THIS MONTH'S SPONSORS
On Saturday, March 28, 2020 we are celebrating the 16th Anniversary of the Race for Autism in Balboa Park and it's going to be "SUPER!"
This family friendly event gathers together more than 5,000 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 affects as many as 1 in 59 children in the US, and more than 20,000 families right here in our community.
100% of the Race funds stay right here in San Diego and helps to provide funding for early identification and education efforts, technical training in software testing for young adults, parent programs, instructional workshops and has funded nearly 900 community programs and classrooms, benefiting thousands of local children and families.
Please join us in making a difference on March 28th. Because everyone can be a SUPERHERO!
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| Intervention is essential for reducing loneliness and social isolation in ASD |
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Throughout typical development children must be surrounded by peers both for their well-being and for ample growth of their cognitive, linguistic, and social skills. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), peer interaction is a core deficit. More specifically, young children with ASD (preschoolers) do not appear to show the same patterns as their typically developing counterparts along the three key domains associated with efficient peer interaction-social interactive skills, play, and conversation.
Early social engagement challenges experienced by young children with ASD may limit their early peer relationship experiences and reduce later peer engagement. Although peer relations comprise a core social-communicative deficit in ASD, relevant randomized controlled trials of peer programs for young children with ASD are scarce.
A recent study, conducted by researchers at Bar-Ilan University and published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, aimed at bridging this research gap by evaluating the efficacy of the Preschool Peer Social Intervention (PPSI) in facilitating peer engagement among preschoolers with ASD. The major goal of the PPSI intervention was to increase social engagement of preschoolers with ASD during mixed interactions with their peers with ASD and peers with typical development. Read on... |
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| Long-term study tracks persistence of self-harm in autistic people |
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Autistic people who are hyperactive or have difficulty controlling their own impulses are the most likely to show persistent self-injury, according to a new study1. The 10-year study is one of the longest to track self-harming behaviors in people with autism.
Most studies follow people with autism for fewer than five years or are based on clinical populations, which may include people with a high degree of disability. And little is known about the trajectory of self-injury throughout an autistic person's life.
The new research offers insights into self-injury in a more general autism population, says lead investigator Caroline Richards, clinical psychologist at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Read on... |
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| Ed Department: More Students Being Served Under IDEA |
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The number of American schoolchildren receiving special education services is on the rise and they're increasingly being served in mainstream classrooms at least part of the day.
More than 6.1 million students across the country ages 6 to 21 - or 9.2 percent of all kids - were served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available. That's up from 8.6 percent of children in 2008. Read on... |
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| Study detects abnormally low levels of a key protein in brains of young men with autism |
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Using cutting-edge imaging technology, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have shown that the brains of young men with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have low levels of a protein that appears to play a role in inflammation and metabolism. This surprising discovery, which published online today in the journal Molecular Psychiatry provides an important new insight into the possible origins of ASD, which affects one in 59 children.
ASD is a developmental disorder that emerges in early childhood and is characterized by difficulty communicating and interacting with others. While the cause is unknown, growing evidence has linked ASD to inflammation of brain tissue, or neuroinflammation. One sign of neuroinflammation is elevated levels of a substance called translocator protein (TSPO), which can be measured and located in the brain using positron-emission tomography (PET) and anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MGH study, led by Nicole Zurcher, Ph.D., an investigator in MGH's Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, was the first to use a new generation of PET "tracers," which more accurately detect TSPO, to examine the brains of people with ASD. Read on... |
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| Family and Others Looking for Help!!! |
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Do you receive SSI? Don't miss out on food benefits!
Beginning June 2019, many Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will become eligible for CalFresh Food Benefits.
There is NO CHANGE or reduction to SSI/SSP amounts. For more information Click, Call or Come in to your county office to apply and find out more.
Click GetCalFresh.org to apply online
Call 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD)
Come in/find an office at CalFreshFood.org
San Diego Futures - I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of this organization because it can be a helpful resource to families in need of computers and other technology who may not have the resources they need to secure technology for their homes. If anyone needs a laptop or desktop and cannot afford one, please consider reaching out to this group. Desktops and laptops are available at VERY low prices for eligible families. https://sdfutures.org/for-individuals/
My 23 year-old son's psychologist is retiring and I am having trouble finding a new psychologist who has experience working with young adults with special needs/disabilities. My son is on the spectrum and has recently suffered anxiety and depression due to some difficult health issues. He also suffers from feelings of isolation and loneliness. I would love any recommendations for someone in the San Diego area and it would really be a plus to find a provider who also contracted with Medicare. You can contact me at: [email protected].
Thank you
A quick question about parents dealing with removing wisdom teeth for their kids on the spectrum. Is it really necessary to remove wisdom teeth? I know the dentists will said it is so. But if they are not bothering my son, why bother?
If parents have children or young adults, that have gone through the procedure, can we get some feedback?
Thanks Bart, Laura and Jack Schley [email protected]
Can I ask your perspective on the Medi-Cal dentist scene in San Diego? Have you heard of any particular M-Cal dentists who are good with adults on the spectrum? Our son has always had his dental work done while he's "asleep" through anesthesia. He simply doesn't have the ability to cooperate--other than getting into the chair and getting through the anesthesia process. That's a challenge in itself but it's manageable. Thank you for your recommendations. Our son lives near SDSU so anything central would be great but we're willing to drive for great service. Thank you! -- Julie [email protected]
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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| Groups for children, teens and young adults enrolling now! |
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Wondering if your child might benefit from joining a group? Give us a call at 858-558-9552 to schedule a free consultation.
Social Communication Specialists
5703 Oberlin Dr., Ste 207
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 558-9552
[email protected]
https://socialcommunicationspecialists.com |
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| Autism Society Family Camp in Julian |
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We are happy to offer Family Camp to our current Autism Society San Diego Members. Click here to become a member!
Friday March 13 - Sunday March 15, 2020
YMCA Camp Marston, Julian, CA 92036
The YMCA of San Diego County Overnight Camps and Autism Society San Diego have teamed up to provide families who are part of the autism community with a fun weekend in the mountains of Julian. Family time is important and there's no better place to make friends and be yourself than YMCA Camp Marston. Click here for all the info and to sign up!!! |
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| Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation by Autism Mom Yvette Soto |
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I offer professional accounting services that are customized to your specific needs, including full service computerized bookkeeping, payroll and tax preparation for individuals and small to medium sized businesses.
Services Provided:
- Bookkeeping Services
- Business Consulting
- Payroll Preparation
- Income Tax Return Preparation
- Notary Public Services
Customer service is my number one priority. I like to work closely with my clients to make sure they understand how their business is doing.
As a small business owner it is important that you spend your time on running your business and not on bookkeeping. Let me give you the peace of mind you deserve by utilizing my 20+ years of diversified experience in accounting and in business.
Call to setup an appointment for a free initial consultation so that I can evaluate your bookkeeping needs and provide you with a quote.
Yvette Soto
3633 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 205
San Diego, CA. 92108
Phone (619) 977-6586
[email protected]
http://www.yvettesoto.com |
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| FREE One-Day Tennis Clinic |
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Aceing Autism, USPTA - Elevate and I are teaming up to provide a free tennis clinic for children with autism between the ages of 5-18. The event will be held on Saturday April 4th, 2020 from 3:00-5:00pm at Bobby Riggs Tennis Club.
The goal of this free tennis clinic is to provide an opportunity to children interested in tennis that might not have had the option of playing in a group setting before. The event will lead into a 6-week tennis session starting on Saturday April 18th, 2020 at Lomas Santa Fe CC.
Clinic Participants:
https://aceingautism.org/locations/solana-beach-ca/ |
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| GYMGUYZ of Coastal San Diego |
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Owned by a special needs family member. Provides in-Home Personal Training for children and adults of all abilities with certified trainers with special needs experience. A fitness readiness assessment including medical history and body composition analysis leads to a comprehensive plan of goal setting, ability-appropriate exercise, and nutrition counseling. All equipment is brought to your home, park or workplace.
Call to Schedule your Complementary In-Home Consultation worth $110.
Call 619-641-9740 and check us out at: www.gymguyz.com/coastal-san-diego/ |
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| FREE! - Toilet Training for Children with Autism |
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Mon, March 9, 2020
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
SDSU Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders
6363 Alvarado Court
San Diego, CA 92120
The SDSU Center for Autism is pleased to host the second in a three part series of talks in collaboration with Lauren Cox, BCBA. Toileting is one of the most necessary skills for a young child to have in order to be successful outside of the home environment. Many schools require that your little one be toilet trained before she or he is able to enroll in school. Becoming toilet trained is a common struggle for children on the autism spectrum due to language and motor impairments. We will go step by step to prepare you and your little learner to be successful in toilet training. We will cover some common programs to begin with your child, and how we can support the family during toilet training. Childcare will be provided at this event.
Click here to reserve your tickets for this event!!! |
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| SJSU Research Study Participants Needed |
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My research team and I are writing to let you know of an exciting opportunity for your online community to participate in a research study. The research study is looking at friendship quality, social participation, and social networks in young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We would like to understand the causes and impacts of social deficits in order to contribute to the development of social skills training programs for use with adolescents and young adults. This is our capstone project to partially fulfil our Master's degree, and the Principal Investigator (PI) of the study is Dr. Megan Chang at San Jose State University.
We are recruiting individuals diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 18-35 who have adequate conversational skills. If you believe that your community may be interested in participating in this study or if you would like additional information, please contact myself at [email protected]. By volunteering, participants may benefit through reflection and may develop increased self-awareness. |
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| Winning Entries of the Finding Your Inner MozArt Art Contest |
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The Art of Autism and Mainly Mozart nonprofits thank all who submitted their art to the Finding Your Inner MozArt art contest. Mainly Mozart is providing $1,700 of prize money to the 1st through 3rd place winners of this contest. The winning entries will be available for auction at the Mozart & The Mind Showcase gala on April 11 at Oceanside Museum.
We would like to thank professional artist Will Weston and Director Emeritus of the San Diego Museum of Modern Art Hugh Davies for their judging comments and expertise. The theme of this year's art contest was music and/or synesthesia.
Click here for all the info and to see the winning art!!! |
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| IEP Parent Bootcamp Class |
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Sat, March 14, 2020
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
ARTC
11770 Bernardo Plaza Court #116
San Diego, CA 92128
Cost: $198 - possibly payable by SDRC vendor #PY2076
*Are you confused by your child's IEP?
*Do you wish you knew more about special education to better help your child?
*Are you convinced that your child could be performing better at school?
*Are you ready to learn how to advocate for your own child, just like the pros?
If these questions apply to you, then you must join us in March for our IEP Parent Bootcamp Series. Don't be afraid to jump in and learn with us!
In an interactive, fun, and intimate environment, you will become empowered as your child's best advocate. You will learn secret tips and knowledge gained from Crystal's 20+ years experience in special education in public schools, while also parenting her own child with Autism. Now Crystal serves the special needs community by advocating strong alongside fellow California Autism moms in IEPs. Click here for all the info and to register!!! |
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| Friendship Walk SD 2020 |
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Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Liberty Station NTC Park
2455 Cushing Rd., San Diego, California 92106
FRIENDSHIP WALK & ISRAEL FESTIVAL
Walk With Your Heart
The annual Friendship Walk is the Friendship Circle's largest fundraiser of the year. Individuals, families, organizations, and businesses unite to show their committed support for a cause that touches the heart of the San Diego community. Again, the Federation of San Diego is teaming with the Friendship Circle of San Diego in honor of Israel's Day of Independence by offering exciting festivities for everyone to enjoy after the walk! Funds raised through this year's walk will greatly benefit the lives of individuals with special needs in San Diego. Click here for all the info and to register!!! |
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| Spring Into SPARK with the UCSD Autism Center of Excellence |
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Visit UC San Diego's Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) on Saturday, March 14th for free refreshments, games, entertainment, and the opportunity to join SPARK - the largest study of autism ever! Thousands of families across the country have already joined. There is no cost to participate in the study and parking is free at the event.
RSVP is REQUIRED. Contact us at 858-534-6906 or [email protected].
Learn more here: http://bit.ly/SpringIntoSPARK. |
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| ASD Mornings at the NAT |
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The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is pleased to offer a program for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community: a once-a-month ASD Morning in which the Museum opens early for adults and children on the autism spectrum and their families, friends, and caregivers. This innovative program encourages individuals to explore, play, and discover the treasures The Nat has to offer in an environment that is comfortable for them.
ASD Mornings take place the second Sunday of every month. The Museum will open at 9 AM*, one hour earlier than its standard 10 AM opening time, providing a quiet and less-crowded environment for visitors to explore the Museum's galleries at their own pace. In addition, on ASD Mornings the Museum will offer a "quiet room" from 9 AM to noon if visitors need a quiet space to decompress or desensitize. General admission rates apply during ASD Mornings.
www.sdnhm.org
877.946.7797
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| Autism Accessibility Morning at the Fleet! |
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The third Saturday of every month, Fleet invites the Autism Spectrum Community to enjoy our museum through this special opportunity. Adults and families with children with autism can enjoy the Fleet's exhibit galleries in a quieter setting, an hour before regular open hours to the general public and with access to a special cool-off space. Visitors are welcome to stay and enjoy the museum all day. Admission includes a special IMAX film screening at 10 a.m. with the house lights on and a lower soundtrack volume.
For more information, visit www.fleetscience.org/events/autism-accessibility-mornings.
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| Everyone Deserves a Loving Home |
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| Autism Through the Lifespan |
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Please RSVP for Spanish Translation support
For further information, please contact:
Carolyn Carterette, M.A. (619) 725-8080 email: [email protected]
Grace Fantaroni, Ed.D. (619) 563-2839 email [email protected]
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| Therapeutic Recreation Services 2020 Spring Calendar |
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The Spring 2020 Calendar is now available! Here is the link to the new program calendar: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/trscalendarspring.pdf
The 1st day of registration for Spring activities will be this Saturday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. Registration can be done online at www.sdrecconnect.com or at our office at the War Memorial Building- 3325 Zoo Drive, San Diego CA 92101. If you plan on registering at our office, please remember we no longer take cash as a method of payment.
The 1st day of Summer Camp registrations will be on Saturday, March 7th at 10:00 a.m. Camp dates and times can be found on page 7.
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| Webinar: Learn About RDI with Kiki Haddad! |
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| Webinar: Learn About RDI with Brooke Wagner |
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| Toddler MRI Study at SDSU |
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Our Center's research arm, the Brain Development Imaging Labs, is conducting a fascinating study looking at how young children's brains change as they get older. We are looking for kids (15 months to 5 years old) who are on the spectrum or who are suspected to have autism. Participants get a free assessment (plus assessment summary), free MRI scan, $150, AND a free picture of their brain!
For more info or to sign up, please call us at 619-594-2500 or email us at [email protected]. Thank you! http://autism.sdsu.edu
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| Participate in SPARK at UCSD |
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UC San Diego's Autism Center of Excellence is seeking individuals diagnosed with ASD and their biological family members to participate in SPARK, the largest national genetics research project in US history! The SPARK study aims to gain a better understanding of the causes and potential treatments of autism by building a cohort of 50,000 diagnosed individuals to facilitate research on an unprecedented scale. There is NO cost to participate in the study and it can even be completed without leaving the house!
What we do
SPARK researchers extract genetic data through a saliva sample and analyze information collected from thousands of people with autism and their biological parents. UCSD and over 20 of the nation's leading medical schools are part of this effort.
How to join*
1. Sign up online at
www.sparkforautism.org/ucsd.sarrc -- registration typically takes about 20 minutes. Using this link connects you to our site, which enables us to better follow up with you if you encounter any issues or have specific questions.
2. Complete a few questionnaires online.
3. Provide a saliva sample. A saliva collection kit will be sent directly to your home after registration. When you are done, simply mail it back in the prepaid mailer.
Benefits of joining
1. Individuals with autism will receive gift cards valued at up to a total of $50 for participation.
2. SPARK hosts monthly webinars, featuring psychologists, researchers, or speakers from the autism community, that provide useful information for families and individuals with autism.
3. If a genetic finding is discovered related to the cause of autism, results will be shared back with families.
4. The information you provide may help others with ASD for generations to come!
*Our site also offers the option for home appointments where a member of our SPARK team can come to your home and assist you in the registration process, collect the saliva samples, and mail them in for you! This is typically the preferred method for families as everything gets completed at once. Please note that we ask that both biological parents and individual diagnosed with ASD be present for these appointments. We can accommodate a variety of dates and times outside normal business hours on the weekdays or weekends -- whichever is most convenient for you and your family! Alternatively, we can also schedule in-clinic appointments at our office if that is preferred.
You can visit our SPARK FAQ page for additional details. Please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone at 858-534-6906 if you would like to set up an appointment or if you have any questions!
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| Older Adults with Autism (40-75 yrs old) Needed for Study |
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We are looking for older adults with autism (40-75 yrs old) to be in our brain imaging study! Anyone with a diagnosis or suspects that she or he has autism is invited to reach out to us. Participants receive a free assessment, free MRI brain scan, and around $150! If you know anyone who might be interested in this, please have them email
[email protected] or call us at 619-594-0176. Thank you!
http://autism.sdsu.edu
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| Participate in a Study at Research on Autism and Development Laboratory at UCSD |
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| SDSU Center for Autism Brain Study Needs Volunteers! |
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The SDSU Center for Autism is conducting a behavioral and brain imaging study with youth (7-21 years old) on the spectrum. We are trying to understand how the brain changes as children become young adults.
Participants get a free assessment, a free MRI scan, about $150, and a free picture of their brain! If you are interested, call us at 619-594-0176, or email us at
[email protected]. Thank you!
http://autism.sdsu.edu
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