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News Archive
January 2010
Mother inspired to write by disabled daughter makes Waterstone's prize shortlist
January 2010
Desperate Measures, written by Laura Summers after she struggled to find stories that would resonate with her child, is among finalists for the £5,000 award.
The debut novel by a mother who turned to fiction after struggling to find literature that spoke to her disabled daughter has been shortlisted for the Waterstone's children's book prize.
Laura Summers decided to write Desperate Measures when she realised that very few children's books featured protagonists with learning disabilities. "I've got a daughter with a learning disabilityand I felt there weren't any role models for children with disabilities and their siblings," said Summers.
Alison Flood, The Guardian, Thursday January 14th 2010
Baby's brain study trial to help autism research
January 2010
A baby boy took part in a brain study today to help psychologists understand how autism develops.
Matai, from Durham, was fitted with a cap with sensors attached so his brain activity could be recorded.
Four-month-old Matai Reid was monitored by scientists at Durham University to see how he responded to different moving images on a television screen.
Matai, from Durham, was fitted with a cap with sensors attached so his brain activity could be recorded.
Dr Vincent Reid, a psychologist at Durham University, said: ''We don't yet know enough about how the brains of very young babies develop and how they react to things.
''It is vital we know more so we can identify problems and developmental delays much earlier which could lead to earlier diagnosis of conditions such as autism.''
The Telegraph, Thursday January 14th 2010
Hacker granted review on extradition ruling
January 2010
Gary McKinnon faces up to 70 years in jail if found guilty of hacking into Pentagon computers.
A High Court judge will rule on whether Home Secretary Alan Johnson was wrong to allow the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon, it was announced today.
Mr McKinnon's lawyers have been granted permission for judicial review of Mr Johnson's decision that sending him to the US for trial would not breach his human rights.
His lawyer, Karen Todner, said she was "delighted" by the decision. A hearing is likely to take place in April or May but she warned that Mr McKinnon, who suffers from a form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome, was in a "very poor mental state" because of stress.
The Independent, Jack Doyle, Press Association, Wednesday January 13th 2010
