Juice Plus+®

Best Buddies: My Big Fat Greek Toga Party

Autism health Insurance Coverage Sails through Health Committee Policy Hearing

Evaluating Health Information

Community Coaching Center's Beach Bash for Autism

TACA Picnic Tickets Going Fast - Early Registraton Ends April 30

Social Security PASS Question and Answer Meeting at St. Mad's!

Special for Southern California Residents!

ACES Southern California

SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes

NIH wants YOUR opinion on what is needed in autism research!

San Diego County Aging & Disability Resource Connection

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

Tony and I have been taking Juice Plus+ daily for almost 5 years and we feel fabulous, and are more healthy.

Juice Plus+ will not interfere with any biomedical treatment that you may be doing with your child, but will actually enhance it.

If you would like more info about Juice Plus+, please email me.

If you would like to order Juice Plus+, click here.

A Case Study: Juice Plus

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
www.ValeriesList.com

May 10th, 6 - 10 pm
STAGE at the PUB, UCSD

FREE food, Photography, Music, Dancing & Entertainment!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

PLEASE RSVP BY MAY 1ST: 619-584-5450

Any Questions? contact Natasia Kawi @ 858- 534-1414

Senate President pro Tem Don Perata's Bill

Senate Bill 1563 authored by Senators Perata (D- 09) and Steinberg (D-06) was approved last week in its initial policy hearing by a unanimous 10-0 bipartisan vote. As Senator Perata stated, "Virtually everyone in California knows someone who is struggling with the challenges surrounding autism; this bill is an important step in the right direction to ensure appropriate private health care coverage of this disorder."

California law already requires that health plans and insurers must provide coverage that is medically necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD.) However, Senator Steinberg (D-06), the bill's co-author noted, "Many thousands of Californians still face barriers in accessing these services. This bill will make sure that they are treated fairly."

SB 1563 directs the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance to establish an Autism Advisory Workgroup (individuals with ASD, their family members, advocates.) These entities would be required to review collaboratively the standards and best practices related to the diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of ASD and to develop recommendations on ensuring that health plans provide appropriate and equitable coverage for those conditions.

Dr. Barbara Firestone, President and CEO of The Help Group and Vice-Chair of the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission commended Senators Perata and Steinberg for their leadership in tackling this important issue.

Dr. Mary Beth Steinfeld, a developmental pediatrician and researcher at The MIND Institute noted, "We have effective, medically necessary therapies that help many children. Parents often battle with regional centers and schools for needed services. This bill will move us toward defining the responsibilities of health plans for the treatment of affected children and their families."

Mr. Rick Rollens, a parent of a child with autism who also serves on the Autism Commission, indicated, "I am pleased to represent over 30 autism organizations who have now banded together to form the Alliance of California Autism Organizations in support of this important legislation." Autism Commissioner Dr. Albert Wang; Mrs. Ana Wang (Co- Founder of Families Helping Families with Special Needs) and a number of other advocates and stakeholders also voiced their strong support of this bill. There was no opposition.

Amendments have been submitted that establishes the Autism Advisory Workgroup and requires recommendations to the Legislature no later than July 1, 2009. The bill will be heard next on April 28th by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Understanding the Problem with Health Information There has been a gradual but very important change in the lay public's attitude to health information. I remember when patients used to tell me, "You're the doctor; you tell me what to do. That's all the information I need." Reading about medical news was largely a matter of intellectual interest or curiosity (except for the hypochondriacs among us who are always looking for and will never find an explanation of their symptoms) and rarely related to one's own health.

But modern medical research has identified risk factors that can cause all kinds of disease - from heart attacks, stroke, and cancer to a host of infections - all of which can be prevented or delayed. So the focus is now on prevention. More and more men and women realize that "an ounce of prevention" really is worth more than "a pound of cure." They want to know what makes them tick, and what to do to preserve their health. For most people, it's no longer simply a question of diagnosis and treatment of symptoms - both of which used to be the inviolable prerogative of the doctor.

How does the average patient go about learning about these risk factors and how to prevent them? It's not as easy as it sounds. For example, everyone knows that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is good for you, but how much should we consume, and which ones are better than others? Is there any interaction between particular fruits and vegetables and prescription drugs? Leafy green vegetables, for example - as well as garlic and other natural supplements - reduce the effectiveness of the anticoagulant warfarin. In a similar vein, St. John's Wort is affected when certain medications are taken with it.

Saturday, May 31, 2008, 6:00-11:30pm at The Wave House in Mission Beach.

Our annual fundraiser featuring former NBC San Diego News Anchor, Bill Menish, will include live music from the Chi Club, High Tide and Major Healy, a Wave Riding Pro-Am, an Island Buffet, silent and live auctions, raffles, games and more. Remember to suit up if you want to Ride The Wave.

Proceeds benefit CCC's Autism Awareness in the Community initiative.

If you are interested in supporting and attending, you can RSVP via our internet site at:
http://www.communitycoachingcenter.org/press. html.

Note: This is a 21+ event.

Join Jenny McCarthy and all of us at the 5th annual TACA family picnic presented by United Autism and Asperger Association on June 1, 2008. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here. Discounted prices are available for early registration through April 30.

Location: Camp James - Irvine, CA

If you are interested in sponsoring/exhibiting at the picnic or have a silent auction item you would like to donate, please contact elizabeth@tacanow.org.

This event is a fun place for your family and a way to get the Autism Community service vendors involved.

Food vendors include the following GFCF Options:
- In-n-out burger (with Kinnikinnick hamburger buns)
- Newport Rib Company
- The Taco Lady
- Green Cupcakes
- AND MORE!

We would love to see you there. This annual event typically sells out about 1 week prior to the event!

I am pleased to announce that Peter Prather (Social Security Administration) will be joining us for a special meeting at St. Madeleine Sophie's Center on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, from 10AM to 12 NOON.

Peter Prather, a 30 year veteran at the Social Security Administration, has been a PASS Specialist for the last 10 years. He will bring his expertise to this meeting, fielding and answering YOUR questions on Social Security Benefits and the PASS program.

SSI's Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) program allows you to set aside money to spend on a career goal while SSI cash benefits pay for essentials like food and rent. If you have a disability and are interested in becoming Self-Employed, or are already Self-Employed, you are encouraged to join us for this educational program!

Peter will be fielding questions from the audience about the PASS Program, Social Security benefits, and how Self-Employment affects persons receiving Social Security benefits.

Please contact me, Scott Gordon, if you would like to attend. I can be reached at:
619 - 442 - 5129 Ext. # 3113 or sgordon@stmsc.org

I look forward to seeing all of you there!
D. Scott Gordon, M.S.
Employment Specialist
St. Madeleine Sophie's Center
El Cajon, CA 92019
Email: sgordon@stmsc.org
Office: 619-442-5129 Ext. #3113
Fax: 619-442-9611
Web: www.stmsc.org
A Way of Life... A World of Difference ©

Are your kids improving the way you had hoped? Are you looking to find other treatments that may be the missing pieces of your child's puzzle? We can learn from many other diseases, clues on how to heal our children.

"The Lyme-Autism Connection Conference" is NOT just about Lyme disease and it's connection to autism. We have top speakers with the one goal of educating on those "missing pieces" not being addressed by the majority of doctors treating autism. The many multiple-infections, metal toxicity, detoxification and more will be discussed. In addition, tips on how to avoid triggers that could lead to regressions.

Download the conference brochure and a special coupon for $75 off full conference general session registration! If you get your registration form in by May 1st, then with the coupon, your price would only be $100 for a 2 1/2 day conference. This is just for Southern California Autism and/or Lyme disease support groups and TACA families.

General Session is June 27 - 29th at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, CA (near Palm Springs)

We hope to see you there! For complete information and coupon, please download the following...

Conference Brochure and Agenda
$75 off coupon for full conference

Tami Duncan
President and Co-Founder
www.liafoundation.org

The ACES team of specialists is dedicated to promoting the independence, communication and social skills of children of all ages with autism and other developmental disabilities. We offer a variety of educational services in the home, school and community, as well as at the accredited ACES school located at ACES headquarters in San Diego, California.

With offices in San Diego and Orange County, ACES serves the Southern California area with a highly trained team of specialists in the psychology, medical and education fields. Since 1996, we have touched the lives of thousands of children with autism and other developmental disabilities throughout the United States and beyond. The company's founder and CEO, Kristin Farmer, M.Ed, and her leadership team, have been invited to speak, train and consult as far away as Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes is a new San Diego- based sports program serving athletes with developmental disabilities ages 5 through adult.

We exist to create enhanced opportunities for people with and without disabilities to interact and form lasting bonds of friendship through shared sports and recreational activities in their communities.

Whether you are an athlete, parent, coach, volunteer, sponsor, or contributor, we welcome you to join us, and to have a voice in how your program will be run. Please take some time to look around and find out more about SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes.

YOU ARE INVITED!
The NIH Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) cordially invites parents who are affiliated with SafeMinds, the National Autism Association (NAA), the Autism Research Institute and Defeat Autism Now!, the M.I.N.D. Institute, FEAT, TACA, Generation Rescue, Autism Society of America and any other local or national groups chapters to a Town Hall Meeting. The meeting is free and open to the public. Advance registration is not required.

WHO?The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) of the NIH (National Institutes of Health) hosted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) with gracious donation of facilities on the UC Davis campus.

WHAT? Town Hall Meeting to hear what parents and the clinicians treating those with autism believe are the most fruitful areas of autism research, discuss the possibilities and develop the next steps for autism research.

WHEN? Saturday, May 3, 2008. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHERE? The Cancer Center at UC Davis Medical Center, 4501 X St., Sacramento. Ample event parking will be available in Visitor Lot 4 adjacent to the Cancer Center.

WHY? The IACC at NIH is presently working on next year's strategic plan for Autism Research scheduled to be completed and presented to HHS Secretary Leavitt this summer. Now is the time to let your opinion be heard. Tell them what type of research do YOU want to see. Neurobiology? Promising medical and/or behavioral treatments? Best practices in services/delivery? Research into environmental causes/triggers? Prevention? Epigenetics?

For further information: please contact Phyllis Brown, senior public information officer for the U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, at 916-734-9023, or Christine Bruske Flowers Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), at 919-541-3665..

Town Hall Meeting Agenda
10: 00 Welcome-Isaac Pessah, Director, Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention, UC Davis

10:05 Opening Remarks-Samuel Wilson, Acting Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

10:15 Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Strategic Planning Process to date-Cindy Lawler, NIEHS IACC representative

10:30 Introductory Remarks from Panel 1 Moderator: Michael Chez, Director of Pediatric Neurology, Sutter Neuroscience Institute, Sacramento CA

Panel 1: ASD treatment: developing research priorities for evidence-based practices

Goal: Stimulate discussion about the range of treatments being used; develop recommendations about research priorities including issues of efficacy and safety.

Description: A range of conventional and alternative/complementary approaches are being used by parents and clinicians to treat children with ASD, yet many have not been studied in controlled clinical trials. How can a stronger evidence base be established to inform the treatment of individuals with ASD?

10:40 Perspectives from panel members (5 minutes each):
Sally Rogers, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, M.I.N.D. Institute, UC-Davis Medical Center

Randi Hagerman, Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Director, M.I.N.D. Institute, UC Davis Medical Center

Lynne Mielke, M.D., DAN doctor and founder, Developmental Spectrums East Bay Medical Clinic, Pleasanton, CA

Nancy Duley, parent/advocate

Lyn Redwood, IACC public representative, cofounder Coalition for Safe Minds

11:20 50 minutes for open dialogue with attendees

12:10 Lunch (on your own)

1:10 Introductory Remarks from Panel 2 Moderator: Isaac Pessah, Director UC Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health

Panel 2: ASD interventions, beyond the young child.

Goal: Stimulate discussion about the differing needs of older children and adults with ASD and review the current state of science in this area; develop research recommendations for interventions that target this underserved population.

Description: To date, autism treatment research has been focused primarily on young children, with little attention directed at treatment/interventions for older children, adolescents and adults with ASD. Community views about treatments and intervention across the lifespan are needed to develop appropriate research questions.

1:20 Perspectives from panel members (5 minutes each):
Pilar Bernal, ASD Regional Director, Kaiser Permanente, Northern California

Ruth Christ Sullivan, first president, Autism Society of America; founder and first executive director, now president of Autism Services Center, Huntington, WV

Dena Gassner, ASD advocate, Director, Center for Understanding, Franklin TN

Rick Rollens, co-founder of the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, co-founder of Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT), a former honorary board member of Cure Autism Now (CAN) and a former national board member of the Autism Society of America.

Claire Bothwell, Board Member, National Autism Association

Lee Grossman, IACC public representative, president and chief executive officer, Autism Society of America

2:00 50 minutes for open dialogue with attendees
2:50 Break
3:05 Moderators --Summarize discussions
3:25 Open dialogue with IACC and attendees
4:25 Closing remarks--Samuel Wilson, Acting Director, NIEHS
5:00 Meeting Adjourns


Special Note: The most meaningful research is guided by stakeholders. No researcher knows autism like those living with, working with, providing treatments for and loving those with autism. NIH is asking your opinion and have devoted over 2 ½ hours on the agenda for discussion. Please make a point to set aside this day to tell them what you think. A collective group of opinions for the direction of autism research will go along way to helping children, adolescents and adults with autism!