Thursday, July 30, 2009

Sensory-Friendly Films: "G-Force" this Saturday, August 1st

This Saturday, August 1st at 10am, 3 local AMC theatres will be showing Disney's "G-Force" as part of their "Sensory Friendly Films" program:

  • AMC Stonebriar 24, Frisco, TX
  • Parks at Arlington 18, Arlington, TX, and
  • AMC Firewheel 18, Garland, TX

From autism-society.org:
In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Obama to Sign International Disabilities Rights Treaty

From the AP article:

Obama said he had instructed U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to sign the document next week, joining 140 other nations.

"It's the first new human rights convention of the 21st century," Obama said at the White House during an East Room celebration of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.

The law protects people with mental or physical disabilities from discrimination in employment, education, housing, public transportation and other areas of life.

"This extraordinary treaty calls on all nations to guarantee rights likes those afforded under the ADA," Obama said. "It urges equal protection and equal benefit before the law for all citizens. It reaffirms the inherent dignity and worth and independence of all persons with disabilities worldwide."



You can read the UN treaty ("The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities") here.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Register Now for Michelle Garcia Winner Workshop: "Thinking About You, Thinking About Me"

Note that early registration ends on 8/3/09, so there is one week left to register at lower rates!

From the Autism Society of Collin County:

More often than not, how we “work and play with others” can have a huge impact on our lives, and this is particularly true for people with autism and related disabilities. From meeting and keeping friends, to interviewing and holding a job, effective one-on-one communication is critical for success.

The Autism Society of Collin County, in cooperation with Whole Foods, the Rubin Family Foundation, North Garland Vision and The Arc of Dallas, is excited to sponsor a social skills seminar featuring Michelle Garcia Winner!

Michelle is an internationally recognized expert on effective social interaction, and has trained school administrators, psychologists, parents, and government policy makers on the importance of social thinking. In 2008 she won a Congressional award as an innovator for using social learning as an effective treatment program for students.

Michelle’s day-long seminar “Thinking About You, Thinking About Me” will teach participants how our social minds work, and behaviors which affect other people’s emotions and responses. By understanding the three levels of social interaction and four steps to effective communication, participants will learn how to create IEP goals and benchmarks for improvement.

For information about Michelle Garcia Winner please see: http://www.socialthinking.com/

For online and mail registration please go to: http://www.arcdallas.org/workshop_reg.asp Click on the Michelle Garcia Winner Workshop link.

Workshop details:
Date: September 23rd, 2009
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Place: Garland Special Events Center
Address:4999 Naaman Forest Blvd, Garland, TX, 75040

Early Registration (before August 3rd): Single $55, Couple $85

Registration (after August 3rd): Single: $70, Couple: $100

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Playing with a Purpose: 'Final Fantasy' Marathon to Benefit Autism Organization

Gamers over at thespeedgamers.com are playing Final Fantasy I-XII to benefit autism treatment, with a goal of raising $20,000 for Act Today, a nonprofit organization that provides funding and support for families who can't afford treatment for autistic children.

You can check out a live feed on their website and even join in on a live chat. Most importantly, you can donate money there to support their efforts.

Who says gaming is a waste of time?

Friday, July 17, 2009

Autism as Academic Paradigm

I stumbled upon this very interesting and enlightening essay by Professor Tyler Cowen of George Mason University, titled "Autism as Academic Paradigm":

The relevance of the autism spectrum for higher education isn't just about particular individuals on the autistic spectrum. The very nature of higher education shows how much we, often without knowing it, hold up autistic cognitive profiles as a partial educational ideal. In "special needs" education, there is plenty of effort to teach the skills of the nonautistic to the autistic, but in the regular classroom we are often doing the opposite. I view higher (and lower) education as teaching people to be more autistic in many of their basic cognitive skills. Again, some key cognitive features of autism are the ability, and desire, to process lots of information across widely different scales, from tiny details to overarching structures; focus and the mental ordering of that information; a relatively high degree of scientific objectivity; and the presence of some highly specialized cognitive strengths, even if they are accompanied by some areas of poor performance. To an educator a lot of that list ought to sound pretty good.

Read the whole article and come back and comment here--I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

State News: Austin Autism Clinic Raided by Federal Authorities

CARE Clinics in Austin was raided by the FBI and IRS agents today. According to the Austin American-Statesman, agents are removing dozens of boxes of documents but won't say what they are looking for. The clinic has been closed, "perhaps permanently."

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tomorrow's ARD Planning Workshop: 60% Discount at the Door!

Tomorrow's "Successful ARD Planning Workshop": Now just $20.00 at the door (a 60% discount)!

*** BCBA, BCABA & Certificates of Attendance will be Offered ***

July 15, 2009

10:00- 2:00

Presented by:

Kecia Adams-Wright, M.Ed., BCBA, Clinical Director, DFWCFA
&
Jessie Whitesides, Program Director- Outreach, DFWCFA

Location:

FEAT-NT Community Resource Center & Library
7286 Glenview Dr. Richland Hills, TX 7180


Are Your IEP Goals Measurable???

This is a critical training for parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and professionals working in or with local school districts. This workshop will aid participants in understanding and navigating the planning process for school age children with autism. The training will also build the capacity of parents and professionals to write measurable IEP goals, appropriate FBAs and BIPs. ARD Meetings will also be discussed with emphasis on how to achieve progress in a diplomatic fashion.
www.dfwcenterforautism.org

NYT Interview with Autism Researcher: "The Stress of Autism"

In a NYTimes.com "Well Blog" post today, health blogger Tara Parker-Pope interviews the associate director of the University of Washington Autism Center, who recently conducted a study of mothers of children with developmental disabilities.

Monday, July 13, 2009

National News: Disability Groups Unite Behind Sotomayor Confirmation

DisabilityScoop.com:

In a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the organizations’ cited Sotomayor’s personal experience as an individual with diabetes and said her judicial record indicates “a good understanding of – and healthy respect for – the rights of persons with disabilities.”

Organizations that are part of the coalition supporting Sotomayor include the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Autism Society of America, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Disability Rights Network and the National Down Syndrome Society.


Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings begin today.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Sensory-Friendly Films: "Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" this Saturday

This Saturday, July 11 at 10am, 3 local AMC theatres will be showing "Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" as part of their "Sensory Friendly Films" program:
  • AMC Stonebriar 24, Frisco, TX
  • Parks at Arlington 18, Arlington, TX, and
  • AMC Firewheel 18, Garland, TX

From autism-society.org:
In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.