The only nationally affiliated group in El Paso. February 2015

OFFICERS Bonnie Perez Monthly Meeting President Armando Sandoval Vice President Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, February 10,2015 Rebekah Sandoval at 6:30 p.m. at Region 19 Education Service Center, 6611 Boeing. Secretary Monique Armendariz Join us to discuss issues important to families and to network with Treasurer Karla Ronquillo others who understand. Childcare and refreshments will be available. Executive Administrative If you would like to see some of our books, please call the Assistant BOARD office to schedule an appointment. Messages are checked daily. Feel Adriana Araiza free to call us for any information at 772-9100 or send us an email to Michelle Lopez Ainée Robles [email protected] Joe Villalobos

HONORARY BOARD Join us on Facebook!

NATIONAL www.facebook.com/autismsocietyep SOCIETY

Sandra Smith Advanced Placement Specialist

INDEX General Information 1

MONTHLY Upcoming Events 2 MEETINGS General What’s Going On 3 Membership A Letter from the President 4 Meetings are held the Submit Your Family’s Stories 5 second Tuesday of every month at Re- gion 19 ESC at 6611 Boeing beginning at

6:30 p.m.

Board Meetings are held on the last Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. All members are welcome to attend, and your input is always

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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EL PASO AUTISM SOCIETY OF EL PASO UPCOMING EVENTS 2014:

February 10, 2015 Monthly Support Group Meeting 6:30 p.m. Region 19 Education Service Center 6611 Boeing Dr.

February 23, 2015 Monthly Board Meeting 6:30 p.m. 1340 Murchison El Paso, Texas 79902

April 25, 2015

For more information call us at (915) 772-9100 or email us at [email protected].

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*Tuesday February 3 *February 8 *Saturday, February 28 10 am - 11:30 am, 1101 E Schuster Autism Sunday: International Day of 10am-2pm SUNS Health Fair Ave, Workshop "parenting a teenager Prayer for Autism Located at: Family Medicine with special needs" Free training, bi- Clinic, 9849 Kenworthy St. El lingual, For more information (915) Paso, TX 79924 217-2747 *February 9 Free Adult and Child Vaccines, Free bicycle helmets for children, *Thursday February 5 Ladies in Blue Monthly Support Diabetes and Glaucoma meeting for more information call 10am-11:30am, The ABCs of screenings, Free HIV & Hepatitis Nancy Madrid (915) 525-9767. Special Education Workshop C Testing, Free Blood Pressure Located: 1101 E. Schuster Ave. El Checks, Free Dental Screenings, Paso, TX 79902 Free workshop, Free prize giveaways and much recommended for parents of children *Saturday, February 14 more www.sunshealthfair.com with disabilities under age of 5. Will be bilingual, for more info please call 8am-10:45am Special Olympics Free If you have specific questions (915) 217-2747. Medical Day: Free physical exams about services provided, please will be provided for new Special send an email at *Saturday, February 7, 2015. Olympics Texas Area 19 athletes and [email protected] th for those who need to renew their 5 Annual Conference for Parents of medical form. Students with Disabilities on Cora- zones Unidos/Hearts United 7:30 A current medical form is needed in a.m.-3:00 pm at the YISD Adminis- orde to participate in all trainings and trative and Cultural Arts Center at competitions. Sierra Providence ** Event listings are limited to those that benefit our community, to in- 9600 Sims. This year, EPISD will Memorial Hospital– New location clude your event, please contact us at join Ysleta ISD in the planning, fund- 2101 N. Oregon corner of University (915) 772-9100 or autismsocie- ing, and presentation of the confer- and N. Oregon, El Paso, TX 79902 [email protected] ence with the participation of EPISD for more information: Norma Razo parents. For more information (915) 533-8229 [email protected]. contact will be Cinthia Medina at [email protected] or 434-0919, or you can mail your information to her at Special Education Department, Ysleta ISD, 9600 Sims, El Paso, Tex- as, 79925-7225.

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A Message from the President of the Autism Society of El Paso

Hellooooo, February! The month of love and friendship is upon us. What is grander than the love of a parent for their child? Honestly, I cannot think of anything else.

You know, I work with parents of children with disabilities receiving special education services on a daily basis. I have met many parents on my journey and every single day, I am privileged to witness love in its purest form, unconditional love. As parents, we are willing to do whatever it takes to watch our children succeed. As a parent of a child with a disability, our efforts are magnified a mil- lion times more, I believe, because our children teach us to love in so many different ways.

This month’s speaker, Mr. James Tobias, a very proud and involved father, will be presenting to us on an important subject that every parent faces: safety and our first responders. I would like to think of his presentation as a demonstration of the love he has for his child, because he works to educate our police department and he is now expanding his circle by agreeing to talk to us about how to work with people that have Down syndrome and Autism. That is just too cool!

Now, let me ask you, how do YOU love your children? Too many ways to count, I bet! A great way I have seen a parents’ love for their kiddos has been to educate others and give others a better under- standing of their child or their disability. That also happens to be what the Autism Society of El Paso strives for throughout the year, starting with our Annual Run/Walk for Autism in April. Our Annual Run/Walk offers a plethora of opportunities to bring awareness, to educate, and most importantly, to show the world that no matter how different each child with autism may be, we are all together unit- ed as one family.

I sincerely hope that you enjoy this month’s newsletter and I look forward to seeing you at the dif- ferent events taking place this month!

Blessings, Bonnie Perez, President “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

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NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

EL PASO, TX.

PERMIT NO. 1020

Autism Society of El Paso 1340 Murchison El Paso, TX 79902 Mailing Address

In This Issue... Support Group

Submit Stories about your Children to the Newsletter We want to know more about your children and your entire family. Please share your family’s activities, events, and endeavors with all of us through the Autism Society of El Paso News Letter. We would like each family to contribute a story about your children’s accomplishments, hobbies, likes and dislikes.

You may mail your stories to Autism Society of El Paso office at 1340 Murchison., El Paso, Texas, 79902, e-mail us at [email protected] or contact our office at 772-9100.

Autism Society of El Paso A Small Dose of Inspiration …... “On the other hand, I think cats have Asperger's. Like me, they're very smart. And like me, sometimes they simply need to be left alone.” ― Jodi Picoult, House

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