•
Financial matters is a very important subject in the world of autism spectrum disorders. In our case, although many parents do get insurance reimbursement others do not. One of the many projects on the back burner is to form a nonprofit organization in order to allow those that are less financially able to have access to the type of treatment that we provide. Recently, I ran across some information regarding grants relating to treatment autism spectrum disorders. Our office provides functional neurology and hemispheric integration therapy as well as functional medicine and biomedical interventions. I’m not sure whether this will apply to services provided at our office however it may help cover services of a different nature. I will have someone look into it. It is certainly something that may help someone with the burdensome costs associated with having a child on the autism spectrum. Here is a link to the information http://medicaidwaivernews.blogspot.com/2010/08/grants-available-for-families.html
•
I was speaking to a mother who has a child on the spectrum that has difficulty with language skills. The child speaks but does a lot of scripting. She also needs to be prompted to speak in full sentences. The mother came up with what I think is a great idea depending on how your child’s language is and where they are on the spectrum. She had not done it yet but was considering using this particular software as a tool. So once again I put the idea out there hoping that someone will benefit from it. I also hope that some of you will contact me and let me know what sort of results you have with this idea. Once again, this is how we all share and benefit. The idea is to use Rosetta Stone software in English to help her child learn to speak learn English. We are going to try this hear with this particular child. I hope that some of you out there tried also and give me some feedback.
•
I had the opportunity to go to the Surfers for Autism event in Cocoa Beach this weekend. It was a fabulous event. The event was well organized and very efficient. Clearly, it was not the first time that they had done this. The volunteers were all very caring. The kids got to surf all day or just try surfing depending on their interest and tolerance. Free water and smoothies were provided all day. A free lunch was served to all participating in the event. It was a super event overall and I wanted to let you all know as there is another one in Daytona coming up. Here is the link once again
http://surfersforautism.org/index.html
•
I am getting alot of recommended web sites, tips camps and the like sent to me by all of you as I always hoped. This allows me to bring this information to your attention. This type of information being shared can allow someone in the United Kingdom to help someone in Utah. Please do not underestimate the difference you might make in another person’s life by passing on this this type of information. Here is a book and someone”s story that you should check out http://www.autismguide.org/
•
I received this notfication from Monica Wharton of Disability Radio and thought I would pass it on to everyone. I know many of you are very in touch with politics and the law.
EEOC to Celebrate ADA 20th Anniversary July 22
Speakers to Discuss Landmark Disability Law
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will observe the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 22 with two panels of civil rights experts discussing the landmark law.
Under the theme of “Celebrating the ADA: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” ten speakers, including EEOC officials and authorities on disability law and practice, along with the complainant in a key EEOC disability rights case, will explore the “nuts and bolts of EEOC work” as well as the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which expanded the ADA’s scope. The agency will also present awards to current and former EEOC Commissioners and staff who played key roles in the passage of the ADA, promulgation of regulations and guidance under the ADA, and enforcement of the ADA.
DATE AND TIME: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 2:00 p.m.
PLACE: EEOC Headquarters, Training Center, 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC
SPEAKERS:
EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien
EEOC Commissioner Chai R. Feldblum
Wade Henderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Andrew J. Imparato, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of People with Disabilities
Randel K. Johnson, Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Laura Hinton, National Outreach Coordinator, EEOC
Lisa Clinton Jones, Investigator, EEOC Baltimore Field Office
Allison Nichol, Deputy Chief of Disability Rights Section, U.S. Department of Justice, and Former EEOC Trial Attorney, Chicago District Office
Jean Kamp, Associate Regional Attorney, EEOC Chicago District Office
James Hill, Charging Party in EEOC v. Extra Space Management Inc.
John Mosby and Marilyn Cain Gordon, Class Counsel in Glover v. United States Postal Service
The presentation will also be live-streamed on the agency’s website.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Additional information about the Commission is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/7-15-10.cfm
•
I received an e-mail today regarding an organization putting on skating camps for children on the autism spectrum. It is a nonprofit organization. The camps are provided at no cost so as to make them available to anyone regardless of means. Naturally, as with all nonprofit organizations, donations are appreciated. I have included the link below for you to further investigate. For those in Tampa, there is a clinic planned in October. I tried to put this up on the site as soon as possible so those that need advance planning can coordinate their schedules. We are also putting this on the support group site www.hitautism.net as we will probably make a play date type event when askate comes to town. http://www.askate.org/
•
We see many children on the Autism Spectrum that fall closest to the Asperger’s Syndrome category meaning that they have no issues with speech, are intelligent but have difficulty with social skills. As most of you know I am not big on labels and there usually is some mixing and matching such as ADD, OCD or tics associated with these children. This post is particularly meant for younger children although we see many adult children with similar issues relating to trouble socializing and excessive time on the computer. Dinosaurs and Star Wars are a recurring themes among this group and so I would like to share this link to Disney’s Star Wars Weekends which I think would thrill a child who is somewhat fixated on Star Wars. Here is the link. Have Fun! http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/special-events/star-wars-weekend/
•
Many times the adults on the spectrum are ignored. Adults may have additional issues such as in this case that of dating. Here is a nice link to someone who covers this issue fairly well from an insiders perspective. I think this is a nice quick read which will help both a parent and an adult on the spectrum gain insight which may help them navigate this issue. This will not answer all of your questions but it is a nice place to start down this journey if you so choose. http://www.autismexpertshore.com/DatMarAu.pdf
•
Here is the flyer for a social skills camp bieng put on by Erica Dupont LCSW this summer. Please consider this as you make your summer plans.
Erica DuPont, LCSW
(813) 966-7064
www.protherapyplus.com
Social Skills Group
12 week group For summer time!!
uGroup will be held at Erica’s new, new office location:
19023 North Dale Mabry Highway Lutz, FL 33548 (Located in Greystone Professional Park)
uWe will meet on Thursdays from 3pm-4:30pm. Groups will begin on May 27, 2010.
uTopics practiced and discussed include: how to make friends, facial expressions and voice tone, conversation skills, appropriate and inappropriate responses to situations, feeling identification, self esteem, listening and following direction skills, empathy, turn taking, sharing, showing a positive attitude and support towards peers, how to handle rejection, anxiety, and fear, among other topics. If you have a particular topic that you feel has not yet been addressed, feel free to make a suggestion.
uThe cost for 1 child attending the group is $600.00 per 12 week period. The cost for a sibling group attending is $900.00 per 12 week period. We do have a small grant fund that is available for those in need of support and on a first come first serve basis.
uPayment, in full, will be due at the beginning of each 12 week session, unless other arrangements have been made.
uPlease RSVP by May 20th, via email, to Erica if you are interested in attending our next group. Groups will be limited to 8 (maximum 10) children at a time. Depending on the ages that are attending, two groups may be offered.
Thank you and we look forward to working with your children! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Erica.DuPont@hotmail.com or 813-966-7064
•
I received a phone call yesterday from a mom that was beaming with pride as her son who is six and has difficulty reading and with aggressive behavior won both the reader of the week award and the student of the week award. She said that he even read aloud in front of the class which is very unlike him. She was thrilled as you can imaging. As usual, no one is as happy as the family but I think I come in a close second after that. Seeing these changes in the children and the reactions of the families is what makes treating these children with Hemispheric Integration Therapy so rewarding and is my greatest satisfaction. It is wonderful when parents share these stories with me and I hope it inspires others to not give up.
