Monthly Archives: July 2011
‘Biomarker’ for autism discovered
Richard Mills, Director of Research at The National Autistic Society (NAS), said:
Autism is highly heterogenous. This study does not answer all the questions on its causes; but it does give the scientific community the opportunity to further investigate what genes the ‘biomarker’ (in this case, reduced brain activity) affects, and possibly expand on our theories on the causes of autism. As such, we welcome its findings.
Urgent call for short break carers
Local woman Judi Gibbons, who provides short break care for children with disabilities, is lending her support to Kirklees Council’s drive to encourage others to take up the essential role.
Kirklees Council logo
Originally from Mexborough in South Yorkshire, 54-year-old Judi, has been looking after children with complex medical needs for 12 years, giving birth parents a much-needed break from caring. This can range from a couple of nights a week, a weekend or a week or two during the school holidays.
Commenting on her role as a short break carer for Kirklees Council Judi said: “I used to be a nursery nurse for children with special needs so I already had a lot of experience in this field.
Childhood trauma of the real Horse Whisperer
“It didn’t take much to provoke my dad into a rage – even just a look across the room “
Buck Brannaman, the model for the animal healer made famous in Robert Redford’s film The Horse Whisperer, is the subject of a new prize-winning documentary being tipped for Oscar success. Here he talks about how his difficult childhood brought him closer to the animal world.
“It didn’t take much to provoke my dad into a rage – even just a look across the room at him, he might take that as being provoking.
Just a glance at him, he might come across the room and he beats you up like you’re a full-grown man in a bar fight.
I got to where I could hardly look anybody in the eye. I just tried to be invisible. I was like a ghost in the room. And I was that way for a long time.
