"Juice Plus+ is the perfect way to ensure that we get more of the whole food based nutrition we really need."

SDRC San Marcos Presents: The North County Network of Parents

Support Group at Compass Family Center, USD

Special Ed Students and Graduation

LI researcher pinpoints autistic behavior

Heart of Sailing in Ventura and San Diego

SDASA Support Groups

Silver Gate Yacht Club's 48 Annual Regatta, June 7th and 8th

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

College Adds Master's in Therapy Proven Effective in Treating Autism

DIR Support Group Meeting, June 4 in Solana Beach

Bike for Kiddos having trouble

Life Planning session scheduled to begin

Doctors Seek Earlier Diagnosis for Autism

Melaleuca

Delia Garcia, M.D.
Home: St. Louis, Missouri

Medical Specialty: Radiation Oncology

Education: Graduated summa cum laude from Western Illinois University (1976). Graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (1979). Internship at University of Wisconsin Hospital (1979-80). Resident/Chief Resident at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (1980-83).

Fellowships and Appointments: American Cancer Society Clinical Fellowship (1981-82). Assistant Professor of Radiation Therapy and Oncology, Medical College of Virginia (1983-84). Assistant Professor of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine (1984-1992). American College of Radiology Fellowship (2001).

Other Professional Accomplishments: Author of over 40 scientific articles. Founding member of a cancer and breast institute in St. Louis (1999). She is a leading expert in breast cancer and was selected by her peers to appear in Best Doctors in America.

Community Service: Professional Advisory Board Member, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation ("Race for the Cure") and The Wellness Community of Greater St. Louis.

Health Advice: "Take responsibility for your health, and you will be astounded by the benefits. Stop smoking; eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; exercise daily; and, drink plenty of water. "Life is not a dress rehearsal! Simple measures can make a huge difference in disease prevention."

Why she recommends Juice Plus+: "Last year alone, I consulted with over 400 new patients diagnosed with cancer. The sad truth is that many of these cases might have been prevented through sound nutrition, stress reduction, and an overall healthy lifestyle. "As a busy professional and mother of three, I realize how difficult it is to eat the way we should, especially day in and day out. Juice Plus+ is the perfect way to ensure that we get more of the good, whole food based nutrition we really need."

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. I have Fibromyalgia Syndrome (an inflammation of the nervous system that causes painful muscle spasms and chronic fatigue), and Juice Plus+ reduced my pain level by 90% and doubled my energy level. (Results may vary.)

Juice Plus+ is whole food nutrition and will not interfere with any biomedical treatment that you may be doing with your child, but will actually enhance it. Poor nutrition has been linked to ADHD in numerous studies.

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

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

Isadore Rosenfeld, MD, and his 'family take Juice Plus+ regularly.'

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

AUTISM, CERBRAL PALSY, DOWN SYNDROME, EPILEPSY, MENTAL RETARDATION

Calling all parents of children with special needs ages 3-10 who would like to meet other parents in North County. Become part of a growning network for support, socialization, education and fun!!! Our hope is to connect parents with one another and also provide informational presentations on topics of interest based on feedback from the group.

Come meet some new people and have a cup of coffee. Group generally meets every other month 9:30am to 11:30am on a Tuesday.

SDRC San Marcos
1370 W. San Marcos Blvd., Suite 100
San Marcos, CA 92078

Questions? Call Kristina Gunnarson, Necol Shabazz or Jamie Michalski at 760-736-1200.

The COMPASS Family Center at USD has recently received funding from The California Endowment to start a Family Guidance Program. One of the components of this program includes funding to run a parent support group with child care.

We are looking for assistance from parents and the community to:

• Identify and recruit parents to attend the group.
• Locate a venue to hold the group. Ideally we would need 2 rooms: one with a door that can close for the group itself and the other for childcare.
• Find 2 childcare workers with experience caring for children with special needs.

If you haven't seen the following yet, please share with any interested parties after deleting my personal info. Thanks.

For Sharing:
California Department of Education, Special Education Division
Memorandum
Date: May 28, 2008
To: Special Education Local Plan Area and State-operated Programs Directors Special Education Administrators at County Offices Advisory Commission on Special Education Interested Individuals, Agencies and Organizations
From: Mary Hudler
Director, Special Education Division
Subject: Official Message from State Director of Special Education

Please review the two letters regarding graduation and students with disabilities at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/ac/ . I have received several calls from parents and teachers who tell me districts are telling students they cannot participate in the graduation ceremony. Please work with me to ensure that all districts know, understand, and implement EC56390-1, the statute that allows students with disabilities to receive a certificate of completion and/or participate in the ceremony.

If you have any questions regarding certificates of completion or diplomas for students with disabilities, please contact Jill Larson, Consultant, Assessment, Evaluation, and Support Unit, at at jlarson@cde.ca.gov or 916-323-7192.

A Long Island researcher has pinpointed for the first time brain regions in children with autism linked to "ritualistic repetitive behavior," the insatiable desire to rock back and forth for hours or tirelessly march in place.

Collaborating with investigators at Duke University and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Dr. Keith Shafritz, an assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University, unmasked brain regions in children with autism typified by reduced neural activity. In a series of high-tech mapping studies, he compared brain images of children with autism to those of neurologically normal youngsters.

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 San Diego, June 6, 7 and 8.

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

NORTH COUNTY GROUPS

Asperger | HFA Parent's Group
June 2nd | 7:00-8:30pm
Carlsbad Senior Center | dining room
799 Pine Ave | Carlsbad, CA | 92008

Guest Speaker: Darlene B.Sweetland, Ph.D.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Their Diagnosis: The Amazing Strengths that Accompany the Challenges

Coffee Talk | June 12th | 9am
Join us at Pannikin Cafe
510 N. Highway 101 | Encinitas

Calling all parents who would like to sit and chat with other parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. These events are hosted by Shelly Hirschberg. No need to RSVP!

EAST COUNTY GROUP

La Mesa East County
Asperger/HFA Parent Support Group
June 3rd| 6:30-8:00pm
Java Mama Cafe
8250 La Mesa Blvd (behind Wireless Toyz)
La Mesa, CA | 91941

No speaker this month. Pease join us for a great opportunity to help families make connections, find support, and share resources.

The meetings will be held in a private room generously offered to us by Java Mama Coffee shop. Sorry, no day care is provided.

SAN DIEGO

Monthly Support & Informational Meeting
Join us on June 17th, 2008
6:30-8:30pm | United Way Building
4699 Murphy Canyon Road | San Diego, CA

Special event:
Annual Meeting & Elections and Father & Grandfather Appreciation Night with Special Guest Speaker, Jeff Sell, Esq

Jeff is the the Director of Chapters & Membership and the Government Relations Liaison for the Autism Society of America ("ASA"). He has served as the first Vice Chairman of ASA's Board of Directors and the Chairman of ASA's Government Relation Committee. Jeff presently serves on the Professional Advisory Boards of New York Families for Autistic Children ("NYFAC") and Developmental Delay Resources ("DDR") and he is the Vice President of the World Autism Organization (WAO).

Jeff Sell and his wife of 21 years, Paula Marie Sell, have been blessed with four children, Natalie (14), Ben and Joe (13 year-old twins with autism), and Gracie (10).

There will be door prizes for dads and grandfathers of people with autism spectrum disorders at the meeting. For more info contact info@sd-autism.orgor 858.715.0678.

June 7th and 8th, 2008, 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.

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 Sage Graduate School's Master of Science in ABA and Autism has been approved by the New York State Board of Regents and is the only one in the U.S. that offers the program online.

Albany and Troy, NY (Vocus/PRWEB ) May 20, 2008 -- Only a handful of colleges and universities in the United States offer master's degrees in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), a treatment for autism identified by the United States Centers for Disease Control as being effective in the education and treatment of individuals with autism, and The Sage Colleges' Sage Graduate School is now among them.

The Sage Graduate School's Master of Science in ABA and Autism has been approved by the New York State Board of Regents and is the only one in the U.S. that offers the program online, which means professionals working from Albany, NY to Seattle, WA, and from Osceola, FL, to Navajo reservations in Utah are eligible to complete their Master's Degree in ABA and Autism without having to relocate.

ABA is a branch of psychology rooted in the study of human behavior and is a therapeutic approach that has been shown to improve the language skills, behaviors and socialization of those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. One focus of the program will be the procedures and strategies for dealing with language development, abnormal behavioral patterns and socialization issues. The second major focus involves a deep understanding of autism, its cause and strategies for assessment.

Hi Val -
Our next ICDL DIR®/Floortime support groups are coming up next Wednesday, June 4. Professionals' group is from 9-1030, and parents/caregivers form 1030-noon, at my building, 415 North Highway 101, Solana Beach, Suite A. Anyone with interest in DIR®/Floortime is welcome. Parking is tight so come early and plan to park in the neighborhood behind the building. People are welcome to bring videos of the people they are working with to look at together (as long as there is appropriate permission from family). Sorry, we do not have childcare so please do not bring children. Hope to see you all there!
Dr Feder
858-509-0523

Hi everyone. Came across this bike which has been recommended for children with learning disabilities.

Thought I'd pass it on...
16" PV Glider by GLIDE BIKES
Parents asked for a PV Glider for older kids who had trouble learning to ride a bike so here it is. Same great proven geometry, just in a larger size with 16" wheels for older, bigger kids. Great for kids with learning disabilities as well. The only balance bike with pegs to rest feet. (Patent Pending)
Lucile

Home of Guiding Hands offers a six-session series of workshops to parents to assist them in the process of planning for the life-span of their children with disabilities. The small groups offer support and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other parents. The workshop format breaks down the overwhelming task of life-planning into more manageable components. Guest speakers present information on housing options and legal issues and take specific questions. Families of all ages have participated and found benefit from the process. Whether they feel more prepared for transition, IPP meetings, or estate planning, the benefits are tangible. The next series of workshops is scheduled to begin Tuesday June 17th. Classes are held every other week from 6-8pm. The address is 1825 Gillespie Way Suite 200, El Cajon 92020. To preserve the small group format, limited space for additional participants is available. Please contact Wendy Smith, 619-938-2876 or wendy@guidinghands.org by June 10th to register.

Seattle -- When her toddler son seemed not to notice a door slamming nearby during his checkup, Jo James thought nothing of it. Her husband, a Microsoft manager, also has an uncanny ability to block out his surroundings.

A check of Ben's hearing after a nurse's prompt found nothing amiss. It wasn't until two years and one perceptive Montessori teacher later that his parents finally learned the cause of Ben's obliviousness: autism.