Join the Fight and Enter to Win!

Buzzer beaters, upsets, and crowd-roaring sounds...yes, March Madness has arrived.

This year, we encourage you to look beyond your brackets and team colors and join the fight against autism. On March 27th, from 1:00-5:00pm at the James Island County Park, we will be combining the love of college hoops with the need for more and better research and treatment for autism spectrum disorders.

Join the MUSC Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and hosts Raphael James of WCSC's Live 5 News and Kelly G. of 95sx, as we make an effort to increase autism awareness across the state. You can show your support by attending the event with your family and friends, entering the free throw competition, purchasing raffle tickets, or bidding on the silent auction.

There is much fun to be had by all on March 27th:

General admission tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Free Throw Competition: tickets to enter the competition are $30 (includes general admission). Competition is based on NCAA bracket format so there are only 64 spots available!!
Winner of the free throw competition will win TWO TICKETS TO NCAA FINAL FOUR IN HOUSTON!!! (includes hotel accommodations!)

Live 80s music by Playlist and Hope Sound

Raffle to win a Carnival Cruise!

Jump castles and Cupcake the clown for kids!

Sticky Fingers BBQ


So, as you are awaiting the Final Four on TV, why not enter for your chance to see the action LIVE while supporting a worthwhile cause?

Approximately 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Keep this in mind as you are keeping an eye on your picks this year. Next year you will have the opportunity to, once again, root for your team in the "big dance", but these children and their families will continue to face the struggles associated with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. They may be bullied, picked last or not at all for the basketball team. They may not have the ability to show you that they want to play, too.

Please, join the fight. Visit http://www.autismhoops.org/ or call (843) 792-7267 to see how you can help.

Diagnosing Autism Using Brain Imaging

Some exciting new research recently came out of Children's Hospital of Boston (one of the best Children's Hospitals in the country) which offers hope that doctors will one day diagnose autism more reliably, affordably and rapidly (see http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/22/brain-scans-may-someday-detect-autism/?hpt=C2). While the results of the research are preliminary, there is no doubt that the days of using brain images and brain activity to diagnose Autism will be soon upon us. Results from another recent study in England indicate that scientists could reliably diagnose Autism in adults males by measuring the patient's brain images.

The diagnostic process in Autism is key, especially since we know that early detection of the illness leads to better outcomes. If you suspect that your child or anyone you care about may have Autism, encourage them to have testing-you could make a huge difference in that child's life!

Dr. Gwynette