News of the Month August 2023

News of the Month August 2023

Here we are with News of the Month August 023.

Is TikTok helping autistic people self-diagnose? New research shows role app plays in diagnosis

People may now find mental health counselling on TikTok in addition to new dances and recipes there. Due to the app’s enormous teen popularity, there are worries that some teenagers may be diagnosing themselves with autism, ADHD, or depression based on the videos they view on TikTok.

The app is being used by teens to discuss and reflect on their autism diagnosis, learn more about autism, and, in some cases, themselves and their own undiagnosed autism, according to new research by a team at Northeastern University. Meryl Alper, associate professor of communication studies and principal investigator of the study, claims that #autisktok challenges the notion that a formal diagnosis is the be-all and end-all for individuals.

Read this news by northeastern

Lego makes special bricks for blind children

When the little daughter of Carlton Cook Walker experienced health issues that nearly rendered her completely blind, her mother knew she wanted her to learn Braille. However, the family’s school in a rural area in Pennsylvania’s centre faced opposition. When the girl was in preschool, a teacher noted that she could still read print as long as it was in 72-point type and held close to her face.

“What about when she’s in high school? I said. How will she read Dickens like this?'” wondered Ms. Cook Walker of her now-18-year-old daughter, Anna. The instructor’s unsettling reply was, “Oh, she’ll just use audio.”

Read this news by nytimes

AI ChatGPT-powered smart toys may soon be unveiled; Here’s everything parents need to know ahead of the holiday season

A new generation of intelligent toys driven by artificial intelligence (AI) will be released during the forthcoming holiday season. These cutting-edge toys are more sophisticated and interactive than cherished classics like Teddy Ruxpin and Furbys.

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart toys can learn from and adapt to their environment, which makes them more responsive and engaging than traditional toys.

Read this news by economictimes

Fisher-Price® Launches New Sensory BrightTM Line, Encouraging Children Ages 3 and Up to CreateCreate a sensory experience for themselves that is as individual as they are.

offering a variety of items that encourage inclusive, unrestricted play for kids ages 3 and up and provide experiences for the eyes, ears, touch, and nose. Fisher-Price® Sensory BrightTM Light Station, Fisher-Price® Sensory BrightTM SpinnyScopes, Fisher-Price® Sensory BrightTM Squish Scape, and Fisher-Price® Sensory BrightTM Squeeze ‘n Sniffs are the four complementary items in the new line, which is intended to promote exploration, problem-solving, and creativity.

Read this news by businesswire

Disability advocacy organisations fight for comprehensive health insurance as insurers limit coverage.

At a stakeholders consultation in Mumbai, NCPEDP executive director Arman Ali brought attention to the fact that disabled individuals in India still lack comprehensive health insurance by sharing his two-year struggle to have his wheelchair insured.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with the disability rights organisation and the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI), brought together insurance companies on Friday to discuss and lay out a vision for the future of insurance for the disabled in response to the NCPEDP’s call for rationalising and institutionalising insurances for disabled people.

Read this news by timesofindia

Bullish on India | Examining disability rights movement milestones for a brighter 2047

The 1980s saw the beginning of India’s experiment with disability rights, but 76 years after the country’s independence, the world’s largest minority group—people with disabilities—remains hampered by structural, psychological, and physical barriers that hinder them from actively participating in society. Let’s fix that by the year 2047.

Kavya Poornima Balajepalli describes her first trip to the beach with her family after she lost her sight due to a neurological condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). “Even though the journey was exhausting, when my toes touched the sand and water lapped on my feet, I felt free…as free as a bird,” she says.

Read this news by moneycontrol

A proud mother praising her daughter’s swimming prowess

Alapati Naga Sowjanya is proud to introduce Alapati Tejasvi, her daughter, who has three developmental disorders.

The 10-year-old’s first seizure attack led to an early diagnosis of cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and autism. She hardly knows how to sit, follow directions, or identify her parents, yet last year she stunned many with a water-related accomplishment. Tejasvi made it into the India Book of Records for her 33 minutes and 42 second water float. According to the certificate granted in March 2022, this is the longest term an individual with special needs has ever undergone.

Read this news by thehindu

Social acceptance of disability is required by current events.

The leader of a group that assists people with autism said that in order to foster acceptance of disability, more needs to be done in the community and in public areas.
Recently, the organisation chose to hold a programme in a park in Chetla at a busy time.
At an all-day lecture held on Friday at the Asiatic Society, people with autism discussed their personal journeys as well as those of their families.
The activities’ goal was to involve more and more people from the general public, not simply relatives of those with disabilities.

Read this news by telegraphindia