April 2014 E-Newsletter 
In This Issue
Our Mission
Our Programs
Walkabout Abilities
2013 Annual Report
C&O Canal Bike Ride
National Walk for Epilepsy
Autism Awareness Month
Letter from Lee
 

 Our Mission

 

To challenge the community to acknowledge the value and equality of people of all abilities.
  
 Our Programs
  • Autism Services
  • Community and Employment Partners
  • Epilepsy Services
  • Healthy Families
  • Project ACT
  • Senior Services 

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8th Annual Walkabout Abilities   

  

  
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 21
 
WHERE: Goucher College
1021 Dulaney Valley Road
Baltimore | MD 21204 

  

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Lauren Dunn at
(410) 828-7700 ext. 1229,
(800) 492-2523 or ldunn@abilitiesnetwork.org.

Abilities Network's 2013 Annual Report

 

 

It's here! Check out the online version of our 2013 annual report "Different Perspectives!"

 

If you would like a printed copy mailed to you, please e-mail chammond@abilitiesnetwork.org.

C&O Canal Bike Ride 

  

  
It's time to ride! Support the 4th Annual Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Bike Ride to benefit Abilities Network! Register or donate today! 

2014 National Walk for Epilepsy   

  

  
Team Epilepsy Foundation Chesapeake Region (EFCR) walked with pride at the 2014 National Walk for Epilepsy held on Saturday, March 22, in D.C. 
  
Team EFCR placed in both Most Dollars Raised and Most Registrants! Check out all of the 2014 top teams! 
  
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Abilities Network
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Towson, Maryland 21286 
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April is Autism Awareness Month

 

 

By: Shelly McLaughlin, Pathfinders for Autism

 
We've all been there. The glaring stares of others as our children react by melting down from sensory overload, or race to the kitchen to explore the inner workings at a restaurant, or repeatedly jump up with excitement when everyone else is sitting quietly. So how do we explain autism to someone who doesn't understand, has never had close experience with someone with autism, or who hasn't yet learned that autism is a broad spectrum disorder? Here are some everyday examples to help people understand autism using familiar frameworks.
 
Verbal does not mean smarter 
Have you ever had a bad case of laryngitis? It was frustrating not being able to say what you meant or ask for things you needed, wasn't it? But while you couldn't speak, you were still processing information and your intelligence level certainly didn't change. And were you given the benefit of alternative communication by using a pencil and paper, or a computer?
 
Running out of the classroom
Sensory overload might be difficult for most of us to appreciate. So imagine putting a desk inside the Harbor Tunnel during rush hour. About 40 feet away from the desk stands a teacher who is going to orally give you algebraic word problems to complete. How long would you be able to sit there with the flashing lights and thunderous sounds of the cars racing by? And how well would you do on those algebra problems?
 
OUCH - that hurts!
Let's continue with more on sensory issues. Have you ever had a tag in your shirt that really bothered you? Yes? Good. Now let's add cactus needles to that tag. Lots of them. We don't know why people with autism have incredibly heightened sensitivities, but they are very real.
 
Over excitement
Let's pretend you and your child are attending a birthday party where a magician is performing. Your child is jumping up and excitedly running up to the magician or calling out and another parent is noticeably annoyed and asks you to control your child. While we would all agree that this parent perhaps needs his own time out, remind him how it feels when we go to a baseball or football game and our team has just hit a homerun or scored a touchdown. We jump, we yell, we high-five the strangers behind us. If only the rest of us could experience that level of joy from everyday activities.
 
Flexible thinking and transitions
We all recently experienced the joy of preparing our taxes. You were in that "tax zone" - your mind fully concentrating on receipts, expenses and wondering what other exemptions you may have forgotten. How would you have reacted if while in this zone, someone came along and turned your computer off? Or how would you react if during the Superbowl in a close game in the 4th quarter your cable suddenly went out? That's how our child who is working on a puzzle feels when you suddenly announce it's time to pack up and go.
 
Must touch!
We've been in the elevator and have seen "that look" in our children's eyes and we know what they are about to do. Yes - they are going to hit every button. As the other passengers begin to roll their eyes, ask them to take a moment (because you have the time now on this long elevator ride!) and think of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. But they can't have one. The soft doughy centers, the gooey chocolate, the irresistible smell. And it's a giant plate full, so no one would even notice if one was missing. And the plate is so close it's almost touching their shirts. But, they are not allowed to eat one and really, they need to pretend the cookies aren't there. How easy is that?
 
That's not what I meant
How often have you gotten an email or sent an email and the intention of the message was completely misunderstood? Without the verbal tones and facial cues most of us rely on for message interpretation, it's not uncommon to misread intent. Now, imagine all of your communication was carried out by tone deaf emails and you had to guess the intent of each message. Or, travel to a far away country and try to understand metaphors that are cultural specific and make no sense to you. Think how much more comfortable you would be in that country if people just said exactly what they meant.
 
We're not fooling ourselves. There will always be people who don't understand, or who don't display the tolerance we wish they had. But maybe together we can reach enough people to make a difference and give people that "ah-ha!" moment and make the world a more comfortable place for the people we love with autism. 
 
*Trish Kane, Abilities Network board member and Walkabout Abilities co-chair, works for Pathfinders for Autism. She recommended that we share this educational, yet relatable piece.
 
For information on Abilities Network's Autism Services, please visit our website, or call 410-828-7700 (local) or 800-492-2523 (toll free).

Letter from Lee

 

Caregivers Deserve a Raise

 

By: Lee Ann Kingham

 

As the CEO of Abilities Network, a member of the Maryland Association of Community Services and a provider of services to individuals with disabilities, I just want to add my voice to those advocating for an increase in wages for our direct support staff ("Fairness for caregivers," March 21).

 

These staff are asked to do a difficult and high level job at very low pay. All of our consumers work in individually selected jobs in their communities, and staff must be highly trained to support them to ensure that they provide the high quality job performance each employer expects. Please help us continue to put these independent, well-trained staff out in the community to support our constituents with disabilities by supporting this legislation.

 

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