ASCEND: Asperger Syndrome

ASCEND’s Chapter Meetings
Many of you know that ASCEND started as a support group offering monthly meetings for parents and caregivers. In the beginning, we met in a church in Havertown and families came from throughout the region to connect and figure out ways to best support their loved ones with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses on the autism spectrum. Eventually, we offered chapter meetings in all the counties within the Greater Philadelphia region.

Times have changed! Fewer people attend the meetings now that there is so much virtual support via the Internet. As ASCEND grows to meet the needs of the families we support, we are revamping the way we provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction. Rather than county-based support groups, we’ll offer a speaker series—starting in September—to replace our former support group format. Stay tuned for details about our speaker series.

ASCEND will continue the support meetings for families of adults with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses on the first Saturday of each month. These meetings in Norristown, headed up by Diane Pringle and Maria Duca for many years, remain strong in numbers and are unique in our autism world which still most often centers on families raising kids on the spectrum.

We want to give special thanks and praise to our support group coordinators, past and present, who have contributed their time and energy to ASCEND over the years. In addition to Diane and Maria, those committed individuals include: Jane Thurston and Barb Sullivan (Chester County); Sally Barr, Deb Dunn, Audrey Morrison, Teresa Singleton and Meghan Dunleavy (Delaware County); Bill Carroll, Deanna Bosley, Eileen McDermott and Judy Evans (Montgomery County); and Peggy Blank (Philadelphia County).

Grandparents Surviving and Thriving
An ASCEND workshop for grandparents of children on
the autism spectrum

Presented by Sonia Voynow, LCSW
Sunday, June 6, 2010, 1-3pm, Narberth, PA
Fee: $5/person
Visit www.ascendgroup.org for more details.

Upcoming Support Meeting
Saturday, June 5, 10am
Meeting for Families of Adults, Norristown, PA All parents and other adult family members or caregivers adults with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses are welcome to attend. Click www.ascendgroup.org for more details. Any changes to this schedule will be posted on the ASCEND website.

Save the Date!
Annual Picnic for Member Families
Sunday, July 18, Noon – 2:00PM
Wilson Farm Park, 500 Lee Road, Chesterbrook, PA
(Tredyffrin Township in Chester County) More details coming soon!

Center for Autism Research @ CHOP
New Directions in Autism Research and Treatment
5/19/2010, 8:30AM-4:00PM
315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
This conference features nearly 20 renowned autism researchers from across the country who will present on their most current work and findings. Presentations will discuss new directions and recent discoveries in autism research. Speakers will present on four primary topics: Neurobiology and Genetics, Treatment, Epidemiology and Screening, and Comorbidities and Outcomes. Each topic will be followed by a panel discussion.
Fee: $45
Contact: Erin Bogue, 267-426-4914 or boguee@email.chop.edu
http://tiny.cc/sjwy0

Acting Antics: May Teen Game Night
5/14/2010, 7:00PM-9:00PM
310 Swinehart Road, Glenmoore, PA
Teens come to play board games, socialize, have snacks. listen to music! The event is facilitated by trained instructors who encourage appropriate socialization.
Fee: $10
Contact: Cindy Schneider, cindy@actingantics.org or 610-913-6018
www.actingantics.org

From the post: "In the United States, April was National Autism Awareness month. Whether or not media coverage of autism increased over the past few weeks, there was already a great deal of coverage. Unfortunately, much of that coverage has been focused more on raising awareness than advancing understanding."

Brothers and sisters of children with autism learn early to cope with differences. During a recent first-grade class session at the McDonogh School in Baltimore, 7-year-old Aidan Wade gave an impromptu discussion on what it's like to have a sibling with autism.
"My brother Conor is 11, but his brain thinks he's 5," said the Baltimore boy. "He acts kind of different, but that's OK."

From the article: "Children with autism whose social and communications skills regress around age 3 tend to have more severe autism than children who show signs of the neurodevelopmental disorder at younger ages, new research finds."

From the post: "Parents and teachers often tell children to pay attention — to be a "good listener." But what if your child's brain doesn't know how to listen? That's the challenge for children with auditory processing disorder, a poorly understood syndrome that interferes with the brain's ability to recognize and interpret sounds."

From the article: "For anyone who battles Asperger syndrome -- either yourself or with a child or loved one -- an inspirational story about a teen surfing sensation who found his therapy in the ocean. His name is Clay Marzo, and while the manifestations of his autism spectrum disorder have been a day-to-day struggle, a natural connection with water from a remarkably early age has helped him master his sport -- and communicate in a way most comfortable to him."

From the araticle: This summer Joey Travolta will provide 50 campers ages 9 to 23 the opportunity to learn the art of film making along side his professional crew and create a 30-minute documentary and public service announcement about autism awareness. The camp is designed to include those with special needs and without. For more information about the camp and crew go to www.joeytee.com.

Joshua Littman, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome, interviews his mother, Sarah. Joshua’s unique questions and Sarah’s loving, unguarded answers reveal a beautiful relationship that reminds us of the best—and the most challenging—parts of being a parent.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has launched StrengthofUs.org, a new online community where young adults living with mental health concerns can provide mutual support in navigating unique challenges and opportunities during the critical transition years from ages 18 to 25. Developed by young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where members can connect with peers; share personal stories, creativity, and helpful resources; write and respond to blog entries; engage in discussion groups; and share videos, photos, and other news. For more information go to http://www.strengthofus.org

Drexel University College of Medicine
Eyeblink in ASD
Richard Malone, M.D. is conducting this research. The purpose is to understand brain functioning in ASD. Visits involve a learning task where the child/adolescent, ages 6 -17, watches a video while a camera measures how often they blink their eyes. Participants will be compensated.
Contact: Melissa Lech, BSN, mlech@drexelmed.edu or 215-831-4058

Washington State University
Autism, Health Care and Public Policy
Participants are to complete an online survey. Participation is voluntary. It is our hope that the survey results will shed light on how health care policies and practices might better serve children with autism and their families. Also, participants will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win $50, $100 and $200 gift certificates from Amazon.com.
Contact: Whitney Hafer, whitneyhafer@gmail.com or 360-546-9125 http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AEN7FRDEL

ASCEND Group Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We do not endorse any specific professional or therapeutic treatment. We are not meant to be a replacement for medical or legal advice. Our mission is to raise public awareness about Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, to advocate for improved education and services, and to provide support and information to the Asperger and autism community.

This newsletter is for informational purposes only. Any link or mention in our newsletter should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation.

The official registration and financial information of ASCEND Group Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.