The Reason For It All

Morning Glory Jazz Brunch

Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. presents the PECS Basic Training

Study Participants Needed

Heart of Sailing Sail-a-thon, April 25 and 26

The Encinitas Learning Center will host two open houses

Rady Childrens' Hospital: "Knowledge & Network"

Soccer Program in San Diego

States Slashing Social Programs for Vulnerable

Stop Bullying Now!

USD's Summer Autism Institute

Free Viewing!! Autism: The Musical

Respite available on Wednesdays and Fridays

Autism Society of America Joins MedicAlert Foundation to offer MedicAlert® + Safe and Sound®

aut-erobics Movement & Music Sensory Integration to "Wake up the Brain"

Survey Explores Medical Care for Children with Autism Using Complementary Alternative Medicine

ASA Teams Up with Little, Brown Company to Promote Awareness through The Horse Boy

NIH Presents Summer Opportunities for Students and Teachers

Two Weeks of College for High School Students at UC Berkeley

The Gluten Solution

This is my son, Tony Saraf. Tony was diagnosed at age 2 with Autism, and later with bipolar and ADHD. For the last 25 years, he has been my guiding light and the love of my life...and the biggest, toughest challenge I have ever had.

Helping Tony to be the best Tony he can be, is my goal. Where that goal will lead the two of us, is yet to be seen. Tony continues to improve and I know there is more to come. Currently, Tony lives at home with me and attends an adult day program at St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, in El Cajon.

Doing this newsletter and learning all that I can for you and for Tony, started out as a small project 10 years ago with 40 people and has turned into an elephant with over 1,500 readers. And just like Tony, there is no end in sight!

Thanks for joining me on this fascinating ride!
Valerie Dodd-Saraf

Empowering Through Information
and the Fostering of Connections

I never endorse anyone or anything. Opinions expressed in what I send out, may not be shared by me. Everything is for informational purposes only.

People who "advertise" through this newsletter have never been checked out by me. This includes professionals and even people who are interested in babysitting, etc.

Please take the time to thoroughly check out anyone and everyone that will be working with or caring for your child. We are all sadly aware, through news stories and word of mouth, of people who pray upon special needs children because of their extra vulnerability.

Thank you,
Valerie Dodd-Saraf
www.ValeriesList.com

Saturday, April 18th, 10am to 2pm
St. Madeleine Sophie's Center
2119 East Madison Ave.
El Cajon, CA 92019

Join the fun at St. Madeleine Sophie's Center 11th Annual Champagne Brunch in the midst of our Organic Garden and Junior Olympic Pool!!! There will be garden tours, art walk, live jazz music, 10-15 restaurants, floral demonstrations, Adopt-A-FROG raffle includes $10,000 cash and prizes give away and live auction!!! All proceeds benefit St. Maddie's Organic Garden Work Center for developmentally disabled adults.

Tickets are $60 and can be purchased online or at the door. For more info, please contact Nora Boswell at 619-442-5129 ex3117 or nboswell@stmsc.org.

The PECS Basic Training is designed to teach participants to appropriately implement the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). It begins with an overview of the Pyramid Approach to Education to explore the key components of designing effective educational environments. A historical overview of language training programs used with non-verbal individuals is discussed along with how to set the stage for an abundance of communication opportunities. Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, including attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples and role- play opportunities. Participants will leave the workshop with a fundamental understanding of how to implement PECS with individuals with autism, related developmental disabilities, and/or limited communication skills.

Pyramid is sponsoring this workshop in Southern California on the following dates:

May 14 & 15, 2009 (Anaheim, California)
June 22 & 23, 2009 (Pasadena, California)
August 6 & 7, 2009 (San Diego, California)
November 2 & 3, 2009 (Irvine, California)

To register, please visit the Pyramid website at www.pecs.com or call 888-732-7462 (toll free). For general information and group discounts, please contact Catherine Horton at chorton@pecs.com or 302-355-5979.

Registration: $395 professional/ $295 parent 1.3 ASHA CEUs & 7.0 BACB CEUs available

Hi Val,
I am almost done; I only need 6 more kiddos for my study. Your site has been the most beneficial so would you mind posting your ad for me once more? Thanks again for all of your support.
Sincerely,
Jennifer L. Reynolds, M.A.; Doctoral Candidate

I am a 6th year doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology and am doing a doctoral dissertation research study on Autism. More specifically, I am examining the relationship between the brain (prefrontal cortex) and emotions (amygdala) and how the two centers connect neuroanatomically. I need volunteers for research between the ages of 8 and 18. I am need of children both with Autism and without. At the end of the study I will be able to provide you valuable information about your child's IQ; and ways in which they learn and feel. Your child will also receive a $15 gift-card. The study is being conducted at the Center for Autism Research and Evaluation (Neuropsychology Lab) in Scripps Ranch. If interested please email me at jreynolds@alliant.edu or call at 858-729-4442. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated and could greatly benefit those with Autism and their families. Thank You.

We are coming back to California and starting the new season this year with Sail-a-thons in:

Oakland from the 15th to the 19th of April. We will be at the Oakland boat show to introduce our program to all attendees and families of Special Needs. All registrants will receive free passes for the boat show.

Ventura on the 19th of April
San Diego on the 25th of April
Dana Point on the 26th of April

Check our schedule and register by clicking on http://heartofsailing.org/sailwithus.asp and choosing the city near you.

Please let other families, friends or relatives, know about us and invite them to come and sail with us. These events are open to the general public to raise more awareness about the Special Needs community and help us continue providing our services at a very low cost to you.

We will provide lunch and activities, in Dana Point and San Diego, as well as table spaces to vendors and organizations who would like to share with you information about their services. Please forward our information to any organization that would like to promote their services at our Sail-a-thons.

For more info, please call 619-749-2167, or email sdgo@heartofsailing.org
www.heartofsailing.org

The Encinitas Learning Center will host two open houses to introduce parents to its new nonpublic school for mild/ moderate students grades 2 - 8. Even if parents are not looking to place their child in a nonpublic setting and even if their child is not mild/moderate, it may be helpful to learn about some of the technological tools available on a computer that can help their child.

Open House:
Thursday, April 23 (1 - 7:30 pm)
Sunday, April 26 (1 - 7:30 pm)

Location:
543 Encinitas Blvd. #100
Encinitas, CA
Telephone: 760-634-6886
Email: enclearn@pacbell.net
www.encinitaslearningcenter.com

Hi Valerie,
Rady Children's Hospital Speech and Hearing Department (8010 Frost St, Suite 200) will be hosting another "Knowledge & Network" information night for parents and professionals of children with autism. The second seminar will be held on April 21st from 5:30-6:30 and will focus on communication and how this relates to the DIR/Floortime model. It will be presented by five speech-language pathologists currently participating in Dr. Joshua Feder's DIR workgroups.

SPACE IS LIMITED! Please RSVP to: Caroline Ferguson- cferguson@rchsd.org

La Jolla Youth Soccer League is proud to be a part of US Youth Soccer's TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) and offer its own program in the San Diego county. TOPSoccer is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any young boy or girl who is mentally or physically challenged. Our goal is to foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth and development of these young athletes through the sport of soccer. Through our trained volunteers, we also strive to build self- confidence and self-pride in every athlete. Exercising and playing soccer is an excellent way to help kids with special abilities get exercise, improve coordination, and meet other kids who face the same challenges that they do. Through our trained volunteers, we also strive to build self-confidence and self-pride in every athlete.

2009 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SUMMER FUN DAYS
Every other Sunday, June 7-August 2, 1pm to 2pm at Location TBD

TOPSOCCER DAY
Sunday, August 16, 2pm to 4pm at Allen Field

FALL SEASON
Player and Volunteer Registration Deadline for Fall Season- August 23
Wednesdays and Saturdays, Sept 2-November 21
Wednesdays- Times and Location TBD
Saturdays- Times and Location TBD

For more information about La Jolla's TOPSoccer, please visit our website at www.lajollasoccer.org or contact the Program Director Joey Yusunas at jyusunas@yahoo.com.

PHOENIX - Battered by the recession and the deepest and most widespread budget deficits in several decades, a large majority of states are slicing into their social safety nets - often crippling preventive efforts that officials say would save money over time.

President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package is helping to alleviate some of the pain, providing large amounts of money to pay for education and unemployment insurance, bolster food stamp programs and expand tax credits for low earners. But the money will offset only 40 percent of the losses in state revenues, and programs for vulnerable groups have been cut in at least 34 states, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a private research group in Washington. Read on...

Stop Bullying Now is an interactive Web site designed for kids, and includes an adult section, in English en Español. There are examples of different types of bullying, what kids can do about it, and guidance to help identify bullying behaviors they may have. Kids can reinforce what they learn through animated Webisodes, and games. In addition, there are tip sheets, resources and ideas for promoting the Stop Bullying Now campaign with youth. Learn more at:
http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/

June 24th through 26th, the University of San Diego's Autism Institute is back with an emphasis on "Building Personalized Supports and Instruction through Relationships and Collaboration."

The Autism Institute presents national and international experts to talk about personalized supports and instruction for children, adolescents and adults with learning, sensory, and movement differences. Real supports start with understanding the true nature of each individual and the teaching, social, and fun accommodations to support communication, learning, and relationships. Come join us for a truly unique experience!
Click here for more info.

The story of five autistic children, their families and the dynamic woman who leads them to defy expectations by writing, rehearsing and performing their own musical. An intimate portrait of these young people and their families as they struggle, and ultimately triumph, through the transformative power of theatre.

Mission Valley Library
2123 Fenton Parkway
San Diego, CA 92108-4739
(858) 573-5007
APRIL 19
1:30 PM
Bring Family and Friends!!!

My name is Helen Orr and I am available for respite or childcare on Wednesdays and Firdays. I am highly qualified. Please call me at 619-417-1641 or email me at Orrhelene@aol.com. Thank you.

To advance the safety and well-being of people on the autism spectrum, MedicAlert and the Autism Society of America (ASA) have joined together to offer the new and enhanced MedicAlert® + Safe and Sound® program. Working together, MedicAlert and ASA will protect individuals on the autism spectrum in times of medical emergencies and advocating on their behalf. MedicAlert will contribute a portion of the revenues from the program to ASA for education and outreach activities. Read more...

What is the theory behind Autism Movement Therapy?

In individuals with autism the left and right brain hemispheres are more often than not, not communicating with each other. Read on...

In a national survey conducted by the University of Minnesota, primary care physicians report that they are more likely to ask patients with autism about complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use. These physicians also desire more CAM education for this population. The study of 539 U.S. physicians, published this week in Springer's Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, explores the attitudes and practices of primary care physicians caring for children with autism using CAM treatments. Read more...

In The Horse Boy, Rupert Isaacson shares his inspiring story of how he and his wife learned to think of their son's autism as an adventure rather than a curse, a beginning rather than an end. Little, Brown and Company is publishing the book on April 14, 2009, and will be partnering with the Autism Society of America to raise awareness. Both ASA and the book aim to empower families to think creatively and openly when it comes to treatment. Read more...

Supported by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) the National Institutes of Health will offer summer research experiences for students and science teachers in order to promote job creation and economic development, and to accelerate the pace and achievement of scientific research. Read more...

The College Internship Program provides individualized, post-secondary, academic, internship and independent living experiences for young adults with Asperger's, High-Functioning Autism and Learning Differences.

Our mission is to graduate young men and women of confidence, character, and integrity capable of making contributions to society and claiming their place as citizens of the world. Rea d on...