The Early Years Break-out Session at the MAC Annual Meeting focused on what goals the Early Years group should focus on for the next year. The minutes are below.

Goals for the Early Years Sub-Committee

Through our collaborative efforts, the Early Years Subcommittee will develop and implement the following Strategies:

2008-2010
* Educate the local community about autism, and help provide information, referral and context for empirically evaluating controversial claims regarding causes and treatment
* Educate parents about developmental warning “flags”, and help them be effective advocates with their physicians and other service providers
* Educate physicians and other medical professionals about autism, to ensure prompt, effective screening, diagnosis and referral for treatment
* Ensure early, intensive intervention for children with autism before age three
* Ensure that we have a “system of care” in place for all people with autism, regardless of income level, ethnicity, language, and literacy
* Develop culturally sensitive strategies for outreach and education in diverse multi-ethnic and low income communities (for example, “mentores” – paraprofessional members of the community, who talk to parents; written information in English and Spanish; videotaped information in English and Spanish; pictorial information; website information in English and Spanish)
* Ensure continuity of care across the spectrum of age, ASD diagnoses/eligibility criteria, and systems of funding and care

2010-2011
* Continue to educate the professional community especially physicians and nurses on autism and related disorders and the importance of early screening and diagnosis
* Outreach to the Spanish community through bi-national health fairs
* Meet quarterly with other birth to 5 groups to improve collaboration to benefit consumers
* Continue to update the MAC website
* Link families with support groups hosted by MATRIX or other organizations in the community

Participant Input from Early Years Sub Committee- MAC Annual Meeting
March 6, 2010

• A therapeutic component for preschoolers with EBD/SED
• Explore why eligibility changes from ASD to Speech & Language delays when transitioning from Part C to Part B
• Explore creative ways to link service providers to families and families to providers
• Insurance issues
• Outreach to Waldorf and charter schools

Great resource for families, residential schools, and homes.

Safe and Sound Program

Medicalert Safe and Sound Program

Karen Kaplan
Consultant
karensupportsu@comcast.net
415-497-3751

Connecting People to Resources: An Information and Resource Fair for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Rafael, on the campus of Dominican University, an 11 year old boy with Autism put on his volunteer badge and with a little support from a volunteer from Wells Fargo Bank walked from vendor to vendor (50 of them) introducing himself and requesting their business cards.

Jacob had his own business card collection but on this day he was collecting an additional card for a special drawing. With an occasional reminder to make eye contact before greeting someone, extending his handshake and saying thank you after receiving someone’s card, Jacob connected to over 100 people in the room.

Then with the same spirit, of Johnny Carson greeting his guests, Jacob announced the 4 door prize winners and raised both his hands over his head verbally cheering them for their success at winning the door prize.

Then there were the half a dozen teens from Autistry Studios, a non profit helping teens and young adults with HFA and Asperger become successfully independent by leveraging their interests and talent, eagerly explaining their artistic and creative constructions to the fair’s attendees. They were so eager to explain how they planned, designed and created these detailed miniatures in their workshop.

Finally there was Julia, an 11 year old student with Asperger, who gladly wore her volunteer badge and helped out in the child care room, playing with younger ASD children, whose parents or grandparents were attending one of the workshops offered that day.

Ten workshops, attended by a total of 123 participants, (parents, grandparents, teachers and colleges students) provided solutions to many core challenges facing children, teens and adults with ASD; sleeping issues, sensory problems, bio medical, the IEP process, special needs trusts and long term financial planning, preparing teens to work and playing.

To top that off students from Sonoma State University and Dominican University attended workshops and volunteered in fair activities. How perfect that our FUTURE teachers, therapists, administrators and parents were already learning about effective interventions for ASD.

The event was a success for so many and I am proud to have played a role in creating, developing and implementing such a beneficial event. The greatest gifts were the smiles on Jacob and Julia’s face, as they placed their volunteer badges around their necks and felt part of the community and the delight in the eyes of their moms.

by Karen Kaplan, Fair Director

Cal-TASH has issued a call for papers for its 28th Annual Cal-TASH Conference & Meeting: Equity, Opportunity, and Inclusion for People with Disabilities. The conference will be March 5 & 6 2010. Proposals are due October 31, 2009.

The recent legislative changes to the Lanterman Act and Early Start greatly affect the ASD community. Please see the attached flyer for a great summary of the changes prepared by Area Board 5.

PediaVision has a new tool to make eye exams easier for children with autism. For more information, see this article.

Check out this article published by the Autism Society of America.