwenn Skar, Kristi DeHaai, and Warren G. Sanger

Journal of Child Neurology, 0883073810370479, first published on August 20, 2010


Abstract

The development and refinement of array comparative genomic hybridization has led to expanded applications as a diagnostic tool. Recent reports suggest a high diagnostic yield for array comparative genomic hybridization in autism spectrum disorders. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic yield in array comparative genomic hybridization for autism at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The authors report the diagnostic yield of array comparative genomic hybridization in 89 samples with a primary indication of autism. Clinical information was reviewed for 89 identified cases. Twenty-one cases were excluded because of ambiguous information regarding the diagnosis, a diagnosis other than autism, or abnormal karyotype. Of 68 cases referred for array comparative genomic hybridization testing with a primary indication of autism, 14 (21%) had abnormal findings. This study supports array comparative genomic hybridization in the etiologic evaluation of autism and elevation of array to a first tier diagnostic test.

Engaging with the self: Mirror behaviour in autism, Down syndrome and typical development

Vasudevi Reddy, Emma Williams, Cristina Costantini, and Britta Lan

Autism, September 2010; vol. 14, 5: pp. 531-546., first published on September 14, 2010


Abstract

Children with autism achieve mirror self-recognition appropriate to developmental age, but are nonetheless reported to have problems in other aspects of a sense of self. We observed behaviour in the mirror in 12 pre-school children with autism, 13 pre-school children with Down syndrome (DS) and 13 typically developing (TD) toddlers. Reliable differences in reflecting actions, social relatedness and positive affect towards themselves, and an absence of coy smiles differentiated the children with autism from the others. The children with DS showed the highest interest in their own faces. These differences were largely independent of mirror self-recognition (MSR), broadly supporting arguments for dissociation between interpersonal and conceptual aspects of self. Mirror behaviour may be a subtle but easily elicited measure of the social quality of a sense of self.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment of Children With Autism

Audrius V. Plioplys

Journal of Child Neurology, February 1998; vol. 13, 2: pp. 79-82.


Abstract

Since autism has been associated with immunologic abnormalities suggesting an autoimmune cause of autistic symptoms in a subset of patients, this study was undertaken to investigate whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) would improve autistic symptoms. Ten autistic children with immunologic abnormalities, demonstrated on blood tests, were enrolled in this study. Their ages ranged from 4 to 17 years, with two girls and eight boys. Eight children (1 female and 7 male) historically had undergone autistic regression. Intravenous immunoglobulin, 200 to 400 mg/kg, was administered every 6 weeks for an intended treatment program of four infusions. In five children, there was no detectable change in behavior during the treatment program. In four children, there was a mild improvement noted in attention span and hyperactivity. In none of these children did the parents feel that the improvement was sufficient to warrant further continuation of the infusions beyond the termination of the program. Only in one child was there a very significant improvement, with almost total amelioration of autistic symptoms over the time period of the four infusions. Once the treatment program was completed, this child gradually deteriorated over a 5-month time period and fully reverted to his previous autistic state. In this treatment program, five children had no response to intravenous immunoglobulin. In the four children who showed mild improvements, those improvements may simply have been due to nonspecific effects of physician intervention and parental expectation (ie, placebo effect). However, in one child there was a very significant amelioration of autistic symptoms. There were no distinguishing historic or laboratory features in this child who improved. Given a positive response rate of only 10% in this study, along with the high economic costs of the immunologic evaluations and the intravenous immunoglobulin treatments, the use of intravenous immunoglobulin to treat autistic children should be undertaken only with great caution, and only under formal research protocols. (J Child Neurol 1998;13:79-82).

Neuropathological and Genetic Findings in Autism: The Significance of a Putative Minicolumnopathy

Manuel F. Casanova

The Neuroscientist, October 2006; vol. 12, 5: pp. 435-441.


Abstract

Autism is a condition manifested as abnormalities of relatedness, communication, range of interests, and repetitive behaviors. Despite alarming prevalence estimates and exhortations to research, little is known regarding its pathophysiology. Recent reports of a putative minicolumnopathy explain changes in brain size, gray/white matter ratios, and interareal connectivity. This article summarizes possible links between minicolumns and other topics—cortical modularity, age of onset, gliosis, and genetics—relevant to the pathophysiology of autism.

Celiac Disease Presenting as Autism

Stephen J. Genuis, MD, FRCSC, DABOG, DABEM, FAAEM
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Gluten-restricted diets have become increasingly popular among parents seeking treatment for children diagnosed with autism. Some of the reported response to celiac diets in children with autism may be related to amelioration of nutritional deficiency resulting from undiagnosed gluten sensitivity and consequent malabsorption. A case is presented of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with severe autism at a specialty clinic for autistic spectrum disorders. After initial investigation suggested underlying celiac disease and varied nutrient deficiencies, a gluten-free diet was instituted along with dietary and supplemental measures to secure nutritional sufficiency. The patient’s gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated. This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction and suggests that in some contexts, nutritional deficiency may be a determinant of developmental delay. It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.

Journal of Child Neurology, January 2010; vol. 25, 1: pp. 114-119.