UM-NSU CARD: Week of March 23, 2009

[Guest guest]

Subject: Fwd: UM-NSU CARD: Week of March 23, 2009To: amazingones@..., craig@..., jaime.morales@..., JoiMejia@..., lisamarie7567@..., madmc01@..., manny@..., nmccarthy26@..., "Belkis Almeida" , "Billie " , "Bobalandia@..." , "Caroline Barta" , " Susskind" , " Larson" , " " , " " , "Constantina Gallins"

, "Darci Stranton" , "Debi London" , " Crosnick" , "'s List" , " Heileman" , "Edelyne Dorsainval" , "beth Weinstein" , " l" , "Ellen Blanco" , "Ellen Goldstein" , "Eneida Medina" , " Cohane" , " M. Grigull" , "Ginger " , "heather brody" , "Ida Kessler" , "Ingrid Bianco"

, "Iroko@..." , "Ivan Baratz" , "Jada Law " , "Jaquel Uribazo" , "Jayne Borenstein" , "Joann & Brad Beckman" , "Juli Hirsh" , "Kalebra " , " Busch" , "Kesha Redd" , " Prado" , " Stumacher" , " Walther Austin" , "Lizette "

, "Lori Benvenisty" , "Lori Sugar" , "Luanda Benitez" , "Luz MarinaT Sementilli" , "M Backer" , " Wintrode" , "Marie ph" , "Marisa Whiteaker" , " Sotelo" , " Deis" , "Meredity McClearyKroll" , "Meryl Sherris" , " Montagna" , "Mwhiteaker3@..." , " Giovanniello" , "Nathalie

" , "Norm Marzan" , " Parra" , "Pawinee Nonieal" , "Rasha El-Kasry" , "Ruth Goldman" , "Sonya Korr" , "Stacey Hoaglund" , " McLane" , " " , "Steve Ostroff" , "Suzin Letourneau" , "Terri Shermett Snipes" , "Tim Arnwine" , "Virginia Rojas" , " Carroll" , "Ysela Heim"

, " " , "Zahira " Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

For your information and sharing.

---------- Forwarded message ----------Date: Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 1:13 PMSubject: UM-NSU CARD: Week of March 23, 2009To: card@...

NEXT WEEK AT

March 23, 2009

UM-NSU CARD: Broward S..O.F.A. Group

(NSU Satellite)

Facilitator: Roselione

Time: 6:45 pm – 9:15 pm

For more information please contact at: or lezonne@...

March 24, 2009

UM-NSU CARD: Support Group for Adults with Asperger Syndrome

(UM Campus)

Facilitators: Diane Adreon & Deborah Chin

Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

For more information please contact at: or mlisdegasperi@...

March 25, 2009

UM-NSU CARD: Asperger Support Group for Families

(UM Campus)

Facilitator: Diane Adreon

Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

For more information please contact at: or dadreon@...

March 26, 2009

UM-NSU CARD: Special Gals: GAL TIME

Facilitators: Mona Nasser and Dr. Terri Jennings

Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Broward Mall

For more information please contact at: (Mona) or tjenn89112@... (Terri)

Underwriting Opportunities are still available!

Thanks to our 2009 Sponsors and Underwriters

the 7th Annual Tropical Nights event is now SOLD OUT!

Stay informed about CARD news, community activities and events, family and professional workshops and conferences, and other important information.

http://www.umcard.org/files/Newsletter.pdf

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The Autism Spectrum Assessment Clinic (ASAC),

located in Coral Gables, Florida, provides comprehensive psychological evaluations to children and adults to investigate the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purposes of the evaluation are to determine current level of functioning, clarify diagnosis, and provide treatment recommendations. ASAC includes a team of highly experienced professionals who specialize in diagnosing or ruling out ASDs, including clinical and school psychologists, doctoral level psychology students, behavior analysts, and consulting clinicians from CARD who assist in the assessment process and who ensure that individuals diagnosed with autism and their families are connected to CARD services and supports. State-of-the-art assessment measures, such as the

ADOS and ADI-R are used in ASAC evaluations.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call

or visit our website at www.psy.miami.edu/asac

_____________________________________________________________________________________

ANNUAL SERVICE AWARDS

Please Consider Nominating Someone for a UM-NSU CARD Award!

Deadline is March 31st

Here’s your chance to nominate someone who has been of exceptional help to a child/children with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities! Each year UM-NSU offers awards for the following categories:

Outstanding Educator of the Year

Outstanding Clinician of the Year

Outstanding Community Service

Outstanding Student Volunteer(s)

If you know an educator (special education teacher, general education teacher, para-professional, administrator), clinician (therapist, counselor, occupational therapist, psychologist, speech & language therapist, behavior analysts, etc.), advocate (volunteer or paid), or student volunteer(s) (high school or college students) who have done something exceptional to help students with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities, here’s your chance to recognize their outstanding work!

The nomination process is simple.

Please click here to nominate someone NOW!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

presentsIsabel Lara, PT, SIPT cert. #7888 Program Director of the Jumpstart Program at The Children's Experience LaraExecutive Director of the Jumpstart Program at The Children's Experience JUMPSTART A Sensory Integration Group Therapy Program, utilizing a Sensory Integration approach to Occupational, Physical, Speech/Language and Behavior modification therapies. The Concept

To add dynamics into Physical, Cognitive, and Social settings, therefore igniting and reinforcing the keys to learning.

What is a Sensory Integration approach and why is it vital to access the neurological process involved in developmental learning?

March 24, 20097:00 - 9:00 p.m.

UM-NSU CARDCenter for Autism and Related Disabilities 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Room 201

RSVP by March 23rd to Lis at

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

INSPIRED BY AUTISM

Everyone has a day, a moment in life, that they can call “life altering.†It can be

anything from a person they meet to having a near death experience. Mine happened to

be a summer surf camp. Now this wasn’t any ordinary surf camp, it was a surf camp for

children with autism. It was my first time coming in contact with children on the

spectrum on a one-on-one basis as well as working with professionals that have had years

of experience in this field. Three people were the cause for this life altering event in my

life and it is because of them that I know in my heart that I was meant to make a

difference in the lives of these exceptional children.

Upon training for this camp I met two young women, Mari and , who I can

basically call one because they’re always in rhythm with everything they do. These

women are two of the most generous and patient people I have ever met. They are the

staff I worked in collaboration with from UM-NSU CARD, which is a program that helps

families with kids with autism and other related disabilities. These girls took the time to

train me on everything they knew in a limited amount of time and more. In exchange I

gave them the total dedication to the kids and full interest in the program and learning as

much as I could. Before, during and even after the camp they stayed in touch and

continued to teach me everything they possibly could. It is Mari and who

introduced me to the highlight of my life: exceptional education.

One of our sponsors, a proud parent and the President of the Autism Society

Miami Dade Chapter, Becerra, has made an indescribable impact on my life. Her

son attended our surf camp and while there she showed me what it was to have such a

wonderful child. She showed me all the support and love it takes to work one on one,

everyday, with these kids. She taught me how to handle situations, how to interact with

the kids, how to get responses, anything you can think of she has taught me. She even set

me up with everything I will need to do when it comes to school. Knowing the hard

work, time, patience and most of all love that goes into these children and then actually

witnessing the incredible results you get in return has made me fall completely head over

heels with working with children with special needs. She invites me to all her Autism

Society meetings and is constantly filling me in on anything I should be doing in order to

prepare myself. She has given me the gift of confidence that I need to pursue my career.

During this camp, there was one amazing child that I will never forget. His name

is and he is my living, breathing reason as to why I desire so badly to work with

these children. He is ’s son; he is twelve years old and he is Severe in the Autism

Spectrum, has Encephalopathy, Seizure Disorder, and OCD and he couldn’t be anymore

perfect! He has the biggest heart you will ever come across and as he gets older he just

gets sweeter and sweeter. No matter what he faces he always has a smile on his face and

is always willing to share his hugs and his love. Over the past year I have watched him

grow, develop more, and become even sweeter than before. I cannot explain the feeling I

get from seeing him so happy. Kids like him should inspire everyone not only to teach or

become involved with kids of any kind, but to appreciate life and to be just happy.

In no way do I doubt how much I have changed this past year because of Mari

and , Becerra and of course the one and only . The amount of

knowledge and experience I have gained working with UM-NSU CARD, the Autism

Society and these wonderful kids is just overwhelming. Not a day goes by that I can’t

think of one reason why I shouldn’t be pursuing the career of working with children with

Autism and related disabilities. I love all these people from the depths of my heart and

soul and couldn’t possibly thank them enough. I know this is my life. It is what I was

meant to do and I couldn’t be more ready to move forward.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Research Participants Needed for a Study on:

The Effects of Locus of Control and Family Dynamics on Stress Experienced by Parents of Children with Autism

Researchers have suggested that high levels of stress are associated with taking care of a child with autism. Research has also shown that there are several possible negative effects on the parents’ mental health, marriage, and social interactions. However, locus of control and the way a family deals with stressful conditions has been demonstrated to mediate the effects of the situation on parents of children with varying disabilities. There is a need for a more in-depth understanding of how certain personality traits and family factors contribute to the amount of stress that is encountered by parents of children with autism. Therefore, the intent of the proposed study is to further the understanding of the factors that contribute to stress and the aspects of the parents’ lives that might reduce negative outcomes.

Participation is entirely online and requires about 45 minutes of your time to complete the survey. Interested participants can follow the link below to complete the survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ykDuT3c8SbfJJBiAwzuiQA_3d_3d

For more information on this project please contact Scot Rademaker, M.S. at his Barry University email: scot.rademaker@...

Barry University IRB # 090205

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Together… You & Me

Engage your child and share the moment

“Important elements of intervention programs for preschool children with autism include a focus on the development of pragmatic and functional communication skills (whether verbal or non-verbal), joint engagement and joint social activities, promotion of emotional engagement and regulation, and helping parents to manage behavioral tantrums and maladaptive routines.†(Charman, T., Autism & Its Impact on Child Development, Institute of Child Health, UK. Published online Sept. 16, 2005)

What:

Interactive program for 2 year olds

Focus:

Modeling strategies for increasing social engagement & joint attention

between parents and toddlers

Time:

10:00 –11:00 a.m.

When:

8 sessions total, 2 sessions per week

(Training session for parents takes place prior to start of group)

Tuesday April 14

Thursday April 16

Tuesday April 21

Thursday April 23

Tuesday April 28

Thursday April 30

Tuesday May 5

Thursday May 7

Location:

NSU CARD Office

Facilitator:

Lori Wise

Cost:

FREE

To Register:

Call

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Save the Dates: April 1st & 2nd!

Celebrate Autism Awareness month with us in Tallahassee! Innagural TallahasseeWalk for Autism April 2nd, 2009.

Join Lt. Governor Kottkamp and his wife for the inaugural Tallahassee Walk for Autism on April 2, 2009. Registration begins at 8:00 AM and the walk starts at 9:00 AM.

We will be walking from the FSU Law School to the Old Capitol. Governor Charlie Crist will be holding a news conference at 10:00 AM in front of the Old Capitol. The walk will benefit the Autism Society of America, State of Florida chapter and FSU (CARD) Center for Autism & Related Disabilities.

Email any questions, suggestions, or comments to TallahasseeWalkForAutism@...

www.autismfl.com

The Tallahassee Comedy Zone to host comedy fundraiser on the evening of Wednesday April 1st.

Proceeds to benefit

the FSU CARD (Center for Autism & Related Disabilities.)

Visit www.autismfl.com for more information.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Click on the image for more information

*If you would like to be added to our email list, please click here: http://www.umcard.org/contact.php. If you would like to be removed from our email list, please notify here: jamunoz@...

UM-NSU CARD is a state-funded resource and support program dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and related disabilities including deaf-blindness and pervasive developmental disorders. UM-NSU CARD does not endorse specific programs or points of view presented in this email.-- ACE Chair