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NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

We deal with change all the time, sometimes it’s small and easy and other times it’s big and more difficult. We get comfortable and that makes change seem more difficult because we like the way things are and we don’t want them to change. Special needs families are always dealing with change and very seldom is it easy. Schedules change, therapies change, medications change, behaviors change, and so on. The best thing to do is to embrace the change and accept it as a new adventure or opportunity. Who knows, maybe it will actually be better. “New things always seem frightening, but soon they will become old things, and God will have another ‘new thing’ on the horizon of our lives. We need to grow accustomed to stepping out into new things. The more we do, the more we realize that we don’t have to be comfortable. In order to take hold of a new thing, we must let go of the old and allow ourselves time to get acquainted with the new.” Joyce Meyers. “We see the brightness of a new page where everything yet can happen. One of the wonderful things about life is the sense that we still have the whole world in front of us. We haven’t yet fixed our path one way or the other, and

the horizon seems to extend endlessly before us. It’s an exciting time. Every choice we make in life closes off one or more possibilities. But, choices can also open up possibilities. No matter what age we are, we can always look forward and imagine new paths that we might take. No matter how old I am, there are always opportunities, always new things I can do.” Linda Picone Try to accept changes for yourself and for you special needs loved one as a new and exciting choice; the opportunity to experience new things; a chance to step out of your comfort zone. You never know, it might just be OK. ~Beth S.

The Developmental Enrichment Program (DEP) has recently secured some grant funding that they will utilize for a limited number of partial scholarships for their special needs pre-school program (age 3 to kindergarten) for families who may not otherwise be able to afford it. For more information, contact Sharon Cesnik 317-298-8892, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 86th & Meridian Street, Indianapolis.

The Information Advocate Issue 4 Volume 2 NEWSLETTER September 2011

Beth Schweigel 502 E. 8th Street, Sheridan, IN 46069 (317)758-0046, bkschweigel@aol.com

Each Day is an Adventure, Enjoy the Journey!

INDIANA RESOURCES: AAI – Autism Advocates of Indiana www.aaiwalk.org ADA Indiana – Americas with Disabilities Act www.iidc.indiana.edu/cpps/ada/ AETC-Indiana Autism Education & Training Center www.aetcinc.org The Arc of Indiana www.arcind.org ASK – About Special Kids www.aboutspecialkids.org ASI – Autism Society of Indiana www.inautism.org Best Buddies Indiana www.bestbuddiesindiana.org Blumberg Center www.indstate.edu/blumberg Brain Injury Association of Indiana www.biausa.org/indiana Bricker Behavioral Services http://bbs4autism.com/ Bridges of Indiana www.bridgesofindiana.com Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center http://psychiatry.medicine.iu.edu/subsites/christian-sarkine-autism-treatment-center/ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Indiana Chapter www.cff.org/chapters/indiana/ Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Indiana (DBSA) MHAI@mhai.net Down Syndrome Indiana www.dsindiana.org

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RETIREMENT NEWS

We send our best wishes to Dr. Vicki Pappas, who retired last week from Indiana University and the Indiana Institute under IU’s Early Retirement Incentive Program. Dr. Pappas came to the Institute in 1974, when it was called the Developmental Training Center (DTC). She was a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program on Young Children (IDPYC) and held a graduate assistantship with Dr. Michael Tracy on the Deinstitutionalization project, which was an early effort to bring Muscatatuck residents back to their home communities with jobs, a home, and friends. From there, she began work with IEP implementation and state planning. Upon receiving her doctorate in 1982, Dr. Pappas was assigned to create the Office of Training and Evaluation for the DTC. In 1986, then-Director Dr. Henry Schroeder asked her to take over the leadership of the Collaborative Work Lab and named her Director of the Center for Planning and Policy Studies. Since that time, Dr. Pappas has provided extensive advocacy in the disability field, especially in promoting the involvement of people with disabilities in the public policy process and in promoting accessible communities. She conducted many important statewide needs assessments, gathering and reporting information from people with disabilities and

their family members to affect changes in public policy, such as the “Tell It Like It Is! Statewide Survey,” the “Indiana Independent Living Survey,” and most recently, annual “Indiana Disability Polls” focusing on health issues (2007), voting and civic engagement (2008), transportation (2009), ADA implementation (2010), and disability policy priorities (2011). She has also made a variety of presentations to leaders in the university, business, political, and community sectors about advocacy and increasing access, especially related to universal design, accessible materials and meetings, and ADA implementation for businesses and communities. Further, as Director of the Institute’s Collaborative Work Lab, Dr. Pappas facilitated a variety of collaborative planning sessions, and conducted focus groups to assist a variety of local and state organizations. In particular, she has used her planning expertise to encourage and support people with disabilities to provide input at focus groups and town meetings in the development of many of Indiana’s State Disability Plans. Last, she was an active member of ADA-Indiana, Indiana Partners in Justice, and the Indiana Inclusion Council at the state level. At the national level, she was involved with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities at the national level, having served on its Board of Directors and as Chair of the National Training Directors Council. Dr. Pappas has been active at Indiana University as well. She served as an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, teaching Child Development and the Interdisciplinary Seminar on Developmental Disabilities. More recently, she served as the co-convener of IUB’s Disability Roundtable and helped to initiate and carry on the Roundtable’s Accessible University series and

INDIANA RESOURCES: Dyslexia Institute of Indiana, Inc. www.dyslexianindiana.org Early Childhood Meeting Place www.earlychildhoodmeetingplace.org Easter Seals Crossroads www.crossroads.easterseals.com Family to Family www.inf2f.org Family Voices Indiana http://fvindiana.blogspot.com/ FUSE – Families United for Support and Encouragement www.fuseinc.org HANDS in Autism – Helping Answer Needs by Developing Specialists in Autism www.handsinautism.org IACC-Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee http://iacc.hhs.gov/ IIDC - Indiana Institute on Disability and Community www.iidc.indiana.edu INABC-Indiana Association of Behavior Consultants www.inabc.org Indiana Adult Guardianship Services www.arcind.org/index/iags/project-mission-and-goals.asp Indiana Association of the Deaf www.iadhoosiers.org Indiana Chapter of the UMDF (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation) www.umdf.org/inchapter Indiana Commission on Autism www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/auti.html Indiana Department of Education www.doe.in.gov Indiana Disability Awareness http://indianadisabilityawareness.org/ Indiana Federation of Families for Mental Health www.indianafamilies.org Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities www.in.gov/gpcpd Indiana Medicaid www.indianamedicaid.com

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March Awareness month activities on campus. Retirement will be as active for Dr. Pappas as was her professional career! She plans to continue her involvement in City of Bloomington and Monroe County issues, currently serving on the Council for Community Accessibility and the Voting Center Advisory Committee, and also as a member of ADA-Indiana, the State Steering Committee for implementation of the ADA. Dr. Pappas will also continue to play a national role in her church, serving since 1982 as National Chairman of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians and also as a member of Detroit’s Metropolis Council and the national Archdiocesan Council. In her “spare time,” she’ll remain active as a member of the University’s Gourmet Club, and plans to continue attending theater, music, and opera productions and other city events as well as keeping in touch with her colleagues. While the Institute will miss Dr. Pappas’s presence and leadership tremendously, we wish her a pleasurable retirement and continued successful ventures!

We witnessed a big step toward preserving federal funding for autism-related research, treatments, screening and interventions. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee unanimously passed the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) during its committee meeting this morning, which means the bill can be debated on the Senate floor. The Autism Society would like to thank the HELP Committee, including Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for their leadership, as well as all sponsors of the bill for their support.

While the results were positive, we still have more work to ensure CARA is passed by September 30, the day the Combating Autism Act of 2006 will expire and the $693 million in federal funding it appropriates will disappear. Passage in the Senate will provide vital support to getting the reauthorization passed in the House. Thanks to your support, the Autism Society has become a leader on this important issue.

Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders Learning Module Available The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) recently posted a new on-line module on the early identification of ASD. The module comes with videos (including home movies of babies who later develop ASD), case studies and other resources. It is available online at http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/content/early-identification-asd-module What are Evidence-Based Practices (EBP)? While many interventions for autism exist, only some have been shown to be effective through scientific research. Interventions that researchers have shown to be effective are called evidence-based practices. The National Professional Development Center uses rigorous criteria to determine whether a practice is evidence-based. Currently, the Center has identified 24 evidence-based practices. Please note that every identified practice is not necessarily appropriate for every learner. Practices are most effective when carefully matched to a learner’s specific needs and characteristics.

INDIANA RESOURCES: Indiana Parkinson Foundation www.indianaparkinson.org Indiana Protection & Advocacy Services – IPAS www.in.gov/ipas/ Indiana State Chapter, National MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society www.nationalmssociety.org/ini Independence Academy of Indiana - Autism Spectrum Middle School and High School www.theindependenceacademy.org IN*SOURCE www.insource.org IRCA - Indiana Resource Center for Autism http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=32/ Learning Disabilities Association of Indiana (LDA) www.ldaofindiana.org LDM Inc., Lutheran Disability Ministries www.ldminc.org Mathias Counseling http://mathiascounseling.com/#index Mental Health America of Indiana www.mentalhealthassociation.com Muscular Dystrophy Association of Central Indiana www.mda.org Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation www.mdff.org NAMI Indiana – National Alliance on Mental Illness www.nami.org Noble of Indiana www.nobleofindiana.org Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS) www.aspergersyndrome.org Pozdol Behavior Therapy http://behaviortherapy.weebly.com/ Riley Child Development Center www.child-dev.com Self Advocates of Indiana www.saind.org

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The National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on ASD has adopted the following definition of evidence-based practices (EBP). Definition of Evidence-Based Practice: To be considered an evidence-based practice for individuals with ASD, efficacy must be established through peer-reviewed research in scientific journals using.

• randomized or quasi-experimental design studies. Two high quality experimental or quasi-experimental group design studies

• single-subject design studies. Three different investigators or research groups must have conducted five high quality single subject design studies, or

• combination of evidence. One high quality randomized or quasi-experimental group design study and three high quality single subject design studies conducted by at least three different investigators or research groups (across the group and single subject design studies).

The NPDC on ASD and the National Standards Project Both the National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the National Standards Project (NSP) reviewed literature to establish evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorders between the ages of birth and 22 years. In many ways, the two processes were quite similar. Both reviews included literature up to and including 2007, and both applied rigorous criteria when determining

which studies would be included as evidence of efficacy for a given practice. Evidence-Based Practice Briefs Evidence-based practice (EBP) briefs have been developed for all 24 identified evidence-based practices. EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH ASD

Antecedent-Based Interventions (ABI)

Computer-Aided Instruction Differential Reinforcement Discrete Trial Training Extinction Functional Behavior

Assessment Functional Communication

Training Naturalistic Intervention Parent-Implemented

Intervention Peer-Mediated Instruction and

Intervention Picture Exchange

Communication System (PECS) Pivotal Response Training Prompting Reinforcement Response

Interruption/Redirection Self-Management Social Narratives Social Skills Groups Speech Generating

Devices/VOCA Structured Work Systems Task Analysis Time Delay Video Modeling Visual Supports

Wanted:

Parents with Children Ages 5-12 All parents have unique stresses as the result of raising children,

INDIANA RESOURCES: Special Olympics Indiana www.soindiana.org Spina Bifida Association of Central Indiana www.sbaci.org TACA Indiana – Talk About Curing Autism http://www.tacanow.org/local-chapters/indiana/ Together in Autism (T.I.A.) www.togetherinautism.org Tourette Syndrome Association of Indiana www.tsaindiana.org Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance of Indiana http://www.tsalliance.org/pages.aspx?content=93 UCPA of Greater Indiana (United Cerebral Palsy Association) www.ucpaindy.org *If you know of other Indiana Resources that need to be on this list, please let me know.

ABA CENTERS: Applied Behavior Center for Autism www.appliedbehaviorcenter.org BACA - Behavior Analysis Center for Autism www.thebaca.com Bierman ABA Autism Center http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bierman-ABA-Autism-Center/168265736533775 Corner Stone Autism Center www.cornerstoneautismcenter.com Little Star Center www.littlestarcenter.org Unlocking the Spectrum LLC www.unlockingthespectrum.com VBCA – Verbal Behavior Center for Autism www.vbca.org *If you know of other ABA Centers that need to be on this list, please let me know.

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but what is being done to help parents cope?

My name is Crystal Lee, and I am a doctorate student in clinical psychology at Baylor University. For my dissertation I am studying stress and ways of coping with stress in parents. My hope is to use the data from my dissertation to create an effective way to help parents cope with stress. If you meet the above criteria, please take this survey, which takes 30-45 minutes to complete: https://baylor.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0GJF7ldjuBwBWEk If you do not meet the above criteria, please consider forwarding the survey to any parents you know that fit the above criteria. People who complete the survey can participate in a drawing for one of three $50 giftcards to Amazon.com. Additionally, people who refer others to the survey get their name added into the drawing for each person they refer. If you have any questions regarding the study, you may contact me at Crystal_Lee1@Baylor.edu Thank you for your time and help, Crystal Lee, M.S. Doctoral Student Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Baylor University

ASI Adults on the Spectrum It's difficult to make friends, and to develop personal relationships. ASI knows this...and in response to the overwhelming requests... ASI is working on developing a 6-week program for adults with autism to work through how to build relationships, self-awareness, and more. If you don't know yourself...how do you know what you want? Beginning in late September, the workshop will be two hours per week, focusing on a different "topic" - of course, participants will have homework in between sessions to make sure that what they learn will stick. Space is limited...so if you're interested let us know! There will be a minimal fee of $100 to cover the cost of materials. For more information contact Kim@inautism.org Teens & Tweens - Social Group We are excited to have started a new social group especially for kids between 10-17 years old. The group meets monthly, and together, decides what fun and games they want to do! For information on this group, visit our wiki at: http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com Teen Social Skills Group ASI is sponsoring a social skills group led by Paula Quammen and Sharon Cesnik starting this fall. It will be on a rolling basis, but is limited to 6 teens. There are two peer-mentors in the group to help generalize skills. The cost is $20/session, and each session runs about 6 weeks. If you are interested, please contact Sharon or Paula at: paquammen@yahoo.com

AREA SUPPORT GROUPS: AAPN (Asperger/Autism Parent Network) Hamilton County brsll@aol.com Adult & Young Adult Social Group http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Adult+%26+Young+Adult+Social+Group Anabaptist Disabilities Network www.adnetonline.org APAC (Avon Parent Advisory Council) for Children with Special Needs cmmhappycamper@aol.com Asperger’s & Autism Parent Group of Goshen http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Asperger+%26+Autism+Parent+Group+of+Goshen Autism/Asperger’s Family Support Group – Boone County alishiamackinnon@sbcglobal.net Autism Family Resource Center Support Groups http://crossroads.easterseals.com/site/DocServer/ESC_Autism_SupportGroups.pdf?docID=141332 Bloomington Autism Family Support Group http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Bloomington+Autism+Family+Support+Group Children’s Mental Health Advocacy Parent Support Group patty@pattygates.net DAD’S Autism Support Group Hamilton County rjkempe@att.net DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) Indianapolis www.dbsaindy.org East 91st Street Christian Church Special Needs Ministry www.east91st.org East Central Indiana Chapter of ASA johnmariacote@yahoo.com God Made Me Ministry – Church at the Crossing www.golove.org Hamilton County Autism Support Group www.HCASG.org

I am looking for parents of children ages 5-12 in three categories:

1. Parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

2. Parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes

3. Parents of children with no diagnoses

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One Day ONLY – Wednesday, September 28, 2011 7 – 9pm 1291 N Airport Parkway, Greenwood, IN 46143

UPCOMING EVENTS

Up,Up and Away!

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program is sponsoring an:

Evening in the Park

You are invited to spend an evening together with other

students, teachers, interpreters, and all of the framilies of the Deaf

and Hard of Hearing Program. For all students, teachers,

interpers, and families who are part of the Dear and Hard of

Hearing Program in the seven school districts of Carmel,

Frankton/Lapel, Hamilton Heights, Hamilton Southeastern,

Noblesville, Sheridan, and Westfield, that make up the

Hamilton Boone Madison Special Services Coop.

WHEN: Wednesday, September

21, 2011 6:30 – 8:00pm WHERE: Forest Park, Shelter #3

701 Cicero Rd (St. Rd. 19), Noblesville

WHAT: Desserts and drinks provided. Games, campfire,

playground with climbing walls, and good company.

RSVP: idaiga@ccs.k12.in.us

September Parent Network Meeting

Therapy Options Please join us on Tueday

Sept. 27th from 6 – 8pm at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis

We are honored to have the following professionals share

new resources and answer parent questions

Cindy Cobb, Speech Language

Pathologist Josh Ahlstrom, Certified Orthotist & Prosthetist from

Midwest Orthotics Moncia DuBina, LCSW

Specializes in Sand Play Therapy Lisa Piercy, Occupational

Therapist Specializes in Vision Therapy

Childcare and light refreshments are

provided. Please RSVP for this event by email at regiser@dsindiana.org or

by phone (317)925-7617. When registering please provide the anmes

and ages of children who need childcare.

For more information, contact Traci

Kurmay, Parent Support & Education Coordinator

traci@dsindiana.org or (317)925-7617

HELPING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM: BIOMEDICAL SOLUTIONS AND

COMPOUNDED OPTIONS Come learn from Scott Popyk, RPh, one of the compounding industries leading experts on current biomedical trends and options and how they may be able to help your child. Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is joining forces with Health Dimensions Compounding Pharmacy for a 2 hour speaking engagement that will focus on biomedical treatment options along with the art and science behind compounding specialized medications. www.TACANow.org

AREA SUPPORT GROUPS: Hendricks County Parents of Autistic Children Hendricksautismsupport@tds.net Indianapolis Adults on the Spectrum http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Indianapolis+Adults+on+the+Spectrum Indianapolis ASD Family Support Group http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Indianapolis+ASD+Family+Support+Group Indy Area Autism-Asperger’s MeetUp Group http://autism.meetup.com/3/ Jasper Family Support Group http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Jasper+Family+Support+Group Johnson County Autism Support Group www.JCASG.org Johnson County Schools Parent Share Group lpaddack@insource.org Lafayette Adults on the Spectrum http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Lafayette+Adults+on+the+Spectrum Mental Health America of Clinton County mhacc@sbcglobal.net Mental Health America of Hancock County www.mentalhealthamericahc.org Mephibosheth Ministries, Inc. www.mm-abilities.org NAMI Indianapolis www.namiindy.org NAMI of Madison County namimcrwood@hotmail.com Parents are Resources Too (PART) Crawfordsville http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/PART+-+Crawfordsville PEACZ-Parents Education Advisory Council of Zionsville www.peacz.org Radiant Support Ministries www.radiantchristianlife.org Shelbyville Family Support Group http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Shelbyville+Family+Support+Group

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Gluten Free Events – Cooking Class Carmel: Thursday, September 29, 6 - 7:30pm FREE Join Sandy Haney for our monthly Gluten Free Cooking Class and enjoy Garden Roasted Vegetables, Cheesy Bread & Chocolate Zucchini Muffins! Call Customer Services to reserve your space – (317)569-1517.

Upcoming Workshops

For Paraprofessionals: Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Teaching Students on the Autism Spectrum But May Have Been Afraid to Ask 6 Locations Across Indiana—Beginning 9/20/11 Paraprofessionals/instructional assistants play a critical role in educational programming for students across the autism spectrum. Realizing this important role, the goal of this one day workshop is to address a range of topics and provide a deeper understanding of autism, be- haviors, and strategies for teaching. The goal is to provide

paraprofessionals with tools they can instantly implement. For more information visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3463 Structured Teaching Strategies—Two Day Workshop September 21 & 22, 2011—Bloomington, IN Research consistently indicates that individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) respond favorably to a structured environment. This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of how and why to implement structured teaching strategies, such as visual schedules, work systems and deliberately designed work materials. For more information visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3440. Applied Behavior Analysis: Practical Strategies for Home and for School 4 Locations Across Indiana, Beginning 11/4/11 There is increasing focus on implementing evidence-based practices and developing pro- grams that result in improved student outcomes. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is being widely touted in the autism community as being highly effective, as including strategies and techniques that are evidence-based, and as resulting in improved student outcomes. How- ever, for any program to be effective certain classroom practices have to be in place that address physical structure, data collection, scheduling, staff management, and so on. With- out a strong context, these strategies will be less then effective. This full day workshop, will help family members and staff examine and adopt structures and

AREA SUPPORT GROUPS: Somewhere on the Spectrum – Lafayette Family Support Group http://autismindiana.wikispaces.com/Somewhere+on+the+Spectrum+-+Lafayette Special Friends Disability Ministry http://gracecc.org/connect-and-grow/middle-school-grades-6-8/welcome-to-fuse/special-friends-student-ministry/ The Creek – Access Disability Ministry www.thecreek.org Westside Special Needs Network www.speedway-umc.org/specialneeds.html Zionsville Autism/Asperger’s Support Group jenaroy@hotmail.com *If you know of other Support Groups that need to be on this list, please let me know.

SPORTS & FITNESS: Boys and Girls Club www.bgca.org Carmel Dads Club Special Sports Program www.carmeldadsclub.org/special-sports Challenger Baseball www.littleleague.org Cornerstone Pediatric Rehabilitation www.cornerstonepediatricrehab.com DeVeau’s Darlings Powerkids2003@gmail.com Indy Parks and Recreation www.indyparks.org The Monon Center’s Adaptive Programs www.carmelparks.com PowerKids Gymnastics Powerkids2003@gmail.com Power Soccer of Indy www.powersoccerofindy.org Rainbow’s END www.rainbowsend.org

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strategies that are most beneficial for students on the spectrum and that provide the context for ABA. For more infor- mation visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3464. STAR Autism Support Training—Two Day Workshop November 9 & 10, 2011 – Indianapolis, IN STAR Workshop participants will learn the techniques of discrete trial training, pivotal response training, and teaching functional routines. Participants will receive examples of the STAR pro- gram lesson plans at each instructional level in order to practice their skills in implementing the program. For more information visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3460. FACTER (Functional Assessment and Curriculum for Teaching Everyday Routines) November 11, 2011—Indianapolis, IN FACTER focuses on how to assess and implement the teaching of functional life skills through daily routines to increase independence. It has been designed for elementary and secondary students and is useful for any student who needs to learn typical school, leisure, community, vocational, or career exploration. For more information visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3461. Visit the IRCA website at: www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca or scan the image below with your smartphone.

Wednesday, September 21 Fishers, Indiana

Making a Difference: Small Group and Classroom Activities

That Work (Grades K-5) 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Anger management,

friendship/social skills, communication, cooperation and positive self-talk --- enliven and

energize your students and yourself with new ideas on these

topics! Girl Talk: Empowering

Friendships and Preventing Relational Aggression

(Grades 4-12) 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

This experiential workshop will equip you with small group

counseling activities to build awareness of relational

aggression, its impact, and how girls can handle, prevent and

reduce it. Location: Fishers Office

Suites, 11650 Lantern Road, Fishers, Indiana 46038

Tuition & Group Discounts: $65 per person per workshop or

attend both for $120. GROUP DISCOUNT: 5-10 full-

day registrants from same school system or agency can

attend for $110 each. Visit www.mathiascounseling.com

and select "Seminars & Consulting" for registration information. Registration

deadline is September 12

Parent Support Group… “Parenting a Chronically Ill

Child” September Meeting Date

Thursday, September 22nd (Our group will plan to meet the last Thursday of each month)

7:00pm-8:30pm IU Health Embracing Hope ~ Bereavement & Counseling

Center1828 N. Illinois Street- Indianapolis

Facilitator: Rebecca Willis, MA, MDiv, LSW

SPORTS & FITNESS: Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) Sports Program www.rhin.com Special Needs Taekwondo bkschweigel@aol.com Special Olympics Indiana www.soindiana.org Special Olympics Hamilton County www.specialolympicshamiltoncounty.org TOP Soccer www.indianayouthsoccer.org YMCA of Greater Indianapolis www.indymca.org

************ The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans www.health.gov The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition www.fitness.gov The Governor’s INShape Indiana www.in.gov/inshape *If you know of other Sports and Fitness programs that need to be on this list, please let me know.

You are invited to the

7th Annual Food and Wine Tasting Event

River Glen Country Club

Benefitting Special Olympics Hamilton County Sunday, September 25, 2011 6:30 - 9:00pm River Glen Country Club 12010 Clubhouse Drive, Fishers Silent Auction begins at 6:30pm Tickets $40, email sohc1999@aol.com or call 317-571-8326 (571-TEAM) Register online at www.specialolympicshamiltoncounty.org

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For questions or to sign up call 317-963-0596 or

rwillis2@iuhealth.org

Please RSVP to Rwillis2@iuhealth.org or JMedlin9425@msn.com

Henry’s Hope will be hosting our

first annual Back to School Bash at Brooks School Park in Fishers, Indiana on September

24th from 5pm – 8pm.

We will be raising awareness of children with terminal and life threatening illnesses. We plan to have bounce houses, characters, and a local celebrity to kick off the school year and bring attention to the needs of these children and their families. We focus on assisting children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses: Mitochondrial Disease, Autism, Down Syndrome, terminal cancers, and other illnesses. Henry’s Hope is a 501(c)(3) certified non-profit organization. Our focus is on assisting children with life-threatening illnesses and their families with defraying costs that are not covered by insurance. Our hope is that Henry's Hope Back to School Bash will raise awareness, acceptance, and knowledge of what these children are facing. We are using the beginning of the school year because while many kids are packing up their backpacks with school supplies for their educational future, other kids are packing up their backpacks with expensive medical supplies that support their nutrition and immune systems. http://www.henryshope.org

Autism Journey Seminar Saturday, September 24, 2011 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Aboite Township Community Room 11321 Aboite Center Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804 ONLINE REGISTRATION: Click Here to Register Online, http://www.tacanow.org/store/Autism-Journey-Seminar-Saturday-Sept-24-2011-Parent-Caregiver-Couple-Fort-Wayne-IN/ $28 per person OR $45 per couple (one book/handouts per couple). Pre-registration is required and seating is limited. This event is for parents only. One Autism Journey Guide (reference book) is also included in the registration fee. Mail Registration: Please make your check payable to: "TACA". Mail fee to: "Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), 2222 Martin Street, Suite 140, Irvine, CA 92612" Registrants MUST INCLUDE their: Full Name, Email Address, Phone Number and Mailing Address. About the Seminar: After receiving the diagnosis of autism for a beloved child (or children), parents typically struggle as they search through various resources to locate information needed to help their child the fastest. The goal of the one-day Autism Journey Seminar is to provide parents and caretakers the "jump start" they need at the beginning of their journey from parents who have "been there, done that." In addition to sage advice, parents who attend will receive: an overview of beginning therapies and biomedical intervention, where to go for what information, and recommended first steps. The seminar will be given by experienced parents who

volunteer their time in providing the education new parents need.

2011 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Games Announcement Special Olympics Indiana is excited to announce that the 2011 EKS Games will host state competitions for five fall sports on September 24-25, on and around the grounds of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. In honor of Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away in late 2009, the event’s namesake is intended to ensure her legacy and vision continue well into the future. An estimated 1,200 SO Indiana athletes from throughout the state will participate in a weekend of competition and festivities. To successfully administer an event of this size, SO Indiana will be utilizing approximately 600 volunteers, including hundreds of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School students, staff and family members. The sports at EKS Games include: corn toss, cycling, distance run and walk, flag football, golf and volleyball. Modeled after SO Indiana’s largest annual sports competition event—Summer Games—the purpose of EKS Games is to combine several state-level competitions into one weekend of sports, celebrations and activities. One unique feature of this year's EKS Games is the medals that will be awarded. Each medal will feature Eunice Kennedy Shriver. This is the first time this design of medals will be awarded to SO Indiana athletes, and it is only available through EKS Games' competitions. Please visit our new website - www.soindiana.org - for the latest information on EKS Games.

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Lights Up, Sound Down Movie Dolphin Tale Date: October 1, 2011 Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: Hamilton 16 IMAX 13825 Norell Road Noblesville, IN 46060 Contact: Rachel Kimmell Phone: 317-705-8109 Email: rachelkimmell@financialguide.com WestPoint Financial Group is offering you and your family a free “Lights Up. Sound Down” movie at Hamilton 16 IMAX! “Lights Up Sound Down” gives families with children who have special needs the opportunity to enjoy their favorite movies in a comfortable, sensory-friendly setting with the lights turned up and the volume down in the auditorium. RSVP: www.westpointfinancialgroup.com Don't miss the next Sensory

Friendly Film!

AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program. In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will

have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned. Tickets are $4-6 depending on location and can be purchased on the day of the event. Upcoming Shows October 1: Dolphin Tale November 5: Puss in Boots Check the ASI website, www.inautism.org for times and locations.

Harvest Moon Bike Show For Autism Awareness Harvest Moon Bike show Saturday, October 1, 2011 Biddle Park Sheridan Indiana, Registration:9:00-12:00. Cost: $15.00 Awards at approximately 2:30 pm Classes: Stock, Street, Custom, Full Dressers, Rat, Rodz, and Sport Bikes. RAIN DATE SUNDAY OCT. 2 Proceeds from the bike show benefits Autism Awareness and Reserch. Mephibosheth MInistris, Inc.

presents: BELIEVE, EMPOWER,

EMBRACE FREE, Saturday, October 1, 2011

7:00pm East Street Studios 1880 N. East

Street, Westfield

Dessert will be served

Please RSVP to info@mm-abilities.org or 317-984-4653 (30)

Athletes Atacking Autism Through Awareness New Castle vs Burris

October 1, 2011 Spend an evening with your family,

community, and the New Castle Trojans volleyball team as they take on the Muncie Burris Owls!

Saturday, October 1 @ 6:00

New Castle Fieldhouse

● Serving contest ● 50/50 raffle ● Autism awareness materials ●

● Raffle items from local & statewide organizations ● Free popcorn with t-shirt purchase ●

Autism Awareness: ● An average of 1 in 110 children

in the United States have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ● ASDs occur in individuals of all

races, all incomes, and all backgrounds.

● ASDs are four to five times more common in males than females. ● The lifetime cost to care for an

individual with an ASD is $3.2 million.

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● ASDs are more prevalent in childhood than diabetes, cancer, spina bifida and Down Syndrome.

Sponsoring Organizations:

Little Star Center proudly

presents Thomas Zane, PhD, BCBA-D

Lecture Topic:

Research Based Treatment in Autism: What is it, Why do it, and How to Maximize Potential for Improvement Saturday, October 1st from 9am to noon at The Ritz Charles in

Carmel, IN

Check-in and complimentary breakfast at 8:30am

Seating is limited

Pre-register online for this FREE

event at www.littlestarcenter.org/event-

registration/

Join the Johnson County

Autism Support Group www.jcasg.org

for the 8th Annual Jack’s Walk for Autism

Sunday, October 2, 2011

This is a 2 mile Family Fun Walk at Province Park in Franklin, IN

Registration begins at 1pm Walk starts at 2:15pm For more information, contact Sheila Benham at 317-691-1196 or Sheila@jcasg.org. Brochures can be found at www.jcasg.org.

DSI Buddy Walk® 2011 Register now http://www.firstgiving.com/dsindiana Saturday October 8th, 2011 @ Celebration Plaza, White River State Park in beautiful Downtown Indianapolis The Buddy Walk® is a 2.6 mile no-fee walk along the canal beginning at Celebration Plaza in White River State Park. Down Syndrome Indiana's premier fundraising and awareness event. The walk is held each October and raised over $186,000 in 2010!

Why Walk? The Buddy Walk® was established by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. The Buddy Walk® has three primary goals:

• To promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

• To raise funds locally and nationally for education, research and advocacy programs.

• To enhance the position of the Down syndrome community, enabling us to positively influence local and national policy and practice.

Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities. It is designed to be a versatile program to benefit the athletes by

enhancing their skills, developing confidence and increasing their readiness to compete in Special Olympics by the time they are eight years old. This program is geared towards fostering physical, cognitive, and social development for special athletes. Age: 2 – 7 years Monon Community Center, 1235 Central Park Drive East, Carmel www.carmelclayparks.com Dates: Oct. 4 – Nov. 22 Tuesdays, 6 – 6:45pm FREE Contact: Brooke Taflinger 317-573-5245 or btaflinger@carmelclayparks.com

Adaptive/Inclusion Programs Adaptive programs are exclusively offered to individuals with special needs. Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation encourages participation by all individuals and abilities. Our adaptive programs target all ages and are designed to meet the leisure needs and interests of individuals with special needs. The instructor to participant ratio is appropriate to accommodate the needs of the participants. For more information on adaptive/inclusive programming or accommodations, please contact Brooke Taflinger at 317.573.5245 or btaflinger@carmelclayparks.com Gym Games – Come join us in the gym as we explore and participate in various games such as basketball, volleyball, kickball, and much more! Ages: 8 – 16 years Dates: Oct. 3 – 24 and Nov. 7 – 28 Mondays, 5 – 6pm Cost: $20 Get Fit – Do you want to get fit? This is the class for you, which will work on your cardiovascular

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system, endurance, strength, balance, flexibility, and much more. This class will incorporate a variety of exercises using different types of weights, body bars, balls and bands all while listening to fun upbeat music! Ages: 13+ years Dates: Oct. 1 – 29 Saturdays, 10 – 11am Cost: $25 Muscle-Up – Come and be personally instructed on a strength program designed for your needs and ability level. This class will introduce you to and educate you about various cardiovascular and strength machines to help you reach your goals. Ages: 15+ years Dates: Nov. 2 – 21 Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30pm Cost: $40 Try-A-Thon – Come explore the world of triathons! The program will incorporate swimming, biking, and running/walking. We will train for four weeks in all three areas and the last class will be a TRY-A- Thon race with awards and prizes! Please come prepared with a swimsuit, towel, running shoes, athletic shorts, shirt, and water bottle. We will be using stationary bikes in the Fitness Center. This will be a fun and exciting way of working out! No Class on Nov. 26. Ages: 13+ years Dates: Nov. 5 – Dec. 10 Saturdays, 10 – 11am Cost: $25 TRX Training – This fitness program is designed for individuals with visual impairments. Come and discover improved strength, body awareness, and balance through a variety of training methods. Using equipment such as the TRX, jump rope, free weights, BOSU balls, and much more, experience a workout that will change the way you move! Ages: 15+ years Dates: Oct. 5 – 26 Wednesdays and Saturdays,

7 – 8 pm Cost: $25 Line Dancing – Come learn basic and popular line dances with your friends. This will be a fun and energetic class which focuses on the progression of classic dance steps, turns, and moves set to country music. Ages: 13+ years Dates: Oct. 5 – 26 Wednesdays, 7:15 – 8:15pm Cost: $20 Holiday Card Making – Do you love to send out holiday cards to family and friends? This class will help you save money and learn how to make your own cards! We will cut, paste, fold, stamp and much more to prepare your perfect holiday card ready to be mailed. No class on Nov. 24. Ages: 13+ years Dates: Nov. 10 – Dec. 8 Thursdays, 6:30 – 7:30pm Cost: $26 Teen Night Out – Come hang out with friends as you do various activities and programs such as swimming, gym games, and board/group games. Pizza and snacks will be provided. Contact Brooke at (317)573-5245 or btaflinger@carmelclayparks.com for registration or details. Easter Seals Crossroads sponsors this program and will provide parents with a gift package to use while teens attend. Ages: 13 – 17 years Dates: Sept 23, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, & Dec. 16 Fridays, 5:30 – 9:30pm FREE Fantastic Fridays – Come hang out with friends as you participate in various activities and programs throughout the night such as gym games, arts/crafts, and board/group games. Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be provided. Ages: 18+ years Dates: Oct. 14, Nov. 11, & Dec. 9 Fridays, 6 – 8:30pm Cost: $12

Parent’s Night Out – Parents, are you looking for a night out without your children? Drop your kids off at this fun night full of games, crafts, movies, snacks, and more! Your children will love coming to the Parent’s Night Out! Sibling are welcome to attend. Ages: 2 – 12 years Dates: Oct. 15 Saturday, 5:30 – 8pm Cost: $20 per child Social Etiquette – Learn the ins and outs of social etiquette. This class will teach you how to greet someone, shake hands, hold appropriate conversations, table manners, social rules, telephone etiquette, and much more. Ages: 15+ years Dates: Oct. 6 – 27 Thursdays, 7:15 - 8pm Cost: $20 Ages: 6 – 15 years Dates: Nov. 1 – 22 Tuesdays, 6 – 6:45pm Cost: $20 Karaoke Night – Come rock the night away as you sing your favorite songs. Participants choose if they want to sing solo or with a group of friends. You will enjoy an evening of singing, laughing and socializing with you peers. Ages: 13+ years Dates: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, & Dec. 2 Fridays, 6 – 8pm Cost: $6 Masquerade Ball – It is time to get decked out for our Masquerade Ball. Wear your best costume and meet new friends from our community. There will be dancing, prizes, and refreshments available. Ages: 13+ years Dates: Oct. 29 Saturday, 5 – 7pm Cost: $10 Holiday Dance – Get your dancing shoes on for the fun evening with friends, refreshments, and music! This will be a great way to celebrate the holiday season as we get down on the

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dance floor. Dress up in your holiday finest and bring a friend to join you. Refreshments will be provided. Ages: 13+ years Dates: Dec. 3 Saturday, 5 – 7 pm Cost: $10

Gluten Free Living Expo October 7-9, 2011

10 am to 5 pm daily The Fountains, 502 Carmel Dr.

Carmel, Indiana Featuring:

Alessio Fasano, M.D. Center for Celiac Research

World’s most well-known expert on Celiac Disease

Sit back, listen to an informative lecture on Celiac Disease or Autism and enjoy a gluten-free lunch on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and gain invaluable knowledge from the expert. Cost is $15 for the lecture only and $35 to add the gourmet gluten-free lunch. Itinerary and topics can be found on our website.

Other Experts will be speaking about the Gluten Free Lifestyle throughout this event.

Cooking Demonstrations Foods and Services!

Over 50 local & national gluten-free vendors You will NOT want to miss the Largest gluten free event in Indiana!

General Admission is Free

Contact us today! Shelia (317)771-6506 Email: shelia@glutenfreelivingnow.org

Visit our website for registration information and updates! www.glutenfreelivingnow.org

Disability Ministry Connection

Date: Friday, October 14th

Time: 10am – 12pm Location: East 191st Street Christian Church, 6049 E. 91st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250 Purpose: Quarterly meetings to encourage discussions and vision sharing for disability ministry leaders and key volunteers among local churches. RSVP: Aaron Scheffler aaron@mark2ministries.org (317)777-8070

The Hope Source: Center for Dynamic Minds Fall Fest 2011

“ a little bit of HOPE, and a little bit of HAY…” Saturday, October 15th 2-5 PM 7739 E. 88th St. Indianapolis, IN 46256 FREE FUN for the entire family!

Pumpkin patch & decorating station, crafts, trick or treating, face painting, yard games, SENSORY tent, and lots more! Live music and FREE FOOD!!!! FREE RAFFLE for Colts tickets, gift cards & many other great prizes! Find us on Facebook & RSVP on our event page for a double entry. www.asdhopesource.com

Raising the Stakes for Noble Casino Night

On November 11, 2011, Noble of Indiana will host its 2nd annual Stanley Security Solutions Raising the Stakes for Noble, a Casino Night Charity Fundraiser presented by the United Hope Foundation.

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Up to 500 attendees will enjoy a fun evening of "playing the tables" and entering in tournaments like Texas Hold'em. Game tables and dealers will be hosted by the Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple, a long-time supporter of Noble. The event will include a stationed dinner and open bar. Raising the Stakes will take place Friday, November 11 at the Ritz Charles, 7 - 11 pm. Individual tickets are $75, couples are $125 and tables of 10 are $600. Or you can enjoy VIP tickets for $150 with VIP tables at $1,500.

STAND UP for Autism!

~Best Comedian in the Mid-West Contest~

Presented by K-Radiant Productions

Local Auditions held in Indianapolis, Chicago and

Milwaukee starting Nov.7, 2011. Registration begins Sept. 26, 2011

www.kradiantproductions.com

Final Competition Rounds will be at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204 February 22, 2012 – April 4, 2012

GRAND PRIZE $5,000 Info:

kradiantproductions@gmail.com

The Dad's Autism Support Group will start meeting again in September. However, instead of the meeting on the 1st Saturday of the month, the meetings will be held on the 2nd Saturday for September and October only. A reminder will be sent out a few days before the first meeting. Look forward to seeing everyone at that time at Panera Bread in Carmel (116th & Keystone). Call me if you have any questions. Joe 317-910-7988 or rjkemper@att.net

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION

MONTH “The culture of bullying won’t end until people across the country take action and show children and teens that they care.” www.pacer.org/bullying

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL

DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT MONTH

National campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of America's workers with disabilities in today’s global economy. www.dol.gov/odep/

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL

DOWN SYNDROME MONTH Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is one of the most common and recognizable genetic syndromes, occurring in 1 out of every 733 live births www.ndss.org

ADHD Awareness Week

2011: October 16-22ADHD Awareness Week will take place Sunday, October 16, 2011, through Saturday, October 22, 2011. The theme of this year's week of advocacy is "Get the Facts." www.adhdexpo.com

Indiana Safety

Conference For First Responders & Special

Needs Families

Saturday, November 19, 2011 9am – 4pm

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street

$30 per person, family rates available.

Please invite your local First Responders to attend.

For more information,

info@inautism.org For online registration,

www.inautism.org

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION Seeking Ways to Fill the Cracks: Employment and Adults with Asperger Syndrome Susan Lesco, MS The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that in 2002 approximately 10% of all 8-year-olds in the United States had an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). [1] If these findings are correct, by next year 10% of all 18-year-olds in the United States will have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The report does not account for the thousands of other people with ASD, in different age groups, who were not included in the study. Nor does it indicate where the study participants fall within the spectrum. However, it does verify that an astounding number of adults with ASD are about to enter the workforce, enroll in college, look for adult services or risk falling through the cracks of a limited service delivery system. We must prevent the latter. The first measure of prevention is to eliminate the all too common shock to families and to individuals with ASD themselves upon learning that entitlements once secured during a student’s school years by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have disappeared. All American school age children are entitled to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Under IDEA, students who have a wide range of disabilities, defined in the law’s 13 categories, are entitled to receive the services or educational modifications necessary to complete their free and appropriate educational career. When school ends, however, these entitlements end, too. Without preparation, families and people with autism suddenly find themselves navigating an

entirely new and complex world of adult services. It is critical to understand specific laws that have shaped adult services and access to them when a student transitions from school. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for example, is designed to ensure that people with disabilities are offered reasonable accommodations to access public places and activities. Additionally, according to the Keiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the 1999 Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. requires states to “provide services to persons with disabilities in community settings rather than institutions, if certain conditions are met” in order to comply with the ADA. If you begin to look closer, however, the only people to meet the “certain conditions” are those with severe disabilities, who need long-term services equivalent to institutional or nursing home care, and who have Medicaid.[2] Although the Americans with Disabilities Act protects adults with Asperger syndrome in circumstances where they only require reasonable accommodations (i.e. in college or in their workplace), the same individuals are not entitled to services they may need to succeed in those environments. In this way, protection does not equal provision for this population. For example, if an adult with Asperger syndrome needs assistance to get and keep a job, he/she must first qualify and then apply for specific, time limited, vocational services provided by the state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency. There are 80 such agencies throughout the country, operating under the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration. Each agency is funded by approximately 80% federal and 20% state money[3], and each provides or pays for a range of vocational services, (such as job training, assistive technology, job placement, interest assessments, job

coaching and so on). The only caveat, however, is that the individual must meet the following basic eligibility criteria: · The person must prove (with medical documentation) that he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially interferes in his/her ability to work. · The person must prove that he/she needs vocational services to obtain and retain employment. · The person must show that any VR service he/she is requesting and/or receiving must be directly related to getting and keeping employment. The VR counselor who reviews the initial application for services is responsible for determining eligibility and informing the applicant of the decision. Whenever the VR agency does not have the funding on hand to provide services to all applicants who are deemed eligible, the agency may implement an “Order of Selection” (known to most as a waiting list), which is based on three tiers of need. The first tier includes eligible people with two or more significant disabilities. The second includes eligible people with one significant disability, while the third is for people with non-significant disabilities.[4] Under such circumstances, an eligible person with strong intellectual abilities, such as an individuals diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, may not get the time limited vocational services he/she needs in order to succeed. In this way, eligibility for services does not equal obtaining services. More and more young adults with Asperger syndrome who have college degrees have been told that they are too intellectually superior to qualify for adult developmental disabilities services. Yet, they are often too socially impaired to get and keep a job independently. When these programs fail them, young men and women with diagnoses like Asperger syndrome are faced with either entering federally defined poverty levels in order to apply

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for social services and Medicaid, or taking their chances as unemployed and uninsured citizens. This is when the phrase “falling through the cracks” becomes most palpable. Our current economic crisis and shortage of appropriate vocational services for people with Asperger syndrome have provided new impetus to find and design other means of prevention. Newly formed and existing consumer driven groups, such as the Asperger Syndrome Training and Employment Partnership (ASTEP), are combining forces with voluntary agencies, universities, philanthropic organizations, foundations, and civic minded companies to create jobs for motivated and able people who have an ASD. ASTEP is taking a unique approach in creating employment opportunities for people with ASD by focusing on the significant benefits to corporations and other large employers that people with Asperger syndrome can bring. Our organization’s primary goals are to train employers about the benefits of expanding their diversity policies to include people with ASD and to work with companies to hire highly qualified job candidates into appropriate professional positions. Additionally, ASTEP offers vocational training/rehabilitation providers and college support programs tools and training for identifying and preparing adults with ASD to fill such positions. Finally, job site training for company managers and co-workers helps in fostering natural supports for the employee with ASD. Our goal is to help national employers increase their bottom line, reduce costly turnover and recruitment rates, and enhance quality production by employing focused, dedicated, professionals who happen to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is how innovation in employment can begin to fill the cracks.

Susan Lesco, MS has worked with people who have Autism Spectrum and other developmental disorders, and their families, for more than 25 years. She is currently the Director of Program Partnerships at the Asperger Syndrome Training & Employment Partnership (ASTEP), based in New York City. She has published numerous articles, presented parent and professional training sessions, worked as a vocational rehabilitation instructor, parent support group leader, and residential program director. Ms. Lesco holds a Bachelor of Science in Community and Human Services, and a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management, with a focus on Community Health and Patient Education, from Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center.

Volunteering to Help Others Could Lead to Better Health; Reduced Mortality Risk Not Seen in People Motivated by Self-Centered Reasons ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2011) — People who volunteer may live longer than those who don't, as long as their reasons for volunteering are to help others rather than themselves, suggests new research published by the American Psychological Association. This was the first time research has shown volunteers' motives can have a significant impact on life span. Volunteers lived longer than people who didn't volunteer if they reported altruistic values or a desire for social connections as the main reasons for wanting to volunteer, according to the study, published online in the APA journal Health Psychology. People who said they volunteered for their own personal satisfaction

had the same mortality rate four years later as people who did not volunteer at all, according to the study. "This could mean that people who volunteer with other people as their main motivation may be buffered from potential stressors associated with volunteering, such as time constraints and lack of pay," said the study's lead author, Sara Konrath, PhD, of the University of Michigan. Researchers examined data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which has followed a random sample of 10,317 Wisconsin high school students from their graduation in 1957 until the present. The sample is 51.6 percent female, with an average age of 69.16 years in 2008. In 2004, respondents reported whether they had volunteered within the past 10 years and how regularly. They reported their reasons for volunteering (or the reasons they would volunteer, for those who had not done so) by answering 10 questions. Some motives were more oriented toward others (e.g., "I feel it is important to help others," or "Volunteering is an important activity to the people I know best") and some that were more self-oriented (e.g., "Volunteering is a good escape from my own troubles," or "Volunteering makes me feel better about myself"). The researchers also considered the respondents' physical health, socioeconomic status, marital status, health risk factors (i.e., smoking, body mass index and alcohol use), mental health and social support. Much of this information was collected in 1992, 12 years before the respondents were asked about their volunteering experience. The researchers then determined how many of the respondents were still alive in 2008. Overall, 4.3 percent of 2,384 non-volunteers were deceased four years later, which was similar to the proportion of deceased volunteers who reported more

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self-oriented motives for volunteering (4 percent). However, only 1.6 percent of those volunteers whose motivations were more focused on others were dead four years later. This effect remained significant even when controlling for all the variables. Additionally, respondents who listed social connection or altruistic values as their predominant motive were more likely to be alive compared with non-volunteers. "It is reasonable for people to volunteer in part because of benefits to the self; however, our research implies that, ironically, should these benefits to the self become the main motive for volunteering, they may not see those benefits," said the paper's co-author, Andrea Fuhrel-Forbis, MA. Story Source: The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Psychological Association, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference:

1. Sara Konrath, Andrea Fuhrel-Forbis, Alina Lou, Stephanie Brown. Motives for volunteering are associated with mortality risk in older adults. Health Psychology, 2011; DOI: 10.1037/a0025226

Poorer Movement Skills at Seven Months in Children at Risk of Autism, Study Finds ScienceDaily (Sep. 7, 2011) — Poorer movement skills detected as early as 7 months old are observed in children at a higher risk of developing Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) than children in the general population. These are the findings of a study being presented on 7th September 2011 at the British Psychological Society's Developmental Section Conference in Newcastle. The study was carried out by a team led by Dr. Elisabeth Hill at

Goldsmiths (University of London), Dr. Hayley Leonard (Goldsmiths) and the British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS) based at Birkbeck University of London. The researchers examined infants with a diagnosed older sibling with ASD. Siblings are known to share a higher risk of developing the disorder. The researchers assessed the infants using a longitudinal follow-up design at 7, 14, and 24 months. Two groups of infants participated in the study: (1) 54 infants at-risk of a diagnosis of ASD based on a sibling diagnosis and (2) 50 low-risk infants without a diagnosed sibling. The infants were assessed on a range of standardised measures of motor skills. Parent reports were also documented. Statistical analyses revealed that the at-risk group had significantly poorer motor skills than the low-risk group detected as early as 7 months old. Both gross motor skills such as the ability to hold up the head/roll over/walk and fine motor skills such as grasping and manipulating small objects were found to be poorer in the group of children at-risk for the disorder. This poorer motor ability was still evident at the 24 month assessment stage. Dr. Hayley Leonard, the presenter of the study findings at the conference said "These data are extremely important because even if the at-risk infants do not go on to be diagnosed with ASD, research suggests that poorer motor development could have a negative impact on their language, social and cognitive development over time. This poorer motor development could impact on their development of social skills, school achievement and longer-term employment outcomes." Story Source: The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by British Psychological Society (BPS), via AlphaGalile

Children With Cerebral Palsy: Change the Environment, Not the Child, Researchers Say ScienceDaily (Aug. 21, 2011) — A successful new rehabilitation approach to treating children with cerebral palsy puts its focus on where a child lives and plays, not just improving the child's balance, posture and movement skills. Called a "context-focused intervention," this approach is just as beneficial as traditional child-focused therapy, offering parents an additional treatment option for their child, report researchers from McMaster University and the University of Alberta in a new study. The McMaster study, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Alberta Health Services in Calgary, is the first randomized trial to examine the effects of therapy focused on changing a child's task or environment, not the child. It appeared in the July issue of the medical journal Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. Context-focused and child-focused therapies were evaluated in a randomized controlled trial of 128 children with cerebral palsy ranging in age from one year to almost six year old. The children, from 19 different rehabilitation centres in Ontario and Alberta, received one of the two approaches for six months. Therapy was provided by occupational therapists and physical therapists. Between assessments at six and nine months, they returned to their regular therapy schedule. Researchers found that while both groups improved significantly over the study, there were "no significant differences in daily

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functioning" between the two treatment groups, reported lead author Mary Law, professor in McMaster's School of Rehabilitation Science and co-founder of the university's CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage in the brain before or just after birth that results in problems with muscle tone and movement, and impacts ability to perform everyday activities. More than 50,000 Canadians have cerebral palsy, which occurs in about two of 1,000 babies. During the study, parents in both groups received general information and education about their child's disability as well as specific strategies to practice at home. In the child-focused approach, therapists identified the underlying impairment -- tone, posture, range of motion -- and provided therapy to improve the child's skills and abilities. Emphasis in the context therapy approach was on changing the task or environment. For example, one parent's goal was for their child to finger-feed himself Cheerios independently. The therapist experimented with putting peanut butter on the tips of his fingers so that the Cheerios would stick to it. The child was successful in one intervention session, even though he did not have the fine grasp to pick them up without it. Having experienced success, the child went on to be able to finger feed Cheerios by himself. "This study provides evidence that each intervention approach yields equivalent important change after a six-month intervention," Law said. "We also found no difference between the therapy approaches for the outcome of parent empowerment." If both approaches are equally effective, Law said therapists and

families are able to discuss the treatment approach that best fits the intervention goals for their child and their family situation. Law is co-author in a second article in the same journal, describing the context-focused approach with lead author Johanna Darrah, a professor of physical therapy in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. Darrah said the experience with context therapy was positive: "The benefits of working in the child's natural environment were striking." Darrah added researchers found this approach was more challenging with children who have a severe disability, as some therapists felt that by not providing hands-on treatment, the approach is not true therapy. However, the study found that the context approach was equally effective for children with mild or severe cerebral palsy. The study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health in the United States and the Alberta Centre for Child Family and Community Research. Mary Law holds the John and Margaret Lillie Chair in Childhood Disability Research. Story Source: The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by McMaster University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference: Johanna Darrah, Mary C Law, Nancy Pollock, Brenda Wilson, Dianne J Russell, Stephen D Walter, Peter Rosenbaum, Barb Galuppi. Context therapy: a new intervention approach for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2011; 53 (7): 615 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.03959.x

Education Department Announces Regulations to Improve Outcomes for Infants and Toddlers with

Disabilities and Their Families The U.S. Department of Education today released the final regulations for the early intervention program under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These final regulations will help improve services and outcomes for America's infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Part C is a $436 million program administered by states that serves infants and toddlers through age 2 with developmental delays or who have diagnosed physical or mental conditions with high probabilities of resulting in developmental delays. The final Part C regulations incorporate provisions in the 2004 amendments to Part C of the IDEA. Additionally, the final regulations provide states with flexibility in some areas, while ensuring state accountability to improve results and providing needed services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The regulations focus on measuring and improving outcomes for the approximately 350,000 children served by the Part C program with the goal of ensuring that such children are ready for preschool and kindergarten. "As everyone who works in education understands, one of the most important things we can offer children is a high-quality early learning experience that prepares them for kindergarten," said U. S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. "This is true for all children—but it's especially important for infants and toddlers with disabilities to have access to high-quality early intervention services that prepare them to successfully transition to preschool and kindergarten. The Part C regulations will support the Education Department's commitment to the goal of preparing more children with high needs with a strong foundation for success in school and beyond." The Part C regulations

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are posted on the department's website at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/news.html. The regulations should be published in the Federal Register in the next couple of weeks. Today, the department is also releasing a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the IDEA Part B regulations. Changes are being proposed to the regulations regarding when a state or local educational agency seeks to use a child's or parent's public benefits or insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to pay for Part B services. These proposed amendments to the Part B regulations would ensure the protection of the rights of parents and children and ensure that children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) while addressing concerns raised by State educational agencies and local educational agencies regarding the burdens imposed by the current regulation. The Part B notice of proposed rulemaking is posted at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/news.html. The notice of proposed rulemaking is expected to be published in the Federal Register on the same date as the Part C regulations.