Special in-store craft event at A.C. Moore stores tomorrow!

by Kristen Barnfield

As another way to celebrate April’s Autism Awareness Month, A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts is once again providing a fun and creative forum to build awareness and support Easter Seals autism services in stores.

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, A.C. Moore will throw a free in-store “Make and Take” craft event at all of its 136 locations.

Make an outing of it! Your family can come into the store to decorate an Act for Autism jigsaw puzzle together. Completing a project together can be a great opportunity to spend time with your family and to talk about autism.

Can’t make it out to one of the A.C. Moore locations? You can also go online for instructions to create a puzzle at home (PDF). It’s a way for you to play with your kids, decorate a jigsaw puzzle, and to learn about autism all at the same time.

A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts store is also helping out Easter Seals from March 27th through May 7th — shop now and you’ll be able to donate $1 to Easter Seals’ Act for Autism campaign at checkout. The money raised will support Easter Seals autism services in local communities.

Last year, A.C. Moore’s efforts raised over $141,000 to support Easter Seals autism services, giving thousands of children and adults with autism access to critical services that help them live, learn, work, and play.

Baby sign language helps children with autism

by Crystal Ward

A story in the Daily Herald called “Baby Sign Language Opens Doors for Early Communication” focuses on the Lily Garden Child Care Center here at Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region. The article talks about how the use of baby sign language can play a significant role in helping children with autism by increasing their vocabulary and cognitive skills.

Tara Kehoe, speech pathologist and manager of our speech and language department was quoted in the article:

Baby sign language can be a great way to help you communicate with your baby even before language develops. Baby sign language helps babies who are ready to communicate, but can’t quite bridge the gap to full speech.

Tara also shares some basic signs in the article and provides a list of resources for parents. Our speech therapists and teachers in our Lily Garden Child Care Center are passionate about teaching communication skills to children of all abilities. If you live anywhere near the western suburbs of Chicago, we’d love the opportunity to teach your child. Visit our web site or call us at 630-261-6283 for more information.

Future teachers learn All Kids Can™

by Beth Finke

I started off Autism Awareness month last Friday visiting a college class of future educators. Many of the students I talked to at Elmhurst College will be teaching this Fall, and it’s likely they’ll have children with autism in their classes.

I recommended a number of resources for these future teachers to use in their classrooms, including a link to All Kids Can. Created by the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust, All Kids Can is a $25 million commitment to making life easier for children with disabilities. Through this signature program, CVS and the Trust help nonprofit organizations like Easter Seals raise awareness in schools and in local communities about the importance of inclusion.

I’m confident the students I talked to last Friday will do well in their new careers, thanks in part to programs like All Kids Can. This CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust Program not only helps teachers do their work, it also serves to remind all of us that … All Kids Can!

Safeway receives well-deserved philanthropic award

by Beth Finke

What a great way to start off Autism Awareness month! I just got news that the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) awarded its 2011 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award to our all-time top corporate Sponsor: Safeway, Inc.

The Freeman Philanthropic Services Award honors a corporation that demonstrates outstanding commitment to important causes through financial support and encouragement, as well as the company’s ability to motivate others to take on leadership roles in their communities. Here at Easter Seals, we know first hand how deserving Safeway is of this award.

Since 1986, Safeway and thousands of its employees nationwide have raised $112 million to help Easter Seals provide services for people with autism and other disabilities. One of the largest, most successful fundraising events Safeway hosts is its annual People with Disabilities Campaign held each April during Autism Awareness Month. All 1,700-plus Safeway stores across the United States and Canada and its family of brands (Vons, Tom Thumb, Dominick’s, Randall’s, Genuardi’s, Carrs and Pavilions) raise funds to support Easter Seals services in local communities.

This year’s campaign has just kicked off and it extends through April, giving customers the opportunity to shop where it counts the most — knowing their dollars will change the lives of families living with autism and other disabilities. Safeway has contributed hundreds of millions to other causes as well: cancer research, education, food banks and more.

The award was presented to Larree Renda, executive vice president of Safeway and Chair of the Safeway Foundation, at the organization’s 48th International Conference on Fundraising here in Chicago. Look for another post later this month where I’ll highlight some of the many, many autism-related programs Safeway supports at Easter Seals. Right now, though, I’m going to take a step away from the computer keyboard and raise my cup of java to this well-deserved award!

Autism is treatable

by Patricia Wright

You already know that April is Autism Awareness Month. You probably also know that this Saturday, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. But here’s something you might not be aware of: Easter Seals is one of the leading non-profit providers of services for children and adults with autism.

Today, one in 110 children are diagnosed with autism. Getting the right support at the earliest stage in life can help a child gain the skills he or she needs to be successful, and there’s an increasing need for funding to support these services. Easter Seals serves more than 16,000 individuals with autism, and we have seen firsthand that people with autism, at any age, can make significant progress.

Visit our Web site to learn more about autism and find helpful Easter Seals resources, like our Autism State Profiles, a state-by-state report of autism services.

Autism is a baffling, life-long disorder. While there is no known cause or cure, or a known singular effective treatment, we at Easter Seals want to make sure you are aware of one important fact: autism is treatable.

All this … and Zamboni rides too!

by Bob Glowacki

Autism Awareness Month is full of activities here at Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin.

It all starts this Friday, when hundreds of Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin families, staff and friends will attend a special night with the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team. Our Act for Autism event is intended to increase awareness of autism in the Milwaukee area.

Friday’s Admirals game will feature our Color Guard presenting the colors, our Walk with Me Ambassadors riding the Zambonis and some special thoughts from our National Child Representative, Kyle and his Mom, Stephanie.

But that is just the beginning! Our friends from CVS will be selling autism awareness pins all month, Cousin’s Sub shops will have special dine in days, and tasty cookies from National Bakery will feature the autism puzzle pin.

For the “BIG kids,” Blu cocktail lounge in the historic Pfister hotel is featuring a special celebrity Blu-tender event on April 12. And wait. There’s more! Rock Bottom Brewery has created a special Lily Lager, plus they’ll be donating a percentage of profits from their Easter Brunch to Easter Seals autism services.

Our friends at the Milwaukee BizTimes will be highlighting these events and chronicling the needs of families living with autism in a special article this Friday. At Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin, one out of every ten individuals we serve is affected by autism. Link to the autism awareness page of our web site to see all the ways you can help us raise needed funds for autism services.

Autism Awareness Month, and a year’s milestones

by Matt McAlear

Maybe I’m just too tired to think straight … I’ve been up since 5:00 a.m. with an “excited to start the day” ten-month-old! But it’s almost impossible to believe that we are approaching another Autism Awareness Month already. This year has flown by, and it’s been another exciting one at Easter Seals Bay Area.

In very precarious times to be a service provider in California, we continue to open new programs, expand current services and grow our pool of world-class staff. A project that began with an idea over lunch between friends last April has come to fruition and we couldn’t be more excited. The Easter Seals Bay Area Pediatric Activity Center (PAC) opened its doors in Oakland earlier this year. The PAC is a state of the art facility dedicated to providing speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy and autism specific services to the pediatric community. We are so thrilled to bring this service to children and families in the East Bay, and the response from the community has been wonderful so far. Keep your eyes open for more information on summer programming and free monthly events.

Our Kaleidoscope program, located in Dublin, has long been a staple in the community. Kaleidoscope provides after-school and social recreation opportunities to children aged 5 to 22 with special needs. Just last month we received the “Organization of the Year” award from the City of Dublin. The award came complete with a “and the winner is…” Oscar-style dinner, a mayor’s proclamation, and probably most exciting: a float in the City of Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade! What could possibly be more fun than throwing candy to a cheering crowd?

Our Autism Project continues to expand its reach serving children and their families across the Bay Area. Our team has grown in the past few months to include two key members: Dr. Melissa Newman, a clinical psychologist, and Dr. Ian Cook, a developmental psychologist, who are supervising the South Bay and East Bay programs respectively. We are thrilled to have these two experts join the ranks at Easter Seals Bay Area.

We are excited by the opportunities ahead and encourage everyone to check out our Easter Seals Bay Area website for all of the latest happenings.

Thanks Mr. Jobs!

by Patricia Wright

I’ve been known to go a little gaga over the goings-on at groovy technology companies like Apple. I’m an outsider, but sometimes I get a glimpse when these companies broadcast their meetings to the public. When Steve Jobs announced the release of the iPad2, I watched the hour-long video with rapt attention. I am already an iPad owner and was curious what this new device might have to offer. Not to mention that the bells and whistles of an Apple presentation are always entertaining.

My entertainment factor was multiplied significantly at minute 13 of the presentation. That’s when Jobs cut to a 2 minute clip about one of my favorite topics — autism! The iPad has been successfully utilized as a piece of assistive technology in programs for children with autism. Jobs found the use of the iPad with children with autism worthy enough to include in his appearance.

The use of assistive technology, including the iPad2, is a great tool to improve access to work, recreation and education for individuals with autism. Millions of people watch these Apple presentations. By highlighting autism the way he did, Jobs is helping those millions understand that people with autism are capable of meaningful, purposeful lives. Great assistive technology and increased awareness of the capabilities of individuals with autism is a great combination — Thanks Mr. Jobs!

Catching up with the Squiggle

by Beth Finke

A couple years ago I linked to a blog a father wrote about his son’s autism diagnosis. The post was written by Matthew Baldwin, a computer programmer from the Seattle area who does freelance writing on the side. He’s a great writer. Lots of people enjoy reading his Defective Yeti blog.

Baldwin has kept this personal blog for years, covering politics and music and movies and most of all, things he just finds odd or humorous. After his son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Baldwin started blogging about autism, too. He keeps the names of his wife and son anonymous in the blog, referring to her as “Queen” and to him as “Squiggle” — “Squig” for short. Baldwin’s son turned seven last month, and I found the post about Squig’s birthday so moving I’m going to excerpt a bit of it here.

During a recent meeting with my son’s support team in which we were charting out his plan for the coming years, we took a moment to inventory his strengths and challenges. Number one on the list of his advantages was “charisma”.

Squig has an easygoing manner that people find endearing. His joie de vivre is infectious. Other kids are drawn to him. Like all young seven-year-old boys he has moments of defiance and aggression and omg will you stop running in the kitchen for just one second will you STOP?!! But on the balance he is just the most delightful kid to be around.
And, as a result, people will really go to bat for him. Whenever we encounter obstacles, some indefatigable member of Squig’s support team will tuck him under her arm and run into whatever endzone we are currently striving for, knocking opponents left and right. They will totally sweep the ice as he glides down the curling sheet toward a developmental house (wanted to include a sports analogy for my Canadian readers as well).

To be fair, they would do this for anyone in their care — people who work with special needs children are the most beneficent and indefatigable you will ever meet. But, even so, Squig has amassed an impressive cheering section. He is well loved.

That gives you an idea of how this guy thinks. And writes. Visit the defective yeti blog to read more. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

TV’s “Parenthood” … have you tuned in?

by Kristen Barnfield

Read Kristen Barnfield’s biography.

My favorite show on TV right now is NBC’s Parenthood. I can’t get enough of the trials and tribulations of the “very large, very colorful and imperfect Braverman family.” I’m especially hooked when it comes to any plotline involving Max, a bug-loving, roller-coaster-riding, pesky little brother.

In the last episode I saw, Qualities and Difficulties, Max learns (in not the best way) that he has Asperger’s Syndrome. Now that the cat’s out of the bag, Max wants to know about autism — what is it? His parents sit down with Max, and their explanation isn’t anything Max can really understand. His lack of response triggers his parents’ emotions. When Max’s mom starts crying, Max asks to go to his room and runs off. Max’s dad tries to give his wife some support, but she tells him to stop and dissolves in a puddle of sobs.

These scenes were so striking. I felt so strongly for Max and his parents that I found myself tearing up as they struggled to find words. What went through Max’s head in that moment? His parents’? Why did Max’s parents choose to hide his autism diagnosis from him anyway? What’s that moment of realization like for people living with autism? How do kids feel when they learn they have autism? And as a parent, how do you explain to your child that he or she has autism — and what it means?

I turned to Parenthood’s Ask the Experts blog for a little more insight. Their expert, Roy Q. Sanders, M.D., says most children with moderate or high-functioning autism/Asperger’s come to a developmental point when they realize there are things “different” about their lives. They may not be able to understand what exactly is different, but they can recognize that they have therapies or appointments that other children do not. Or they may notice that they don’t like the same things that other children enjoy. Or they may wonder what their parents are talking about with the doctors and therapists they bring them to visit.

Often they might feel that having to do all these extra things, or other people not liking what they like, or not following their perception of the rules, is “unfair” and a clear violation of their rights. Often, when told for the first time that they have been given a diagnosis with the label autism, they protest and honestly ask “Why? There’s nothing wrong with me.” I especially liked Sanders’ closing thoughts:

For children with autism, developing a realistic sense of their autism diagnosis to the best of their understanding is empowering for them and for the people in their lives who strive to guide them and love them. Having a name for something is a powerful tool for navigating the world — a world that for someone with autism is often a confusing place where you can use all the power you can get.

Reading all this got me thinking about our Easter Seals and autism blog, what would our readers think? How did they react to this episode? What tools have you found to help navigate conversations about autism with your loved ones? If you watch parenthood, I’d love to hear from you.

Haven’t seen the show yet? Tune in! I’m certain you’ll fall in love with the Braverman’s just like I have. The next new episode airs Tuesday, March 29 on NBC. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!