June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Come help us usher in Summer at our new meeting place!!

Our year-long use of Baptist is up and it is time to move.

Please come join us in checking out our new place!

When: Saturday, June 5th

1:00– 3:00 PM

Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church ~ see or click on the map below

We will have food and drinks and also some fun activities for the kids. So bring the family along!

The Autism Society of North Carolina– Mecklenburg County Chapter meetings are open to all regardless of membership. Please come when you can and leave when you have to. ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Please Note Our New Meeting Location!

** No childcare this month – bring the kids to play!! :)

Inside this Issue President’s Note 2 Calendar, Emergency Information 3

Summer Readiness 4

News from ASNC 5-9

Autism Society of America 10

Autism Aware Fare Update 11 Meeting Location: - St. John’s Episcopal Church: 1623 Carmel Rd., Tribute to June Stevens 12 Charlotte, NC 28226– 5097. The church is located across the street from Teacher Appreciation Notes 13– 15 the campus of Charlotte Country Day, close to the intersection of Fairview Mecklenburg County Opportunities 16-17 and Carmel Roads. It is located about 3 miles east of South Park Mall. Upcoming Research at UNCC 18

Upcoming Local Conferences 19-21

Membership Form Last pg.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

President’s Note: Summer is here again. If you are like some families, you are ready for your summer plans. If not, some of the camps presented at our February meeting have openings and scholarships too. The Davidson Y is beginning a new autism camp and Lifespan Farms is adding another week of horse riding camp. Recently a great Charlotte Observer arti- cle told about the “Send a kid to camp fund” which will assist Mecklenburg County families wishing to send a child to Camp Royall, if they can not afford it. This new funding avenue can give your child and your family the same childhood experiences that many have enjoyed throughout time. All the camps have autism knowledgeable staff, so the likelihood of getting expelled for shocking, anti-social behavior is minimal. Still for many of you the camp thing will not be happening. And that is okay. Our chapter has several cheap and or free events planned for the summer. These are not “drop off events”; however, they are family events, so bring brothers and sisters or other relatives that might like to tag along. If you have CAP, you can send your CAP worker with your child. This is a great way to use up those “Home and Community Hours”. Each Monday, we will be roller skating at the Charlotte Sports Center, on from 11:45– 1:00– before the summer camp kids come and mob the rink. The rink is on WT. Harris the other side of I-77 from Northlake Mall. Hey, and that might pay off for you too. Last year, Mr. Paul got a gold medal at the State Special Olympics Games in High Point– thanks to summer skating!! We will be bowling at Carolina Lanes in Matthews, just off Independence near 485. This year it will be on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 but prices will likely be the same as last year- $5.00 for shoes and two games. At some point later in June, Paul and I will begin are usual “Terrific Thursday” or “Fun Friday” plans. In the past these have included a visit to the NC. Aviation Museum, Life Span Farms, Reed’s Goldmine, Cane Creek Park, rid- ing the Blue line uptown to Discovery Place, The Lazy Five Ranch, Reedy Creek Nature Museum and Park, Nevins Spray Park,…If you can, join us. We maintain an e-mail blast list to let people know about weekly recreation events. Just let me know if you would like on the blast so you can be part of the fun! Soon Charlotte will host two workshops that focus on highly valued methods for working with our children.. The first is a conference for parents and professionals on June 23rd from 7-9:00 PM. Jed Baker is here as part of the CMS teacher in-services. The school system is extending a fabulous opportunity for parents to share in this knowl- edge by paying for a night session which will be free of charge to us. Jed Baker is an esteemed author on social skill training and a lecturer whose focus is high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome. To learn more about him, go to: www.jedbaker.com . Be sure to check out the video links to world news and Nightline. We are very thankful that our school system is offering this training to parents! On June 30th, John Thomas, former autism specialist for the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruc- tion, will be presenting proven early intervention techniques for parents and professionals who are dealing with pre-schoolers. This workshop is free, but you must RSVP, as space is limited. John Thomas has been involved in curriculum development and is high sought not just in NC, but in other states too. We are excited that this work- shop has finally come to the Charlotte area. In October, Future Horizons will be brining world renown speakers to Charlotte: Temple Grandin, Tony Attwood, Jed Baker, and Carol Kranowitz. If you have not seen these speakers and you have a child with autism or Asperger syndrome, you should plan to attend. Those whose children receive CAP can ask that some of the CAP funds be targeted to pay for this training. You need to act on this now, however. I hope you have a wonderful summer and I hope to see you around town!

Nancy Nestor, ASNC-MCC President (704) 545-1902 : [email protected]

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

June Calendar June 23rd (W) Evening Session with Dr. Jed Baker– Social skills and autism; 7-8:30; Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church, 1600 W. Mallard Creek Church Rd.; Chlt, 28262; cost: FREE. June 3rd (Th) Southeast Psych. South Park Office:(12– 1:00); Lunch & Learn: School is out but learning is in with Dr. Craig June 25th (F)- Feeding Therapy: A Sensory -Motor Ap- Pohlman. RSVP: Diane: [email protected] or call proach;8-4:00; UNCC–Cone Center- Lucas Room; $20.00/ (704) 552-0116. parent or student; $90.00– professionals; lunch included; for info, Kathryn Lariviere; [email protected] or (704) June 4th (F) Supper Club for ages 13 & up; Enjoy a healthy 823-1282. meal before each TR Division Dance with friends. You must register at least 1 week before; Marion Diehl Recreation Center, June 26th (S) ~ASNC Sensory Friendly Films: Shrek 4; 2219 Tyvola Road; 6:00 -7:00 PM; Fee: $7.00 Contact: Karen 10:00 AM; $5.00/ person -Concord Mills 24; 2421 Concord Howard~ [email protected]. Mills Blvd.; Concord, 28027. June 4th (F) TR Dance~ Spring Fling; 7-9:00 PM; Marion Miércoles, 30 de junio; Grupo de Apoyo Hispano de padres Diehl Rec. Center; Fee $8.00. Contact Kerri Good, con hijos con autismo. 9:30 - 11:30 am. Iglesia Nuestra Señora [email protected]. de Guadalupe; 6212 Tuckaseegee Rd., Charlotte, NC 28214. Por favor contáctese Haydee García al (704)391-3732 exten- June 4th (F) Tweens & teens at the Movies! - featuring High sión # 5. Se ofrece guardería con un costo de $ 5.00 por niño. School Musical 3; Myers Park Presbyterian Church; 11 –18 year olds; Drop off : 6:45pm and pickup: 8:30pm. Please RSVP to June 30th (W) ASNC Early Intervention Workshop for par- Tanya Gaspar- [email protected] or (704) 927-1271. ents / professionals working with 0-5 year olds with ASD; 9:- 4:00; ; FREE, RSVP required. Contact Marty June 5th (Sa) Rhythm & Rhyme Special Needs Story time Kellogg: 1-800-442-2762; [email protected]. Matthews Library; 10:00/ 11:00AM; call Trish (704) 416-5004. June 5rd (Sa) ASNC– MCC June Support Meeting~ 1-3:00; St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Rd. Chlt, 28227. SAVE THIS June 7th (M) Southeast Psych/Blakeney Office: 12-1:00) Yoga Therapy 101 with Kyra Grossman ;RSVP to Lisa at EMERGENCY INFORMATION!!!! [email protected] or call (704) 552-0116. June 14th to Aug. 16th (M) Roller Skating; Charlotte Sports  Medical Emergencies or Hospital Center; 8626 Hankins Road, Charlotte, NC 28269– just off WT Procedures at Harris before I-77 near North Lake Mall; 11:45– 1:00 for an Carolina’s Medical Center empty rink; cost- $5.00 for skates and rink fees; parents can go in socks to help kids learn to skate. (704) 512-3286

June 15th to Aug. 17th (Tu) Carolina Lanes, 11210 Brigmon 24 hour Special Assistance Care line for those needing Ln, Matthews, 28105 has agreed to host a Summer Bowling dental, medical or emergency room service for their au- Series for children with disabilities and typical siblings. Cost: tistic family member at Carolina’s Medical Center. $5.00 for two games and shoes; Time: TBD. June 20th (Th) Parents of Newly Diagnosed children with Autism; ~ Free, Must RSVP. No childcare. 9:30-12; ASNC; call  ASNC Parent Advocates: Advocates: (704) 894-9678/ [email protected]. For Assistance with community issues involving your loved ones with autism: June 23rd (W) TEACCH Parent Forums: Choose 2 AM ses- sions. Topics: Intro to TEACCH, Autism 101; Intro to Visual Nancy Popkin or Kim Tizzard Strategies, Parent Kits, Registration is required. Call Charlotte TEACCH Center (704) 563-4103– see pg. 14 for more details. [email protected] June 23rd (W)- Monkey Joes Free Bounce time; 6-8:00 PM; [email protected] kids 12 and under with autism & their sibs! For summer, Mon- key Joe’s is open to the public! This may impact your decision (704) 894-9678 to use this offering now. Go to any Monkey Joe’s Location in Mecklenburg! Future events: July 28th and August 25th.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

ARE YOU SUMMER READY? Summer brings huge changes for families. Parents are left with more time to fill, which can be unnerving for many. If you don’t have CAP and a good case manager to guide you, it can be a humbling experience to say the least (if your child is impacted severely enough by their autism that you qualify for CAP– you simply don’t have time or energy to plan ahead). If you find yourself in that boat, or if you would like a checklist of options to con- sider, please read on…

 Have a tote packed with comfortable items to keep your kiddo happy and occupied during times away from home when you need him/ her to wait. These items need to be things your child is familiar with and excited about. Be sure the bag has easily accessible emergency in- formation about your child’s autism and any other chronic medical conditions.

 Use the same strategies your child’s teachers used at school: schedules, PECS, modified social stories, reward sys- tems…. The security of using these strategies at home and away from home will give your child a calming transition item. If possible create a copy of the items used at school or see if you can borrow them for the summer. For more ideas go to: www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/education/TransitionTime.html.

 Schedule time to join your child in activities he or she enjoys. Pools are great and so are trampolines, but not every- one has access to them; so use what you have. A friend of mine spends 20 minutes a day with her child doing favorite puzzles together. She is allowed to sort the pieces, but not put the puzzle to- gether and that is okay. When my son was young and interested in putting things in slots, I sat with him while he played with his “put in” toy that I made for him. When the toy was full, our time was done and we moved on to the next item on our schedule. Other people have taken up finger painting/ body painting in the shower. No fuss no Muss!!

 Spend some time working on academic skills in a fun format. As a former teacher, I can assure you that kids learn best when they are relaxed and having fun. One mom I know creates an easy summer time sensory camp in her house where her son, army man crawls, crab walks, scooter crawls, pulls himself along in a laundry basket tethered to a door hinge.... On his journey, he as to find index card alphabet letters and put them in order. Her older child looks for math facts written on sticky notes and answers written questions by putting the sticky with the correct question as he went through the course. For another child who is a reader,, she leaves short clues for him to find the next item in the game. If you have a non-reader, consider getting some books on tape at the library or finding easy books to be used each day dur- ing quiet time. Your local librarian or your child’s teacher can be huge helps in finding the best book for your child’s interest and listening level.

 As much as possible, try to keep a schedule to your day. Predictability is very calming for those with autism and As- perger Syndrome. With all the stress parents have to deal with, the simplicity of using a schedule and keeping an ordered house can keep the frustration load from getting larger. For some, this life change is tough, but once you get in the habit, things do much smoother.

 For kids Safety- Safety Tat Autism temporary tattoos Many parents have been searching for a means to help strangers identify their child and the fact that s/he has autism. These temporary tattoos may be just the thing to include when you are pack- ing for the beach or a vacation. They can be custom ordered with your pre-printed information or they can be blank so you can write your cell or other important information. Temporary ICE ( in case of emergency) tattoos are available for older kids as well. For more information go to www.store.safetytat.com/store/

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

News from ASNC...

Autism Health Insurance Reform in North Carolina: We have an autism health insurance bill in North Carolina!

After years of collaboration with parents, professionals, organizations and legislators committed to individuals with autism, legisla- tion to expand private health insurance coverage to include individuals with autism has been introduced. The next step for the legis- lation House Bill (HB) 1897 and matching Senate Bill (SB) 1265 is the House and Senate Health committees. ASNC staff will meet with our bill sponsors on Monday to discuss when the bills will be heard in committee and how to best match our grassroots efforts with the legislative strategies needed to pass autism insurance reform this session. We will share that informa- tion with you and to our partner organization, Autism Speaks, once the meetings take place. ASNC and Autism Speaks will work together to keep you updated and involved with weekly updates. This will be a challenging session to pass autism insurance legisla- tion, given the speed of the session and the reluctance of lawmakers to pass bills that impact the state budget. Fortunately, those of us in the autism community understand challenges, especially when the cause is just. ASNC staff are at the NC General Assembly every day working to educate our lawmakers about the need and benefits of insurance reform and the many other issues affecting individuals with autism and their families. It will be vital as we work together to pass this insurance bill that we re- main positive and united. The process of passing a bill is often a roller-coaster experience as amendments and bill changes are pro- posed and the opposition works hard to defeat us. On some days we may need to flood legislators with contacts, on others we will need to stay under the radar and work behind the scenes. Our current insurance talking points are posted on the ASNC website, along with general tips for contacting your legislators. Watch for more talking points, FAQ’s and ways you can work with your legislators as the session progresses. At this time we are not asking for phone calls or e-mails to legislators until we talk with our bill sponsors. Watch the ASNC blog and email us at autisminsur- [email protected] to receive action alerts. State Budget Updates This legislative session has moved very quickly since opening on May 12. Facing an $800 million deficit, this session will deal pri- marily with budget issues. The key question is how lawmakers will fill this budget gap without cutting critical services. Lawmakers will address other important issues of concern to people with autism and their families-including autism insurance reform, restoration of money for community services and potential changes in how community services are provided for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. Here is an overview of the budget thus far:

 The Governor and the Senate have completed their budgets and the House is on track to adopt their budget by June 10.

 The House and Senate members will then develop a compromise budget that goes to the Governor by June 29 and plan to ad- journ the session by July 1.

 Both the Governor and the Senate budgets restore last years $40 million dollar cut for community-based services and reflect no freezes or additional cuts to core Medicaid services for people with developmental disabilities. As the House develops their budget, we have an important upcoming event where you can tell our legislators about the issues that affect the autism community. The Coalition Legislative Advocacy Day and Rally on June 1 will be a rally to advocate FOR BET- TER FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH, & ADDICTIVE DISEASE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. The rally will be held at the Legislative Building, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, 27601. Schedule a visit with your legislators and join us. For more information and the schedule for the day click here. If you are unable to attend this rally, please remember you can always contact your legislative representative and let them know how you feel regarding insurance issues, CAP waiver “Managed care” changes, as well as, the restoration and protection of funding for service that are central to DD and autism programs.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

News from the ASNC Blog…

You Have Been Heard! …Now what? Posted on May 4, 2010 by staylor827

Wow! Thank you everyone that took the time to contact the members of the Joint Study Committee for Autism and Public Safety. They have heard you loud and clear. At this time, we need to hold off the calls and emails to the committee members until the up-coming session. If you ask me, that is when the really fight will begin. Still, this brings up an important topic: How to most effectively communicate with our State Legislators and Congress people?

Over the last year we have seen many examples of angry voters gathering in protest and there is definitely a place for that. But like the coach or manager who relies on nothing but yelling expletives and threatening to fire everyone, we run the risk of being tuned out and then nothing we say will be heard. At the same time we may end up alienating the very people who can help us the most.

Like the old saying, “You attract more flies with honey”, we can make a far more dramatic impact if we reach out to our legislators and appeal to their human side. As I have mentioned before, I work as a salesperson. Continued access to customers is how I feed my family. It is equally important here. Autism insurance reform will not be the end our legislative needs. Issues that span our lives and our children’s lives must be addressed and soon. Urgent needs for restoring funding for CAP and other services, for residential services, for a ban on corporal punishment and unsafe restraint and seclusion in schools are just a few of the issues that we will need help from our elected officials in the near future.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when we are speaking or meeting with a state legislator member of Con- gress:

1. Take a friendly professional tone. This could open an on-going dialog with this person or their staff. I can’t emphasize how valuable it is to leave that door open to our cause in the future.

2. Tell them you are a constituent. Yes. Politicians are interested in keeping their job. They want to be sure that they are taking the time to speak with and help people that can eventually vote for them.

3. Be ready. It is not unheard of to only get a few minutes. By having a good idea of what you want to say ahead of time will ensure that you will get your point across. You don’t need to be an expert on the legis- lation, just explain your personal situation and how the bill will help you.

4. Be sure to thank them for their time. This may seem like it goes without saying, but as I said they are generally very busy and a kind word can’t hurt.

Thank you to everyone who called your legislator. With your help, we will join the other 20+ states that have made autism insurance reform the law of the land.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

A E I M

Autism Early Intervention Model Early Intervention Workshop Early Intervention in Autism: A Review of Methods to Determine Best Practices

In October of 2007, the NC. General Assembly provided funds for program creations which would help parents of newly diagnosed toddlers and pre-schoolers have better results. To provide ways to educate and train these parents, the Autism Society of North Carolina created the Autism Early Intervention Model, which has been presented all over the state. Now the information on best practices for parents and professionals will be presented in the Charlotte Metro area.

Recent research points to specific practices that must be undertaken in a systematic and prescriptive fashion when working with children at risk for autism. Two principles are central to intervention with children ages 0-5:

 Joint attention is a foundation block for the development of communication, theory of mind, and social interac- tion and must be addressed through intervention.

 The fundamental deficit of social motivation must be addressed through joint activity routines to stimulate re- ciprocity and social learning opportunities.

Intervention must: be interdisciplinary; emphasize interpersonal engagement; focus on fluent; reciprocal and spontane- ous imitation of gestures, facial movements, and expressions and object use; emphasize both non-verbal and verbal communication; address cognitive aspects of play carried out in dyadic play routines; and emphasize partnership with parents.

Workshop Overview:

1. What are ‘best practices' in early intervention for children at risk for developing autism?

2. With so many methodologies, how do I choose an approach for a child with autism?

3. What are the aspects of treatment that must be addressed to improve prognosis and support optimal learning?

This presentation will review several ‘best practices' that will help parents and professionals choose intervention meth- ods. It will also cover specific assessments to assist in program design.

The Autism Society of North Carolina uses an evidence-based model to support both parent training and school consul- tation. This model is also used in two North Carolina school systems as a pilot program. These programs will be dis- cussed. Video will be shared of scripted joint activity routines to address verbal and non-verbal communication, im- prove play skills and build social imitation and reciprocity.

This workshop is intended for families and professionals working with toddlers and children who have recently received a diagnosis of (or are at risk for) an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Click here to download, view and print a copy of the workshop flyer. 7

June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

A E I M

Early Intervention Workshop Autism Early Intervention Model

Workshop Information:

Check-in: 8-9 a.m; Lilly Family Gallery in the Chambers Building of Davidson College .(click here for map).

There is NO on-site registration. Registration is FREE, but required as space is limited.

Check in is from 8-9:00 am. The workshop hours: 9 am. ~ 4:00 pm.

Lunch is not included in the workshop, but there are a variety of nearby dining options.

The Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore will be available with a small selection of early intervention titles.

For additional information, please click here to email Marty Kellogg at the Autism Society of North Carolina, or call her at 1-800-442-2762, ext 1133. Presenters: Ann Palmer is the Director of Advocacy and Chapter Support for the Autism Society of North Carolina. She coordinates over 45 Chapters and support groups across the state. Previously, she was the Parent Support Coordinator for Division TEACCH. There she developed a volun- teer parent mentor program that served five TEACCH Centers and provided support to over 800 families in North Carolina. Ann has published two books: Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syn- drome: A Parent's Guide to Student Success and Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum: Unex- pected Lessons We've Learned, the Autism Society of America's 2007 Literary Work of the Year, which she co-authored with Maureen Morrell. Both books are published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Shelley Moore is a Training Coordinator with the Autism Society of North Carolina. For the last three years she has worked on the ASNC Early Intervention project and coordinated a grant from the John Rex Endowment. She is a graduate of UNC. Previously, she worked with Division TEACCH's Supported Employment Program before coming to work at the Autism Society of North Carolina in 2001.

John Thomas M.Ed., is the Director of Training for the Autism Society of North Carolina. He has spent much of his career working with people with Autism Spectrum Disorders as a teacher, classroom consultant, diagnostician, adolescent and adult therapist, vocational coordi- nator in a residential program, and a supported employment coordinator. John has worked for TEACCH as well as the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. He was a principle author of the TEACCH Transition Assessment Profile (Pro-Ed., Inc., 2006). Currently, John manages the training efforts of the Autism Society of North Carolina and coor- dinates the Autism Early Intervention Model project.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Two Awarded Honors from ASNC at State Conference

Patricia Twarogowski is ASNC Professional of the Year

At the Annual ASNC State Conference on April 24th, The Autism Society of North Carolina's Professional of the Year Award was presented to Patricia Twarogowski of the Matthews Public Library. This award is given for outstanding service in the fields of health, recreational, therapeutic, or support services of persons on the autism spec- trum. In her work as a librarian, Ms. Twarogowski realized there was no programming that met the needs of young children with autism, so she contacted ASNC for help in de- veloping appropriate activities for this audience. As a result, the very successful Rhythm and Rhyme Story Time was created, with visuals, songs, movement, and tac- tile objects that appeal to children with autism. This program is held once a month at the Matthews Public Library at two different times to accommodate the large number of participants. Because of her success, Ms. Twarogowski has helped other libraries in developing similar programs: two in South Mecklenburg, and one in Davidson. She is also a con- sultant in Cabarrus County to assist in the creation of programs there.. Ms. Twarogowski strives to expand the reach of the library program by networking with autism teachers at the preschool and elementary level, to ensure that children with autism can both expand their literacy skills and enjoy the community library atmos- phere. John Cavanaugh, ASNC-MCC board member says, "When someone like Trish is willing to think beyond what's available and look to what's possible for our kids, our community is the winner."

Nancy Nestor is ASNC Parent of the Year

The other award winner at the conference was our own ASNC-MCC President, Nancy Nestor, who resides in Mint Hill. The Parent of the Year Award recognizes outstanding volunteerism and service for the recipient's child, and also for other children and adults on the autism spectrum. Over the past seven years as the president, Mrs. Nestor has been responsible for many projects that have impacted the local autism community including: establishment of Camp Boomerang at the Siskey Y, implementation of the Ruth Fuller Scholarship, pro- moting community education regarding autism by arranging for TEACCH training for Discovery Place staff– which led to the bridge building classes, partnering with the Charlotte Rugby Club to create the Tackling Autism event which benefited our chapter, working to make the chapter more diverse across the spectrum, age levels, and cultures, working with autism groups in our area to create a stronger network of support for our families, and creating on-going social outlets for families so that children become more comfortable in public and so that society becomes more at ease with those on the spec- trum. Mrs. Nestor was shocked, but deeply honored by the award. “What made receiving the award so wonderful was that D. J. Svoboda was the emcee,” she shared. Then added, He is such a kind, gentle person and hearing the introduction expressed by such a won- derful person who just happens to have autism made the experience something I will always remember fondly. He made the honor simply perfect!”

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

The 2010 Autism Society

National Conference is the

largest autism conference TOY STORY 3 in the nation!

Saturday, June 26th

10:00 AM.

AMC Concord Mills 24 8421 Concord Mills Blvd Concord, NC 28027 704‐979‐019721

Cost: $5.00 per ticket

AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society of America have teamed up to bring families affected by autism a The Autism Society recognizes that families and indi- special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe viduals living with an autism spectrum disorder have a and accepting environment on a monthly basis. With Sen- range of issues and needs. The National Conference of sory Friendly Films, the movie auditoriums will have the Autism Society is the only conference that ad- their lights brought up and the sound turned down. For dresses the range of issues, including early interven- tickets to this unique experience, please visit the theatre’s tion, education, employment, behavior, communica- box office the day of the event. tion, social skills, biomedical interventions and others, across the entire lifespan. Bringing together the exper- tise and experiences of family members, professionals and individuals on the spectrum, attendees are able to learn how to more effectively advocate and obtain sup- ports for the individual with ASD. The goal is to empower family members, individuals on the spec- Look for July & August trum and professionals to make informed decisions. Dates/ Movies by mid– June and mid- To learn more go to: www.autism-society.org July on our website: www.asncmeck.org

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Thanks to all of our supporters! We are at $14,000 so far. :)

Thanks to our Autism Aware Fare leaders: John Cavanaugh, Kathy Snyder, &Trina Roeder You are awesome!

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org A Note of Thanks….

Very sincere thanks to Joe Martin for providing excellent photographs of Autism Aware Fare and to Dave Hardman for the groovin’ good concert at Trio.

Special Thanks to our teachers who shared their grant projects during our May Meeting. It’s great to know our children spend their days with people who are so excited about them!

Thanks to Nancy Popkin and Lois Stickell for facilitating the May Transition into Adult- hood Meeting. Please go to our website to view the excellent PowerPoint that Lois created to help parents dealing with this transition.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools for bringing Jed Baker to Charlotte and sharing his insights with parents.

The Autism Society of North Carolina for bringing the Autism Early Intervention workshop with John Thomas to the Charlotte area.

Rachel Friedman for the tribute and donation in honor of June Stevens.

Myers Park Baptist Church for allowing us to use their worship space this past year.

Farewell to a Cornerstone of our Community A Tribute to June Stevens

Over the weekend, we lost a parent who was an integral part of the original group that developed many of the programs we enjoy today. On May 22nd, June A. Stevens passed away, leaving behind her husband, Frank Stevens, her daughters and their families, and her son. When Mrs. Stevens was in our shoes, life was very different. In those days, the common thought was that autism was caused by a cold, un-nurturing mother. We endure angry glares from those who do know realize our children have autism, but imagine what life would be like if even the places we draw support, threw a suspicious, accusatory eye? And yet she soldiered on, not wasting time on the concerns of others, but working to make a better world for our children. Odds are that most of you never heard of Mrs. Stevens, but she certainly deserves a respectful thought and remem- brance from those who did know her. One who knew her , Rachel Friedman, shared, “When we moved here, twenty years ago, we met June and her wonderful husband, Frank from the Autism Society. She and Frank were instrumental in getting services and programs for not only their son, Timmy, but for other autistic adults in our community as well.” She added, “They have been active on the Mecklenburg Autistic Group Home Board– and June implemented a swim program at the Y on Davidson Street, which we brought our son, Coby, to swim. They raised funds through the Knights of Columbus to share with teachers in the autism classrooms. Mrs. Friedman said, “June was not one to be in the spotlight, but worked silently to get things done. She did not ask for recogni- tion for the work she did, but her work was a benefit to all. Her accomplishments merit our praises!” If you are so inclined to honor Mrs. Stevens, Autism Services of Mecklenburg County, has set up a Gift Fund. Their address is: 2211-A Executive St., Charlotte, NC 28208 or at www.asmcinc.com.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Teacher Appreciation:

To all the teachers, assistants, and school staff who have given their time and concern to keep all our children safe and learning, we are grateful. For those who covered a fellow teacher’s absence , who created lesson plans, carried out the tasks each day and worked after hours to be sure that students would continue to grow and be challenged, please ac- cept our deepest thanks, ~ASNC-MCC Board

Alexander Graham Middle Team The Cavanaugh family wishes to recognize the team of Ms. Schenning, Mrs. Moynihan, Ms. Caudill, Mr. Yates, Mr. McGunegle, and Mr. Fuller at Alexander Graham Middle. We sincerely appreciate all their efforts to go above and beyond every day! Thank you, Ms. Schenning, for your exceptional dedication and understanding. ~Cindy, John, and Patrick Cavanaugh

Metro School Bucky's teacher and assistants are fabulous this year! They are Kristy Anderson (teacher) and J. Lee Collins and Stacy Robinson (assistants). They have 6th, 9th and 10th grade autistic students. They work well together as a team and indi- vidually with the kids. They are wonderful, patient, fun, professional, caring, and they don't put up with nonsense. They make Bucky toe-the-line, which keeps him grounded. He has learned a tremendous amount this year and has made amaz- ing progress. We are delighted and thankful to have them. ~Carrie Nichols

Bradley Middle School Every concerned parent knows the excitement and the anticipation that beginning a new school can bring. Our son, Ko- rey, began middle school at Bradley Middle School this year after a very successful elementary school experience, and we were very nervous. Our thanks and endless appreciation go out to Mrs. McDonald, Korey's teacher, a veteran EC teacher, who took all of us under her wing as she guided Korey and his peers into the second phase of education, assur- ing us with her obvious love for our children and her dedication to their growth and support. Additional thanks go out to Mr. Jeff Cockerl and Ms. Maureen Coello, Korey's classroom assistants, for their hard work, assistance, and patience. We were blessed to have them working with us this year! ~ Candice Grant

McKee Road Elementary School Carol Delong and Ms. Penny Mc Coy have been a blessing to us in the past three years. They have done so much to help our sweet Corey grow and progress in many ways. They have helped him become more independent in his self care, progress in different educational levels, and matured in his behavior. They not only are educators, but showed compas- sion and nurtured him into the young boy he is today. I admire their dedication to help children with special needs get a fair chance to succeed in like. I wish they could be his teachers forever!~ Melissa Cassady

Selwyn Elementary This is the second year our son, Hunter, has had Mrs. Dull and Ms. Nettles as his teachers. He is so blessed to have these two patient and loving women as his teachers. Once again Hunter has grown and learned so much this year from them. His communication with them and at home has improved more than we ever imagined! The commitment of time and love that Mrs. Dull and Ms. Nettles have given to the six children in their class is truly appreciated by all the parents. The rest of the "A-Team" at Selwyn Elementary - Bernice Clark, Kim Eley, Amelia Worley,and Gwen Robinson - is also appreciated for all the love and support they give to these 18 children and their families. Thank you! Thank you! ~Amy and Jimmy Emmanuel

St. Francis UMC Preschool Endless thank yous to Ms. Kathy, Ms. Mary Pat, Ms. Jo, Ms. Pam and everyone at St. Francis UMC Preschool. Wil- liam had a fantastic year in inclusion that has truly prepared us for kindergarten. Thank you for loving him and helping everyone know, as Temple Grandin has coined, William is different but not less. ~ Lindsay Kluttz

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Teacher Appreciation continued…

Highland Creek Mrs. Johnson, thanks for always being there for me, for making me laugh with all of your “issues”, for teaching me how not to back a car out, for showing me how cool Bow Bow Pow is, and for always playing hangman with me. But most of all thanks for loving me and keeping me safe. ~ Love, Parker

McKee Road Elementary Kati Bertelson and teacher assistant Janet Boyce have not only provided a safe & effective learning environment for my 7 year old son, Deacon, but also enriched his life & provided multiple improvements in his daily living routine in school & at home! We are so blessed that Deacon is in Kati’s & Janet’s AU class at McKee Rd! Bless you Kati & Janet! ~ The Riccardi Family

South Mecklenburg High School I would like to say thanks to a teacher who was only with us the second half of Max's sophomore year; having been allowed to briefly come out of retirement. Mr. Herbert Johnson is truly an advocate for , as he puts it, "our kids" and has been a kind, involved and extremely pleasant teacher to work with. Sadly as is so often the case, due to CMS rules, Mr. Johnson must now stay in retirement and cannot return next year We will miss Mr. Johnson and are so glad we had him for the time we did. THANK YOU! Fortunately, there are still staff at South Meck who have been invaluable in regards to their accepting attitude and willingness to be flexible in regards to Max. Among these would be Debra Gould - a fantastic EC teacher from last year Max hopes to have again, Dr Maureen Furr -Principal , Mr. Dave Collins Asst. Principle, and teachers Ray Martin, Bruce Cash, Mrs. Esther Brock and Sheila Jesgar. Also Mrs. Jacqueline Strickland in the counseling department, Mrs. Jessica Jugan and Susan Wolter are all outstanding mem- bers of the staff. ~ Louise Silverstein

Mint Hill Middle School To Mrs. Brooklynn Foster, Mrs. Rebecca Thompson, Mrs. Michele McCullough, Ms. Maya Shinn, Mr. Tracy Davis, Nurse Tucker, Ms. Miller, Principal Dellinger, and our entire Mint Hill school family. What an outstanding team! Thank you all for everything. We are so grateful for your patience, understanding, and willingness to try differ- ent things with our beloved, Jahlani. Not only are you talented and a tremendous source of information, you are pas- sionate about helping our kids succeed. We see the results of your investment of time and talent every day. We ap- plaud and absolutely adore you. As we transition to high school, know that we will miss you dearly. Thank you for so many precious (and sometimes downright hilarious) memories. May God to continue to shower you with blessings. ~Reggie and Gwen Singleton

Myers Park High School I am honored to have the opportunity to express my family’s sincere appreciation to the teaching team in the self- contained Autistic classrooms at Myers Park High School. My son is fortunate to have Ms. Mary Zalecki and Ms. Wanda Sowell as a motivated team of teachers in his classes. My son was new to high school this year, and Ms. Zal- ecki and Ms. Sowell took him right under their wings. Their classroom runs like a well-oiled machine, so my son not only transitioned to high school without incident, he has been learning all kinds of new things! Kudos to this talented team of teachers from the Premo family! We would also like to thanks Mrs. Harris, Ryan’s Piano teacher for the fan- tastic job she has done with him. She has added a very positive dimension to his life. ~Lisa and Mark Premo

Tryon Hills Pre-K I would like to celebrate my son, Ty's, teacher, Mrs. Cheryl Mandle. She has been his teacher for two years since he turned 3 years old. She has formed a wonderful relationship with him and has worked hard to teach him many things. Mrs. Mandle has also communicated wonderfully with us and has always taken our wishes into planning and imple- menting all support for Ty. I just wanted to say that I appreciate her and all of her hard work. Ty will miss her next year! ~Paula Williams 14

June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Teacher Appreciation continued…

Starmount Pre-K Ms. Costin has declared her teaching job “a calling,” and having witnessed her passion, pa- tience and utter respect in the classroom this year, I agree that she is indeed an angel. Her class- room runs like a well-oiled machine, complete with visuals and predictability, but also with continuous opportunities to receive recognition and declare independence. The students are all encouraged to treat each other with respect and they are communally instructed on social eti- quette. And in Ms. Costin’s skilled hands, I have watched my son blossom from a child who stood on the edge of a crowd, to a child who is rightfully claiming his spot among his peers. I could write pages of praises about her! ~ Chelsea Mellon

Bain Elementary My son Aedan (5 yrs old) is in a regular-ed kindergarten classroom at Bain Elementary. His teacher, Mrs. Hartis is ter- rific. She goes above and beyond when it comes to the children in her classroom. She really cares and it shows. This year, she attended the CMS Autism classes for teachers to learn more about autism and how she can make a difference. I really applaud her for this. She certainly has made a difference in my child's life. ~Kim Pfister

Lebanon Road Elementary I want to thank Ms. Rachael O’Neill and Mrs. Drummond, two wonderful teachers from Lebanon Road Elementary School for all their hard work and outstanding dedication to the children in their class. My son is really making progress. Thank you so much. ~Lynne D. Broadus

Providence High School We would love to thank Mrs. Berke, Mr. Allred, Ms. McBride, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Pigatt, Coach Bellissimo, and Mrs. Gardner for their hard work, dedication, and excellent teaching abilities. Everyone has helped make Michael's first year at Providence High School a successful one. We would also like to thank the entire staff at Providence High for all they do. ~Michael, Torye, and Joe Martin

Charlotte United Christian Academy To ALL of the teachers in the CUCA ABA Intermediate classroom (Alison, Jessica, Heather and Karen) -- Thank you for loving our son and believing in him. It warms our hearts every day to see how happy Charlie is to go to school, and we know it is because of the loving environment you have created for him. Thanks for everything!~Patricia & Adam Taylor

Weddington Elementary Thank you to Mrs. Brandy Pustejovsky, Drayton's teacher in his self-contained autism classroom at Weddington Ele- mentary. Mrs. P. is very important to Drayton and because he wants so much to please her, she can always get more out of him than we sometimes think is possible. She knows his strengths, works with his challenges, and provides him with many opportunities to reach his goals. ~Tracy Reed

Jay M. Robinson Middle The day we walked into the school last summer for our tour, my son looked at me and said, “Mom, This place is AWE- SOME!!” And he was right. It has been so wonderful to work with a team of teachers who are dedicated to seeing our kids become the best they can be. Bobby Ledford, Terri Hahn, Peter Fellows, Cresence Greenwood, Sari Cohen, and Lora Morton did an excellent job assessing Paul’s capabilities and accepting nothing less than the best he could do. When Paul needed ways to better handle himself, they were there with strategies that worked wonders. As soon as possi- ble, they removed the supports so that he could begin working independently. The rest of the school, including Mrs. Kathleen Fox, the principal, and the elective teachers, Mrs. Boone, Mrs. Toponak, Mrs. Beare, Mrs. Leftwich, Mr. Halstead, Mrs. Lucas, and Mrs. Clendenin, have done a superb job not only helping Paul with academic tasks, but cre- ating a positive nurturing environment in class. Paul is thriving at Jay M. This year he has made many new friends and they are not all in the special-ed classes. What more could a Mom hope for?! Oh, yeah, I was the Mom who was afraid to leave McKee Road last year and journey with my kiddo to middle school. ~Nancy Nestor 15

June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org All 11 –18 year olds are invited to Miércoles, 30 de Juñio

Tweens & teens at the movies!

June 4th (F) 6:45– 8:30P Usted esta invitado a asistir al Grupo de Apoyo Hispano de padres con hijos con Myers Park Presbyterian Church autismo de Charlotte. Las reuniones se rea- lizan el ultimo miércoles cada mes ~ room F-207 de 9:30 - 11:30 am. This month’s feature: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 en la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe localizado en el 6212 Tuckaseegee Rd., Charlotte, NC 28214;

Please RSVP to Tanya Gaspar Las reuniones son gratuitas. Por favor contáctese con la

[email protected] Coordinadora voluntaria del grupo de apoyo, or (704) 927-1271 Haydee García al (704)391-3732 extensión # 5.

Se ofrece guardería con un costo de $ 5 .00 por niño. Esta reunión ser- virá para conversar e intercambiar las experiencias de vivir

con un hijo con autismo.

Families all over Mecklenburg County~

Special Needs Story Time- Southeast Psych hosts monthly Lunch & Learn series~ For Free!

 Rhythm and Rhyme: A Storytime for Children with Spe- The Lunch & Learn series is held monthly and consists cial Needs and Their Families; Sat, June 5th at 10 / of a presentation and discussion on various topics in- 11:oo Matthews Branch Library’s Community Room. cluding parenting, families, relationships, health, edu- Registration is favored but not required. Contact Tricia cational issues, etc. Lunch & Learn events are free of directly with questions or to register at (704) 416-5004 or charge and open to individuals, parents, professionals, via email at [email protected]. and the community. RSVPs are not required, but en-  Special Needs Story Time: Aug. 14th, Sat. Davidson couraged to ensure ample seating. We provide coffee, Public Library; 10:00 AM; register by calling Tricia at hot chocolate, water, and informative discussions; all (704) 416-5004 or e-mail [email protected]. Be you need to bring is a bag lunch and a desire for sure to specify that you want the Davidson program. knowledge! Visit southeastpsych.com for more info.

 Saturday Smorgasbord: a storytime for special needs children and their families; Dates: TBA South Re- Blakeney Office: gional Library; 10:-10:45 AM. reservations required. 06/07/10; (12-1:00) Yoga Therapy 101 with Call (704) 416-6600; ext. 2 Kyra Grossman. RSVP to Lisa at [email protected] or call (704) 552-0116.  Stories Alive and More- a storytime for special needs children and their families. DATES: TBA Steele Creek South Park Office: Public Library; 11:00 AM. Features music, stories, and 06/03/10; (12– 1:00); School is out but learning is in props. Please call (704) 416-6800; for Jeanenne or Shern with Dr. Craig Pohlman RSVP to Diane at to register and for info. [email protected] or call (704) 552-0116.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Autism Exposure

Started by a local adult with ASD and supported by those in our community, County Wide Recreation Options…

Autism Exposure hosts a website that There is lots to do in Mecklenburg County offers a place to learn...a place to ex- perience. The website contains message  To find out recreation options in Charlotte and see boards, chats, forums, blogs, photos, and videos. In the latest copy of the Therapeutics Dept. newsletter addition, Autism Exposure maintains a variety of meet -“The Wire” go to this link: –up groups for people of all ages dealing with ASD:

 Bridging the Gap~ for parents and run by ASD adults  To find out recreation options in North Mecklen- burg contact:  Little Angels~ Pre-school play dates Denise Clark, LRT/CTRS  Nature club ~for families with kids and young adults Therapeutic Recreation Program Coordinator Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville Parks and Rec  Art club ~for ages 13 and up (704) 892-3349 x 309 or [email protected]

 Star Wars Club~ for those 9 and older

 Or go to: www.ecbuzz.org  College club ~for those with ASD who are in college or ages 16 and up interested in learning about college.

For more info please go to: http://autismexposure.ning.com/

Attention South Charlotte Families!!

A CMS autism class–assistant is starting a BAMBINOS

/softball team, just for our kids! And it’s FREE!!

Each player will be paired with a typical buddy- a young per- son who is excited about helping our kids learn to play ball VS and happy to play with them. Practices will be at 5:30 twice a month on Sunday evenings at South Charlotte Middle, 8040

Strawberry Lane; Charlotte, NC 28277. Hey Baseball Fans– It is that time of year again!! Families may register their athletes on-line by going to: www.oprasports.com . Click on REGISTER, look for Sunday night, July 18th: Game time: 5:05 "BAMBINOS softball/baseball Athlete (or Buddy) registra- tion. Be sure to register your child as an ATHLETE. Follow Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium– Exit 63 off I-85 the easy instructions. **It may say~ $75 family fee, DISRE-

GARD that message, when you complete registration, it will Special Night Out for Families with Special say you have a $0 balance. Needs Children is next month. Ted Banther and the Insurance Resource Group has purchased No computer access?- Call Jennifer Huff: (704) 241-2324. tickets to this fun night out. The event is well attended by families in our autism community, so The first practice will be scheduled when you won’t be alone! Your seats will be in a pro- 20 athletes have signed up. All children tected area of the ballpark behind home plate. There with autism or other special needs are will also be a secluded, climate controlled confer- welcome, ages 5-18 years, regardless of ence room available for whatever needs you may skill level or degree of autism. have. For questions and more information, Simply RSVP your requested amount of free please contact Jennifer Huff at: [email protected] tickets to Mr. Ted Banther at (704) 792-1204

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

ASTROJUMPER: MOTIVATING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM TO EXERCISE USING VIRTUAL REALITY GAMES

Motivation Children with autism often lead sedentary lifestyles, though research indicates that exercise can reduce chaotic self- stimulatory behavior in this population. With Astrojumper, we want to see if we can use a fun 3D virtual reality game to engage children with autism in physical activity.

Astrojumper The game is displayed on three big 3D screens. In the game, you speed through outer space and need to avoid all of the oncoming planets, asteroids, and space ships. You don’t need to hold any controllers – to move in the game, you can actually jump, duck, swerve, and move around in real life. You can even throw your arms forward to shoot lasers at en- emy UFOs.

Study To participate in the study, a child must be brought to UNC Charlotte by one of his or her parents. We will show the child the virtual reality system, explain what he / she will have to do to play, and provide the parent and the child with consent forms. If both parent and child agree, we will take the child’s heart rate, ask them to fill out a survey, have them play the exercise game for 15 minutes, take their heart rate again, and give them one more survey. The entire process should take about 30-40 minutes per child. Children should come to the lab wearing exercise-appropriate clothes (sneakers, non-restrictive shorts/pants, no accessories, etc.).

Participants We’re looking for children with an autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 5 and 17 to participate in this study. Participants should not have additional diagnoses such as mental retardation or cerebral palsy. An “official” diagnosis of autism is not necessary if a parent or guardian has strong reason to believe the child is on the autism spectrum. Par- ticipants must be able to read and understand English, follow simple instructions regarding how to play the game, and fill out surveys about their opinions, such as what their favorite part of the game was, if they would exercise more often using this game, etc.

INTERESTED? Email Samantha Finkelstein (the primary researcher on this project) at [email protected] for more information about this study. Please ask her any questions or bring up any concerns you may have regarding this project. She’d be happy to give you more information about the study, if your child is eligible to participate, additional details, etc.

This study is IRB-approved and being conducted by Samantha Finkelstein under the supervision of Dr. Tiffany Barnes and Dr. Zachary Wartell. All researchers are associated with the Department of Computer Science in the College of Computing and Infor- matics at UNC Charlotte.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Evening Session with Dr. Jed Baker

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Exceptional Children Department in conjunc- tion with the Autism Society of NC-Charlotte Chapter and the ARC of Meck- lenburg County are happy to offer an evening session with well-known author, Dr. Jed Baker. Dr. Baker is well-published in the field of social skills and be- havior for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. His books will also be available for purchase.

Date: June, 23-2010 Time: 7:00 -8:30 p.m.

Where: Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church 1600 W. Mallard Creek Church Road Charlotte, NC 28262

Jed Baker, Ph.D. is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, a private organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He is on the professional advisory board of Autism Today, ASPEN, ANSWER, YAI, the Kelberman Center and several other autism organizations. In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award winning author of five books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome and Social Communication Problems; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; and No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out- of-Control Behavior. His work has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org

Wednesday Forums: June 23, 2010

The Charlotte TEACCH Center offers one hour morning information forums on a monthly basis. Concurrent ses- sions allow parents to request enrollment for 1-2 sessions during the morning. Forums are open to family members of clients of the Charlotte TEACCH Center. There is limited seating available and acceptance is on a first come first serve basis. Forums are offered free of charge though there may be a small materials fee for Make and Take Sessions. Some sessions recommend previous participation in an introductory level session. Enrollment is required for all sessions. Participants will be required to sign a confidentiality statement for each forum attended. To enroll in forums please call the Charlotte TEACCH Center at (704) 563-4103.

Topics:

Autism 101: This forum is an introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders to help parents develop a better understanding of how autism affects behavior, learning and interactions within the family. Information about the latest research is also included

Introduction to TEACCH : General information and introduction to the TEACCH program including information about diagnosis, assess- ment, and treatment for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Problem-Solving Summer Issues: Summer can be a challenge because of the amount of unstructured time, vacations and changes in routines. This will be an informal forum planed to give families the opportunity to share challenges they have as well as suc- cessful strategies they use. TEACCH Staff will share examples of solutions to summer challenges that have worked for families in the past.

Topics posted on Mecklenburg ASNC website: www.asncmeck.org/

Forums will resume in the fall with the start of school

Important Message concerning pivotal services in NC:

ASNC has learned about a group of parents who have a stake in ensuring that TEACCH related services in North Carolina remain intact. There is concern that services provided by TEACCH will be reduced or sig- nificantly changes beyond the recent cuts. If you want to support the continued operation of TEACCH and the services it provides, please join the Google Group: [email protected].

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June 2010 The Newsletter of the Autism Society of North Carolina Mecklenburg County Chapter www.asncmeck.org Mark your Calendar– but Call today!! Future Horizons, Inc. presents The CHARLOTTE, NC AREA Super Conference October 21st and 22nd, 2010 Keynotes by the most famous people in their fields World-wide!! Dr. Tony Attwood Dr. Temple Grandin Autism Asperger Syndrome

Carol Kranowitz Dr. Jed Baker Sensory Integration Social Skills

Two Day Rates Professional: $235 Group Rate~ Professional: $195* Family Member: $185 Group Rate~ Family: $165*

One Day Rates Professional: $170 Group Rate ~Professional: $150* Family Member: $130 Group Rate~ Family: $110* *Group is 5 or more per payment method.

Continuing Ed. credits available from ASHA/APA/AOTA and may satisfy state licensing requirements for teachers and related special services professions~ consult your local licensing office. Call Future Horizons Toll Free: 1-800-489-0727 to register or for any questions or go to: www.fhautism.com. 21

We Need YourJune Help 2010 - Become a Member! Join theThe Autism Newsletter Society of North of the Carolina Autism Society of North Carolina MecklenburgMembership Form County Chapter

www.asncmeck.org

ASNC Membership (circle level) Individual/Family - $40 Contributor - $75 Supporter - $150 Agency/Service Provider - $200 Life - $1,250 Student - $25 *indicate ASNC Chapter name below and ASNC will give back $10 to your local chapter.

Name______

Address______

City______State______Zip______

Telephone (h) ______(w) ______

Email______

ASNC Chapter Name______

Type of membership(s) (e.g. asnc-family)______Total enclosed $______

Mail all memberships to ASNC to: Autism Society of North Carolina 505 Oberlin Road, Suite 230, Raleigh, NC 27605-1345 To charge memberships call 1-800-442-2762

ASNC – Mecklenburg County Chapter c/o Nancy Nestor 3846 Lipton Ln Mint Hill, NC 28227

If you would like to receive Autism

Matters via email, send a request to

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Thank you!

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