Juice Plus+®

4 S Ranch Autism Group Walk May 3rd and Daysails with Heart of Sailing

Summer Autism Institute "Autism: Work With Me, Not On Me"

Closing The Achievement Gap: Using Parent Involvement to Increase Student Success and Academic Achievement

Next DIR, Floortime Support Meeting in Solana Beach

HFA and Asperger's Seminar on May 13, 2008

STAR Testing

Frustrated Mom

AEFCT invites you to our...

"Autism: Impact on Education" Announced for USAAA International Conference

Discount Tickets -- Mothers & Others on Autism

Mom needs evaluation for child

Autism Research Institute ENewsletter

Jenny's Walk 2008

Parent needs info on summer camps

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

Dear Families,
I am the brother of an autistic boy (he is 10 years old). We live in the 4S Ranch community.

I have decided to help my brother and other autistic kids by holding a ½ mile family walk/run at 4S Ranch Park in Rancho Bernardo (at the end of 4S Ranch Pkwy). The walk will be on Saturday, May 3rd. We will meet at noon and walk at 12:30. The cost is $10 per family.

All proceeds will go to benefit kids with autism and other disabilities. I will be donating half the money to Heart of Sailing, www.heartofsailing.org, an organization that introduces special needs children to sailing. With the other half, I will buy craft supplies. My helpers and I will teach crafts and sports at the 4 S Ranch Park. Any child with a disability will be included in the crafts and sports.

If you would like a sponsor sheet, please email me. All you have to do is ask family and friends to donate to my autism fund and sponsor you on the walk.

This is my first year, so your donations aren't tax deductible, you would just be doing a nice thing for our community.

Please RSVP to me at harrypotter5898@hotmail.com or call 858-312- 1418 by April 26th. If you have any other donations or other ways you might be able to help, please email or call me.
Thanks,
Max Utter
See Max's Flyer Here!

In honor of this event, George Saidah, Founder of Heart of Sailing will be doing Daysails on Saturday, May 3rd, after Max's Walk, and also Sunday, May 4th, here in San Diego on our beautiful bay.

6/23-25/08 Summer Autism Institute "Autism: Work With Me, Not On Me" from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the University of San Diego Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Theatre and Rotunda. This unique conference brings state-of-the-art ideas from national and international speakers on how to better understand and support individuals who live with autism. Reception June 23, 5:00 p.m. Garden of the Sea and Room "G" at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. Online registration can be found at www.usd-online.org (click on Summer Autism Conference under upcoming events) or call Marilyn Green at 619-260-5902. Conference information can be found at www.sandiego.edu/autisminstitute/. Questions? Call 619-260-7705 or email autisminstitute@sandiego.edu

5/22-23/08 Closing The Achievement Gap: Using Parent Involvement to Increase Student Success and Academic Achievement - This Leadership Development Conference for School, Family and Community Partnerships will be at San Diego State University - College Of Extended Studies, 5250 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182. Registration Deadline is May 16. Call 619-594-4756 or 877-972-7368 Visit http://parent.sdsu.ed u/services/conferences/2008/May_08/San_Diego_Flye r.pdf

Our next DIR®/Floortime Support Group is coming up on Wednesday May 7, from 9-1030 am, at my building at 415 North Highway 101, Suite A, in Solana Beach. This month's meeting is a combined one for professionals and parents together. Come early and park in the neighborhood behind the building (not the alley). People are welcome to bring video of their interactions with family members/ clients (assuming you have appropriate permission!). Please remember that this is for adults and that we do not have child care available.

Also, Drs Greenspan, Brazelton, and others have just published new guidelines for evaluation in the latest issue of Pediatrics: Guidelines for Early Identification, Screening, and Clinical Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Stanley I. Greenspan, T. Berry Brazelton, José Cordero, Richard Solomon, Margaret L. Bauman, Ricki Robinson, Stuart Shanker and Cecilia Breinbauer . Pediatrics 2008;121;828-830.

It is an excellent, succinct summary.

ICDL also republish Lisa deFaria's tips on getting started in Floortime and that is ttached too.

As always, most of our content is posted on our local website too:
http://www.circlestretch.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!
Dr Feder
858-509-0523

Seminar on: Understanding Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome or High Functioning Autism

Presenters: Dr. Nancy Cason & Dr. Sandy Shaw
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008; 8:30am to 4:30pm
Location: Double Tree Downtown Hotel, San Diego, CA
Registration: www.lorman.com or phone: 866-352-9539

6 Continuing Education Credits (CEU) available through APA, CA MCLE, IACET, NBCC, and CA SW.

Presented through Lorman Education Services
P.O. Box 509, Eau Claire, WI 54702-0509

For those of you who want to see what your child may be tested on (and who might want to help their child prepare for this potentially stressful time), below is the link to the released STAR questions:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp

Hoping all is well.
Lucile Lynch

Valerie:
I don't know if you want to publish what I have to say or not but I have an issue that concerns me greatly. It is not the most popular topic.

In the past six months I have talked to four parents whose children have run afoul of the law due to their diagnosis of autism/asperger's.

When our "high functioning kids" reach 18, it seems that critical services are non-existent. This is a critical age when young people are often at their most fragile because of hormones and social skills.

My question is this: why do we bother helping autistic kids progress at all when there is a lack of a viable safety net for them past the age of 18?

It breaks my heart to see these kids get into trouble, to hear of their parents despair and not knowing where to turn and not having the resources and help they need to help their "grownup" children.

This is the population who are most likely to interface with the community, and therefore, with the police.

My point is this: We desperately need good programs- social skills, sexual education, etc.- for high functioning autistic/asperger's people past the age of 18. This is a huge gap, and for many, a life or death problem.

Sincerely.
gigi schaumburg

· Parents' Night Out: AEFCT would like to offer you the opportunity to enjoy "mom & dad" time. Our first Parents' Night Out will be on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th from 6pm-9pm. Choose either night. Please R.S.V.P by Friday, May 9th to reserve a spot.

· Bicycle Club: There's no better way to spend an afternoon than pedaling with friends and family in beautiful San Diego! Our first ride will be at Miramar Lake on Saturday, May 31st at 11am. Please R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, May 27th to reserve a spot.

For more questions, please contact the AEFCT office at 619-269-6057 or email us at info@aefct.com.

by Theresa K. Wrangham
USAAA Director of Educational Development

As Director of Educational Development for US Autism and Asperger Association (USAAA), my mission is to address the critical need for education outside of treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) individuals. To that end, USAAA is proud to announce a new offering to its conference format that will be piloted at the USAAA 2008 International Conference in Austin, Texas, September 4-7, 2008 - USAAA's "Autism: Impact on Education".

This full day workshop is the first of its kind to be offered nationally within an autism conference format and will be held Saturday, September 6th and is limited to 90 participants with Certificates of Attendance issued. Our focus will be "Creating and Maintaining Programs for the ASD Student and the ASD Classroom" and "The Continuums of Autism: Meeting the Needs of the ASD Individual Through Better Understanding" and center on the ASD individual's learning style, needs and adaptation to the classroom environment.

Our presenter's for this groundbreaking program are internationally renowned experts Valerie Paradiz, PhD, Marlo Payne Thurman, MS and Stephen Shore, EdD.

Attendees will be equipped with hands-on strategies to be used immediately in the classroom that are beneficial for all students and assist educators tangibly to lessen classroom distractibility and enhance the learning environment.

Discount Tickets on Sale Now!!!
Celebrate Mother's Day a week early!

Don't miss this magical star-studded evening
On a hillside in Hollywood:

Grundoon Alley Productions & Deborah Portnoy in Partnership with Autism Speaks Present:
"MOTHERS AND OTHER ON AUTISM"

A multimedia musical drama
Real Stories of commitment, fortitude, and hope!

Join us for a special preview staged reading starring:
Annie Potts, Anne Marie Howard, Peter Husmann, Denise Crosby, Scott Lawrence, Lynette Louise, Vanessa Williams

Directed by Alison Vail Fuller
Original choreography by Frankie Anne

Saturday May 3, 2008
Barnsdall Gallery Theatre
BGT is a facility of the City Of LA Department of Cultural Affairs
4800 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, CA. 90027

6:00pm - pre-Show Reception
Special appearance by Adam Walden from "Autism The Musical"
8:00pm - Show

Buy Your Tickets Today:
$25 General Admission
$50 General Admission + Raffle Ticket
Group Rates Available
Click here to purchase:
http://events.autismspeaks.org/mothersandothers
888-8AUTISM

Hello Valerie,
I am new to ASD and have strong inclination that my 13 year old some may be HFA. I would greatly appreciate anyone sharing their experience and recommendation with private companies and/or doctors who can evaluate and diagnose my son in San Diego.

Thank you for your web site. It was recommended to me by the San Diego Autistm Society and another support group leader.

Hoping you can post this and steer me in the right direction.
Sincerely,
Linnette Cunningham
858/521-7546

click below

Going that extra mile for children with special needs

Brought to you by Friendship Circle:
Join us for an afternoon of family fun and community solidarity as we walk hand in hand to benefit an organization that brings joy, cheer and respite to children with special needs and their families. Whether you sign on as a walker or donor or both, your participation will help bring laughter and hope to some truly special children.

5K Walk
Sunday, May 4th, 2008 9am to 1pm @ San Diego State University