Education

 Child & Family Support 

Autism Awareness

A Community – University – Family – Professional Partnership

 Visit us at our website: www.sonoma.edu/autism

Proud Partners with Sonoma State University & California Parenting Institute

 Facilitated by Regina Marcheschi MSW 

Share experiences, needs and ideas with fellow parents in a safe nurturing environment.

 1st Thursday Morning

9 – 11 a.m.

 California Parenting Institute

(CPI)

3650 Standish Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

(707) 585-6108

RSVP & More Information:

Regina Marcheschi MSW

707-206-296

reginax59@gmail.com

Dr. Lorna Catford

707-664-2402

lorna.catford@sonoma.edu

Free Child Care & Refreshments at Group

Please RSVP to reserve your space

*SAVE THE DATE*

March 13th, 2012

Working Conference

Self Determination *

Standards-Based Conceptual Framework

Interagency Collaboration

Conversation with Employers

Problem Solving Local Issues

University of California, Davis -MIND Institute

2825 50th Street Sacramento, CA 95817

For more information: Wilbert Francis, UCLA Tarjan Center, wfrancis@mednet.ucla.edu, (310) 206-2626.

If I’m So Smart, Why is School So Hard??

 http://www.dcc-cde.ca.gov/asperger.html 

 By the time a student with Asperger Syndrome graduates from high school, they have asked themselves this question time and time again.  They know they are intelligent and can learn, but so much of what they experience is frustrating, confusing and downright difficult.  “Why is school so hard?”

 This set of videos was developed as a tool for general education teachers who have a student with Asperger Syndrome in their classrooms.  An understanding of the characteristics of Asperger Syndrome and strategies for intervention will assist both the teacher and the student. The information presented is specifically applicable to the elementary teacher, but much of the content would be appropriate for teachers of older learners as well.

 There are 8 videos, and they were designed to be used in any way that an individual teacher desires.  It is recommended that the first video be watched first as it includes all of the introduction and basic information.  If you are going to watch all of the videos, it is suggested that you watch them in order.

We welcome your ideas!!  After viewing, please forward comments to Carole Bence, Director, at cbence@dcc-cde.ca.gov

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 1% of children across the country have some form of autism — 20 times the prevailing figure in the 1980s. The increase has stirred fears of an epidemic and mobilized researchers to figure out what causes the brain disorder and why it appears to be affecting so many more children.

Two decades into the boom, however, the balance of evidence suggests that it is more a surge in diagnosis than in disease. The Times explored the phenomenon and its repercussions. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/autism/

Parents of Children with Autism Needed for Research Study!
Students at California State University Northridge are conducting a study on families affected by autism and the services they receive. If you are willing to help, see the flyer — the survey is online and only takes 20 minutes!

New Resource Guide for Services for Asperger’s Syndrome and High Functioning Autism!
The Marin Autism Collaborative’s Youth Sub-Committee teamed up this year with a wonderful group of occupational therapy students at Dominican University who did a comprehensive review of services for individuals with Asperger’s and HFA. They produced a guide of providers who serve this group. These resources will be integrated into the MAC resource directory in the coming weeks.

Every April we recognize National Autism Awareness Month and the special challenges faced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). CDC estimates that an average of 1 in 110 children in the U.S. have an ASD. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we continue to strive to meet the complex needs of all people with ASD and their families.

ASD symptoms range from mild to severe and the condition may pose significant communication and behavioral challenges. There is no cure, but we know that early intervention can greatly improve a child’s development. The first three years are particularly critical. That’s why we are educating more health professionals to recognize the signs and symptoms early, so children can get treatment when it is most likely to be effective.

Last year, we established a new national resource and information center to provide information on community-based services and interventions for people with ASD and their families. Last month, we announced a new website that provides job skills training for high school graduates who have ASD or other disabilities. New research funds are being used to deepen our understanding of ASD, test innovative treatments, study genes associated with ASD, and explore the needs of the growing number of adults with ASD.

The Affordable Care Act, the health care law signed a year ago by President Obama, will help ease the financial burden that often comes with treating and caring for people with ASD. The law requires new plans to cover autism screening and developmental assessments for children at no cost to parents, and allows parents to keep their children on their family health insurance until they turn 26. Insurers will also no longer be allowed to deny children coverage for a pre-existing condition such as ASD or to set arbitrary lifetime or annual limits on benefits.

This April, and all year, let us reflect on this urgent public health challenge and rededicate ourselves to addressing the needs of people and families with ASD.

For more information on the Department’s efforts regarding ASD, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/autism/ or http://www.healthcare.gov/foryou/family/soon/index.html