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Empowering Through Information and the Fostering of Connections
Love. Acceptance. Intervention. Civil Rights. June 26, 2020

In This Issue

Autism and the coronavirus pandemic

Calling on primary care providers to help autistic children with weight issues

People with autism may smell songs or hear colors

Immersed: An Unflinching Look at Severe Autism

Researchers create an app for the evaluation and treatment of social communication skills in children aged 3 to 12

Family and Others Looking for Help!!!

Transition Therapy

Understanding and Changing Behavior for Parents of Kids with Autism

Autism Experts Empowering Families and Children Together

YouTube: Distance Learning and Advocacy

2020 Summer Online Groups

FREE! Behavior Boot Camp for Dads

Autism Research - Diet and Nutrition Interventions with Dr. Jim Adams

Villa de Vida Summer Fun

Programs That Offer Faith-Based Support

Beacons Summer and Fall Workshop Information

Certified Special Needs Quality Life Coach

Software for Professionals Working in Special Education

Villa de Vida Social Club Activities

June Resources for Special Families


 


THIS MONTH'S SPONSORS






  • Autism and the coronavirus pandemic
  • The coronavirus pandemic is altering autism research in unprecedented ways. It also has had a huge impact on the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. This special report wraps up Spectrum's coverage so far on the myriad reverberations of the virus within the autism community.

    In the academic world, conferences have been cancelled and labs have put clinical trials on hold, moved their efforts online or shuttered altogether. Scientific journals are extending deadlines for authors and editors, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health is similarly granting researchers greater flexibility in their applications, budgets and progress reports. Scientists are redesigning some studies for a socially distanced world. Clinicians, meanwhile, are rethinking how to screen for autism and offer therapy remotely.

    For some people on the spectrum, life in lockdown is aggravating anxiety and other autism traits. Women and children with autism, and those living in group homes, seem particularly hard hit by the pandemic, although the experiences of autistic people have been almost as varied as the condition itself. Read on...

  • Calling on primary care providers to help autistic children with weight issues
  • Children with autism are more likely than typically developing children to meet criteria for being considered overweight or obese in early childhood through adolescence1,2. And these weight issues can have deleterious health effects: Obesity plays a role in the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers in adulthood. These chronic conditions are all more prevalent among autistic adults than among their typical peers.

    But admonishments to lose weight can backfire and may contribute further to weight gain. Pediatric primary care practitioners have a critical responsibility to provide guidance, information and resources for autistic children struggling with weight gain, and to advocate for them in accessing needed services and supports at home and school. Read on...

  • People with autism may smell songs or hear colors
  • Have you ever considered what your favorite piece of music tastes like? Or the color of Tuesday? If the answer is yes, you might be a synesthete. For people with synesthesia, ordinary sensory events, such as listening to music or reading text, elicit experiences involving other senses, such as perceiving a taste or seeing a color.

    Synesthesia is not to be confused with common metaphors - such as saying someone 'sees red' to describe anger. Instead, synesthetic associations are perceptual, highly specific and idiosyncratic, and typically stable beginning in childhood. And many types exist: A taste can have a shape, a word can have a color, the months of the year may be experienced as an array around the body. Read on...

  • Immersed: An Unflinching Look at Severe Autism
  • Book: A legally blind photographer's captivating images reveal a hidden world of severe disability

    I'll start this review with a fitting quote from the late Carrie Fisher who said, "I like the truth in any form. It only bothers me if I'm asked the truth about other people, I cannot tell their truth. I will tell mine in any form."

    When it comes to severe autism, personal truths are hard to come by these days. The media tends to emphasize the small-victory stories like the spectrum boy whose 3-point shots brought his team to victory, the quirky, withdrawn young men who land specialty jobs at tech companies, or the troubled autistic girl belting out a holiday song on YouTube. And in advocacy circles, one is hardly allowed to mention the unremitting turmoil, exhaustion, and despair present in many autism homes without incurring the wrath of a militant minority that has anointed itself with the job to paint an infinitely rosy picture of this mysterious and often incapacitating brain disorder.

    But Valerie and Bruce Hall, a couple living in Southern California who have twin boys with severe autism, take the Carrie Fisher approach. Rather than trivializing or minimizing the tragic dimensions of their boys' disorders or pretending to speak for all with "autism," the talented duo steadfastly tell their own truth. And they tell it hard, in both words and pictures in this unusual large-format art book (it is a high-quality art book, which accounts for the unusually high price), acknowledging that autistic kids like theirs "generally do not make inspirational news stories." Bruce, a photographer who has been legally blind since birth, tells his truth in photographs, while Valerie, a gifted writer with a poetic bent, shares her painful reality in poignant prose accompanying the images. Read on...

  • Researchers create an app for the evaluation and treatment of social communication skills in children aged 3 to 12
  • Researchers at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have developed PleaseApp, an application that aims to evaluate, dynamically assess and treat pragmatic and social communication skills in children aged three to 12 using an attractive, playful and child-friendly environment.

    Researchers at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have developed PleaseApp, an application that aims to evaluate, dynamically assess and treat pragmatic and social communication skills in children aged three to 12 using an attractive, playful and child-friendly environment.

    The tool is intended for use by psychologists, speech therapists and other educational psychology specialists who work with children with developmental disorders, especially those facing pragmatic and social communication difficulties. The computer application has been registered and is ready for installation and use by Windows and Mac operating systems, pending a licensing agreement. Read on...

  • Family and Others Looking for Help!!!

  • Do you receive SSI? Don't miss out on food benefits!
    Beginning June 2019, many Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will become eligible for CalFresh Food Benefits.

    There is NO CHANGE or reduction to SSI/SSP amounts. For more information Click, Call or Come in to your county office to apply and find out more.

    Click GetCalFresh.org to apply online
    Call 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD)
    Come in/find an office at CalFreshFood.org


    San Diego Futures - I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of this organization because it can be a helpful resource to families in need of computers and other technology who may not have the resources they need to secure technology for their homes. If anyone needs a laptop or desktop and cannot afford one, please consider reaching out to this group. Desktops and laptops are available at VERY low prices for eligible families. https://sdfutures.org/for-individuals/


    Even though the doctor SSI sent us to for eligibility exam commented at the end of the exam that my 10 year old grandson would qualify based on the exam and his diagnosis of autism, my daughter received letter of denial. I think we may be beyond the 60 days to appeal. Looking for help to get thru the appeal process.
    Mary Ann Walker
    walkervc@msn.com



    If you have a question or request for this newsletter group, please send your email request to ValeriesList@aol.com. People who can help you will email you directly with their responses.

  • Transition Therapy
  • We Now Offer Telepractice Services!

    We Help People Who Have Social Challenges Navigate Life Through Engagement, Education, and Real World Experience.

    Our Social Learning sessions provide dynamic learning experiences and awareness building for young adults transitioning into self-sustainable and independent lifestyles.

    Transition Therapy
    P.O. Box 210606
    Chula Vista, CA 91921
    (619) 354-8806
    roseanne@transitiontherapy.org
    http://www.transitiontherapy.org

  • Understanding and Changing Behavior for Parents of Kids with Autism
  • Mon, June 29, 2020
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    Online Event


    The SDSU Center for Autism is committed to providing informational and skill-building workshops for our community. We are pleased to host our partner Speech Pathology Group for this great talk.

    Learner Outcomes:
    1) To develop strategies to prevent problem behavior.
    2) To develop strategies to prompt the use of communication and replacement behaviors.
    3) To develop strategies to strengthen positive behaviors and extinguish problem behaviors.

    Presenter: DeAnna M. Glass, M.Ed., BCBA

    Click here for all the info and to register for this FREE event!!!

  • Autism Experts Empowering Families and Children Together
  • AEFCT provides high quality services that are structured, comprehensive, and individualized. Our mission is to provide intervention to children with autism, putting the needs of each child first so that they are met fairly and appropriately. We use developmentally sound strategies supported by empirical evidence, combined with a team approach that involves family participation. Autism affects the entire family unit, and we recognize that parent education and participation are essential to achieve success.

    AEFCT
    4669 Murphy Canyon Rd.
    Suite 212, San Diego, CA 92123
    858.569.0056
    http://aefct.com

  • YouTube: Distance Learning and Advocacy
  • Yoshi Bauer, special education advocate, discusses how distance learning has been implemented, how you can improve services and accommodations during distance learning, and how to prepare for the fall IEP. Click here to view the presentation!!

  • 2020 Summer Online Groups
  • Our social learning groups are interactive, educational and fun! All summer groups will meet via Zoom. The last 15 minutes of every group are for parent talk time. This is when we teach you the concepts and strategies worked on during the group.

    Not sure which program is best for your child? Reach out to us at 858-558-9552 or email Janet Dudley at janet@socialcommunicationspecialists.com.

    Click here to view the entire flyer for all the info!!!!

    Social Communication Specialists
    5703 Oberlin Dr., Ste 207
    San Diego, CA 92121
    (858) 558-9552
    info@socialcommunicationspecialists.com
    https://socialcommunicationspecialists.com

  • FREE! Behavior Boot Camp for Dads
  • Sat, June 27, 2020
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Online Event


    The SDSU Center for Autism is committed to providing informational and skill-building workshops for our community. We are pleased to host our partner Gateway Learning Group for this great talk.

    Calling all dads! Would you like to learn how to participate in your child's treatments in a meaningful way? Please join us for Behavior Bootcamp - learn how to use behavioral strategies at home to bond with your child, support their goals and above all else, have fun! Click here for all the info and to RSVP!!!

  • Autism Research - Diet and Nutrition Interventions with Dr. Jim Adams
  • Dr. Jim Adams has a daughter with autism and it led him to do work on biological causes and treatments, as well as research emphasis on autism.

    Sign in and obtain the code to watch this presentation here!!!

  • Villa de Vida Summer Fun
  • To RSVP please email vdvsocialclub@villadevida.org
    https://villadevida.org
    Click here to sign up for their newsletter to receive all the info!!!

  • Programs That Offer Faith-Based Support
  • When Amanda Coleman responded to a friend's invitation to visit a faith-based program for families with special needs, she didn't know what to expect. Coleman, who doesn't consider herself religious, recognized the importance of finding support as she and her family waded through medical information, daily challenges, and discouraging discourse about her son's diagnosis. So, she decided to give it a try-and was pleasantly surprised.

    Coleman and her son received a warm welcome into a broad-based faith community that offers a variety of programs for families.

    "The medical stuff is so muddled and uncomfortable," Coleman says. "For parents finding themselves in that spot, the inclusivity and support are very appealing. Anyone can participate - whether you believe [in God] or don't. If you're having a tough time finding a niche, the faith community in San Diego offers many options." Click here for all the info!!!

  • Beacons Summer and Fall Workshop Information
  • Click here to read their latest newsletter for all the info about current and upcoming programs for adults with disabilities!!!

  • Certified Special Needs Quality Life Coach
  • Please feel free to contact me at specialneedslifecoachca@gmail.com; 831-295-0482; my website: specialneedslifeco.wixsite.com/website
    Here is a link to my webinar explaining the details of my services and ways to pay for a life coach.

  • Software for Professionals Working in Special Education
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    Are you still taking data by hand? Try SPERRO : A goal / data tracking software for the special education industry.

    Are you a school, NPA, NPS, therapist or professional supporting students with special needs? Taking data and running reports can be very time-consuming, but SPERRO made it easy! With SPERRO you can manage your team to take a wide variety of data points (IEP, therapy or academic, goals), graph them, show mastery, run reports for students, upload work samples, and have access to a resource database to streamline your business.

    Learn more and set up a demo at www.sperro.co.

  • Villa de Vida Social Club Activities
  • To RSVP please email vdvsocialclub@villadevida.org
    https://villadevida.org
    Click here to sign up for their newsletter to receive all the info!!!

  • June Resources for Special Families
  • Online IEP Parent Bootcamp
    Part 1: Beginners, 6/27/20, 10-12:00PM
    Part 2, Advanced, 7/11/20, 10-12:00PM
    Click here for all the info on the bootcamps and more!!!

  • ASD Mornings at the NAT

  • The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is pleased to offer a program for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community: a once-a-month ASD Morning in which the Museum opens early for adults and children on the autism spectrum and their families, friends, and caregivers. This innovative program encourages individuals to explore, play, and discover the treasures The Nat has to offer in an environment that is comfortable for them.

    ASD Mornings take place the second Sunday of every month. The Museum will open at 9 AM*, one hour earlier than its standard 10 AM opening time, providing a quiet and less-crowded environment for visitors to explore the Museum's galleries at their own pace. In addition, on ASD Mornings the Museum will offer a "quiet room" from 9 AM to noon if visitors need a quiet space to decompress or desensitize. General admission rates apply during ASD Mornings.

    www.sdnhm.org
    877.946.7797

  • Autism Accessibility Morning at the Fleet!

  • The third Saturday of every month, Fleet invites the Autism Spectrum Community to enjoy our museum through this special opportunity. Adults and families with children with autism can enjoy the Fleet's exhibit galleries in a quieter setting, an hour before regular open hours to the general public and with access to a special cool-off space. Visitors are welcome to stay and enjoy the museum all day. Admission includes a special IMAX film screening at 10 a.m. with the house lights on and a lower soundtrack volume.

    For more information, visit www.fleetscience.org/events/autism-accessibility-mornings.

  • Everyone Deserves a Loving Home
  • Contact Liane Wilson, Vice President of Community Services, for more information at 619-938-2889 or liane@guidinghands.org. www.guidinghands.org

  • Webinar: Learn About RDI with Kiki Haddad!

  • For questions please email emily@tagforgrowth.com or call 858-689-2027
    www.tagforgrowth.com

  • Webinar: Learn About RDI with Brooke Wagner

  • For questions please email emily@tagforgrowth.com or call 858-689-2027
    www.tagforgrowth.com

  • Toddler MRI Study at SDSU

  • Our Center's research arm, the Brain Development Imaging Labs, is conducting a fascinating study looking at how young children's brains change as they get older. We are looking for kids (15 months to 5 years old) who are on the spectrum or who are suspected to have autism. Participants get a free assessment (plus assessment summary), free MRI scan, $150, AND a free picture of their brain! For more info or to sign up, please call us at 619-594-2500 or email us at ToddlerMRIstudy@sdsu.edu. Thank you! http://autism.sdsu.edu

  • Older Adults with Autism (40-75 yrs old) Needed for Study

  • We are looking for older adults with autism (40-75 yrs old) to be in our brain imaging study! Anyone with a diagnosis or suspects that she or he has autism is invited to reach out to us. Participants receive a free assessment, free MRI brain scan, and around $150! If you know anyone who might be interested in this, please have them email ASDaging@mail.sdsu.edu or call us at 619-594-0176. Thank you! http://autism.sdsu.edu

  • Participate in a Study at Research on Autism and Development Laboratory at UCSD
  • SJSU Research Study Participants Needed

  • My research team and I are writing to let you know of an exciting opportunity for your online community to participate in a research study. The research study is looking at friendship quality, social participation, and social networks in young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We would like to understand the causes and impacts of social deficits in order to contribute to the development of social skills training programs for use with adolescents and young adults. This is our capstone project to partially fulfil our Master's degree, and the Principal Investigator (PI) of the study is Dr. Megan Chang at San Jose State University.

    We are recruiting individuals diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 18-35 who have adequate conversational skills. If you believe that your community may be interested in participating in this study or if you would like additional information, please contact myself at jessica.patterson@sjsu.edu. By volunteering, participants may benefit through reflection and may develop increased self-awareness.

  • SDSU Center for Autism Brain Study Needs Volunteers!

  • The SDSU Center for Autism is conducting a behavioral and brain imaging study with youth (7-21 years old) on the spectrum. We are trying to understand how the brain changes as children become young adults. Participants get a free assessment, a free MRI scan, about $150, and a free picture of their brain! If you are interested, call us at 619-594-0176, or email us at bdil@sdsu.edu. Thank you! http://autism.sdsu.edu

  • Volunteers Needed for Study!!!

  • My name is Thanh Nguyen and I am an occupational therapy student at San Jose State University. My group is conducting a cross-cultural (U.S. vs Taiwan) study, examining the differences in occupational participation of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at home, school and in the community. We are inviting participants who are parents or legal guardians of children with ASD, 9-12 years of age, in the United States to answer an anonymous online survey that takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. I would greatly appreciate if you can share this attached flyer in your newsletter so that anyone who is interested in participating in the study can help us fill out the survey.

    Here is the link to the survey:
    https://sjsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1LBak1TToSe1RTn
    Potential participants can also access the survey by scanning the QR code on the flyer.

  • Autism Resources Research

  • For more info please contact Elizabeth Sanchez Arvizu, M.A. at esanchez_arvizu@alliant.edu or (619) 356-1438.

    Survey here: https://alliant.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0rHNKaZGhNhCXAx

  • Autism Research Survey
  • Autism Research Survey - http://autismresearchstudy.com This research survey is conducted through Point Loma Nazarene University. Please share with both autistic adults over 18 years old and parents of children with autism, autistic parents with autistic children, verbal and nonverbal. #Autistic, Autism parents, Autism dad, Autism mom. The survey will take 10-20 minutes & your participation will affect the lives of children in many countries.

    The research is to understand the trajectories in the lives of individuals who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (formerly known as Pervasive Developmental Disorder). The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of those individuals in order to better inform current treatment practices and create recommendations for the treatments and therapies that will be used for the next generation of kids with autism.

    Please fill out our Autism Research survey and PLEASE SHARE with anyone who you know/think may be able to participate and contribute. Please make sure to make a recommendation at the end.

    *** Apologies to those who object to the term "person with autism" as opposed to an autistic person. All questions had to be approved by the IRB and as such had to follow medical guidelines.

    To participate click link http://autismresearchstudy.com

     
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    Disclaimer

    I never endorse anyone or anything. Opinions expressed in what I send out, may not be shared by me. Everything is for informational purposes only.
    People who "advertise" through this newsletter have never been checked out by me. Same goes for the "Sponsors". This includes professionals and even people who are interested in babysitting, etc. So, please take the time to thoroughly check out anyone and everyone who will be working with or caring for your child/adult. We are all sadly aware, through news stories and word of mouth, of people who prey upon special needs children and adults because of their extra vulnerability.

    Valerie Dodd-Saraf
    President, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.
    Owner/Editor ValeriesList.com

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