Outreach2013 CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY & RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT AUTISM LEADING THE WAY Teen blossoms with aid of support programs Page 24 FINDING EmpLOYmENT SARRC helps young man find his first regular job Page 26 DEFINING mOmENT An autism diagnosis brings relief to mom Page 30 A Lifetime of SARRC celebrates families’ meaningful milestones including Vin peterson’s first year of school Page 18Firsts 131593a.indd 1 4/24/13 6:43 PM 1750 ATTORNEYS | 35 LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE˚ Great Minds. Great Hearts. Greenberg Traurig is honored to support SARRC and the individuals and families whose lives are positively impacted. Greenberg Traurig, LLP 2375 East Camelback Road | Suite 700 Phoenix, AZ 85016 | 602.445.8000 GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP | ATTORNEYS AT LAW | WWW.GTLAW.COM Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2013 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Contact: Nicole M. Goodwin in Phoenix at 602.445.8000. °These numbers are subject to fl uctuation. 20917 131593a.indd 2 4/24/13 6:43 PM Contents 18 A Lifetime of Firsts SARRC families share photos of meaningful firsts for their sons and daughters ranging from a first successful trip to the doctor to a first house. Features 20 M ission Accomplished Vin Peterson completes a rite of passage — successfully graduating from kindergarten – with page 18 preparation from SARRC’s Community School where Vin was enrolled as a preschooler. 24 Crowning Moment SARRC teen and Chaparral High School student Lindsey Eaton is named Prom Queen at Arizona’s first Best Buddies prom. 26 M odel Employee 24-year-old Curtis Squire has a nearly ERS PH two-hour commute to and from his job at Sprouts Farmers Market, OTOGRA but that doesn’t stop him from showing up on time and ready to H work. OINT P P 28 Making Strides The 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks set new records and the 2013 Walk is poised to do the same. DREISESZUN/VIEW G EN PH TE When KaMisha Herrera finally received S 30 Hope in Diagnosis page 26 Y, PH a diagnosis of autism for both her son and daughter, she was relieved to finally be able to get them the services they so OTOGRA PH desperately needed. page 30 T/BONNIE JEANNE H DONATE NOW! RIG W Thank you for supporting SARRC’s mission No scanner? Download one now at bestqrscanner.com AGAZINE, BONNIE M 4 Letters 14 Planned Giving 34 Happenings S D 5 Opening Words 15 Breakthroughs 36 Programs RIZONA KI 7 Vision 16 FAQs 40 Financials A 8 In Brief 17 Preguntas Frecuentas 41 Highlights AISING R 13 Giving Back 33 Voices 42 Impact On the Cover: MAN/ D VIN PETERSON FRIE PHOTO: STEPHEN G. DREISESZUN/ L Departments VIEWPOINT PHOTOGRAPHERS DANIE 2013 | 3 | OUTREACH 131593a.indd 3 4/24/13 6:43 PM Letters Your Thoughts 2013, VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF First swim meet brings Denise D. Resnik fond memories MANAGING EDITOR When thinking of our son’s “firsts,” Stephanie Jarnagan ART DIRECTOR we knew exactly which moment meant Tamara Kopper the most to us. It was Alex’s first swim PHOTOGRAPHERS meet at the YMCA Christown. He was Stephen G. Dreiseszun/Viewpoint Photographers Daniel Friedman/Raising Arizona Kids Magazine four years old and the coaches had Bonnie Wright/Bonnie Jeanne Photography worked with him all summer so that he CONTRIBUTORS Cathy Luebke Marcy Adkins Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D could participate in a swim meet before the season ended. Stephanie Conner Christopher J. Smith, Ph.D. He did the “vertical freestyle” across the pool, coming in 5th Ginger S. Eiden Lyndsey Waugh Jeri Kendle place. His 5th place green ribbon is still hanging up in his room. He was very proud of it, though when he went to the SARRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Howard Sobelman, Esq., Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., Chair prize table he asked for a red ribbon instead, since that is his Tim Newquist, Newquist Investments, Vice Chair favorite color. George Hostal Jr., CPA, CFP, First Western Trust Bank, Vice Chair Lisa Frace, Arizona State University, Treasurer What was so amazing about that moment for us was Stephanie Papadopoulos, Secretary the collective gratitude we felt for all the SARRC therapists, Rose Arck, ACS Realty Services LLC other therapists, teachers, family and friends who got him to Lynn Balter, Organizers Direct Neil Balter, Organizers Direct that moment. It's funny because the crowd was cheering like Tim Bolden, Arizona Public Service Jane Christensen, J·Bio\ crazy for him simply because they always cheer loudest for Patty Dion the little ones who struggle to get across the pool in their first Karen Donmoyer Danielle Feroleto, Small Giants meet… but, in our case, I kept thinking if they only knew Sue Glawe, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona how many people had worked so hard to give him and us this Todd Hardy, Arizona State University Danny Ischy, Wells Fargo wonderfully typical moment. Gary Jaburg, Jaburg & Wilk, PC Louis Kirby, II, MD, ZettaScience Christine Badoux John D. Napolitan, Edgewood Residential LLC Scottsdale, AZ Craig Pearson, Pearson and Company Sergio Penaloza, Cox Communications Mac Perlich, ONMedia Karen Peters, City of Phoenix Celebrating a meaningful first Denise D. Resnik, DRA Strategic Communications, Inc. Doug Sanders, Sprouts at Build-a-Bear Scott Sutherland, Bonneville International Corporation We tried to take our son to Build-a-Bear last year and it was David Tedesco, True North Companies Jim Waring, Phoenix City Councilman so disappointing. At the time, William didn't even recognize Greg Wells, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona the bears as toys or something fun to have, he just sobbed and Inactive Members wanted to leave. Recently, during parent training, we decided Dan Coleman, John C. Lincoln Health Network (retired) Theresa Grebe, M.D., University of Arizona to try again. We did a ton of priming and we had gumballs for SARRC LEADERSHIP reinforcers. He walked in, helped make the bear and though Jeri Kendle, President we had to work through some anxiety when we went into a Raun Melmed, M.D., Medical Director & Co-Founder Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Vice President and Clinical Director small area to record his voice, he did it! He loved giving it a Christopher J. Smith, Ph.D., Vice President and Research Director bath and gave it lots of hugs when the bear was all done. The Christina Whalen, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Vice President and Vocational & Life Skills Director experience was night and day from the last time we attempted Laurie Sandau, Development Director Wade Newhouse, IT and Facilities Director this. I know this success is a simple first, Sean Husmoe, Finance Director especially compared to dental visits and Outreach is published annually by the things, but from where we've come from, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) our first successful trip to Build-a-Bear was 300 N. 18th St., Phoenix, AZ 85006. CONTACT INFO huge for us. Thanks for all SARRC does! (602) 340-8717 [email protected] Sonja Dodge Special thanks to the writers, editors, photographers and designers Gilbert, AZ who contribute their time and service in-kind to SARRC. OUTREACH | 4 | 2013 131593a.indd 4 4/24/13 6:43 PM O pening AGAZINE M W S D Letter from ords RIZONA KI A the Editor AISING R End of one journey, MAN/ D start of another FRIE L DANIE his month marks the end of Matt’s high much work will be involved in his major transition school tenure and the close of our chapter to a working environment and independent living with the public school system. After some over the next few years. We’re diligent in our 18 years in the system, it will be emotional pursuits for Matt and the more than 500,000 children and bittersweet to pick up Matt that final with autism entering adulthood this decade, and Tday of school. To see him burst through the door hope and pray that Matt and other young adults will surrounded as always by a herd of other kids with be embarking on the most fulfilling and gratifying special needs. Wondering if he really understands it’s years of their lives. We want them to have friends, his last day of high school and whether that holds jobs, residential options and communities that any significance for him. And while graduations support them. We want them to be safe, healthy are happy milestones to celebrate, we are also and happy, and have opportunities to be productive, thinking about the goals reached through his IEPs contributing members of communities that value and (Individualized Education Program), as well as the recognize their special talents. disappointments. Thanks to SARRC’s stellar board, powerful Matt’s been on a transition track that we senior leadership and the most talented collection intensified this past year, splitting his time between of staff and volunteers I know, there will be many Chaparral High School and SARRC’s Vocational & memorable firsts worthy of celebration. Through Life Skills Academy, developing his work stamina, SARRC’s broad range of programs, we remain life skills and independence. He’s been working committed to supporting individuals with autism at SARRC’s Beneficial Beans Café and at Outback throughout their lifetimes. Steakhouse, site of SARRC’s CulinaryWorks® We are enormously grateful to the SARRC team program; volunteering with SARRC’s Good and to the dozens of teachers and aides who have DeedWorks®, GardenWorks® and LibraryWorks® supported, challenged and cheered on Matt and our programs; and working out through PowerWorks® at family.