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National Foundation for Autism Research

Lend your voice to the cause during April for National Autism Awareness Month!

Haircut in San Clemente???

Military Family Needs Help

More Students With Asperger Syndrome Going to College

Study Links Preemies With Autism Signs

D.I.R. Meeting in Solana Beach

Heart of Sailing

Organization for Autism Research ENewsletter

Service Dogs May Help Autistic Children

Oprah's Big Give - San Diego

25th Annual IEP Day - Involved Exceptional Parents' Day

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Good Health is not Good Luck; it's Science!

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 throughly 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

I am in the process of changing webmasters for my website, so there may be "interuptions in service". www.ValeriesList.com

Dear Friends,

We want to thank you for your participation and sponsorship of the 2008 San Diego Race for Autism! This year's Race was a great success with over 2,700 persons in attendance. We really appreciate your support of this cause!

It's not too late to donate! We will be accepting donations for the San Diego Race for Autism through April 5th. Please help us to reach our fundraising goal of $200,000. A $30 donation is all it takes to help reach our goal. Donate Now!!

Autism Awareness Day
Today, April 2 is Autism Awareness Day and CNN is providing day long coverage of stories and issues concerning autism. You can view videos of today's stories at
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/news/autism/

Best regards,
Juan and Sharon Leon
National Foundation for Autism Research
PO Box 502177
San Diego, California 92150

The National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR) is a San Diego based 501(c)3 non-profit organization, EIN 20-0538863. Our Mission is to fund the development of innovative treatment programs and options that improve the quality of life for children living with autism and autism spectrum disorders.

The Autism Society of America is raising autism awareness around the nation during April for National Autism Awareness Month. What follows is our advocacy update prepared for our good friends like you, along with some suggestions on how you can help! Also, be sure to check out advocacy events this April.

Let Congress know you want more autism funding
The Autism Society of America hosted its Day on the Hill, with advocates from across the country storming Capitol Hill to support ASA's legislative priorities.

The program included a rousing speech from the Chair of the Coalition for Autism Research and Education (Autism Caucus), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and legislative updates from Congressional staff, allies in the disability community and other supporters. Participants also received training on effective advocacy strategies, working with the media, and lobbying at the state and local levels. Armed with these tools, participants then took to Capitol Hill to build support for ASA's legislative priorities.

Even if you weren't able to travel to Washington for our Day on the Hill, you can still support ASA's advocacy efforts by asking your legislators to cosponsor legislation to improve services for individuals with autism here at home, and around the world!

Support legislation to improve the lives of ALL individuals affected by autism

Thank you for supporting our efforts to increase autism awareness, and promote early autism diagnosis and therapeutic research.

Sincerely,
Lee Grossman
President and CEO
ASA Member since 1991
Parent of a son with autism

My 4 year old grandson just moved to San Clemente with his parents and is in need of a haircut. Is there hair salon in their area who can provide a nice environment for kids with autism for haircuts? Thank you for your help.
Sue Sullivan

We're a military family and my husband will be leaving for a tour in Iraq soon (IA tour which means he is the only one leaving = not much command support). My 5 yr old son has aspergers. If anyone has a deployed spouse and a child on the spectrum could you contact me? I have a few questions.
Thanks!
tmschlise@yahoo.com

Like many of his high school classmates, Robby Cvejanovich is trying to decide which college to attend this fall.

While Cvejanovich is concerned about picking a school with a good zoology program, his parents are anxious about what will happen outside the classroom as their autistic son transitions into college life.

"I am very nervous because Robby is the most honest and trusting person I have ever known. He doesn't understand that people can lie. He doesn't understand why people lie," said his mother, Beth Cvejanovich.

High Rate of Autism Signs Found in Children Born Extremely Prematurely, Researchers Find

A small study of toddlers finds that about one-quarter of babies born very prematurely had signs of autism on an early screening test. The research is preliminary since formal autism testing wasn't done. But the results are provocative, suggesting that tiny preemies may face greater risks of developing autism than previously thought.

That suggests autism may be an under-appreciated consequence of medical advances enabling the tiniest of premature babies to survive, said lead author Catherine Limperopoulos, a researcher at McGill University in Montreal and Children's Hospital in Boston.

Hi Everyone,
This is just a reminder that next Wednesday, April 9, we will be having two D.I.R. support groups. Providers will meet with from 9-1030, and then the Parents/Caregivers group meets from 1030-noon. Both meeting swill be in Suite A at my building at 415 North Highway 101 in Solana Beach. Sorry, there is no childcare. Come early for better parking in front of the building or, more likely, in the neighborhood behind us.

Hope to see you there and in the meantime please go to circlestretch.blogspot.com for more information, notes form prior meetings, and great links!
Dr Feder

Heart of Sailing introduces sailing to children with developmental disabilities as a form of education and recreational therapy.

Heart of Sailing will be back in California during the month of April. Please click on the city links below to see days and times.

Dana Point
Long Beach
San Diego
And San Francisco in the month of May.

click below

Many Parents Who Spoke to ABC News Raved About Their Experience With the Dog Therapy

On Matthew Plunk's third birthday, his parents, Jeff and Jennifer, received some life-changing news: Their son had autism.

The diagnosis came as no surprise to the Plunks, who had long struggled to contain their son's emotional outbursts and antisocial behaviors.

"He had a lot of fears," said Jennifer. "Just a truck going by would make him want to climb up you."

After years of trying different therapies and experimental diets for Matthew, the Plunks noticed he had made significant progress but still suffered from intense anxiety and difficulty interacting with strangers.

Hello Everyone,
I am very please to report to you that St. Madeleine Sophie's Center has already raised the needed $10,000 to qualify for Ophrah's Big Give - San Diego.

I want to personally thank all of you for making a donation towards this awesome opportunity!!!

The next phase of this this "contest" will be voting online for the charity of your choice. As soon as I have more information on this, I will share it.

Thanks again and God Bless, Valerie Saraf
St. Madeleine Sophie's Center
Oprah's Big Give - San Diego