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The Autistic Self Advocacy Network with the help of the Mitsubishi Electric American Foundation is launching a new program for Autistic college students. In August 2012, ASAN will be inviting 13-18 Autistic students to participate in the Autism Campus Inclusion leadership training.
Drawing from the powerful Navigating College handbook and the Empowering Autistic Leaders booklet scheduled for release in early 2012, participants will learn valuable skills to effect systems change in their individual campuses and increase their own skills in self-advocacy and self-help.
This is an exciting move forward for ASAN and we hope it can be an exciting move forward for you. If you are a current college undergraduate student who identifies on the Autism Spectrum, including Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, with a strong interest in the Disability Rights and Autistic Rights movements, we invite you to apply for this leadership training. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a higher education institute or college in the United States (including the District of Columbia), with at least one year left after completion of the leadership training.
If you have any more questions or comments, please direct them to Melody Latimer at mlatimer@autisticadvocacy.org
Click here for more information
Thirteen-year-old Rosie takes viewers into her world to explain what it’s like to grow up with autism. With the help of beautifully crafted animation, Rosie introduces other children who have the condition: Tony, who gets totally obsessed with things but struggles to make friends, Ben, who has suffered from terrible bullying, and Rosie’s own little brother Lenny, who turns the house upside-down daily to try and make sense of things.
These children tell their own stories in their own words to give a vivid and moving insight into what it’s like to have autism.
Click here to view the video.
Juniper Hill Farms is a model of independent living for adults on the autism spectrum.
We are not a group home. We are not a ‘facility’. We are just guys renting in the community, like everyone else. We live on a small farm in southeastern Pennsylvania with lots of animals…. and fields of sunflowers in the summer.
Three of us rent a small three bedroom rancher, and we have support people who come several times a week to help us out with our farm chores as well as everyday things that come up. In another house on the same lane live three more of us, and we have support people that come in most days as well. In this second house, we also have someone who lives with us…. to make sure we are safe overnight, to make sure things happen that need to, and to help everyone get along.
Click here to read more about Juniper Hill Farms.
The ASERT Needs Assessment was a state-wide survey of caregivers and individuals with autism spectrum disorder completed in 2009-2010. The needs assessment collected information about service utilization and gaps in services. Thank you to all who participated!
The Statewide Summary provides a broad overview of the findings of the needs assessment. More specific topic reports follow.
Please click here to view the report
HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Department of Public Welfare today announced the release of the PA Autism Needs Assessment study, which includes feedback from 3,500 Pennsylvania caregivers and adults with autism, making it the largest study of its kind in the nation.
Autism affects an estimated 30,000 Pennsylvania children and adults, and that 85 percent of these individuals also have another diagnosis such as an intellectual disability, physical health challenges or mental health issues. A combination of these diagnoses can greatly challenge the amount and type of services for individuals with autism, which the assessment will help address.
“Pennsylvania is leading the national effort toward improving the lives of people affected by autism,” said DPW Secretary Gary D. Alexander. “Despite the prevalence of this disorder, there is still a lack of information about the needs of children and adults living with autism. However, the study now gives the department, advocates and families a foundation of knowledge to build upon.”
Click here to read more.
Why Family Engagement is Important:
Family members and caregivers have a great deal of knowledge and insight regarding their sons and daughters. They are usually the only one consistent person in the life of a youth or young adult. Family members and caregivers will also still be there after a student graduates from high school and moves on to fullfilling their post-secondary goals. As one parent put it “we are the transition coordinators for life”. Therefore it is important for family members and caregivers to have a good understanding of and be actively engaged in the secondary transition process. This wiki provides information for educators and agency staff to engage families and caregivers in this process. For family members and caregivers viewing this page there are a number of resources provided to assist you in this process.
Click here for more information.
We meet a number of families each year that have already met with a planner in an attempt to design a special needs plan. The plans are put together with the best of intentions in hopes of providing ongoing care for their loved one with special needs. Unfortunately, many of these plans are incorrectly designed and fall short of providing the desired outcome.
The most common errors we see are often related to the drafting of a special needs trust. We’ll outline below three of the most common mistakes we encounter when working with reviewing these trusts.
Each week we review a number of special needs trusts given to us by parents simply looking to confirm that what they have works. The family has done exactly what they thought they needed in that they have created a trust in order to provide ongoing care for their loved one with special needs should they no longer able to provide it. The problem is that many of these documents are put into place without the parents truly understanding what they are signing.
We’ve seen documents that do not successfully preserve access to benefits like social security, often the primary goal of the trust. We have encountered documents that make the state (Medicaid) the named beneficiary of any assets remaining after the child’s life in cases when it is not necessary. At times we have even seen documents that ultimately disinherit a child with special needs without the parents even aware of the fact.
Click here to read more.
| March 3, 2012 | | 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Aaron’s Acres is pleased to announce a very special Community Event:
Where: Penn Cinemas, Lancaster PA
When: Saturday March 3, 2012
Time: 10:00am
Showing 2 movies: Dr. Suess’ “The Lorax” (G or PG)
Journey 2: Mysterious Island (PG-13)
Cost: Tickets will be $7.50 and for children under 12 it is $7.00
(Tickets can be purchased at the movie theater that day)
Lights and sound will be adjusted to accommodate sensory sensitive concerns.
Families can bring their own snacks and drinks (no powdered donuts allowed)
All in the community are welcome to attend
EDINBORO — James W. Parker Middle School sixth-grader Aaron Stawicki starts school each Wednesday and Friday by calming and focusing himself.
Before going to class on those days, Stawicki, 12, works with his yoga group for about a half-hour. From 7:50 to 8:20 a.m., Stawicki focuses on breathing exercises and yoga poses like his favorites — the tree and the airplane.
“It’s hard, but yoga is nice,” Stawicki said. “Sometimes it makes me want to sleep because I’m so relaxed.”
Stawicki is one of six students — all boys in fifth through eighth grades — from Parker Middle School’s autism support class who gather to practice yoga twice a week.
The students at the Washington Township school have learned about a dozen poses, and organizers said it helps them better control their emotions.
School psychologist Julie Snell, who created the yoga program at the beginning of the school year, said even though the program is relatively new, students are already becoming experts.
“The boys have done an amazing job,” Snell said. “They have really learned how to physically relax in a great way.”
Click here to read more.
Welcome to New Story, where each child has the opportunity to create new stories and learn the skills they need to succeed. We offer a unique family-like learning environment and a host of therapeutic services to help children achieve success while dealing with the most serious and complex educational and behavioral challenges.
New Story Fund Application Deadline January 31, 2012
New Story is accepting applications for the Spring 2012 New Story Fund now through January 31, 2012.
New Story is committed to helping children with the most serious and complex educational, emotional and behavioral challenges. As a way to show our dedication to the communities we serve, we are granting $50,000 annually ($25,000 disbursed twice a year) to help families in our local communities purchase the goods or services they need to care for their children with special needs.
Click here to apply.
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