docAutism Update January/ February - Macomb St. Clair Autism Society
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Autism Update January/ February - Macomb St. Clair Autism Society
Macomb/St. Clair County Chapter/ Autism Society Autism Awareness Update www.macombasa.org Winter 2013 We’re “Having A Ball” Raising Autism Awareness! The Macomb/ St. Clair County Chapter Autism Society is celebrating over 30 years of helping families affected by autism! The annual celebration “The Sweetheart Ball” will take place for the second year at the beautiful Mirage Banquet Hall in Clinton Township. Guests will come to celebrate our year of achievements and raise funds to support our efforts. With funds raised we will be able to continue to host our family enrichment camp. At the camp families get to spend a weekend at beautiful Bear Lake campground: swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, making crafts, movies, and campfires. In addition, we will be able again host our annual Halloween Party and Christmas Party. We will continue to be able to offer a wide variety of events: swimming, bowling, skating outings, Friday Friends social outings and movies. The chapter has also been able to create Parent Grants for families which seek to aid with costs of autism therapies that families might not otherwise be able to afford. Also a grant for special education classrooms. We hope that everyone who attends the 2013 Sweetheart Ball will, well, have a ball! The chapter‛s Board of Director‛s have worked very hard so that guests can enjoy a fabulous night of dining and dancing. We thank the band Nightline for once again coming to entertain us with their classic Motown and Big Band sound. We thank any and all of you who have donated an auction item for guests to bid on. This year again, we also have many GOLD sponsors (see below) who have donated $1,000 or more to this event.Thank you for your generosity GOLD sponsors! The Board of Director‛s would like to see all the chapter‛s friends and supporters at the Sweetheart Ball. But if you are unable to make this event please try to attend one of our other fun fundraising events: The Out & About Walk/Run, the Autism Scrapbook Crop or the Ride For Autism. Thank you everyone for 30 great years of supporting our chapter and families affected by autism! 2013 Sweetheart Ball Gold Sponsors! President’s Letter MSCCC/ASA Board Hello Everyone, and Welcome to 2013! President Theresa Gabalis Vice-President Annette Duda Treasurer Laura Gayan Secretary Barb Stiers Directors Our year has begun with lots of activities and events around the counties. If you are one of our FABULOUS supporters who attended or are attending the Annual Sweetheart Ball, at the Mirage Banquet Hall, we thank you for your continued support each year! You will see in this newsletter we are fortunate to welcome some new GOLD sponsors to our list of friends, and of course thank the veteran sponsors who step up every year to make such a BIG difference in our chapter‛s efforts. Our board has just completed granting over $20,000 of WISHES, to the local classrooms around the Macomb and St. Clair Counties. We were able to make some dreams come true for our children and young adults on the Autism Spectrum. Please find an article elsewhere in the newsletter for details. In February, we will be co-hosting a private swim outing at the Macomb Recreational aquatic center along with the Friends of Jacob Foundation, and in March we are holding our FIRST dance, “March Madness”, at the Warren Community Center. Our focus is always to get the kids and young adults “out and about”, and moving. We thank both facilities for welcoming our kids! Please make a point to thank them if you live in those communities. Theresa Gabalis Michelle Dubiel Krystyna Harasymiw Maribeth Yahner Marvin Bielec Steven Jewell Newsletter Editor Mary Jo Boughton ph: 586-445-4915 macombasa@gmail.com -2- Check Out the Warren Community Center Special Needs Social Group Activities! Upcoming START Events Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) February 11 & 12, 2013 Location: Lexington Lansing Hotel Time: 8:30am to 3:30pm Upcoming events: Jan. 30~5:30 –7:00 Swimming at WCC, $3.00 (Meet in pool area) IEP Development & Implementation March 8, 2013 Location: Washtenaw ISD Time: 8:30am to 3:30pm Feb. 6~5:30 –7:00 Movie at WCC Auditorium $2.00 (There will NOT be any food.) 2012 START Conference April 22, 2013 Morning Keynote: Erik Carter, Ph.D. - Vanderbilt University Location: Lexington Lansing Hotel Time: 8:30am to 3:30pm Fee: $85.00 (per person) Feb. 13~5:30 – 7:00 Valentines Party at WCC $3.00 (Bring a snack to share and get in for $1.00) Feb. 20~5:30 –7:00 Pizza and Game Night at WCC $5.00 MUST RSVP by 2/19/13 Feb. 27~5:30-7:00 Craft Night at WCC $3.00 (Meet in game room) Spring RCN Leadership Day April 23, 2013 Morning: Dan Habib - Filmmaker in Residence at the Institute on Disability at UNH Afternoon: Nila Benito - Florida Center for Inclusive Communities Location: Lexington Lansing Hotel Warren Community Center (WCC) 5460 Arden, Warren MI 48092 Rachel Mulawa, special needs coordinator 586-258-2063 Program for teens and adults 13 and older with cognitive impairments. Individuals that are not toilet trained or need consistent one on one attention for behavior must be accompanied by a family member or staff person. For more information concerning registration and fees for these START Events : http://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/ start-events-49.htm Faith, Fun and Friends Welcomes adults with disabilities to participate in programs at various churches in our area. Please call Terry Cloyd for more information at (586) 264-5469. A Fun Filled Holiday Event Many happy holiday memories were made at the chapter‛s 2012 Annual Christmas Party at the Polish Century Club. This is one of the chapter‛s most anticipated family events. Families were treated to a fabulous meal cooked by the talented ladies of the Polish Century Club. Families also made crafts and sang carols together. Then children of all ages were able to meet with Santa Claus and confide to him their Holiday wishes. To see more event photos or to share your photos with us, join our Facebook page. -3- Thank You to the Ride For Autism 2012 was the 8th year that our Macomb Chapter was the beneficiary of the non-profit charity “Ride For Autism.” The ride originated in 2005 and was started by a group of big hearted bikers that were members of UAW Local 245. One of their own members, Kevin Chrenenko had a son affected by autism and they wanted to help the Chrenenko family and also other local families affected by autism. The Chrenenko family were members of our Macomb County Chapter and that is how we came to be part of this great annual event. The 9th Annual Ride For Autism will be held this year on August 3, 2013 and online registration will open on June 2013 @www.rideforautism.org. Our Chapter members at the 2012 Ride For Autism pose with Rachael Adams We would like to thank the Ride for Autism board and staff members for their hard work & continuing support of our Chapter‛s efforts to improve the lives of families affected by autism. Ride For Autism Directors and Staff The RFA has raised a total of over $93,000 to help those affected by autism. ~www.rideforautism.org Sal Ferra, President Pete Joseph, Vice-President Larry Stock, Marketing Director Rachael Adams, RFA Ambassador Corrine Shafer Don Dembowski Kevin Marosi Jamie Fulk Bill Diehr Mike Fulk SUPPORT AUTISM AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Hello everyone! Our Chapter is starting an exciting opportunity for April, which is Autism Awareness Month. We have created a “donation slip” that can be offered to participants who would like to donate a dollar or more to our Chapter for Autism Awareness. These slips can be posted on the walls of stores, schools or businesses, to show your support for Autism Awareness! Our Chapter is going to offer them to various retail outlets in the Macomb & St. Clair Counties. We have created a “kit” to offer to participating retailers/restaurants/schools. You can use this “slip” throughout the year as a visual tool “I SUPPORT AUTISM AWARENESS”. The slips will be available in all four AUTISM RIBBON colors. Thank you for your support of our chapter and children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders Please contact the Chapter if you would like a “kit” to help us with this project! 586-445-4915 -4- Thank you to the following who sent donations to support our chapter’s efforts to assist families affected by autism. • Aetna Foundation • MGM - The Ferrarelli Family • Aditya Birla Minacs • MacDonald Family • Golf Fun • Diane Krycia • Independent Bank • The Dunn Family • Avalon Elementary, South Lake. • UCS Graebner Elementary • MGM Resorts • Snyderville Lions Club • Richmond Moose Lodge 2575 • Richmond Women of Moose 2300 • UAW Local 2280 • Golf Outing Knights of Columbus St. Lawrence • SNAKE EXPO • Give with Liberty • William Browning Golf Outing • The Dehne Family • Mrs. Michon • Knights of Columbus~St. Kiernan •Ride For Autism Girl Scout Troop Will Create Autism Awareness Patch Girl Scout Troop 30193 is designing a patch for Autism Awareness as their Silver Award project. The Silver Award is the second highest level award in Girl Scouting. The Autism Awareness patch will be available to all Scouts. Scouts will fulfill a set of requirements to earn a 3-part patch. Badge requirements include research on the autism spectrum, meeting people who have an ASD, visiting and talking with service providers and support groups, and more. The final patch is earned by doing a Take Action project. As the girls work on designing this patch, they are also fulfilling the requirements. They have met with the Macomb ASA Parent Support Group, Sensory Systems, and OU Cares. And their finale is an Autism Awareness Night they are hosting at their local school, L‛Anse Creuse Middle School North, on April 11. In addition to some displays and information about the autism spectrum, there will be some interactive stations. Special Needs Cheer Team The Pride of Trilogy is Michigan‛s Original Special Needs Cheerleading Team out of the Cheerleading Training Center of Michigan located in Shelby Twp. You do not need any experience to participate. All ages and abilities are welcome. For more information contact the Cheerleading Training Center of Michgan at (586) 532-4171 or visit www.AllStarTrilogy.com. Fun Friday Friends Events During Autism Awareness Month! by Krystyna Harasymiw As you know April is Autism Awareness month and it is fast approaching!! We are planning on doing a friends gathering for each friday of the month. On April 5th the event is called Painting Escapes. The instructors will teach the kids and adults the steps on how to paint a picture. It will be held at the MISD from 6:30 til 8:30p.m. More details on this and other coming events @ Macombasa.org. -5- OUCARES is growing.... OUCARES as of January 2013 opened a new program location, Meadows School located at 1435 W. Auburn Road in Rochester Hills. Some of the new programs offered there are: Drawing Animals Instructed by a professional artist with experience working with people with Autism, this class for 12 yr+ is designed to teach how to draw animals and their habitats while strengthening fine motor skills, allowing group interaction, and increasing self-esteem. Dynamic Movement Through Yoga (NEW) Classes taught by a certified yoga instructor will teach 16 yrs+ dynamic movements, breathing techniques, and games to positively impact fitness, self-regulation & motor performance in a relaxing environment. Ages 16 & up. Volleyball (NEW) 16yr+ will learn to play volleyball through basic drills and games while improving their fitness, having fun, and socializing at the same time! To find more information about their full program schedule please go to www.oakland.edu/oucares Limited Scholarships are available for the following OUCARES Meadows programs: Social Skills (Meadows Location), Art- Drawing Animals, Dynamic Movement Through Yoga. For more information regarding these scholarships please go to www.oakland. edu/oucares and look under recreation programs. A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man‛s Quest to Be a Better Husband. Speaker David Finch. March 21st, 6:00-7:30 pm Oakland University‛s Dodge Hall Room 201. There is no cost to attend. RSVP by emailing oucares@oakland.edu or call 248-370-2424. Autism Anti-Bullying, Speaker, Anthony Ianni. February 26th, 6-7:30 pm. This event is designed for children of all ages, adolescents, families, educators and any person who is interested in ending bullying. Space is limited so please RSVP by emailing oucares@oakland. edu. There is no cost to attend. Sterling Civic Theater is an all inclusive theater group. They have an all-inclusive program for children with special needs called Noah‛s Ark. Which was named after their first speciall Needs participant, Noah. If you would like more information contact Sterling Civic at (586) 264-5571. Autism Life Coach A new online business venture, autismlifecoaches. com, is offering training and web domains to persons interested in becoming mentors to families affected by autism. The cost of training and webpage setup is $200 and then a $30 monthly fee for the domain, online community, and e-newsletter. Each Autism Life Coach‛s website will have 5 pages: Local Events, About Me, Services, Contact, and Advertising. Events from local groups, schools and organizations will be listed on the site for free. Businesses and professionals will have the opportunity to advertise on each Autism Life Coach‛s website to promote their services and show their support for their local Autism Life Coach. For parents and individuals affected by autism, Autism Life Coach will offer the opportunity to connect to an individual with your similar life experiences. The Grand Launch date of AutismLifeCoaches.com is April 1, which is the first day of Autism Awareness Month. Autism Life Coach is not endorsed by any medical persons or non-profit corporations including the Autism Society of America. This article is for informational purposes only. Aspergers Syndrome and The Challenges and Rewards of Independent Living Hello, my name is Elizabeth and I‛m 30. I have AS and I live independently. I have a cute one bedroom apartment, a cat, and two beta fish. I am an artist and I have decorated the walls with my artwork. Two years ago I left a group home because I wanted the freedom of Independent living. My family was unsure if I would be successful. I lived on my own very briefly when I was 19 but I was unsuccessful. I had a nervous breakdown and ended up in mental hospital. At the time I was living with my grandfather who died very suddenly. My family figured that I was an adult and that it was time for me to take care of myself, but I wasn‛t ready, that is why it didn‛t work out. I was an emotional wreck from 12 years of torture (this is in reference to my school years). I also hated living alone; I was used to always having other people around. I was scared all the time, especially at night. I just was not ready. For the next nine years I was in and out of mental hospitals, lived with my father, and lived in various group homes. The last group home that I lived in was good for a group home and there my condition improved. And, as my condition improved, I wanted and could handle more freedom. Than after careful consideration, I decided to leave and make a life for myself. Things were different now than they were the last time that I tried to live on my own. I was for the most part emotionally sound and I was confident that I could make it work. After I left the group home, I lived with a roommate for three months. I think that living with the roommate for a little while helped me during my transition. Than when it was time for me to leave, I got my own apartment in the same building. I knew that the rent would be reasonable and it was in a good location for not having a car. I got the money for the deposit by designing a logo for my brother‛s band. When I first moved in I had almost nothing. I slept in a blow up boat on my bedroom floor and borrowed cooking ware from the neighbors. After a couple of weeks, my mom bought me a couch and a chair from a thrift shop. In about a year, I managed to acquire most of the things that I needed. Most of my things came from yard sales, flee markets, and thrift shops. After two years of independent living, I‛m pretty much used to it. There are still some things that need to be worked out. Since my income is so low, I need to find subsidized housing or get a roommate. Right now I do odd jobs for people to make ends meet. Also, my grandmother helps me out a lot. She even lets me use her car when I need to get groceries. This gets me by for now; still, I will need to find a permanent solution to these problems. Even though there are problems that exist, I do not regret my decision to leave the group home. Freedom is wonderful. I go to the library, I go to the park, and I visit my friends when I want. I even do all of my own shopping. Since I have been living independently I have been more involved with the community than I ever have been in the past. I talk to people in the local businesses (some know me by name), I talk to people in the park, and I talk to people on the bus. I even do volunteer work in the community. I have made a lot of friends, and I love to invite them over for dinner. I like my community. Since I left the group home I have got a lot accomplished. I made a good home for myself, learned how to manage the finances, improved my relationships with my family, wrote four articles for the autism society newsletter and I was a speaker at the meetings twice. I also have had some wonderful experiences. I learned how to fish with a bamboo rod, I was a vendor at some local flee markets, I saw beautiful sunrises outside my window and I met my best friend. I have successfully lived on my own for two years. Independent living should be considered when a person with AS has a good set of life skills and the self confidence to try it. However, it is not a good idea to try to force a person into independent living before their ready to handle it, which can be very damaging and can set a person back for years. That will require some patience on the part of the family. It is better to be patent and have your loved one succeed than put the person in a situation that their not ready to handle and have them fail. An AS person can succeed on their own only when their ready and with a lot of support from the family. The encouraging thing is that an AS person with a good support system can handle the challenges of and experience the joys of independent living. Elizabeth E. Hofer Aspergersisbeautiful@gmail.com Comprehensive Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc. (CSDD) April 20th The Autism Alliance of Michigan 2nd Annual Gala DTE Energy Headquarters Detroit, MI Up to date information@ http://autismallianceofmichigan.org CSDD was established in Michigan in 1983. We are dedicated to providing vocational services and community integration skills training for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness. We are committed to providing high quality, innovative services that are on the cutting edge. Services are participant driven and are designed to maximize independence and community participation. The CSDD will be opening a new location soon in Shelby Township. Our other locations are in Warren, Chesterfield and Monroe. Re-Thinking Guardianship with Dohn Hoyle, Arc Michigan How can I advocate for my adult child? What are alternatives to guardianship? What is power of attorney? How can medical and financial decisions be handled? How can we best support students as they transition to adulthood? CSDD Shelby Twp. Office 5225 22 Mile Road Shelby Twp., MI 48317 Phone: 586-884-6229 W e dne s day , Mar ch 6 t h , 2 0 1 3 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Sign-in starts at 10:30 Refreshments will be served. All workshops are free n to the public. opechild andYour Coordinated by Michigan Alliance for Families 1-800-552-4821 Funded by Michigan Department of Education and U.S. Department of Education. Grosse Pointe Public Library- Woods Branch 20680 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods This workshop is for families whose child has a developmental disability, as well as service providers working with students and their families. This workshop covers: guardianship from a historical perspective, strangers as guardians and alternatives to guardianship (health, finances, supports and services). Who should attend: families of teenagers/young adults with disabilities/learning challenges, professionals, and interested community members. ASM Spring Conference: Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Thu, April 25, 8:00am – 4:30pm Best Western Plus 6820 South Cedar Street Lansing, MI 48911 $105 individual / $140 couple Register by 2-27-13 with Celena Barnes (313) 557-8683 or celena@michiganallianceforfamilies.org Please note: To be good stewards of our funding resources, we need a minimum number of participants registered by the registration deadline for the presentation to be held. If it is after the deadline and you haven’t registered, please call or email to check the status of the event. Registration includes Continental Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and three books Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs. Register online at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events If you require accommodations or materials in an alternative format, please let us know one week before the workshop. Save The Date! PARENT GRANT July 10-13 2013 Autism Society National Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. Online registration opens Februaray 2013. http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/conference/ -8- by Annette Duda Our Chapter offered a Parent Grant to assist families with therapy and services for their child affected by Autism. For the October/ November Grant, we provided $4,500.00 to the recipients. We are so happy to be able to offer this to our families and we will have another Grant period in the Spring. FEBRUARY SUPPORT MEETING THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm ST. EPHREM’S SOCIAL HALL (LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF DODGE PARK AND 17 MILE RD.IN STERLING HEIGHTS) PLEASE COME TO SHARE OR TO JUST LISTEN. IN ADDITION, WE WILL HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL TABLE WITH MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS OF INTEREST FOR BOTH PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS RELATING TO AUTISM. WE ALSO HAVE AUTISM AWARENESS ITEMS TO PURCHASE. SPECIAL GUEST, BERNADETTE NAJOR WILL BRIEFLY DISCUSS HER UPCOMING SAFETY/CHILD ID EVENT IN MARCH SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR SIBLINGS. CHILDCARE WILL NOT BE PROVIDED YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND AND THERE IS NO FEE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 586-445-4915 The mission of the Macomb/St. Clair County Chapter of the Autism Society of America is to enhance the lives of persons and families affected by Autism. To accomplish this, resources will be used to promote awareness. -9- MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION As a paid member of the Macomb/St Clair County Chapter – Autism Society you shall receive: 1) Notice of all Chapter sponsored events mailed to your home 2) MSCCC/AS newsletter-- “Autism Awareness Update” 3) Discounts on Private Movie Showings, Swim Outings and other Chapter events 4) Discounts on Halloween and Christmas Parties - Lunch, goodie bags and entertainment provided 5) Annual Family Enrichment Camp- a weekend camp for those affected by autism and their immediate families 6) Sibling Night Out-a special night for siblings of those with autism to learn about autism and discuss their feelings 7) Greater amount for Parent Assistance Grant to assist with therapy for their children The mission of the Macomb/St. Clair County Chapter- Autism Society to enhance the lives of persons and families affected by autism. To accomplish this, resources will be used to promote awareness. Application for Membership Name________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ________________________________________________________________ E-Mail Address ________________________________________________________________ Phone ( ) _____________________ Interest: Parent ( ) Relative ( ) Other ( ) Occupation ____________________________ Occupation ____________________________ New Membership ( ) Annual Renewal ( ) Membership Categories and Fees: Newsletter (MSCCC/AS newsletter only, no membership discounts) $10.00___ Household Membership $25.00___ (Household includes: up to 2 Adults & all children in household only) Please make Checks Payable to: MSCCC/AS Mail Check and Form to: MSCCC/AS P.O. Box 182186 Shelby Township, MI 48318-2186 586-445-4915 (new number) -10- Pictures may be taken at Macomb/St Clair County Chapter events. The pictures may be used in the future for autism awareness (web site, brochures, etc.). Your signature here only means that we have your permission to use any pictures taken of your children and/or family for autism awareness. Signature______________________________________________________________________ To help us serve the needs of families better, please provide the Chapter with the following information: Child’s name affected with autism_________________________________________________ Age__________ Sex__________ Child’s name affected with autism_________________________________________________ Age__________ Sex__________ Siblings (name, age, sex): 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. ___________________________________________________________________________ Please let us know what information or help you currently need: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Please let us know if you would like to help the Chapter in anyway. (Making awareness ribbons, phone calls, passing out info packets, etc.) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Do you have an idea that the Chapter could consider doing in the future ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ -11- Camp Grace Bentley http://www.campgracebentley.org/ Special Needs: Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, spina bifida and others Burtchville, Mich. 313-962-8242 CAMPS SpringHill Camp http://springhillcamps.com/ Evart, Mich. 231-734-2616 Miracle League of Michigan Miracle League Baseball Program 19051 San Jose Blvd Lathrup Village, MI 313-530-2602 www.Michiganmiracle.org Indian Trails Camp http://www.indiantrailscamp.org/ Many special needs including Autism. Grand Rapids, Mich. 616-677-5251 YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps http://www.hayowentha.org/ Special Needs: Autism Central Lake, Mich. 231-544-5915 or 877-547-5915 Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit http://www.jccdet.org/ West Bloomfield, Mich. 248-432-5578 ���������� � ���������������������������������� ��������������������������� Summer Camps for youth, adults and families with special needs. �������������� Summer camps aren’t all we do, but something we always do. Camps for youth, adults and families with special needs aren’t the only camps we do, but something we always do. www.campskyline.org ��������������������� ������� ���� ������������������������� ���������������������������� ������������������������ ���� ����������������� � ������������������ � ����������������������� � ����������������������� ��������������� � ������������������ ������� Look for Camp Skylne’s brochure on our chapter website. Special Dreams Camp Farm For Me is a summer camp for adults ages Hwy. 20-40 with special needs. This week 6524 Fred W. Moore of camp community living o�ers campers a chance to try and learn new skills as well St. Clair Township, MI 48079 as prac�ce old ones. Archery and shing are P: 1.810.326.0127 some of the most exci�ng skills to try again each year; campers rejoice every year when http://specialdreamsfarm.org/ they hit the target or catch a sh. Hayrides, Camp FAR Away is a camping experience especially for youth, ages 13-19, with special needs, and is o�ered in partnership with the FAR Conservatory of Therapeu�c and Performing Arts. Music, art, dance and recrea�onal therapy as well as canoeing, shing, hiking, exploring, drama, campres, therapeu�c horseback riding with LifeHorse, cooking, archery, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, talent shows, animal therapy and much ����������������������� more! Visits with our miniature goats are ������� a highlight for many, but nothing tops the ������������� Thursday night Dance! Lodging in Focus Hall. ��������������������� ����������� ������������ ���������������� ���������������������� ����������������� � ������������������������ � �������������� ������������ delicious meals, campres, talent shows, swimming, water aerobics, singing, dancing, drumming, cra�ing, and cooking. We look forward to return visits from DJ Dazzle Do Time for our big Dance and LifeHorse therapeu�c horseback riding. Lodging in Focus Hall. Easter Seals of Michigan Speech and language thereapy, occupational therapy, summer programs 2387 E. Walton Blvd. Auburn Hills, MI 48326 586-524-2005 Camp Joy is a week for our adults with Kathie Klingensmith special needs, ages 40+, packed with joy, friendship, and laughter. Camp Joy favorites dpourchez@essmichigan.org are o�en the delicious Skyline meals, silly songs, siestas, farm visits, pool �me, www.essmichigan.org archery, catching sh at the pond and riding LifeHorse horses at camp. Get ready for lots of ac�vity: singing, drumming, dancing, water aerobics, arts & cra�s, puzzles, stories, hayrides, talent shows, the Skyline circus, and campres. Lodging in Focus Hall. �������������������� -12- -13- 2013 OUT & ABOUT WISH LIST GRANT A HUGE SUCCESS by Laura Gayan Dear Macomb/St. Clair Autism Wish List Grant..... Thank you so much for supplying these much needed items for our sensory room. A few days ago one of my students mentioned that we needed new therapy bands and I told him that I had put in an order for some and was hoping they would arrive soon. Thank you for supporting not only parents but educators. I feel that it takes a team effort to help our children and family with ASD succeed. Thank you for being my team member. One of the many ways that we spend your hard- earned fundraising dollars is through our annual teacher “Wish List” Grant. The purpose of this grant is to fund educational materials for students affected by autism in any classroom setting, including the general education classroom, resource room, speech/occupational/physical therapy room, or Autistic Impaired classroom. A portion of the “Wish List” Grant Program funding was raised through the Chapter‛s “Annual Crop 4 Autism” fundraiser. Watch for information soon on our 2013 Crop to be held at the Macomb Intermediate School District building! Theresa Waite CORE Learning Center Teacher Roberts Elementary School I received my Skylights (www.usaskypanels. com) today. I have only had a minute to install 1 and it is awesome. When the kids walked in they noticed it right away. I cannot wait to see their reaction when all of the lights are done. Thanks. Sara Cocco Special Education Teacher I have been using our Wishlist Grant iPad with many of my ASD students. They enjoy the handwriting games as well as other eye hand coordination activities. I also use it as a figit (the bubble wrap) and as a reward for if/then statements. Kim Orosz This year we are thrilled to be able to donate nearly $20,000 in items to over 40 area Macomb/St. Clair classrooms. Classrooms ranged from pre-school to post high school ages. This year‛s requests included a large need for sensory items and specialized teaching tools. Some of the many items purchased were weighted vests, fidgets, CD players, special chairs, books, DVDs and much more. Again this year we purchased several iPad2‛s for area teachers to use with their students. We have been amazed at the advances in technology and how it is benefiting our kids. It‛s a continual process for us trying to keep up on these wonderful new “gadgets”! -14- Sensory Friendly Films for Your Family to Enjoy Together AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the “Sensory Friendly Films” program. In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, caseinfree snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC‛s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned. Step-by-step instruction for drawing animated characters from The Croods at DragoArt.com. Or to download and color. Upcoming Shows Locations: AMC Gratiot 21 35705 South Gratiot Ave, Clinton Twp, Mich. 48035 AMC Forum 30 44681 Mound Rd, Sterling Heights, Mich. 48314 March 30: The Croods (2-D) April 13: JURASSIC PARK (2-D) Tickets are $4-6 depending on location and can be purchased on the day of the event. *Please note all dates and films are subject to change Never miss a movie! Sign up for the Autism Society‛s free e-newsletter for updates on upcoming Sensory Friendly Films and more! http://www.autism-society.org/ Quick Glance at Our 2013 Chapter Sponsored Events! February 17, 2013~ Swim Outing. Macomb Recreation Aquatic Center. 6:15-8 pm. (back page) Save the Date! Spring Family Fun Day (ZOO Theme) Lakeside Mall (food court) Saturday, April 13, 2013 11:00 am —3:00 pm See You There! February 21, 2013~Support Meeting. St. Ephrems. 7 p.m. (details on p.9) March 8, 2013~ March Madness Dance. 6-8 p.m. Warren Community Center. (details on p.13) April 5, 2013~Friday Friends “Painting Escapes.” (details on p.5) June 1, 2013~Autism Scrapbook Crop. MISD. June 15, 2013~Out & About Walk/Run. Stony Creek. (details on p.2) August 23-25, 2013~Family Camp. Bear Lake Camp. -15- Private swim for families with children on the Autism Spectrum. Please join us at the Macomb Recreation Aquatic Center, Sunday , February, 17 from 6:15PM to 8PM Catch up with friends and make new ones! This is a free event specifically for FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM The Macomb Rec Center is located at: 54111 Broughton, Macomb, MI 48042 Please R.S.V.P. by emailing keith@friendsofjacob.org Macomb /St. Clair Autism Society P.O. Box 182186 Shelby Township, MI 48318
