Teamwork

Helping Today, Building Tomorrow
April 2017 - Issue #116
Arizona Autism United (AZA United)
In this issue...
AZ Gives Day
Disney on Ice
Sibshops
Systems of Care Blog


AZA Online

Link of the Month 


      
Spectrum Inspired, an organization that gives free professional photography sessions to children with autism. To apply, click below.   

CLICK HERE 

          
Thank You for Your Support
Thank you so much for supporting AZA United on AZ Gives Day. With your help, we raised over $5,000 in one day! Donations to AZA United ensure that we continue to advance our mission to help as many families as possible with individualized supports.

The children and families we serve can use all the help they can get to overcome challenges, and donors play a critical part in making this happen. Thank you for investing in our community!

Supporting Arizona Autism United is very easy, learn how here:
www.azaunited.org/donate

 
If you would like to visit our office to learn more about AZA United, please contact us at 602-773-5780 or Paulina@AZAunited.org. 

 
Mickey & Minnie Made our Families Happy
We would like to thank Change Your Stars Foundation for giving us 90 tickets to Disney On Ice. Several autism families were able to enjoy this show at no cost.

For Arizona Autism United it is important that families have the opportunity to attend events in the community. It was a magical night with Mikey & Minnie, Aladdin, Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Anna, Elsa and many more characters.

Families shared:

"We would never just go and do something like this with my son, but because of you all we were able to go out and have a fun family night!  Thank you!!"

"Our family was so excited to attend! They've never been to one of these events. Anytime we can try new experiences we are thrilled. We are so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you again!"

For opportunities like this, continue to read our monthly newsletters and follow us on Facebook!


A Fun Event Dedicated to Siblings

AZA United's Sibshops program is available to all siblings of children with autism and other special needs, ages 7 through 14, in the valley!  You do not need to be a current AZA client to participate.


These fun and energetic events acknowledge the life-long concerns of siblings and facilitate connections among participants in a relaxed and recreational setting. During these sessions, triumphs and concerns are discussed providing attendees the tools to handle challenging situations that are usually experienced by siblings.
These events are led by our Sibshops certified clinical staff.   

Our next event will be on Saturday, May 6th from 10 AM to 12 PM at our offices. To register, click here. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

For questions, contact
familyoutreach@azaunited.org or 480-302-5152. We hope you can join the fun!
 

NEW BLOG: Navigating the Systems of Care
When you suspect your child may have a developmental delay, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This is where AZA United's Outreach Team can help. As parents of children with autism, the Outreach Team empathetically understands your journey. We can assist you in finding a diagnostician and navigating the systems of care. When seeking services, it is important to take your funding source into consideration.

If you have private insurance, start by contacting your plan's benefit department. Many plans cover Speech Therapy , Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. Some plans also cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) . For step-by-step help, see this guide from the Arizona Autism Coalition.

Applying for government-funded services is another important step for families to ensure your child is eligible for the many services provided through Arizona's Medicaid program for individuals with disabilities. The Outreach Team at AZA United talks to families every day to help them understand the details of the application and approval process. Visit the How to Access Funding for Services page on our website for important phone numbers and websites.

For families with children under the age of three, call...

To read the rest of this blog, click here. 




Picture of the Month
 
"Family love!" 

    
Got a great picture?  Share the love!   
 
Email us at info@AZAunited.org