November 2009
Vol 1, Issue 2
In this Inaugural issue:
ASCEND Group, Inc.
610-449-6776
info@ascendgroup.org www.ascendgroup.org
Welcome to our NEW enewsletter!
In an effort to consolidate our method of news delivery and to stay as current as possible, ASCEND now offers a twice-monthly complementary enewsletter. In a few weeks, members (those who pay annual membership dues to ASCEND) will receive links for additional content.
To join ASCEND, sign up at www.ascendgroup.org. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for the enewsletter. Please contact us at info@ascendgroup.org with “Enews” in the subject line. ASCEND's enewsletter is partially funded via a generous grant from CCRES.
With the arrival of cooler weather, it’s tempting to hunker down and hibernate. But that’s not what our kids on the autism spectrum need. How do we engage them outside of the home so they’re not just sitting in front of the computer or their favorite video gaming system?
Facing the Barriers
Trying new things isn’t a hallmark of living with a child on the spectrum. Anxiety often stands between the child and new experiences. As parents, we need to move them out of their comfort zones and beyond what’s familiar.
Sometimes, that can result in embarrassing situations. One mom recalls dreading bowling birthday parties when her child was young. He always wanted to win. If he didn’t, a meltdown was sure to follow. It would have been easy to avoid bowling altogether, but she formed a once-a-month bowling group for “untypical” kids.
click to read more >
Dragon boat racers up for the challenge
Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/4/09
From the article: “Some paddled to dispel the odds. In previous years, a blind team, a deaf team, and a homeless men's team took to the water. Yesterday, Lindner served as the drummer for a team with Asperger's syndrome, similar to autism. In its first heat, the Asperger's team finished fourth, in 2 minutes, 32.87 seconds…” click to read >
Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/9/09
From the "Opinon" page by Katharine Beals, author of "Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World: Strategies for Helping Bright, Quirky, Socially Awkward Children to Thrive at Home and at School": "Recent reports put the number of children with autism spectrum disorders at one in 100. Also in the news, following the latest national and state test results, is math education. What has escaped the media's attention is that these two topics are connected." click to read >
A powerful identity; A vanishing diagnosis
New York Times, 11/2/09
From the article: "...no sooner has Asperger consciousness awakened than the disorder seems headed for psychiatric obsolescence. Though it became an official part of the medical lexicon only in 1994, the experts who are revising psychiatry’s diagnostic manual have proposed to eliminate it from the new edition, due out in 2012." click to read >
Is autism genetic? Researchers hone in on an answer
CNN.com, 10/15/09
From the article: “Alisa Rock, whose 10-year-old son Connor has
autism, says parents of autistic children often align themselves with
one of two camps: There are those who believe that genes cause the
disorder, and those firmly convinced that environmental factors are to
blame…” click to read >
Undiagnosed Asperger's leads to 'life as an outsider'
NPR, Fresh Air, 10/13/09
This wonderful interview of Tim Page, a Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic, reveals how he learned he had Asperger Syndrome and how it has affected his life. Page memoir, Parallel Play: Growing Up with Undiagnosed Asperger’s, is newly released. click to read >
CDC survey finds higher incidence of autism: 1 in 100 8-year-olds in U.S. diagnosed
Chicago Tribune, 10/5/09
From the article: “About 1 in 100 8-year-old children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers who will be releasing details of their study later this year…” click to read >
Clay Marzo: Liquid Cure
Outside Magazine, 9/09
Clay Marzo is one of the world's most gifted surfers. Clay Marzo has Asperger's syndrome' a form of high-functioning autism. And it is only when the 20-year-old steps off of dry land and immerses himself in the water that these two statements make perfect, miraculous sense. click to read >
Grandparents Surviving and Thriving:
A workshop for grandparents of children on the autism spectrum.
Presented by Sonia Voynow, LCSW
11/15/09, 2-4pm, Narberth, PA
More details.
Getting a Job without Losing It: Understanding How Employment Affects SSI Benefits
A FREE workshop presented by ASCEND & Elwyn
12/5/09, 10 am-12 noon, Norristown, PA
More details and registration info available.
ASCEND's 9th Annual Conference
ASCEND and the Penn Autism Network hosted more than 100 attendees on Friday, November 6, for a conference on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Internationally renowned autism expert Isabelle Hénault, Ph.D., presented a day-long training on "Healthy Sexuality: Adaptive Skills for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders." The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and many in the audience expressed an interest in bringing Dr. Hénault back to Philadelphia for a more intensive three-day training. Future trainings will be announced via ASCEND's enewsletter. Thank you to all who braved the SEPTA strike to take part in this event!
Member Families’ Directory
All dues-paying member families will receive the a directory of families (inclusion is by choice) by the end of November.
ASCEND’s Meetup Group
Our online Meetup Group for families of kids and teens with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses now has nearly 170 members. Are you a member? A future issue of ASCEND’s enews will profile this group. Check it out.
- 11/12/09, 6:30-8:30pm
A Candid Discussion about Post-Secondary Education and Your Child with a Disability
Presenter: Scott Robertson, VP of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and an ASCEND Board Member
VFES Activities Center, Paoli, PA
Presented by: Valley Forge Educational Services in partnership with West Chester University. FREE!
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11/13/09, 7am-4:15pm
Accommodating Students with Disabilities from High School to the University: Implications on Teaching and Learning
Keynote Speaker: Scott Robertson, VP of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and an ASCEND Board Member
The Desmond Conference Center, Malvern, PA
This conference will provide a learning opportunity for every high school, special education and university educator Presented by: Valley Forge Educational Services in partnership with West Chester University.
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11/13/09, 8:30am-3:30pm
Social Thinking Across the Home and School Day: ILAUGH and Superflex Models of Social cognition to Reach Students on the Autistic Spectrum
Presenter: Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC SLP
Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA
Designed for professionals and parents to understand the inner mind of students diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and NVLD. Presented by Austill's Rehabilitation Services.
- 11/19/09, 7:30pm
Turning Parenting To Educational Advocacy
Presenter: Charles Weiner, Esq.
Congregation Kol Emet, Yardley, PA
The program will focus on effective advocacy strategies for parents with children who have or may have special needs in education. The discussion will cover the applicable educational laws and their goals, the Individualized Educational Program (IEP) and its process; 504 Plans, and Dispute Resolution. Effective advocacy strategies will be interwoven through each topic.
- 11/30-12/4/09
Autism2009, AWARES International Online Autism Conference
This event, which Professor Simon Baron-Cohen has called “the finest online conference of its type on the planet,” promises to provide direct access to over 60 autism experts from around the world.
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Variety’s Autism Initiative Events
12/5/09—This annual party celebrates the holiday season. Variety children and families enjoy food, entertainment, dancing, and of course, presents are provided for children as they celebrate the holiday season with friends. Held at Variety's Camp in Worcester.
Every Thursday—Inclusive Playgroups, 10:30am-1pm at Variety’s Camp in Worcester; 1-2:15pm at St. Patrick's Church in Norristown.
Please submit calendar items for consideration to info@ascendgroup.org with "Event Listing" in the subject line.
Blog … Brazen Careerist
Wonderful advice about careers and life in general from Penelope Trunk. Here’s how she begins her recent series about Asperger Syndrome and employment: “People often tell me that I should write career advice for people with Asperger Syndrome. This is because I am surrounded by people who have Asperger’s, and I have it myself.
More info.
DVD … Clay Marzo: Just Add Water
See above article about Clay in Outdoor Magazine. This DVD, produced by Quiksilver, won “Best Biography 2009” at the X-Dance Film Festival. Amazing. Check out the trailer.
Film … Adam
A nice portrayal of a man with Asperger Syndrome who loses his father and goes through a process of self-discovery. Watch the trailer here.
TV … The Big Bang Theory
On CBS, Mondays at 9:30pm. Lots of good BBT videos on YouTube, including the not-to-be-missed “Friendship Algorithm.” The creators may deny it, but Sheldon is an Aspie.
Please send things you like to info@ascendgroup.org with "I Like" in the subject line.
