Child Early Intervention Medical Center Volume 2, Issue 3 3rd Quarter 2010 AutismAutism FriendsFriends NewsletterNewsletter CEIMC tailors Summer Camp Program for Children with Autism The Child Early said. Each child worked Inside this issue: Intervention Medi- with camp therapists and cal Center is volunteers on a one-to- pleased to an- one basis, ensuring the Upcoming Parent Training 2 nounce the suc- child's safety and tailored Information cessful comple- programming, organizers Tips to Promote Eye contact 2 tion of our first said. The children in Children with Autism annual Summer learned how to make Camp program friends, identify feelings Mother Warriors: A Nation 2 implemented by by understanding body of Mothers Healing Autism Against All Odds our Occupational language and manage and Speech Ther- anger and stress. Activi- Stephen Wiltshire, Autistic 3 apy departments. ties throughout the week Artist, Known as the Human included school-related Camera The camp in- cluded children on directives, story time, and Vision Therapy Training 3 the Autistic Spec- various fun, interactive with Dr. Becker, OD trum, between the social developing skill Perfect „No-Rolling” Dairy- 4 ages of (3 and 7) in small groups were 'Splash of Colors', 'Trip to games and more. "Our Free Gluten-Free Pie Crust developing a range of skills and the Beach', 'In the Mighty Jungle', arts and crafts activities were abilities. The four-week camp and 'Fun at the Circus'. "It was a particular favorites amongst the How Much Do You Know 4 About Autism? focused on developing the chil- lot of fun but also hard work. It is kids," said Occupational Thera- dren’s skills in the areas of com- important to be able to 'think pist, Jenny Logan, "We look for- Vitamins & Nutrients 101 4 munication, appropriate play, outside the box' and be creative ward to next year's summer social, self-care, attention-span, when trying to understand how camp and introducing our new fine and gross motor, and sensory each individual child likes to work themes, 'It’s Party Time!', and -processing, implementing a fun and what it takes to help them “Oh the Places you’ll go”. theme into each week's program- each succeed," Speech and Lan- ming. This year's exciting themes guage Pathologist, Kara Cooper CEIMC Establishes the Child Learning & Enrichment Center Adding a significant milestone, to als within our community. each individual’s Multi- our achievements, CEIMC will At the learning center, our inno- Disciplinary Team. soon announce the opening of vative day classrooms will, simul- At the center, we will place an our new sister center, the Child taneously, serve children with a emphasis on learning new skills Upcoming Events Learning & Enrichment Center on range of special needs. Children to support each individual’s gen- & Announcements Al Wasl Road. The new center will will be divided into groups based eralization and use in the “real offer medical and therapy ser- on ages ranging from 2-5 and 6- world” or community settings is 18 Sept: ABA Training w/ CARD vices, and special needs support, 10. The preparatory classroom is the key. We will also be offering Supervisor, Catherine Minch (see including a variety of programs for page 2) modeled after a typical preschool several intervention services children who require intervention or KG classroom where students which are short-term, intensive 28 Sept: OT Parent Night & in learning or behavior. At the learn in a small group setting of programs for those “at risk”. This Support Meeting (see page 2) center we will emphasize and 6-8 students and through struc- can include services which sup- encourage a unique approach tured play sessions. Group les- port the family or children experi- October: Parent Support Group Training w/ CARD Supervisor, dedicated to fostering the role of sons will focus on math, reading encing difficulties with literacy, Jason Garner health and wellness, culture, fam- and phonics, handwriting, spell- social skills, behavior or learning. ily, language, community and the ing, amongst other academic The Learning Center will serve to 5 Nov: Vision Therapy Training contributions they have on the skills, in which we will be provid- increase functional skills so that w/ Dr. Jeffery Becker, OD (see child’s overall development. As a ing initial and ongoing assess- page 3) the child will experience an in- “hub” of expertise in the field of ment to understand the develop- creased quality of life while carry- 6 Nov: Parent Training w/ Dr. child development, we will also mental needs of each child. All of ing out all activities of daily living. Jeffery Becker, OD offer a resource center for par- the staff are highly qualified and ents, caregivers and profession- trained to be valued members of Page 2 Upcoming Parent Trainings Tips to Promote Eye Contact in Children with Autism Some children peep out at When your child wants some- with autism him with a thing from you, ask him/her to show an ab- smile. look at you before you give it to sence of eye Put an her. Encourage the child to contact, but it is object of learn that when they look at you more common the child’s they will get things faster than to find unusual desire up when they do not look at you. eye contact. to your Blow soap bubbles gently, en- Here are some nose. En- couraging him to watch them as tips you may try courage they float away and pop. Try to to encourage your child start the bubbles low down 'A MOTHER WARRIOR IS … appropriate eye contact: to make eye contact by hold- between you so that they float Positioning is vital to encour- ing the object right on the a mother who hears there up past your face and try to aging eye contact. You want it bridge of your nose between catch his gaze as they pass. is no hope for her child to be easy for your child to your eyes, two inches in front If you see that the child is look- look at you. of your face. and, instead of retreating ing at something, talk to him Try putting a novel hat or When your child looks at you, about it and move into the line and mourning, breaks something funny on you head. celebrate it! of his gaze as you talk. Pull it over your eyes then down walls, weaves her http://books.google.com way through obstacles, Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against follows her intuition even All Odds when people tell her she is Across the world, parents of treatment of au- to successfully autistic children are fighting tism. Now, Jenny heal their chil- crazy. She is a mother heroic battles for proper diag- wants everyone to dren. Mother who believes in hope.' nosis and effective treatment, know that there are Warriors is an often at great personal other warriors out inspiring and – From Mother Warriors cost. Jenny McCarthy, actress there, and their stories practical tool that and Spokesperson for Talk will inspire and inform will empower About Healing Autism (TACA), is anyone facing a similar parents to join the the New York Times best- struggle. fight against au- selling author of Belly Miracles happen tism and reclaim Laughs and Baby Laughs, every day, but rarely their children's knows what it's like. She put are the miracle mak- lives. During her career and personal life on ers cele- promotion of this hold when she realized some- brated. Mother Warri- book, Jenny thing was wrong with her son, ors introduces every- Stories of hope and recov- McCarthy has Evan, diagnosed with Autism day heroes who ery from a nation of parents recently ap- Spectrum Disorder in fought doctors, of autistic children peared on televi- 2005. Her sacrifice has schools, psycholo- sion on Oprah, brought awareness to the con- gists, and even their own fami- 20/20, The View, Good Morning troversy over the causes and lies to get the help they needed America, and Larry King Live. http://www.penguin.com.au Page 3 Stephen Wiltshire, Autistic Artist, Known as “the Human Camera” Stephen Wiltshire is an artist them is encyclopedic), and he and perfectly scaled aerial illus- who draws and paints detailed drew most of the major London tration of a four-square-mile cityscapes. He has a particular landmarks. area within three hours. talent for drawing lifelike, accu- The teachers at Queensmill Since then he has rate representations of cities, School encouraged him to drawn Rome, Hong sometimes after having only speak by temporarily taking Kong, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dubai, observed them briefly. He was away his art supplies so that he Jerusalem and London on giant awarded an MBE for services to would be forced to ask for canvases. the art world in 2006. His work is them. Stephen responded by In January 2006, it was an- popular all over the world, and is making sounds and eventually nounced that Stephen was be- held in a number of important uttered his first word - "paper." ing named by Queen Elizabeth II collections. He learned to speak fully at the as a Member of the Order of Stephen was born in London to age of nine. British Empire, in recognition of West Indian parents on 24th Meanwhile, Stephen's artworks his services to the Art world. April, 1974. As a child he was were being exhibited frequently Later that year he opened his mute, and did not relate to other in venues all over the world. In permanent gallery in London. human beings. Aged three, he 2001 he appeared in another Work from Stephen’s entire was diagnosed as autistic.