Paper Conversation Heart Wreath

Difficulty: Very Easy

Age: 5 and up (all children should be supervised)

This paper conversation heart wreath is a great project for younger kids. It’s easy to put together and fun to display!

What you’ll need:

• 9″ dinner plate or paper plate
• Recycled cereal box or other thin cardboard
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Heart pattern
• Construction paper: pink, purple, red, and blue
• Markers, crayons or paint pens
• Glue sticks
• Yarn for hanger (optional)

How to make it:

1. Trace around the 9″ plate onto the cardboard.
2. Use your pen or pencil to draw another circle inside that one, about an inch away from the outside circle.
3. Cut out the circle and the center of the circle to create a cardboard wreath base.
4. Fold a piece of scrap paper in half. Using the heart line up the fold line of the scrap paper with the dotted line of the pattern. Cut out the shape so that when you open it, you have a heart shape.
5. Fold the short end of a piece of construction paper up about 3 inches. Place the folded heart around the folded paper and trace the half heart shape into the paper. You should be able to fit three hearts on the paper. Repeat this step for each colored piece of paper; you will have a total of 12 hearts.
6. Cut out all the hearts and flatten out the creases so that the hearts lay flat. Using markers, crayons, or paint pens, write conversation candy phrases on the hearts such as “LOVE”, “HUBBA HUBBA”, “SWEET”, “LOVE”, “BE MINE”, “KISS” and “PAL”.
7. Arrange your hearts on top of the cardboard wreath shape without gluing them down. Once you have them where you want them, use the glue stick to attach each one..)
8. You can hang the wreath as is or attach a piece of looped yarn to the back as a hanger.

Tips:

1. Instead of construction paper, you can use colorful cardstock for this project.

Local Events and Programs:

Resources for Families with Special Needs from San Diego Family Magazine. ( Learn More)

NAMI San Diego (www.namisandiego.org) Helpline for families, friends, and those affected by mental illness: 1-800-523-5933

Autism Tree Project Foundation (www.autismtreeproject.org)

ValeriesList.com- Make sure to subscribe to this great local informational resource

Xcite Steps- (www.excitesteps.com)

Autism Society of San Diego (www.sd-autism.org)

Join AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society of America for Sensory Friendly Films:

The Secret World of Arrietty
February 25th, 2012 at 10:00am

AMC Mission Valley 20 or AMC Palm Promendade 24 (San Diego)

Admission $6.00

Join AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society of America for Sensory Friendly Films:

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

February 25, 2012 at 10:00 A.M.

AMC Mission Valley -or-AMC Palm Promenade

Admission: $6

ReSpectrum Community (www.respectrum.org) Check their calendar for information on all the wonderful programs they offer the community.

CHADD-Children and Adults with ADHD  Information and Materials to help ADHD children- (Click Here)

LDA-Learning Disabilites Association of San Diego (http://ldasandiego.org/index.html)

Local News:

Involved Exceptional Parents’ Day (IEP Day) is a unique one-day conference for parents of children with special needs and the professionals who work with them.  Each year, parents and professionals come together in the best interest of the children to learn in an environment of collaboration.  The 2012 conference will be the 29th annual conference in San Diego. The conference is organized by a group of parents and professionals who work collectively to offer a variety of workshops and resources, in both Spanish and English that will empower participants.  The theme for this year’s conference, which will be held on March 17, 2012, is “Today and Tomorrow–Transitions through Life” and offers workshops on many different topics for parents of children of all ages, including a special strand for parents of those transitioning from high school to adult options. Workshops are co-presented by parents and professionals. Avenues for advocacy for those who do not have a strong voice in our society are discussed and brought to the forefront by the featured speakers, workshop presenters and a huge resource fair.

·         Workshops in both Spanish & English!

·         Strand specifically for those transitioning from high school to adult options!

·         Workshops for parents of children of all ages!

More Information: www.iepday.org

San Diego/California News:

AIRPORT PHOTO EXHIBIT FEATURING KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM STILL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

The “Children of the Sun-Like All of Us” photographic project has been accepted for display at the San Diego International Airport, Terminal Two, from March 2012 through September 2012.

Photographer Natasha Kozlova has created this beautiful photographic homage to our children and has partnered with the Autism Society of San Diego to bring this beautiful work of art to our community.

There are 40,000 people who pass through terminal two daily, so the public awareness opportunity is immense. We at the Autism Society of San Diego are helping Natasha raise funds needed to produce this project by accepting designated donations through our local chapter. If you know of anyone, individual or business, who would be willing to donate to this project, please contact our office or click here to donate online

Major donors will be recognized at the display.

It’s not to late to make a donation to make this a reality for our community

San Diego EMFP (Military) News:

5th Annual EFMP Activity & Resource Expo MCRD Field house

This special event includes: resources from local and national agencies, fun zone for children, lunch (reservations required), and raffle prizes

Saturday, February 25, 2012, 1100-1300

To register for lunch: 619-524-8031 or meastland@lpsi.com

Introduction to Special Education

Thursday, March 15, 2012, 0930-1130

MCRD Family Readiness Classroom, Bldg 6E

Topics Include:

-          Special Education Law

-          Special Education Process

-          Parental Rights

-          Tips & Strategies

Register one week prior: Anna Nguyen 619-524-8031, nguyena@usmc-mccs.org

National News:

Obama Plan For Special Education Leaves Advocates Disappointed – “Despite a heavy emphasis on education in the president’s budget proposal this week, advocates are worried that students with disabilities are being left out…” (By Michelle Diament) (read more)

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/02/14/obama-sped-disappointed/14982/

White House Plans Nine-City Disability Tour- “Obama administration officials are planning to fan out across the country starting this spring for a series of regional White House conferences to address disability issues…” (By Michelle Diament) (read more)

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/02/02/white-house-disability-tour/14901/

Education News:

Goalbook – Social IEPs for everyone? Actually, yes – “What I do have a problem with is the IEP process itself. Once a year, we all walk into a room (usually the principal, a guidance counselor, specialists, teachers, my wife and me, and possibly the kid in question, depending on his age (or her age, as the case may be in a few years). Everyone goes around in a circle, gives an update (he’s having trouble with this, he’s doing well with this, he needs to work on this, etc.) and then the special ed liaison turns to us and says, “So what is your vision for ? Do you have any goals in mind for ?…..” (By Christopher Dawson) (read more)

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/goalbook-social-ieps-for-everyone-actually-yes/4803

3-D technology helps autistic kids learn to read- “Teachers at the Baldwin Park public school say “Letters alive,” software that combines interactive 3-D technology with sounds, words and realistic animal actions, is helping the school’s 50 autistic children overcome the challenges they encounter when learning to read….” (By Walter Pacheco) (read more)

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/os-autism-technology-orlando-20120206,0,5953539.story

Technology News:

Teens with Autism avoid Email, Social Media- “Even as teens with autism use television, computers and other screen-based media more than their peers, new research suggests that they’re shunning some of the Web’s most popular offerings…” (By Shaun Heasley) (read more) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/27/teens-autism-email/14869/

Social network Squag aims to be a safe place for autistic kids-“ Sara Winter spent nine years watching her nephew struggle to socialize with his peers, her heart breaking each time the 11-year-old Toronto boy suffering from autism would grow discouraged, further eroding his fragile self-esteem….” (By Zara McAlister) (read more)

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/02/08/social-network-squag-aims-to-be-a-safe-place-for-autistic-kids/

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

Valentine’s Pencil Toppers – a project to do with your kids!!

(all kids should be supervised)

A great craft for disabled kids is Valentine’s pencil toppers. Cut out double heart and cupid shapes, or any other shape that represents love. Glue only the edges of the shapes together, leaving an opening at the bottom. Supply the kids with glitter, feathers, markers, the new pencils in pink and red and other craft supplies. They can roll the pencils in glitter or put stickers on them, and then decorate the toppers with feathers and glitter as well. When they are done, they’ll have new pencils to give as treasured gifts to family and friends or pencils that they can keep and use themselves.

Local Events and Programs:

Resources for Families with Special Needs from San Diego Family Magazine. ( Learn More)

NAMI San Diego (www.namisandiego.org)     Helpline for families, friends, and those affected by mental illness: 1-800-523-5933

Autism Tree Project Foundation (www.autismtreeproject.org)

Mommy, Daddy & Me Playtime Group

Date: February 11, 2012

Time: 10 – 11 AM

Location: ATPF Office, 2845 Nimitz Blvd, Suite C, San Diego
Bring your child to our new Playtime Class for a fun hour of interaction and play. Dr. Jennifer Oke will be leading this FREE group and teaching parents how to play, enjoy and have fun with their kids. This class is limited to 6 families – all siblings welcome!
RSVP now for this fun new class — contact Lisa Kaufmann, lisa@autismtreeproject.org, 619-222-4465

ValeriesList.com- Make sure to subscribe to this great local informational resource

Xcite Steps-  Maritime Museum

18 February 2012, 10:30-1:30 pm

EVENT TYPE: Little Adventure Club
LOCATION: San Diego
The Little Adventure Club is an opportunity for kids who experience mild cognitive disabilities such as aspergers, high functioning autism, PDD-NOS, MDD, CDD, social anxieties, or minor disabilities to be part of a social club.  Please contact Pam pmachala@excitesteps.com

Autism Society of San Diego (www.sd-autism.org) 

Join AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society of America for Sensory Friendly Films:

The Secret World of Arrietty
February 25th, 2012 at 10:00am

AMC Mission Valley 20  OR  AMC Palm Promendade 24 (San Diego)

Admission $6.00

ReSpectrum Community (www.respectrum.org) Check their calendar for information on all the wonderful programs they offer the community.

CHADD-Children and Adults with ADHD   Information and Materials to help ADHD children- (Click Here)

LDA-Learning Disabilites Association of San Diego (http://ldasandiego.org/index.html)

Local News:

FREE San Diego East County Resource Fair

Friday, February 10, 2012   9 AM to 2 PM

Grossmont Healthcare District Office

9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA

Involved Exceptional Parents’ Day (IEP Day) is a unique one-day conference for parents of children with special needs and the professionals who work with them.  Each year, parents and professionals come together in the best interest of the children to learn in an environment of collaboration.  The 2012 conference will be the 29th annual conference in San Diego. The conference is organized by a group of parents and professionals who work collectively to offer a variety of workshops and resources, in both Spanish and English that will empower participants.  The theme for this year’s conference, which will be held on March 17, 2012, is “Today and Tomorrow–Transitions through Life” and offers workshops on many different topics for parents of children of all ages, including a special strand for parents of those transitioning from high school to adult options. Workshops are co-presented by parents and professionals. Avenues for advocacy for those who do not have a strong voice in our society are discussed and brought to the forefront by the featured speakers, workshop presenters and a huge resource fair.

·         Workshops in both Spanish & English!

·         Strand specifically for those transitioning from high school to adult options!

·         Workshops for parents of children of all ages!

More Information: www.iepday.org

San Diego/California News:

Judge grants preliminary injunction, stopping IHSS across-the-board cuts from going forward-  OAKLAND-January 19, 2012-  “Judge Claudia Wilken today issued a preliminary injunction, barring the State of California from going forward with the 20% cuts in home care hours for hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities. She had previously issued a Temporary Restraining Order on December 1, stopping the cuts until today’s hearing. The Judge certified the plaintiffs as a class….” (read more) http://www.valerieslist.com/

See details about this case, David Oster et al. v. Lightbourne (formerly V.L. v. Wagner): www.disabilityrightsca.org/advocacy/v.l.-v-wagner/index.htm

San Diego EMFP (Military) News:

5th Annual EFMP Activity & Resource Expo MCRD Field house

This special event includes: resources from local and national agencies, fun zone for children, lunch (reservations required), and raffle prizes

Saturday, February 25, 2012, 1100-1300

To register for lunch: 619-524-8031 or meastland@lpsi.com

Introduction to Special Education

Thursday, March 15, 2012, 0930-1130

MCRD Family Readiness Classroom, Bldg 6E

Topics Include:

-          Special Education Law

-          Special Education Process

-          Parental Rights

-          Tips & Strategies

Register one week prior: Anna Nguyen 619-524-8031, nguyena@usmc-mccs.org

National News:

Should Teens with Autism Drive?- “Most teens with high-functioning autism are behind the wheel or are planning to be, according to a first-of-it-kind study…” (By Shaun Heasley) (read more) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/10/should-teens-autism-drive/14743/

Supreme Court Declines to hear IDEA Case- “The U.S. Supreme Court said this week that it will not consider a special education case that raised questions about whether or not school districts should be liable if they fail to identify a child’s special needs….” (By Shaun Heasley) (read more) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/10/supreme-court-declines-idea/14747/

Education News:

Most Parents pleased with role in Child’s IEP- “Developing a special education program for any child can be a contentious process, but new research suggests most parents are satisfied with their inclusion at individualized education program, or IEP, meetings….” (By Michelle Diament) (read more) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/24/most-parents-pleased-iep/14844/

Fewer Parents go it Alone at IEP Meetings- “Increasingly frustrated by difficult negotiations with school districts, more parents are turning to special education advocates and attorneys for help….” (By Shaun Heasley) (read more) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/06/fewer-parents-iep-meetings/14726/

Technology News:

Teens with Autism avoid Email, Social Media-  “Even as teens with autism use television, computers and other screen-based media more than their peers, new research suggests that they’re shunning some of the Web’s most popular offerings”…(By Shaun Heasley) (read more) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/27/teens-autism-email/14869/

Computer Technology give voice to children with Autism- “”Tunnel.” The electronic voice reverberated in a classroom void of children’s voices. But 8-year-old Adam Garcia was communicating. He was asking for cardboard toilet paper tubes….” (By Kayla Bell) (read more)  http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2012/jan/07/kb_vine_school_010812_163527/?features&education

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

Please help us make Puzzled Parents News an even greater resource for our community by  passing on to us any news, events, or programs you would like to share. You can do this by e-mailing us directly or commenting on our blog or Facebook FanPage.

Local Events and Programs

Resources for Families with Special Needs from San Diego Family Magazine. ( Learn More)

NAMI San Diego (www.namisandiego.org)

Helpline service for families, friends and those affected by mental illness. 1-800-523-5933

Autism Tree Project Foundation (www.autismtreeproject.org)

• Musical Playgroup- January 21, 2012
• In Harmony New Music Training- January 21, 2012
• Community Autism Connection- January 29, 2012
• Valentine’s Nature Hike- February 12, 2012

ValeriesList.com- Make sure to subscribe to this great local informational resource

Xcite Steps

• Bowling League starts January 16th
• Saturday January 14th- Kids Adventure Club will be going to the Children’s Museum of San Diego.  To sign up for event please contact Pam pmachala@excitesteps.com

Autism Society of San Diego (www.sd-autism.org)

• Sensory Frienly Film- The Secrete World of Arrietty- 2/25

ReSpectrum Community (www.respectrum.org)

Check there calender for information on all the wonderful programs they offer the community.

 CHADD-Children and Adults with ADHD

Information and Materials to help ADHD children- (Click Here)

 LDA-Learning Disabilites Association of San Diego (http://ldasandiego.org/index.html)

• IEP Workshops
• Community Networking
• School Problems Workshop

Local News

California Schools Brace for Fiscal Fallout-”Thousands of California public schools face the prospect of slashing up to a week of instruction, canceling bus services, or laying off nonteaching staff in the middle of this school year because state revenues are expected to fall below what the governor and lawmakers counted on when they approved an $86 billion general fund budget last June.” (Lesli Maxwell)(Read More)

Gov Jerry Brown Says He Will Increase Education Funding- “Reporting from Sacramento — Introducing a measure of optimism into the state’s dire fiscal situation, Gov. Jerry Brown said Tuesday that his 2012-13 budget would increase education funding and that the outlook for schools would remain strong — if voters pass his initiative to raise taxes.” (Anthony York) (Read More)

National News

Obama Calls For Better Pay for Disability Caregivers- ” The Obama administration is proposing new rules to provide first-ever minimum wage and overtime protections for in-home care workers who assist people with disabilities.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Supreme Court Declines to Hear IDEA Case-” The U.S. Supreme Court said this week that it will not consider a special education case that raised questions about whether or not school districts should be liable if they fail to identify a child’s special needs.” ( Shuan Heasley) (Read More)

Fewer Parents Go It Alone At IEP Meetings- ” Increasingly frustrated by difficult negotiations with school districts, more parents are turning to special education advocates and attorneys for help.” ( Shuan Heasley) (Read More) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/06/fewer-parents-iep-meetings/14726/

TSA Rolls Out Helpline For Traverlers With Special Needs-” A new phone number could make your next trip to the airport go a little bit smoother. ” (Michelle Diament) (Read More) http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/04/tsa-helpline/14707/

Disability a Focus as School Bullying Protections Grow- “Nearly all states now have laws prohibiting school bullying, but just 16 offer specific protections for those with disabilities.”(Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Autism Speaks Releases ATN Visual Supports Guide-” Pictures, photographs and other visual supports can greatly improve communication for children, adolescents and adults who struggle with understanding or using language. Today, Autism Speaks is pleased to introduce Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorders, a guide for parents, teachers and medical professionals.”

Obesity More Common Among Kids With Special Needs- “Children with disabilities and special health care needs are more likely to be overweight or obese than their typically developing peers, according to a first-of-its-kind federal report.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Autism Finding Makes Times Magazine’s Top 10- “A new development in autism research is among Time Magazine’s “Top 10 New Findings in Parenting” for the year.” (Shaun Heasley) (Read More)

Technology News

Mom Creates iPad App that Leaves Kids Spell-Bound- ” EDMONTON – Electrical engineer Lisa Welburn spent countless hours over the past two years poring over spelling lessons and studying phonics to help her frustrated son learn to read and write.”  (Read More)

 Chesapeake Father Creates App to Navigate Autism- “Joe Hill watched his son press a finger against the screen of an iPhone, pull back an animated slingshot, and fire a bird through the virtual air.” (Josh Brown) (Read More)

 Largest-Ever Autism Research Network Takes Shape- “Autism research efforts are getting a leg up with a new public-private partnership designed to make data on thousands with the developmental disability more available for study.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

We at Puzzled Parents hope that the information in this newsletter helps you to relax and enjoy this holiday season. As always, we encourage you to pass along any information that would help our readers and their special-needs families. You can do this by posting to this blog, commenting on our fanpage or e-mailing Puzzled Parents.

San Diego Events, Programs, Resources

Resources for Families with Special Needs from San Diego Family Magazine. ( Learn More) http://www.sandiegofamily.com/resources/flourishing-families-special-needs-resources

NAMI San Diego (www.namisandiego.org)

Education & Advocacy Meetings – Free and open to anyone interested in learning about mental illness. Meetings are held on the first Thursdays of each month from 6:30pm to 9pm at University Christian Church, Friendship Hall

Family-to Family- free program comprised of a 12 class series for the families of persons with serious and persistent brain disorders (mental illnesses).  Learn more at http://www.namisandiego.org/famyli.php

Autism Tree Project Foundation (www.autismtreeproject.org)

Help Autism Tree Foundation Project continue to offer free programs for families in 2012. Become a Monthly Sustainability Member or just make a donation. Please go to Just Give at  https://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=71-0942573  to make a donation or www.autismtreeproject.org

• Mommy/Daddy & Me Playtime- December 10^th, 10-11am at the ATPF Office

ValeriesList.com- Make sure to subscribe to this great local informational resource

Xcite Steps- Is looking for Lego Donations! Please contact Pam at 858-703-7305 if you are able to help.

• Saturday December 10^th the Kid’s Social club will go iceskating. Contact pmachala@excitesteps.com to learn more and RSVP

Autism Society of San Diego (www.sd-autism.org)

Stauffer Foundation Fund for Education Scholarships for children on the spectrum  http://sd-autism.org/grants.html#stauffer

Holiday Parties

• Central San Diego Pool Party-Friday, December 9, 2010, 6:00- 8:00 pm,Aqua Pros Swim School at the Clairemont Boys and Girls Club,4635 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego-Enjoy supervised swimming, pizza, pasta, salad and drinks, holiday cookies. There will also be a visit from Santa that will include photos and goodie bags for the kids.
• North County Gym Party-Saturday, December 17, 2010, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, Palomar YMCA 1050 North Broadway in Escondido-Enjoy an evening of holiday activities, crafts, visits and gifts with Santa and open gym. Food and drinks will be served.
• PLEASE RSVP by calling or e-mailing Kay at info@sd-autism.org or by calling: 858-715-0678

CHADD-Children and Adults with ADHD

Parent to Parent Online Family Training on ADHD- “state-of-the-art educational program designed by parents, for parents.”  (Learn More)

Current Support Group Meetings 

Peers at Sierra Academy of San Diego- “Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relationship Skills (PEERS). Groups will start in January of 2012. PEERS is a social skills training intervention for adolescents and young adults. PEERS is a 14-week program consisting of one 90-minute teen group session and one 90-minute parent group session per week” http://www.sesi-schools.com/sierra_academy_of_san_diego/

San Diego/California News

Only 45 percent of Donations Reach Charities-“ With year-end donations on the rise, California do-gooders might not be doing as much good as they think.” ( Lauren Steussy) (Read More)

Rosiest Projections Leave San Diego Schools with $72 Million Deficit-“ San Diego Unified board members got a presentation about what mid-year budget cuts would mean for the district. If revenue projections from the state’s legislative analyst are on track, the district would lose $26 million in state funds as of Feb. 1, according to Ron Little, the district’s chief financial officer.” (Kyla Calvert) (Read More)

Will San Diego’s Public Schools Survive? – As I travel the country, I am frequently asked to identify an urban district where public education is working. My first impulse is to say that public schools everywhere have been hemmed in and harmed by the mandates of No Child Left Behind; one has to look far and wide for an urban district that has managed to sustain a vision of good education, untainted by the federal law’s pressure to produce higher test scores every year.” (Diane Ravitch) (Read More)

Calif. Budget Forecast Could Trigger More Cuts For Schools, Services- “California could face a budget shortfall of $3.7 billion this fiscal year, according to new estimates by the state’s nonpartisan budget analyst. The latest figures could trigger $2.5 billion in automatic cuts to the number of public-school days, libraries and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, which are all part of a contingency plan by Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislators.” (Kevin Yamamura) (Read More)

San Diego EFMP (Military)

Xcite Steps now takes Tricare for ABA therapy and Social Clubs. Contact them to learn more. www.excitesteps.com

EFMP Holiday Potluck- A great chance to interact with other EFMP families and make some friends. December 14, at Gateway Housing Community Center. RSVP and learn more by contacting  Barbara at 619-556-7218 or barbara.regan.ctr@navy.mil

MARK YOUR CALENDERS! EFMP Activity & Resource Fair will be on February 25, 2012 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Field House @ 11am

Holiday Advice

Holiday Tips For Families Living With Autism-“While many happily anticipate the coming holiday season, families of people on the autism spectrum also understand the special challenges that may occur when schedules are disrupted and routines broken. Our hope is that by following these few helpful tips, families may lessen the stress of the holiday season and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.” (Autism Society) http://support.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=holiday_tips

Free Holiday Survival Guide for Families with Special Needs- “We all could use a little help during the holidays! This is one of the reasons AbilityPath.org created a Holiday Survival Guide for Families with Special Needs to provide parents helpful tips and resources during this busy and stressful time of year. It will help you navigate the change in schedules to finding a sensory safe Santa to how to explain to the grandparents why your child may not eat grandma’s stuffing.” (Read More at http://www.abilitypath.org/tools-resources/links–resources/holiday-survival-guide.html)

Holiday Traveling Tips for Families of Children with Special Needs- “Ahhh, traveling with children, it’s hardly a vacation for parents. If you are the parent of a child with special needs, traveling might feel like it’s just too much to handle. In addition to the normal packing of underwear and socks, you must consider medical equipment and prescriptions.” (Read More at http://parentingsquad.com/holiday-traveling-tips-for-families-of-children-with-special-needs)

Gluten-Free Holiday Cooking with Your Kids, including a gluten-free cooking webinar- Go to http://www.celiaccentral.org/kids/parents/articles/Articles-on-Parenting-a-Gluten-Free-Child/590/month–201112/vobid–6935/

National Programs and Resources

Special Moms Entrepreneur Club http://specialmompreneurs.com/ – a group of like-minded moms who all have one thing in common…we care for a child with a disability.

A great website with free games and worksheets on Social Skills-http://www.cccoe.net/social/SAdirectory.htm

AutismAfter16.com (www.autismafter16.com) is a new website launched that is devoted to issues of autism impacting the lives of young adults

Bookshare Offers Students with Disabilities Access to Free Books-“When 4th grade teacher Heather Whitby sat down for a book discussion last week with a group of students at her Bethesda, Md., elementary school, other students read on their own, including two who a year ago might not have been able to do so.” (Nirvi Shah) (Read More at http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/11/02/10book_ep.h31.html?tkn=PVCCvrH2dVuvFLQHStFSjdd4XgBoTqCXhhCJ&cmp=clp-sb-edtech

National News

Census: 1 in 20 Kids Have A Disability- “5 percent of school-age children in the United States have a disability, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Autism or Aspergers? Even Doctors Can’t Decide-“Whether a child is diagnosed with autism as opposed to Asperger’s syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified may depend more on who their doctor is than anything else.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Saving For People With Disabilities May Soon Be Tax-Free-“A bill that’s expected to be introduced in Congress Tuesday would give families a new way to save money for people with disabilities without jeopardizing government benefits.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

New Study Suggests Autism Starts in the Womb- “Children with autism have many more brain cells than typically developing children, researchers have found, supporting previous research that suggests that autism may be caused by something going awry before a baby is born as opposed to something triggering autism in a toddler.” (Miriam Falco) (Read More)

Autism Offers Distinct Advantages, Researcher Says- “Rather than focus on autism as a series of deficits that need to be treated, one researcher argues that people with the disorder have advantages over those who are typically developing.” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Parents Arrested After Son with Autism Found Wandering-“Many children with autism are prone to wandering, but one Connecticut couple may pay a price after their 4-year-old with the developmental disorder was found roaming their neighborhood.” (Shaun Heasley) (Read More)

Education News

Study Warns of Limited Savings from Closing Schools-“Closing schools doesn’t save very much money in the context of an urban district’s budget, and selling or leasing surplus school buildings tends to be difficult because they’re often old and in struggling neighborhoods, a recent report from a Philadelphia research group says.” (Christina Samuels) (Read More)

Technology News

Finding Good Apps for Children with Autism-“The Apple iPad has been hailed as a savior for assisting children with autism spectrum disorder or other special needs. It was portrayed as a minor miracle in a recent segment on “60 Minutes” and has been found to help even the very young quickly learn.” ( Pradnya Joshi) (Read More)

Election First: People With Disabilities To Vote By iPad-“For the first time ever, one state will allow people with disabilities to vote by iPad on Tuesday in an effort to enhance accessibility at the polls.” (Shuan Heasley) (Read More)

Survey of School Administrators Explores Digital Classrooms, Major Challenges-“ Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of school administrators who responded to a recent survey said 1:1 computing classrooms where teachers act as a coach for students are the future of education, in a poll that looked at some of the changes, opportunities, and challenges that lie ahead for schools.” ( Stephen Noonoo) (Read More)

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

There are helpful tips and articles in this edition of Puzzled Parents
News that will help guide your special needs family through the holiday chaos. (Look
for more guidance in our next edition too) Remeber it is important that you find opportunities to relax this holiday season.  To achieve this goal we recommend two simple ways to de-stress daily.

1)      Devote one minute each day to breathe deeply and focus on what you are truly grateful
for this November.

2)      Create a list that recognizes the progress your special-needs family member has made
this year, big or small; add one thing to it each day.

Local Events and Programs

ReSpectrum Community (www.respectrum.org)

• Science Based Social Group (ages 6-10)
  Mondays at 4:30-5:30pm
• Adult Aspergers Group (1^st &3^rd Wednesdays)
• Rethink to ReConnect –Contact colinger@respectrum.org for more
  informatio
• Coping Cat Group or Individual Sessions (8-18) Intake now for group starting in January
• Play Group (ages 4-7) Tuesdays 3-430pm
• 2^nd Annual ReThink Family day on December 3,2011
• Also Meeting in November- Lil’Explorers, Lil Athletes Basketball, Lil Athletes
  Soccer, Lil Prodigies)

Xcite Steps Winter Camp provides opportunities for children and teens who experience disabilities to make friends in a natural but coached environment. We use fun community events to facilitate interaction between the kids and teens and our small group environment and 3 to 1 ratio allows for the much needed personalized attention and individual social coaching. For more detailed information regarding a specific age group and/or any questions please contact Pam Machala at (858)703-7305 or
pmachala@excitesteps.com.

Autism Tree Project Foundation (www.autismtreeproject.org)

• Simply Music Piano- Free introductory Session
  (November 9^th) This is a free event! Due to space limitations,
  reservations are required! 1 free DVD per family. You will be able to register
  for classes on the night of the event. RSVP to Cathy at
  chirata@wheremusicbegins.com or 1.888.896.2066. For more information about our programs, please visit www.wheremusicbegins.com
• Parent Mentor Program
• Preschool Screenings
• Girl Mentor program
• Parent and Child Musical Playgroup
• Kibbles DVD Parent Resource

NAMI San Diego (www.namisandiego.org)

• Friends of the Lobby Program – November 16^th
  at 10am
• Outreach Meeting- November 7^th at
  12pm
• Critical Issues in Older Adult Mental Health,  November 17^th at 745am
• For more information on these and other events read NAMI Newsletter XV at http://www.namisandiego.org/newsletters/1111_November_NL.pdf

Autism Society of San Diego (www.sd-autism.org)

• AUTISM THROUGH THE LIFESPAN” INFORMATION AND
  SUPPORT MEETING WILL DISCUSS THE TRANSITION FROM PRESCHOOL TO KINDERGARTEN. The November meeting will address Making
  the Leap From Pre-school to Kindergarten. Each subsequent monthly meeting
  will examine a later stage of development. November 17^th at 9:30am,
  Ballard Center in Old Town.

CHADD-Children and Adults with ADHD- “is the nation’s leading non-profit
organization serving individuals with AD/HD and their families. CHADD has over
16,000 members in 200 local chapters throughout the U.S. Chapters offer support
for individuals, parents, teachers, professionals, and others.”   For information on the local San Diego Chapter and what they offer the community go to CHADD San Diego.

Local News

Valeries List- Sign up for this newsletter for other interesting
articles, updates, and studies for the San Diego Special Needs Community.  http://www.valerieslist.com/Enewsletters.html

Local Military

EFMP San Diego- sign up on facebook for more updates about these
events facebook.com/mccsmcrdsd.efmp

Talk Time” support group every 3^rd Wednesday of the month from 0900 to
1030 at the Gateway Housing Community Center, 2741 Mendonca Dr, San Diego
92110. Whether the exceptional family member is the adult or the child, Talk
Time provides a chance to get together, to share information, to find support
and to make new friends. This support group is open to all branches of the service
and as always, children are welcome.

Toy Tips. Ideas and Options for Children with Special Needs.” Tuesday, November 15^th,
0930-1130. MCRD Family Readiness Classroom, Bldg 6E, 3602 Hochmuth Ave, San
Diego, 92140.

Save the date for our Annual EFMP Resource Fair Saturday, February 25^th.
More information to come on this and other events.

Thanksgiving Holiday Advice and Tips
for Special Needs Families

Enjoying your Special Needs Child During
the Thanksgiving Holiday- “Meal times and allowing the child to have down time can really be effected by the holiday. By the same token, parents need to have the opportunity to enjoy the
holiday as well. In order to do this, we as parents need to do a good job of
balancing the change in routine with fun time with family and friends. How do
we accomplish both successfully?…”  http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/enjoying-your-special-needs-child-during-the-thanksgiving-holiday/

Special Needs and Special Occasions- “Family get-togethers are the worst. Too many people. Too much noise. Too much food. Too many opinions on the ways you’re raising your
children. Never mind the fact that kids with special needs often go crazy
during big family events — they’re often not exactly a shining hour for us as
parents, either…” (Read More) http://specialchildren.about.com/od/inthecommunity/a/holiday.htm

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Menu http://www.recipegirl.com/2010/11/15/gluten-free-thanksgiving-menu/

Distressing and Preparing for Thanksgiving from Autism Speaks-
Here you will find many useful items to help your special-needs family member (Go to Autism Speaks)

Holiday Travel Tips for Special Needs Families- “A
holiday vacation is usually a highly anticipated activity for families. But for
families of children with special needs, even a simple trip can require a lot
more planning. Whether a child has a physical disability or a developmental
disorder such as autism, traveling can be a positive event when following these
holiday travel tips.” Read more at Suite101: Holiday Travel Tips for Kids with Special Needs: Best
Ways to Take a Holiday Trip with Disabled Children | Suite101.com

National Programs and Resources

A new website called ‘Medicaid Reference Desk’ offers a breakdown of the various Medicaid benefits offered to those with disabilities based on where they live. (Michelle Diament)
(Read More)

Positively Autism October 2011 Newsletter highlighting PRT. Blog
includes teaching materials and resources. (Learn More) http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/search/label/Past%20Issues

AWAARE Collaboration- Working to
prevent wandering incidents and deaths within the autism community (Learn More)

Check out ‘Special Apps, Special Kids’! This a page that focuses on gathering apps and other resources to help children with special needs. (Learn More)

TACA-Autism and Safety: How to be prepared

Subscribe to SmartBrief on EdTech (Click Here)

• Make sure to download their free Iphone App

National News

Postage Stamps to Feature Artists
with Autism- “The United Nations will honor autism
awareness next year with a series of postage stamps designed by individuals
with the developmental disability…” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Congress Puts Children’s SSI Under the Microscope-“Congress is
turning its attention to soaring growth in the Social Security benefits program
for children with disabilities and that has advocates on edge…” (Shaun Heasley)
(Read More at http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/10/28/congress-childrens-ssi/14328/)

Slow Brain Growth Could Explain Autistic Behaviors- “Kids with autism often think and act
differently than their peers. Now researchers say they may know why.” (Shuan
Heasley) (Read More)

Education News

Restraint, Seclusion Overlook in Education Bill-“Despite efforts to address restraint and
seclusion of students with disabilities within an overhaul of the nation’s
primary education law, the issue was left out when the U.S. Senate moved
forward on a bill this week…” (Diament) (Read More)

Schools Offset Budget Cuts with Four day Weeks- “A minimum of 292 school districts
across the country — up from an estimated 120 just two years ago — have
switched to a four-day school week to help cut costs and manage budgets, a new
survey shows. Districts that adopt the practice often extend instruction during
the remaining four days to ensure that seat-time requirements are met. Some
say, however, the schedule is hard on working families, who must find child
care one day each week. The Washington Post”

Plan to Relax Special Education Standards Worries Advocates- “Disability advocates are calling out a group of Republican senators for proposing changes to federal education law
that they say would lower expectations for students with disabilities…”
(Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Schools Turn to Online Options for Speech, Language Therapy-”More school
districts are looking to online options for providing speech and language
therapy to students, as the number of students needing those therapies also
grows. Some districts provide students with live, interactive computer sessions
with therapists, while other rural districts are taking advantage of online
options. One small study found online therapy to be promising, but some
therapists say complications such as keeping students engaged and integrating
the therapy throughout the school day also are evident. “Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)”
(SmartBrief on EdTech)

Obama: Education reform aimed at raising standards- “Decrying the
state of American education, President Barack Obama
on Friday said states will get unprecedented freedom to waive basic elements of
the sweeping Bush-era No Child Left Behind law, calling it an admirable but
flawed effort that has hurt students instead of helping them.” (Kimberly
Hefling) (Read More at http://news.yahoo.com/obama-education-reform-aimed-raising-standards-144609004.html;_ylt=A2KLJmBnvnxOGhsAAAOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsMjIxamczBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDODRmYWM3MzMtNjc5ZS0zZjViLWI5OWMtMDUwNGIxZmQxYjBhBHBvcwM5BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzkzZTYzZTVhLWU2MDYtMTFlMC1iY2NhLTFjYzFkZTAyMGY2YQ-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

New Guide Offers Road map to IEP Process-“A new guide released Tuesday provides parents with a step-by-step look at how to obtain special education services from their school district.
The 26-page download from Autism Speaks offers a broad overview of the legal
rights of parents and students with disabilities and walks through the process
of forming an individualized education program or IEP…” (Michelle Diament)
(Read More)

Technology News

Check out SmartBreif on EdTech!

Digital Writing Resources for Students with Disabilities- “Joan Green, author
of The Ultimate Guide to Assistive Technology in Special Education, recommends
the digital Livescribe Pen and WordQ software for helping students with disabilities improve their writing skills. Debra Bauder, president of the Special Education Technology Special Interest
Group of the International Society of Technology and Education, suggests graphic-organizer software, Inspiration as well as the free Google Scribe. Education Week Teacher (premium article access compliments ofEdWeek.org)”

Mobile app is Designed to Help Teachers with behavior management-“A new Web and
mobile app is aimed at helping teachers track and manage students’ behavior in
the classroom. The app, ClassDojo, allows teachers to note positive and
negative student behaviors on a scale of -1 to +1 and generate reports for
individual students or an entire class. The program is meant to be a tool for
educators and administrators, as well as students, who may respond well to the
immediate and public feedback the program offers…” (Read More)

Adapting to the Ipad, Called Education’s ‘Equalizer’- “The 18-year-old is a quadriplegic with multiple disabilities that make speech and muscle control extremely difficult. He interacts
through eye gaze or by tapping his head against a switch on a communication
device to spell out words…” (Alesha Boyd) (Read More)

Robot is Designed to Teach Social Skills to Children with Autism-“A robot that helps children with autism learn to take turns and initiate play with others is the focus of a
program at the Robotics Research Lab at the University of Southern California.
“Bandit,” a child-sized robot, has been designed to maintain the look
of a machine so as not to be too intimidating, and has a human-like face
designed to engender empathy among children with autism. “It was a balance
that we had to find,” Maja Mataric, co-director of the lab, said. Los Angeles Times…”

Mobile app Improves Social Skills of Students with Various Special Needs- “Pediatric
psychologist Mark Bowers and his wife Kelly have created and released Sosh, a
mobile-device application designed to improve the social skills of students
with social interaction disabilities. Although the application was initially
designed for youths with Asperger syndrome, Mark Bowers said that “some
treatments overlap for students with ADHD or social anxiety disorders, or
people who are just shy.” The application is compatible with iPhones and
iPads. The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kan.)” (SmartBreif)

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

Puzzled Parents News

Thanks to ReSpectrum Community we now have a permanent meeting place! They will be hosting our group at Meeting, 7839 University Avenue #103A&B, La Mesa CA
91942. Our group meetings are now held on alternating Fridays and Saturdays.

Local Events and Programs

List of Halloween and Fall Activities in San
Diego- Learn More at https://www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/holiday-happenings

No Tricks, Just Treats at Autism
Family Halloween Carnival- “enjoy games, costume contests, prizes and
trick or treating (gluten-free/casein-free options available) in a fun and
comfortable environment…” Saturday, October 29^th (Learn
More at http://www.nfar.org/en/news/245-hall-carnival2011.html)

Autism Family Halloween Carnival hosted by ATPF -
October 29^th  (Learn More at http://autismtreeproject.org/Events/halloween.jpg)

Young Life Capernaum- A club for ‘exceptional’ teens and
young adults with special needs that meets every other Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
For more information (Learn More at www.capernaumsandiego.younglife.org)

Banding Together- Provides music therapy scholarships, instruments, and mentorships for special needs youth. (Learn
More at http://web.me.com/andreamoriarty/Banding_Together/Welcome.html)

Respectrum Community-  (respectrum.org)  is looking for volunteers to help with group activities, please contact hgiordano@respectrum.orgif you are interested.

• Lil Explorers at Mission Gorge- October 16^th
• Coping Cat Group to reduce anxiety-Mondays at 3pm
• Stand out for Spectrum fundraising event is on October 15^th

NAMI San Diego (www.nami.org)

• Friends of the Lobby Program- meets once a month to share ideas and pass along updates to local hospitals. Next meeting is on October 19^th at 10am at the
  NAMI San Diego office on 30^th street
• NAMI is enrolled in the Ralphs Community rewards program under the NPO of 93091. Got to Ralphs.com to sign up

Autism Tree Project Foundation ( www.autismtreeproject.org)

• Fall Parent Mentor Event- October 26^th
• Music training for parents & teachers-October 22^nd

Autism Society of San Diego (http://www.sd-autism.org/)

• LIPS Glamfest benefit- October 9^th
• Puss In Boots Sensory Film-November 6^th @10am (http://www.sd-autism.org/specialEvents.html#sensoryFilms)
• Autism through the Lifespan- an informational series that meets every third Thursday, starting on October 20^th

Halloween

Gluten-Free Halloween survival guide and recipes (Read More)

Article on Gluten-Free Candy (Learn More)

Free social story for Halloween (Find Here)

Halloween Costume Tips “Halloween is a mysterious and magical
time for children. It’s bursting with imagination, pretend play, and of course
candy. However, Halloween can also cause fear and anxiety. If you are the
parent of a child with a special need, you know what I mean…” (Nancy Flanders) (Read
More at http://parentingsquad.com/halloween-costumes-for-children-with-special-needs)

Tips to help your special needs children enjoy Halloween ( Janis Gioia) (Read More)http://www.positivelyparentingonline.com/article/help-your-special-needs-children-enjoy-halloween

National Resources

AWAARE Collaboration- Working to prevent wandering
incidents and deaths within the autism community (Learn More) http://www.awaare.org/

Check out ‘Special Apps, Special Kids’!  This a page that focuses on gathering apps
and other resources to help children with special needs. (Learn More)

TACA-Autism and Safety: How to be prepared

Subscribe to SmartBrief on EdTech (Click Here)

• Make sure to download their free Iphone App

National News

Uncertainty surrounds autism insurance mandates-
“Autism treatment advocates have won one legislative battle after another since
2007, most recently in California, which sent a bill to the governor this month
mandating that insurers cover the disorder…” (Phil Galewitz) (Read More)

FDA panel Concerned about kids on antipsychotics- “The
pediatric advisory committee voted 16-1 to support the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s routine safety monitoring of the new generation of
antipsychotics…” (Alina Selyukh) (Read More)

Obama Signs Autism Act- “President Barack Obama signed a
three-year extension of the Combating Autism Act Friday, the very day the law —
and many of the programs it established — was set to expire…”(Michelle Diament)
(Read More)

Should my child take medicine for challenging behavior?
-Free guide for parents for spectrum children (Learn More)

How are you using your interactive whiteboard this year?
(Click Here) ( Patrick Ledesma)

Committee’s work has broad funding implications- “Advocates
worried about the future of education funding are focusing on the congressional “supercommittee” charged with making major, long-term changes to the federal budget—a task that could have lasting implications for K-12 spending and other aid for children…”
(Alyson Klein) (Read More)

Finding a use for all those first-generation iPads- “A project has seen nearly ten thousand first-generation iPads offered to teachers — who are members of the Teach for America corps — after Apple asked customers upgrading to the iPad 2 to donate their original tablet…”
(Zack Whittaker)

Amazon Kindle Book Loans Debut at
11,000 Libraries – ”
Fast receding into the past are the days when borrowing a book meant keeping
quiet and navigating cavernous stacks. Online retail giant Amazon.com is
expanding the selection of books available on its best-selling Kindle e-reader
to more than 11,000 local libraries across the United States…” (Nathan Eddy) (Read More)

Senator Calls for Emphasis on Integrated Employment- “A key senator is looking to shift the expectation for people with intellectual disabilities toward integrated
employment rather than sheltered workshops…” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

More than 1 in 4 with disabilities living in poverty- “As the number of Americans
living in poverty soars, people with disabilities are faring among the worst,
new Census data shows…” (Shaun Heasley) (Read More)

Special educators slow to adopt autism strategies-“Many teachers are failing to
use some of the most effective methods for teaching students with autism,
according to a new study of special education in Michigan…” (Michelle Diament)
(Read More)

Talk of Medicaid cuts worry disability advocates- “Advocates representing more
than 90 disability organizations are expected to amass on Capitol Hill
Wednesday to show support for Medicaid…” (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

Our group has moved into the new school year and is now preparing for the busy holiday season.  We are currently planning fun activities and events to mark these occasions for our families.  Make sure to stay up to date with our newsletter as we will be announcing upcoming activites for our group and many other organizations in the San Diego area.

Puzzled Parents Announcements

PP will be changing our meetings to alternating Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate more members’ ability to attend. We will also begin broadcasting our meetings live. We will be holding a board meeting soon to finalize these
plans.

We are also still looking for a place to move our meetings to and would greatly appreciate any recommendations.

Puzzled Parents would like to acknowledge two important milestones of our members.
First, Congratulations to Justin and Michelle on their wedding nuptials! We
wish you both a long and happy marriage. Second, we would like to welcome home the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan and its supporting ships. We are grateful that one of our member’s has returned home safely to his family.

LOCAL

Autism Speaks- had a successful and fun filled walk on September 10^th. They raised $73,000, bringing them close to their $88,000 goal to support their mission!

Roots and Wings Consulting (RAW)- works with at-risk children and
families and utilizes a Positive Discipline approach.  Check out their September 2011 RAW News issue which includes a great article on bulling. “…pretty much every school in the country is back in session. As we sent or dropped our kids off this morning, the emotions they approached the day with are as varied as the hair styles we sent them with. Some of our kids were excited, some were nervous, some were determined, some were indifferent (or pretending to be), and more than a few were downright terrified… “ (Aisha Pope) (Read More)

The Agape Connection- is a local group that provides
support and educational information for the special needs community.  Check them out at http://www.specialneedskidz.com/home.

Grossmont Healthcare District’s 10^th Annual Kids Care Fest-Saturday September 24^th- This is a great event that is free and includes lunch. Here are some of the things they are offering.

• Free Health Screenings
• Educational Health Information
• Rady’s Safety Store
• Children’s Fingerprinting
• Pony Rides
• Free Books

TACA

• Socialization & School Integration Ideas-“Socialskills for typical children come with trial and error on the playgrounds for the variety of unwritten rules in a very social world. For children on the autism spectrum, these skills can be the most abstract and complex concepts for them to learn…” (Read More)
• Inclusion: A Journey So Far & Lessons Learned-Inclusion – “the process of taking a special needs individual and including them in a typical education setting – is a tough, delicate, and extremely complex subject to address. Each situation is unique to the child as well as the desired setting. This statement can especially be true for children with autism and other developmental and behavioral issues. My goal is to give parents and professionals a viewpoint on inclusion for their own use so they may benefit from a parent’s perspective.” (Lisa Ackerman) (Learn More)

Re Spectrum Community- A group dedicated to providing and finding social and recreation opportunities for spectrum children. (Learn More)

• Lil Explorers Nature Walk- September 18^th at Batiquitos Lagoon
• Free Trial Prodigies Art Classes will be on September 17

Autism Tree Project Foundation- (September Events)

• Mommy/Daddy & Me Playtime will be held on September 17^th
• Parent Mentor Training Event- September 22^nd
• Shred for Autism Skateboard Event- September 24^th

Autism Society-  Is having a North County Family Gym Night on September 24^th
at Palomar Family YMCA and their 2^nd Annual Autism Society Fundraiser on October 9^th at LIPS .Learn about these events and more that San Diego Autism Society offers at http://www.sd-autism.org/.

NAMI- National Alliance on Mental
Illness- provides many services and assistance, including a helpline for families, friends and those affected by mental illness.  This is a free and confidential service.
Contact them at 1-800-523-5933

XciteSteps’ in-school and after-school special needs mentoring services: www.excitesteps.com

• Classroom Mentor
•  Social, Behavioral Mentoring
•  ABA Therapy
•  Social Group Activities
•  Recreational and Sports Clubs
•  Special Needs Nanny Service

NATIONAL

NAMI- Become a Stigma Buster! NAMI StigmaBusters is a network of dedicated advocates across the country and around the world who seek to fight inaccurate and
hurtful representations of mental illness. (Sign up and learn more)

New Autism Speaks Guide Helps Parents Better Understand and Navigate the IEP Process- New York, N.Y. (August 23, 2011) – “Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today released Individualized Education Program (IEP): Summary, Process and Practical Tips, a free, new online guide that provides parents with important and reliable information and advice about navigating the IEP process, created by a team of pro bono lawyers at Goodwin Procter… “ (Learn More)

E-Learning expands for special-needs students- “When Seph Koutsioukis was in a classroom at an elementary school in Simpsonville, S.C., he floundered. For Seph, who has autism, on-the-spot questions from teachers were a source of embarrassment. He was easily distracted by the sights and sounds in the colorful, occasionally loud room…” (Nirvi Shah) (Read More)

Four-day school weeks catching on-IRENE, S.D. — “When the nearly 300 students of the Irene-Wakonda School District returned to school this week, they found a lot of old friends, teachers and familiar routines awaiting them. But one thing was missing: Friday classes…”(Associated Press) (Read More)

E-Rate Puts Spotlight on Internet
Safety-“The Federal
Communications Commission has released an order that will require schools to educate students about Internet safety in order to comply with the federal E-Rate program, which provides funding for schools to achieve online connectivity…”( Katie Ash) (Read More)

Special Olympics Tops Ranking Of Disability Nonprofits-“Based on recommendations from more than six dozen experts, a new ranking finds that Special Olympics and The Arc are the most “high-impact” national nonprofits in the disability community…”(Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Plans Emerge To Increase Special
Education Funding-“There may be two different bills on the table designed to fully fund special education when Congress returns this fall if one lawmaker follows through on plans announced this week…”(Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If
you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

Greetings Family and Friends! Our group is still looking for a place to meet each Friday or Saturday evening. So please keep your eyes and ears open for possible locations. As always, we ask for you to pass on to us any news, events, or programs you would like to share by e-mailing us directly or commenting on our blog.

We are gearing up for an eventful and fun fall and winter, so stay tuned for future news on upcoming events. In this newsletter you will find national and local news, along with events and workshops.

Local San Diego News

Feds say ‘No child’ benchmarks can be left behind State and local education officials said Monday they welcome the opportunity for more flexibility from stringent testing mandates in the federal No Child Left behind law, saying there is clearly a need for an alternative model for accountability… (Karen Kucher) (Read More)

Local San Diego Events, Resources and Programs

‘Walk Now For Autism Speaks- 5k Family Fun Walk and Resource Fair’ on Saturday, September 10th 2011 at 8am. Spread the word about this great event and learn more by going to their website.

Sensory Jump Time at Pump It Up of Poway

• First Monday of every month 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM. All families
  with autistic children are invited to join us for some fun during this special
  Sensory Jump Time.
• Pump It Up of Poway will be selling Puzzle Pieces the month
  of August for Team Andrew, and in support of the San Diego Autism Walk. Please
  jump and buy a puzzle piece for Autism Speaks! A $5 donation is suggested. For
  more on Pump It Up of Poway.

NAMI San Diego

This organization offers a variety of support groups, advocacy, and other services. (Learn More)

Autism Society of San Diego End of Summer Party 2011!!

• DATE: Saturday, September 3, 2011
• TIME: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
• LOCATION: Aqua Pros Swim School at the Boys and Girls Club 4635 Clairmont Mesa Blvd.
• MORE: Supervised Swimming, catered Chinese lunch,and Prizes!
• RSVP: By August 27, 2011 to info@sd-autism.org or by calling

ARC of San Diego Casino Night- Get ready for an exciting evening of Craps, Texas Hold ‘Em, Roulette, Black Jack, prizes and a silent auction on September 10, 2011 6:30-10:30 p.m. The event will be held at The Arc’s North Shores Vocational Center, 9575 Aero Drive, San Diego 92123 and proceeds will benefit the North Shores Chapter, which supports services to over 200 people with disabilities. (Learn More)

Autism Tree Project Foundation (Learn More)

• Shop for a Cause!  August 27th Donate 5 and receive a 25% off coupon at Macy’s. Shop on a day filled with raffles and fund events.
• Mommy/Daddy &Me Playtime- September 17th
• Always Be Prepared Workshop- September 29th- “Always Be
  Prepared”: Pearls of Wisdom from an Attorney who Came into this as a Mom
  First

San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park- Parks provide free admission for a personal attendant/caregiver to accompany a guest who requires such help in order to access the public programs, activities, and facilities of the Parks. (Learn More)

Legoland- Most attractions at the Park are accessible to disabled guests, depending on the nature of the disability. Detailed health restrictions are posted at each ride. The Park does provide special accommodations for visual and hearing disabilities. LEGOLAND does offer a special escort ticket to any child that needs an escort to accompany them at
all times.It is complimentary, and requires a note from the doctor dated within three months of your visit requiring a escort at all times. (Learn More)

National News

Nearly Two Dozen States Have Approved Cuts to K-12 At least 23 states have approved cuts to K-12 education for the coming year, reductions that will shrink or eliminate a broad array of school programs and services, particularly those serving the neediest communities, a report says… ( Sean Cavanagh) (Read More)

Jobless Rate Hovers Near Record For People With Disabilities The unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities remained stubbornly high in July, falling just slightly below the record-tying level seen the previous month… (Michelle Diament) (Read More)

Group Home Execs Paid Nearly $1 Million Each Group Home Execs Paid Nearly $1 Million Each A major New York nonprofit providing group homes and other programs for people with developmental disabilities is facing questions about million-dollar salaries
and other unusual perks…(Michelle Diament) (Read More)

New ‘Sesame Street’ game teaches healthy habits If your kids love the “Sesame Street” TV show and you are interested in engaging them in healthy fun using your Wii, then the new “Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover!” should be on your radar…( Jinny Gudmundsen) (Read More)

Puzzled Parents News is associated with the San Diego Puzzled Parents Support Group and is created by Heather Kennedy. If you would like to link your own blog or website to this group please e-mail Amy at amello40@gmail.com.

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July 29th, 2011

This article is from the website of Dr. Paula Kluth. It, along with many others on inclusive schooling, differentiated instruction, and literacy can be found at www.PaulaKluth.com. Visit now to read her Tip of the Day, read dozens of free articles, and learn more about supporting diverse learners in K-12 classrooms.

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Transition Tips for Students with Autism

Adapted from: P. Kluth (2010). “You’re Going to Love This Kid!”: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom (Rev. ed.). Baltimore: Brookes.

For many learners with autism, transitions are the toughest part of schooling. Moving from classroom to classroom or teacher to teacher can be stressful enough, but moving from building to building is almost always a process filled with anxiety and trepidation. These four strategies are designed to prepare the learner with autism for a new school or a new schooling experience and can be used days or months before the student arrives as well as throughout the school year.

School Preview

Many students with autism will profit from seeing, experiencing, and learning about the school before they show up on the first day. This is an effective strategy for students who are changing schools or for those who will be going to a certain classroom for the first time. A student can pre-view the school using many different tools. Some learners might appreciate a videotape of the school and its rooms, complete with short interviews with his new teachers. Other students like to tour the school themselves and meet teachers face to face before school officially starts. Still others may want to hear siblings, parents, or friends tell them about the school. Students may also be interested in reviewing brochures of the school, newsletters from the previous year, and/or the school’s website (if one exists).

Surveys

Before the year begins or during the first few days of school, many teachers ask students and their families to complete a survey. The purpose of this tool is to help the teacher become more personally acquainted with students and to make an immediate connection with families. Some teachers may choose to administer different surveys to students and parents while other teachers may design a survey that families and students complete together. While a survey would undoubtedly help a teacher learn more about his student with autism, many teachers choose to use surveys with every student in the class.

When considering using a survey, teachers will want to focus on learning styles, interests, needs, strengths or even on student ideas for the classroom. Although questions will vary by age group, possible questions include:

• How do you learn best?
• What hobbies do you have?
• What scares or upsets you?
• What kind of expertise do you have (e.g., skateboarding, karate, collecting bugs, drawing)?
• What do you need to be comfortable in my classroom?
• What do you want to learn this year?
• What is your least favorite part of the school day?
• What is your favorite part of the school day?

If one or more students cannot write, the teacher, parent or support person can allow learners to submit visual surveys. Students might draw pictures, create a collage, or submit photographs or a video in response to the survey questions.

Routines and Schedules

Some students will profit from the development and implementation of written schedules, picture calendars, or the use of a daily planner. As one of my former students explained to me: “School is very stimulating and a lot of noises and disorganization for me. So I need to get used to new places and have a schedule”. Teachers should talk often to students about how time will be used in the classroom. They should also try to give students with autism as much warning as possible when they are going to alter the class schedule or when a substitute will be teaching the class.

All students in a given classroom may benefit from knowing more about the schedule. Having information about what content will be taught and what activities will take place in any given day or week can help any student become a better planner and time manager. Teachers can make going over the daily schedule a regular part of the daily routine in any classroom; even taking a few seconds to review this information can make a difference in the learning of some students.

Personal Portfolio

Students who have unique needs and abilities may want to introduce themselves to a teacher through the use of a portfolio. Portfolios may include photographs, artwork, writing or schoolwork samples, lists of favorite things, or even video or audiotapes.

A portfolio can be an especially helpful tool for students who do not speak or use a reliable communication system. I worked with one young man, J.D., to assemble a portfolio he would use as he transitioned from high school to the work place. This young man did not speak and those who met him for the first time often struggled to connect with him. When his teachers first accompanied him to his new school, J.D.’s peers began asking them questions about him: Did he understand them? Did he have any interests?

The teachers decided that J.D. needed a way to represent himself so that they didn’t need to serve as his voice and liaison. In order to facilitate this process the teachers worked with J.D. to create a portfolio that he could use to introduce himself to new people and to interact with those he already knew. J.D.’s portfolio included:

• Four pages of photographs (J.D. with family and friends; snapshots of him playing soccer at a community park; J.D. working with peers on a biology experiment, vacation photos from the Rock and Roll Museum in Ohio)
• A short “resume” outlining some of the classes he took in middle school
• A list of his favorite movies and compact discs
• A “Learning About Autism” pamphlet J.D. got at a conference
• A glossy picture of the Green Bay Packers, J.D.’s favorite football team

Portfolios can be in paper, audio, or video form, formal or informal, a few pages or dozens of pages, include only current information and artifacts or serve as a cumulative record of the student’s life.