Juice Plus+®

Different Roads to Learning, A complete ABA and VB Source

Heart of Sailing Schedule for May and June

From Wrights' Law -- VERY IMPORTANT

U.S. reports biggest measles outbreak since 2001

Autism forum allows parents to have a say

Autism Speaks ENewsletter

Need a Date for the Prom in Sherman Oaks

Dad needs advice on schools in San Diego

Community Coaching Center (CCC) has openings

1st annual Spring Fling

Redirecting Children's Behavior

Little Builders June and Summer Intensive

Prevention Plus+ Seminars, Hosted by Valerie Saraf

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

About Us
Founded in 1995 by the parent of a child with autism, our goal here at Different Roads to Learning is to be your complete resource for ABA materials for children with autism spectrum disorders. In what is often an overwhelming experience, we strive to support the hope and dedication of parents and professionals who devote themselves to helping our exceptional children learn.

As parents, we have spent years trying to find the appropriate materials needed to educate our children. Many educational materials needed for ABA or Verbal Behavior programs are not easily available and are extremely difficult to find. On our site and in our catalogs, you will find a comprehensive selection of learning materials specifically designed to help children with ASD learn and grow.

As professionals, we strive to provide a haven for those parents who are seeking specific products that meet their children's needs. The appropriate educational tools for one child may not be the same for another. We merchandise and market our products to fill the needs of a diverse spectrum of children, catering to different ages and abilities.

As our customer, you come first. If the products you purchased aren't appropriate for your needs, we'll accept your returns. If there's an urgent need and you require your materials right away, we'll find a way to expedite your order. We try to ensure that you are using your dollars towards materials that will work for your child's specific needs; just give us a call and we'll walk you through different products and programs. If you are seeking consultants or center- based programs, we'll provide any information that we have available. If we don't carry the materials you need, we'll do what we can to refer you to someone who may have what you are looking for.

We are thrilled that you have turned to Different Roads to Learning to fulfill your program needs. As you browse through our site, containing more than 250 products, we know that you will find beneficial and exciting learning tools that are appropriate for your child's special needs.

Thanks for stopping by! We hope to hear from you soon.

Heart of Sailing is conducting more Daysails in California out of:

*Dana Point on a regular basis all summer.
*San Diego on the 6th, 7th and 8th of June.
*San Francisco on a regular basis all summer.
*Ventura the 9th, 10th and 11th of May, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th of June

Please check our schedule and register at http://heartofsailing.org/Sailwithus.asp

We are looking for more volunteer sailboat owners to help us conduct more Daysails in all sites, as well as other volunteers to help administer and raise funds, and more families to sail with us. Please spread the word around!!!

Fair Wind, I hope you can join us soon,
George

George Saidah
Founder/Executive Director
Heart of Sailing
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Dana Point Chapter, PO Box 4073, Dana Point, CA, 92629
Cell (812) 327-7742
Fax (866) 609-0807
gsaidah@heartofsailing.org
www.heartofsailing.org

To understand better what a daysail experience is, please click here to see a video of the chapter in Houston, TX.

Kids rely on their parents, family members, friends, child advocates, to speak on their behalf.

In this Alert, we asking you to step up to the plate on Tuesday, May 6 by calling your Congressional Representatives (202-224-3121) and asking that they co-sponsor H.R. 4188, the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act (H.R. 4188). Even if you can't call, please contact your rep via email or other means to alert them of this important bill.

The IDEA Fairness Restoration Act allows parents who prevail in due process or litigation under IDEA to be reimbursed for their expert witness fees - an expense few parents can afford. This bipartisan bill will help to level the playing field for parents of children with disabilities.

Please forward this Alert to friends, family members, and co-workers.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The biggest U.S. outbreak of measles since 2001 is unfolding in 10 states, with at least 72 people ranging from infants to the elderly becoming ill -- most of them unvaccinated, U.S. health officials said Thursday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said said none of those who caught the highly contagious viral illness has died, but at least 14 people have been hospitalized, most with pneumonia triggered by measles.

There were 116 cases in 2001, and the last major U.S. outbreak occurred from 1989 to 1991, when 55,000 people got measles and 123 died.

By Dorsey Griffith
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, May 2, 2008

Parents of autistic children want answers, and in an unprecedented move, federal health officials will be in Sacramento on Saturday to ask how they can help provide them.

At a daylong "town hall" meeting at the UC Davis Cancer Center, a wide range of autism stakeholders will brainstorm about the kind of federally funded research needed on the neurodevelopmental disorder.

"This is the trial balloon," said Isaac Pessah, a UC Davis toxicologist and autism researcher who directs the UC Davis Children's Center for Environmental Health and Disease Prevention. "This is the opportunity for the public (affected) by autism to have their view of what should be researched included in a strategic plan."

That plan is being developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a group of representatives from various federal health agencies charged with coordinating autism research activities nationwide under the Combating Autism Act of 2006.

Those who attend Saturday will represent several autism advocacy groups with different agendas. While some view the disorder as a "difference" that does not need to be cured, others see the answers in special diets, behavioral therapies or alternative treatments such as the removal of metals and other toxicants from the bloodstream.

Many parents with autistic children distrust federal researchers, who generally dispute the potential role of childhood vaccine components in causing the autism epidemic. Some also argue that the government's spending on research so far hasn't yielded many helpful answers.

"I think we ought to be spending more time listening to parents and what they experience with their kids," said Rick Rollens, an autism activist who has a son with the disorder.

Learning to distinguish the differences and commonalities among those affected with autism will allow researchers to better address individual kids' needs. Rollens cited gastrointestinal and immune system problems common to many children with autism as areas ripe for research.

"There are literally hundreds of interventions that parents and others have tried over the years," he said. "Yet everyone is thrown into the same category, so when you study different interventions, you find that while it may not be a great success overall, certain groups do benefit."

For Connie Lapin of Northridge, whose 40-year-old son has autism, the town hall meeting is an opportunity to talk about the long-term consequences of the diagnosis.

She said it's a conversation many parents don't want to have because they believe their child can be cured of the disorder well before they enter adulthood.

"I would be the first person in line for a cure or recovery," she said. "But what that does to a family is takes away their planning and their vision of what is really possible, even if it isn't perfect."

Lapin said she would like the federal government to fund research into the kinds of accommodations that are most helpful to people of all ages with autism.

"This focus on cure and evidence-based treatment is making us lose our way in terms of long-term care and life-span issues," she said. "The person who has these challenges is still a person with the same needs as you and I."

Christine Flowers, a spokeswoman for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one agency involved in the strategic planning project, acknowledged and welcomed the diversity of views on the subject.

"This is an opportunity to share information both ways," she said. "Sometimes that process is challenging, but everyone in their own way is trying to contribute to finding answers."

click below

i have a 22 yr old autistic boy, non verbal but very bright.........i would like to get a companion, female, to go with him . he does not act out or anything like that , but is very shy. i will payby the hr. we are in the sherman oaks area. please contact 8189869486. thank you.....jan

Hello. My name is Ron and I currently live in the 92154 zip. I have a 2.5 year old daughter receiving services through the San Diego Regional Center. She will soon be assessed by and scheduled for transition to the school district for continuation of special services in behavior and speech. However I am shopping for a new home and therefore I have the opportunity to pick the community we live in and consequently the school district which will best serve my daughter's needs. After asking for their advise I received conflicting opinions from the contractor providing her in-home services and my daughter's case service coordinator at the San Diego Regional Center, on which school district would be best for a child with a diagnosis of "Persistent Resistive Personality", (in the mild autistic spectrum). But they based their opinion on their experiences on the bureaucratic errata while I wanted to know which school district has the best professionals and the best programs in place to deal with a mildly autistic child's needs. Would you please post soon as I am in need of a decision 'yesterday'.

Thanks, sincerely,
Dad in San Diego

Community Coaching Center (CCC) is expanding our Saturday, CCC Friends Group and we have three more spots newly opened!!

The CCC Friends Group is two groups of teens, between the ages of 13-18 affected by HFA/AS, that meet every other Saturday (two Sat.s a month) from 10 AM - 3 PM . The Friends practice social appropriateness and awareness, friendship building, and citizenship skills by participating in a variety of activities in the community, facilitated by our CCC Team Group Leaders and often accompanied by Peer Pals or an adult Mentor affected by HFA.

For more information on the CCC Friends Group, or on how to become a CCC Peer Pal or Volunteer, please visit our website: www.communitycoachingcenter.org

Dear Parents,
Xcite Steps would like to invite you to our 1st annual Spring Fling event on May 17th at Fletcher Cove in Solona Beach from 11a-1p. This is a FREE event open to your entire family. We will have music, fun activities, and food for everyone. This is a great way to see what Xcite Steps is all about and meet our families and staff. Parents MUST be present with their child. Xcite Staff will be there running the games and activities. This is also our Camp Steps DEADLINE for summer camp sign ups. If you are interested in having your child be part of Camp Steps you will have the opportunity to register your child at this event. Please know in advance which weeks you would like your child to attend camp if applicable and payments for camp deposit. If you want to come and just enjoy the event you are welcome to do so. Please RSVP ( mwinkley@excitesteps.com or 858 722-1948) if you will be attending Spring Fling. Also include how many people you will be bringing to the event. Feel free to contact me with any questions (858 722-1948) concerning Camp Steps or Spring Fling. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Kind Regards,
Matt Winkley
Director
Xcite Steps, LLC
858 722-1948
www.xcitesteps.com

My name is Nancy Seaman. I have worked with children for over 15 years, including typical and special needs kids. I am a parenting instructor for a course called Redirecting Children's Behavior. It is part of an international company called International Network for Children and Families. INCAF has been around for over 30 years. I like this course because it is basic strategies that help parents get in touch (through their feelings when their child(ren) are misbehaving) with what the child is trying to convey through their actions: attention, power, revenge and inadequacy. The parents can then redirect to the proper behavior. I believe many children on the spectrum would benefit from this course. Please email me at: nancyrcb@gmail. com if you are interested. Thank you, Nancy Seaman

Dear Parents,
Due to the overwhelming response for summer groups, Little Builders will be offering multiple Summer Intensive Sessions in late June, July and August in addition to Regular Sessions starting at the beginning of June. Below is an answer to the most commonly asked question.

What's the difference between Little Builders Summer Intensive & Little Builders Regular Sessions?

Little Builders Regular Sessions run 2 days a week (20 sessions, 1 1/2 hours each) over approximately 10 weeks. There is no requirement to bring a typical peer, although it is highly encouraged for added generalization. Regular Sessions include a parent component (observations and 3 parent meetings to teach skills for generalization and maintanance at home).

Little Builders Summer Intensive takes place 5 days a week (2 hour sessions, Monday-Friday) for two weeks. Each child is required to bring a typical peer. The two hours will include a snack time. There is no parent component and all clients will receive 2 child-size Little Builders t-shirts.

Both formats include a combination of direct instruction and naturalistic settings to learn play, self- regulation and social communication skills with peers (neuro-typical and other child with ASD). Groups consist of 2-3 children with ASD and a maximum of 6 children (ages 3-7) total. Our Play Facilitators work diligently to teach the necessary skills to have positive, successful interactions with peers.

In order to best accomodate our clients and most efficiently schedule the groups, assessments for these sessions will take place within the next 3 weeks.

If you have already had an assessment, we hope to let you know what groups (days and times) your child will best fit in by May 27th. Please email colinger.cares@yahoo.com with your preference of Summer Intensive versus Regular Session and whether morning or afternoon sessions would best suit the needs of your family.

For further questions, please call 858-444-8823 x1221