News from ValeriesList, 8.15.2008

This is my son, Tony Saraf. Tony was diagnosed at age 2 with Autism and ADHD. For the last 24 years, he has been my guiding light and the love of my life...and the biggest, toughest challenge I have ever had.

Helping Tony to be the best Tony he can be, is my goal. Where that goal will lead the two of us, is yet to be seen. Tony continues to improve and I know there is more to come.

Doing this newsletter and learning all that I can for you and for Tony, started out as a small project with 40 people and has turned into an elephant with over 1,300 readers. And just like Tony, there is no end in sight!

Thanks for joining me on this fascinating ride!
Valerie Dodd-Saraf

Links

Autism Speaks First 100 Days Kit

	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

"DVDs 2 Help" Program
	We could not have started our business or made our DVDs without the support of others and realize others may need help too during these economic times. If you (or someone you know) have children between the ages of 4 and 8, are living in the United States (or on a US military base abroad), and need a little helping hand, please submit a letter describing your situation and explaining how a Steps4Kids DVD can help. Submit all letters to: Steps4Kids, LLC, P.O. Box 231031, Encinitas, CA 92023-1031. We look forward to hearing from you. Our goal is to award at least 1 DVD per month. We look forward to hearing from you.
	Steps4Kids Website

Scientists grow stem cells for Parkinson's, Down syndrome, other disorders in research advance
	NEW YORK (AP) _ Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. This early step, using a new technique, could help speed up efforts to find treatments for some of the most confounding ailments, the scientists said. The new work was reported online Thursday in the journal Cell, and the researchers said they plan to make the cell lines readily available to other scientists.
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Women with HFA and Aspergers Group being held at CARES
	CARES is currently running an adult group for Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder ages 18 and older. The group meets on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The first session started 8/5 and will run for 8 weeks. We are looking for a few more members with HFA and Asperger's to join us to socialize with each other, talk about every day life issues, and go on community outings that we plan as a group in a safe and respectful environment. The group will continue to run in eight week cycles. The cost is only $80 for 8 sessions. Past members have enjoyed the group and we look to include more people! If you are interested or know of someone who might be, just contact: Dr. Christy Silva of CARES at 858-444-8823 at x1215 or Stacey Sciacchitano, M.Ed, MFTI, of CARES at x1222. We look forward to hearing from you! Other News From CARES: Valerie, I would like to announce that the Center for Autism Research, Evaluation and Service (CARES) has now a new staff psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Ponfick. She is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Ponfick is available for consultation, assessmenta and medication management at CARES two days per week. In order to set an appointment with Dr. Ponfick call her assistant, Katie, at 858-444-8823. Alan Lincoln, Ph.D.

Why Juice Plus+???
	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!!! How can I get my kid to take Juice Plus+? This is always the first question that I am asked. It is very doable if you are willing and consistant. The first thing to remember it that no matter what your child does to get out of taking something orally, it has been done before.....Tony used to hit, kick, bite, spit, head butt, scream, freak-out, throw himself on the floor, and my all time favorite: Throw up on Mom. After that one, I learn to have him try something new on an empty stomach. :) BUT, no matter what he did, I did not give in. You can't. You can't allow them to win the little battles, because it you do, you have lost the war. The war of improving them against their natural will to keep things the same. I will use a Juice Plus+ Chewable/Gummie as an example of how to do this, but this technique works with anything. The first part is getting them to accept something new, so it may take a month to get them up to a full dose. Cut the tablet into small pieces and give only a small piece at a time. You will need to be the judge of how many times a day you can get a small piece accepted by them and into them, successfully. Let them know up front that this is something new, something that they may not like, but it is NECESSARY. NO CHOICE! Make that clear. Have a treat right there ready to give them after they have accepted, chewed and swallowed the piece that you have given them. I always used "Smarties" with Tony. They are small and tangy, which helps to eliminate leftover taste. When they are successful, give them the treat and be the HEAD CHEERLEADER!!!!! HOORAY! YOU did it!!!! I'm SOOOOO Proud of YOU! Jump up and down!!! Go crazy! If you are tough and consistant, this will work. If your child realizes that you are not going to back down and you reward them for doing the task, they will do it.

Sophie's Gallery: Paint a Boggie Board with David White
	Friday, September 5; 5pm to 9pm FREE Please register early for this art class! This is a workshop for the 2008 Passageways: 'Catch the Wave' show. Paint a boggie board with a water or surf theme and explore themes of independence and freedom that water provides from the day-to-day experience. All finished projects will be included in the upcoming Passageways Show, September 25th. Sophie's Gallery 109 Rea Ave. El Cajon, CA 619.593.2205

2009 Performance Contract Public Meetings
	Sponsored by San Diego Regional Center and Area Board XIII/Office of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities Tuesday, 9/9/08, 12:15pm to 12:45pm SDRC Board Room, Suite 101 4355 Ruffin Rd. San Diego, CA 92123 San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) contracts with the California State Dept. of Developmental Services (DDS) to provide services to persons with developmental disabilities in San Diego and Imperial counties. Beginning in Calendar Year 1994, DDS entered into a new contracting process with all 21 regional centers. This new process focused on the achievement of outcome-based goals. SDRC is developing the Performance Contract for Calendar Year 2009. Currently, DDS and the regional centers have agreed upon outcomes by which regional centers' performance will be evaluated. With public input, regional centers must develop a list of activities which will assist regional centers in meeting the Performance outcomes. Additionally, regional centers can add outcomes for their regional center. SDRC, in collaboration with Area Board XIII/DDS, is hosting public meetings to discuss our current growth and services and receive input regarding the Performance Contract. The draft of the proposed 2009 performance Contact activities will be shared at the public meetings and available on the SDRC website at www.sdrc.org after 9/5/08, or can obtained through SDRC, Community Services, 858-576-2966. You may submit written comments by 9/26/08 to: Dan Clark, Director, Community Services SDRC 4355 Ruffin Rd., Ste. 104 San Diego, CA 92123

Is It Possible to Do Too Much Research About Autism?
	When you hear it from doctors and friends it sounds so simple - "do some research and make some decisions." But when it comes to autism, the more research you do the more overwhelmed you may become. There are so many conflicting views, so many different possible therapies, so many educational options. How do you limit the information overload? Start by taking a deep breath... now let it out...!
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Skyline Church in La Mesa offers services for special needs kids.
	Good evening Valerie, My name is Tonya and Mary Lyons suggested that I contact you with what I do and the programs that we offer. Currently I teach a class/support group at Skyline Church that teaches parents with special needs children social skills, coping skills and information regarding their child's diagnosis (ADHD, Tourette syndrome, autism/communication disorders, sensory integration disorders, oppositional/inflexible behaviors and learning disorders). Currently I also oversee the special needs program at the church and am working with several churches to help them with creating or expanding their programs. We have a specialized class for the children that are impacted by their disorder that they are unable to be mainstreamed into a typical Sunday school class and currently we have over 40 children with special needs mainstreamed into Sunday school classes. Additionally we offer a special need class each year for Vacation Bible School. Thank you, Tonya Langdon Skyline Church 11330 Campo Road Room 412 La Mesa, Ca 91941 Cost: Free of Charge Child care by reservation only 619-660-5000x5482 For more information call: Tonya Langdon 619-885-8315 blestby3@cox.net Dr. Jim Garlow, Lead Pastor, Highway 94 @ Jamacha Blvd11330 Campo Road La Mesa, Ca 91941 619-660-5000 www.skylinechurch.org

UCSD: Health and Wellness Forum
	September 24, Wednesday 2008 Health and Wellness Forum - Developmental Disabilities: Innovations in Diagnosis, Treatment & Service Delivery at the Catamaran Resort Hotel in San Diego. Presented by presented by UCSD, Dept of Developmental Services, and Association of Regional Center Agencies. This year's developmental disabilities conference will include five sets of workshops focusing on autism, genetics, early intervention, risk management, and special populations, as well as keynote presentations and a poster session/reception. Twenty-five different workshops will be offered, concentrating on topics such as assistive technology, effective and ineffective treatments, expanded screening in genetics, co- occurring medical conditions common to certain syndromes, and nutrition. The interactive reception and poster session provides attendees with the opportunity to speak directly with project partners. Registration Fees. On or Before 8/22/08: $225- 275 - On or After 8/23/08: $275-325 Click here for more info or Email ocme@ucsd.edu or call (888)229-6263.

Defeat Autism Now! Fall Conference (In San Diego) Includes More Discount Options
	As we enter our second decade presenting the premier biomedical conference for treating autism, the Defeat Autism Now! Conference team is pleased to announce lowered daily rates for the Fall 2008 Defeat Autism Now! Conference in San Diego. Our standard parents' registration rate of $130 per day is now reduced to $99 per day for pre- registered attend