OutreachFALL 2009 CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY & RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT AUTISM Walk NoW Annual autism walk returns to Tempe Beach Park Nov. 1 Page 30 all DeckeD out After Hours Gallery auctions off artistic skateboard decks to raise funds for SARRC Page 32 Play time Thunderbirds Charities sponsors Play Village at SARRC’s main campus Page 39 pump it SARRC teams up with the YMCA to pilot PowerWorksSM for UP! teens with autism Page 24 093020a 1 10/7/09 8:16:30 PM Sunday, November 1, 2009 Tempe Beach Park Arizona Walk Now for Autism Speaks 5K and 1 Mile Family-Fun Walk Walker Registration/Resource Fair Opens at 8 a.m. For help forming a corporate or family walk team, or for information about volunteering at the 2009 walk event, please contact Lyndsey Waugh with SARRC at (480) 220-4548. Register Today: www.walknowforautism.org/az Together we’ll find the missing pieces. 093020a 2 10/7/09 8:16:32 PM Contents 24 Pump It Up As part of SARRC’s Autism CommunityWorks® programs, the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA teams up with SARRC to pilot PowerWorks SM, a program focused on health and fitness. Features 28 A ction for Autism KTAR’s second annual radio fundraiser nets more than $355,000 thanks to the generous listeners of 92.3 FM and 620 AM. 30 Break Out the Sneakers More than 10,000 people participated in last year’s page 30 Arizona Walk Now for Autism, the state’s largest autism awareness- and fund-raising event. This year, thousands more are expected to join the walk on Nov. 1 at Tempe Beach Park. Sunday, November 1, 2009 32 A ll Decks on Hand After Hours Gallery in Phoenix is coordinating an auction involving 200+ unique skateboard decks painted by local and national artists. To bid Tempe Beach Park on one, visit www.allhandsondeck.org. Proceeds benefitSARR C. 34 Night of 100 Hits The 9th Annual Beauty of a Bonzer is back with Kool & the Arizona Walk Now for Autism Speaks 5K and Gang and The Commodores at U.S. Airways Center on Oct. 17. The concert event page 32 1 Mile Family-Fun Walk benefits six Valley charities, includingSARR C. 37 Housing Solutions A team of Urban Land Institute practitioners in real estate, finance, planning, construction and healthcare convened to address the issue of Walker Registration/Resource Fair Opens at 8 a.m. viable residential living options for adults with autism. For help forming a corporate or family walk team, or for information about volunteering 38 Food Frustrations The Jaburg & Wilk Foundation—through SARRC and at the 2009 walk event, please contact Lyndsey Waugh with SARRC at (480) 220-4548. P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E.—is supporting a series of feeding seminars focused on eating and feeding issues specific to children with autism. 39 Play Time The new Thunderbirds Charities Play Village at SARRC’s Campus for Register Today: Exceptional Children offers kids an area where they can foster friendships and engage www.walknowforautism.org/az in appropriate play activities. page 39 4 Letters 16 FAQs 40 Connections 6 Letter from the Editor 17 Preguntas Frecuentas 42 Happenings On the Cover: MATThEW RESNIK 7 Vision 18 Breakthroughs 44 Programs PHOTO © STEPHEN G. 8 SARRC Briefs 20 Communication 46 Impact DREISESZUN/VIEWPOINT PHOTOGRAPHERS 14 Giving Back 22 Comunicación (en Español) Departments Together we’ll find the missing pieces. MIC WAUGH , COURTESY OF AFTER HOURS GALLERY, JENNY SpIRES PHOTOGRAPHY Fall 2009 | 3 | OUTREACH 093020a 3 10/7/09 8:16:42 PM Letters Your Thoughts FALL 2009, VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 FRIEND Program a Success at Copper Ridge EDITOR-IN-CHIEF I have been employed in the public education system for the Denise D. Resnik past 15 years. The last four years have been as an administrator. It is MANAGING EDITORS well documented that for many students, recess can be a harrowing Stephanie Jarnagan experience. Whether it is the unstructured environment, the lack ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Nance Wickins of friends or the inability to initiate play, recess can create real feel- ART DIRECTOR ings of fear and inadequacy for school-age children. As the Assistant Tamara Kopper Principal in charge of discipline for a public K-5 school, I have For complete title and escrow services, PHOTOGRAPHERS tracked the high number of office referrals that are initiated on the Stephen G. Dreiseszun/Viewpoint Photographers playground versus other areas of school. Jenny Spires Photography Since the implementation of SARRC’s FRIEND® playground CONTRIBUTORS Think Great. Think Great American. Stephanie Conner program, there has been a vast improvement in the number of office Ginger S. Eiden referrals for playground misbehavior. In my opinion, this can be Christia Gibbons Walter Morlock traced to the fact that there is more structure on the playground and Sharman Ober-Reynolds, MSN, C-FNP, CCRP overall kinder behavior from the typical kids toward each other and Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D Allyson Resnik toward the kids on the autism spectrum. Howard Sobelman Of course there has been dramatic improvement with the chil- Barbara Toombs Lori Vincent, M.Ed., BCBA dren on the spectrum and their ability to initiate and participate in Lyndsey Waugh social activities. The FRIEND playground program has been a win- SARRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS We are proud to support the staff and win situation for our students. Howard Sobelman, Snell & Wilmer, Chair Nick Noonan, Assistant Principal Lisa Frace, Arizona State University, Vice Chair Matt McMahon, Arizona Outback Steakhouse Group, Vice Chair volunteers of SARRC, which makes a world Copper Ridge Elementary School, Scottsdale Unified School District Cheryl Walsh, WalshCOMM, Secretary Leo Valdez, Hutchinson, Shockey, Erley & Co., Treasurer Family Relocation Made Easier Thanks to SARRC Rose Arck, ACS Realty Services of difference in the lives of children with Joe Blackbourn, Everest Holdings Our time at SARRC has been life changing for our family. I have Jane Christensen, Healthcare Management Consultant to remind myself that almost a year ago when Juan was diagnosed Joseph Cooper, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. Karen Donmoyer, FRIEND Playground Group autism and their families. he had no eye contact, no speech, he didn’t point, he couldn’t play Danielle Feroleto, Small Giants appropriately with very many toys and he was lost. To see him now Sue Glawe, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Kathy Hancock, Fennemore Craig is truly amazing. We have our son back. He is a funny, smart and Tom Kelly, Schaller Anderson Inc. happy little guy. We now know how to work with him and how Louis Kirby, II, M.D. Mary Martuscelli, JPMorgan Chase to handle most of his behaviors. John Napolitan, retired The teachers at the Community School are our heroes. I watched Stephanie Papadopoulos Sergio Penaloza, Cox Communications Juan the first few weeks at school have such a hard time. The teach- Joe Ray, Estudio Ray ers helped him and never gave up on him. When we move to Texas, Larry Reese, Blood Systems, Inc. Mike Reina, Southern Wine & Spirits I will miss all of you guys so much. I feel very confident that with Denise D. Resnik, Denise Resnik & Associates all of the amazing tools you have given us to work with, Juan will Kay Snell, Autism Society of America Scott Sutherland, Bonneville International Corporation do wonderful in Texas. Christine K. Wilkinson, Arizona State University The Galvezes are ready to start a new chapter in our lives and SARRC LEADERSHIP we are forever grateful to have been a part of the SARRC family. Jeri Kendle, Interim President and COO Tammy Newby-Galvez Raun Melmed, M.D., Medical Director & Co-Founder Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D Vice President and Phoenix, Ariz. Clinical Services Director Christopher Smith, Ph.D., Vice President and Research Director Vocational Program Makes a Difference Outreach is published bi-annually by the Bruce E. Beverly Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all you have done 300 N. 18th St., Phoenix, AZ 85006. with Cory as part of SARRC’s Vocational & Life Skills Academy. Our CONTACT INFO (602) 445-5529 family is very excited about his job! He and Amy have enjoyed (602) 340-8717 the outings and look forward to many more. I am so pleased with [email protected] SARRC. You have given me some peace of mind regarding Cory’s life. Special thanks to the writers, editors, [email protected] I cannot thank you enough. photographers and designers who contribute their time and service in-kind to SaRRc. Jodi Kalman Phoenix, Ariz. OUTREACH | 4 | Fall 2009 7720 N. 16th Street, Ste. 450 - Phoenix, AZ 85020 093020a 4 10/7/09 8:16:47 PM For complete title and escrow services, Think Great. Think Great American. We are proud to support the staff and volunteers of SARRC, which makes a world of difference in the lives of children with autism and their families. Bruce E. Beverly (602) 445-5529 [email protected] 7720 N. 16th Street, Ste. 450 - Phoenix, AZFall 2009 85020 | 5 | OUTREACH 093020a 5 10/7/09 8:16:48 PM ords W Letter from pening pening the Editor O Heavy Lifting Matthew Resnik his summer, our son Matt was building increase from the 2007 federal estimate of 1:150 children. muscle, improving his posture and using Our country and state urgently need to focus on proper locker room etiquette, while making new models of care. We need to design programs that friends and having fun at the Lincoln Family help maximize their independence and engage them Downtown YMCA. SARRC’s PowerWorksSM in productive daily living.