Juice Plus+®

More Sailing with "Heart of Sailing"

Silver Gate Yacht Club's 48 Annual Regatta

Mom needs son evaluated...

ART EXPRESSIONS - a workshop for "sibs" - June 7th

The Real World of Autism with Chantal Sicile-Kira

Autism Insurance Info from HMO Health Center/ CA Dept of Managed Health Care

I CAN PLAY Summer Social Program

Perata Bill on Autism Health Coverage Passes Senate

Gray Center SUN News: The Benefits of Small Talk

Community Coaching Center's Beach Bash Fund raising Event!

Mom needs help with sunscreen

CBS News Exclusive: Former Head Of NIH Says Government Too Quick To Dismiss Possible Link

Vacationing Mom needs hotel.....

Brain Highways

Mom needs info on job coaching....

Health Education Seminar

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.

More and more men and women realize that "an ounce of prevention" really is worth more than "a pound of cure."

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 thoroughly 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
My enewsletters are archived on my website:
www.ValeriesList.com

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

This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy an activity together. Very safe and relaxing!!!

Daysails from Dana Point, May 16, 17, and 18.

Daysails from San Diego, June 6, 7 and 8.

Daysails from Ventura, June 3, 4, and 5.

6/08/08 Silver Gate Yacht Club's 48th Annual Wheelchair Regatta - For further Information regarding this annual tour of the San Diego Bay, contact Nina at 858-571-7803 x315 or ntarango@ucpsd.org

Note from Val: It is my understanding that this event is still open to all disabilities. Contact the person named above for more info. Tony and I were participants one year and it was a lot of fun.

Dear Valerie, I am the mother of a 10 year old boy, whom I want evaluated for Autism specifically HFA or Aspergers. I live in The Imperial Valley and we have very few resources for these children. I am looking for someone to evaluate my son and I am willing to travel to the San Diego area. Do you have any suggestions? My email address is Sharicee7@aol.com. My name is Sharice, my son is Dylen he is really suffering right now, because he is unable to attend school due to his behavioral difficulties. The school special education dept. has been helpful,and they also want to see my son evaluated for Autism.
Thank You
Sharice Jackson

Have a hard time expressing your feelings about a sibling or friend with a disability?

the Art Expressions experience with YOU in mind.

All Materials are included, along with the guidance of filmmaker, speaker, disabilities advocate, and artist, Keri Bowers. She is a mother of a nineteen year old son with autism, and a thirteen year old.

Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandmothers, grandfathers, and friends are invited and encouraged to come and share feelings in the form of art. Additionally, people with a disability are welcomed to come to express feelings they may have about the life they live.

Will be held June 7th , at Thousand Oaks Location

Each person will create a mask - a self portrait - of themselves to take home

$30 per person
individuals W/ a Disability- $20

RSVP: keri@normalfilms.com or (805) 497 - 9877

The Real World of Autism with Chantal Sicile-Kira on Autism One Radio www.autismone.org/radio

Tuesday, May 20, 1:30 EST

Topic: Asperger's Syndrome from the Inside Out Guest: Michael J. Carley, author and Executive Director of GRASP

Join Chantal and Michael as they discuss how and when to tell your child he has Asperger's, what it is like to be diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult, how being diagnosed has helped him in parenting his own Aspie son, and other topics from his new book "Asperger's from the Inside Out : A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome." Also, Michael talks about GRASP, the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership (www.grasp.org), an educational and advocacy organization run by, and serving, people on the autism spectrum.

Shows archived for 6 months for your listening pleasure.

Many people are not aware that there is a HMO Help Center under the California Department of Managed Health Care. We actively advocate for the best interests of health plan enrollees. The Help Center receives and resolves enrollee complaints to ensure that enrollees receive all the necessary care to which they are entitled, including medical and mental health services. We are aware that many parents of children in the autism spectrum are having difficulties getting services they desperately need. So our office can help, we have prepared a short article that we would like you to use in your newsletters, place on bulletin boards, and on your websites.

In addition, we have brochures and guides that we can send your organizations if you have a way of circulating them. We would appreciate you placing our link www.hmohelp.ca.gov to your website if you have one, so we can help those enrollees that are having problems, or to provide other information that might be useful. We are here to help!

Feel free to contact me at the phone number listed below:

Barbara "Bobbie" Reagan
Asst. Deputy Director, HMO Help Center
Department of Managed Health Care
980 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 255-2405

We are in the process of organizing our Summer Social program for children 3.5-5 years of age. We still have some dates available to families. We are running the groups with a maximum of 6 children. Here is a link to view the flyer:
http://icanplaysd.com/FlyerSummersocial.html You can also visit www.ICanPlaySD.com to find more information about our services.
Thank you,
Cari Miller
619.218.8744
11559-1 Compass Point Drive North
San Diego, CA 92126

(SACRAMENTO) - A bill by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) requiring insurance companies to provide appropriate and equitable coverage to patients with autism spectrum disorders passed the Senate today on a 33-to-1 vote.

SB 1563 requires the Department of Managed Health Care, in conjunction with the Department of Insurance, to bring together key stakeholders and make sure that the current law requiring health insurers to provide medically necessary treatment for autism is being followed.

Experts estimate that there are 187,000 Californians with this condition and presently the state's regional centers serve over 37,000 individuals with autism and are adding 11 new cases every day.

"Families are told their kids should get their treatment from regional centers, supported by taxpayers. That's a cost shift we can't afford," Perata said. "This bill is an important step in making sure that medical treatment - as required by law - is accessible and available to adults and kids with autism."

SB 1563 is one of eight bills introduced this year as a result of the report issued by the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.

Last fall, our local newspaper (The Grand Rapids Press) ran an interesting article from the Los Angeles Times entitled, "Researchers take high view of idle chatter." The article cited research from the University of Michigan which showed that increased social contact aided mental function. Solitary intellectual exercises, including crossword puzzles and Sudoku led to the same benefits as the same amount of time spent in "small talk" (in person or on the phone) with others. Perhaps not surprisingly, people who spent that amount of time watching TV (i.e. solitary activities without the intellectual component) did not display the boost in intellectual performance.

I suppose the good news is that those of us who thrive on chatting with others, whether we're discussing our families, the weather, the current political scene, favorite new recipes, or sports, can claim to do it for the benefits to our mental function. The bad news is that for many people, "small talk" is not an easy pursuit. This is often especially true for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), who may enjoy talking about a topic of special interest, but may struggle with the superficial, mundane, or the "back and forth" reciprocal and fast-paced nature of small talk.

We know that we can help them understand both the benefits and the mechanics of small talk. Books like "The Hidden Curriculum" can help parents and professionals better understand the difficulties experienced by those with ASD, and resources by Michelle Garcia Winner and Jeanette McAfee, as well as the books, "Good Friends Are Hard to Find," and "How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends" and the children's music CD, "My Turn, Your Turn," can teach and reinforce this valuable skill. (These and many other fabulous resources can be seen at www.thegraycenter.org).

When individuals need a break from the highly social nature of small talk or more in-depth conversations with others, they can benefit from solitary intellectual exercises, also. The research shows the value of their alone time, provided that is balanced with other areas in their lives.

So, next time you're either enjoying or being bothered by questions about how you spent your weekend, remember that you'll emerge from the conversation with your mental functioning enhanced!

Laurel Hoekman, Executive Director
The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding

We would like to extend an invitation for the upcoming Event of the Summer:
Community Coaching Center's Beach Bash Fund raising Event!

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

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

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 dinner, silent and live auctions, raffles, games and more. Remember to suit up if you want to Ride The Wave. You won't want to miss this awesome event!!!

Please come join us in supporting our event by RSVP- ing via our internet site at:
http://www.communitycoachingcenter.org/press.html.

If you are interested in sponsoring our event, contact Deanna at: daskin@communitycoachingcenter.orgor (858) 603-7344
Note: This is a 21+ event.

Hi Valerie! My son has strong sensory issues in regards to sunscreen. He says that the feel and the smell bother him. We have tried NUMEROUS brands and styles but have not found one that he can tolerate. I was hoping someone out there might have a good suggestion. Thanks! marcie@interwestpacific.com

Jordan King was a typical baby. His parents called him vocal and vivacious.

Then just before age 2, after a large battery of vaccinations, he simply withdrew from the world.

"The real scary thing was when I noticed he wasn't looking at us any more in the eyes," Mylinda King, Jordan's mother, said.

Hi Valerie, My family is planning a weekend in San Diego (near Mission Bay) I was wondering if you or someone on your list could recommend a hotel (around the $200 a night - or less range) with a kitchen? Thanks!
Linda

Friday May 23, 2008
6:30-8:00 P.M.
Brain Highways
"Same Story, Different Ending"

A 25 minute video documentation of seven families and their journey toward change and renewed hope

A group discussion will follow this video presentation, facilitated by Felicia R. Solito, Esq., and parent

"The parents are the true heroes in this story. They are such an inspiration, and while the kids were the ones who were transformed, the tears in my eyes the whole video were for the white-knuckled guts and bravery and perseverance of the parents. I am always grateful when I learn something new, or see a glimpse through a window I never even knew existed in the world."--Teacher

"The whole experience has elevated my mundane week and really brought it to such a higher level in terms of possibility and hope and courage and faith."-- Teacher

"The video proved the therapists and doctors were wrong. Every kid looked like they could change the world."--11-year-old child