Final Seminar of the Easter Seals Special Care Series next Tuesday

Easter Seals of North Texas's "Special Care Series" will hold its final seminar, on the topic of guardianship, next Tuesday July 7th. The Special Care Series is a program to provide families with up-to-date information on supports available and the financial aspects for individuals living with Autism.
The seminar will take place from 6:30 to 7:30PM at the Community Room of Easter Seals North Texas, Trinity Center, 4443 North Josey Lane, Carrollton, TX 75010. They request that you register by calling 817-334-2306. The seminars are free and open to the public. Child care is not provided.

Also, now is a great time to make a donation to Easter Seals. Right now, through midnight July 6th, their corporate partner Friendly's will DOUBLE each donation!

Research News Roundup

UPI: Gene mutations, autism risk linked

Forbes: Chromosome Abnormality Tied to Autistic Behavior in Mice

Times of India: Autistic Kids Laugh Differently

Tehran Times: A Genetic Link Between Anorexia and Autism?

AAFP: AMA Rejects Call for More Research on Vaccine Link to Autism, Reaffirms Immunization Policies

Local Group Forming New Day Program For Adults with Special Needs

Organizers are looking for more parents to get involved with this project:

"The next meeting to discuss a new day program for adults with special needs, 18 years old and older, in the East Dallas County area will be held on Saturday, June 27th at 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church, in the Children's Building, 3018 Belt Line Road, in Sunnyvale. Sorry child care will not be available. For more information call 214-641-4420 or 214-517-7011.

We hope to see you there."

US Supreme Court Ruling on Special Education (Forest Grove School District v. T.A.)

The Supreme Court has sided with the parents of "T.A." in the case of Forest Grove School District v T.A. (read the previous post for the details of the case).

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that "IDEA authorizes reimbursement for private special-education services when a public school fails to provide a FAPE and the private school placement is appropriate, regardless of whether the child previously received special-education services through the public school."

National Coverage:

• Education Week: "Supreme Court Backs Reimbursement for Private Tuition"
• Boston Globe (Op-ed): "The Tragedy and Triumph of T.A."
• US News and World Report: "Court Ruling Helps Special Needs Students"

Local Coverage:

• Dallas Morning News: "School Districts Digest Ruling on Special Ed Refund"
• Dallas Morning News "The Education Front" Blog: "Special Ed Students: The Supreme Court's Game-Changer"
• Dallas Special Needs Kids Examiner: Dallas-area Schools Examine Court Ruling on Special Ed Refunds
  

NOVA Science Now: Autism Genes

PBS's NOVA Science Now program will feature a segment on autism genes on July 7 at 8pm on KERA (and it will available on the website on July 8).

The NOVA Science Now blog is inviting viewers to read stories of autism and submit their own personal reflections, ask Harvard Medical School professor Charles Nelson questions about diagnosis, treatment, research, and other aspects of autism, and more.


And speaking of KERA, our wonderful public radio and television affiliate: Shop at the Lakewood or Highland Park Whole Foods Market on Tuesday, June 30 and Whole Foods will donate 5% of net sales to KERA! There will also be a drawing to win a KERA Gift Basket and a $50 Whole Foods Market Gift Card.

7/15 Workshop on ARDs, IEPs, FBAs, & BIPs: early registration open

Successful ARD Planning: Are Your IEP Goals Measurable? (presented by the DFW Center for Autism)

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.

For Registration Forms, visit:
www.dfwcenterforautism.org

July 15, 2009
10:00 - 2:00
Location: FEAT-NT Community Resource Center & Library
7286 Glenview Dr. Richland Hills, TX 7180


Presented by:

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


Individual & Group Early Registration
Dates: May 26- July 8
$25.00 (Individual)

$20.00 (Groups of 3 or more)

Late Registration
Dates: July 9- July 15
$50.00 (per person)

Don't forget to buy tickets for Autism Awareness Night at Rangers Ballpark!

What: Autism Awareness night (Rangers vs Padres game)
When: Friday, June 26th at 7:05pm
Where: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

Last day to purchase a special discount ticket in the Lower Reserved seating area. For only $17.50 a ticket, you can watch the Rangers take on the Padres and raise awareness for autism. A fundraising donation of $5 has been added to each ticket purchased.

For more information and purchasing info, visit the Easter Seals events page.

Contact Senators Hutchison and Cornyn About the ATAA Today!

Neither Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison nor Senator John Cornyn have signed onto the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (the "ATAA"-Senate Bill 819). Learn more about the ATAA at:

http://www.autismvotes.org/ataa

Sen. Kay Hutchison: (202) 224-5922

Sen. John Cornyn III: (202) 224-2934

Autism Safety Project

Last week, Autism Speaks announced the launch of their new Autism Safety Project, a resource for families and First Responders that provides "information and guidelines for communicating with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in emergency situations." Check it out.

Don't Miss Stephanie's Day this Saturday!

Stephanie's Day, "A free Resource Fair for children with special needs and their families/caregivers" takes place this Saturday at NorthPark Center from 10am-2:00pm. Read more at StephaniesDay.com.

And don't forget, you can catch the Autism Society sensory-friendly showing of "Up!" Saturday morning at 10am at participating AMC Locations.

Research News Roundup

Wall Street Journal: US Researchers To Focus On Pregnant Women For Autism Study

Boston Globe: Magnetic Fields Test 'Reflexes' of Autism

HealthNews: Antidepressant Drug Celexa Not Effective in Treating Autism

New York Daily News: Music Therapy Treats Diseases and Conditions From Parkinson's to Autism

LA Times: Testosterone-related Treatment for Autism Stirs Controversy

Future Horizons Autism and Asperger's Syndrome SUPER Conference - DALLAS 2009

Its not too late to register for the Future Horizons Autism and Asperger's Syndrome Super Conference, which is happening July 16 & 17 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Richardson.

Topics & speakers include:

• "The Complete Guide to Autism/Asperger's Syndrome" with Dr. Tony Attwood

• "The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's" with Dr. Temple Grandin
• 
  "No More Meltdowns: Managing Behavior in the Home and Classroom" with Dr. Jed Baker
• 
  "The Out-of-Sync Child" with Carol Kranowitz

For more information, or to register, visit the Future Horizons Super Conference webpage.

From AutismSpot:

If you haven't registered visit AutismSpot.com and follow the Future Horizons link from the homepage. Register with code Spot1 to save $10. Unable to attend? No problem...the entire event will be available ONLY at SpotUniversity.com!