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On Saturday, March 25, 2017 we are celebrating the 13th annual San Diego Race for Autism in Balboa Park, and it's going to be "Super!"
This family friendly event gathers together more than 6,000 families, educators, and autism professionals from across Southern California to help raise awareness and funding for one of our country's largest concerns- autism. Once considered rare, autism now affects as many as 1 in 68 children in the US, and more than 19,000 families right here in our community.
100% of the Race funds stay right here in San Diego and provide funding for early identification efforts, technical training in software testing for young adults, parent programs, educational workshops and has funded more than 600 community programs and classrooms, benefiting thousands of local children and families.
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| Many With Disabilities Fear Medicaid Cuts Will Diminish Independence |
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The current debate over Medicaid has Anastasia Somoza thinking about the Willowbrook State School, the infamous Staten Island institution for people with developmental disabilities that New York state ordered shut down in 1983, the year Somoza was born.
After touring the facility in 1965, U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy famously called it "a snake pit." He described residents "living in filth and dirt, their clothing in rags, in rooms less comfortable and cheerful than the cages in which we put animals in a zoo." Media investigations exposed similar conditions into the 1970s. Read on... |
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| The Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of A Special Education Student |
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School districts must give students with disabilities the chance to make meaningful, "appropriately ambitious" progress, the Supreme Court said Wednesday in an 8-0 ruling.
The decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District could have far-reaching implications for the 6.5 million students with disabilities in the United States.
The case centered on a child with autism and attention deficit disorder whose parents removed him from public school in fifth grade. He went on to make better progress in a private school. His parents argued that the individualized education plan provided by the public school was inadequate, and they sued to compel the school district to pay his private school tuition. Read on... |
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| 12 Classic Special-Needs Parenting Moments from ABC's "Speechless" |
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Speechless, a sitcom about a teen with cerebral palsy, his parents, and his siblings, has among many other good things given moms and dads of kids with disabilities a weekly dose of "Yep, I've been there!" moments. How many of these can you relate to?
1. When you're pretty sure the school hates your guts, but you're going to keep on doing what you do.
2. When you try to fix something for your child and only make things worse. Read on... |
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| What's the Difference Between High and Low Functioning Autism? |
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People with autism are often described as being "high functioning" or "low functioning." But there are no such diagnoses in the diagnostic manual.
In 2013, new diagnostic criteria for autism were created to describe three levels of autism. These levels are supposed to describe the level of support each individual requires. But there is nothing in the criteria that describes which strengths or challenges would slot an individual into a particular level.
And of course the level of support required by any individual varies based on the situation and setting.
So what is meant by these terms?
The answer isn't obvious. Read on... |
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| Parents and Others Looking for Help!!! |
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I have a sister with special needs. She is now 20 years old and for about one year now, she has decompensated. She had been on depakote for many years which helped managed her aggression and impulsivity but somehow her body is now "allergic" to this medication. Psychiatrists have tried different cocktails of medication to hopefully help her return to her previous lifestyle. She would participate in sports for exceptional athletes and would participate in other community activities. She does not participate in activities that she once enjoyed due to her severe aggression. She is diagnosed with Autism and intellectual disability. She has recently returned to school (she is slowly progressing). My parents care for her full time and it is a tough tough job as you might understand.
They are working with the regional center to hopefully find some respite for my parents. But honestly, we ran in to a wall with availability of services. My family is looking for a home for my sister to spend several days per week so she can learn some independent skills and detach some from my parents. I was wondering if you had any ideas of programs or homes we could look in to. Preferably in San Diego. She would be considered what they call a "level 14". Thank you! Norma [email protected]
My almost 17 year old son has high functioning autism and I'm trying to figure out what services I might be able to find for him. I'm getting nervous as he had more emotional troubles and gets closer to adulthood. Thanks. Linda [email protected]
We are new to San Diego and I am in search of a primary care pediatrician who is knowledgeable in ASD, autoimmune disorders, and chronic illnesses. My son has autoimmune thyroiditis and PANS.
Thank you!
Amber [email protected]
I am looking for a psychiatrist for my non-verbal autistic son who is 21 years old and has self-injurious behaviors. Does anyone have experience with Dr. Joshua Feder or recommend anyone else?
Thanks.
Sarah
[email protected]
Family with Bi-polar and ADHD and other mental illness 12 /15 year olds seeking childcare worker with appropriate experience - especially residential/group home experience to help after school and weekend help. Carmel Valley/Del Mar area. [email protected]
Our soon-to-be 15 year-old son has Aspergers and ADHD. We would like to find him an occupation (camp, job...) this Summer that would help him progress with his life skills and social skills, and have him experience something different. We have him registered for the LIT camp at the Y (he did it last year), but he doesn't care for it much. He doesn't like sports but loves Science and wants to become a physicist. Would someone have some advice?
Thank you!
Sandrine [email protected]
We are moving to San Diego area and are wondering if anyone can offer recommendations about elementary schools in Poway area that may be suitable for our child who is 6 yr old with high functioning autism/aspergers and ADHD.
No behavioral issues but needs speech/OT/Executive functioning skills at school which are in his current IEP.
Any advice on elementary schools in poway area would be greatly appreciated.
Rishi [email protected]
We are looking for a reliable respite care provider. We are located in Oceanside.
Please email highly recommended provider info to [email protected]
My 21 year old daughter with high functioning autism is looking for a female roommate starting in the fall of 2017. Apartment is located in the 5025 Collwood Blvd student oriented community near SDSU. She is hoping to find a like minded girl who likes anime, cosplay, gaming and who does not smoke/drink/drugs. The apartment complex is student oriented but you are not required to be a student. The apartment is a 2 bedroom/2 bath and the roommate must be willing to share a bedroom and bath. There will 4 residents (2 in each bedroom). Each tenant has an individual lease and all utilities are included. Rent is approx. $660 each. There is a pool, gym and free shuttle to SDSU, Grossmont and Mesa. Please contact Debra at (619) 672-8893 or [email protected] and leave a message.
If you have a question or request for this newsletter group, please send your email request to [email protected]. People who can help you will email you directly with their responses. |
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| Special Needs Resource Foundation's Flourishing Families!!! |
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We're so excited to present the 2017 edition of Flourishing Families, San Diego's resource guide for parents of children with special needs.
This year's issue contains more than 950 resources including service providers, research institutes, specialized doctors, resource providers, camps, therapists, advocates, associations and so much more.
Flourishing Families is available as a print magazine, a digital issue and in an online directory! |
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| Encinitas Dance/Karaoke Party Every Month! |
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Please contact Lisa at [email protected] for all the info!!! |
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| San Diego has a New Comprehensive Center Dedicated to the Treatment of Autism |
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A state-of-the-art clinic featuring advanced biomedical, behavioral, & sensory-motor therapies for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
This Clinic is headed up by Dr. Suzanne Goh. Dr. Suzanne Goh is a board-certified pediatric neurologist with expertise in the evaluation and treatment of children with neurological conditions that impact brain development, cognition, and behavior.
Dr. Goh received her Bachelors of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in History and Science from Harvard University (1993-1997). She went on to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar (1997-1999). In 2004, she graduated from Harvard Medical School, cum laude. Dr. Goh completed her Pediatrics internship at Massachusetts General Hospital and her Pediatric Neurology residency at University of California San Francisco. Click here for more info about Dr. Goh.
Pediatric Neurology Therapeutics
7090 Miratech Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
858-304-6440
http://www.gohmd.com
Dr. Suzanne Goh with the ultimate medical breakthrough that changes lives. |
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| Face Your Fears! For Children 9-12 with ASD! |
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The "Face Your Fears" program provides your child the skills to more effectively manage their behavior in anxious situations and enhances your child's ability to cope with anxiety that negatively affect their daily lives. Face Your Fears is provided to kids in a small safe group and at the same time, parents participate in a separate group, so they can support what their child learns. Face Your Fears is a cognitive-behavioral evidence-based intervention with over a decade of funded research support.
Center for Thoughtful Lasting Change, Inc.
9606 Tierra Grande St, Suite 203
San Diego, CA 92126
619-807-7410
[email protected]
http://www.drsherrycasper.com |
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| Monthly Membership Program at MicroCurrent 4 Kids! |
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Here at Microcurrent Healing, we hope you keep gratitude in your heart this Thanksgiving season. We also wanted to express our gratitude for such wonderful clients by offering you the easiest and most cost-effective way to come in for regular and follow-up therapy sessions. Announcing our New Monthly Membership Plan!
Monthly Membership $89
With the ease of a monthly auto-payment you will earn 1 session each month, plus any additional sessions you wish to buy will all be billed at our member rate of only $80 each! Membership provides the lowest cost-per-session option (36% off single session rate) and relives the burden of paying a large lump sum up front. Best of all the effects of microcurrent therapy are cumulative! So the more you come in, the better results you will see in your child's mental and physical health!
*6-month contract required
Membership Benefits Include:
- One 30-min Microcurrent Therapy session; a full-body detox (systemic), or an anti-aging facial* for Mom (*Now offering facials, call for more details)
- Unlimited additional sessions at our lowest member rate
- Discounts for adding family members to your membership
- Unused sessions roll over from month to month and can be shared with others
- Earn free sessions by referring friends
If you are looking for autism treatment like cranial sacral, PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field), transcranial magnetic stim, FSM (frequency specific microcurrent), hyperbaric oxygenation, MRT (magnetic resonance therapy), chelation, or other alternative treatment options -give us a call to learn about how Microcurrent 4 Kids may be the better choice for you and your family!
Microcurrent 4 Kids
4540 Kearny Villa Rd, Ste 211
San Diego, CA 92123
[email protected]
858 257-1404
http://www.microcurrent4kids.com |
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| Estate Planning for Families with Disabilities |
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Leaving assets, whether through gift, will, or a trust, to a beneficiary receiving means-tested public benefits will in most cases simply cause them to forfeit their eligibility and lose their benefits!!!
In some cases, if the bequest or gift is of sufficient size to more than compensate for a lifetime of benefits, this may be acceptable. In most cases, however, such a bequest will simply cause a few years of ineligibility until the gifted funds are exhausted. Since there are excellent special needs planning alternatives, such a result is inevitably the result of poor or no planning, and a sad waste of family resources. Thoughtful estate planning can preserve public benefits and supplement care to assure your family member will be provided for the way you want, even after your death. A properly drafted special needs trust can provide for a child or adult with a disability, and assure that there is funding for care beyond what is provided by public benefit programs like SSI, Medi-Cal, IHSS and the Regional Center. Assets in a properly drafted special needs trust will not cause someone to be disqualified from any of these programs. Click here for all the info!!! |
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| Start RDI Today!!! |
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Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®)
Our primary approach for treatment of autism spectrum is a developmental program called Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®). RDI® is a unique treatment approach that empowers parents to guide their child to succeed in our dynamic world. Children who learn to actively engage with the support of their parents in safe but challenging learning opportunities develop a strong motivation to explore and expand their world, as well as develop competence and trust in themselves and their guides.
Why RDI®?
Foundations of the adult mind are developed in the first years of life through the "Guiding Relationship". From the middle of the first year of life, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, in every culture on earth, children interact with parents and other important adults in deceptively simple encounters, with a very serious underlying agenda; constructing the architecture of the child's mind and brain. Click here for all the info!!!
The Family Guidance and Therapy Center of Southern California
3575 Kenyon Street, Suite 102 San Diego, CA 92110
10731 Treena Street, Suite 105 San Diego, CA 92131
619-600-0683
http://familyguidanceandtherapy.com |
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| Dating: A Practical Guide for People on the Autism/Asperger's Spectrum |
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Author: a 49-year-old man with Asperger's Syndrome
As a 49-year-old guy, I have been actively dating for about 31 years now. Although for the first 11 years my efforts yielded almost nothing, the next 20 years yielded several long term relationships, hundreds of first dates, a few close friends, and many interesting stories and experiences. Through trial and error I have learned some things about meeting partners that may be helpful for others who are trying to find a special someone in their life. I hope what I have learned helps you!
Where to Meet Potential Partners
When you're a student in high school or college it is easy to meet well-matched potential romantic partners. Almost all of the other students are roughly the same age as you, relationships usually turn over within a few months or even weeks so most people in partnerships will soon be single again, and it is easy to gradually get to know other students, especially if you have classes together. All of these factors make it easier to meet potential partners. Read on... |
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| Recess Readiness Camp |
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Recess Readiness Camp - ABA based recreation programs are designed to help children with social and behavioral challenges be successful. Participants will engage in various games that might be seen during recess. Program is ran by skills trainers trained in ABA and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
When: April 10-14 9-11 am
Where: Spring Valley
How much: $235
Interested? Contact Jessica at (858) 634-8300 or [email protected]
www.centerforchildren.org |
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| Autism Accessibility Morning at the Fleet! |
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In February we began our, Autism Accessibility Mornings at the Fleet (http://rhfleet.org/events/autism-accessibility-mornings), program. This morning is dedicated to the ASD community to come and enjoy the Fleet in a quieter setting and catch an IMAX film! Our film showings are presented with raised house lights and a lowered soundtrack volume, to provide a more comforting environment. Our goal is to provide an enriching experience for the ASD community
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| SIBSHOP 2016-2017 Schedule |
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October 2016 - August 2017
WANTED: Siblings who have a brother/sister with special needs
AGES: 7 - 12 years old
Older siblings are welcome to attend as "Junior Leaders"
WHAT: A fun-filled opportunity geared to the specific needs of siblings with brothers/sisters with special needs. Join us for games, crafts, hikes, cooking, and art. Meet other sibs - lunch provided
TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
DATES:
March 19: Family / Community (Amtrak Train Ride) **
April 30: Mission Trails Regional Park
May 21: Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center
July 9: Day at Mission Bay, family picnic **
August 13: Santee Lakes, 9310 Fanita Pkwy, Santee, CA 92071**
DONATION: $5.00 - $10.00 per meeting per family for craft materials, supplies & lunch for the kids
REGISTRATION: Pre-registration requested (if possible) the Thursday before the event.
CONTACT: Email [email protected] for a registration form and / or additional information.
Sibshop Leaders: Jody BonDurant-Strong, Administrator Gina Clifton, ECSE Medically-Fragile Teacher, Special Education
Pat Moulton, Retired
**Information for family / community locations will be emailed.
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| Children with autism and their mothers need for student research! |
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My name is Ariane Myers-Turnbull and I am a doctoral student at Alliant International University. I am currently recruiting participants for a project that is examining why children with autism are injured more often than children without autism. To participate you must be a mother of a child who is between the ages of 3 and 7 years old and who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (i.e. autism, Asperger's, pervasive developmental disorder).
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to come into a lab at Alliant International University to complete consent forms and questionnaires about you and your child. You will then be asked to observe your child in a room with simulated common household hazards from a live video. Your child will also be asked to complete simple tasks such as working with blocks. Overall, your participation in this study should take about 90 minutes.
After you and your child complete these tasks you will receive $20, be entered into a drawing for $400, and your child will receive a prize in appreciation for your participation. You will also receive a video of your child in the room and safety proofing materials. For further information please contact Ariane Myers-Turnbull at [email protected] or (858) 414-1076. Thank you for your time.
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| Know someone who may have autism, age 40-65 years? |
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| Participate in a Study!!! |
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We are currently recruiting for the Parenting on the Spectrum Study, a brief study with mothers of children between the ages of 3 and 7 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study is completed online, with the option (for participants living in the Greater Los Angeles Area) of conducting additional sessions in the home. We will ask parents about their experiences of parenthood.
https://pomona.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3mxyR3CkuXFV6ip
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| Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Driving Anxiety - FREE 10 week program for teens and adults with ASD in San Diego! |
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This is a FREE group-format intervention for teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders who are interested in driving, but are dealing with driving fear/anxiety.
Please share this flyer with anyone in the community that may qualify. We are only asking that our participants are minimum 15-16 years of age (i.e. of potential driving age) and have a formal diagnosis of ASD. There is no upper limit for age. The groups will be held in the Kearny Mesa area (zip code 92123).
858-966-7703 x3682
[email protected]
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| Do you know someone with Autism?? |
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| Participate in Research!!! |
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| Research Study Recruitment |
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My name is Sarah Hacker and I'm the staff research associate for UCSD's Research on Autism and Development Lab (
http://radlab.ucsd.edu). We are currently recruiting participants for a study to measure the effects of training visual attention using video games. I was wondering if it were possible to put an ad on your website or in your newsletter for the purposes of reaching out to members of the autism community who might be interested in participating. I've attached a flyer for the study which outlines what happens, inclusion criteria, and compensation. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
Thank you,
Sarah D. Hacker
Staff Research Associate - RADLab
[email protected]
[email protected] 858-246-1932
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| Autism Effects on Attentional Blink |
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For more information, please contact Sofia Schugar at the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab: 858-353-4929 (feel free to leave voicemail) or via email at
[email protected]
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| UCSD TEAM-UP Weight Loss Program for Children with ASD |
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TEAM UP (Transforming Eating, Activity, and Motivation Utilizing Parents) is a 16-week, parent-only group program focused on weight-loss, increasing physical activity, and promoting fruits and vegetables, designed specifically for parents of children with ASD. This research study is free of charge, and families will be compensated for participating. Interested families should call 855-UCSD-4W8 to get started.
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| Seeking Research Participants for Autistic Sibling Study |
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Seeking individuals over the age of 18 who grew up with an autistic sibling to participate in a study exploring the experiences of growing up in a family with an autistic brother or sister.
Participation will involve an in-depth interview, lasting between 1 to 1.5 hours about your autistic sibling experiences and a brief follow-up meeting about six weeks later.
The purpose of the study is to provide an in-depth retrospective exploration of the experiences of adults who grew up with an autistic sibling.
Eligibility requirements for participation in the study include:
- Must have lived with autistic sibling for at least 8 years
- Sibling must have been diagnosed with autism during childhood
- Interested participant must be at least 18 years of age
Participants will be provided a $100 Amazon gift card following the interview.
Interested participants can email Barbara Tierney at:
[email protected]
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