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Message from the Director

Last quarter I mentioned how excited I was starting my long voyage learning tennis. In April, I attempted another sport I had never experienced– Snow Skiing. Although I have actually trained a number of people to prepare for ski season, I had only seen snow twice in my life. A cousin of mine who lives in Colorado insisted on giving me some instruction. Walking in the boots and carrying your gear to the lift was a workout in itself. The view and feel of the snow against my

Girl Skiing
face as we were transported to the top of the mountain were both refreshing and relaxing. It was breathtaking to see the sun peering through the mountains as it was snowing. My tranquil experience came to an abrupt halt as we hopped off the lift. On the mountain, I was frequently cued to keep my skis turned in and “to climb up the mountain” as I actually descended it.

I did not expect it to be as physically challenging as it was. In order to prevent injury, a skier must be in good cardiovascular condition and have good muscle balance (e.g. quadriceps as strong as hamstrings.) Those who have had previous leg injuries, especially knee, should focus on a specialized strengthening program several months before they ski. I find the elliptical machine and slide board excellent cross training tools for skiing. My final thought is that skiing is quite possibly one of the most invigorating sports around (always keeping in mind that this comes from a Florida native who is still very much a skiing novice).

Dyan Quesada MPT,ATC

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Autism - The Basics
By: Missy Poirier, OTR/L

Autism is one of the four major developmental disabilities. It occurs in one to two of every 1,000 births. It is a brain disorder, present from birth, which affects the way the brain uses information. Essentially it means that hearing, sight and other senses are not properly understood. This results in severe problems of social relationships, communication, and behavior.

The characteristics of autism differ in severity from person to person, but usually consist of the following:

♦ Severe delays in language development
    ● Slow to develop
    ● If developed, they will use a formal and monotone voice
    ● Usually includes peculiar speech patterns

♦ Severe delays in understanding social relationships
    ● Often avoids eye contact
    ● Seems to “tune out” the world around them

♦ Uneven patterns of the intellectual functioning
    ● May demonstrate a high level in particular skills in relation to their overall
       functioning. Examples of this are drawing, music, math and memorizing
       relative/non-relative facts.
    ● The majority of autistic people have varying degrees of mental retardation
        with only twenty percent having average or above average intelligence.

♦ Marked restriction of activity and interests
    ● May perform repetitive body movements, such as hand flickering, twisting,
       spinning, or rocking. They may also display repetition in their daily routine.
       Changes in their schedule cause them to be distressed.

The cause of autism is still unknown. Some research suggests a problem affecting parts of the brain that process language and information coming from the senses. There may be some imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, and possibly, involvement of genetic factors involved.

Researchers around the world are testing thousands of theories through mediums such as genetic screening, videotaping young children, and functional MRI & EEG testing, which can uncover dysfunction in the autistic brain. And with every study, they are developing diagnostic tests that will help people assess for the disorder at increasingly younger ages. Their ultimate goal is to find an early biomarker.

It is important for parents of autistic children to focus less on the difficulties their child has and more on who they are, and what they can achieve.

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