Parenting Time When Distance is a Major Factor

Parenting time can be difficult for divorced parents who do not live in close proximity to each other.  The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines has taken this fact into consideration and devotes a specific portion of the guidelines to such situations.  When there is a significant geographical distance between the parents, scheduling parenting time is fact sensitive and requires consideration of many factors such as employment schedules, the costs and time of travel, the financial situation of each parent, and the frequency of the parenting time among other considerations.  The attorneys at Hollingsworth & Zivitz, P.C. can work with you to ascertain a schedule that fits with your family.  Don’t let distance deter you from seeing your children and being a significant part of their lives.

If you are considering a divorce or currently face a divorce, it is a good idea to discuss your situation with a Hollingsworth & Zivitz, PC family law attorney. Hollingsworth & Zivitz, PC serves clients in the greater Indianapolis area including Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Hamilton County, as well as Zionsville, Avon, Brownsburg, and the counties surrounding Marion County.

To discuss your divorce or family law issue with a Hollingsworth & Zivitz, PC attorney, call 317.DIVORCE or visit our website at www.hzlegal.com.

Detecting Autism

There have been many debates regarding the causes of Autism. It is a question that has haunted many parents who wonder if they have done something wrong to cause their child to have Autism. Although some types of Autism have known causes, most are found to be idiopathic, or without a known cause. There are many theories as what causes autism, including vaccinations, immune deficiency, food allergies, genetics and many other theories. However, none of these theories have been proven.

You would think that with so much information available, someone would have figured out the cause of Autism by now; though, it is still seemingly a medical mystery.  However, researchers from Boston Children's Hospital may have brought us one step closer to discovering the cause of Autism. The researchers have found that recent tests measuring the electrical activity in the brain can distinguish children with Autism from children with typical brains as early as 2 years of age.  Their study was published last week in the online journal, BMC Medicine. Researchers compared raw data from the electroencephalogram tests, or EEGs, of 430 children with Autism and 554 other children from 2 to 12 years of age. Children with Asperger Syndrome did not participate in the testing. The researchers found that children with Autism had consistent EEG patterns showing altered connectivity between different parts of the brain. In general, they showed reduced connectivity compared with the other children's brains. As we get closer to pinpointing the brain’s functions and its effects on human behavior, we grow closer to solving the mystery of the causes of Autism.

There are other ways to identify whether children have any type of autism, but many of these signs go unnoticed. Early detection, however, can have a huge effect how students progress and develop if they get early-intervention services to match their needs and support their development. There are also some known causes, including Depakote (also named Valproate), which is an anti-seizure medication taken during pregnancy; Fragile X syndrome, which is a genetic disorder; Rett Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder affecting only females, Tuberous Sclerosis, which is a rare genetic disorder; and Prader-Willi Syndrome, which is also a rare genetic disorder.

According to The National Association of School Psychologists, students with Autism are most often diagnosed by school staff. It may be possible, however, that the EEG patterns could change the way children are diagnosed. The researchers believe that their findings could lead to a diagnostic test for Autism, particularly at younger ages when behavior-based measures are less reliable. The researchers plan to next study the EEG patterns of children with Asperger Syndrome and children with Autism. This promises to reveal why it affects some children in one way and others in another.

Regardless of the cause, getting a good support system in place for your child is vital. If you are struggling with your child’s school to diagnose and/or provide appropriate support to your child with Autism, we can help. Please visit Indianaspecialeducationlaw.com for more information. 

 

The Fastest Man on No Legs

            It was a monumental Olympics for many reasons, but it was a milestone in the world of individuals with disabilities because of one man, the man known as the “Blade Runner.”  It's a fitting end to his lengthy fight to participate, having first been banned from international competition with able-bodied runners.

            Pistorius is the South African runner born with deformities to both of his legs.  Never knowing what it is like to walk on his own feet, he had the deformities amputated and began his walking career on prosthetics. And so began the inspiring career of the Blade Runner.

            Controversy surrounded his medal legs, and there were claims that his artificial limbs gave him an advantage over runners with natural ankles and feet. This controversy helped keep him out of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  However, at the 2012 Summer Olympics on August 4,Pistorius made history by being the first amputee runner to compete at an Olympic Games. In the 400 meters race, he took second place in the first heat of five runners, finishing with a time of 45.44 seconds (his best time of the season so far) advancing to the semi-finals.  He ran in the second semi-final, where he finished eighth with a time of 46.54 seconds.

            The debate around Pistorius flips how most people view disability. Pistorius brought about the fear that his medal legs had given him an unfair advantage. The argument is that the blades give Pistorius an added bounce that allows him to conserve oxygen and calories and that the medal would never tire like normal lower leg portions. However, the argument that Pistorius receives an advantage by his medal legs has been disproven by many scientists who have examined his movements, and point out the many disadvantages he must overcome. In any case, Pistorius is a refreshing antidote to the scandals that normally surround individuals with disabilities.

            Walking into history on medal legs, Pistorius has inspired many.  He is indeed the fastest man on no legs. My hope is that he brings awareness to others who have thought that their disability stops them from succeeding in their dreams. Pistorius has blurred the lines on disabled and able bodied individuals, a fete many have been working to do for years.  I think Pistorius said it best when he said “You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."