Notes from Youth Autism Break Out Session: Karen Kaplan & Angela Barker

The following ideas came from the Youth Age Break-out Session for future goals for the Youth Autism Sub Committee:
• Address Bullying issues in our public schools: Inspire/develop trainings for school administrators/teachers
• Research the work of Kid Power an East Bay based organization: A Kid empowerment for safety program and bring to Marin County ASD children
• ASD students need typical peer mentors on our playgrounds to help them learn to play. Use High school students who need services hours
• Identify ways to get the Marin Autism Lecture Series information to public school teachers. (videoing or offering during public school training days)
• Add ASD to diversity/disability school training
• Create innovative ways to build in social training during school or after school hours (Outside providers provide after school groups on public school sites or middle school and high schools offering a social skills course each day for ASD students right on site (like study skills class))
• Identify ways to connect families with children together with other children with similar interests. (Create a data base on unique interests of children) Matrix, DSE, GGRC might be ways to connect families.
• Identify ways to help families re-locating to Marin identify appropriate schools and services (re-locating services)
• Identify ways to offer teen workshops on dating, appropriate touching etc
• Identify ways to provide buddy programs at all levels of public school education
• Identify ways to develop positive social community events for ASD children (museums, movies etc)