The Reason For It All

Perspectives: A Dinner for Parents and Professionals

Potential support group

Children's Disabilities Information

Why Juice Plus+???

Celebrity Showdown on Vaccines for Kids

Announcing a Schedule Change in the Pasadena "Back to School" Conference

Therapy Dogs: Researcher Explores New Ways To Aid Autistic Patients

Jenny McCarthy and Lance Armstrong Top Celebrity List to Raise Funds

Use of Drug "Clonazepam" or Klonopin(brand name) for young son with Autism

Heart of Sailing in California

Seminar: Treating Neurodevelopmental Problems at Their Roots

It's a question of restraint for teachers of autistic kids

Context and personality key in understanding responses to emotional facial expressions

San Diego Walk Now for Autism 2008

Melaleuca, The Wellness Company

Empowering Through Information
and the Fostering of Connections

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

C.A.S.E. inc. is holding a dinner for parents and professionals interested in hearing the unique perspectives of three young men with Asperger's Syndrome. This talk will also feature Cynthia LaBrie Norall, Ph.D., Director of C.A.S.E. and soon to be published author.

Location: Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, 6400 Surfside Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92008 in the clubhouse
Date and Time: Monday, August 25, 2008 from 6:00-8:00pm.
Cost: $45 per person and $60 per couple.

*Dinner will be a catered Greek meal by Tis'Delicious of Carlsbad.*

All proceeds benefit Autism Services Foundation, ASF a non-profit agency that help less fortunate children/teens get services.

To join, please RSVP at (760) 720-4964.
Maria Lyon
CASE, Inc.
www.Casefamily.com
Maria.Lyon@casefamily.com

Hello Valerie,
Would you please post this on your website?
My husband and I have a six and half year-old with the diagnosis of Aspergers. In my search for support, I have seen many groups for people of color, except African Americans. My husband and I are professionals who know there is a need for this support group. We are thinking about starting such a group. Will you please post the following on your website:

Are you African-American and seeking support from others who care?
We would like to start a support group to meet the needs of those individuals who have children with autism/aspergers. Please send an email to resilient6@verizon.net. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Children's Disability List of Support Groups and Listservs © is a annotated directory of internet support groups for families of children with disabilities and special needs. Each disability mailing list has been validated for usefulness and family orientation. Children's disability discussion forums, support groups, and listservs for parents of special needs children are grouped by general content in this directory. 1997-2008.

Why Juice Plus+?
The best way to answer that question, is to ask another. How do you think you would feel; how healthy would your body be; how much positive energy would you have, if you ate a serving of 15 different fruits and vegetables and 2 grains EVERYDAY?
That is what JP+ is and that is what it does.

Juice Plus+ provides the natural nutrition (millions of nutrients) of fully ripened, RAW fruits and vegetables in a capsulated form for adults and chewables and gummies for kids.

The cost for adults is $41.50 per month, or $1.36 per day. (Could your buy a serving of 15 fruits and veggies, and eat all of them, RAW for $1.36 per day?)

The cost for kids for Chewables or Gummies is $22.50 per month, or .74 cents per day? Could you even get your kids to eat 15 RAW, fruits and veggies per day?

For more information about Juice Plus+ and/or purchase it, please visit my website here. JP+ is certified GF/CF Dairy Free and Kosher!!! Click here for info on ingredients for all the JP+ products.

Starting in September, I will be having Juice Plus+ In-Home Parties. It is a great way to learn more about good, lasting health and JP+. If you are interested in learning about JP+ as a home-based business, click here. Juice Plus+ and its' parent company NSA, are NOT Multi-Level Marketing Companies. 95% of the people who order from the companies are customers only. NSA has been in business for 47 years.

Juice Plus+ "Thins" and anxiety and OCD:
Since, giving Tony "Thins" everyday, starting just 2 years ago, with no other medication or change, I noticed that Tony was more relaxed. Less anxiety. And, even more remarkable his repetitive, obsessive behaviors dropped about 80%. Changes in his routine/schedule became much easier, new experiences were no longer hard. Repetitive behaviors/routines nearly disappeared. I have been also able to reduce his medications: Zyprexa, Celexa & Tenex.

Please think seriously about giving this a try!!! If you have any questions about the "Thins", please email me and if you would like to order them, click here.

I now have several families that are going to give the "Thins" a try. It will be several weeks before I know if this is going to work for others, besides Tony. As soon as I know anything, you all will know!!!

**Amanda Peet Joins the Fray in Public Debate Over Childhood Vaccination**

Those who oppose vaccinations due to autism fears have Jenny McCarthy. Now, advocates of the recommended childhood vaccine schedule have actress Amanda Peet.

Peet, who stars in the new movie "X-Files: I Want to Believe," last month announced her support of the group Every Child By Two (ECBT). She is scheduled to be part of a panel on Aug. 5 to encourage parents to have their children receive all recommended vaccinations by the age of 2.

Peet says her interest in vaccines began with the birth of her daughter, Frankie, on Feb. 23, 2007.

"When Frankie was born, I started to learn about vaccine safety," she told ABCNews.com in an email message. "The more I learned, the more I realized how much misinformation there is about vaccines."

Greetings!
Announcing a Schedule Change in the Pasadena "Back to School" Conference August 9-10, 2008:

Due to a serious injury, Kathleen Quill is unable to speak at our conference.

Her Keynote Presentation will be replaced by Rick Clemens. Rick gave this presentation recently in Phoenix, and it received rave reviews from both parents and professionals.

Click here to see revised schedule.

Illustrating her research, USC occupational therapist Olga Solomon plays a video of a severely autistic young boy and his parents: The boy avoids eye contact and ignores questions - both signs of the socially debilitating effects of the brain development disorder.

But in the next video Solomon plays - of the same boy playing fetch with a trained therapy dog - the child giggles wildly as the dog returns a thrown tennis ball. Somehow, the dog has managed to make a connection with the youngster, and the simple, but priceless, interaction brings his parents to tears.

Talk About Curing Autism to Host Southern California Celebrity Gala

Jenny McCarthy, actress, comedian and model will co- host a major fundraiser to benefit families affected by autism with Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion road racing cyclist.

McCarthy and Armstrong host the celebrity-packed evening Ante Up for Autism, at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California on Friday, October 3, 2008. Joining the co-hosts will be a line up of sports celebrities including Ryan Scheckler, Jim Everett, Tony Hawk, Brian Lopes, Jeremy McGrath and more. The formal evening of cocktails, dinner and entertainment will be highlighted by a poker tournament and casino venue provided by Commerce Casino.

McCarthy stated, "TACA was one of the first organizations I encountered that gave me hope. Their message was positive and they helped convince me that outcomes for children with autism can be positive. Once I found TACA I didn't feel so alone. Now my son, Evan, is doing remarkably well and it is my turn to help TACA." McCarthy is the author of Louder Than Words - A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism which chronicles her experiences and healing philosophies as a parent of a child with autism.

Co-host Lance Armstrong commented, "With one in every 150 children being diagnosed, autism is becoming an epidemic that can't be ignored any longer. I see daily, how hard my friends have to struggle to get proper care and support for their children. I'm pleased to join TACA and Jenny McCarthy in co-hosting Ante Up for Autism."

Seating is limited. For information about Ante Up for Autism reservations and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.anteupforautism.org

We just had our son to see the psychiatrist with Kaiser and our son has been having anxiety problems brought on by some form of stressors, especially physical discomfort or illness, and we were told to try on our son Clonazepam.

After getting home and being only told that he would probably be sleepy for a few days to a week or more, he got very tired and drugged loosing his footing appearing clumsy and then how he fwas so frustrated and dizzy, he was physically and mentally feeling "different" and that added to him getting very frustrated and wanting to just be held.

Could anyone share with us their young child's with Autism,experience on Clonazepam? Is it approved (FDA) for children on the spectrum?

I have just been reading and researching the side effects and possible high rate of addictiveness of this product, let me know what you know! please!

Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
The Crane family
becky @ cranemail@cox.net

This summer was overwhelming and great to see so many families and groups sail with us.

We are excited to share with you our new schedule for California.

We will be sailing in:
Dana Point on October 5th, November 7th, 8th and 9th
San Diego on August 8th, 9th and 10th, October 4th, November 14th, 15th and 16th
San Francisco on September 6th, October 4th and November 1st
Ventura on October 31st, November 1st and 2nd

We are planning 3 big events this fall in Southern California: -6th of October: A Fundraising Dinner at the Brussels Bistro in Laguna Beach. Please Check soon our website for more information about it and to reserve your seat for an authentic Belgian experience.

-9th of November: Sail-a-thon in Dana Point
-16th of November: Sail-a-thon in San Diego

I would really appreciate it if you spread the word around about our program and invite families you know that could take advantage of our Daysails.

Thank you very much, I hope to see you soon again,
George Saidah
Founder/Executive Director