Autism Service, Education, Research & Training

Early Childhood Education Summit: Extending the Vision

October 13, 2010

October 15, 2010

Early Childhood Education Summit. October 13-15, 2010. (Penn Stater). The 2010 Summit’s goals are to Raise Awarness to Early Childhood Education, Provide Development for parents & professionals and to recognize the advances PA has made in Early Childhood Education. Both PA Governor Candidates have been invited to speak on the morning of 10/13.

PACEC 51st Annual Conference at State College!

November 11, 2010

November 12, 2010

You are cordially invited to the 51^st Annual Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children’s Conference and Expo. The conference title this year is “A Positive Tomorrow, Best Practices Today.”

This conference will provide professionals and students the opportunity to learn through invited special keynote speaker Nina Wall-Cote, Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Autism Services and mother of a son with autism, panel discussions with family members and professionals in the education field, individual break-out sessions geared towards hot topics in the field, and poster presentations. Topics will include a wide array of focus areas and instructional levels. Whether you are a classroom teacher looking for the best positive behavioral approaches or state of the art teaching methodologies, a lawyer desiring to learn more about students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or Intellectual Disabilities, a professional in a related service (PT, OT, Speech), or a student training to enter the field, this conference is for you

3rd Annual Fall Fun Fair

September 25, 2010
12:00 pm	to	4:00 pm

The Fall Fun Fair provides an excellent opportunity for families of children with disabilities to get together for some fun, food, and fellowship in a relaxing atmosphere.

Special Entertainment: Magic by John “The Magic Guy” Stover of Got Magic Productions, “Joon Balloon” and Face Painting by Got Magic Productions 12:30 PM – Music by “Mr. Music”

Hot Dogs, Pretzels, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Snow Cones, and Drinks~Moon Bounce ~More than 15 Carnival Games and Prizes And More!

Location: Capital Area Children’s Center, 44 South 38^th Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011

RSVP Required by September 17, 2010 to Roxanne or Melanie at rdaniel@ucpcentralpa.org or mhartzell@ucpcentralpa.org or 717-975-0611

**A $5.00 donation per person is appreciated (includes food, games, and entertainment).

It’s Back! The Udderly A-Moozing Corn Maze!

The Udderly A-Moozing Corn Maze will be open every weekend in September (weather permitting). In addition to the festivities, we are supporting a different Lancaster-based non-profit organization each weekend by donating all concession stand and 5% of the corn maze proceeds to the featured organization! Sponsored by Oregon Dairy and WIOV – I105 Location: Oregon Dairy, 2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz Pa 17543

Back to School Workshop

September 21, 2010
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm

Back to School Workshop The beginning of the new school year brings excitement as students meet new teachers and reconnect with friends. It can also bring about new challenges and anxieties as students encounter new routines, homework and behavioral expectations. Join us for an evening to talk about how to support your student through the transition back to school. Topics will include supporting the homework process, recognizing school-related anxieties and providing emotional and behavioral support during the transition back to school. There will also be a question and answer session.

Topic: Supporting Your Student’s Return to School

Date: Tuesday, September 21^st

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Location: Fairland Brethren in Christ Church, Cleona (on Route 422 near Giant)

Audience: All parents and caregivers of school age students

Admission: Free, light refreshments served

Presenters: Anne Lavin, Associate Director of Child and Adolescent Services, Philhaven, ary Gruber, Director of School-Based Services, Philhaven , Michelle Forker, Director of Educational Therapy, Philhaven Sponsored by the Autism Spectrum Support Group of Lebanon County and the Philhaven Parent Advisory Council.

5th Annual Keystone Autism Awareness Fair

September 25, 2010
10:00 am	to	4:00 pm

Keystone Health’s fifth annual Autism Fair will be held on Saturday, September 25. This year the fair will be held at the NHS Human Services Autism School at 2593 Philadelphia Avenue, Chambersburg, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event is made possible thanks to some financial support from the Summit Endowment. Click the “what’s new” tab on Keystone’s Website for more info.

Congrats to Temple Grandin at the Emmy’s

We congratulate Temple on the Emmy’s that her movie won last night. We also appreciate Temple Grandin for her willlingness to share her story. Her high-functioning autism ultimately allowed her to earn a doctorate in animal science, become a university professor, and pen an autobiography about her experiences. She has also made notable contributions to the ethical treatment of livestock. Read more about Temple Grandin at her website.

Fundraiser for Autism Spectrum Connections

September 14, 2010
5:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

Rita’s Italian Ice in Elizabethtown, PA will be donating all proceedes made on September 14th, 2010 5-9 PM to Autism Spectrum Connections. Support a local Autism organization while having fun & eating awesome treats!

Friendship Skills Therapy Group

Friendship Skills Therapy Group at Psychological Health Affiliates

Purpose: This 6 week therapy group will teach boys and girls how to “make and keep friends”. We’ll learn how to greet, listen, connect, and share. We’ll have lessons, interactions, and games.

Group members: children aged 7 to 12 with high functioning autism or social anxiety

When: Wednesdays 4-4:45pm from September 15^thto October 20th

Location: Psychological Health Affiliates, 108 South Main St., Manheim PA 17545

Contact: Dr. Jesse Gill or Dr. McKenzie Walker (leaders) at 717-665-2675

Fees: $65.00 per session (Blue Shield and Blue Cross accepted) Others may submit receipts provided to them to their insurance.

Heading Back to School

Tim Caldwell, M.Ed., BCBA, Autism Clinical Specialist with Philhaven offers these suggestion for easing your child’s way back into school this year:

It may be hard to believe but, we are only a week or so away from returning to school. For some parents this may be a relief, but for most of our children on the spectrum this likely raises a high level of anxiety and frustration. Here are some suggestions for easing the transition back into the school year:

Take a tour of the school to introduce or reintroduce your child. This could be a physical tour (some schools will allow special tours during teacher in-service days leading up to the beginning of the school year) or a photo/video tour if your child would feel uncomfortable being in the school without other students and teachers.
Visit the school’s or school district’s website which may have valuable information such as school calendars, maps, ways to connect with school staff, and other useful information.
Create some visual aides or work with the school staff to have visual aides available to help your child understand the routine and expectations.
Create a “Guide to Knowing My Child” for the new teacher or staff which outlines preferred interests, motivators, helpful interventions, as well as general do’s and don’ts.
Connect with the school team and try and schedule a return to school meeting. This can take place before the school year starts or after a few weeks have gone by to discuss what is or is not working this year.
Get medications prepared ahead of time with prescription labeled bottles so that you will not have to run around during the first week of school.
Try to return your child to a school year sleep and work schedule if they have strayed over the summer, to prepare them for waking up in the morning and completing homework after school.
Re-read your child’s IEP to familiarize yourself with the goals and interventions that should be utilized throughout the upcoming school year.
Take some time to think about and write down some goals for the upcoming school year. These could be goals for your child, goals for the school team, and/or goals for yourself. Once the school year starts it is often difficult to find the time to accomplish this, and it will give you a touchstone to return to throughout the year.
10. If you feel your own anxiety level increasing, create some time for yourself to engage in a preferred and relaxing activity. Your own well being is one of the critical success factors for your child’s success.

Please contact the ASERT Autism Resource Center for Tim’s Rules of School social story and visual cards to help prepare students for expectations within the classroom. 1-877-231-4244 or info@asertinfo.com