News from ValeriesList, 4.14.2008

Juice Plus+...The Next Best Thing

Juice Plus+ is the simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to add more nutrition from fruits and vegetables to your diet, every day.

Studies Prove: Taking Juice Plus+ is the next best thing to eating fruits and vegetables.

Juice Plus+ provides nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains. Each ingredient is specially selected to provide you with a wide range of nutritional benefits.

Juice Plus+ contains not only a much wider variety of naturally occurring vitamins than vitamin supplements, but it also contains other phytonutrients, antioxidants, and nutrients -- even some of the fiber -- found in the fruits and vegetables it's made from. These nutrients work together in combination to provide you more of the nutritional benefits of eating healthful whole foods.

Give Kids a Fighting Chance! Enhance Their Immune System with JUICEPLUS+; the Nutrition from 17 Colorful, Raw, Vine-Ripened, Fruits, Vegetables and Grains (Certified G/Free & C/Free) in a Convenient Capsule, Chewable or Gummie form.
Good Health is not Good Luck; it's Science!

Links

So. California Links

	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

PLEASE KEEP VOTING FOR ST. MADDIE'S!!!
	El Cajon, CA - For the past three weeks, 10News and Oprah's Big Give have challenged San Diegans to make a difference. We're proud to announce, that with your help, St. Madeleine Sophie's Center (SMSC) has reached our minimum goal of $10,000. We are now eligible to have the public vote for us on line. In order to win the matching $10,000 from 10NEWS, we need you to vote for us at 10NEWS.com from Friday, April 11th at 5:30 pm through Thursday, April 17 at noon. One email address may vote each day! The non-profit with the highest number of votes will receive the match. The winner will be revealed in a 30- minute special aired Friday, April 18 at 5:30 pm on 10News. EACH EMAIL ADDRESS CAN VOTE EVERY 24 HOURS UNTIL THE FINAL HOUR!!!

Hello Best Buddies and Welcome to the Virtual Age!
	I am so pleased to announce the launch of our Citizens Website designed by our own, Brian Goodman. Brian has been matched in a one-to-one friendship for over a year with his Buddy Nathan. He is not only computer-savvy, but is also a Dungeon Master and Teacher with Dungeons and Dragons. He has a FREE monthly gaming session on the third Wednesday of every month, after the Best Buddies Movie Night. Last month, he had his biggest turnout ever, and everyone had such a great time. So check out the website, and from now on, we will be posting the newsletter ONLY on the website. The web address will soon be shortly released for your enjoyment. MARK YOUR CALENDERS! Come sign up for our Best Buddies Hearst Castle Bike Ride! The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle is a five-star cycling experience that takes place on Saturday, September 6 in support of people with intellectual disabilities. Riders begin at the lovely Chateau Julien Winery in Carmel and rider 100, 62 or 15 miles down a stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway to the Hearst Castle. This will be the fifth Audi Best Buddies Challenge. Open to all ages and abilities the event, with a 100, 62 or 15-mile bike ride, participation of celebrities and professional athletes, gourmet clambake and concert by the Black Eyed Peas, has something for everyone. Whether this will be your first organized ride or your thousandth, you haven't done anything like the Audi Best Buddies Challenge. More than a ride, it's an experience. It's truly "the only five-star ride". Cap your summer off with a bang by joining Best Buddies on the road to Hearst Castle. Our own Susie Salenko and Zach Adler have already signed up! Susie is already a TOP fundraiser in the whole country! WAY TO GO! RSVP for the Rider Recruitment Dinner on Wednesday, April 30th @ 6:00pm for food and a short presentation! NEW EVENT FOR MAY!!! Ever want to learn how to Kayak, Bike, Surf, or Boogey board? Well now's your chance for FREE! Join us for a Best Buddies Beach BBQ! With Mission Bay's Allens Kayaks 819 1/2 San Fernando Pl. San Diego, CA 92109 858-488-5599 Sunday, May 25th Surf, Swim, or Bike from 10am-12pm with a POT LUCK BBQ to follow! RSVP to Annelise for more details! In Friendship, Annelise Cohon Citizen Program Manager San Diego, CA 4007 Camino Del Rio South, Ste 211 San Diego, CA 92108 619-584-5450 work 619-563-5401 fax www.bestbuddiescalifornia.org

Heart of Sailing Now in San Diego and Dana Point
	Heart of Sailing introduces sailing to children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities as a form of education and recreational therapy. Daysails are now available in San Diego, April 18, 19 & 20 and Dana Point, April 25, 26 & 27. Special sails for "Dad's Only" and "Mom's Only" and feel free to bring a friend! Space is getting very limited, so please click on the "port" of choice, ASAP! If for any reason you need to cancel your daysail with George, please give him a call. Often, families are on a waitlist, but if you don't call to cancel, they are not able to participate. Thank you for your kindness and consideration. -Val

Vanderbilt University Online Survey
	Dear Parent, We invite you to participate in an online survey about the positive side of parenting a child with a disability. The study is being conducted by Teresa Ulman, M.S., as a dissertation project under the direction of Dr. Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D. through the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Eligibility requirements are as follows: · The parent must be 18 years or older · The parent must have a child between the ages of 8 and 25 with a diagnosis of one (and only one) of the following: Angelman syndrome, autism or PDD-NOS, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, or Williams syndrome. We know parenting a child with a disability is hard. But many people find that the experience has led to personal growth in unexpected ways. Surprisingly there are almost no studies that look at the ways the experience can strengthen people, while there is plenty of research that looks at negative outcomes for parents. This study will provide for a more balanced understanding of how having a child with a disability can change a person's life. Benefits of the study include an opportunity to reflect upon the positive psychological growth that you may have experienced following the birth of your child with a disability. The survey will take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete and consists of a series of questionnaires about you and your child. At the end of the study you will have the opportunity to write your thoughts in an unstructured format. For further information, you may contact Teresa Ulman by email at Teresa.ulman@vanderbilt.edu or by phone at 615.414.9665 or 1.888.322.5339. You may begin participation in the study immediately by clicking on one of the following links: http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/parentsurvey or http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx? sm=9PcSEcLZbbEXiYGmlWussw_3d_3d

National ASA: First "Bounce for Autism" Kicks Off National Autism Awareness Month
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	read here

Father: Child's case shifts autism debate AND Dr. Feder comments on this article
	By Jon S. Poling Autism in the U.S. has reached epidemic levels, at 1 in 150 children. Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has recently upgraded autism to "an urgent health threat." The most contentious issue of the autism debate is the link to routine childhood vaccines. My daughter's case, Hannah Poling v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has changed this debate forever. Hannah has pointed us in a new and promising direction - the mitochondria. Read the rest of the article here. I sent this article to Dr. Feder and asked him, his thoughts, and here they are: Hi Val - I think the theory that mitochondrial disorders might make someone vulnerable is an interesting one. So far the comment that I am hearing from the field is that vaccines, even in combination, produce relatively little stress on people compared to typical illnesses. The assertion is made early in the piece that Hannah's condition was caused by the presence of the mitochondrial disorder [my italics]. Later in the same piece, it states that mitochondrial disorders may be a marker for autism, not necessarily a cause. The legal decision, to my reading, is that the government conceded that the theory might have merit. The Vaccine Court system is set up to give the benefit of the doubt to the family. Recent rules of scientific evidence in court allow for theories, without necessarily scrutinizing them. So, in the end, I do not think that the decision proved anything scientific, but it probably helped Hannah and that alone sounds like a good thing. I agree that there should be more research into the mitochondria disorder issues, and I am pretty sure we will be hearing a lot more about it. I also agree that there are probably several subpopulations of persons with autistic syndromes, with different etiologies probably differing tendencies to respond to treatments. Stayed tuned...and in the meantime we may be doing more lab tests on our clinical populations, much like testing for Celiac related antibody has become more common. J Feder

Troubled Relationships? Could It Be Asperger's?
	You and your friend have just experienced the same traumatic blow -- laid off from your job, told of another friend's death, or something equally like a swift blow to your heart. Your reactions vary because humans are unique that way. But are you also left wondering why you don't feel the impact and empathic connection to your friend that she seems to be feeling? A growing number of people are starting to find relief in a controversial and relatively recent diagnosis: Asperger's Syndrome.
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Mom needs Floortime helper
	Hi Valerie, Thanks for the list! It's wonderful. Just hoping that you or someone who gets the list might know of a college student with Floor Time training who might like to make some extra money doing some therapy with my son. Maybe 2 times or more a week? He could really use it and we aren't able to spend a ton of money with a certified agency right now. Thanks so much! Shannon Morgan

USD Autism Institute Summer Conference
	The University of San Diego Autism Institute is the most progressive, respectful, and hope-filled conference on autism that I've ever attended. Please forward this attachment to all appropriate connections and distribution lists. Anyone who works with people with autism, as well as family members of individuals with autism will find this conference transformational. Please help spread the word! For more information on the USD Autism Institute, visit www.sandiego.edu/autisminstitute/.

Can parents help parents with schools?
	I hear so much about different public schools for special needs and mostly negative. Can we do something to help eachother rate what a school has or does not have so the next parent who goes to visit that classroom can look to see if that is something they also saw and requires for their child, etc. I think that way it is more objective instead of subjective so we can just check off they had a daily schedule board that they used during the day, the kids had different stations and were learning their reading or what ever skill with a teacher. I would like to share what I see with others and would welcome others so share what they saw or did not see in the classroom. thanks meri

Parent writing book needs help
	Hi Valerie! I am in the process of writing a book and I am gathering stories from parents who have young children with Autism. If it isn't too much trouble, please post my e-mail in your newsletter so people can contact me with more information. Please have them enter "Story Submission" in the subject box. Thank you so much. Janine Langella Jkl570@aol.com

The real world of autism
	By Chantal Sicile-Kira Recently, a journalist asked my 19-year-old son what it was like to have autism. April is Autism Awareness month, and since Jeremy's appearance on MTV's True Life "I Have Autism,' he gets emails from time to time from people wanting to know more. Jeremy uses a letterboard or Litewriter to express his thoughts, one word at a time. "Being severely autistic means being stuck in a body that doesn't work well with no way to communicate," he typed in response to the question. For Jeremy, that's what autism is like. But as many of us parents like to joke, "When you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person." What autism looks like is different for everyone.
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TAKE ACTION TODAY TO SAVE OUR SCHOOLS!
	You have heard about the devastating budget cuts that will destroy education in California for many years to come. Please join other parents throughout the state in writing to your representatives TODAY to voice your objections. The most effective method is hand written letters. Each personal letter has the impact of at least 20 emails. You can also make hone calls to the numbers listed on the back of this flyer. The letters do not need to be long and you can make them personal or factual. #Projected 2008/2009 cuts of $3.7 million in San Dieguito School District #85% of the current budget goes to pay staff, teachers and counselors. #CA spends $1900 less per student than the national average #CA ranks 46th in the state in education funding and this will drop to 48th if cuts are enacted #Male high school dropouts of all races are 31 times more likely to end up in prison than those with a four year college degree; California has one of the highest spending rates for prisons in the nation. Personalize the Sample letter below and send it to the addresses further below: Dear Assembly member _____________________. I am a parent of two children in the San Dieguito Union School District. I want you to know how deeply troubled I am by the Governor's proposal to cut education by $4.8 billion and suspend Proposition 98. A government's budget isn't only a statement of priorities, but also a reflection of a society's values. All parents in California value their child's education above all else, and it is time for our legislators to represent us. Lawmakers in Sacramento need to come up with a permanent solution to fund education at a level that matches or exceeds the national average. How can California attract the best and the brightest to the teaching profession if teachers' livelihoods depend on the fluctuations of the annual budget? How will we keep teenagers in school and out of prisons if we allow education to deteriorate? What message are we sending our young people aout the value of education? I beg you to oppose these cuts and to do everything in your power to convince other legislators to do the same. Sincerely, Your Name Your Address ELECTED OFFICIALS Assemblyman Martin Garrick: 1910 Palomar Point Way Suite 106 Carlsbad, CA 92008 Ph: (760) 929-7998 Fax: (760) 929-7999 Assemblyman Mark Wyland: 1910 Palomar Point Way #105 Carlsbad, CA 92008 Ph: (760) 931-2455 Fax: (760) 931-2477 Assemblyman George Plescia: 9909 Mira Mesa, Suite 130 San Diego, CA 92131 Ph: (858) 689-6920 Fax: (858) 689-6296 State Senator: 39th District: Christine Kehoe 2445 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92101 Ph: (619) 645-3133 State Senator: 38th District: Mark Wyland 27126-A Paseo Espada, Suite 1621 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92674 Ph: 949-489-9839 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Ph: (916) 445-2841 Fax: (916) 558-3160 FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING BUDGET CUTS, PLEASE GO TO: http://www.Protectourstudents.org

Autism Resource Guide From Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
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