Fitness First and Project TEAM to Continue Under Auspices of HCAS

Perspectives
Winter 2009 / Volume 16, No. 1
Fitness First and Project TEAM to Continue Under Auspices of HCAS
By Beth Benevides Hill
Two successful pilot programs, Fitness
First and Project T.E.A.M. (Together
Everyone Achieves More) have been
renewed by the Howard County Autism Society for 2009. Previously
funded by grants from the Ravens
Foundation and the Horizon Foundation respectively, these programs now
will be fully funded by HCAS.
In announcing open enrollment for
Fitness First, HCAS Executive Director Kim Manning expressed her excitement that this program and Project
T.E.A.M. were renewed by the HCAS
Board of Directors.
“I am delighted that we are able to
sustain these much-enjoyed and truly
beneficial programs for our families,”
said Manning. “Pilots are meant to
create new opportunities and „test the
waters.‟ We did that in 2008 and were
overwhelmed by the positive feedback
from participants. Our Board was very
receptive to that.”
Fitness First
Fitness First brings together individuals with autism and their families
once a month to enjoy various exercise
activities at the Columbia Gym in
River Hill. HCAS will pay the rental
fee for the gym and provide healthy
snacks at the end of each session.
Jimmy Peters enthusiastically agreed
to continue coaching this program.
Peters is a county resident who
coaches basketball and baseball for
area leagues and is an umpire for semiprofessional baseball. Each month, he
plans activities and leads participants in
running exercises, basketball drills,
rollerboard races, stretching, and much
more. After 45 minutes of gym activities, he leads families to the much
anticipated „swimming session.‟
In addition to Peters, several other
friendly volunteers—mostly high
school and college students—assist
participants with exercise activities
and basic socialization skills. Lynn
Frost, an adaptive PE teacher with
the county school system, also lends
her expertise to the program.
New to Fitness First is a minidance session. Rohini Bhatia, a
senior at Centennial High School
and a member of the Best Buddies
program, will offer a new music and
movement opportunity at Fitness
First. Bhatia and four other peer
mentors from Best Buddies will
direct families in stretching, free
movement exercises, and a choreographed 60-second dance.
Fitness First takes place the third
Saturday of every month, from 7:009:00pm. HCAS members interested
in participating can download the
application at www.howardautism.org or contact the office for
information.
Project T.E.A.M.
Project T.E.A.M. was piloted last
year at three county high schools—
Centennial, Howard, and Oakland
Mills. The purpose of T.E.A.M. is to
help students with developmental disabilities become engaged in extracurricular and afterschool activities. It
pairs students with disabilities with
student mentors and provides resources so that together these teens can
participate in activities, such as school
plays, sporting events, homecoming,
after school clubs, and fundraisers.
In addition to extracurricular activities, Project T.E.A.M. hosts workshops about such topics as selfdetermination, setting attainable goals,
using person-first language, employment opportunities, and social skills.
“As these young people become engaged in the greater community of
their school campus, they feel a
broader sense of acceptance,” said
Manning. “Being a part of things naturally leads to a more positive attitude
about the school experience.”
In 2009, Project T.E.A.M. will be
coordinated solely at Howard High.
Howard County
Autism Society
10280 Old Columbia Rd, Suite 215
Columbia, MD 21046
410.290.3466
www.howard-autism.org
2009 Board of Directors
President
Beth Benevides Hill
Vice-President
Cynthia Schwanz
Treasurer
Patrick Boxall
Secretary
Lori Krausz
Immediate Past President
Stephanie Maric
Members at Large
Pamela Beck
Deborah Clutts
Ruth Huffman
Elaine McAuliffe
Roger Miles
Marianne Ross
Louann Maimone Spring
Dena Taylor
Madhu Thibaudeau
Cheri Truett
Asperger’s Liaison
Elaine McAuliffe
.................
Annual Gala Tickets Go On Sale
Tickets to the much-awaited, highlyanticipated, most-enjoyable night of
the HCAS-year are now on sale!
The Fourth Annual Pieces of the
Puzzle Gala will be held Saturday,
April 25th. This evening of dinner,
dancing, silent and live auctions, fun,
friendship, and celebration begins at
7:00pm and ends at midnight.
The annual Pieces of the Puzzle
Gala is the largest fundraiser of the
year for the Howard County Autism
Society. Funds generated at this
event directly support the daily
operations of the Resource Center
and contribute to the services
and programs offered to HCAS
membership.
The gala will return to the beautiful Ten Oaks Ballroom after much
applause from last year‟s guests
about the venue, food stations, and
festive atmosphere. Ticket prices
remain the same as last year, at $100
per person.
To purchase tickets:
Online~ www.howard-autism.org
Phone~ 410-290-3466
Mail~ HCAS, Attn: Gala
10280 Old Columbia Road, Suite 215
Columbia, MD 21046
Executive Director
Kim Manning
Director of Development
Ginny Bickell
Administrative Assistant
Ayana Carr Rodgers
Bookkeeper
Dana Riley
................
Perspectives: The Newsletter of the
Howard County Autism Society is
published quarterly. Articles represent the views of the authors and
not necessarily those of the Howard
County Autism Society. The publication of advertisements does not
indicate any endorsement by HCAS.
No article may be reproduced without written permission from HCAS,
which copyrights this publication.
2
Gala Sponsors and Auction
Donors Needed
HCAS is actively seeking sponsors
and auction donations for the Fourth
Annual Pieces of the Puzzle Gala.
Many sponsorship opportunities
exist, from donor ($500) to title
sponsor ($15,000). Please contact
Ginny Bickell, Director of Development, at gbickellHCAS@yahoo.com
or 410-290-3466 for more information. To donate items to the silent
or live auction, please contact
Lori Krausz at 410-995-4981 or
auction@howard-autism.org.
PERSPECTIVES
Winter 2009
News from Executive Director Kim Manning
Happy New Year!
There is something about buying a new desk calendar that re-energizes
me! I‟m a big coffee drinker (and spiller), so by December I have stains all
over my desk calendar and the thought of smooth, bright white pages is
really exciting. I also make a kind of „mental switch‟ in January that makes
me very hopeful about the year ahead. There‟s nothing like a new year
filled with new possibilities and opportunities.
We certainly have some challenges we are all facing in 2009, but at the
same time we, at the Howard County Autism Society, are excited about
the opportunities in front of us to make a difference in advocacy, education, support, and services within our community.
We are truly going to be stepping up our advocacy efforts on behalf of
our individuals with autism. I am now serving on a state-wide Educational
Advocacy Committee chaired by the Maryland Disability Law Center. My
presence at the meetings of this committee ensures that our voice is heard
by the Maryland State Department of Education on issues related to
special education and autism.
We are also becoming more actively involved in the “End the Wait
Now!” Campaign. Look for updates on the campaign via our newsletter
and the yahoo group. With so many of our local families on the DDA
Waiting List for Community Services (which currently stands at 18,750
applicants), I encourage all members to support this campaign. You can
make a difference with legislators! Please visit www.endthewaitnow.com
for the latest information.
As well, we will be representing your concerns and needs related to
the autism insurance legislation being introduced in the upcoming legislative session.
Furthering our local advocacy efforts, we will continue to be active in
developing partnerships with organizations and businesses that serve our
families, cultivating opportunities for trainings on autism, and exploring
lifespan issues with local agencies.
We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Julie Foley and Kim
McKay of Parents for Parents in seeking continuation funding for the
Family Advocacy and Parent Education (FAPE) grant. Visit the Parents
for Parents website at www.parentsforparents.org to stay up to date on
parent training and resources that they offer.
As we begin this new year, please stay in contact with us and let us
know how we can serve your needs. We strive to be responsive to the
issues that are important to you and your family. It goes without saying
that even in these tough economic times, autism is not experiencing a
“recession.” So our work continues as does our unwavering commitment
to be your voice in Howard County.
~Kim Manning
Winter 2009
PERSPECTIVES
HCAS Gratefully
Acknowledges Our
2009 Annual Campaign
Donors
Cassandra & Dane Bates
Benedict & Slack CPA’s
Sue Bentivenga
Jim & Kathleen Bovard
Amanda Cheong
John & Debbie Clutts
Kristen Detwiler
Martha DiIenno
Allison Fedarko
Frank Feng
Andy & Christi Hanks
David & Mary Hepple
Bill & Beth Hill
William & Ruth Hill
Lisa Hussman
Debang Lao
Matthew & Marita Lesho
Joe & Maryjean Mazzafro
John M. McGough
Jennifer Meade
Bill Moss
Bernadette Olean
Elaine Persons
Jane Plapinger
Burton & Arlene Robins
Paul & Norma Sesto
Sara Sommerville
Gary & Judy Terle
Pat Timm
Steve & Pam Wagner
Trenarda Winston
It’s never too late to
contribute to the Howard
County Autism Society!
See membership/donation
form on page 15 or
www.howard-autism.org
3
Planning for the Future: Basics of a Special Needs Trust
By Alisa Kobrinetz Chernack, Esquire
__________________________________________________________________
As I sit at my computer the day
before this article is due, an example of procrastination at its finest, I
am making a mental list of all the
menial tasks that I need to accomplish for my family by the end of
the week. However, the list seems
to pale in comparison to the myriad
of issues that need to be addressed
for our son, age five, who has autism. The job of planning for our
son‟s future, including our estate
planning, is just one more important item to add to the list. It surely
does not seem as critical as deciding
which speech therapist our son
should see or what goals need to be
added to his IEP. In evaluating
with my husband of what OUR
goals are for our son, we need to
evaluate whether our son would
need the protection of a trust to
manage assets that we will leave
him upon our death or that he may
inherit from our parents. This
would include life insurance proceeds or any other asset available to
secure his future.
It is very difficult to envision
what my son‟s future will look like
15 years from now. I have no idea
if he will be able to go to college,
hold a job, or need public benefits.
For example, I will need to determine if he would be eligible for
Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits—federal benefits for
individuals who qualify as aged,
blind, or disabled—once I can
no longer cover him on our health
insurance. Since SSI eligibility provides a monthly stipend, in addition
to health insurance, I will need to
make sure that he only has countable assets that are within the
4
resource limit, currently $2,000.
(There are other resources that a
recipient may own, such as a
home, which is excluded from
this figure.) In addition, he may
need other government-funded
supports, such as residential, vocational and supported employment, which require that he have
assets below a certain amount.
The goal in planning for a child
who qualifies as being disabled is
to keep him from losing government-funded benefits if he receives an inheritance and/or a
malpractice settlement.
My goal here is to provide a
basic understanding of a special
needs trust and a Maryland Discretionary Trust, and to facilitate
discussion within your family
about the steps that may need to
be taken to plan for your child‟s
future.
WHAT IS A TRUST?
A trust is a legal instrument
that allows a grantor, such as a
parent or grandparent, who owns
an asset to convey the asset to a
trust for the benefit of another
individual, known as a beneficiary.
In certain circumstances, such as
a malpractice settlement, the
funds to be transferred to a trust
belong to a beneficiary who is already receiving public benefits.
The trust document is required
to be in writing, to be signed by
the grantor, and to be accepted by
the named trustee. The grantor
names a trustee, and commonly a
successor trustee, to carry out the
PERSPECTIVES
grantor‟s wishes as to how the assets will be used for the benefit of
the beneficiary, your child. The selection of a trustee is crucial and
sometimes a very difficult decision
to make. Some consider using a
bank as a trustee for various reasons. However, many banks will
not accept the duty if the value of
the trust is minimal. It is important
to discuss the selection of trustee
with the person(s) you wish to
name to ensure that they are willing
to take on the job. It is not an easy
job and they need to know what it
entails and the resources available
to them should they have any questions.
Rules regarding distribution
The trust terms will define how
the trust funds may be used and for
whose benefit. The trust also sets
forth what happens to the funds
once the beneficiary dies. Parents
need to outline where they want the
funds to go if their child dies without using up the trust. In creating a
special needs trust or discretionary
trust, it is crucial to make sure that
the beneficiary lacks access to the
funds that would render him or her
ineligible for public benefits.
The primary goal of the trust is
to pay for incidentals that would
not otherwise be available to the
beneficiary when he or she is a recipient of government benefits. For
example, you might like your child
to go on vacation or receive computer training that costs more than
the $2,000 resource limit, but there
is no other resource to pay for
(continued on next page)
Winter 2009
Planning for the
Future
(continued from previous page)
The trust would provide for the
trustee to make such payment
from the trust funds directly to
the provider, without jeopardizing
your child‟s entitlement to public
benefits.
Funding of the Trust
Careful consideration should be
made as to what assets will be
placed into the trust. For example,
a grandparent wants to leave a
grandchild a house but does not
leave the grandchild any other assets to maintain the house. This
poses a practical problem of how
the beneficiary can afford to maintain the house without liquid assets.
Another manner to fund a trust
is by way of life insurance. In this
instance, the life insurance contract
would name the “Trust of (the
child‟s name)” as the beneficiary
and not the child. Once again, the
correct beneficiary designation is
crucial to avoiding a loss in public
benefits.
The Parent University Opens
Did someone ever give you advice or guide you to just the right
resource that made all the difference in your family‟s life? Did a
friend, neighbor, or family member help you along the way? Do
you wish you could „pay it forward‟ or give back to other parents?
If so, then Parent University is for you!
Parents for Parents, a cross-disability parent support organization, is building a parent-to-parent network of individuals willing
to work with other families. Called “support parents,” these individuals will provide families with information, connect families to
resources, and attend IEP meetings. You don‟t have to know
everything already—Parents for Parents provides the training
at the Parent University. You just need a desire to help other
families!
Co-founders Julie Foley and Kim McKay will match you with
families that can use your experience and expertise. Are you an
elementary school family who just finished the RECC program
and could help another RECC family? Are you now in middle
school?—perhaps you could help a family thru the often daunting
and scary transition from elementary school to middle
school? Are you a veteran family that has high school experience
to share? Families of all ages and disabilities, and all areas of the
county, are needed. It is a unique opportunity to become involved
and active, on your time and your schedule.
Parent University trainings will begin in March. They are
funded by the Family Advocacy and Parent Education (FAPE)
Program Grant awarded to the Howard County Autism Society
by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services.
To learn more about the trainings or the parent-to-parent
network, contact Julie Foley at julie@parentsforparents.org,
Kim McKay at kim@parentsforparents.org, or call 410-465-1193.
Alisa Kobrinetz Chernack, Esquire,
practices law in Ellicott City. She can be
reached at alisachernack@verizon.net
and 410-750-6112.
Maryland Biomedical Group Meets Monthly in Columbia
The Maryland Biomedical Group meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:00pm at the Faulkner Ridge Center
in Columbia. On February 5, 2009, guest speaker Debbie McCabe will speak about IV Chelation. This parent
group offers support and information to families in the state of Maryland using biomedical and alternative healing
therapies for autism and related disorders.
For more information please contact Jennifer Palmer at jenn_palmer@comcast.net or Remy Nirschl at
mrnirschl@gmail.com. The group maintains a listserv on yahoogroups.com called “Maryland_biomedical.”
Winter 2009
PERSPECTIVES
5
Project Lifesaver
Enrollment Opportunities
Stephanie Maric, J.D.
301-379-9493
Long & Foster – Columbia
10805 Hickory Ridge Road
Direct: 301-379-9493
Office: 410-715-2721
The Howard County Autism
Society and the county police
department jointly sponsor
Project Lifesaver, a tracking
program that uses radio technology to locate vulnerable
children and adults who wander.
Enrollment in Project Lifesaver is
currently free to individuals with
autism. Several locator wristbands
are still available.
If you would like more information or an application, please
contact HCAS at 410-290-3466 or
email info@howard-autism.org.
More information on Project
Lifesaver can be found at
www.projectlifesaver.org.
email:
stephanie.maric@longandfoster.com
DONATION COMMITMENT:
I will donate $250 to the
Howard County Autism Society for every
member referral that results in a sale!
(I’ll up that to $500 if I sell your home and
help you buy a new home)
Bowling League
Proud Parent and HCAS Board Member
JOIN THE FUN ON SUNDAYS!
Mt. Airy Lanes welcomes individuals with special needs and
their families to its Sunday
bowling league. Bowl 12
weeks in the spring and/or
fall. $3/week includes shoe
rental. For more information,
contact LISA BOXALL at
lboxall@comcast.net.
6
PERSPECTIVES
Winter 2009
The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration
— Q&A with Catriona Johnson —
By Kim Manning
__________________________________________________________________
Former Howard County Autism Society President and Board Member, Catriona
Johnson, is Assistant Director for State and
Federal Relations at the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
In an effort to help HCAS members understand more about DDA, we interviewed Ms.
Johnson with the following questions.

What is the Developmental
Disabilities Administration?
DDA is an administration within
the Maryland Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) that
funds and administers services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Examples of developmental disabilities include cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other
life-long disabilities that present before
the age of 21 and require that an individual has a range of services and supports.

Who does DDA serve?
DDA serves two groups of people with developmental disabilities.
The first group is individuals who
meet the full “DD eligibility,” meaning
that their disability meets the level of
care to receive services in an institution. This group is eligible for the full
range of DDA services. The second
group is referred to as “Supports
Only-eligible,” meaning that their level
of disability is not enough to meet the
institutional level of care. This group is
eligible for a limited set of services.
Full descriptions of the two eligibility
categories are available on DDA‟s
website (www.ddamaryland.org). It is
important to remember that DDA‟s
services are not an entitlement like
special education services under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA). Individuals must apply
and go through an eligibility process.
Winter 2009

When and how can people
apply for DDA services?
People can apply for services
from DDA at any time; however, we
recommend that individuals apply by
age 14. This ensures that DDA is
aware of them in order to project
how many youth with developmental
disabilities will need services as they
transition out of the public school
system. Applications are on the website, www.ddamaryland.org/CMRO.
Residents in Howard County
without access to the internet can
phone the DDA Central Regional
Office at 410-902-4500 for an application.

What services does DDA offer
to individuals with autism
and other developmental
disabilities?
There are a range of services
available. Most people will be aware
of Rolling Access Funding or low
intensity Family and Individual Support Services. Rolling Access is funding capped at $3000 per year provided to an individual or family for
services like respite care, assistive
technology, equipment, or therapies.
These funds are available through
certain DDA-contracted providers
and are generally available on a firstcome, first-served basis. A list of
DDA Rolling Access providers is
available on the DDA website
(www.ddamaryland.org). There is no
need to go through the full eligibility
process to access Rolling Access
funding; an individual will just have
to show the Rolling Access provider
some documentation (such as an
IEP, a psychological assessment, or a
letter from a physician) stating that
the individual has a developmental
PERSPECTIVES
disability. Even though the
amount is capped at $3000 per year,
most people receive far less—usually a
couple of hundred dollars—because
the number of individuals requesting
Rolling Access is greater than the
funding that is available. People should
also know that DDA provides new
funds to Rolling Access providers at
the beginning of each fiscal year,
which runs from July 1 to June 30 of
each year, so less funding tends to be
available later in the year.
The other service that individuals with autism may need is Behavioral Support Services. In the
Central Region, where Howard County
is located, DDA contracts with Humanim (www.humanim.org), a Columbia-based organization, to provide Behavioral Support Services. If someone
has a developmental disability and has
challenging behaviors, Humanim can
assist a family to take data on the behaviors, will develop a behavior plan,
and train them on how to implement
the plan. Individuals can call Humanim
directly (410-381-7171) if they are in
need of such services.
Finally, individuals can receive
longer term and higher intensity services through DDA. These services
include Resource Coordination, a
variety of Day Services (Supported
Employment, Community Learning
Services, Employment Discovery and
Customization, Traditional Day Habilitation, and Medical Day Care), Family
and Individual Support Services,
Residential Services (in group homes
or Alternative Living Units/ALUs),
Community Supported Living Arrangements (in which services come
to the individual‟s or family‟s home),
transportation, etc. These are longterm support services designed to
support an individual to be included in
his or her community and live a quality
life.
(continued on next page)
7
Maryland DDA: Q&A
with Catriona Johnson
(continued from previous page)

Does DDA administer the
Autism Waiver?
No, the Autism Medicaid Waiver is
administered by the Maryland State
Department of Education (MSDE)
and covers children with autism ages 1
through 21. DDA has two others—the
Community Pathways waiver and the
New Directions waiver. These are primary funding sources for DDA to
provide services because they allow
DDA to collect a federal match on the
State funds spent on services for individuals on those waivers. DDA serves
more individuals with autism than are
served on the Autism Waiver. Unlike
the Autism Waiver, DDA‟s waivers
cover both children and adults.

What is the difference between
the Community Pathways and
New Directions waivers?
The Community Pathways waiver currently serves about 11,000 individuals
with developmental disabilities. It is
“provider managed,” meaning that
once an individual chooses a DDAlicensed provider, DDA pays that provider directly and they are responsible
for hiring staff, setting payment rates,
delivering the services, ensuring quality
in the services they provide, etc. The
New Directions waiver serves just over
100 individuals with developmental
disabilities. The New Directions
waiver is a “participant directed” or
“self-directed” waiver, meaning that
the individual and their Circle of Support develops a service plan and
budget, which is then approved by
DDA. Once the plan and budget are
approved, the individual (with support
as needed) can hire his or her own
staff, determine payment rates, contract with service providers or vendors.
The DDA funds are given to a fiscal
intermediary known as a Fiscal Management Service, which pays the person‟s employees and vendors.
8

Are there people with autism
using the New Directions
waiver?
Absolutely. Both children and adults
with autism are served under the
New Directions waiver. In fact, the
percentage of those with autism in
New Directions is higher than the
percentage of people with autism in
DDA services, which tells me there
is a big interest in self-direction. New
Directions allows its participants to
find providers beyond those licensed
by DDA; that offers greater choice
to people who are looking for highly
individualized services.

Does DDA have a long
waiting list for services?
Unfortunately, DDA does have a
waiting list for services, something
we are currently reviewing and updating. Right now when someone is
determined eligible for services, they
are placed in a priority category
based on their level of need for each
of the services requested. These
priority categories—Crisis Resolution, Crisis Prevention, Current
Request, and Future Need—
determine who is served when
funding becomes available.

What about Transitioning
Youth?
Transitioning Youth—youth with
developmental disabilities leaving the
school system at the end of the
school year in which they turn 21—
comprise a special priority category.
If funding is allocated for Transitioning Youth by the General Assembly,
youth leaving school may receive
Supported Employment or other
Day Services. This ensures that they
do not regress once leaving the education system. DDA is currently developing an “Employment First”
policy, meaning that employment will
be the first and preferred option considered for transitioning youth and
adults receiving DDA Day Services.
Data show that employment is the
strongest variable to adults reporting
a high quality of life.
PERSPECTIVES

What is the strategic plan DDA
is currently developing?
Last year a new Executive Director
was hired, Michael Chapman. Not only
does he have great vision, values, and
experience, but he is leading DDA
through the strategic planning process.
I think the result will not only be more
person-directed services, but policies
and procedures aligned with and supportive of that goal. DDA also has
some new staff, such as Central
Regional Office Director, Cynthia
Kauffman, who brings both experience and a fresh perspective to DDA.
The key to the strategic planning process however has been the public input.
DDA held seven public forums
throughout the State and received hundreds of comments through a webbased survey. There is overwhelming
support for changes that will improve
services and outcomes for people.

So where does the autism
community fit in?
Now is an opportune time for the autism community to engage alongside
the broader developmental disabilities
community regarding services at the
State and Federal levels. DDA has
always been non-categorical in its
approach, meaning that services are
based on individual needs not on any
specific disability label. As well, the
autism community can learn a lot from
other organizations serving people
with developmental disabilities, particularly around self-advocacy and selfdetermination. That said, DDA is
looking at ways to increase its own
expertise about autism and build community capacity to address the needs
of this growing population. The autism
community needs to engage in issues
of community inclusion, employment,
quality, and a host of other topics. I
would encourage autism organizations
to have an open dialogue with DDA
about what the needs of individuals
with Autism Spectrum Disorders are,
about best practices, and about ways
that we can work together to design
and deliver services that not only address the needs of people, but give
them more control over their lives.
Winter 2009
Splish-Splashin’ Away . . . On a January Day!
HCAS Families Turn Out for Winter Pool Party
A pool party in January? . . .
Yes, that’s right! Nearly 100
children, teens, and adults
braved the cold on January
11 for the second annual
winter pool party at the
Lifetime Fitness gym in
Columbia. The free event
is hosted twice a year for
membership. It is a wonderful opportunities for families
to socialize and meet others
affected by autism. The
summer pool party will take
place in August.
Winter 2009
PERSPECTIVES
9
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS – ASD, ADHD, LD
Lighthouse Family Counseling Center
60 Mellor Ave, Catonsville 410-788-5483
Weekly groups meet one hour on:
TUESDAY NIGHTS OR SATURDAY MORNINGS
Beginning week of Feb 10th, 2009
$125 for 8 week session, including snack.
A curriculum focusing on generalizing skills toward
making and enjoying friends and games: Having
Fun!
Greeting,
Hosting,
Conversation,
Social
Detection,
Brain
Gym
and
Self-Calming
skills.
Coaching and practice for parents. AGES 6-13
John Seaman, LCPC // Linda Lombardo, PhD.
DON’T FORGET —
IT’S TIME TO RENEW!
2009 HCAS ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP DUES
10
PERSPECTIVES
Winter 2009
HCAS Elves Raise Funds on First Annual “Santa Night”
By Ginny Bickell
On Friday December 12, 2008, in the
rush of holiday cheer, a merry band of
(not-very-good) singers caroled
throughout Columbia raising money
for children and families. These 16
civic-minded merrymakers, dressed as
Santas and elves, traveled by sleigh
(bus) to 13 local establishments. There,
they entertained patrons with great
song and good cheer, collected donations, and spread goodwill.
The goal of each singer was to raise
$250 in donations to earn a seat on
Santa‟s sleigh for the evening. All 16
Santas and elves reported a great time
and proudly raised money for two
worthy causes. Proceeds from this
year‟s Howard County Santa Night
went directly to the Howard County
Autism Society and the Howard
County Domestic Violence Center.
Howard County is joining a fastgrowing list of communities that have
embraced this effective, albeit amusing, fundraiser. Started in 1998 in
Burlington, Vermont, Santa Night has
grown in popularity and reach by leaps
and bounds. Since then, every year on
the second Friday in December,
groups of people all over the nation
participate in this unforgettable evening of merriment and fundraising.
Reed Racette, a financial advisor
for Provident Bank and Santa Night
organizer (aka “Head Elf”), was responsible for putting on this wonderful event. Reed recently relocated to
Howard County after living in New
York where he led the Plattsburg
Santa Night for five years.
“Santa Night is a terrific opportunity to have fun and help others—
it‟s a party with a purpose,” said
Racette. “We hope this inaugural
year for Columbia is the kickoff for
many years to come.”
PlayWiseKids Partners with HCAS
PlayWiseKids has partnered with the
Howard County Autism Society to
offer HCAS members an after-hours,
closed-to-the-public family playtime
once a month.
Beginning in February, PlayWiseKids will host an HCAS night from
5:00pm to 7:00pm on the second
Thursday of the month. Upcoming
dates are February 12, March 12, and
April 9.
Winter 2009
PlayWiseKids is a large indoor play
and learning center designed for
creative play with numerous handson activities, including a real fire
engine, a beach area, dress-ups,
foosball tables, and much more.
All members will receive a 25%
discount off the general admission
price. There is a food court available
for dining-in or, if you prefer,
bringing-in.
PERSPECTIVES
For more information, contact Tim
Vogt at PlayWiseKids 410-882-1540 or
visit www.playwisekids.com.
11
Nicholas Helps Reveal the Meaning of Christmas
This is the final article in a fourpart series by Cheryl Howard, a
parent and teacher who lives in
Howard County. Her son,
Nicholas, is now 13.
During the Christmas season,
having a child with autism can
be stressful, but it has also
proven to be enlightening.
Christmas has always been a
holiday that reminds us that we
are not a typical family. While
we busily shopped and baked
and decorated in anticipation of
the holiday, Nicholas did not
seem to pay much attention to
what was going on around him.
Things that we tried to do
together to get into the spirit
didn‟t work for him. Concerts
were too loud, church was a
time to laugh, lights were not
interesting. It was impossible to
plan any whole-family activities.
Opening gifts seemed to be
another ritual that Nicholas
couldn‟t understand and had
no interest in doing. On Christmas day, we always take turns
opening gifts, which makes the
process a bit longer but more
meaningful to our family. Mark
and I would encourage Nicholas to sit with the family and
participate. It took years for
him to understand that there
was a reason to tear open the
wrapping paper and that there
was something more underneath that made it worth the
trouble. Initially, he would tear
the paper and walk away. In
addition, the fine motor skills
involved in removing ribbons
12
Journey Through Autism:
A Mother’s Perspective
Final in a series
By Cheryl Howard
and wrapping paper just made
Nicholas frustrated and further
wish to withdraw. When he did
completely open a gift, he would
often look at it with that “so
what?” look on his face (a big
disappointment for whoever had
purchased it).
When Nicholas turned 9, we
bought a singing tree and a polar
bear that entertained him for
hours (but drove the rest of us
crazy). The two battery-powered
items sang a variety of the most
popular Christmas songs. Just
last year, at age 12, Nicholas discovered he could have them
play almost simultaneously in
some semblance of a duet.
Buying gifts for Nicholas has
always been a “shot in the dark”
experience. It used to be that
anything that made noise—
Elmo dolls, books with sound,
alphabet toys with buttons to
push for some effect—MIGHT
capture his interest for a time.
(We knew he would play with
them if only to get a stim out of
the effect.) However, as he approached 11 years of age, this
interest waned. He spent more
time playing on websites, which
provided us no help at all for
gift ideas. We now have resorted
to practical gifts for him such as
socks, underwear, books, and
DVDs; and even the books and
DVDs are a gamble.
PERSPECTIVES
At times I think Nicholas‟
neutrality towards Christmas is
a way to remind me of the real
meaning of Christmas.
The other day as our family
was eating breakfast together,
Nicholas had such a look of
contentment on his face—a
look that I‟d never seen with any
gift or toy he‟s gotten in the
past. Perhaps he‟s trying to tell
me that what‟s important is our
time together and the love we
show to one another, not the
material or superficial things
typically associated with the
holiday.
Somewhere in the multitude
of New Age books I‟ve read, it
is said that individuals with disabilities are actually old, wise
souls who have chosen to return
to this life as a growth experience. Perhaps Nicholas‟ growth
experience is also meant for
us, providing us with a particularly enlightening lesson during
this Christmas holiday.
* * *
Previous articles in this series:
“A Mother‟s Journey through
Autism” (May 2008), “After the
Diagnosis and the Preschool
Years” (Sept 2008), and
“The Elementary Years:
Communication Stalls Out”
(Nov 2008). Previous editions
of the newsletter are available
at www.howard-autism.org.
Winter 2009
Stephen Shore Workshop ~ May 2, 2009
Supporting People with Autism for Successful
Transition to Adulthood
(Parents: It’s never too early to start planning.)
Back by popular demand, Stephen Shore returns to Columbia on Saturday, May 2,
to discuss adult issues for people with autism.
In this half-day workshop, Stephen will discuss:

the interplay between behavioral, educational, developmental, biomedical,
and sensory integration interventions for people with autism;
Saturday, May 2, 2009
9am—1pm
Howard Community
College, Smith Theatre

social and self-awareness;
Registration at 8:30.
Registration fee $50/person.
Includes breakfast.

the skills necessary to navigate the adult worlds of:
employment, relationships, continuing education, interdependent living,
and appropriate self-advocacy.
Registration due by
April 27, 2009.
Stephen Shore—who was nonverbal until four, diagnosed with “atypical development
with strong autistic tendencies,” and recommended for institutionalization—received
his Ph.D. from Boston University and is currently a professor at Adelphi University.
He teaches courses on special education and autism, and is internationally recognized
as an expert on adult issues.
He is the author of Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome;
Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum; and the critically
acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies. He serves on the Interagency Autism
Coordinating Commission and the Board of Directors for Autism Society of America,
Unlocking Autism, MAAP, the College Internship Program, and USAAA.
Register online at
www.howard-autism.org
Call 410-290-3466
Proudly sponsored by the
Howard County Autism Society
in cooperation with:
Howard County Asperger’s
Support Group
&
Howard Community College
ART FOR AUTISM
A one-of-a-kind priceless piece of art by individuals on the autism spectrum.
This 16x20” canvas will feature brush strokes by individuals with autism in Howard County.
The framed artwork will be auctioned at the Pieces of the Puzzle Gala on April 25, 2009.
~ MAKE YOUR MARK at the open house on MARCH 7 (9am—noon, at the HCAS Resource Center) ~
PLEASE BE A PART OF THIS UNIQUE GIFT—
One brushstroke from each person is all we need to make this truly magnificent!
Winter 2009
PERSPECTIVES
13
Upcoming Events
For updated events information, visit the HCAS calendar at
www.howard-autism.org/pn/calendar.html
January 31, 2009 ~
Sensory Friendly Movie
HCAS and AMC Columbia present a
sensory friendly showing of “Hotel for
Dogs” at AMC Theatres Columbia Mall.
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Movie starts at
10:00 a.m. with no trailers. Tickets are $6
each. For more information contact
Marianne Ross, rossfda@hotmail.com.
February 11, 2009 ~
Autism Workshop
“Demystifying Autism: An Inside-Out
Perspective” with speaker and author
William Stillman. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Baltimore. For more information contact
Gail Godwin at 410- 945-4356 or
gail@sharedsupportmd.org.
February 12, 2009 ~
Howard County Asperger’s
Support Group Meeting
Guest speaker Susan Potts from the
Howard County Department of
Recreation and Parks will present on
spring and summer opportunities for fun.
7:30-9:00 p.m. Howard County Autism
Society Resource Center, 10280 Old
Columbia, Suite 215, Columbia. The
Asperger‟s Support Group meets the
second Thursday of every month. Contact
Elaine McAuliffe, 410-730-0068 or
elainemcauliffe@yahoo.com.
February 17, 2009 ~
Howard County Library
Book Connections
Discussion Group
Panelists (including representatives
from HCAS) will discuss Elizabeth
Moon‟s The Speed of Dark. 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Howard County Library, Miller Branch.
14
February 19, 2009 ~
Howard County Autism Society
Support Group Meeting
Guest speaker Alan Becke, MBA, CFP,
with Metropolitan Life will discuss
special needs wills and trusts. 7:00-9:00
p.m. Howard County Autism Society
Resource Center, 10280 Old Columbia
Road, Suite 215, Columbia. For more
information call 410-290-3466 or
www.howard-autism.org.
March 7, 2009~
Art for Autism: “Leave Your
Mark” Open House
All kids and adults with ASD are invited
to contribute to a beautiful piece of
framed artwork to be auctioned at the
Pieces of the Puzzle Gala. Only one
brush stroke from each person is needed
to make this a truly inspiring gift.
9:00am-noon. Howard County Autism
Society Resource Center, 10280 Old
Columbia Road, Suite 215, Columbia.
For more information call 410-290-3466.
March 19, 2009 ~
Howard County Autism Society
Support Group Meeting
Guest speaker Catriona Johnson will
discuss the Developmental Disabilities
Administration and its waiver programs.
7:00-9:00 p.m. Howard County Autism
Society Resource Center, 10280 Old
Columbia Road, Suite 215, Columbia.
For more information call 410-290-3466
or www.howard-autism.org.
March 31, 2009 ~
Video Conference with
Elizabeth Moon
Elizabeth Moon, author of novel
The Speed of Dark, will discuss the novel
via live video-conference. 12:30-2:00
p.m. Howard Community College,
Monteabaro Recital Hall, 10901 Little
Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia.
PERSPECTIVES
April 20, 2009 ~
Autism Research, Education,
and Advocacy: What You Need
to Know
Presented by Marjorie Shulbank, Maryland
State Department of Education. Learn
about AutismConnect, an online resource
that focuses on research, educational
resources, and advocacy organizations
available to families in Maryland.
Reception follows. 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Howard County Central Library.
April 23, 2009 ~
Celebrating Autism’s Gifts:
The Power of Affirmation
Deborah Lipsky, diagnosed an adult with
HFA, will discuss with Dr. William
Richards how the transformative power of
friendship has empowered her to embrace
her autism. Books will be available for
purchase and signing. 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Howard Community College, Monteabaro
Recital Hall, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy,
Columbia.
April 25, 2009 ~
Howard County Autism Society
Fourth Annual “Pieces of the
Puzzle” Gala
7:00 p.m.-midnight. Ten Oaks Ballroom,
5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville. Tickets
are $100. For tickets call 410-290-3466 or
www.howard-autism.org.
May 2, 2009 ~
Stephen Shore Presents
“Supporting People With Autism
for Successful Transition to
Adulthood”
Registration fee is $50; breakfast is
included. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Howard
Community College, Smith Theatre, 10901
Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia.
For more information or to register,
contact HCAS at 410-290-3466 or
www.howard-autism.org.
Winter 2009
HCAS MEMBERSHIP CHANGES IN 2009
In an effort to improve and
streamline membership with the
Howard County Autism Society,
membership renewal is changing
in 2009. All memberships will
need to be renewed annually in
order to remain active.
Membership with the Howard
County Autism supports the
organization’s efforts to provide
support to individuals with autism
and their families, advocate for
improved services, and promote
greater public awareness of
autism. Please visit our website,
www.howard-autism.org to join
online.
In an effort to ―go green‖
we hope to institute an email portion of our communication with
members – stay tuned!
Membership Levels
 Family $20
 Professional $50
Benefits of Membership
 Access to a community that





provides support and information to local families living with
autism.
Valuable resource information
and advocacy for autism-related
issues within the community.
Perspectives newsletter– mailed
four times a year.
Monthly support group meetings with guest speakers.
Notices of upcoming events,
speakers, and conferences.
Several FREE social events—
including winter and summer
pool parties.
Share Your Time and
Talent
Interested in volunteering at
the Howard County Autism
Society? We could use your
help! We have many active
committees that are always
looking for new members.
Adult Issues Committee
Advocacy: Educational Issues
Advocacy: Legislative Issues
Gala Planning Committee
Program Committee
Public Relations Committee
Walk Planning Committee
If you are interested in serving
on one of these committees,
please contact Ayana Rodgers
at acrodgersHCAS@yahoo.com
or 410-290-3466.
Howard County Autism Society Membership
Clip and return with check to:
Howard County Autism Society
10280 Old Columbia Road, Suite 215
Columbia, MD 21046
Join us!
$20 annual
family dues
Name________________________________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________________________ State________________ Zip Code______________
email___________________________________________ Phone_______________________________________
2009 Dues:  $20 (parent membership)  $50 (professional membership)
Donation:  $50
 $100  Other $__________
HCAS gratefully acknowledges donors in its newsletter.
If you prefer your donation to be private, please check here 
Clip and return with your check payable to
Howard County Autism Society or join online at
www.howard-autism.org
Winter 2009
PERSPECTIVES
15
About the Howard County Autism Society (HCAS)
The Howard County Autism Society
(HCAS) is a chapter of the Autism
Society of America, which was founded
in 1965 to help parents, family
members, professionals, and caregivers
learn about autism, PDD, and related
disorders, and how to effectively deal
with these disabilities. We are one of
about 200 chapters across the country.
HCAS is dedicated to increasing
public awareness about autism and the
day-to-day issues faced by individuals
with autism, their families and the
professionals with whom they interact.
The national society and HCAS share
the common goals of providing
information and education, supporting
research and advocating for programs
and services for people with autism
spectrum disorders.
HCAS works in Howard County to
advance awareness of persons with
autism, PDD, and related disorders.
Autism Resource Center
410-290-3466
HCAS provides:
 support for parents
 information and referrals
 advocacy on behalf of persons with
autism/PDD and their families
 presentations by experts on
autism/PDD, disability rights, etc
 monthly meetings
 social activities
Join the Yahoo e-Group
The HCAS e-group connects you
with other parents online where you
can post questions or share information about doctors, dentists, schools,
family support services, etc.
To join:
(1) go to Yahoo Groups
(2) search for AutismSocietyHoCo
(3) subscribe
Or email:
AutismSocietyHoCosubscribe@
yahoogroups.com
Howard County Autism Society
10280 Old Columbia Road, Suite 215
Columbia, MD 21046
www.howard-autism.org
Newsletter
Submissions
Perspectives—the newly named
quarterly newsletter—welcomes
articles and contributions from
parents, siblings, professionals,
and people with autism spectrum disorders. Submit your
article, book review, meeting
notice, or photo by emailing to:
acrodgersHCAS@yahoo.com.
Perspectives is published quarterly,
with Winter, Spring, Summer,
and Fall issues.
Advertising rates are available
on the HCAS website at
www.howard-autism.org.
For more information on ad
specifications, deadlines, and
submission instructions, contact
Ginny Bickell at 410-290-3466/
gbickellHCAS@howardautism.org .
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 901
COLUMBIA, MD 21045