Latest news with #Autistic
USA Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Rosie O'Donnell slams Donald Trump as 'tangerine Mussolini' as feud escalates
Rosie O'Donnell and President Donald Trump's decades-long feud continues to intensify. The former cohost of "The View," 63, took aim at the president, 79, in social media posts July 15 and 16, days after Trump threatened to revoke the American-born actress and host's U.S. citizenship, despite the lack of constitutional power to do so. During a 10-minute-long TikTok video July 15, O'Donnell took aim at the president, saying she is "safe here in Ireland, I'm out of the reach of the 'tangerine Mussolini'" in reference to disgraced Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. O'Donnell moved to Ireland earlier this year with her son Clay, 12, telling her fans that Trump's re-election inspired her relocation. In her July 15 post, O'Donnell added that she was "expecting (Trump) to do something as absurd as he did" because "I've had 20 years of abuse from him, so I knew it wasn't going to stop." The friends-turned-foes' feud date back to O'Donnell's days on the panel of ABC's "View" talk show, which she co-hosted from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2014 to 2015. On the show, O'Donnell infamously mocked Trump as "the moral authority" during a 2006 episode although he has multiple children with different women. In her July 16 post, O'Donnell said that she moved to Ireland because "it got sad and scary for me with the election of the current president, so I knew I had to take care of my kid — my non-binary, Autistic kid. And the way that people marginalize and attack the Trans community, especially politically, is unfathomable to me, and so unbearably cruel." In a Truth Social post July 12, Trump took aim at O'Donnell "because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship." "She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" Trump wrote. A rep for O'Donnell directed USA TODAY to her client's statement on Instagram, saying that "nothing else will be said." In March O'Donnell said on TikTok that she is "in the process" of obtaining Irish citizenship through family descent. Under current U.S. law, Americans cannot lose their citizenship even if they obtain citizenship in a foreign country.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major charity shop chain shuts another four stores after closing 29 – see the full list
We reveal how charity retailers are warning of more store closures below RETAIL BLOW Major charity shop chain shuts another four stores after closing 29 – see the full list Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR charity shop chain has shut another four stores after closing 29 following a consultation. Scope pulled down the shutters on branches in Rochdale, Nuneaton, Gillingham and Wednesbury yesterday (June 27). Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Scope closed four stores yesterday Credit: Alamy The four stores, as well as three others which Scope has closed, have been taken on by fellow charity A World UK CIC. The three other shops transferring to A World UK CIC are in Dewsbury, Bridgwater and Scunthorpe. It is not clear when the seven stores will reopen under A World UK. Eight staff members from the stores will keep their jobs and move to working for the charity. Brad Thorpe, managing director of A World UK, which supports the Autistic community, said: "We are excited about this transition and the opportunity it brings to expand our reach. 'Welcoming these seven Scope stores and eight dedicated employees means more than just growth. "It's a chance to strengthen and support the autistic community in even more areas across the UK." The latest announcement from Scope comes after the charity retailer shut 29 of its branches across the UK following a consultation. This is on top of six sites which shut due to their leases ending. These are the 29 shops that closed in March, April and May: Amersham Barking Bangor Birkenhead Bishop Auckland Castleford Devizes Dewsbury Eastbourne Haywards Heath Lewisham New Milton Orpington Parkstone Scunthorpe Shirley (Southampton) Skipton Workington Newport Southampton Atherstone Welling Blyth Hove, George Street Burton Erdington West Hampstead, London Exmouth Bury Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down Scope said last month a further 35 stores will shut as part of the consultation, bringing the total number of closures to 70. Meanwhile, another five are set to close later this year, as well as potentially two more, bringing the total number of closures to 77. The four stores that shut yesterday are included in this group of 77, meaning up to 38 more stores will close. Scope first launched a consultation to look at reducing its store estate in January. Like many other retailers, the charity has been struggling for footfall into high street stores. However, despite its challenges on the high street, Scope's online sales have boomed in recent years. It saw online sales increase by 75% in 2023/24, up £1.2million on the year before. HIGH STREET STRUGGLES UK high streets have been in decline for years due to the onset of online shopping. High inflation in recent years has chipped away at shoppers' wallets and purses too. The Centre for Retail Research said more than 13,000 high street stores shut in 2024, with more to come in 2025. The centre's analysis found that 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut their doors for good over the calendar year. The charity sector specifically has been hit hard. The Charity Retail Association, which represents charity retailers, said in a recent blog post its members were reporting "the worst time for trading they have ever encountered". A survey by the association found 36% were considering reducing the number of paid staff on their books and 27% were planning to close shops. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
STEPS Behavioral Health Announces Grand Opening of Columbia, Maryland Clinic
Bringing high-quality, child-centered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to the heart of Howard County. COLUMBIA, Md., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- STEPS Behavioral Health is excited to announce the opening of its newest clinic at 8310 Guilford Road, Suite D, Columbia, MD 21046, bringing high-quality, child-centered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to the heart of Howard County. STEPS currently operates two clinics in Baltimore County and provides in-home therapy throughout the state of Maryland for families with Autistic children. The Columbia clinic will launch with core offerings of ABA therapy programming, designed to support children across a range of developmental needs. Early STEPS : A flexibly scheduled Preschool Prep ABA therapy program for children ages 18 months to 5 years, focused on early intervention and school readiness skills. Summer STEPS : Our seasonal ABA-based camp program is designed for school-aged autistic children who receive ABA services year round. Summer STEPS focuses on building social skills in a fun and structured environment and infuses our campers individualized treatment goals into their program. Social STEPS : A structured evening social skills group for school-aged children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Anxiety, or ADHD, designed to help children improve peer interactions, communication, and confidence. These small groups meet weekly at each of our clinics! Our clients will benefit from a consistent and well-trained team of behavior analysts and RBTs who support their individualized treatment plans. The clinic layout was intentionally designed to allow each child to engage with peers in small pods, enjoy group activities, and participate in messy sensory play. The space includes two beautiful gyms, a media room filled with books and games, and multiple playrooms for natural environment teaching, as well as designated areas for individual learning and quiet sensory breaks. "We're thrilled to join the Howard County community and offer families a trusted resource for developmental and behavioral support," said Erin Stern, Founder and President of STEPS Behavioral Health. "Our team is passionate about creating a fun, nurturing space where autistic children can learn, grow, and thrive. We want our families to feel cared for by our team and know we will be there to support them through their journey." STEPS Columbia is staffed by a dedicated team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), working collaboratively to provide personalized, evidence-based care tailored to each child's unique needs. We are also excited to offer speech and occupational therapy services in collaboration with The Therapy Spot, along with our current services, to help each child reach their full potential. To celebrate the opening, STEPS will host a grand opening at the Columbia location soon, where families and community members are invited to meet the team, tour the clinic, and learn more about available services. For more information about STEPS Columbia or to schedule an ABA therapy intake call, visit or call 443-353-9547 . Media Contact: Bianca EguzoCommunity Liaison 443-353-9547 | office@ | About STEPS Behavioral Health: STEPS Behavioral Health provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy services that help autistic children build foundational skills across communication, behavior, and daily living. Through programs like Early STEPS and Summer STEPS, STEPS empowers children and their families to thrive—one small step at a time. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE STEPS Behavioral Health Sign in to access your portfolio
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Australia: PWDA Calls For Clarity And Inclusion Following Delays To Foundational Supports Rollout
Press Release – People with Disability Australia – PWDA PWDA welcomes the Governments ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable. People with Disability Australia, the national peak representative and advocacy body, is calling on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity and to consult more closely with people with disability, following the announcement that the rollout of foundational supports – scheduled to begin on 1 July 2025 – will be delayed. Foundational supports are designed for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are especially relevant for Autistic children and people with psychosocial disability. The delay has created uncertainty in the community about when and how these essential supports will become available. PWDA President Trinity Ford said that while the disability community understands the complexity of implementing this reform, and the need to get it right from the start, it is critical that all people with disability are brought along and involved. 'Many people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS still have real and ongoing support needs,' Ms Ford said. 'These foundational supports will hopefully create a more inclusive and equal network of disability supports. But delays and uncertainty around the rollout's details, timelines and co-design means people with disability are still waiting – unsupported and without answers.' PWDA emphasises that early intervention and accessible community-based supports are key to improving long-term outcomes for people with disability, particularly those who have historically fallen through the cracks of service systems. 'We're calling on the Government to communicate transparently about next steps and to ensure people with lived experience of disability are at the centre of future planning,' Ms Ford said. 'It's vital that the design and rollout of these supports reflect the diversity of our community – including people with psychosocial disability, children with developmental concerns, and others who are not being serviced by the NDIS.' PWDA welcomes the Government's ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Australia: PWDA Calls For Clarity And Inclusion Following Delays To Foundational Supports Rollout
People with Disability Australia, the national peak representative and advocacy body, is calling on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity and to consult more closely with people with disability, following the announcement that the rollout of foundational supports – scheduled to begin on 1 July 2025 – will be delayed. Foundational supports are designed for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are especially relevant for Autistic children and people with psychosocial disability. The delay has created uncertainty in the community about when and how these essential supports will become available. PWDA President Trinity Ford said that while the disability community understands the complexity of implementing this reform, and the need to get it right from the start, it is critical that all people with disability are brought along and involved. 'Many people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS still have real and ongoing support needs,' Ms Ford said. 'These foundational supports will hopefully create a more inclusive and equal network of disability supports. But delays and uncertainty around the rollout's details, timelines and co-design means people with disability are still waiting – unsupported and without answers.' PWDA emphasises that early intervention and accessible community-based supports are key to improving long-term outcomes for people with disability, particularly those who have historically fallen through the cracks of service systems. 'We're calling on the Government to communicate transparently about next steps and to ensure people with lived experience of disability are at the centre of future planning,' Ms Ford said. 'It's vital that the design and rollout of these supports reflect the diversity of our community – including people with psychosocial disability, children with developmental concerns, and others who are not being serviced by the NDIS.' PWDA welcomes the Government's ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable.
