Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
~ Presents ~
"LEARN TO TEACH THOSE WHO LEARN DIFFERENTLY"

Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Aurora Public Library
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Registration Deadline is Friday, May 20, 2005
The Cost:
$125 for working professionals and
$75 for students from post-secondary education programs (i.e. College or
University - Social Worker, Recreation Leadership, Early Childhood Education and Human Resources).

For additional information call our LDA-YR Executive Director, Lynn Ziraldo at (905) 884-7933 x22 or email info@ldayr.

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Brookfield Programs Presents
VARIETIES OF ABA PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Sunday May 29, 2005
9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
A workshop with John DeMarco, B.C.B.A.
Consulting Behaviour Analyst, Brookfield Programs
Registration limited to 21 participants to allow for questions & discussion
Cost: $65.00 (GST included)

This workshop introduces the array of interventions based on applied behavior analysis currently being used for children with autism. We will compare and contrast the following major programming approaches:
· Lovaas Protocol
· Verbal Behavior (Partington and Sundberg; Carbone; McGreevy)
· Precision teaching

The workshop is designed for parents, paraprofessionals and other interested individuals
For more information/ to Register
416-915-5550
info@brookfieldprograms.com
www.BrookfieldPrograms.com

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Aspergers Parent Support Group
MEETINGS MONTHLY, LAST THURSDAY
7:00 PM
34 Berczy St., Aurora
1st Floor Boardroom

Kerry's Place Autism Services
Community Services York Region/Simcoe County
Facilitator: Rose Anne Punnett, Autism Consultant
905-713-6808 x 312
rpunnett@kerrysplace.org
www.kerrysplace.com

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KATHRYN'S SEAC WEB PAGES

Developed and Maintained by Kathryn Everest
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Representative
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter
York Region District School Board

Please visit http://ca.geocities.com/everest3732@rogers.com/mypage.htm

This web page supports links to important York Region District School Board and Ministry of Education documents supplementing Autism Society Ontario's education manual: 'NAVIGATING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN
ONTARIO - A HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS'.

This hardcover three-ring binder is approximately 200 pages long is available through ASO for $25.00/copy PLUS postage and handling.

Order online at http://www.autismsociety.on.ca or by phone to the provincial office, 416-246-9592.

Save postage and handling costs by picking your copy up at any chapter meeting or workshop.

Aspergers Syndrome and Giftedness
Website maintained by Kathryn Everest
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Representative
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter
York Region District School Board
http://ca.geocities.com/everest3732@rogers.com/giftedasperger.htm

Best Regards,
Kathryn

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ON-LINE PECS RESOURCE

Thanks to a Chapter parent for submitting this:

Photo PECS cards. These are downloadable ($20 for a whole ton) JPEG photographs of the "real world" objects that are usually depicted with drawings. Created by two "parents of" who are photographers in Utah.

http://www.squarepics.com/

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MELISSA'S STORY

When Melissa was three years old, I stood watching her sleeping like an angel and whispered softly to her, 'This is the day your life might change
forever my precious.' My husband and myself would find out later that day that our beautiful daughter had autism. And so began our family's struggle to live with this mysterious disorder.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Rhonda Shlanger and I am happily married to a fantastic husband and have two amazing children!

Melissa is our miracle child. Our hero and a real trooper. By the age of a year, my husband and I noticed signs that indicated something was
wrong. Poor eye contact, sitting for long periods of time in her high chair without complaining, not pointing, and being totally oblivious to her
environment.

At three, Melissa literally had no speech and cried a great deal of the time when her needs were not met. Jumping, rocking, squeaking took up most of her waking hours. Sounds were difficult for her to handle.

Melissa eventually was diagnosed with Autism at three, by the Sick Children's Hospital. Through years of intensive therapy and auditory
training, a technique for the ears that lower certain frequencies and raise other frequencies, Melissa improved dramatically. Constant intervention on our part was essential.

Our daughter was obsessed with nails and beauty. A doctor who has autism, told us to take the obsessions and to turn these into a career. This
philosophy worked. Today our daughter is an Esthetician and runs her own business. Miracles can happen, however not every family experiences
this. Many of our beloved with Autism experience severe challenges every day.

I have just found out about an organization called the National Alliance for Autism Research. They are a group of parents that raise money through
walk-a-thons across the country. A short form for this organization is called NAAR. This particular organization started out in the United States
and has been incredibly successful, raising millions of dollars to find the causes and hopefully one day a cure for this mysterious disorder.

I am writing to invite you to join us on May 15, 2005 at Mel Lastman Square for 9pm. The walk begins at 10am. I would like to lead a team of walkers for Sweet Melissa, as well as for all the many children and adults facing challenges and frustrations because of this neurological disorder everyday of their lives.

Please consider sponsoring me for this very worthwhile cause. You can make checks payable to NAAR. Send it to Rhonda or Arthur Shlanger by May 1st, 2005. Please write Sweet Melissa in the memo section of your check.

Shlanger Family
163 Hammerstone Cr.
Thornhill ON L4J 8B2

Thank You so much for showing that you care! Let's all make a difference and improve the quality of life for these heroes.

Sincerely yours,
Rhonda Shlanger

*************************************
HOMEOPATHY

Celebrating Homeopathy Awareness Week and Amy Lansky's talk show about homeopathy on Autism One Radio, I am offering to 10 children with Autism one full year of free homeopathic consultations. Experience the benefits of this gentle healing art. This offer is open to all families in York Region with an autistic child. Email or phone in your interest, with your name, address, phone number, child's name and age.
A draw will be held to choose 10 families on May 1, 2005.

Soula Kallinis DSHomMed
Classical Homeopath
905-763-2192
Soul Spa Healing Arts Studio
34 Centre St.
Thornhill, ON
Email: homeopathyinfo@sympatico.ca
For more information about homeopathy
www3.sympatico.ca/homeopathyinfo

*************************************

April 24 DisAbility News & Views Radio Show

Guests: Sunday, April 24th 5-6PM on WXRL Radio 1300AM
(Sorry I didn't get this out in time, hopefully you can access this through the archives on the website, as noted below)
Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D, is a communication disorder specialist, and licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in autism, Asperger
Syndrome and related conditions. Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., who is highly respected for her work on behalf of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, is the Editor-in-Chief, and Liane Holliday Willey, Ed.D., author, lecturer, and an individual with Asperger syndrome, is the Senior Editor. ASQ has an exceptional advisory board consisting of 21 members of the international autism community, including Tony Attwood, Simon Baron-Cohen, Catherine Lord, Nancy Minshew, and Lorna Wing.

Dennis Debbaudt is the author of Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals: Recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London-Philadelphia, 2002, Avoiding Unfortunate Situations Way/SAC,
Detroit, Michigan, 1994, and a veteran of law enforcement in the private sector since 1977. Debbaudt is a frequent presenter at autism conferences worldwide, and is increasingly hosting train-the-trainer workshops for school districts, law enforcement training programs, and autism advocacy groups.

Temple Grandin, PhD.,a gifted animal scientist who has designed one third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. She also
lectures widely on autism - because Temple Grandin is autistic.Grandin is the author, co-author, or editor of several books, including Genetics and
the Behavior of Domestic Animals (1999), Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism (1995), and Emergence: Labeled Autistic (1986) and Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism. This career planning guide is written specifically for high-functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum, their families, teachers, and counselors.

DisAbility News & Views Radio Show
Access past radio shows, resources and more on the website!
www.disabilitynewsradio.com

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Autism One 2005 Conference May 26 – 29

Chicago Marriott O’Hare Hotel
http://AutismOne.org

Autism One is a 501(3)(c), non-profit, charity organization, started by a small group of parents of children with autism. Parents are and must remain the driving force of our community, the stakes are too high and the issues too scared to delegate to outside interests.

The most comprehensive conference on autism ever assembled now offers greater focus to help you address specific needs, shorten your learning curve, and bring you quickly up to speed.

Most Comprehensive
Questions and answers do not stop at the boundary of a discipline. Multivariate in presentation and cure autism bows to the collective weight of doctors working with therapists working with educators working with parents working to recover their children.

Our children benefit from an inter-disciplinary approach. Autism One 2005 is proud to feature over 100 of the leading experts presenting in four tracks to help you make the best decisions:

1. Biomedical Treatments
2. Behavior / Communication / Education Therapies
3. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
4. Government / Legal / Personal Issues

You will meet and learn from such outstanding experts as Dr. Jill James, Dr. Rashid Buttar, Dr. Mady Hornig, Dr. Richard Deth, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, and Dr. Temple Grandin to name only a few. You will be inspired by the progress across disciplines reported by both practitioners and parents.

We are pleased David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm, will deliver the keynote address. David has written a fascinating book chronicling much of our community’s recent history, including the big picture power plays, while detailing the struggle and obstacles each of us as parents face.

Greater Focus
This year we are introducing a number of important changes to provide what we are calling a “lived experience.” Conferences have a tendency to talk at you. That’s not good enough. Real learning occurs at a deeper level; a level that combines the abstract with the practical.

Initiatives include:
1. The Mentor Program: You may request a mentor. Mentors are fellow-parents with recovered children or children well on their way to recovery.
2. Three Mini-Tracks: 1. Parents New to the diagnosis; 2. Puberty, Adolescence and Adulthood and; 3. Environmental Medicine/Issues are available.
3. Pre-Conference Day, GFCF and SCD - Culinary Delight: The Pre-Conference day is devoted to hands-on cooking to take the mystery out of gluten- casein-free and specific carbohydrate diets.
4. Gluten/Casein free items on breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus: Menu options will include gluten- and casein-free for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Have a taste, it’s good.

Please see http://AutismOne.org for more information, including a list of topics and speakers.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you and we’ll see you in May.

My Best,
Edmund Arranga
714.680.0792
http://AutismOne.org
earranga@autismone.org

*************************************
NEW! York Region on a Limited Budget
An updated edition of the handy reference booklet, York Region on a Limited Budget: How to Survive When You Don't Have a Lot of Money is now available. Originally produced in 1977, this booklet has been made possible through the wonderful time and resource commitments from several consumers and YSSN staff. Available through: http://www.yssn.ca/news.htm

*************************************

ZOE'S NEW BEGINNINGS

We are located at 8551 Weston road units 7-8 Woodbridge Ont. We are currently offering a Full Time program 8am-12pm (hours will
change according to demand). This 4 hour program we are offering 1:1 ABA therapy and 2:1 social skills and integration where the ABA will be
utilized. We are taking children ages 3-8 so they can appropriately be integrated with children their own age. Programming will be done based on
the parents’ goals for their child and will be written up by Lauryn Barmash (ABA therapist). We have on staff a Doctor from Sick Kids
Hospital who will be attending monthly sessions to observe and see child's progress and twice a month session with head ABA Therapist.

We have Various Programs your child can choose from
FULL TIME
Monday-Friday
$60,000 per year
$33.00 per hour
7 hours per day
8am-3pm
8-12pm - Full integration , Lunch included in class room setting, a
program Assistant , Social skills programs, Social skills programs, and
social skills assessments
12-3pm
1:1 ABA therapy, programs for academics, ABA kit, Observation twice a
month by supervisor, observation once a month by MD

FULL TIME 1/2 DAY
Monday- Friday
48,000
$46.00 per hour
4 hours per day
8-9am
1:1 ABA therapy , Programs for academics, ABA kit, Observation twice a
month by MD, Observation once a month by supervisor
9-12pm
Full Integration in child care setting, Lunch included , a program
Assistant 2:1

If requested we do offer Part time ( every other day ) programs as well.

Lauryn Barmash
905 851 8005
Lauryn2334@hotmail.com

Thank you again
If you need anymore information please feel free to contact me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you

PECS FOLLOW-UP TRAINING

Travelodge Hotel Toronto Airport
925 Dixon Road
April 21 & 22, 2005
Presenters: Anne Hoffman, M.Ed. & Diane Black, M.Ed.

See the website for the brochure containing all the details: http://www.pecs-canada.com/English/upcoming_workshops.htm

*************************************

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO
YORK REGION CHAPTER

APRIL 12, 2005
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

GUEST SPEAKER: Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director Autism Society Ontario
“Pivotal Skills and Responses for Children and Adults with ASD”

Please join us at our Annual General Meeting on April 12, 2005
At 7:00 pm at the Loyal True Blue and Orange Building.
11181 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill (two streets north of Elgin Mills)
Room B07

Autism Society Ontario – York Region Chapter has been very active this year and we look forward to sharing our accomplishments and receiving your input in planning for our upcoming year.

Nominations for our 2005-2006 Chapter Leadership Council have been submitted and they include:

Cenza Newton
Jasna Tome
Brenda Wynne
Cindi Buick

Kathryn Everest
Paul Kalmykow
Janet Kalmykow
Liz Cohen
Lynda Beedham
Aliya Rahim

Bios on the nominees are available at asoyork@axxent.ca

Chapter elections will be conducted at the meeting. Please email us at asoyork@axxent.ca should you wish to add your name to our list of nominees. Your membership must be in good standing.

Our guests include Randy and Mandy Klein from “Micah’s Favourite” and Peter Wetzel, from Nature’s Own Bakery and Natural Food Mill Products. Their companies produce a wide variety of Gluten Free Casein Free products. They will provide samples for all to enjoy and you will have the opportunity to purchase their products.

Our guest speaker is Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director, Autism Society Ontario. She will be presenting “Pivotal Skills and Responses for Children and Adults with ASD”.

We were also honored with having one of our children and her classmates featured in this year’s “Toonie For Autism Day” campaign video. You will have the opportunity to view “My Friend Dylan – I Wonder What We Will Learn”.

For more information please contact us at (905)780-1590 or asoyork@axxent.ca

We look forward to seeing you there.

Cenza Newton – President
Autism Society Ontario – York Region Chapter

*************************************

GENETICIST SPEAKING IN TORONTO

Hello Chapters geographically closer to Durham Region,
FYI - See note below from Lynne Leyland. (LynneLeyland@aol.com)

Hi,

I wanted to let you know that Jeanette will be in Toronto on April 17th. She is the guest speaker for our NFSO biannual meeting.

She will be arriving Saturday - I don't have the timing as yet and will be staying at the Radisson Hotel - Victoria Park and 401 on Sat night. She will be presenting Sunday from 10 am to noon at the hotel.

If anyone wishes to attend - it is free - but they need to let me know in advance. She will be talking about her autism research (with a focus on the
NF/autism component) and also talking generally about life with a disabled brother.

*************************************

SIBLING WORKSHOPS

The Toronto chapter of Autism Society Ontario, in coordination with Kerry's Place Autism Services, is pleased to offer a workshop for
children who have a brother or sister with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is a great opportunity for siblings to get together and share
experiences with one another in an informal and fun environment. The workshop will include a simulation, videos, crafts, games, activities
and group discussions.

Dates: Saturday April 16 and 23, 2005 for 8 to 10 year olds.
Saturday May 7 and 14, 2005 for 11 to 13 year olds.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Kerry's Place Autism Services, Toronto Location
376 Rusholme Road (Dufferin & Bloor)
Fee: $20.00
Pizza lunch and snacks will be provided
To register please call 416-534-1644. Register early: space is limited.

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CORRECTION - QUEEN'S PARK ON MONDAY APRIL 4

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO "RALLY" BEING PLANNED.
We are encouraged to show our support to Ms. Martel by being present at the Legislature when she speaks .
I apologize for the error.

News from some of our listmates: A ruling has been made by the Superior Court in the Deskin/Wynberg case. The ruling is posted at the website of the families' lawyers at www.essac.com (click on "news"). Word from the families is that they are pleased with the decision. Press releases with a summary of the decision should be released in the next few days.

"Shelly Martel, MPP will raise a question on Monday, April 4, 2005 in the Ontario Legislature regarding the recent decision by Justice Kiteley in the Deskin/Wynberg lawsuit. She is asking for a show of parental support on the floor that day. Shelley has supported our kids all along and now that we have a win she is prepared to get it out there on the Legislature floor immediately. Please come out and give her the support she has always given our children. Shelly requests that we be there for 1:00 p.m. and go directly to her office in room #112. Please either call ahead and leave a message or an email to let her know you are coming so she can let security know.
Tel: 416 325-9203 or e-mail: smartel-qp@ndp.on.ca "

*************************************

COURSE: Autism Spectrum Disorder - Assisting Student's Development

This 39 hour on-line course provides educational staff with tools needed to work successfully with children diagnosed with this complex condition. It is delivered by a team of professionals from school boards and Hamilton Health Sciences Corp., including International Autism Authority Dr. Peter Szatmari. A strong emphasis will be placed on communication, social skills, behavioural skills, family, sensory and educational issues. There will be a final exam.
The course starts on May 13th and costs $274.32.
Enrollment is limited. Please contact Myrna Kelly at Mohawk College for further information. 905-575-1212, ext# 3345

*************************************

ASO METRO TORONTO CHAPTER'S GENERAL MEETING

Hello,
I am writing on behalf of the Autism Society Ontario - Metro Toronto Chapter.

Spots are beginning to fill up for our next general meeting on Thursday April 28th at 7:30 p.m.! RSVP early if you or staff plan on attending this very beneficial evening!

If you or staff members would like to attend, please RSVP to my email or use
the information located on the flyer. All those whom wish to attend need to
RSVP to 416-489-0702 or info@asotoronto.org.

We would love to see you there!! Thank you for your help and support!

Come hear author Thelma Wheatley, the first Canadian parent to publish a
book about raising an autistic child. Thelma's novel, My Sad is All Gone has
made her the first parent world-wide to write about violence,
self-mutilation and psychosis in an autistic child from a parent's
view-point. Her book has also been endorsed by Temple Grandin, an autistic
icon, who writes: "My Sad is All Gone is essential reading for anybody who
needs to learn about pharmacological treatments for severe rage in teenagers
and adults with autism."

Thank you again,
Deborah A. Richardson
Autism Society Ontario - Metro Toronto Chapter
(416) 212-2773
Deborah.Richardson@moh.gov.on.ca

www.asotoronto.org

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FREE NATUROPATHIC LECTURE

Free Lecture: “Healing Autism Naturally & Emotionally”

Learn About Naturopathic Medicine by Nora Jane Pope, N.D., Naturopathic Doctor

& Coping With Autism by Camille de Haney, B.S.W., Life Coach, Positive Links Consulting.

7pm, Thursday, April 21, 2005 Common Health Centre, 2nd floor, 348 Danforth Avenue

Reservations recommended: - call Nora Jane Pope, N.D. at 416-969-9181

Presentation Outline: Introduction

What is Naturopathic Medicine, how are Naturopathic Doctors trained, how are they licensed and regulated by the Ontario Government

Philosophy: Naturopathic Philosophy and the 6 Naturopathic Guiding Principles

Treatment Options

Nutrition: safely use vitamins & minerals with your current medication, address drug-induced nutrient deficiencies, manage side effects, manage stress. The latest medical research will be discussed.

Herbal Medicine: use herbs to lower stress, support liver function, support kidney excretion, manage side effects and avoid drug-herb interactions. The latest medical research will be discussed.

Chinese Medicine: use acupuncture, herbs and foods to balance yin & yang, manage syndromes which lead to neuronal degeneration. The latest medical research will be discussed.

Homeopathic Medicine: examples from various remedies will be discussed. Treatment is customized to patient's specific symptoms

Lifestyle Counseling: identify & avoid triggers

The Impact of Autism on the Family

Objective: This presentation will: (I) explore how having a child with autism can impact upon the family unit (II) Identify coping strategies that will improve family dynamics.

Summary Question & Answer Period

Why you should come to this lecture:

Nora Jane Pope, B.A., N.D. is a general practitioner of complementary & natural medicine. She diagnoses, treats and prevents disease. Her training combines Western Medicine with the integration of natural therapies. She has been treating children with autism since 2001.

Camille deHaney is the President of Positive Links Consulting, a company that provides Life, Corporate Coaching and Training in Self-Development and Diversity Issues. Camille has practical experience in partnering with families who have a child with a disability. She helps families, identify their strengths, achieve more family balance and develop coping strategies to face their unique challenges.

This lecture will give you a good overview of complementary medicine, as well as an analysis of the latest research on these therapies. The impact of autism on the family unit will be discussed.

Space is limited. To avoid disappointment, please call to make a reservation at 416-969-9181.

For more information : Nora Jane Pope, N.D. Camille deHaney, BSW, Life Coach

The bodyclinic Positive Links Consulting

11 Yorkville Avenue Tel: 905-764-3404

Toronto M4W 1l2 Fax: 905-764-2129

416-324-8999 www.positivelinksconsulting.com

e-mail: drnora@rogers.com info@positivelinksconsulting.com

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RALLY AT QUEEN'S PARK ON MONDAY APRIL 4

News from some of our list mates: A ruling has been made by the Superior Court in the Deskin/Wynberg case. The ruling is posted at the website of the families' lawyers at www.essac.com (click on "news"). Word from the families is that they are pleased with the decision. Press releases with a summary of the decision should be released in the next few days.

"Shelly Martel, MPP will raise a question on Monday, April 4, 2005 in the Ontario Legislature regarding the recent decision by Justice Kiteley in the Deskin/Wynberg lawsuit. She is asking for a show of parental support on the floor that day. Shelley has supported our kids all along and now that we have a win she is prepared to get it out there on the Legislature floor immediately. Please come out and give her the support she has always given our children. Shelly requests that we be there for 1:00 p.m. and go directly to her office in room #112. Please either call ahead and leave a message or an email to let her know you are coming so she can let security know.
Tel: 416 325-9203 or e-mail: smartel-qp@ndp.on.ca "

*************************************

SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR REGIONAL SUPPORT LEADERS

Autism Society Ontario received Trillium Funding for a 3-year period in order to hire Regional Support Leaders (RSL's) in various chapters across the province. Our chapter had the good fortune to have two outstanding individuals - Lynda Beedham and Liz Cohen. Many of us have have enjoyed the benefits of the program with Liz and Lynda providing support to our parents, relatives and individuals with ASDs as well as professionals free of charge for the past three years. This program has also brought us the resource materials "Children Diagnosed with Autism: What to Expect and Where to Get Help" along with the upcoming Teen and Adult Guide due out in late spring.

It is with great sadness that we announce the termination of the RSL positions in York Region as of March 31st. Our RSL's have been informing individuals seeking support of this deadline and have been providing names of service providers in York who provide case management and other services. Here is a list of such services:
Kerry's Place Autism Services: Case Management
Geneva Centre for Autism: Case Management
York Support Services Network: Case Management
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Representation: at both boards
Thistletown Regional Centre: Case Management, assessments
MCSS - for funding (SSAH, ACSD, Enhanced Respite Funding, Change of Circumstances)
Due to demand, Liz Cohen will provide support on a fee-for-service basis under the name BBB at Home Autism Support. She will offer similar services to the RSL position, along with help in setting up behaviourally based home programs. Liz will continue to provide our chapter with regular workshops. More information and price lists will be available in an upcoming Articles of Interest, but if you would like to book an appointment, you may email her at liz@deaknet.com

Our Chapter will restore itself to a member-supporting-members format. We have long been an organization that sustained itself through dedicated volunteer and fundraising efforts and will continue as such. We will continue to offer monthly support meetings, send regular email newsletters, host speakers for workshops, operate our summer camp program and lending library and provide reference materials and support to families and professionals in York Region.

The Chapter Leadership Council recently approved a motion to hire a part time Chapter Coordinator to facilitate parent support and field telephone and email inquiries. You may continue to contact us at (905) 780-1590 or via email at asoyork@axxent.ca

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Liz and Lynda for all their hard work and dedication in supporting families and professionals who are touched by ASDs. It would be remiss not to mention that Liz and Lynda also put in many, many volunteer hours over and above their RSL duties and for that we are ever so thankful. Clearly, they have played a major role in our chapter's success and accomplishments over the years. Our thanks to you both!!

Cenza Newton - President
and the Chapter Leadership Council 2004-2005
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter

CHAPTER COORDINATOR POSITION AVAILABLE
PART TIME/CONTRACT
AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO - YORK REGION CHAPTER
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter is seeking an organized individual to assist the chapter with administrative duties. You must be available to work in our office in Richmond Hill 2 days/week (10 hours). Additional volunteer opportunities to network and gain knowledge about services and supports in York Region make this an ideal position for a parent living with autism.

Responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:
maintain chapter database
IT support
manage incoming mail/phone calls/emails
direct messages to appropriate Chapter Leadership Council representatives
report chapter banking to provincial office
room/workshop bookings
photocopy/file
maintain information displays and materials
camp registrations
resource development
manage/maintain lending library
manage co-op student placements
If you are interested in this position please submit your resume to asoyork@axxent.ca
An individual holding a paid position within the chapter may not sit on the Chapter Executive. Must be able to start immediately.

*************************************

TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY IS APRIL 29!
Toonie for Autism Day is April 29, 2005. Has your child's school registered yet?

As a member of this year's Toonie for Autism Day Committee, I'm very excited about this year's campaign. The premiere screening of this year's video "My Friend Dylan ... I Wonder What We Will Learn" was held at Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School in Aurora on March 22nd. This year's video features students from Holy Spirit and the school had an absolutely amazing "Toonie for Autism" WEEK - holding a variety of cool activities in support of this awareness program.

Toonie for Autism Day brings awareness into the school and benefits not only individuals with autism, but also their peers, by fostering acceptance and understanding. It's a great opportunity to set the foundation for future relationships/friendships for your child.

Awareness materials: brochures, flyers, video, bookmarks, etc. are provided free of charge to each and every school that registers on-line at http://www.autismsociety.on.ca/tooni_2005/index.htm. Have a look at the campaign info on the website and see what a tremendous program this is.

Below you will find a list, as at March 22, 2005, of participants registered in York Region. We're ahead of last year's numbers, but still have a ways to go as there is an individual with ASD in virtually every school and/or community.

Please help us spread the word by getting your child's school involved.

Sincerely,
Cindi Buick, Past President
ASO York Region Chapter

Registered Participants:

York Catholic D.S.B
St. Charles Garnier School Richmond Hill
Holy Family Catholic School Thornhill
Holy Spirit Aurora
Our Lady of Peace Maple
St. Stephen Elementary Cath.Sch. Woodbridge
St. Clare Woodbridge

York Region D.S.B
Meadowbrook P.S. Newmarket
Pleasantville PS Richmond Hill
Willowbrook P.S. Thornhill
Walter Scott P.S. Richmond Hill
Unionville P.S. Unionville
Richmond Rose P.S. Richmond Hill
Crossland P.S. Newmarket
Charles Howitt P.S. Richmond Hill
Regional Special Education Newmarket
Unionville High School Unionville

Corporate/Private/Personal
Movement From Within Inc. Richmond Hill
Kerry's Place Autism Services Aurora
Finding The Way Markham
York University Thornhill
Mike Cacciotti (relative of Cenza Newton, York Chapter President)
Parry Sound Esodynamics Centre (relative of Cenza Newton, York Chapter President)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plan your summer now!

AURORA YOUTH SOCCER CLUB - SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM

The Aurora Youth Soccer Club in collaboration with Special Olympics Ontario is proud to offer a Special Needs Program for children 6-16 years of age. This eight week session program will run on Saturday mornings from 10 - 11 am at Sheppard's Bush in Aurora. The program will involve at least one tournament for participants. The program starts on June 11th.

For more information contact the Aurora Youth Soccer Club at (905) 727-0624, www.aysc.ca or Bruce Punnett at Kerry's Place at (905) 713-6808 ext. 311.

Registration forms are now available at www.aysc.ca

AUTISM DAY AT THE SKYDOME

Friday, August 5, 2005.
Game Time 7:05 pm at Skydome

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees

Tickets will be discounted up to 40 percent with a portion of ticket sales going to autism research in Canada and to support individuals in our community living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This offer is open to everyone. Watch for more details and order form online at www.autismsociety.on.ca

McHappy Days
- Please Mark on Your Calendar Right Now -
May 18,2005

Autism Society Ontario - York Region's ASK Camp has
been selected by Susan Garber, Franchisee of the
McDonald's Restaurants at 1600 Hyw #7 (Hwy 7 and
Centre Street, Vaughan) and the McDonald's at the Food
Court in the Promenade Mall (Bathurst/Centre St,
Vaughan), to be the designated charity of the McHappy
Days on May 18th.

$1 from each sale of each Big Mac, McHappy Meal and
Egg McMuffin will be directed to our Chapter's Summer
Day Camp for Autistic Children/Youth and to Ronald
McDonald House Charities. This money will be used to
subsidise parent fees for children going to the camp
this summer.

We need some help from the chapter members, plus the
many friends of people in the chapter, to:

1) Help man (woman) the counters for a least an hour
or two that day - no burger flipping experience
required! E-mail Paul Paulkalmykow@yahoo.ca if you
are able to help out. You will support a great cause
and help out by aiding in the increase of knowledge
about ASD in the community.
2) Come out with a huge appetite, and bring all your
friends,neighbours and family, and enjoy a breakfast,
lunch or dinner at the Centre/Keele or Promenade
McDonald's outlets on May 18th. You may wish to
re-send this e-mail to at least 20 of your closest
email contacts in your address book!

Have you marked your calendar, daytimer or your PDA
yet? You haven't? Do it RIGHT NOW. Put away those
pots and pans! Lock up the fridge and turn off the
stove and microwave.... And we will see you at
McDonald's on the 18th of May.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Autism Society Ontario is holding our 2nd Annual
RAAA! Beach Volleyball Tournament

Saturday August 6, 2005
Ashbridges Bay, Toronto

Help us raise funds for the very important work that we provide for children and adults with autism and their families.

Our goal is to have 24 teams help us raise over $16,000 for ASO

Come join us for a day of fun
Put together a team
Challenge co workers, students and friends
Volunteer to help the committee
Come and watch some exciting games
Watch for more information at www.raaatournamentaso.ca

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ASO YORK Region Chapter and Support Meeting - Feb 22.05

PRESENT:
Cenza Newton, Lynda Beedham, Liz Cohen, Joanne Scott Jackson, David Kates, Lyn Eckersley, Lisa Dunn, Marla Teicher, Lisa Wilson, Bruce McIntosh, Laura Kirby, Chris Wanschura, Julie Panakos, Brenda Wynne

1) Welcome and Introductions. Our president, Cenza Newton welcomed everyone and introductions were made.

2) ASO York Region - Annual General Meeting - April 12, 2005, 7-9pm, B07, Loyal True Blue and Orange.
- Elections will be held to elect the members of the Chapter Leadership Council(CLC). Council consists of the four Executive positions plus 8 members representing key activities of the chapter. CLC is limited to 12 members through our by-laws. CLC's mission is to represent the chapter members in dealings with the Provincial Chapter, all levels of Governments including the school boards and service providers.

i) Executive Positions - President
- Vice-President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
ii) 8 other Chapter Leadership Council Members

Anyone interested in a position is encouraged to send your name and a brief bio about yourself to the chapter at asoyork@axxent.ca.

-Our guest speaker for the meeting will be Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director, Autism Society Ontario

3) ASK Camp Update: Check http://www.bbbautism.com/ask_camp_05.htm for registration forms. Submit your registration no later than Friday, March 18, 2005. Please note the requirement to volunteer at our BINGO fundraising nights (up to 3 nights per year). Campers will have the opportunity to spend 2 nights at the Kinark camp and 1 night at a Provincial Park.
4) Toonies for Autism Day - April 29th, 2005. In its 4th year, the day creates awareness by schools participating in the fundraiser and support materials including a video are sent to Ontario schools. www.autismsociety.on.ca
5) Regal Catalogue Fundraising - The Spring 2005 catalogue is available in the information area outside ASO York offices or by contacting Brenda Wynne at 905-770-1452. All proceeds are given to our Chapter.
6) Survey Update - A survey will soon be announced. It will gather information about who in York Region we are supporting to enable us to all help each other better. It will be available online. Watch for further information in the Item of Interest email distribution.
7) Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Update Evening - Please join us for this update on Tuesday March 29th 7:00pm - 9:00pm Room B7, Loyal True Blue and Orange Building (LTBO), 11181Yonge Street (north of Elgin Mills), Richmond Hill. RSVP to asoyork@axxent.ca .
8) YOGA FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM - Katy Bennett of Azure Yoga is instructing Hatha Yoga classes at LTBO on Thursday mornings 10-11:30 am. Drop in is okay.

9) Micah's Favorite - gluten free products available. Randy and Mandy Klein and daughter Micah are a new chapter family. They have partnered with a health food store chain. They will be at the AGM in April with a show n tell and samples to taste.

Micah's Favourite
Makers of Fine Gluten-Free Products
Catering available
Newmarket
905-898-0739
randy@micahsfavourite.com
www.micahsfavourite.com

10) Aurora Youth Soccer league is partnering with Special Olympics. The program will be 8 weeks starting in late May and running through to end of August, it will be on a Saturday 10:00 - 11:00 at a park in Aurora, cost yet to be determined, age 6- 16 years of age. Other info should be arriving soon, any questions please feel free to call Bruce Punnett at 905 713 6808 x311 or email bpunnett@kerrysplace.org

11) Dr Kevin Stoddart is available for consultation appointments at LTBO for parents of children with Aspergers diagnosis. Contact the chapter to book an appointment by email at asoyork@axxent.ca or voicemail 905-780-1590.

12) Regrettably the Regional Support Leaders positions sponsored by the Trillium Foundation will terminate on March 31, 2005. Lynda Beedham and Liz Cohen have held these positions for our chapter and through their tremendous knowledge and support we have all benefited.

13) Autism Society Canada press release on Feb 23,2005. To read the release go to http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/en/whats_new.html

Brenda Wynne
Secretary and CLC Member
ASO York Region Chapter

SUPPORT IN THE CHINESE COMMUNITY

Dear Community Partners

Spirit of Life is a voluntary non profit organization funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to serve the Chinese Community in York Region. We aim at enhancing the quality of life for the individuals with developmental disabilities and other needs through education and support. You are cordially invited to our Official Opening Ceremony & Media Conference

Date: March 17, 2005 (Thursday)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Golden Regency Restaurant
Unit 88, 2/F, Pacific Mall
4300 Steeles Avenue East, Markham, Ontario
Light lunch will be served after the conference.
Please RSVP to Mr. Thomas Li, Program Coordinator on or before March 15, 2005
905-477-3727
<office.sol@bellnet.ca>

Spirit of Life is a voluntary not-for-profit organization, aimed at enhancing the quality of life for
individuals with developmental disabilities and other special needs through education and
support.
In December 2004, the organization received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to
provide information and support service to community workers, medical professionals, early
years educators, and parents with children from 0 – 6 years of age. Our goal is to increase
public awareness through education and to provide current information and linkage to
community resources such as parent support groups and educational workshops to families in
the Chinese community in York Region.

Spirit of Life
3160 Steeles Ave. East
Markham, Ontario L3R 4G9
Tel. 905-477-3727
1-866-861-6031
Fax 905-477-3763
e-mail office.sol@bellnet.ca
*************************************

ASPERGERS SOCIETY OF ONTARIO
Workshop Series for Winter/Spring 2005

Location Bloor Jewish Community Centre
south west corner of Bloor and Spadina Ave
Time 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Cost $ 40.00 per person, per workshop
Light refreshments will be served

Aspergers Society of Ontario
Margot Nelles
Executive Director
<margot@aspergers.ca>
www.aspergers.ca
416-651-4037

An Introduction to Asperger Syndrome
Monday April 11
Dr. Kevin Stoddart - Social Worker and specialist in Asperger's
This workshop will review the major characteristics of Asperger Syndrome, illustrated with examples in children and adults. Theories as to the causes of Asperger Syndrome and a brief introduction to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment will be provided.

Asperger Syndrome: The School Experience
Thursday April 21
Georgina Rayner - Educational Advocate
This workshop will review the identification process in school boards, and the accommodations required for children and youth with Asperger Syndrome, to ensure success in the school setting. A question and answer period will be provided.

Parenting Children with Asperger Syndrome
Monday May 9
Fern Quint, B.A., R.N.- Nurse and mother of a young adult with Asperger Syndrome
Fern will discuss her experience of parenting an individual with Asperger Syndrome. Strategies that have worked for her will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring questions related to parenting for discussion.

Teens and Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Thursday May 19
Dr. Kevin Stoddart - Social Worker and specialist in Asperger's
Dr. Stoddart will discuss issues facing older teens and young adults with Asperger Syndrome, and their families. Topics addressed will include the transition to work or post-secondary education, mental health problems, and developing social and life skills.

Financial Planning for the Future
Monday June 20
Mary Stokes - Lawyer practising in the area of wills, trusts and estates
Parents of children with special needs want to ensure their child will be provided for financially in the future. This workshop will describe how to prepare through the use of wills, trusts and other financial and legal opportunities.

*************************************

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (ASPERGER'S)

Asperger's Group Social / Leisure Activities in Newmarket
Kerry's Place Autism Services
Dafna Avisar, facilitator
(905) 713 - 6808 x 341
davisar@kerrysplace.org
Volunteers are welcomed

Homework / Social group for grade 9 & 10
This is an integrated group for students with Aspergers and mainstream students
Wednesday evenings 5:00pm 8:00pm.
At the Youth Centre, 56 Charles Street, Newmarket.

Rock Climbing Groups
at Of Rock and Chalk Climbing Gym, Newmarket
Cost: $15.00 per session

Climbing for adults with autism
Tuesdays 2:00pm 4:00pm

Climbing for adults with Aspergers
Tuesdays 5:00pm 7:00pm

Climbing for adolescents with Aspergers, ages 11 - 15
Thursdays 6:00pm 8:00pm

*************************************

FREE E-NEWSLETTER

Hello List;
A fabulous NEW free E-newsletter for you. Please see subscription
information below.
Linda Hodgdon's book 'Visual Strategies for Improving Communication' is
available to members in your chapter's Lending Library, or purchase through
Parentbooks:
416-537-8334
1-800-209-9182
www.parentbookstore.com
parentbk@netcom.ca

..............

From the author of 'Visual Strategies for Improving Communication', one of
the most recommended books in the field of autism,
Linda Hodgdon's E-newsletter, 'Another View' is published the second
Thursday of each month.
This E-Newsletter is an information packed resource addressing the
communication needs of students with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and
related behavior or social skill challenges. You will learn more about
effective teaching strategies, helpful resources and lots more. . . .
To help ensure that you receive Another View in your inbox (not bulk or
junk folders) please add office@usevisualstrategies.com to your address book.
The E-newsletter will automatically be sent in HTML format. If you would
prefer to receive it in TEXT format, please e-mail me at
office@usevisualstrategies.com with the subject line 'TEXT Request'.
I look forward to sharing some great ideas and information with you.

Warm Regards,
Linda Hodgdon, M.ED., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Communication Specialist
Consultant for Autism Spectrum Disorders &
Related Communication Challenges
http://www.UseVisualStrategies.com
http://www.LindaHodgdon.com

P.S. Please be sure to contact me at info@usevisualstrategies.com with
your questions or topic suggestions.
P.S.S. Please feel free to forward this E-newsletter to educators or
family members who you know would be interested.
Thank You!

Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a Speech- Language Pathologist and a
Consultant for Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is the author of the
bestseller, Visual Strategies for Improving Communication, one of the most
recommended books in the field of autism.
Internationally recognized as a powerful and informative speaker and
consultant, Linda has presented her insightful and dynamic workshops to
audiences of educators and parents worldwide.

*************************************

PRIVATE ART LESSONS

MARNIE GOODMAN
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Classical Animation Diploma
416-856-9101
marniegoodman@hotmail.com

Offering private art lessons in your home to adults and children of all ages
and abilities.

I have worked with special needs children at Camp Robin Hood and have a
younger brother with multiple disorders. I am sensitive to and understand
the needs of these children and their families.

Through art lessons, children learn fine motor skills and have the
opportunity to draw and share their feelings and experiences.

References available upon request.

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Correction to a previous Items of Interest:

NEW ... FROM THE YORK REGION SPECIAL SERVICES AT HOME ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SSAH and the Web

To have better communication with SSAH users, the SSAH Advisory Committee has created a web presence and a discussion group. The discussion group enables users of the SSAH program to post questions and suggestions, as well as get new information from the ministry and agencies. The web page contains information about members of the committee, meetings schedules and list of current issues that the committee is working on.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSAHYork/

You are invited to join the SSAHYork Discussion Group moderated by Rafael Zeltser, SSAH Advisory Committee co-chair and parent of a child with autism.

In our last email we invited you to subscribe by emailing Rafael with your request. Rafael would prefer that if you wish to join, simply go to the web site: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSAHYork/ and click on the Join button instead of emailing her with your request to subscribe. Thank you.

*************************************

BOOKS and RESOURCES

To purchase locally please contact
Parentbooks
416-537-8334
1-800-209-9182
parentbk@netcom.ca
www.parentbookstore.com

From: "Autism Today" <news@autismtoday.com>

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior
By Dr. Temple Grandin & Catherine Johnson
Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior Temple Grandin's Animals in Translation speaks in the clear voice of a woman who emerged from the other side of autism, bringing with her an extraordinary message about how animals think and feel. Temple's professional training as an animal scientist and her history as a person with autism have given her a perspective like that of no other expert in the field. Standing at the intersection of autism and animals, she offers unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas about both. Autistic people can often think the way animals think -- in fact, Grandin and co-author Catherine Johnson see autism as a kind of way station on the road from animals to humans -- putting autistic people in the perfect position to translate 'animal talk.' Temple is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. Not only are animals much smarter than anyone ever imagined, in some cases animals are out-and-out brilliant. The sweep of Animals in Translation is immense, merging an animal scientist's thirty years of study with her keen perceptions as a person with autism -- Temple sees what others cannot.
Price: $25.00

Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum
Editor: Stephen Shore; Foreword by: Temple Grandin
Edited by Stephen Shore, author of Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum aims to help people with autism effectively self-advocate in their pursuit of independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. Ask and Tell is unique by being the first book to speak to the twin issues of self-advocacy and disclosure for people with autism and by consisting exclusively - including the cover art and the preface by Temple Grandin - of contributions by those on the autism spectrum for persons on the spectrum.
Price: $21.95

Thinking About You, Thinking About Me
By Michelle Garcia Winner
Practical strategies, ideas, worksheets, and ready-to-use IEP goals make this book great for families and staff attempting to meet the needs of students with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The intervention ideas as 'innovative and practical for home and school use.'

Price: $39.00

Exploring Feelings - Anger
By Dr. Tony Attwood
The Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program Exploring Feelings was designed by the author to be highly structured, interesting and successful in encouraging the cognitive control of emotions. Every child participating in the program has a workbook for the six two-hour sessions that includes activities and information to explore the specific feelings of being happy, relaxed, anxious or angry. There are sections in the workbook to record individual comments and responses to questions. At the end of each session, a project is explained to the child, which is to be completed before the next session. At the start of the next session the project is discussed with the person implementing the program or the group of participants using the program. The Exploring Feelings program is designed to explore the mental world from a scientific perspective.
Price: $19.95

Exploring Feelings - Anxiety
By Dr. Tony Attwood
There are two Exploring Feelings programs, one is designed to explore and manage anxiety, the other to explore and manage anger. The original program was designed for small groups of two to five children between the ages of 9 and 12 years, with two adults conducting the program. However, the Exploring Feelings program can easily be modified so that it can be used with just one child. The activities can also be modified to be age appropriate for an adolescent or adult. The program was designed as a treatment for an anxiety disorder or anger management problem in children with Aspergers syndrome but the program can be equally applied to children with High Functioning Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS). A teacher, speech pathologist, occupational therapist or parent could implement the program without having training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Price: $19.95

Asperger's: Diagnostic Assessment with Dr. Tony Attwood
- DVD - By Dr. Tony Attwood
Dr. Attwood is recognized and respected internationally for his leadership in the Aspergers field. His book Aspergers Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals is the leading seller worldwide on Aspergers. His winning charm as a speaker is matched by the knowledge he shares with his audience. Brett Emigh and Dr. Tony Attwood Features in this video include: " A live interview with Brett who was undiagnosed and a separate interview with his parents " Diagnostic Characteristics of AS " Girls and AS " How to explain the diagnosis with the child or adult " Dealing with adult diagnosis " And much much more! An essential guide for: " Child and School Psychologists " Special Education Teachers " Speech Therapists " Psychiatrists " Parents Future Horizons is donating a percentage of the proceeds from this video to Bretts education fund.
Price: $129.95

1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
By Veronica Zysk and Ellen Notbohm
Brand new book! A time-saver. A life-saver. Parents and professionals can now bypass countless hours spent seeking answers to the mystifying day-to-day challenges of autism. In snappy, can-do format, 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum offers page after page of try-it-now solutions that have worked for thousands of children grappling with sensory, communication, social, behavior, self-care issues and more.
Price: $24.95

A Thorn in My Pocket
Cutler, Eustacia
Inarguably, the most famous, successful person with autism in the world today, Temple Grandin was a non-verbal, often-violent child in the 50s. Her mother, Eustacia Cutler raised Temple when her child's condition was classified as 'infant schizophrenia,' brought on by 'frigid mothering.' The common remedy was to warehouse those diagnosed in institutions for the retarded. Eustacia's story is a strikingly honest story of myth and reality, angst and guilt, family and society. Eustacia's literary masterpiece reaches out to a much larger community than the one directly affected by the epidemic growth of autism today. 'A magnificent accomplishment!'
Price: $24.95

*************************************

From: "Autism Today" <news@autismtoday.com>
New Books of the Month for March

Hopes and Dreams: An IEP Guide for Parents of Children with ASD
by Kirby Lentz
This is the book parents have been waiting for! With an emphasis on preparation and collaboration, this practical resource shows parents step-by-step how to become truly active members of the IEP team, thereby achieving their child's and family's hopes and dreams. The reader-friendly text and accompanying worksheets help you develop the best possible education program for the individual child. While geared toward parents, Hopes and Dreams is also recommended for educators to help them see parents' perspective. SPECIAL OFFER: FREE CD containing all the worksheets allows you to customize the information, truly making it work for you!!

Let's Talk Emotions: Helping Children with AS, HFA, and NVLD, Learn to Understand and Express Empathy and Emotions by Teresa A. Cardon
he often overlooked area of emotions, which poses a major challenge for children with autism spectrum and other social cognitive challenges, receives major emphasis in this collection of easy-to-use activities for children ages 4-18. Children learn to identify and respond to their own feelings as well as the feelings of others, thereby improving their chances of maintaining and establishing fulfilling and successful social relationships.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and HFA
by Temple Grandin and Kate Duffy; Foreword by Tony Attwood
This career planning guide is written specifically for high-functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum, their families, teachers, and counselors. The two authors weave together a unique blend of information and advice based on personal experiences. Temple Grandin draws from her own experience with autism spectrum disorders and her professional career, and Kate Duffy uses her expertise on employment issues and the mother of two teenagers with autistic-like behaviors. The result is an extremely useful and practical book that introduces step-by-step processes for the job search with a major section on the impact ASD has in the workplace, including managing sensory problems, how to nurture and turn talents and special interests into paid work, jobs that are particularly suited to individuals on the spectrum, and much more. First-hand accounts of job experiences and advice from individuals representing a broad range of careers particularly suited for high-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum round off this exciting new resource.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perfect Targets: AS and Bullying; Practical Solutions for Surviving the Social World
by Rebekah Heinrichs, foreword by Brenda Smith Myles
Most children and adolescents with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome are victims of bullying at school and in the community. Indeed, some of their unique behaviors and characteristics make many of these children easy targets for chronic, frequent and severe bullying.
This book takes an honest look at the different types of bullying and the actions adults must take to curb bullying, thereby helping to prevent the often lifelong effects of this insidious form of behavior on victims. Practical strategies and solutions at the school, class and individual level are presented.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To purchase locally, please contact
Parentbooks
416-537-8334
1-800-209-9182
www.parentbookstore.com
parentbk@netcom.ca

*************************************

MAGAZINES

Two new non-profit magazines about Autism launched:

Spectrum Magazine
For subscription information please visit: http://www.spectrumpublications.com/ .

The Autism Perspective - TAP Magazine
For Subscriptions and further information visit the TAP website at: http://www.theautismperspective.org/

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIANT STEPS SCHOOL

from GIANT STEPS TORONTO [Vaughan site]

Giant Steps Toronto is an educational / therapeutic centre for elementary school age children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. We focus on a team approach here at Giant Steps Toronto with our four therapists (Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Therapy, Music Therapy and Play & Social Skills) working in conjunction with the two York Region District School Board teachers to develop each student's Individual Education Plan for the upcoming year.

If you are interested in the potential of your son or daughter attending Giant Steps Toronto in the 2005 - 2006 school calendar, please plan to attend one of the following tours and information sessions at our school.

Monday, April 4th, 2005 at 1:00 p.m.
Please call the school to book with our secretary if you wish to attend. 905-669-8299
For further information, please visit our website at www.giantstepstoronto.ca

*************************************

NATIONAL SERVICE DOGS

National Service Dogs Annual Easter Egg Hunt is set to go in 5 locations across Ontario. Brampton, Barrie, Oakville, Uxbridge and Cambridge. Proceeds from the events will help NSD to train and place future autism service dogs. National Service Dogs is enriching the quality of life and enhancing the independence of children living with autism.
Visit www.nsd.on.ca for more information on NSD and the hunt.

GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2005
Pre-Registration deadline is Friday March 18, 2005.

BARRIE Contact Becky 705-722-3792 becky.brunton@rogers.com
UXBRIDGE Contact Nancy at 905-852-5648 support@thistledown.info
OAKVILLE Contact Dani at 519-623-4188 dani@nsd.on.ca
BRAMPTON Contact 905-755-9560
CAMBRIDGE Contact Dani 519-623-4188 dani@nsd.on.ca

Danielle Forbes
Director, Partnership & Revenue Development
Co-Founder NSD
dani@nsd.on.ca
www.nsd.on.ca
519-623-4188

Join NSD at the Toronto Sportsman Show March 16-20 National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place

*************************************

CHANGES TO ONTARIO DISABILITITY SUPPORT PROGRAM (ODSP)

On December 15th 2004 the government introduced changes to the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program regulations. The changes took effect immediately, and will have an important effect on people applying for social assistance after December 15th 2004, and on those already on assistance.

For a complete text of the regulations, consult the Ontario Gazette of January 1, 2005, at the following web address: http://www.ontariogazette.gov.on.ca/mbs/Gazette/Gazette.nsf/Main/4026EE333CB4047D85256F7B005CA330/$FILE/138-01.pdf

For the ODSP policies, consult:
http://www.cfcs.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/programs/IES/OntarioDisabilitySupportProgram/Publications/odspisdir.htm

For the OW policies, consult:
http://www.cfcs.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/programs/IES/OntarioWorks/Publications/ow-policydirectives.htm

*************************************
DR. HOLDEN GUEST SPEAKER AT NFSO

The Neurofibromatosis Society of Ontario(NFSO) is pleased to announce that Dr. Jeanette Holden will be the guest speaker at our April bi-Annual meeting to be held Sunday April 17th at the Radisson Hotel Toronto.[Victoria Park and 401]. Registration commences at 9:30am.
Registration is free, however, donations would be most appreciated. Dr. Holden will begin speaking at 10 am. Her topic will include information about current research she is involved in and the connections/association between neurofibromatosis(NF) and autism and about living with a disability. For further information please visit our website at www.nfon.ca or to register call the NFSO at 1-866-843-6376 or Lynne Leyland at 905-619-8926.

*************************************

MAILING FROM N.A.A.R. via A.S.O.

Hello ASO Members,
You have received or will be receiving in the mail a letter from the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) regarding their upcoming Toronto events. You are receiving this mailing because of your membership with ASO. The mailing was sent from a private mailing house with labels printed from our ASO provincial office. The envelope has NAAR's return address and nothing in the mailing indicates a connection with ASO. In keeping with our privacy policy, your address was not shared with NAAR or transfered to any other data base. We wanted you to know about the NAAR events, and that's why we worked with NAAR staff to get the information to you in this way. If you have any concerns or questions about this, please phone or email our office.
Thank you.

Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca

*************************************

NEWS RELEASE - EDUCATION

News from OPEN - Ontario Provincial Education Network
March 10, 2004
News Release
TORONTO - Education Minister Gerard Kennedy today announced that the
Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will be reshaped to
follow recommendations of a two-year intensive review with Charles Pascal,
the newly appointed chair of the EQAO overseeing this work.
View the full text at:
http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2005/03/10/c3350.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html
Questions?
mailto:minister@edu.gov.on.ca?subject=McGuinty_government_confirms_new_direction_for_EQAO

*************************************

What does Autism Spectrum Disorder look like in young children?
Whether you have a diagnosis of ASD, are waiting for an assessment or merely suspect ASD may be impacting your child's development, please join us for a discussion with Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter.

"Children Diagnosed with Autism: What to Expect and Where to Get Help"
Date: Wednesday May 4th
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Family Resource Centre
3 rd floor Promenade Mall # 313, Thornhill
Contact: Fran Chodak 905-882-8509
Please RSVP by April 27

The Family Resource Centre is a joint Project of the Bathurst Jewish Centre & Jewish Family & child Service. Our mandate is to promote the growth and development of children and their families.
__________________________________________

RED FLAGS for AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Sometimes people fail to recognize that the following characteristics indicate that something is wrong. They may mistakenly assume that such behaviours are normal for a 'quiet' child.

Ø Failure to achieve any of the following milestones:
Babbling by 11 months
Simple gestures, ie. waving, by 12 months
Single words by 16 months
2-word phrases, a noun and a verb, by 24 months
Ø Loss of any language or social skills at any age
Ø Doesn't respond when name is called
Ø Rarely makes eye contact when interacting with other people
Ø Doesn't point to show things he/she is interested in
Ø Doesn't smile socially
Ø More interested in looking at objects than at people's faces
Ø Seems to prefer to play alone
Ø Doesn't make attempts to get parents' attention
Ø Seems to be in 'own world'
Ø Doesn't respond to or avoids parents' attempts to play, even if relaxed
Ø Avoids or ignores other children when they approach him/her
Ø Has odd or repetitive ways of moving his/her hands and/or fingers
Ø Seems oversensitive to certain textures or sounds
Ø Lacks interest in toys, or plays with them in an unusual way;
lining up, spinning, opening / closing parts rather than using the toy as a whole
Ø Has compulsions / rituals, has to perform activities in a special way or sequence

-from CAIRN: Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network www.cairn-site.com

For more information about autism please contact
Autism Society Ontario
York Region Chapter
11181 Yonge St. # 303-5 Richmond Hill ON L4S 1L2
voicemail 905-780-1590
asoyork@axxent.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca

*************************************

SUPPORT IN YORK REGION (EAST)

Hello List;

Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter
Parent Support Group meeting venue opportunity
Outreach to families in east York Region

Would monthly meetings at Lemonville Community Centre (McCowan and Bloomington Road) be convenient and of interest to folks in the eastern area of York Region? We MAY have an opportunity to expand our capacity for supports if there is sufficient interest.

Please share your thoughts to
asoyork@axxent.ca

Thank you,
Autism Society Ontario
York Region Chapter

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

McHappy Days - Please Mark on Your Calendar Right Now
- Wednesday May 18,2005

Autism Society Ontario - York Region's ASK Camp has
been selected by Susan Garber, Franchisee of the
McDonald's Restaurants at 1600 Hyw #7 (Hwy 7 and
Centre Street, Vaughan) and the McDonald's at the Food
Court in the Promenade Mall (Bathurst/Centre St,
Vaughan), to be the designated charity of the McHappy
Days on May 18th.

$1 from each sale of each Big Mac, McHappy Meal and
Egg McMuffin will be directed to our Chapter's Summer
Day Camp for Autistic Children/Youth and to Ronald
McDonald House Charities. This money will be used to
subsidise parent fees for children going to the camp
this summer.

We need some help from the chapter members, plus the
many friends of people in the chapter, to:

1) Help man (woman) the counters for a least an hour
or two that day - no burger flipping experience
required! E-mail Paul Paulkalmykow@yahoo.ca if you
are able to help out. You will support a great cause
and help out by aiding in the increase of knowledge
about ASD in the community.
2) Come out with a huge appetite, and bring all your
friends,neighbours and family, and enjoy a breakfast,
lunch or dinner at the Centre/Keele or Promenade
McDonald's outlets on May 18th. You may wish to
re-send this e-mail to at least 20 of your closest
email contacts in your address book!

Have you marked your calendar, daytimer or your PDA
yet? You haven't? Do it RIGHT NOW. Put away those
pots and pans! Lock up the fridge and turn off the
stove and microwave.... And we will see you at
McDonald's on the 18th of May.

*************************************

HANDWRITING SKILLS

York Paediatric Therapy Services, Richmond Hill
Fine Motor groups that teach and focus on printing and handwriting skills.
Please call Darcey at 905-737-9680 for more information.

*************************************

UNITED WAY

Hello List;
We honour the request of many on this list to not send attachments. Should you wish to receive the pdf document referred to below, please contact United Way of York Region.
Thank you,
ASO-York
.........
Subject: Crisis Support Services
Human Service Providers, Cultural/Faith Groups, Constituents Offices of Elected Officials

The Asian tsunami is still affecting some residents of York Region. I am pleased to share with you an inventory of Crisis Support Services provided by member agencies of United Way of York Region for information and referral. It is important that together we continue providing timely support and services to those suffering the effects of the tragedy.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Simon Cheng, Community Resources Director
United Way of York Region
Aurora/East Gwillimbury/Georgina/King/Markham/ Newmarket/Richmond Hill/Vaughan/Whitchurch- Stouffville
Tel: 905-474-9974, ext.241
Toll Free: 1-877-241-4516
www.uwyr.on.ca
Because...it takes so little, to do so much.
Give generously to your United Way - York Region

*************************************

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Make a Difference For A Child & Volunteer

Kinark is an accredited children's mental health centre providing quality services to children, youth and their families in a number of communities in Ontario and right here is York Region. Volunteers are needed as Host Families offering 1-2 day or overnight visits in their home per month, and Special Friend Volunteers are also welcomed to take children on outings for 2-4 hours each week. Please contact Diane Humeniuk at: 905-898-4572 or 1-800-230-8530 Ext: 682 or email at diane.humeniuk@kinark.on.ca

For further information, please visit the Kinark web site at www.Kinark.on.ca, and if you wish further information to be forwarded to you, please provide your name, address and contact info and we will forward a package of information to you. Thanking you in advance for your consideration.

per: Diane Humeniuk
Respite Volunteer Coordinator - Kinark Child & Family Services - York Region

*************************************

Strategic Employment Solutions (SES) Spring Conference 2005
The full link to the conference brochure is http://www.strategicemploymentsolutions.ca/pdfs/discover_possibilities_conference.pdf

*************************************

Family Alliance Ontario and Integration Action for Inclusion Conference
April 8-10, 2005
www.family-alliance.com

*************************************
GAME FOR KIDS

a listmate shares ...

Jacob's Beaver Leader is a special education teacher and has developed a game/resource for kids with autism.
http://www.redgamemusic.com/

*************************************
NEW ... FROM THE YORK REGION SPECIAL SERVICES AT HOME ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SSAH and the Web

To have better communication with SSAH users, the SSAH Advisory Committee has created a web presence and a discussion group. The discussion group enables users of the SSAH program to post questions and suggestions, as well as get new information from the ministry and agencies. The web page contains information about members of the committee, meetings schedules and list of current issues that the committee is working on.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSAHYork/

You are invited to join the SSAHYork Discussion Group moderated by Rafael Zeltser, SSAH Advisory Committee co-chair and parent of a child with autism. Send an e-mail with subject line 'Subscribe' to "SSAHYork Moderator" <rafaelzeltser@rogers.com>
http://www.giltam.com/SSAH Advisory Committee/

*************************************

RECREATION IN STOUFFVILLE

COMMUNITY LEISURE / RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
Families living with ASD encouraged to enquire!
Town of Whitchurch Stouffville, Leisure Services Department, in partnership with Reach For The Rainbow, supports people of all abilities to access their full range of leisure and recreation programs. Reach For The Rainbow determines eligibility then covers costs of 1:1 mediators to access leisure programs. If you don't qualify under Reach For The Rainbow criteria then the Town of Whitchurch Stouffville will try to match a volunteer 1:1 mediator at no cost to families.
See your Parks & Rec. guide or contact
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Program & Aquatic Supervisor
Micole Ongman
905.642.7529 x 323
micole.ongman@townofws.com

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WALK FAR FOR NAAR

Hello Everyone,

As you may recall, I am a co-chair for the inaugural Canadian Walk FAR for NAAR taking place at Mel Lastman Square on Sunday, May 15th.
As co-chair, I wish to ensure that everyone on this list received an invitation to join us for our kickoff luncheon on Sunday, April 10th (it's free). This luncheon will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about NAAR and the funding they have provided to research projects in Canada, to hear Dr. Szatmari speak and to meet other team leaders for the walk.
There will be invites sent out for many of you through various autism-related organizations. I have copied all the information from the invitations below for you. I hope that many, if not all of you, can join us for not just our Walk on May 15th, but also for this kick-off luncheon.
Also, as of yesterday, the website for registrations is now up and running. We must apologize for the delay, but international charity logistics took longer than expected to complete.

I have added my team name as Morrison's Movers. If you would like to form your own team, please set up your team on the website and begin to register your participants from your team. If you would prefer to join up with my team, please add your name and any other participants to the Morrison's Movers. Over the next week, I will be working at completing the team page, adding our participants and updating the page to include photos, etc. It will be exciting to see this database grow. We have hundreds of people / organizations already commit to participating in this walk, I cannot wait to see the team pages start multiplying on the site!!!
To register, please visit www.canada.autismwalk.org or take the long and scenic route via www.naar.org where you will find more information on other walks taking place and learn all about NAAR before entering the Toronto Walk page.

All the best,
Nancy Morrison

Inaugural Toronto Walk F.A.R. for NAAR Kick Off Luncheon
Key Note Speaker: Dr. Peter Szatmari
Sunday, April 10, 2005
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
The Colony Grande Ballroom
89 Chestnut Street
University of Toronto Residence

Register online at http://canada.autismwalk.org

An Event of the National Alliance for Autism Research
The Kick-Off Event is a free informative meeting for
those interested in learning about and supporting NAAR

Please RSVP by April 1st 2005
NAAR Canada
416-362- NAAR (6227)
888-362-NAAR (6227)
Fax: 416-362-6228
or torontowalksforautism@naar.org

The 2005 Inaugural Walk will be held at Mel Lastman Square
on Sunday May 15th 2005

Visit us at http://canada.autismwalk.org

About NAAR....
The National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) is the first organization in North America dedicated to funding and accelerating biomedical research focusing on autism spectrum disorders. Established in 1994 by parents of children with autism concerned about the limited amount of funding available for autism research, NAAR was created in a spirit of optimism and excitement over the opportunities for accelerating the pace of autism research. The spirit continues to guide the organization today, enabled by recent advances in the neurosciences and other scientific fields.

*************************************

AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION

I hope you've heard the exciting news by now: the second ICE Canada Conference is going to be held again on the weekend of April 8, 9, 10, 2005. That's coming up very soon! This time it's going to be right here in Toronto.

Knowing your interest in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), I thought you might want to attend all or part of this consumer-centred conference - specifically focused on AAC. We have a great program lined up again, lots of time to talk to others who have an interest in learning more about AAC, as well as plenty of time to talk with other teens and adults who use various means of augmentative and alternative communication.

Please visit our website for more info: www.iceconference.ca &and feel free to pass on this information far and wide.

Hope to see you there,
Nora Rothschild
ICE Conference Chairperson

*************************************

MOBILITY TRANSIT

COMMUNITY PUBLIC FORUMS
For Accessible Services With
YORK REGION MOBILITY TRANSIT

· Do you need Mobility Transit?
· Have you had access to Mobility Transit and it's now been cancelled?
· Have you experienced any of these situations?:
· Lack of decision in writing
· Lack of notification of decision
· Restricted use ie. only to day program
· Lost applications
· Attendant care required to access Mobility
· Excessively long appeal time
· Inconvenient process
· Barriers to Language/culture
· Denied use without written explanation as to why
· Are you interested in self-advocating for change?

So come out to your local Community Forum and look at possible ways to facilitate positive change for access to York Region Mobility Transit. Meetings will take place on:

Thursday, March 31st from 3-4:30 and 7-8:30 at 136 Winges Road, Unit 6 in Woodbridge
Tuesday, April 5th from 3-4:30 pm only at 4460 14th Avenue, Hagermans Corner Community Home, in Markham
Wednesday, April 6th from 3-4:30 and 7-8:30 at 101 Edward Ave, Richmond Hill

RSVP preferred to either mobility_forum@yahoo.ca or Community Legal Clinic @ 905-508-5018 extension 235

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DISABILITY AND ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

(TWO LOCATIONS)

Disability and Estate Planning Seminar with Kenneth C. Pope, LL.B, TEP

Saturday April 2nd. 10:00 Am and 2:00PM at the Bob Rumball Centre

2395 Bayview Avenue, North York. Downstairs fireplace lounge.

Introduction by: Christian Kingsmill, Lifeskills Counselor

Kenneth C. Pope is an Ottawa-based lawyer with a province-wide practice devoted to trusts and disability issues. There is a requested $10.00 contribution for participants, to help cover the cost of presenting the seminar.

Topics:

How can parents provide for their children even after they are gone? Do you have a Will with a Henson Trust in it?

How can your child with a disability become eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)?

How can ODSP payments be increased from $708 to $930 ?

How can families living with a disability benefit from the disability tax credit? How can claims be made for years as far back as 1985 if applicable?

How can families benefit from the caregiver provision on income taxes? What about payments for back years?

To register for this teleconference, call:
(613) 567-8675 or 1-866-KEN-POPE (1-866-536-7673).

Feel free to share this invitation with others who may be interested.

* * * *

Save On Taxes, Protect Inheritances And

Maximize Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Benefits

Thursday March 17th @ 7:00PM

Disability, Estate, and Financial Planning seminar

with Kenneth C. Pope, LL.B, TEP
&

William Sizoo, financial advisor

Location: St. Luke’s Presbyterian

Church, Rossland Rd. W. & Park

Rd. N . Oshawa

Kenneth C. Pope is an Ottawa-based lawyer with a province-wide practice devoted to trusts and disability issues. He is presenting a seminar along with Mr. William Sizoo, who is an experienced financial advisor who has been in the business since 1985. There is a requested $10.00 contribution for participants, to help cover the cost of presenting the seminar.

Topics:

How can parents provide for their children even after they are gone? Do you have a Will with a Henson Trust in it?

How can your child with a disability become eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)?

How can ODSP payments be increased from $708 to $930 ?

How can families living with a disability benefit from the disability tax credit? How can claims be made for years as far back as 1985 if applicable?

How can families benefit from the caregiver provision on income taxes? What about payments for back years?

Financial Aspects

To register for this seminar, call:
(613) 567-9724 or 1-866-KEN-POPE (1-866-536-7673).

Feel free to share this invitation with others who may be interested.

*************************************

MASSAGE THERAPY

Hello List;
If anyone can recommend a female Massage Therapist who is experienced with autism, please contact Rose Ann and c.c. asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you,
Lynda

Rose Ann Punnett
Autism Consultant
Kerry's Place Autism Services - Central East
905-713-6808 ext 312
rpunnett@kerrysplace.org

*************************************

SOCCER IN MARKHAM

from a chapter parent, thanks!

"Thumbs UP Soccer" of the Markham Soccer Club have a unique program for children with unique abilities. Come out and watch your child play in a safe nurturing environment with a mentor.
When: Sunday afternoons 3 to 4 pm from March 13th to May 1st
Where: Mount Joy Indoor Soccer Field

For more information please contact Susanne at 905-471-8207
Registration is Sunday March 6th. 4:00 at Mount Joy

*************************************

YOGA

Autism Society Ontario, York Region Chapter will continue to reach out to parents/caregivers of children with autism and/or special needs by continuing Yoga classes in March 2005.

Katy Bennett will be instructing the Hatha Yoga classes to provide guidance with stretching, grounding and relaxation. Please note space is limited.

The schedule is as follows:

Morning classes - 10:00 - 11:30 am
Start date - Thursday March 24, 2005

Cost - $ 100.00 for 10 weeks

Location - Loyal True Blue and Orange Home Building - room B13

Register - azureyoga@neptune.on.ca - 905-473-6586

Payment - make cheque payable to Katy Bennett and mail to:

Autism - York
11181 Yonge St # 303
Richmond Hill, On L4S 1L2
Attn: Yoga Registration

*************************************

SERVICE DOGS, HORSEBACK RIDING

(Thanks Mandy for sharing this resource with your chapter!)

www.paws-n-hooves.ca

Owner Assisted Service Dog
You and your dog training is custom tailored to do tasks you find difficult in daily living.
" We can certify your dog for public access.
" We will guide you through the process of becoming a service dog team.
" We will provide you with specialized instruction for both you and your dog.
" A customized program to meet your specific daily challenges will be set up for you and your dog.
" We certify your trained dog to legally accompany you into general public areas, buildings and transportation. Certification cost is included in the program for one year.
" Followup Program to aid in the maintenance of your team's performance.

and in York Region ...

The Howell Riding Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life
for children and their families through qualified horse therapy. We are a
unique center that offers therapeutic horseback riding, sleigh rides,
carting and horse type games to provide much need relief and enjoyment for
these special children. Our goal is to provide a fun and safe place for
children and their families to enjoy themselves while being among others
dealing with the same situations sharing strategies for coping while they
are forming lasting friendships. All these children benefit from the
therapeutic riding through friendships and a loving bonds they form with
our horses, other riders, volunteers, and instructors providing much
needed stress relief while guiding them through the healing process.
The children will decide upon their energy level whether they wish to ride
the horse/ponies or they wish to go in a cart/sleigh. They can choose to
drive the cart/sleigh or have a volunteer do it for them. The choice is
theirs. This gives the child control over their situation where they do
not have the choice elsewhere due to their condition.

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO

REGIONAL SUPPORT LEADER

TUESDAY MORNING SUPPORT GROUP

(Our last two sessions)

Location: 11181 Yonge St. Suite 305, Richmond Hill

(East side of Yonge, North of Elgin Mills)

Cost: $5 per session, at the door

For Information: Voicemail Liz Cohen at the York Region Chapter office 905-780-1590

The following presentations are from the Conference Proceedings CD produced from the Geneva Centre for Autism International Symposium on Autism 2004. Group discussion lead by Liz Cohen, Autism Society Ontario Regional Support Leader will follow.

March 8, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00

Developing Friendship Skills and Making Them Work

Kevin Baskerville, Autism Inclusion Coordinator,

Warwickshire Local Education Authority, United Kingdom

March 22, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00

Special Diets for Special Kids: Why and How to Try Dietary Interventions

Dr. Lisa Lewis, Co-founder, Autism Network for Dietary Intervention,

New Jersey, USA

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hi Everyone, Zeenat has been a trusted member of my staff for 3 1/2 years. If you have the time, I would consider it a personal favour if you would consider filling out her survey.

Thanks, Liz Cohen

“My name is Zeenat Ahmad and I am an undergraduate student at York University. I am currently collecting data for my Honours Thesis. I am doing my thesis on the health and well being of mothers who have children with autism between 2 to 10 years of age.

I am asking if you could kindly agree to participate in my research by answering the attached questionnaire. Please note that you are under no obligation to participate at all, even if you agree now, you can terminate your participation at any time. You may also decline to answer particular questions, if you wish.

A benefit of participating in this study is gaining knowledge about the health implications of having a child with special needs. There are no expected risks for participating in this study. All the participants will be entered into a draw to win a prize; the winners will be notified via e-mail If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my Professor, Dr. Haltrecht, at ed.haltrecht@sympatico.ca. You can also contact me at zeenatahmad@hotmail.com

To obtain questionnaire, kindly email me at zeenatahmad@hotmail.com. “

*************************************

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO
YORK REGION CHAPTER
EVENING SUPPORT GROUP AND CHAPTER MEETINGS

REMINDER ~ NEXT MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 8
Topic: Advocacy and the special education system

Please join us at our Information Evenings and Parent Support Group/Chapter Meetings to find out more about how we help each other by sharing our experiences. We all face the same issues; learning about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the impact it has on our lives, dealing with professionals, locating supports, securing funding and advocating for appropriate programs.

Whatever you are facing, someone else has been 'down that road'. We offer mutual support and information through our workshops, newsletters and group meetings and have compiled an extensive database on services and supports in York Region and the G.T.A.

Location: Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St. Richmond Hill
Meeting Room B 07
Time: 7:00 p.m. > 9:00 p.m.
Cost: no charge

MARCH 8 Topic: Advocacy and the special education system
MARCH 29 Special Education Issues - SEAC Information Evening
APRIL 12 (speaker and topic to be advised)
APRIL 26 Chapter and Support Group
MAY 10 (speaker and topic to be advised)
MAY 24 Chapter and Support Group

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Available for purchase at all meetings and workshops at the York Region Chapter Parent Resource Centre + Member's Lending Library.

CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM: WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHERE TO GET HELP
Strategies and Information for Ontario Families and Care Providers (204 pages)

NAVIGATING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ONTARIO (2nd EDITION)
A Handbook for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (231 pages)

Order online: www.autismsociety.on.ca or by phone 416-246-9592 x 24
Cost per manual: $25.00 at meetings, (plus Shipping And Handling $8.00 if ordered online or by phone)

[To be published Spring 2005 - THE TEEN AND ADULT GUIDE]

***********************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi all,
Just a reminder about this opportunity. We've had a number of submissions already, but the deadline is March 5 - this coming Saturday.

Hello ASO friend, Chapters, members and adults on the autism spectrum,

The Adult Manual that ASO is producing is nearing completion. RSL Anne Wittich has been working hard to get all the resources and submissions pulled together as quickly as possible. One of the final pieces we would like to include is an opportunity for adults on the spectrum to advertise their own business ventures. For example, some folks we know sell their artwork, music, or offer a particular service for which they have been formally or specifically trained, such as Melissa's Spa (featured in ASO's Autism Newslink).

In order to have your information considered for inclusion, the following criteria must be met:

1) You and your business must be located in Ontario. The adult must have a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum (Autism, Aspergers or PDDNOS). (the specific diagnosis will not be disclosed in the manual)

2) The information will only be published in black and white and it must fit on no more than a half page of an 8 1/2" x 11" page.

3) The information must include the full name of the person, their business name or product, and basic information about how they (or their designated support person) can be contacted about their product or service. (e.g. website, email address, home address and/or phone number).

4) One reference: You must include the contact information from a customer (beyond immediate family) who would be willing to speak with ASO about their experience with your product or service. This person's contact information will not be disclosed in the manual or to anyone but ASO staff associated with this project. (ASO's privacy policy applies to the gathering of this information.)

5) Info must be submitted to mail@autismsociety.on.ca or by fax 416-246-9417 prior to March 5, 2005.

If you have questions, please contact Anne Wittich at anneasoo@magma.ca

There is no charge for advertising your product. ASO reserves the right to make the final decision about inclusion of submissions in this manual.

We look forward to hearing from interested individuals.
...................................
Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca

*************************************

REGIONAL ASPERGER SYNDROME CLINIC DAYS

In cooperation with Autism Society Ontario, Kevin Stoddart will be offering regional Clinic Days for families of individuals with a diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis of) Asperger Syndrome. One to two hour consultations are currently available in the cities listed below. The fee of $100.00 per hour of consultation is payable at the end of the session. This also provides an opportunity for local service providers to receive consultation about children and adults with whom they are working.

To arrange an appointment, send an email to kevin.stoddart@aspergers.net and include a summary of the specific issues that you would like him to address. Possible areas of consultation include:

q Managing a difficult behaviour
q Dealing with mental health issues
q Developing a comprehensive treatment plan
q School-related problems
q Discussing the diagnosis with affected youth
q Fostering social skills in children
q Preparing for adulthood
q Living with a partner with Asperger Syndrome

Clinic Days are now scheduled in:

q Richmond Hill on March 9, April 13, May 11 and June 8, 2005
q London on March 24, 2005
q Cornwall on April 8, 2005
q Regular office hours are held in downtown Toronto

Kevin Stoddart, MSW, PhD, RSW, is a social worker whose clinical focus is children, teens and adults with mild Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger Syndrome. He is a speaker on Asperger Syndrome and consultant to families and agencies. Kevin has a private practice based in Toronto, and has carried out research and published in the areas of ASDs and developmental disabilities. He edited a multi-disciplinary book on Asperger Syndrome: Children, Youth and Adults with Asperger Syndrome: Integrating Multiple Perspectives, which will be available at some clinics at a discounted rate.

Toronto Office: 180 Bloor Street West, Suite 601, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2V6
Phone: 416-920-4999
Email: kevin.stoddart@aspergers.net

*************************************

BARRIE SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

The Don't Stand Alone Foundation For Children With Autism invites you to
their next monthly Support Group Meeting.

Since this is during the March Break and I am sure many of us will need
some respite time around half way through the week, we will have no guest
speaker. Instead, we will enjoy a night out to have social time to share
and problem solve our common experiences in raising children with autism.
Coming up in the next two months, guest speakers Janice Bell from Kerry's
Place and Shirley Sutton(OT).

When: Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

Time: 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Where: Swiss Chalet at 397 Bayfield in Barrie at the back section of the
restaurant.

RSVP: Tel # 721-8607 or 424-4527 by e-mail at dcurrie@sympatico.ca.

Visit our Web Page at http://dsaf4.tripod.com/ to learn more about our new
charity.

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MARCH BREAK FUN!

SKATING: Please join us at the ASO York March Break Skating Party

Sponsored by ASO York. No admission fee required.
Donations to ASO York are gratefully accepted.

When: Tuesday March 15th 1:00-2:00

Where: Elgin Barrow Arena - East, 43 Church St. S, Richmond Hill

(near Yonge & Major Mackenzie)

Directions: Please see this link for map and directions http://www.arenamaps.com/arenas/164.htm

RSVP: bruce.mcintosh@rogers.com or 905-761-5226

Helmets are recommended. Easy-gliders are permitted.

Several high school students will be available to help young skaters requiring assistance. Parents are responsible for supervising their children.

We will have 2 reserved Change Rooms. Please check the blackboard for our Change Room numbers as you enter the East Arena.

We look forward to seeing you there!

******************

SWIMMING: March Break at the Wave Pool

Following up on the successful trampoline event (to be repeated in the future), I have arranged for an ASO group at the Richmond Hill Wave Pool.

When: Friday, March 18th 3:00-5:30

Where: The Wave Pool, part of the Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre,
5 Hopkins Street, Richmond Hill (near Yonge & Major Mackenzie)

Directions: Please see this link for map and directions http://www.richmondhill.ca/maps/popupmaps.asp?imgid=CCentre_TheWavePool.jpg

Cost: $3.50 per child, includes one free aide. This could be a parent, therapist, or mediator, 16 or older. Swim certification is not necessary. If we have 15 kids or more we'll all get a 15% discount.

RSVP: bruce.mcintosh@rogers.com or 905-761-5226

One-to-one support is an absolute MUST in this
environment, regardless of age or ability. Lifejackets
are available. DO NOT depend on the float toys
available in the pool. Please arrive 15 minutes early
to get changed. There is a special needs change room
available, as well as the family change areas.

******************

ART GALLERY: FREE (!) Wednesdays at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Something a bit less strenuous, and FREE! I have not
made arrangements for a group, but we're planning on
taking our kids down on March 16th. If you'd like to
go together, e-mail me at bruce.mcintosh@rogers.com or
call 905-761-5226 and we can co-ordinate ourselves.
This info comes from Today's Parent (Toronto edition)
and I have not yet confirmed with the AGO.

*************************************

RESEARCH GRANTS AND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS (2005)

Hello everyone,

Please forward this message to any potentially interested applicants. If you have difficulty clicking on and opening the specific application criteria for each of these awards, visit our website www.autismsociety.on.ca

Thank you very much!

Marg

Autism Society Ontario is offering a number of scholarships for 2005.
Jeanette Holden Post-Secondary Education Entrance Scholarships for Siblings of Students with ASD
Eleanor Ritchie Post-Secondary Education Scholarships for Students with ASD
Autism Society Ontario Summer Student Scholarships
Stimulus Grants for Graduate Study in Autism Spectrum Disorders
...................................
Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: New Toonie for Autism Day Video!

Hello ASO members and supporters

On behalf of the Toonie for Autism Day Committee, Autism Society Ontario is very excited to be releasing its 4th Toonie For Autism Day® Campaign video entitled "My Friend Dylan. I Wonder What We'll Learn?" It is a wonderfully engaging story about Dylan and her grade 3 classmates in York Region who describe what they learned about themselves and having a student with autism in their class.

Find out more about how you, your organization, business or school can get a free copy of this excellent video by participating in the 2005 campaign.

NEW! This year's campaign also includes free bookmarks with tips on being a friend to someone with autism, along with one of Lynn Johnston's For Better or for Worse comic strips about students with differences.

For more information, click on our website www.autismsociety.on.ca and click on the Toonie symbol at the bottom left-hand side of the page. Every school in Ontario will be receiving a copy of the campaign package within the next few weeks. Be sure to check with your local school to encourage their participation!

Thank you.

Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!! ASO YORK'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
PLEASE JOIN US -- YOUR VOTE MATTERS:

Your membership must be in good standing in order for you to place your
vote. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Date: TUESDAY, APRIL 12TH

Location: Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St. Richmond Hill
(two streets north of Elgin Mills, east side of Yonge)
Meeting Room B 07 in the basement

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director, Autism Society Ontario

As a recipient of the ASO York Region Chapter "ITEMS OF INTEREST" you are
part of the ASO York family. Our organization supports families and
professionals who are touched by autism. For many, many years, that support
has come from the drive and dedication of volunteers. For the 2004-2005
year, our Chapter Leadership Council consisted of:

Cenza Newton, President
Bruce McIntosh, Vice President
Brenda Wynne, Secretary and Camp Fundraising Committee
Jasna Tome, Treasurer & Camp Committee
Cindi Buick, Past President & Toonie for Autism Day Coordinator
Kathryn Everest, SEAC Rep YRDSB and Camp Committee
Janet Kalmykow, Camp Fundraising Committee
Paul Kalmykow, SEAC Rep YCDSB and Camp Committee
Mary Merlihan, Bingo Coordinator
Aliya Rahim, former ASK Camp Staff Member, private therapist
Lynda Beedham, Regional Support Leader and Chapter Volunteer
Liz Cohen, Regional Support Leader and Chapter Volunteer

Our Chapter has a dynamic team of energetic people who work well together
and we are inviting you to join in! If we all pitch in and do a small
chunk, it means we can accomplish more without overwhelming a small group of
volunteers.

You are invited to seek nomination for the 12-member Chapter Leadership
Council by March 15, 2005. Please submit your name along with a short bio. Once nominations have been submitted, the list
of nominees will be posted in the Items of Interest. We will vote to
determine CLC membership at the AGM on April 12th. Your membership must be
in good standing in order for you to place your vote. Within the newly
appointed Chapter Leadership Council, the CLC members will elect the Chapter
Executive: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer.

The result of the elections will be posted in a future Items of Interest.

If you would like to speak to someone about a Chapter Leadership Council
position before seeking nomination, please leave a voicemail message at
(905) 780-1590 or email us at asoyork@axxent.ca.

Sincerely,
Cenza Newton, President

SEAC INFORMATION EVENING

Autism Society Ontario – York Region Chapter is holding a SEAC Information Evening on March 29^th from 7-9pm.

Our chapter is fortunate to have representation on SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) with both public and separate school boards in York Region.

Kathryn Everest (SEAC Representative – YRDSB) and Paul Kalmykow (SEAC Representative – YRCSB) will be explaining SEAC, their roles on the committee and answer any questions you may have about the policies and procedures in the respective boards regarding special education.

If you have any concerns, challenges, positive strategies you would like to share or have a child entering the school system and need some questions answered, this is a great opportunity to empower you with information in regards to your child’s education.

We invite you to meet Kathryn and Paul and see how our chapter is working within the local education system on behalf of our children. We look forward to seeing you there.

March 29^th 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Room B7

Loyal True Blue and Orange Building

11181 Yonge Street (north of Elgin Mills)

Richmond Hill

RSVP to asoyork@axxent.ca

GLUTEN FREE PRODUCTS

Micah's Favourite
Makers of Fine Gluten-Free Products
Catering available
Newmarket
905-898-0739
randy@micahsfavourite.com
www.micahsfavourite.com

Product package samples available at the York Region Chapter Parent Resource Centre

************************************

ASPERGERS PARENT SUPPORT GROUP
NEXT MEETING DATE
THURSDAY February 24th, 2005
7:00 PM
34 Berczy St., Aurora
1st Floor Boardroom

Kerry's Place Autism Services
Community Services York Region/Simcoe County
Facilitator
Rose Anne Punnett
Autism Consultant
905-713-6808 x 312
<rpunnett@kerrysplace.org>
www.kerrysplace.com

************************************

INTERVIEW WITH TEMPLE GRANDIN

From Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health
Autism First-Hand: An Expert Interview With Temple Grandin, PhD
Posted 02/03/2005

Editor's Note:
As a child, Temple Grandin, PhD, like many children with autism, couldn't
speak and raged for no identifiable reason. Yet she grew up to earn a PhD
in animal science from the University of Illinois; pioneer humane ways of
treating cattle using knowledge gleaned from her disorder; and write on the
sensory and cognitive experience of being autistic. Medscape's Randall
White, MD, interviewed Dr. Grandin, Associate Professor of Animal Science,
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, on her insights into autism
spectrum disorder.

Medscape: In one of your essays you wrote, "Teachers need to use fixations
to motivate instead of trying to stamp them out."[1] What would that
achieve for people with autism?

Dr. Temple Grandin: Let's say that a child loves trains -- that's a very
common fixation. Well, read a book about trains, do math problems with
trains, read about the history of the railroad. In other words, if a kid
loves trains, you can somehow drag a train into just about every subject in
school to get him motivated to study it. Fixations are tremendous
motivators. Look at someone like Mme. Curie, who discovered radium; she
certainly was fixated on what she was doing. A little bit of fixation gets
things done.

Medscape: You also wrote, "I screamed because it was the only way I could
communicate."[1] Describe that experience from childhood.

Dr. Grandin: That was when I was a little kid. I remember not wanting to
wear a hat. So I screamed and threw it on the floor of the car, and mother
said, "Put it back on." So I screamed and chucked it out the window.

Not being able to communicate is a tremendous frustration. If a child has a
behavior problem, especially a nonverbal child, you've got to figure out
what's causing it. Is it frustration because they can't communicate?
Another problem might be sensory sensitivity, something that's often
ignored. Every time you take the kid into Wal-Mart, he's screaming. Well,
the reason for that is that the fluorescent lights are flickering and
driving him crazy, the noise in there hurts his ears, the smells overpower
his nose. Wal-Mart is like being inside the speaker at a rock and roll concert.

Then you've got to figure out, when you have a nonverbal child who all of a
sudden has a behavior problem, whether he has a medical problem, like acid
reflux, that's not diagnosed. Other reasons they might scream would be to
get out of doing something or to get attention.

Medscape: Regarding your own history with communication problems, you
wrote, "The speech therapist was the most important professional in my
life."[1] Why was that so?

Dr. Grandin: Because she got me talking. She started working on me when I
was 2 and a half years old, and then when I was 3, my mother hired a nanny
who spent hours doing lots of little kids' turn-taking games. I can
remember, after lunch, I had a rest period when I could revert to autism,
and I would pick the fuzz off the rug and eat it, and dribble sand through
my hands -- I can remember just getting hypnotized doing this. If I had
been allowed to do that all day, I wouldn't be here now.

I'm a big believer in lots of early intervention with little kids. We've
got to get them talking if possible and get them interacting with people. I
think the social interaction of going to elementary school is extremely
important. But then when you get into being a teenager, in the real mild
Asperger's, there are some who just need to be removed from the social
pressure cooker. You know, I think sometimes we go overboard on social
conformity, especially with teenagers.

Medscape: A recent story in The New York Times examined the conflicts that
occur between some people with autism, some of whom protest any treatment,
and their parents.[2]

Dr. Grandin: I've read those things, the whole conflict about ABA --
applied behavior analysis. Those techniques are mainly for very little
children, for 2 to 5 year olds, to get language started. They're not for
high-functioning 8 and 9 year olds. And most people in those protests are
the more mild Asperger's types. We need to be working on developing the
talents those people have so they can have jobs and support themselves. I
really believe there's a certain portion of high-functioning Asperger's
patients who need to be going to the university and getting in with their
intellectual peers, and just skipping the whole teenage mess because that's
not a life skill you need anyway. And it was the worst part of my life,
absolutely the worst. Interacting with teenagers is not part of my career!

Medscape: Would you have achieved what you have if you were not autistic?

Dr. Grandin: I don't think so, because there was a motivation that I had
that a nonautistic person doesn't have. And I had a visualization skill
that goes beyond what most people have. When I designed a piece of
equipment, I could actually test-run it in my head like these
virtual-reality computer programs. And I didn't even know that other people
couldn't do this. That's the positive side of autism. Now obviously, if you
have a child who's still nonverbal and not toilet trained, that's the
negative side of autism. It's a continuum, going all the way from Einstein
down to somebody who remains nonverbal and not toilet trained.

Medscape: I want to talk with you about the relationship of doctors with
people with autism. Have you been under the care of a physician, and if so,
how would you rate the care you received?

Dr. Grandin: Well, when I was a little kid, I had a psychiatrist, and of
course he was Freudian trained. He wanted to find my psychic injury, which
we now know is totally wrong. And I think he helped my mother more than he
helped me. He really had very little effect on me.

The most important people in my life when I was older were Mr. Carlock, my
science teacher, and my aunt out on the ranch. She tolerated my fixations
rather than trying to get rid of them. Mr. Carlock directed my fixations
into studying science. Unfortunately, when I was in high school, the
professionally trained people like the psychologist wanted to get rid of my
cattle-chute fixation. Well, that cattle-chute fixation ended up being the
basis of my entire career, and half of the cattle in this country, when
they go to a meat plant, are handled in equipment I designed. I think
that's a pretty good thing to do with an autistic fixation. The
professionals wanted to just take it away and stamp it out.

Medscape: What should physicians and psychologists who treat children and
adults with autism keep in mind?

Dr. Grandin: First of all, we have to look at the functioning level,
because what's appropriate for nonverbal patients is totally different from
what's appropriate for very mild Asperger's patients. I think they do need
to learn social skills, but I think we get to the point where there's so
much emphasis on social skills, there's no emphasis on career development.
I get social interaction through shared interests with things at work, like
talking about how to build something or solve a problem in animal behavior.
Now that's really interesting to me; social chit-chat's not.

Yes, we have to learn social survival skills. One of the things I had to
learn is you can't tell people off and tell them they're stupid. I got
fired from a job for that early in my career.

Medscape: You have been on the same low dose of an antidepressant for 20
years. Can you describe how you arrived at this and how it helps?

Dr. Grandin: As I got into my late 20s, anxiety and panic attacks got worse
and worse. It was like a constant state of stage fright. I read an article
in Psychology Today called "The promise of biological psychiatry." This was
back in the late 70s, and it talked about antidepressants for panic
disorder and gave some doctors' names. I looked their names up in an Index
Medicus book. Mr. Carlock had taught me how to use those books.

I got this paper with a list of symptoms in it, and I said, "That's me!"
They used 2 different drugs back then, imipramine and phenelzine.
Phenelzine has too many problems with the special diet, so I talked my
family practitioner into giving me imipramine, and within 3 days the
anxiety subsided -- it was like magic.

At autism meetings, I've had parent after parent come up to me and say, "He
did just great on a little bit of Prozac [fluoxetine], and they gave him
more, then he went ballistic and doesn't sleep at night." A lot of people
on the spectrum need a much lower dose of something like Prozac than
nonautistic people do.

Medscape: Are you still on imipramine?

Dr. Grandin: I switched to desipramine after about 3 years because I got
tinnitus, and then it stopped. The tinnitus got triggered by a really loud
sound from an electric drill.

One of my big concerns, after all this "black box" stuff that's going on
now with antidepressants, is doctors are going to start substituting things
like risperidone in place of Prozac. I think that's just terrible. I'm
seeing so many kids morbidly obese from atypical antipsychotics, and
parents are saying, "Oh, my kid was eating dog food he was so hungry; he
eats flour." I think a little bit of Prozac would be better than getting
100 lbs overweight on olanzapine.

So you've got a black-box warning because there's a slight chance of
talking about suicide when the side effects with the atypicals are way
worse. I went to a meeting the other day and a doctor had given risperidone
to a 2 year old just to help him sleep. That's ridiculous! Maybe they ought
to try a weighted blanket. Oftentimes that helps them to sleep.

Another thing that's a real problem is educating general practitioners not
to tell parents that the kid's going to outgrow it when they bring in a 2
year old showing autistic symptoms. That's still a problem, especially when
you get away from the big cities -- it's a medical waste land out there.
The thing that happened with the risperidone and the 2 year old was in a
little country town.

Medscape: The weighted blanket reminds me of your squeeze machine.

Dr. Grandin: That's right. To a lot of these kids, pressure is very
calming. The squeeze machine is just one way to do pressure. Other simpler
ways are things like bean-bag chairs, weighted vests, and weighted blankets.

Medscape: Can you describe the squeeze machine?

Dr. Grandin: It works like a squeeze chute used to hold cattle for
veterinary work. You get on your hands and knees. It's got 2
foam-rubber-padded side panels and works with compressed air; when I pull a
handle, it squeezes me. I first got interested in this when I was 16
because the anxiety attacks were just crippling me, and I noticed that when
they put the cattle in their squeeze chute for vaccination, they sometimes
tended to relax. So I went and tried the squeeze chute out at the ranch and
found that it did kind of relax me.

Pressure is calming, and many people with autism will do things like wear
tight belts or very tight clothes. Of course, the professionals wanted to
take the squeeze machine away from me. Mr. Carlock said to me, if you want
to find out why it's relaxing, you're going to have to study the science,
and he got me looking up abstracts. Instead of taking the squeeze machine
away, which is what the other professionals wanted to do, he used it as a
way to motivate an interest in science.

Supported by an independent educational grant from Janssen
References
1. Temple G. An inside view of autism. Available at
http://www.autism.org/temple/inside.html. Accessed January 4, 2005.
2. Harmon A. How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading. New
York Times. December 20, 2004; A:1.

Disclosure: Randall F. White, MD, has disclosed that he owns stock, stock
options, or bonds in Quest Diagnostics, Novartis AG ADR, and Millipore Corp.

Disclosure: Temple Grandin, PhD, has reported no financial relationships
relevant to this educational activity.

Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health 10(1), 2005. © 2005 Medscape

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you

Tuesday Morning Support Group – Change

February 22, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00

"Can Johnny Come Out to Play?: Social Skills for Preschoolers”[1] Dr. Brenda Smith Myles, Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas, Kansas, USA

The title of this presentation is confusing as the original Symposium presenter was replaced by Dr. Smith Myles; it should be called “The Hidden Curriculum”. This is a very worthwhile topic which concerns ‘hidden’ social niceties that are seldom considered when teaching social skills to the growing child with ASD. After the presentation, we will discuss how to adapt them to the different ages of children represented by attendees.

If you have concerns about attending this topic, please keep in mind that we do have other presentations on CD ROM that can be substituted if the group would prefer to see something else.

Hope to see you there,

Liz Cohen, Regional Support Leader

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] This presentation is from the Conference Proceedings CD produced from the Geneva Centre for Autism International Symposium on Autism 2004.

Group discussion lead by Liz Cohen, Autism Society Ontario Regional Support Leader will follow.

REMINDER

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO - YORK REGION CHAPTER

Evening Support Group and Chapter Meetings

Next Meeting Tuesday FEBRUARY 22

Please join us at our Information Evenings and Parent Support Group/Chapter Meetings to find out more about how we help each other by sharing our experiences. We all face the same issues; learning about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the impact it has on our lives, dealing with professionals, locating supports, securing funding and advocating for appropriate programs.

Whatever you are facing, someone else has been 'down that road'. We offer mutual support and information through our workshops, newsletters and group meetings and have compiled an extensive database on services and supports in York Region and the G.T.A.

Location: Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St. Richmond Hill

Meeting Room B 07

Time: 7:00 p.m. > 9:00 p.m.

Cost: no charge

Mark Your Calendars:
MARCH 8 Topic: Advocacy, Building Your School Team
MARCH 29 Special Education Issues - SEAC Information Evening
APRIL 12 (speaker and topic to be advised)
APRIL 26 Chapter and Support Group
MAY 10 (speaker and topic to be advised)
MAY 24 Chapter and Support Group

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Available for purchase at all meetings and workshops at the York Region Chapter Parent Resource Centre + Member's Lending Library.

~ CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM: WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHERE TO GET HELP
Strategies and Information for Ontario Families and Care Providers (204 pages)

~ NAVIGATING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ONTARIO (2nd EDITION)
A Handbook for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (231 pages)

Order online: www.autismsociety.on.ca or by phone 416-246-9592 x 24
Cost per manual: $25.00 at meetings, (plus Shipping And Handling $8.00 if ordered online or by phone)

[To be published Spring 2005 - THE TEEN AND ADULT GUIDE]

SOCCER IN AURORA

I am updating you on soccer program to be put on by the Aurora Soccer club. It is a definite go, the league is going to partner with Special Olympics, the program will more then likely be 8 weeks starting in late May and running through to end of August, it will be on a Saturday 10:00 - 11:00 at a park in Aurora, cost yet to be determined, age 6- 16 years of age. Other info should be arriving soon, any questions please feel free to call 905 713 6808 x311 or email Bruce Punnett bpunnett@kerrysplace.org

*************************************

ONLINE WORKSHOPS FOR WRITERS WITH DISABILITIES

Always wanted to see your name in print? The Canadian Abilities
Foundation is presenting a series of online workshops (first one to be
held in March) for people with disabilities who are interested in the
writing life.
If you love expressing yourself in writing and dream of seeing your name
in print, this workshop is for you! Find out how to write effectively,
promote yourself to editors and make a difference in your community
using the written word.
If you would like to be contacted with the details, dates and times of
this workshop series, send an e-mail to able@abilities.ca or call
1-888-700-4476, ext. 232, to register.
Workshops are free.

Canadian Abilities Foundation
650-340 College St.
Toronto, ON M5T 3A9
Phone: (416) 923-1885
Fax: (416) 923-9829
able@abilities.ca
www.abilities.ca

*************************************

RESPITE STUDY

Study on Families, Children with Autism, and Respite Care

Researcher seeks families caring for children with Autism to participate in
a study to examine their experience of hiring respite worker(s). Themes
relating to families coping strategies, adjustment and experiences as
'employers' will be explored. This study seeks to add to the research on
utilizing in-home respite assistance.

· Approximately 1 - 1.5 hours personal interview
· Confidentiality ensured

For more information, please contact Vicki Narine
(Part-time Masters of Social Work student at York University)
(905) 653-0578 or at
<narinevicki@hotmail.com>

*************************************

AUTISM ON TV

NBC February 21 - 26, 2005
'Autism: The Hidden Epidemic?' - A Week Long Series On The Networks of NBC News
Additional information about programming and when viewers can tune in for specific information can be found at http://www.autism.msnbc.com.

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO
REGIONAL SUPPORT LEADER
TUESDAY MORNING SUPPORT GROUP

Location:11181 Yonge St. Suite 305, Richmond Hill
(East side of Yonge, North of Elgin Mills)

Cost: $5 per session, at the door
For Information: Voicemail Liz Cohen at the York Region Chapter office 905-780-1590

The following presentations are from the Conference Proceedings CD produced from the Geneva Centre for Autism International Symposium on Autism 2004.

Group discussion lead by Liz Cohen, Autism Society Ontario Regional Support Leader will follow.

February 22, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00
"Can Johnny Come Out to Play?: Social Skills for Preschoolers”
Dr. Brenda Smith Myles, Associate Professor, Department of Special Education
University of Kansas, Kansas, USA
NOTE: This presentation will be customized to fit age groups up to 10.

March 1, 2005 from 10:00 to 12:30
Sibling Perspectives from Childhood to Adulthood
Albert Bereti, age 12, brother of Alan
Nerissa Raffik, age 17, sister of Adir
Tamara Joseph, age, 22, sister of Nathaniel
Susan Day Fragiadakis, age 49, sister of Rick

March 8, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00
Developing Friendship Skills and Making Them Work
Kevin Baskerville, Autism Inclusion Coordinator
Warwickshire Local Education Authority, United Kingdom

March 22, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00
Special Diets for Special Kids: Why and How to Try Dietary Interventions
Dr. Lisa Lewis, Co-founder, Autism Network for Dietary Intervention
New Jersey, USA

*************************************

HELP WITH AN AUTISM SURVEY

from an ASO family ...

My son's worker, Anna Webster is studying at Centennial College to be a Child and Youth Worker. She is currently in her third year and is working on a major project on the use of behavioural interventions with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is looking for some help from parents with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder between 4 and 18 years of age.

Anna is working on a manual for parents with children with ASD that focuses on teaching basic behavioural strategies that can be used in the home (i.e. creating a routine, behaviour management, etc...) .She has written up a needs assessment questionnaire geared towards parents in order to determine which topics are most important to cover in the manual. It should only take about 10-15 minutes to fill out.

Any help that parents can provide would be very appreciated. It's so very important for us to help these dedicated students who are pursuing careers that will help our kids and our families in the future.

Deborah

NB. As we do not send out attachments with the 'Items of Interest', families interested in participating in this questionnaire please contact "Anna Webster" anna_webster80@hotmail.com directly. Please do not respond to this Items of Interest email.

*************************************

"GREY OLLTWIT'S SOFTWARE NEWSLETTER"

New Programs Available

Flash Cards Extra (Members Only)
Show words, pictures and sounds from lists as flash cards.
Details at http://www.greyolltwit.com/flashcardextra.html

Stopwatch (free to all)
A very simple program that does what it says i.e. it's a stopwatch. A
realistic photo of a stopwatch that I have animated to act like a real
one, with start, stop and reset.
Details at http://www.greyolltwit.com/stopwatch.html

For more information on these and other programs, please visit
www.greyolltwit.com

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca. The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MOVIE NIGHTS

Movie Night at Geneva Centre for Autism - exclusively for people with an
ASD and their families/friends/support workers

Regent Theatre, 551 Mt. Pleasant Rd
The doors will be open at 6:30 pm, and the movie will begin at 7pm.
Guests will be treated to movie and snacks
No reservation is necessary.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Ocean's Twelve starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones &
Julia Roberts

Due to a scheduling problem with the film "Ocean’s Twelve" we have had to postpone the movie by one week. Please continue to check www.autism.net for movie titles and dates.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Racing Strips starring Frankie Muniz, Hayden Panettiere, Whoopie Goldberg &
Dustin Hoffman

The above movies are scheduled, but may change. Please continue to check
Geneva Centre's Web-site, www.autism.net under Whats New, Special Events
and Announcements, to confirm the titles.

*************************************

FEEDBACK WANTED

The following advertisement was in the Richmond Hill Liberal. Does any one
have any experience, caveats or kudos about this service? Responses
welcomed to ASO-York <asoyork@axxent.ca>
Thank you

" New Beginnings
Autism
'A Different Approach'
Individual therapy within a childcare setting
Effective & Productive with maximum results for children 3 to 7 years old.
Contact Lauryn or Zoe
905-851-8005
Zoe's tender years child care"

*************************************

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ONLINE
www.PWD-Online.ca

Access a full range of information on disability-related programs and
services in Canada.

. single access point for Government of Canada information on
disability-related programs and services
. provides links to - Assistive Technology
- Health
- Taxes and Financial Benefits
- Travel and Transportation
- Housing
- Employment
- Learning and Education
- Rights and Legislation
- Reference Library

Government of Canada
www.Canada.gc.ca

Youth Website
www.youth.gc.ca

Jobs, Workers, Training and Careers Website
www.JobsEtc.ca

Canada Benefits Website
www.canadabenefits.gc.ca

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please submit all correspondence

(including submissions and change of email address)

to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.

The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents

of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.

We encourage decisions based on knowledge.

The information brought to you through

our "Items Of Interest"

does not necessarily imply endorsement

by the Autism Society Ontario.

Thank you

Feb 13, 2005

EPILEPSY

Epilepsy York Region welcomes Dr. Nora Pope, ND, as part of a series of seminars on treatments for epilepsy.

Date:   Thursday, February 17
Time:   7:00-9:00pm
Location: Vaughan Police Headquarters, 2700 Rutherford Rd (at Jane St), in the Community Room
RSVP:   905-508-5404 or reply to this email

Refreshments and light snacks will be served. Please RSVP naomi@epilepsyyork.ca

Dr. Nora Pope is a naturopathic doctor in private practice in Toronto. Since 2001, her clinical focus has been epilepsy treatment. In 2003, Dr. Pope had the pleasure of speaking about Naturopathic Medicine at Epilepsy York Region's AGM. On February 17th, Dr. Pope will speak about homeopathy, herbal medicine, clinical nutrition, case studies and a research update. Dr. Pope would like to do research in finding a cure for epilepsy.

Naomi Hoffenberg
Program Coordinator
naomi@epilepsyyork.ca
Epilepsy York Region
11181 Yonge Street
Richmond Hill, ON
L4S 1L2
Phone: (905) 508-5404
Fax: (905)508-0920

*************************************

NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

from a listmate who is very happy with the small class size and personalized attention for her daughter with ASD.

OPEN HOUSE
New Beginnings Christian School
1205 Stellar Drive
Newmarket
905-953-1081

Tuesday February 22,2005
10am-2pm & 6pm-8pm
Junior kindergarten to high school

*************************************

AUTISM NEWSLINK

Dear ASO Members,

The latest issue of Autism Newslink should have arrived in your home last week or it will be arriving this coming week. We welcome your letters in response to articles in this or any of our magazine issues. Your thoughts about the relevance of the content to your experience, how an article may have impacted you or someone you know, a short story about a similar experience you had, how an article helped or hindered what you're trying to do or understand in your place in Ontario, constructive criticism or, if you really like to write, a guest editorial. We ask for this type of feedback in every issue, but occasionally we like to remind people about these opportunities!

ASO is an organization of people with strong opinions about many things related to understanding or living with ASD. We'd like to add your resources, insights, challenges and hopes to the pages of our magazine. You may wish to know that key supporters and staff in our Ontario Government all receive complimentary copies of Autism Newslink as part of our collective effort to inform our leaders about ASD and the efforts of ASO. We also regularly give copies to course educators at the University and College level so that their students, who will one day be working with your children, also have current and relevant information.

Thank you.

Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca

*************************************

HBC REWARDS COMMUNITY PROGRAM

I would like to thank all those who have been participating in our HBC Community Rewards Program. Our points are adding up!! I would like to encourage those who have not yet done so to consider donating your HBC Rewards Points to Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter. It is so easy!

GETTING STARTED

You must be an Hbc Rewards member. You can sign up at www.hbcrewards.com
Go to www.hbcrewards.com/community
Donate to a community group.
Our Public ID # is: 6480636
Decide how many points you would like to donate.

The great thing about this program is the flexibility. You can donate as many as all your points for 6 months or as little as 5% for 60 days - its up to you!! You can now take an active role in your chapter by donating effortlessly and all you have to do is shop!!

ASO - YRC is very excited about this amazing opportunity and encourage your continued support.

Thank you and have fun shopping!!

Cenza Newton

President

Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter

*************************************

FAMILY LIFE CENTRE SEMINARS

Family Life Centre of Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Bradford
1-888-223-3999 for more details, costs, locations.

February
Teen Anger Management
Single Again (for men and women)
Stress Management & Assertiveness Training
Women's Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Training
The Challenge of Anger for Women
Mens Anger Management

March - Couple Communication

April - Parenting the Strong Willed Child

May - Positive Parenting Skills

*************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please submit all correspondence

(including submissions and change of email address)

to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents

of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.

We encourage decisions based on knowledge.

The information brought to you through

our "Items Of Interest"

does not necessarily imply endorsement

by the Autism Society Ontario.

Thank you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feb 11, 2005

EVENING SUPPORT GROUP AND CHAPTER MEETINGS
AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO - YORK REGION CHAPTER

From York Support Services Network Bulletin February 2005
www.yssn.ca

Hincks-Dellcrest Centre
Presents "Playing with Trouble - Playful approaches to working with
Challenging Children and Their Families" presented by Diane Gehart. This
training session will be held on February 18, 2005.
For more information visit www.Hincksdellcrest.org/brief-therapy-training
or call 416-972-1935 x3345

Hincks-Dellcrest Centre
Presents two training workshops: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Strategies for
Intervention on March 10, 2005 & Social Skill Development in Autistic &
Asperger's Children on March 11, 2005. The presenter is Diane Yapko.
For more information visit www.hincksdellcrest.org or call 416-972-1935 x3345

Developmental Disabilities Counsellor Program
The program, jointly sponsored by Reena and George Brown College is accepting
applications for the September 2005 program. The DDC Program is an intense
18 week program that is designed to equip students with the tools necessary to
work in the field of developmental disabilities.
For more info please visit www.reena.org or contact Fiona Ott at (905)
889-2690 X 2055

Abilities 2005 YORK REGION'S 6TH ANNUAL JOB FAIR for Persons with Disabilities
Presented by Future Abilities and Creative Employment (FACE), on Thursday,
March 10th, 2005. 10am to 4pm at the Premiere Ballroom & Conference Centre,
9019 Leslie Street in Richmond Hill
For more information call: Voice/TTY 905-830-9299 or check out our website:
www.future-abilities.org

Feb 6, 2005

TUESDAY MORNING SUPPORT GROUP/WORKSHOPS

Location: 11181 Yonge St. Suite 303, Richmond Hill (East side of Yonge, North of Elgin Mills) unless marked with *

For Information: 905-780-1590, Facilitated by: Liz Cohen, Regional Support Leader Autism Society Ontario

February 8, 2005 from 9:30 to 2:00

Spa Day * Join us for a ½ day at the spa to help relieve family stress. Session Cost: $15, plus chosen spa service. (Note: This session is full)

February 22, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00
"Can Johnny Come Out to Play?”: Social Skills for Preschoolers With Autism CD Presentation
Dr. Brenda Smith Myles, Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas, Kansas, USA^{^[1]} Group discussion to follow. Session Cost: $5

March 1, 2005 from 10:00 to 12:30

Sibling Perspectives from Childhood to Adulthood CD Presentation
Albert Bereti, Age 12, Brother of Alan
Nerissa Raffik, Age 17, Sister of Adir
Tamara Joseph, Age, 22, Sister of Nathaniel
Susan Day Fragiadakis, Age 49, Sister of Rick ^{^[2]}

Session Cost: $5 Group discussion to follow.

March 8, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00

“Developing Friendship Skills and Making Them Work” CD Presentation
Kevin Baskerville, Autism Inclusion Coordinator, Warwickshire Local Education Authority, United Kingdom ^{^[3]} Group discussion to follow.

Session Cost: $5

March 22, 2005 from 10:00 to 2:00

“Special Diets for Special Kids”: Why and How to Try Dietary Interventions CD Presentation
Dr. Lisa Lewis, Co-founder, Autism Network for Dietary Intervention, New Jersey, USA ^{^[4]} Group discussion to follow. Session Cost: $5

[1] -4 These presentations from the Geneva Centre for Autism’s Symposium 2005

Below you will find a link to the Parent Voice in Education Project (PVEP) discussion paper. The paper was prepared by 20 parent leaders from across the province who have been appointed by the Minister of Education to consult parents on ways to strengthen the parent voice at the local and provincial level.

I would like to ask for your assistance in publicizing the consultation process and the opportunity for parents to access the discussion paper through the website, their school council or by contacting the PVEP directly. The PVEP is looking for broad participation in this process. You will find additional information about the consultation and parental involvement on our website, www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parentvoiceineducation/index.html

The deadline for responses is February 25^th. School councils are encouraged to put this on their agenda in February. Responses can be mailed, faxed or submitted on line.

There will also be 11 consultation meetings in 8 communities across the province. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings if they can.

The input the PVEP receives during this consultation process will be used to write recommendations for the Minister of Education by the end of March.

If you need any information, please feel free to contact me at info@parentvoiceineducation.org or 416-314-0426.

On behalf of the Parent Voice in Education Project, thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,
Gabrielle Blais
Chair, Parent Voice in Education Project

Welcome to the PAS Newletter

PAS is a Toronto-based service group for parents and caregivers of special needs children in schools. It was established in 1997 to provide support and assistance in getting programs and services for exceptional children. A range of services is extended in these efforts and they can be reviewed at our website: www.parentsadvocacy.com

To help parents in their efforts to get the education they want for their children with special needs we will be offering Workshops in Toronto which will include Dr. Forman's new book on parent advocacy.

Parents Advocacy Book and Workshop

The book: Exceptional Children--Ordinary Schools: Getting the Education You Want for Your Special Needs Child is available in bookstores. The Workshops on parents advocacy in the schools will be based on the book and each person attending will receive a copy and handouts.

Some of the Topics include:
The skills you need to advocate for your child
Creating your Child Advocacy File for successful advocacy
Understanding school bureaucracy
Learning about your rights
Communicating with the school
Mastering IPRCs and I! EPs
Demystifying tests and assessments.

The first Workshop will run from 1 to 4PM on Saturday February 12th. The fee is $65 and includes a copy of the book (the book retails for $24.95 plus tax). The Workshop is at 5734 Yonge St. S600 near Finch Avenue. Free parking is available on site.

If you would like to register for this workshop or others please call Dr. Forman at 416-429-8511 email <support@parentsadvocacy.com>
Please include your name and a contact number in your email.

Additional Workshops will take place at the offices of Parent's Advocacv in the School at 124 Merton Street, Suite 206, Toronto (near Davisville & Yonge St.) Dates include February 19, March 5, and March 12, 2005.

Dr. Norm Forman is a Registered Psychologist, Classroom Consultant, and School Advocate with over twenty-five years of experience in the fields of education and psychology.

SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAM - Autism Spectrum Disorder (Presentation)
Valerie Podpallock, MCYS
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Central East Region

Monday, February 7th, 2005
1:30 - 2:15 pm.
Simcoe-York District Health Council
1091 Gorham St. # 300
Newmarket
1-877-258-8899

AGENDA
1.      Welcome and Introductions
2.      Overview of the School Support Program
3.      Regional Program Implementation Progress Update
4.      Questions and Answers
5.      Next Steps
6.      Wrap-up

Purpose of the ASD School Support Program
- enhance educators' knowledge and skills in the principles of Applied
Behavioural Analysis (ABA), and other evidence-based teaching strategies as
appropriate which can be used in schools and classrooms;

- enhance educators' knowledge and expertise in teaching strategies to
improve communication, social skills and life skills of students with ASD; and

- enhance educators' knowledge of and familiarity with non-educational
services and supports available in the community for students with ASD.

An Implementation Working Group was formed in May 2004 and developed a
detailed implementation plan for the provision of the School Support
Program - ASD. The Working Group submitted its final report and
recommendations on June 30, 2004. One of the recommendations was to orient
and consult with parents of children with autism and stakeholders on the
implementation of the program.

*************************************

The Metro Toronto Chapter of the Autism Society Ontario Presents
More on the Floor: Building Social Communication And Relationship Skills Through Floortime
Thursday, February 24, 7:30 p.m.
at the Geneva Centre
112 Merton Street, Toronto
Presenter: Jehan Shehata, Certified Floortime SLP
What is Floortime?
Floortime is an interactive approach to working with autistic children that was developed by Dr.
Stanley Greenspan. It focuses on respect for the individual child, his or her interests and his or her
unique qualities. Floortime is intended to help children become:
· more alert, self-regulated and engaged
· purposeful and capable of taking more initiative
· more reflective, connected and flexible.
It improves childrens’ spontaneous social communication and ability to plan, organize and carry out
longer sequences of actions and words, as well as their ability to share and bridge ideas and
feelings. For parents, Floortime offers an approach that, once adopted, can easily be implemented
through daily routines or playtime at home.
What Will You Learn?
Jehan will be sharing her extensive experience in Floortime as a Speech-Language Pathologist
working with children who have developmental problems in relating and communicating. The
presentation will include:
· A brief account of the theory behind the Floortime approach.
· An overview of Floortime’s basic philosophy and principles.
· The goals of Floortime; building on individual strengths, core capacities and stages of social
emotional development.
· How Floortime is used in speech therapy to develop and further the child’s creative use of
language in communicating his or her wants, needs, ideas and feelings.
· How to use Floortime at home: tips and tricks.
Who Should Attend?
This presentation is suitable for parents and professionals, as well as
anyone interested in learning more about relationship-building strategies
for pre-school and school aged children with special needs.
Please RSVP for this free event: 416-489-0702 or info@asotoronto.org

Hello List;
Although the name of this organization may seem to imply only 'Adult
Issues', there is a wealth of information and resources on this website
that are applicable to most ages. Thinking about and planning for your
child's future starts now.
Lynda
.......................
Lynda Beedham
Autism Society Ontario
Regional Support Leader
York Region
11181 Yonge St. # 303-5
Richmond Hill ON L4S 1L2
voicemail 905-780-1590
asoyork@axxent.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca

Sender: "Ontario Adult Autism Research and Support Network (OAARSN)"
OAARSN@listserv.uoguelph.ca>
From: Elizabeth Bloomfield <ebloomfi@uoguelph.ca>
Subject: OAARSN's Autism News Bulletin, 29 January 2005

For our bulletin of autism news and announcements, please click on
http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/news-20050129.html

PLEASE NOTE: THE BULLETIN IS BEST READ IN NETSCAPE

NEW ON OAARSN WEBSITE

Featuring some resources in preparation for Guelph conference on
CREATIVE SUPPORTS FOR VULNERABLE ADULTS in late April.
One of the four workshops, to be led by noted advocate Judith Snow of
Toronto, focuses on "Building supports with individuals" and the need
for vulnerable people to be central in all discussions and decisions
about them---"Nothing about me without me" with "deep listening" by
others. The workshop will also explore "why support networks are good
for our health and communities."

Recommending:
-Implementing Person-Centered Planning: Voices of Experience

-Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex
Communication Needs and their Communication Partners

We'd love to know of creative strategies and success stories that are
helping vulnerable people to express their thoughts and wishes and their
friends to listen deeply to them.

AUTISM NEWS - 5 items

ISSUES AND ADVOCACY, featuring safety issues
-Without a Trace TV Show Features Boy with Autism

-Are You Prepared for an Autism Emergency? from Dennis Debbaudt's Autism
Risk & Safety Newsletter Winter 2005 edition

-Mother of autistic boy comes to the aid of police
The story behind Silent No More Communication Boards.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF EVENTS IN 2005
9 meetings and conferences in March-May

BOOKS, WEBSITES AND OTHER RESOURCES
-Organization for Autism Research offers research grants in annual
Applied Autism Research Competition that "more directly addresses the
human dimensions of autism. trying to identify what can be done to
address specific developmental problems now."

-Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal
Behavior, Temple Grandin's new book reviewed

-Autism Research Institute has a new website

-The Autism Perspective (TAP) annnouncing a new print magazine

FROM THE FRONT LINES

CRY FOR HELP! "We are experiencing crisis in our home....."

Read more on the OAARSN site at
http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca

OAARSN welcomes discussion of ideas and topics related to adults with
autism. We support freedom of information and expression and encourage
everyone to try to see all sides of issues and to understand the
viewpoints of others. We do not endorse all opinions or interventions
that we may include in this bulletin.

Please send news, announcements of autism events, new information,
discussion questions and comments, and accounts of experience to
gbloomfi@uoguelph.ca

Gerald & Elizabeth Bloomfield

ASK Camp Registration Packages Available

If you are interested in sending your child or youth to Autism Society Kids Camp (ASK Camp), please note that registration packages are now available. ASK camp is a summer day camp for individuals with ASD, from ages 4-21, that reside in York Region. This year the camp will be held for eight weeks from July 4, 2005 to August 26, 2005 in Richmond Hill or Thornhill (location to be determined). Preference is given to parent volunteers active in ASO-York Region Chapter. A parent whose child is accepted to camp will also be expected to support our bingo fund-raising effort (as the funds are used to support ASK Camp and keep fees reasonable)

Costs for ASK camp are $250 per week if your child requires 1-2 support, or $365 if your child requires 1-1 support. The camp director has the final say over the degree of counsellor support required for your child.

If you have access to email, please send an e-mail to Paul Kalmykow (ASK camp Co-coordinator) at paulkalmykow@yahoo.ca and camp registration documents will be sent to you via email. If you know of someone whose child may be suitable for ASK camp and they do not have access to email, please print out this e-mail and give to them. If interested, they can call 416-250-0585 (daytime) and a registration package will be mailed out. Please note that Paul will be on vacation from 24 January - 31 January and will send packages out on return.

Deadline for all applications is March 18, 2005.

Paul Kalmykow

ASK Camp Co-Coordinator

Registration: Mandatory; call Geneva Centre at 416-322-7877

Sharon Rashid or Karen

"Sharon Rashid" <SRashid@autism.net>

www.autism.net

Wednesday February 2nd, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Communication
Jean Loeffelhardt -Speech and Language Pathologist
During this session, parents are introduced to what 'communication' means for their child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) discuss their role, provide an overview of communication and outline the Speech and Language services available within community-based settings.

Tuesday February 8th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Susan Day Fragiadakis
Resource Consultant
This session provides a framework for understanding the different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The primary focus is on Autism, P.D.D.N.O.S. and Asperger Syndrome but information regarding Rett's Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is also provided. Information presented includes how a diagnosis is made, current trends in autism research and how to recognize the characteristics of ASD.

Tuesday February 15th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Understanding Behaviour
Susan Day Fragiadakis
Resource Consultant
This session presents an overview of the basic principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Topics covered include defining behaviour, functional analysis of behaviour, understanding antecedents and consequences and using reinforcement. Emphasis is placed on the communicative function of behaviour.

Friday February 18th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Intervention Options
Susan Day Fragiadakis
Resource Consultant
This session provides a framework for understanding the wide range of treatment approaches and principles to be considered when developing an intervention plan for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Written material regarding the various approaches, and relevant contact information are provided.

Tuesday February 22nd, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sensory Motor Development
Ellen Yack
Occupational Therapist
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders often experience sensory and motor differences, which impact their behaviour, ability to acquire skills and general quality of life. This session helps you to understand these differences, assists you in determining if your child is experiencing these differences and outlines some helpful strategies.

Friday February 25th, 9:30 am - 12:30pm
Learning and Teaching
Susan Day Fragiadakis
Resource Consultant
During this session, various learning styles typical of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are presented. Discussion includes the importance of recognizing these learning styles and how teaching styles may be adapted to accommodate particular learning style.

Jan 24, 2004

Tuesday Morning Support Group

Hope everyone had a great holiday. We are ready to start up a new season of support and information!

Tuesday, February 8, 2005 from 10am to 1pm

ESTHETICS BY MELISSA ^*^*

A Half-Day at the Spa! Come join us for a couple of hours of luxury!

Cost: $15 per person^* PLUS cost of service you require (listed below). You MUST register ahead of time by calling 905-780-1590 or emailing liz@deaknet.com . Participants are limited to 5 so book early.

Nails:

Regular Manicure is $12.00

French Manicure is $15.00

Regular Pedicure is $27.00

French Pedicure is $30.00

Spa Manicure is $22.00

Paraffin is $7.00

Facial is $45.00

Aromatherapy Massage is $25.00 for half hour and $50.00 for an hour

Spa Pedicure is $27.00

Waxing:

Full leg is $30.00, Half leg is $15.00

Half arm is $12.00, Full arm is $20.00

Bikini is $10.00

Underarm is $10.00

Chest, $25.00

Back $25.00

Stomach $6.00

Eyebrows $7.00

Side burns $6.00

Chin $6.00

Upper lip $6.00

Hot Stone Massage

$50.00 an hour a half hour is $25.00

Note that first time clients receive 10% off, clients that are 55yrs and up get 15% off at all times. Tell us if you have a birthday and you will receive a free treatment!

^*^* 163 Hammerstone Cres. Thornhill, Ont. South of highway 7 off of Bathurst St on the west side of Bathurst turn on to Worth Blvd. The second street is Hammerstone. Please enter through the side entrance and go down a few steps into the Spa.

^* $15 includes lunch and regular support group meeting cost

From: "Autism Today" <news@autismtoday.com>

Dear Autism,

We want to provide one last opportunity for input to Karens trip to New York.
Please complete the survey below to receive a free gift.
http://www.autismtoday.com/survey_new.asp

When the Tsunamis hit it was quite a shocker to say the least. My heart
has been
torn apart knowing how many lives have been lost and the tragedy many
people are
still facing.

During the initial two days following the earthquake and tsunami, an
article came
out in the New York Times about autism. Just out of curiosity, I went to the
section of 'most emailed articles' and was incredibly surprised to learn
that the
autism article was the #1 most emailed article 2 days in a row! The very two
days that shook the world.

This is one of the most horrific tragedies the world has ever seen, and, what
this reinforced to me is how important our cause truly is!

The reason I'm telling you this is that with the challenges we all face as
people
with autism, parents, educators, and professionals. Now is the time to make
changes and help the world understand as best we can! We have a special
gift for
you if you help us out, so please read further.

I've chosen to participate in a phenomenal media event to publicize our cause,
help people understand and finally do something about it! After going
through a
competitive application process, I was accepted as one of the one hundred
attendees at the New York Publicity Summit in New York this month.

I will now have the opportunity to meet with over 86 producers and
journalists'
one on one from America's top media outlets such as:

ABC's the View ... CNN ... Montel ... Today Show ... Fox News Channel ...
Dateline NBC ... CBS' 48 Hours ... Family Circle ... Parents ...People
magazine... ABC Radio Network ... Parenting ... Dr. Laura Show ... Time
magazine... Maxim ... Parade ... New York Post ... Good Housekeeping ...
and many
other top national media outlets.

I would like help from you, the autism community to guide me in what you
think is
most vital for me to present to this group of writers. That is, people with
autism, parents, other family members, teachers, aides, principals,
psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, occupational therapists, and all
other members of the autism community!

Please help me make this venture worth its weight in GOLD by completing the
attached survey be pressing the link below. For your participation, we are
giving the first 500 people that fill out our survey a free viewing of an
Autism
Education Online presentation 'Keys to Success for Those with Autism' by world
renowned Stephen Shore Ph.D., a person on the autism spectrum.

Press the following link to access the survey:
http://www.autismtoday.com/survey_new.asp

Your input is extremely valuable and critical as I want to truly represent
all of
YOU to the best of my ability. Please pass this on to anyone and everyone you
can through your newsgroups and personal and other contacts to make this
four day
conference really count.

Most Sincerely,

Karen Simmons
CEO, Autism Today
1-866-9-AUTISM
1-866-928-8476
info@autismtoday.com

PS I really appreciate your input!
**************************************************

THE TODAY SHOW

New Haven Learning Centre for Children, a non-profit treatment and education
centre for children with autism based on the principles of applied behaviour
analysis (ABA), is pleased to announce that we are increasing enrolment from
25 to 30 students.

New Haven opened its doors in 1998 with six children. At that time, it was
the first ABA centre-based program for children with autism in Ontario. By
March of 2003, New Haven was serving 25 children and their families every
day. New Haven is committed to helping build infrastructure throughout
Ontario with the goal of universal access to effective services for all
families. New Haven organizes and hosts a regional autism intervention
conference every year. Leading scientists and clinicians from the United
States provide consultation to New Haven to ensure continuous professional
development. According to one of our consultants, Dr. Bridget Taylor,
Co-founder and Director of Educational Programming at the Alpine Learning
Group in New Jersey, "The New Haven Learning Centre has established the
educational standard for the Greater Toronto Area by excelling in the two
most fundamental aspects of autism treatment: providing a comprehensive,
data driven curriculum designed to serve students individual needs, and
offering students one-to-one and small group instruction in the caring hands
of a dedicated, skilled, and attentive staff."

Any interested families should contact New Haven for a tour at 416-259-4445
or newhaven@bellnet.ca

A new news radio station all about Autism: available through the Net:

AUTISM ONE RADIO

Congressman Dave Weldon, MD to be the first guest

Autism One is tremendously pleased to announce Autism One Radio, a
worldwide, web-based autism radio station for the care, treatment
and recovery of children with autism. The station will begin
broadcasting (webcasting) Tuesday, January 11, 2005.

It works much like a radio, but you listen on your computer. Because
it's on the web people from all over the world can tune in. Our
voice will be heard worldwide.

Our children get better; many recover given the proper treatments
and therapies. Our enemies are time and ignorance. The message is
not getting out. Successful treatments and therapies are largely
unknown. Currently a diagnosis of autism comes with a prognosis of
lifelong and forever. Parents are devastated, time is lost, and
children are denied the treatments they need.

Why Radio?
Text is fine for many things. Text-based documents, however, are not
well suited to reach and teach parents, professionals, and a public
struggling to understand the many uncertainties of autism.

Voices reach deeper than text. Voices teach, nourish, calm, and
nurture making complex ideas understandable. Talk is our common
denominator. Voices are rich in ways text cannot begin to capture.
The web does a good job in getting information to parents, but
asking an exhausted mom to read a medical paper to understand the
benefits of omega-3 is not the best answer.

The flexibility of web-based radio will allow us to broadcast live
from events as they happen, like IOM meetings and congressional
hearings. As wireless becomes increasingly popular folks will be
able to listen on their laptops and palm tops.

Hope is real. Recovery is real. We must establish a new normal that
recognizes these facts. We need to amplify the thousand separate
conversations into a message our entire community can hear.

We plan to be a powerful voice of change bringing the public the
most up to date information. The station will launch with over 40
programs hosted by many of the most knowledgeable members in our
community.

Future plans call to expand and include hosts from the UK, Ireland,
Australia, New Zealand, and France, with broadcasts in languages
other than English.
A partial list of program hosts include
Lisa Ackerman, Christina Adams, Jim Adams, PhD
Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, Jeff Cantor, DDS
Laura Cellini, Lujene and Allan Clark, MD
Peta Cohen, MS, RD, Barbara Loe Fisher
Donna Gates, Elaine Gottschall, Doreen Granpeesheh
Kathie Harrington, Betsy Hicks, Vicki Isler, Diane Kennedy
Kelly Kerns, Michael Lang, Amy Lansky, Patty Lemer
Carolyn Lewis, Joy Lunt, Suzanne Messina, Seth Pearl, DC
Cindy Peters, Jo Pike, Rick Rollens, Mary Romaniec
Rachel Salanda, Jeff Sell, Esq., Stephen Shore, Chantal Sicile-Kira
Teri Small, Byron Strain, MD and Danise Strain, Ted Rubenstein
Denise Tarasuk, ND

Programs are divided into four categories to help listeners learn in
the areas of most interest.
Biomedical Treatments and Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Behavior and Education
Family and Home Health
News / Legal / Advocacy
The programs will be live and recorded for later listening. In
addition to the regularly scheduled shows we plan to broadcast
breaking news and specials covering a variety of topics.
Congressman Dave Weldon, MD
We are delighted that Congressman Dave Weldon, MD will be our first
guest. Dr. Weldon will be interviewed by Lyn Redwood and Mark
Blaxill. Join us for the launch broadcast Tuesday, January 11 at
11:00 am ET.
Site opens Friday, January 7, so you can go in and take a look
around before the first broadcast.
Learn more about Autism One Radio at http://AutismOne.org.

ASK Camp Registration Packages Available

If you are interested in sending your child or youth to Autism Society Kids Camp (ASK Camp), please note that registration packages are now available. ASK camp is a summer day camp for individuals with ASD, from ages 4-21, that reside in York Region. This year the camp will be held for eight weeks from July 4, 2005 to August 26, 2005 in Richmond Hill or Thornhill (location to be determined). Preference is given to parent volunteers active in ASO-York Region Chapter. A parent whose child is accepted to camp will also be expected to support our bingo fund-raising effort (as the funds are used to support ASK Camp and keep fees reasonable)

Costs for ASK camp are $250 per week if your child requires 1-2 support, or $365 if your child requires 1-1 support. The Camp Director has the final say over the degree of counsellor support required for your child.

If you have access to email, please send an e-mail to Paul Kalmykow (ASK camp Co-coordinator) at paulkalmykow@yahoo.ca and camp registration documents will be sent to you via email. (Do not reply to this Items Of Interest email). If you know of someone whose child may be suitable for ASK camp and they do not have access to email, please print out this e-mail and give to them. If interested, they can call 416-250-0585 (daytime) and a registration package will be mailed out. Please note that Paul will be on vacation from 24 January - 31 January and will send packages out on return.

Deadline for all applications is March 18, 2005.

Paul Kalmykow

ASK Camp Co-Coordinator

                 Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter Resource Centre
                 Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
                 11181 Yonge St. # 305, Richmond Hill

Your chapter is pleased to confirm Asperger Syndrome Clinic Days with Dr.
Kevin Stoddart. These days will involve Dr. Stoddart coming to our Resource
Centre to provide consultation on Asperger Syndrome and other mild Autism
Spectrum Disorders. Not only does this provide an opportunity for local
families to meet with Dr. Stoddart, but also for local service providers to
receive consultation about children and adults with whom they are presently
working.

Consultations can be booked for one hour or one and a half hour sessions at
a cost of $100/hour (covered by many private insurance plans).

TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT [e-mail preferred] PLEASE CONTACT
K. P. Stoddart, Ph.D, R.S.W.
kevin.stoddart@aspergers.net (do NOT reply to this Items Of Interest email)
Toronto office:
180 Bloor Street West, Suite 601
Toronto, Ontario. M5S 2V6
(416) 920-4999

Possible areas of consultation with Dr. Stoddart include:
q Managing difficult behaviors
q Dealing with mental health issues
q Developing a comprehensive treatment plan
q School related issues
q Discussing the diagnosis with affected youth
q Fostering social skills
q Coping with family conflicts and pressures
q Preparing for adulthood
q Diagnostic screenings
q Family members with Asperger traits

Biography
Kevin Stoddart is a Social Worker in private practice in Toronto,
specializing in Asperger Syndrome and other mild presentations of Autism
Spectrum Disorders. He has worked in the area of autism, developmental
disabilities and mental health for 25 years, and for the last fifteen years
his clinical focus has been children and adults with mild ASDs and Asperger
Syndrome. Kevin's research and publications focus on the treatment needs of
individuals with ASDs, and those of their families. Most recently, he
edited the first Canadian multidisciplinary book on Asperger Syndrome:
"Children, Youth and Adults with Asperger Syndrome: Integrating Multiple
Perspectives" published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2005)
http://www.jkp.com/

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT EACH CLINIC DAY
Release in Canada: February 2005
This book offers a comprehensive overview of clinical, research and
personal perspectives on Asperger Syndrome, including contributions from
parents and experts in the fields of psychology, social work, psychiatry,
genetics, sexology and vocational counselling. It includes first-hand
accounts from adults with AS, highlighting their difficulties in areas such
as social competence and education. Specialist perspectives on AS,
including sexuality and relationships, finding and keeping employment and
anxiety and depression are sensitively addressed. The viewpoints of parents
explore experiences of parenting AS individuals. These varied approaches to
living with AS complement the emerging literature on theory, research and
practice in this area. The broad scope of Children, Youth and Adults with
Asperger Syndrome guarantees a wide readership among practitioners,
students, parents, young people and adults with AS, educates service
providers how to assist people with AS and suggests a model of
interdisciplinary collaboration for administrators and funders.

CONTENTS:
Introduction to Asperger Syndrome: A Developmental-Lifespan Approach: Kevin
P. Stoddart.
PART 1: CLINICAL AND SERVICE PERSPECTIVES
1. Clinical Assessment of Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome:
Rosina G. Schnurr.
2. Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents with Asperger
Syndrome: M. Mary Konstantareas.
3. Enhancing Academic, Social, Emotional, and Behavioural Functioning in
Children with Asperger Syndrome and Non-Verbal Learning Disability: Barbara
Muskat.
4. Tourette Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome: Overlapping Symptoms and
Treatment Implications: Trina Epstein and Jennifer Saltzman-Benaiah.
5. Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome: Psychosocial Issues and
Interventions: Kevin P. Stoddart.
6. Getting to Work: Helping the Adolescent with Asperger Syndrome
Transition to Employment: Gail Hawkins.
7. Sexuality and Asperger Syndrome: The Need for Socio-Sexual Education:
Isabelle Hénault.

PART 2: DISCIPLINE-BASED PERSPECTIVES
8. Communication and Asperger Syndrome: The Speech-Language Pathologist's
Role: Tracie Lindblad.
9. Integrating Paediatrics and Child Development: Asperger Syndrome and the
Role of the Developmental Paediatrician: S. Wendy Roberts and Tamarah
Kagan-Kushnir.
10. Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome: Social Work Assessment
and Intervention: Kevin P. Stoddart, Barbara Muskat and Faye Mishna.
11. Medication Use in Children with High-Functioning Pervasive
Developmental Disorder and Asperger Syndrome: Leon Sloman.
12. Meeting the Educational Needs of the Student with Asperger Syndrome
through Assessment, Advocacy and Accommodations: Georgina Rayner.
13. Sensory and Motor Differences for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome:
Occupational Therapy Assessment and Intervention: Paula Aquilla, Ellen Yack
and Shirley Sutton.
14. Psychological Assessment of More Able Adults with Autism Spectrum
Disorders: Lillian Burke.

PART 3: THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES
15. Developing a Research Agenda in Asperger Syndrome: Peter Szatmari.
16. In Search of an Asperger Culture: Charmaine C. Williams.
17. Child Social Interaction and Parental Self-Efficacy: Evaluating
Simultaneous Groups for Children with Asperger Syndrome and Their Parents:
Leon Sloman and Jonathan Leef.
18. The Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Jeanette Holden and Xudong Liu.
19. Quality of Life for Children with Asperger Syndrome: Parental
Perspectives: Anne Fudge Shormans, Rebecca Renwick, Renée Ryan and HeeSun Lim.
20. Depression and Anxiety in Parents of Children and Adolescents with
Asperger Syndrome: Kevin P. Stoddart.

PART 4: PARENT AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
21. Asperger Syndrome: Perceiving Normality: Peter Jansen.
22. From Despair to Hope: A Mother's Asperger Story: Fern Lee Quint.
23. Searching for Home in a Foreign Land: My Discovery of Asperger
Syndrome: Donna Moon.
24. Asperger Syndrome: It's a Family Matter: Margot Nelles.
25. Life on the Outside: A Personal Perspective on Asperger Syndrome: Chris
J. Dakin.

Here is a portion of the text from the OHRC's recent document Guidelines on
Accessible Education.
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-education-guide.shtml

Most educators may not be aware of the contents of this document (which was
just released recently), but you can certainly share it with them. During
our meeting with ASO's Regional Support Leaders, we discussed the
suspension of students with ASD and how this report speaks to that issue
for students with disabilities. The full report is not available as a
printed document, so you need to view it on line. But we can make copies
for all the ASO SEAC reps and mail them to you if that would be useful. I
am aware that having more paper is often not wise, but that printing an
important document is also not always an option for some of our members who
are actively involved in school advocacy and local SEACs. Let us know if
your SEAC reps or chapters would be interested in a copy.

Thanks,
Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
<mailto:marg@autismsociety.on.ca>marg@autismsociety.on.ca
<http://www.autismsociety.on.ca>www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592
...................................

from the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
Guidelines on Accessible Education

Creating a Welcoming Environment - Preventing Bullying and Harassment
Part of an educational institution's duty to maintain a safe learning
environment for students includes addressing bullying and harassing
behaviour. Students who are being harassed are entitled to the Code's
protection where the harassment creates a poisoned educational environment.
This protection would apply to sanction: (i) education providers who
themselves harass students based on Code grounds, and (ii) education
providers who know or ought to know that a student is being harassed based
on Code grounds, and who do not take effective individualized and systemic
steps to remedy that harassment.

Responsibilities of Education Providers
Education providers have a responsibility to take immediate steps to
intervene in situations where bullying and harassment may be taking place.
The harassment of students because of disability will amount to
discrimination where it poisons the educational setting and impairs access
to educational services. Every person has the right to be free from
humiliating or annoying behaviour that is based on one or more grounds in
the Code. If left unchecked, harassment can impede a student's ability to
access educational services equally and to participate fully in the
educational experience.
Example: In a classroom, a student with Tourette's Syndrome is repeatedly
subjected to taunting and teasing by a group of other students for no
apparent reason. The same group of students exclude him from recess
activities stating that he is "different" and "weird". It may be inferred
from the particular circumstances that the treatment is due to the
student's disability even though none of the other students ever made a
direct reference to his disability. The student's ability to access the
educational program is, as a result of this harassment, impaired.

The courts have established that schools have a duty to maintain a
positive, non-discriminatory learning environment.
<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-education-guide_12.sh
tml#_edn24>[24] In this regard, education providers should take steps to
educate students about human rights and implement strategies to prevent
discrimination and harassment. An education provider has a responsibility
to take immediate remedial action once made aware of harassing conduct .
If an allegation of harassment has been substantiated, appropriate action
must be taken. This may include disciplinary action.

A student who is a target of harassment may be in a vulnerable situation.
Therefore, there is no requirement that he or she formally object to the
behaviour before a violation of the Code can be considered to have taken
place, where the conduct is or should have been known to be unwelcome. It
may be unrealistic to require a student who is the target of harassment to
object as a condition of seeking the right to be free from such treatment.

An education provider who knew of, or should have had knowledge of, the
harassment and could have taken steps to prevent or stop it, may be liable
in a human rights complaint.

Prevention Through Education
Anti-harassment training for educators and school staff is an important
first step in creating a climate of mutual respect in an educational
environment. Educators will then be in a position to appropriately address
issues of bullying and harassment that arise in the classroom.

Education providers can help to prevent incidents of bullying and
harassment before they occur by:
* Exhibiting a clear attitude of non-tolerance towards bullying and
harassment.
* Communicating clearly to the student body the consequences of bullying
and harassment.
* Educating students about disability issues and encouraging awareness of
differing needs and acceptance of diversity.
* Engaging in role-playing and educational exercises to help students
develop increased compassion and a greater awareness of the impact that
bullying behaviour may be having on others.
* Respecting the confidentiality of students who do report bullying. This
will encourage other students who are being harassed to report it in its
early stages.

Anti-harassment Policies
Educational institutions can go a long way toward promoting a
harassment-free environment for students with disabilities, and other
individuals protected by the Code, by having a clear, comprehensive
anti-harassment policy in place. In cases of alleged harassment, the
policy will alert all parties to their rights, roles and responsibilities.
Such a policy should clearly set out ways in which the harassment will be
dealt with promptly and efficiently. Please see the Appendix for suggested
contents of an anti-harassment policy.

In Practice: All students and school staff should be aware of the existence
of an anti-harassment policy and the procedures in place for resolving
complaints. This can be done by:
* distributing policies to everyone as soon as they are introduced,
* making new students aware of them by including the policies in any
orientation material,
* training educators and school staff on the contents of the policies, and
* providing ongoing education on human rights issues.

Accounting for Non-evident Disabilities
Part of creating a welcoming environment involves being sensitive to the
many ways in which a student's disability might manifest and the unique
needs which may arise as a result. Some types of disabilities are not
apparent to the average onlooker. This can be because of the nature of the
specific disability in question: it may be episodic, its effects may not
be visible, or it may not manifest consistently in all environments.
Examples of non-evident disabilities include mental disabilities, learning
disabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome, environmental sensitivities, and
epilepsy.
Students with non-evident disabilities often face unique challenges in the
education system. For some, requesting an accommodation may be especially
difficult if a teacher or professor doubts the authenticity of the request
because they cannot "see" it. Sensitivity and informed understanding on
the part of educators, school staff, and fellow students alike can combat
stereotypes, stigma and prejudice, all of which can have a discriminatory
effect on students with non-evident disabilities.

Mental disability is a form of non-evident disability that raises unique
issues in the educational context. Much misinformation continues to exist
about mental illness and too often persons with mental disabilities are
labelled and judged according to inaccurate preconceptions and assumptions.
Rules, preconditions, policies or practices that treat persons with mental
disabilities differently from other persons with disabilities may be
discriminatory on their
face.<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-education-guide_
12.shtml#_edn25> [25]

Academic environments must be sensitive to the needs of all students,
including students with mental disabilities. It is important to keep in
mind that some mental illnesses may render the student incapable of
identifying his or her needs. An education provider has a responsibility
to take an active role in addressing situations that may be linked to
mental disability. Where an education provider has reason to believe that
a student may require assistance or accommodation due to a mental
disability, further inquiries should be made, and support offered. Even if
an education provider has not been formally advised of a mental disability,
affording differential treatment to a student based on the perception of a
disability may still engage the protection of the Code.

In Practice: A third year university student begins to exhibit erratic
behaviour. Although she has been a successful student to date, she begins
missing classes and she fails to submit her coursework on time. In the
middle of a lecture, she suddenly starts shouting inexplicably. The
university professor arranges to meet with the student after class to
inquire into the student's situation. As a result of this discussion, the
professor contacts the university's Office for Students with Disabilities.
A meeting is arranged and the student is offered assistance. The
university helps arrange counselling and support services for the student
who, ultimately, is diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Office for Students
with Disabilities then works with the student and her professors to arrange
academic accommodations.

Education providers should educate themselves, school staff and students
about non-evident disabilities, including mental illness, so as to provide
a welcoming and safe environment for all students with disabilities.
Schools should ensure that all students are provided with learning
opportunities that foster an awareness and appreciation of diversity issues
in the educational environment, and combat negative attitudes and
stereotypes.

Discipline, Safe Schools and Students with Disabilities
The stated purposes of safe schools legislation, regulations, and related
school board policies - to promote respect, non-violent conflict resolution
and the safety of people in schools - are reasonable and bona fide and of
paramount
importance.<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-education-
guide_12.shtml#_edn26> [26] At the same time, in some cases, discipline
policies may have an adverse effect on students with
disabilities.<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-educatio
n-guide_12.shtml#_edn27> [27] Education providers have a duty to assess
each student with a disability individually before imposing disciplinary
sanctions. Disciplinary sanctions include detentions, exclusions,
suspensions, expulsions, and other forms of punishment. Educators should
attempt to determine whether the behaviour in question is a manifestation
of the student's disability by considering:
* formal assessments and evaluations of the student,
* relevant information supplied by the student or the student's parents,
* observations of the student,
* the student's accommodation
plan,<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-education-guide_
12.shtml#_edn28> [28]
* whether the accommodations provided for in the student's accommodation
plan were appropriate, and whether these accommodations were being provided
consistent with the student's accommodation plan,
* whether the student's disability impaired his or her ability to
understand the impact and consequences of the behaviour subject to
disciplinary action,
* whether the student's disability impaired his or her ability to control
the behaviour subject to disciplinary action, and
* whether the student has undetected disability-related needs that require
accommodation.

Under the Code, education providers have a legal obligation to accommodate
students with disabilities up to the point of undue hardship. All students
with disabilities, even those whose behaviour is disruptive, are entitled
to receive accommodation.

Did You Know: Other jurisdictions have implemented safeguards to protect
students with disabilities from being disciplined for behaviour that is
disability-related. For example, in the United States, the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act requires that, where certain disciplinary
action is taken or contemplated against a student with a disability, a
review must be conducted of the relationship between the child's disability
and the behaviour subject to the disciplinary
action.<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-education-guid
e_12.shtml#_edn29> [29]

Educators must consider a range of strategies to address disruptive
behaviour. Such strategies will include reassessing and, where necessary,
modifying the student's accommodation plan, providing additional supports,
implementing alternative learning techniques, and other forms of positive
behavioural intervention.

If a student's behaviour is not a manifestation of his or her disability,
that is, where there is no causal relationship between the student's
disability and the behaviour in question, then that student would be
subject to the normal consequences of his or her misconduct. Where
discipline is warranted, however, it is to be implemented with discretion
and with regard to the student's unique
circumstances.<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/publications/accessible-educati
on-guide_12.shtml#_edn30> [30]

There may be rare situations in which a student's behaviour, even where it
is a manifestation of his or her disability, poses a health and safety risk
to the student him or herself, other students, teachers and/or school
staff. While an education provider in this type of situation continues to
have a duty to accommodate the student up to the point of undue hardship,
it is recognized that there may be legitimate health and safety concerns
that need to be addressed. In some situations involving health and safety
risks, placement in a mainstream classroom may not be the most appropriate
accommodation. This issue is discussed in the "Undue Hardship Standard"
section of the Guidelines under "Health and Safety Requirements".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTISM ON TV

This info has been forwarded from another group:

The Today Show on NBC will be dedicating the month of January to the "Epidemic of Autism."

Bob Wright, Chairman of NBC, has a 3 year old grandson that has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has sent an e-mail out to all NBC/Universal employees to tell them about his grandson and to let them know that Autism is a hidden epidemic that takes an enormous toll on tens of thousands of families across the country. He also said that his goal is to bring the best and latest
information to as wide as possible an audience on the subject of Autism.

Please tune in starting January 3rd and send this note to anyone that may be interested. Say a prayer that this is a positive turning
point for us all - and that the information is told truthfully and is helpful to our cause.

*************************************

IN DEVELOPMENT:
YORK REGION ASPERGER SYNDROME CLINIC DAYS
at Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter Resource Centre
with Dr. Kevin Stoddart

Autism Society Ontario is exploring the possibility of Regional Asperger
Syndrome Clinic Days with Dr. Kevin Stoddart. These days will involve Dr.
Stoddart coming to our area to provide brief consultation on Asperger
Syndrome and other mild Autism Spectrum Disorders. Not only does this
provide an opportunity for local families to meet with Dr. Stoddart, but
also for local service providers to receive consultation about children and
adults with whom they are presently working.

Location: Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter Resource Centre
Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St. # 305, Richmond Hill

To help us determine local interest for Asperger Syndrome Clinic Days with
Dr. Stoddart in York Region, please e-mail <asoyork@axxent.ca>
(please do not reply to this Items Of Interest email).

Thank you,
Lynda

Lynda Beedham
Autism Society Ontario
Regional Support Leader - York Region
<asoyork@axxent.ca>
voicemail 905-780-1590

Possible areas of consultation with Dr. Stoddart include:

q Managing difficult behaviors
q Dealing with mental health issues
q Developing a comprehensive treatment plan
q School related issues
q Discussing the diagnosis with affected youth
q Fostering social skills
q Coping with family conflicts and pressures
q Preparing for adulthood
q Diagnostic screenings
q Family members with Asperger's traits

Biography
Kevin Stoddart is a Social Worker in private practice in Toronto, specializing in Asperger's Syndrome and other mild presentations of Autism Spectrum Disorders. He has worked in the area of autism, developmental disabilities and mental health for 25 years, and for the last fifteen years his clinical focus has been children and adults with mild ASDs and Asperger's Syndrome. Kevin's research and publications focus on the treatment needs of individuals with ASDs, and those of their families. Most recently, he edited the first Canadian multidisciplinary book on Asperger's Syndrome: "Children, Youth and Adults with Asperger Syndrome: Integrating Multiple
Perspectives" published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2005)
http://www.jkp.com/

*************************************

PARENT TO PARENT FEATURE
The following reflection was received from a parent in York Region. He refers to the ASO publications 'Children Diagnosed with Autism - What to Expect and Where to Get Help' and 'Navigating the Special Education System in Ontario'. It is reprinted here with permission, with hopes that another family may benefit from his experience. Thank you Peter!

"The one thing that perplexes me is why we were successful in our efforts while others have hit a stone wall. Positive things that I think may have contributed:

1. We were persistent in our efforts with the school to complete his diagnosis. We were not rude or belligerent, but we would not take 'no' for an answer, and we called someone at the school every 2 weeks without fail whenever it seemed that someone was dragging their heels over there.

2. We triple-checked every document that we sent to the government, getting feedback from you, and other advocacy groups before, during and after completing the paperwork.

3. I read the 2 reference books you sell there cover-to-cover, and although I didn't have a frame of reference for some of the things in there (e.g. IPRC meeting) I tried to understand as much as possible.

4. Every time I spoke to someone who offered programs or services for special needs kids, I also asked them to refer 2 or 3 others who offered the same. This resulted in a lot of repeats, but also quite a few new avenues to investigate.

One other thing that you might add. The city of Richmond Hill also will sponsor the cost for the services of a 1-on-1 instructor for 2 or 3 weeks each summer if you do not have SSAH. The sooner you apply, the better chance of success. I don't know if other cities do the same, but they covered us for 3 weeks last year."

- Peter
...........
'Items of Interest' is pleased to share successful strategies, resources
and community connections. Please send submissions to <asoyork@axxent.ca>
*************************************

TRAMPOLINE OUTING
The Trampoline Day in York Region was fantastic. About 25-30 kids enjoyed the activity, and many parents and caregivers got involved in the fun too. Afterwards numerous participants went to McDonalds and the fun continued for the kids fun at the indoor McD's playground. Plans are in the works for another outing during March Break, I hope to see many of you at the next activity that week too!!!

Bruce McIntosh
Vice President
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter
<bruce.mcintosh@rogers.com>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario. Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRAMPOLINE PARTY

Put the spring in your offspring!!!

If you're looking for things to do during winter vacation, set aside an hour on Thursday, December 30th between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. I have booked Airborne Trampoline, near Marycroft and Highway #7 for the exclusive use of ASO-York families during that hour.

Airborne has six, count 'em SIX Olympic-size trampolines, and can accommodate groups of up to 30. We've had our kids there several times, and the staff are great. They regularly host groups from the Reena Centre, and they're very safety conscious, and familiar with Special Needs kids.

For our gang, this can mean a good opportunity to use some social skills, practice turn-taking, and absolutely pig out on the old sensory diet.

The cost for the hour needs to be shared equally, and it worked out to a total of $150 (taxes included). I propose to divide this equally based on the number of kids attending. I'm planning on one parent or worker per child. Think of it as respite. If you're coming, please let me know by e-mail at bruce.mcintosh@rogers.com or call me at 905-761-5226. I'll make arrangements for a deposit of $10.00, so that if we get fewer than 15 kids we'll ask you for a buck or two more on the 30th - - OR you might get a bit of money back! My two are coming, so we're already more than 10% there.

All this info and a map are at
http://members.rogers.com/bruce.mcintosh/bounce.html

Bruce McIntosh
(Vice-president, Autism Society Ontario, York Region Chapter)

*************************************

GENEVA CENTRE - YORK REGION

~ NEW ~
GENEVA CENTRE FOR AUTISM
6 TRAINING EVENTS IN RICHMOND HILL
FEBRUARY 2005

Hosted by Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter

Location: Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St., Meeting Room B13
Richmond Hill
(2 streets north of Elgin Mills, east side of Yonge, ample free parking)

Dates, Times, more information and to Register:
Geneva Centre 416-322-7877

F1 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
This session provides a framework for understanding the different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The primary focus is on Autism, PDD-NOS. and Asperger's Syndrome but information regarding Rett Syndrome Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is also provided. Information presented includes how a diagnosis is made, current trends in autism research and how to recognize the characteristics of ASD.

F2 Intervention Options
This session provides a framework for understanding the wide range of treatment approaches and principles to be considered when developing an intervention plan for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Written material regarding the various approaches, and relevant contact information are provided.

F3 Communication
During this session, parents are introduced to what 'communication' means for their child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) discuss their role, provide an overview of communication and outline the Speech and Language services available within community-based settings.

F4 Sensory Motor Development
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders often experience sensory and motor differences, which impact their behaviour, ability to acquire skills and general quality of life. This session helps you to understand these differences, assists you in determining if your child is experiencing these differences and outlines some helpful strategies.

F5 Understanding Behaviour
This session presents an overview of the basic principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Topics covered include defining behaviour, functional analysis of behaviour, understanding antecedents and consequences and using reinforcement. Emphasis is placed on the communicative function of behaviour.

F6 Learning and Teaching
During this session, various learning styles typical of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are presented. Discussion includes the importance of recognizing these learning styles and how teaching styles may be adapted to accommodate particular learning style.

*************************************

REENA SIBLING GROUP

Reena is pleased to offer a workshop for youth who have a sibling (brother/sister) with a Developmental Disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The workshop is designed to allow siblings ages 11-15 the opportunity to get together and share experiences with one another in an informal and fun environment.

The workshop will include guest speakers, fun activities, group discussions, games and the opportunity to share experiences.

The workshop will run over 4 weeks consecutively on Tuesday evenings.

DATES: Tuesdays, February 01, 08, 15, 22
TIMES: 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m.

LOCATION: Toby & Henry Battle Centre
927 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill

FEE: $20.00
Kosher snacks will be provided.

To register and for further information call Debra Waring or Ann Szabo @ 905-889-6484
*************************************

Bingo Co-ordinator VOLUNTEER(S) NEEDED

ASO York Chapter is looking for Bingo Coordinator(s) to support our bi-weekly Saturday Bingo nights at the Aurora Bingo Hall. Responsibilities will be to attend Bingo two times per month from 8:30 pm-12:30 am. Every other month, you will need to contact ASK (Autism Society Kids) camp parents to arrange for their attendance and support at the scheduled Bingo nights. As the main point of contact, regular updates to Bingo Supervisor and communication with the ASO Executive group is required. A travel and caregiving allowance will be provided.

Should more than one person volunteer for this position, the number of evenings required to attend bingo nights will decrease.

Bingo nights are a substantial fundraiser for the Autism Society Kids (ASK) Camp. Please help support our fundraising initiatives. Interested volunteers should send an email to PaulKalmykow@yahoo.ca or marym@yorku.ca .

(Please do NOT reply to this Items of Interest email.)

*************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario. Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Chapter Leadership Council of York Region Chapter of Autism Society Ontario is pleased to announce that the 18th edition of Autism Society Kids (ASK) Camp will take place in a York Region School (to be determined) from July 4-August 26, 2005. The day camp is open to children and youth with ASD from ages 4-21. Service, as in past years, will be provided to campers on a one-child-to-one-counselor, or two-children-to-one-counselor model. The camp is designed with fun in mind! In addition, the Chapter will be piloting a "Youth Camp" for teenagers emphasizing job and social skills training, as well as having fun.

Your camp committee for 2005 is composed of the following individuals:

ASK Camp Co-coordinators: Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Youth Camp Pilot Co-coordinator: Kathryn Everest

Hiring Coordinators: Sandra Little (lead) , Melissa Abbey, Ross Stroger, Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Accommodation Lead: Erika Mak

Regal Catalogue Fundraising: Janet Kalmykow, Brenda Wynne

Fundraising: Robin Spataro, Julie Panakos, Kathie Plaia, Crystal Tancreti, Paul Kalmykow, Cindi Buick, and others

Parent Liaison: Liz Cohen (lead), Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Application Processing: Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Staff Liaison: Deb Manni (lead), Sandra Little, Ross Stroger, Melissa Abbey

Training Week Lead: Melissa Abbey

Finance/Payroll/Budgeting: Jasna Tome (treasurer), Ross Stroger (budgets), Paul Kalmykow (payroll)

Volunteer coordinator: Jenny Donnell

We will kindly accept any assistance from any chapter member to raise funds for the camp or to act as the new bingo coordinator!

Registration packages will be sent electronically in January through "Items of interest". Please ensure you monitor your emails at this time if you are interested in placing a child in the camp. As always, your choice of weeks or receiving any weeks is not guaranteed as there are many more applications than spots available, so ensure you have backup plans for the summer. Please note families that are accepted into camp must volunteer to attend as a parent representative of ASO at least one evening of charity bingo per year at the Aurora Bingo Hall. Those who fail to make their evening will be charged the full cost of the camp (2:1 Ratio $520 per week; 1:1 Ratio $750 per week). Also note that your membership with Autism Society Ontario membership must be fully up-to-date.

Preference will be given to families (in order):

1) that make a significant volunteer contribution to York Chapter or ASK camp. Please note that all fundraising proceeds must be put through central ASO accounting for families to receive application preference;

2) that have demonstrated need;

3) depending on the order of receipt of application packages prior to cut-off date (mid March)

Decisions on applications will be determined by the Camp Co-Coordinators, whose decisions will be final, by late March and acceptance documents will be e-mailed to families at that time. Note, that to save time and money, we will not be "snail mailing" packages.

Fees for ASK 2005 will be: $250/week (2:1 Ratio) $365/week (1:1 Ratio)

Camp Fees are heavily subsidised (by over 50%) by Bingo Nights, Regal Catalogue Orders and other fundraising efforts to ensure that the fees are affordable for the average family.

Decisions on which camper/counsellor ratio is most appropriate for your child will be determined by yourself and camp staff, with staff recommendations being the final arbiter.

All questions about Camp may be made to the Camp Co-ordinators at the email addresses below:

Paul Kalmykow Paulkalmykow@yahoo.ca

Janet Kalmykow JanetKalmykow@hotmail.com

(Please do NOT respond to this Items Of Interest email)

Thanks for your interest in ASK Camp 2005

Paul Kalmykow

Paul Kalmykow, Co-Coordinator

On behalf of the Chapter and ASK Camp Committee, 2005

Bingo Coordinator VOLUNTEER (S) NEEDED

ASO York Chapter is looking for Bingo Coordinator (s) to support our bi-weekly Saturday Bingo nights at the Aurora Bingo Hall. Responsibilities will be to attend Bingo two times per month from 8:30 pm-12:30 am. Every other month, you will need to contact ASK (Autism Society Kids) camp parents to arrange for their attendance and support at the scheduled Bingo nights. As the main point of contact, regular updates to Bingo Supervisor and communication with the ASO Executive group is required. A travel and caregiving allowance will be provided.

Should more than one person volunteer for this position, the number of evenings required to attend bingo nights will decrease.

Bingo nights are a substantial fundraiser for the Autism Society Kids (ASK) Camp. Please help support our fundraising initiatives. Interested volunteers should send an email to PaulKalmykow@yahoo.ca or marym@yorku.ca .

(Please do NOT reply to this Items of Interest email.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TUTORING AND BEHAVIOURAL CONSULTING

The name of our organization is "Learning Tools: Specialized Tutoring &
Behavioural Consulting Services." After working extensively with children
with Autism/P.D.D., my partner (Stacey Levine) and I noticed that
school-aged children (those over the age of 6 years) are quite often
passed-over in terms of ABA services, and thus, we decided to work with
that population.

We were both trained in ABA therapy and since then have taken other
training courses (i.e. Autism Society ABA Training, Brain Injury
workshops). Stacey has 6 years of experience in the field, and I have 5 years.

Stacey and I have been tutoring schol-aged children using an ABA method for
the past 3 years, and have noticed excellent results. We finally decided to
create an organization that caters to these children specifically. The
services we offer include: tutoring (based on the child's current school
curriculum), behavioural management programs, and social and life-skills
programs.

We are based in Toronto and provide services to families in and around the
GTA, including, but not limited to: Mississauga, Brampton, Thornhill,
Markham, and Scarborough. Our phone number is (416) 361-9771 and our e-mail
addresses are <amandacrosenberg@hotmail.com> and
<staceymlevine@hotmail.com>. We do not have a website.

Amanda Rosenberg, B.A. (Hon)
Program Supervisor
Learning Tools

*****************************************************

SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS

OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IDEAS AND STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS

Are you a parent of a son or daughter with special needs?
How do you prevent other siblings from feeling invisible?

Please join us for an informative evening where we will hear brief
presentations from both professionals and family members.

Date and Time: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Family Resource Centre
1 Promenade Circle, Suite 313
(3rd floor Promenade Mall, enter through main entrance facing Bathurst St.)

RSVP: Fran Chodak - 905-882-8509 or frc@aibn.com
Nancy Ogunniya-Clyke - 905-884-9110, vm 629 or
nogunniya-clyke@ysacl.on.ca

Participating Agencies:
Epilepsy York Region, Family Resource Centre, Learning Disability
Association (York Region), UJA Federation - Board of Jewish Education
(Tikun Chaim), York South Association for Community Living, Zareinu
Educational Centre

*****************************************************

WALK F.A.R. FOR N.A.A.R. - TORONTO

NAAR (National Alliance for Autism Research) now has a Toronto office
location. Nimi sends a thank you to everyone who participated in the Open
House, it was a great success. She is hoping to make contact some
volunteers to help with the Walk this spring in Toronto. Anyone interested
in helping her out, please contact her below.

Nimi Nanji-Simard, Toronto Area Director
National Alliance for Autism Research Canada
8 King Street East Suite: 1104
Toronto, ON M5C 1B5
(416) 362-NAAR (6227)
(888) 362-NAAR (6227)
(416) 728-1228 Cell
www.naar.org
www.autismwalk.org/toronto

Register for our first Walk F.A.R. for NAAR taking place at Mel Lastman
Square on May 15, 2005

*****************************************************

YOGA

Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter will continue to reach out to
parents/caregivers of children with autism and/or special needs by
continuing Yoga classes for 2005. Katy Bennett will be instructing the
Hatha Yoga classes to provide guidance with stretching, grounding and
relaxation.

Morning Classes 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Start date - Thursday January 6th

Evening Classes 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Start date - Wednesday January 5th
(some Thursdays due to room availability)

Location Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St. Richmond Hill, Room B13

Cost $ 80.00 for 8 weeks

Register <azureyoga@nepture.on.ca>

*****************************************************

LEAPS AND BOUNDS ABA SERVICES

Leaps & Bounds Programming Clinic
Providing Verbal Behaviour and ABA Services

Opening Ceremony
January 11, 2005
2:00 p.m.

You are cordially invited to attend the opening ceremony and to have a tour
of the clinic. The clinic provices
> training services
> program supervision
> consultation services
> direct services

For more information please call
Deanna Pietramala or Linda Cross
905-508-6543
www.leapsandboundsservices.com

*****************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAM - AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Hello ASO Chapter members, SEAC reps, staff and Board of Directors,

At the ASO SEAC training event in October, there were a number of questions raised about ASO's involvement in the province's new joint-ministry (MCYS and Education) program - School Support Program - Autism Spectrum Disorders (SSP-ASD). That program has just been in place for a couple of months, with some of the training for newly hired staff in the regions just being completed a month ago (or less, in some cases) There are a number of things that may help you to understand more about the program and why you didn't
hear more about it from me prior to its implementation. The Presidents and SEAC reps present at the October meeting heard all of this already, but I know that some of you would like a bit more information. Presidents and chapter staff, as always, please forward to your members (even if you don't have time to read this right now). Also, there were, and will likely continue to be, both positive and negative comments about ASO's support of the program among parents, professionals and the media.

* Regarding the original announcement about the SSP-ASD program. As was indicated in the announcement, we think this program is a step in the right direction. This is just one more piece in responding to the autism puzzle in Ontario. We are very aware that there is a long way to go, but for the first time, the ASD Consultants for the School Support Program will be able to work with educators for all students on the autism spectrum (including Asperger's), rather than designing the program by severity, which is currently true of the early intervention program, leaving out many who might otherwise benefit from that program. That over 80 ASD consultants have been hired already shows tangible commitment to the plan.

* Two Ministries working together for the first time: MCYS and Education announced this program jointly. This is a first for these two ministries
when it comes to ASD. Moira Sinclair from the Ministry of Education spoke
to ASO's SEAC reps and Presidents at the meeting in October about the key
points of this initiative. A hand-out was provided to everyone present on
Saturday indicating the joint nature of the initiative.

* ASO participated in the Implementation Working Group: The implementation
working group was provided with the opportunity to consult on a proposed
program. To be able to have input into certain aspects of the program was
an important opportunity for ASO and is consistent with ASO's vision and
mission. The basic parameters of the program were outlined by the ministry
prior to our invitation to participate in the this group. In order to
participate in the working group, the consultants needed to agree not to
share information about their work until various ministry announcements had
been made. So I wasn't able to share information with you sooner. We had an
important opportunity to work with others on the implementation of the
plan. Not all the recommendations by the group have been implemented, but
the program (warts and all) is an excellent opportunity to enhance the
capacity of school boards across Ontario to use evidence-based practices in
ASD in school settings. Finally, contrary to another die-hard rumour, ASO
did not receive any compensation for its participation in this consultation.

* Memorandums of Understanding: The funds for this program flow from MCYS,
not Education. Each Board in Ontario is in a different place with their
knowledge of ASD, existing ASD programs and staff, and ability to respond
to the needs of ASD students based on factors such as geographical
realities in their regions. As a result the 9 MCYS Regional Programs work
with the various boards to have a Memorandum of Understanding on how these
SSP-ASD Consultants will be functioning in their particular board. The key
points of their role do not include working one-to-one with students;
rather, they are to focus on building the capacity of the school board to
use evidence-based practices in teaching students with ASD in school
settings. It is very important to remember that many boards in Ontario
don't even have a single "expert" on ASD in their boards. Others have many.
For the boards who already have teams, their M of U is going to look quite
different from a board who is thrilled to have access to consultants who
have support through MCYS. So far, it is our understanding that in most
boards in Ontario, this program is being cautiously, but well received.
When in doubt, check with your school principal about the progress of the
program in your area. I have been amazed at the false rumours about this
program that were spread right from the start.

* ABA and ASO and this program: ASO supports evidence-based practice in
teaching, treating, and assessing people with ASD. ABA is an evidence-based
practice, among others, which ASO supports. There are not enough trained
educators in our Ontario schools to teach children with ASD effectively.
How evidence-based practice is implemented with students with ASD must be
individually determined and is never a one-size-fits-all approach. We also
support a range of classroom placements and the level of support a student
requires varies tremendously. The SSP-ASD consultants are only one piece of
the puzzle in school programs to give school personnel the tools to achieve
the goals on a student's IEP.

* Continued challenges with terminology: Some of the difficulties we face
in this province around getting what people with ASD need have been
hampered by "who's right" positioning on ASDs and program decisions based
on political implications surrounding words like "treatment", "educational
program", "ABA", "IBI", "DTT" , "evidence-based" and a host of other terms
that have been misunderstood or misused. This will continue to be a
challenge for some time. At times the media is even less informed about
terminology and through its reporting, stirs strong emotions among parents,
politicians, other media, and individuals with ASD themselves. It is always
useful to ask exactly what people mean by certain terms. Those of you who
heard Doug Reynold's excellent presentation on dealing with the media at
the SEAC and President's Council training event have gained additional
appreciation for the realities of media reporting and political positioning.

* Communication about what you are experiencing in your area: The
ministries are very open to hearing reports from ASO about this program -
both positive and negative. Please let us know how things are working or
not. When spread out across the 90 plus boards in Ontario, it makes sense
that it will take time to realize the benefits of such a program and that
there are lots of bugs to be worked out. There are a lot of other
challenges for our students with ASD in Ontario and your efforts locally do
have an impact. The SSP-ASD program does not address all challenges
experienced by students with ASD. The program will probably be reviewed
more formally once it has been up and running for about a year.

* ASO continues to speak about the importance of eliminating waiting lists
for the preschool autism program and to make early, intensive intervention
with evidence-based, effective practices available for all children with
ASD. Attached*** is our submission to the Minister of Finance which
indicates ASO's position on this and other matters of concern for families
of children with ASD - at all ages.

[***N.B. ASO-York does not send attachments through the 'Items of
Interest'. The submission is available by request to <asoyork@axxent.ca>.
Please do NOT respond to this Items Of Interest email]

Please don't hesitate to call me if you read things about what ASO does or
doesn't say. Just because it's printed in a newspaper doesn't mean it is
so, or contextually accurate.

Thanks,
Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592x22

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEW CHILDREN'S TREATMENT CENTRE FOR YORK REGION AND SIMCOE COUNTY

December 13, 2004
Vital Services For Healthy Development Will Be Available Closer To Home

ORILLIA The Ontario government is helping children with special needs and their families in York Region and Simcoe County get the supports they need closer to home, the Minister of Children and Youth Services Marie Bountrogianni announced today.

"Our young people are our most precious resource," Bountrogianni said. "We need to work together to help them develop the physical, communication and life skills they need to succeed."

Bountrogianni announced the establishment of the new York Simcoe Children's Treatment Centre at Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Child Development Centre in Orillia. Children's treatment centres are community-based organizations that serve children with physical disabilities and multiple special needs. With an estimated 3,800 children who require these specialized services, the York and Simcoe region was the last part of the province without a dedicated children's treatment centre.

"With a rapidly growing population, York and Simcoe will now be able to meet the needs of children and families in their home communities," Bountrogianni said.

The new centre will consist of an innovative network of 10 local teams across the region that will provide a wide range of children's treatment services, such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, counseling and fitting wheelchairs and other devices. The province will invest $3 million next year to begin providing clinical services and develop the infrastructure of the network. By 2006 - 2007 the new centre will have an annualized budget of up to $10.5 million.

"Our families regularly drove for hours to Toronto and Hamilton to get services," said

Dr. Nicola Jones-Stokreef, a developmental pediatrician at Soldiers' Memorial Hospital. "This is wonderful news for the children and parents that I see every day, because these essential services will be available right in their own communities."

Earlier this year, the government provided children's treatment centres across Ontario with a three per cent base funding increase to better serve children in their care. The province also committed $24 million, over four years, in capital funding to expand and build new children's treatment centres in North Bay, Thunder Bay, London and Windsor.

"This is a community-driven plan that will help these special children and their families where they live," said Markham MPP Tony Wong.

"It will enable the region to develop and retain world class children's service professionals," said Thornhill MPP Mario Racco.

*****************************************************

OAARSN's AUTISM NEWS BULLETIN

Sender: "Ontario Adult Autism Research and Support Network (OAARSN)"

For our bulletin of autism news and announcements, please click on
http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/news-20041212.html

FEATURING....

GREETINGS, and how ASD families and hosts can cope with holiday festivities

GENERAL AUTISM NEWS
-Autism 'causes greatest disability'
-Autism: Why Do Some Develop Then Regress?
-Brain Researchers To Develop New Class Of Drugs To Repair Psychiatric
Disorders
-Children's Hospital Boston launches major genetic study of autism
-GPs warned against "happy pills"
-How the carers hijacked an autistic man called Andrew
-Developmentally disabled live alongside others on Wisconsin farm
-For Siblings of the Autistic, a Burdened Youth

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF EVENTS
Advance notice of four important events in 2005.

BOOKS, MEDIA, RESOURCES AND PROJECTS
University of Victoria (BC) considers new Masters degree course in autism
Autism Research Institute's 68 back issues, 1987 through 2003, of Autism
Research Review International newsletter--now accessible free on Internet.

ISSUES AND ADVOCACY
SSAH Provincial Coalition's presentation to the Minister of Community
and Social Services

FROM THE FRONT LINES
O-n-e ...in autism,
a new poem by Brian Henson

Read more on the OAARSN site at
http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca

OAARSN welcomes discussion of ideas and topics related to adults with
autism. Please send news, announcements of autism events, new
information, discussion questions and comments, and accounts of
experience to gbloomfi@uoguelph.ca

Gerald & Elizabeth Bloomfield

*****************************************************

FREE RESEARCH RESOURCE

Autism Research Institute recently uploaded on the Internet all 68 back
issues, 1987 through 2003, of our widely acclaimed Autism Research Review
International newsletter. The new website also contains a comprehensive
index, from "ABA" to "Zyprexa." You simply click on a topic in the index,
and the article appears immediately. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader on
your computer to view the articles.
www.ARINewsletter.com

*****************************************************

BIO-INTERVENTIONS SUPPORT GROUP

Annnouncing the WW-ASD Bio-Interventions Support Group at
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WW-ASDBio-InterventionsSupportGroup/

A new group discussion site that gives support to people interested in, or
already using, biological and alternative interventions that have been
found helpful for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

It is a forum for the exchange of information, such as the latest
developments in autism treatments, and also where services, supports and
supplies can be found. It is also a place where local networks (such as
food co-ops, car pools, joint ordering, etc.) can post their schedules in
order to create awareness, and to facilitate people with ASD and their
families in implementing and affording the help they are pursuing.

This site recognizes and respects people's right to information and choice.

Members have been suggesting websites they have found most useful in their
quest for helpful information. This is the present list. Any further
suggestions?

http://www.autism.com/ari/specialinterest/form34q.html
(Autism Research Institute's parent ratings of behavioural effects of
biomedical interventions)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/enzymesandautism/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RecoveredKids/

http://www.fabresearch.org (Re: nutrition and behaviour)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/-AuTeach/messages/1?viscount=100
(Archives of Schafer Report --lots of bio-info here)

http://www.edelsoncenter.com/autism.htm (general autism & bio-info)

http://home.san.rr.com/autismnet/research.html (physicians re autism, and
diet and autism)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/biofeedback/

http://www.autismndi.com/ ANDI: Autism Network for Dietary Intervention
which also includes new sections
The Specific Carbohydrate DietT (SCDT)
The Body Ecology Diet (BED)

*****************************************************

PARENT TO PARENT FEATURE

I am a chartered accountant with a son who is autistic and I am very
familiar with filing the required forms. If people need help with filing
the forms with CCRA I am willing to do it for a nominal fee.

Marla
msone@attglobal.net

fyi re Disability Tax Credit Certificate form (T2201)
New applications
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2201/t2201-03e.pdf
to backfile until Dec. 31'04
https://t1-request.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/CcraOnlineRequests/T1Rap/rap-e.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ASPERGER'S SYNDROME ON TVO
A one-hour Planet Parent special
January 9 @ 10:00 p.m.
[repeated] January 16 @ 4 p.m.

I've copied the information (you will find it directly below my correspondence) regarding the upcoming special about Asperger's Syndrome on
TVO. We have been given the date of January 9 @ 10:00 p.m. and a repeat date of January 16 @ 4 p.m.
If you can pass this along to anyone interested it would be greatly appreciated as we are trying to inform and reach out to as many people as
possible. My husband, Richard Hales, has piloted a program in Peel for students with Asperger syndrome and it has been highly successful. We are
hoping that this program will be given a fair bit of air time.

Thanks for your interest,
Linda Hales
lhales@niagarac.on.ca
...................

Episode 101
A one-hour Planet Parent special
Asperger's Syndrome
January 9 @ 10:00 p.m. and a repeat date of
January 16 @ 4 p.m.

Geek, nerd, or the weird kid. Every schoolyard has a couple: the kids on the fringes who play alone and have obsessive interests in say astronomy or
insects. It's painful for these kids who just don't fit in, and also for their families who aren't sure how to help. Yet we are now learning that
this sort of obsessive behavior could be a sign of a kind of high-functioning autism known as Asperger's Syndrome, which has only been
identified in the last decade. Thousands and thousands of adults may have grown up with Asperger's and not known it. It's prevalent -- but tough to
diagnose.
This special looks at the impact this syndrome has on several families coping with Asperger's. We tell their stories and talk to researchers and
experts on the origin of this mysterious disorder and the hunt for a cure; featuring Dr. Peter Szatmari of the Offard Centre for Child Studies,
McMaster University, geneticist Dr. Steve Scherer and noted social worker Dr. Kevin Stoddart.

*****************************************************

PARENT TO PARENT FEATURE

"We applied for the tax adjustment that you emailed to us, and after
filling out innumerable forms, meeting doctors and accountants, and waiting
nine weeks, we received a rebate cheque from the government for $10,000.
(You have no idea how much we needed that) Please tell your members how
all this effort will be worth it. [Our son] is only six, and this was our
rebate. Imaging how much people with older kids are entitled to. You can
use our example if it will help convince people."

"I wanted to mention Reach for the Rainbow. They are a wonderful group
that arrange community activities for special needs kids, such as summer
camp, swimming, skating and more. If someone is on the waiting list for
SSAH (like us), they will completely cover the cost of the 1-on-1 for these
activities. Please ensure that any new members are made aware of this
organization ASAP. It will make a big difference in their lives."

..............
Related Websites:

Disability Tax Credit Certificate form (T2201)
New applications: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2201/t2201-03e.pdf
To backfile until Dec. 31'04:
https://t1-request.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/CcraOnlineRequests/T1Rap/rap-e.html

Reach for the Rainbow: www.reach.on.ca
..............

*****************************************************

EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY, TUTORING (etc) SUPPORT
Earl Bass
68 Church Street South
Ajax, Ontario
L1S 6B3
Phone: (905) 686-5226
email : eb18@post.queensu.ca

Specializing In Academic and Behavioural Assessments/ Individualized
Programming in Academics, Behaviour Mgt., Self-Esteem Building, Life Skills
and Social Skills/ Private Tutoring and Behaviour Therapy/ Parent and Child
- Educational Advocacy Support

Dear Chapter President,

I would like to introduce myself and offer my support to the members of
your chapter. I have worked with some of your members and their children
already.

My Name is Earl Bass. I am a Special Education Specialist Teacher for the
Durham District School Board and have been working with Autistic students
for over 20 years. I am also an instructor for the University of Toronto
teaching Special Education Core 1 as an additional qualification course to
teachers who wish to teach in special education. Additionally I am also an
instructor for Queen's University for additional qualification courses for
teachers in Special Education Core One and The Autistic Pupil.

Along with all of this, I work with families and students privately doing
such things as:

Sometimes I consult with the parent on what accommodations and
modifications are needed in the IEP for their child in order to meet their
child's specific learning needs and the Ontario Curriculum Expectations. At
times I support parents in board meetings to get the best learning
environment for their child - regular class for inclusive learning, partial
segregated class and partial integration, proper EA support (not all EA's
understand the special needs of children and families), etc.

Sometimes families need an independent assessment of their child's
abilities both academic and behavioural in order to go to the board and get
proper services which I am able to do for them. At times it may be as
simple as observation of the child in the school and giving the EA and
Teacher strategies to use to work with the student which get placed into
the IEP or it can be a formalized report using observation along with some
formal and informal testing to determine what is best for the child.

Sometimes I support children by re-teaching them academic concepts they
don't understand from school. At times this starts with teaching phonics
skills then leads to working on speech pronunciation and teaching them how
to read all at the same time.

Sometimes I help the family put together a behaviour plan to address
different unacceptable behaviours i.e. striking out, stimming, throwing
things, spitting, etc. I have worked with ABA concepts as well as with a
large number of other behaviour shaping techniques. Each child is unique
and will respond differently to different techniques.

Sometimes I develop a speech therapy plan to work on getting the child to
speak more clearly and succinctly. This enables them to express their needs
at home, school and in the community in order get the things they need or
explain how they are feeling. A big part is teaching them how to express
themselves while comprehending their environment physically or interpreting
what has been said to them orally.

Sometimes I develop Life Skill programs to teach them how to get around in
the community, stores or in the neighbourhood, how to develop and maintain
proper hygiene - bathing, brushing teeth etc., how to interact with family
members, etc..

Sometimes I develop Social Skill programs to teach them how to make
friends, how to interact with family members, guests to the home, out in
the community - shopping, medical/dental appointments., etc..

Sometimes I develop long range plans for families so that they and their
child know step by step where they are going i.e. elementary school
expectations, high school expectations including co-op training, work
placement expectations, community living expectations etc.

I have been excited over the new government programs and support for
Autistic children lately but feel there are many additional needs that the
children and families need help addressing in order to ensure that their
child is prepared the absolute best for their future. It is important to
take steps early and to persevere with both the school board and other
agencies and supports in order to develop as much of their child's special
skills as possible. This will in turn benefit everyone in the future but
most importantly the well being and self esteem of the child.

If I can be of any help in any of these areas to any of your members please
feel free to have them contact me at the above address, phone number or
email address. You may publish my letter in your next newsletter if you
wish or place my contact information in it for anyone to reach me.

Yours truly,
Earl Bass

*****************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bingo Co-coordinator VOLUNTEER (S) NEEDED

ASO York Chapter is looking for Bingo Coordinator (s) to support our bi-weekly Saturday Bingo nights at the Aurora Bingo Hall. Responsibilities will be to attend Bingo two times per month from 8:30 pm-12:30 am. Every other month, you will need to contact ASK (Autism Society Kids) camp parents to arrange for their attendance and support at the scheduled Bingo nights. As the main point of contact, regular updates to Bingo Supervisor and communication with the ASO Executive group is required. A travel and caregiving allowance will be provided.

Should more than one person volunteer for this position, the number of evenings required to attend bingo nights will decrease.

Bingo nights are a substantial fundraiser for the Autism Society Kids (ASK) Camp. Please help support our fundraising initiatives. Interested volunteers should send an email to PaulKalmykow@yahoo.ca or marym@yorku.ca .

(Please do NOT reply to this Items of Interest email.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you

ASK Camp 2005

The Chapter Leadership Council of York Region Chapter of Autism Society Ontario is pleased to announce that the 18th edition of Autism Society Kids (ASK) Camp will take place in a York Region School (to be determined) from July 4-August 26, 2005. The day camp is open to children and youth with ASD from ages 4-21. Service, as in past years, will be provided to campers on a one-child-to-one-counsellor, or two-children-to-one-counselor model. The camp is designed with fun in mind! In addition, the Chapter will be piloting a "Youth Camp" for teenagers emphasizing job and social skills training, as well as having fun.

Your camp committee for 2005 is composed of the following individuals:

ASK Camp Co-coordinators: Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Youth Camp Pilot Co-coordinator: Kathryn Everest

Hiring Coordinators: Sandra Little (lead) , Melissa Abbey, Ross Stroger, Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Accommodation Lead: Erika Mak

Regal Catalogue Fundraising: Janet Kalmykow, Brenda Wynne

Fundraising: Robin Spataro, Julie Panakos, Kathie Plaia, Crystal Tancreti, Paul Kalmykow, Cindi Buick, and others

Parent Liaison: Liz Cohen (lead), Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Application Processing: Paul/Janet Kalmykow

Staff Liaison: Deb Manni (lead), Sandra Little, Ross Stroger, Melissa Abbey

Training Week Lead: Melissa Abbey

Finance/Payroll/Budgeting: Jasna Tome (treasurer), Ross Stroger (budgets), Paul Kalmykow (payroll)

Volunteer coordinator: Jenny Donnell

We will kindly accept any assistance from any chapter member to raise funds for the camp or to act as the new bingo coordinator!

Preference will be given to families (in order):

2) that have demonstrated need;

3) depending on the order of receipt of application packages prior to cut-off date (mid March)

Fees for ASK 2005 will be: $250/week (2:1 Ratio) $365/week (1:1 Ratio)

Camp Fees are heavily subsidised (by over 50%) by Bingo Nights, Regal Catalogue Orders and other fundraising efforts to ensure that the fees are affordable for the average family.

Decisions on which camper/counsellor ratio is most appropriate for your child will be determined by yourself and camp staff, with staff recommendations being the final arbiter.

All questions about Camp may be made to the Camp Co-ordinators at the email addresses below:

Paul Kalmykow Paulkalmykow@yahoo.ca

Janet Kalmykow JanetKalmykow@hotmail.com

(Please do NOT respond to this Items Of Interest email)

Thanks for your interest in ASK Camp 2005

Paul Kalmykow

Paul Kalmykow, Co-Coordinator

On behalf of the Chapter and ASK Camp Committee, 2005

RALLY

SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!

YORK REGION & SIMCOE COUNTY NEED A CHILDREN'S TREATMENT CENTRE

WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR CHILD?
JOIN THE RALLY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2004 - 10:30 AM
SHERATON PARKWAY HOTEL
HWY #7 & LESLIE STREET, RICHMOND HILL

APPROXIMATELY 23,000 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS LIVE IN YORK REGION &
SIMCOE COUNTY - IT IS THE ONLY AREA IN THE ENTIRE PROVINCE WITHOUT A
CHILDREN'S TREATMENT CENTRE!!!

PLEASE HELP US SEND QUEEN'S PARK A MESSAGE!

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FROM YORK REGION/SIMCOE COUNTY
AND LOCAL MPP FRANK KLEES

*****************************************************

How to Set Up an ABA Program in Your Home - From Early Intervention Services and Autism Society Ontario

This program is intended to help parents of kids with ASD to set up and to implement their own Applied Behavioural Analysis program at home.

When: January 19, January 20, January 21, 2005
From 10 AM to 2 PM

Where: Early Intervention Services,
50 High Tech Road, 4th Floor, room 450
Richmond Hill
Cost: 50 $ per person, ½ price for spouse

Handouts: 5$ (includes 1 CD Rom or 1 Floppy of all Handouts)
Facilitator: Liz Cohen
Regional Support Leader
Autism Society Ontario

Please RSVP by January 10, 2005:
Lara Stolarsky
(905) 762-1282 ext.2677

*****************************************************

Respite Weekends with Kerry's Place Autism Services
Two opportunities available for four York Region children
Three days/two overnights
One staff to two children ratio
Must have gone through the Kerry's Place Autism Intake
(or are interested in completing an intake)

Contact:
David Rochon
Kerry's Place Autism Services
905 713 6808 ext. 342
"David Rochon" <drochon@kerrysplace.org>

*****************************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

The Family Resource Centre in Thornhill extends an invitation to ASO-York families and caregivers of pre-school children with autism & their siblings. This Drop-In Centre is located on the 3rd Floor of Promenade Mall. It has been suggested that Wednesdays between 1:00 and 4:00 could be used by our families for networking, developing informal 'play dates', social skills groups etc., whatever would be beneficial for those attending. Self-serve kitchen, play areas, toys, equipment, comfy couches are yours to enjoy.
For more information and to brainstorm developing supports that would be beneficial to you, please contact
Fran Chodak, MSW. 905-882-8509. frc@aibn.com

Thank you Fran and the FRC for reaching out and welcoming our families and for the wonderful tour of your centre.
Sincerely,
Lynda Beedham, Regional Support Leader
Autism Society Ontario, York Region
11181 Yonge St. # 303-5
Richmond Hill ON L4S 1L2
voicemail: 905-780-1590
asoyork@axxent.ca
www.bbbautism.com www.autismsociety.on.ca
.........................

from The Family Resource Centre brochure ...
We Are Here for You
- because there are times when every family needs external support and resources
- because everyone needs a place to belong
We Offer You
- a warm, caring, supportive environment
- a place where kids, moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers can relax, play and learn together
Our Services
- a drop in centre where parents/caregivers and their pre-schoolers can enjoy storytime, music circle,arts and crafts or simply have fun
- a range of quality programs, activities and workshops - mix 'n mingle or parallel play
- our nurturing environment invites informal social groups for children
- a parent's conversation area for meeting, exchanging ideas and sharing concerns
- source of information and referrals to a network of family services in York Region
- lending library *including resources from Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter*
*****************************************************
Opening January 2005
Specialized Programming Clinic in Richmond Hill providing
VERBAL BEHAVIOUR AND ABA SERVICES

-TRAINING SERVICES in both ABA and verbal behaviour interventions. For individual therapists and for family members. Workshops are also offered that cover a wide range of development and programming issues.
-PROGRAM SUPERVISION for parents who have their own home program and require ongoing supervision services
-CONSULTATION SERVICES for parents, teachers, other related professionals
-DIRECT SERVICES include . ABA programs ( 12 - 30 hours per week )
. Verbal Behaviour programs ( 12 - 30 hours per week )
All direct service programs are designed to also include training parents and other professionals working with the child.
-For more information:
Deanna Pietramala or Linda Cross
Leaps & Bounds
11181 Yonge St. # 317
Richmond Hill ON L4S 1L2
905-508-6543 www.leapsandboundsservices.com

*****************************************************
ONLINE EDUCATION SERIES
From: "Autism Today CEO" <news@autismtoday.com>
Autism Education Online Series
http://www.mcssl.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=108492

These are in-depth 1- to 2-hour-long multi-media classes. You will personally be educated by the greatest autism leaders, who will offer
hands-on, step-by-step information you can understand and apply. You'll benefit from visuals, audio and detailed diagrams that will empower you to learn more and much more affordably than ever before.

*****************************************************

NEWSLETTER FROM AUTISM TODAY
Weekly Newsletter, November 23rd 2004, Issue 52, Vol 2
http://www.autismtoday.com/newsletters/newsletter_11_23_04.htm

. New Research on Autism Points to a Novel 'Gut' Disease in Some Kids
. What Life is Like with a Loved One on the Spectrum
. Unique Training Program Improves Autism Research UC Davis
. M.I.N.D. Institute receives $1.5 million to train young scientists
. Study Will Examine If Diet Can Ease Autism Symptoms
. MMR - The Last Word?
. Auditory Preference Allows Earlier Autism Diagnosis, New Treatments . Glyconutrients . . .sugars that heal!
. Dr. Temple Grandin Speaks On Visual Thinking, Sensory, Careers, and Medications

*****************************************************
DISABILITY TAX CREDITS
There are only a few weeks left to claim past Disability Tax Credits before they expire forever. The Income Tax Act has allowed people with disabilities or their caregivers who have not claimed the Disability Tax Credit to reassess their income tax returns back to 1985. But on December 31 the new 2004 federal budget will cut off back filing beyond 10 years. This means that people with disabilities will lose up to 9 years of past tax credits. Those who have not claimed the Disability Tax Credit should claim it now.

For more information, contact John Dowson
LifeTRUST Planning
1-800-638-7256
dowson@rogers.com

*****************************************************
AUTISTIC AUTHOR
From: William Rogers <willrogers@sasktel.net>

Autistic author Will Rogers now has his own web page
http://www.thestonkingsteps.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario. Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Epilepsy York Region Winter Events
(December 2004 through March 2005)

VAUGHAN INFORMATION NIGHTS
Join us for a special series with GUEST SPEAKERS at the Community Room in the York Regional Police District 4 Headquarters, 2700 Rutherford Road, Vaughan.

Thursday, January 20th 7:00-9:00pm
Guest speakers: Dr. Burham, Dr. Hui
Thursday, February 17th 7:00-9:00pm
Guest speaker: Dr. Pope

RICHMOND HILL PARENT ADVISORY GROUP
NEW GROUP: Meeting on a monthly basis, we will be strategizing how to spread awareness about epilepsy throughout York Region. Calling all parents: York Region needs your help! Where: 11181 Yonge St, 2nd Floor

Thursday, January 27th 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday, February 24th 7:30-9:30pm

NEWMARKET INFORMATION NIGHTS
Learn about epilepsy and all of the services that EYR has to offer. Where: York Region Municipal Building, 17250 Yonge Street, Committee Room A

Thursday, December 9th 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday, January 6th 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday, February 3rd 7:30-9:30pm

5-PIN BOWLING EVENTS

1. Sunday, January 30th
2. Sunday, March 20th

Open to EYR members and their friends and family. Richmond Hill Pro Bowl, 10593 Yonge Street Cost: $5 per bowler (kids under5 are free!), shoe rental is free. Time: 2:00-4:00 pm PLEASE RSVP.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
Saturday, December 11th
Your presence is requested at our annual Holiday Party! Join us for games, songs, food from around the world, children’s activities and lots of prizes. Bring a dessert and get a free raffle ticket! PLEASE RSVP.
Time: 1:00-4:00pm

Where: Loyal True Blue & Orange Home, 11181 Yonge St.

EMPLOYMENT SKILLS SESSION

Tuesday, January 18th (By appointment)
Do you have a seizure disorder? Are you currently looking for paid or volunteer work? Book your one-on-one session with employment consultant, Tim Nourse.

Where: EYR Resource Centre, Loyal True Blue & Orange Home, 11181 Yonge St (2nd floor). PLEASE CALL TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT.

**Please Register In Advance**
Call (905) 508-5404 or email naomi@epilepsyyork.ca.
Epilepsy York Region: “We care… we can help!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello list;

ASO-York has been asked to distribute the following survey. Should you wish to participate but remain anonymous, feel free to send your responses to <asoyork@axxent.ca>. Your input will be de-identified and forwarded to the authors.

Regards,
Lynda

>>>>>>>>>

from Sensory Leisure <sensory@aci.on.ca>
www.sensoryleisure.com

Research Paper on Leisure Facilities and Community Integration for People
with Disabilities

Aim: to determine the types of leisure facilities currently available, and
determine if there is a need for more facilities and the type and usage
cost of existing and new facilities.

Contact Name:
Contact Tel:
Email:
Association/Centre Linked to:

What type of disability does the person have?
Mental
Physical
Autistic
Learning
Behavioral
Developmental
Brian Injury
Other ...

Do they receive therapy treatment? Yes/No
Type

Do you use community centres and other activity centres? Yes/No
Please List

Do you use indoor activities? Yes/No

What type of indoor activities do they use?
Art and craft
Home and Life Skills
Leisure
Sports
Integration into community

Do you use outdoor activities? Yes/No

What type of outdoor activities?
Leisure and Recreation
Outdoor Recreation
Integration into community
Bus trips/tours
other...

Where do the trips/tours go?
Shopping
Museums
Activity Centres
Adventure Areas/Playgrounds
SightSeeing

Do you think these activities help in the integration normalization?
a little / average / a lot / don't know

What activities do you think they would enjoy doing or you would like them
to do more of?
Art and crafts
Home and Life Skills
Leisure and Recreation
Hydrotherapy
Making music
Sensory Relaxation
Sports & other Outdoor Recreation
Integration into community
Bus trips/tours

Does the person with disability have opportunity for leisure and
recreation? Yes/No
If not - why not?
no time
too expensive
no money
no where to go
nothing suitable

If yes - please list
Playing some kind of sport
Sport Events
Interactive Learning and exploring
Community Visits
Playgrounds
Using a Stimulating Environment

Do they travel to leisure facilities? Yes/No
If they travel, how far?
0-2km
2-5km
5-10km
>10km

Is the leisure activity government run/funded or private?
government funded
private
non-profit
charity

Describe other leisure activities.

How long is the activity?
Less than 1 hour
1 - 2 hours
½ day
1 day

How often is the activity done?
more than once per week
weekly
twice a month
monthly
other (state) ...

Is the leisure activity free? Yes/No
If yes- is it funded by someone else (Private or Government)
If leisure activity is not free - who pays?
You?
Client?
Government?
Other?

If not free - how much does the leisure activity cost?
$0-5
$6-10
$10-20
other (state) .

Is the leisure activity good value for money? Yes/No
If No - why not / what could be improved?
If yes please say why

How much is spent monthly on leisure activities?
$5-10
$10-20
$20-40
$40-80
$>80

Do you pay for the leisure activities from government support or own family
income?
Government
own
don't know

What type of transport is used?
centre bus
government transport
private

Is there sufficient transport available for going places? Yes/No

Who pays for travel?
You?
Other funding?

Do you think there is a shortage of leisure activities for people with
disabilities in the community? Yes/No
If Yes - why is that?
shortage of locations
shortage of funding
shortage of money
not see as important

What type of leisure activities would you like to see?
(select all that apply)
Indoor centre suitable for many different disabilities
Outdoor centre (playground suitable for wheelchairs)
Interactive centre
Sports/Games/Fun facilities
Learning /Activity Centres
Interactive Multi-Sensory Centres

What type of facilities would you see as most beneficial from the previous
list? (indicate top choice)
Why?

Do you think such centres should be integrated with community facilities?
Yes/no

Do you think there are sufficient Summer Camps for people with
disabilities? Yes/no

Would you use a camp facility ? Yes/no
If yes - part time or full time?

If there were more indoor facilities suitable for all types of people with
disabilities would you recommend it or use it? Yes/No
If Yes - how often would you use the center if you had to pay for it?

If there were more outdoor facilities suitable for all types of people with
disabilities would you recommend it or use it? Yes/No
If Yes - how often would you use the center if you had to pay for it?

What would you expect to pay for an hour's leisure activity for a person
with a disability?
Nothing
<$5
$5-10
$10-15
$15-20
$20-30
>$30

If the government or private sector provided more facilities how often
would you use them?
monthly
twice a month
weekly
twice a week

Would you use them as frequently if you had to pay a usage fee? Yes/No

Have you heard of multi-sensory environments/therapy? Yes/no
If yes - please describe your understanding of it

Have you heard of Multi Sensory Centres that include Snoezelen concepts?
Yes/No
If yes - please describe your understanding of it

Have you ever used one? Yes/No
If yes where have you used one?
What did you think?
great
not very good - why?
some good parts - what could be better?

Did you think the person responded to room?
Yes
- long term
- short term
- every visit
No
- could not tell

Would you try a Multi Sensory Leisure Centre it if you knew of the benefits
that were provided by one? Yes/No/Don't Know
Please select the important areas
· leisure/play/activity centre
· interactive
· relaxing
· stimulating
· many different environments
· client own pace and needs

Thank you very much for your time and information.

If we need to contact you for more information or for clarification would you be happy for us to do so? Yes / No

Please return to either the Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca or directly to Sensory Leisure at sensory@aci.on.ca.
Please do not return this survey to the Items Of Interest email.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOLIDAY SOCIAL

Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter will be hosting a Holiday Potluck Social. Please join us to celebrate the holidays with fellow ASO members.

WHEN: Tuesday December 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: 11181 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill (Loyal True Blue and Orange Home: two streets north of Elgin Mills, east side of Yonge)

ROOM: B13

PLEASE BRING: an hors d'oeuvre or finger food. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP to asoyork@axxent.ca (do NOT reply to the Items Of Interest email)

We hope you will join us!

*****************************************************

PETITION

For information regarding the Autism Petition available in the OACRS*
newsletter:
http://www.oacrs.com/News/2004/November/Nov24.htm

* OACRS = Ontario Association of Children's Rehabilitation Services

*****************************************************

CPI's CRISIS RESPONSE NEWSLETTER

Crisis Prevention and Intervention Institute (CPI)
November 2004
"Post-crisis Intervention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and
Related Communication Challenges"
http://www.crisisprevention.com/whatsnew/CRNews/index.html

*****************************************************

RALLY

Support children with special needs!

York Region needs a Children’s Treatment Centre!

What if this was your child?

Join the Rally!

Monday December 13 at 10:30 a.m.

Sheraton Parkway Hotel

(Hwy.7 & Leslie St., Richmond Hill)

Approximately 23,000 children with special needs live in York Region and Simcoe County – they are the only areas in the entire province without a children’s treatment centre!!

Please help us send Queen’s Park a message!

Guest speakers include health professionals from York Region/Simcoe County and local MPP Frank Klees.

*****************************************************

ON-LINE I.B.I. PETITION

Hello everyone,

Please see info below if you would like to know how to add your signature to the on-line IBI petition. If you aren't able to access the site by clicking on the address below, copy it, then paste it into the address bar for your internet service provider. In keeping with ASO's practices about
informing you about privacy matters, please be advised that your home address becomes public internet knowledge if you sign up on-line. You have
choices regarding the publication of your email address. See the petition for further details.

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/andap1/

Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592

*****************************************************

CBC DOCUMENTARY

from "The EnableLinker"
Copyright (c) 2004
Canadian Abilities Foundation
http://www.enablelink.org

"The Ties that Bind"

This documentary gives a first-hand look at the complexity around the transition of a young man with multiple disabilities toward a more independent life.

CBC Newsworld's Rough Cuts
December 2 at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. EST
December 5 at 7 p.m. EST.

For more information, visit the Internet documentary and community engagement project
http://www.nfb.ca/tiesthatbind

*****************************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMUNITY LIVING ONTARIO

In Memorium Patrick Worth -- Community Living Ontario

Hello everyone,

I just heard yesterday about the sudden passing of Patrick Worth last Friday. He died of a massive heart attack at age 49. Many of you will know about Patrick's self-advocacy movement and the impact of his work and life on so many lives. Please see attached link of the Community Living Ontario page for more details and tributes to Pat. I have heard that there is to be a memorial service on December 4, but do not have more details about that day.

http://www.communitylivingontario.ca/features/PatrickWorthMemorial.htm

Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director, Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
416-246-9592 x22
marg@autismsociety.on.ca www.autismsociety.on.ca
Member, ASD-CARC (Autism Spectrum Disorders - Canadian-American Research Consortium):
www.autismresearch.ca www.cycleforautism.com

*****************************************************

PARENT WORKSHOP

Are you a parent of a son or daughter with special needs?
How do you prevent other siblings from feeling invisible?

Please join us for an informative evening where we will hear from both
professionals and family members.

Date and Time: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Family Resource Centre
1 Promenade Circle, Suite 313
(3rd floor Promenade Mall, enter through main entrance facing Bathurst St.)

RSVP: Fran Chodak - 905-882-8509 or frc@on.aibn.com
Nancy Ogunniya-Clyke - 905-884-9110, vm 629 or
Nogunniya-clyke@ysacl.on.ca

Participating Agencies: Epilepsy York Region, Family Resource Centre,
Learning Disability Association (York Region), UJA Federation - Board of
Jewish Education (Tikun Chaim), York South Association for Community
Living, Zareinu Educational Centre

*****************************************************

HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING

The holidays are just around the corner. Are you looking for that special someone or the person who's hard to buy for? Do you own a company and don't want your gift basket to get lost in the crowd? Don't know what to get your teacher, therapist, bus driver???

How about a donation to our chapter on their behalf? You can also purchase pewter pins, fidget kits, the book "Amazingly Alfie", manuals, gift certificates for future workshops, memberships!! All gifts will be personalized with a special holiday letter advising the recipient of your most giving gesture. Support your chapter with a gift that helps families living with Autism Spectrum Disorders in our community.

Call (905) 780-1590 or email us at asoyork@axxent.ca for details and order information. Don't wait - order now!!

*****************************************************

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND FUNDRAISING - THIS WEEK!

Ready to get started on some Christmas shopping and help your local ASO at the same time?

Our chapter invites you to shop at MIKO TOY WAREHOUSE

November 24th – 28th.

It’s fun and easy!

· When checking out, have your receipt stamped by the cashier for “fundraising”.

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR RECEIPT STAMPED!!

· Send in all receipts within THREE (3) days to:

Autism Society Ontario –York Region Chapter

11181 Yonge Street Suite 303

Richmond Hill ON L4S 1L2

· Mark “MIKO” on the envelope

Miko Toy Warehouse is located at:

60 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill

(905) 771-8714

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

*****************************************************

INFORMATION NIGHT AND SOCIAL EVENING

from York Region Family Network <yrfn@neptune.ca>

Easter Seal Society - York Region presents
Information Night & Social Evening

Thursday December 2nd, 2004
The Regional Municipality of York Building
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket
Administrative Centre, Committee Room 'B'
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Transition in Action
Briano Di Rezze, Occupational Therapist & Dana Mills, Life Skills Coach from Community Based
Services at Bloorview MacMillan Children's Centre provide a variety of life skills, recreation, and
community development programs and services responsive to the needs identified by children,
youth, and families of Bloorview MacMillan Children's Centre. Highlighted in this 30 minute
presentation will be our partnerships; our programs (focusing on life skills, transition, recreation
and active living); and our consultation services.

Acupuncture & Qi-Gong, Massage Therapy
Professor Doug Knispel 7th Degree Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu & Dr. Stanley Ngui doctor of Acupuncture
and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Grand Master of Qi-Gong. Attend a discussion on Jiu-Jitsu,
Acupuncture, and Herbs. Learn many benefits that these subjects have for people that have
special needs. This exciting and informative discussion will be taught by Doug Knispel and Dr.
Stanley Ngui.

To register: please call or email Sandra Palmisano at 905-478-4098 (if calling from out of
local area first dial 416-494-5100 follow the prompts then dial 905-478-4098) or yrfn@neptune.ca .and help celebrate with us the holiday season!

*****************************************************

SYMPOSIUM IN APRIL

Autism Society Ontario, Upper Canada Chapter Presents

What Now?!
A Symposium on Raising an Adolescent / Young Adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 8 - 10, 2005

Nav Canada Conf. Centre, Cornwall ON

Sample of presentations:

-Secondary School Transitions for Students with Asperger's Syndrome (Richard Hales)
-Planning for Transition to Employment, Community & Post Secondary Education (Lindsay Moir)
-Panel Discussion On Educational Issues - Please come prepared to ask YOUR questions
-ASD Students in High School - Visual Supports for Meaningful Learning (Sheila Bell)
-Sexuality and People with Developmental Disabilities (David Hingsburger)

Registration must be received ON or BEFORE MARCH 25, 2005.

Early Bird Registration before January 21.

A brochure is available with all the details about the seminars, accomodations, costs and directions.
Contact the Upper Canada Chapter for a brochure (available via email).
Tel: 613-346-5745, e-mail: dkeillar@sympatico.ca

*****************************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter presents Author Thelma Wheatley
'My Sad is All Gone, A Family's Triumph over Violent Autism'

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19TH
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
[rescheduled from Tuesday November 2nd due to a publisher's delay]

Meeting Room B13
Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St., Richmond Hill
[2 streets north of Elgin Mills, east side of Yonge]

Thelma will have a limited number of her books available for purchase at a discounted presentation price. RSVP appreciated but not required to ensure there are enough copies: <asoyork@axxent.ca>

ASO PEEL CHAPTER PARENT PUBLISHES BOOK:
"My Sad is All Gone, A Family's Triumph over Violent Autism" is the true-life story of how the author's autistic son, Julian, became suddenly
violent, self-mutilating and "psychotic" in his teens. He used to tear the
flesh on his face, slam his head against walls, throw himself through
windows, and "see" non-existent students jeering at him. The parents tried
everything to get Julian under control. Eventually he was put on
anti-psychotic medication.
After Julian had a horrific experience on Perphenazine, the parents were
desperate until they luckily met Dr Joseph Huggins, a Toronto doctor whose
expertise in treating rage behaviours got Julian under control.
Today, at 27, Julian has 4 community jobs and is a loving, loveable young man.
"My Sad is All Gone" is also a book of searing insight into the education
of autistic/DC children and into the world of psychiatry. Thelma wrote it
entirely in the coffee shops of Port Credit!
Thelma is winner of Cross-Canada Writer's Quarterly Short Story Contest,
and has published stories, poetry and articles on autism. She is
past-president of Peel Chapter ASO and gives talks about her experience.

"My Sad is All Gone, A Family's Triumph over Violent Autism"
ISBN number: 0-9760576-0-3
Order online and support ASO
Visit the Autism Society Ontario website
www.autismsociety.on.ca
Click on the Chapters/Indigo icon, and a portion of each purchase of ANY
item goes to ASO

also available through 'Parentbooks'
1-800-209-9182
www.parentbookstore.com

*****************************************************

CANCELLATION: ASO York Tuesday Morning Support Group/Information Sessions #5 and #6 :
"Children Diagnosed with ASD in Ontario: Strategies and Help for Families with Young Children and Preschoolers"

Tues, Nov 30 10:00 to 1:00pm "Speech, Language and Communication"
Tues, Dec 7 10:00 to 1:00pm "Occupational Therapy"
These will be offered in another format in February, 2005.

Coming soon - a new range of topics for winter/spring 2005. Watch for upcoming Items of Interest for more information.
Liz Cohen

*****************************************************

CONTACT YOUR MP

from a listmate ...

Autism Society Canada will have the opportunity next week to inform our MPs
and Senators about the issues that we all are facing. To make sure that your
member attends, please e-mail your MP the following information. Feel free to add personal
information.

Dear Parliamentarian;

Autism issues in our province and across Canada are being brought to the
attention of Canada's Members of Parliament and Senators as a result of affecting 150%
more Canadians than six years ago. To be of assistance to our country's
parliamentarians as they work to address these issues on a national basis, Autism Society
Canada (ASC) is providing an information session about autism on Parliament Hill. Sponsored
by M.P. Stephen Fletcher, it will be held November 23 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the
West Block Room 371. The information session will include presentations by two
parents (ASC's President Peter Zwack from Quebec and Vice President Jo-Lynn Fenton from
Nova Scotia) and a gentleman with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism). Andrew
Kavchak, an Ottawa parent, will also be present. Mr. Fletcher requests that people
confirm their attendance by e-mail with his office at Fletcher.S@parl.gc.ca

I hope that you and your senior staff will take advantage of this
opportunity to learn more about autism and the issues that affect people with Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD) in your home community and province. Please also encourage your colleagues to
attend so that there is a broader understanding of the issues that affect people of
all ages with ASD, their families and their communities across our province and Canada.

You may wish to refer to the White Paper from Autism Society Canada which
was sent to you in March 2004, and which outlined a Canadian Autism Research Agenda and a
Canadian Autism Strategy. The White Paper and further information regarding Autism
Society Canada are available on the ASC website www.autismsocietycanada.ca .

If you have any questions regarding autism as well as our province and Canadian autism
issues, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am certain you will find the autism
information session on November 23 informative. For the sake of the hundreds of people
in your region affected by ASD, please take advantage of this one hour presentation.

Regards,
Your name
Your address

*****************************************************

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Randy Mogridge's family is accepting messages of condolence at http://bringrandyhome.ca

*****************************************************

PRESS RELEASE: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Parents To Gain A Stronger Voice In Education

McGuinty Government Appoints Group To Establish A New, More Representative Organization For Parents

TORONTO, Nov. 6 /CNW/

The McGuinty government will give parents a stronger voice on education issues at the provincial level, Minister of Education Gerard Kennedy announced today. "We have created the Parent Voice In Education Project and appointed a group tasked with making it easier for parents to get involved in publicly funded education," said Kennedy. "It is not for us to tell parents how to be organized. It is our job to give them a seat at the decision-making table."

Kennedy established the Parent Voice in Education Project and appointed the group that will report back by February 18, 2005 on how best to establish
an independent body that is representative of and accountable to parents. Chaired by Gabrielle Blais, the project group will consist of 20 people - a
cross-section of parents from all regions of the province - who also have expertise in parent leadership. The members of the group will serve for a term of up to six months to consult with parents, complete the report and advise the Minister on implementation options. Kathleen Wynne, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, will support the project group throughout the parent-driven process. "Parents lead busy lives - we need to support them with a new, effective way to participate in their children's education and the education system as a whole," said Wynne. "We need parents' voices at the table to help all of our students reach their full potential."

Parents are invited to share their ideas by sending an email to the new project group at info@parentvoiceineducation.org.

*****************************************************

ABA/AUTISM SEMINAR

There are still seats available for "Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) for Children with Autism and Other Special Needs" on Saturday, November 27th at Victoria University, University of Toronto.

Group rates are available.

For details please contact Shawna Bailey <shawna.bailey@sympatico.ca> or visit www.shawnabailey.com

*****************************************************

AUDITOR'S REPORT ON AUTISM

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts will be dealing with the Auditor's Report on Autism on Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. in Committee Room #1 in the Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services will be there for the hearing of the Auditor's report and recommendations.

The public and parents of autistic children are welcome to come and sit in for the 2-hour session. People who would like to attend should contact Julie Lavertu at 416-325-2507 or by e-mail at jlavertu@ndp.on.ca so that we can advise the security staff. There is limited seating, so it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In closing, please feel free to contact me if you require any further information.

Sincerely,
Julie Lavertu
Shelley Martel's Office
416-325-2507

*****************************************************

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY WORKSHOP

December 5th in Markham, Ontario

If you would like to have current special education information, strategies, and skills that will enable you to advocate for appropriate special education programs and services, you should not miss this workshop.
For details please visit http://www.afase.com/Workshop.html

Karen Robinson, AFASE at school
www.afase.com karen.robinson@afase.com
905-839-9138

*****************************************************

RADIO SHOW

From a listmate:

I would like to inform your listmates that Dale Goldhawk's radio show on CFRB in Toronto on November 21st will focus on what is happening in Ontario re: autism. The two panelists/parents on the show will be Erla Juravsky, Director, Beecroft Learning Centre as well as Sheila Laredo, whose family is a plaintiff in the Wynberg/Deskin case and who herself is a physician and expert in medical research methodology.

The show will be on the radio at AM 1010 and on the internet at www.cfrb.com on Sunday November 21st at 11am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario. Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you

Re: "Transforming Services in Ontario for People who have a Developmental
Disability," a Preliminary Discussion Paper dated October 2004 and prepared
by the Joint Developmental Services Sector Partnership Table

FOCUS GROUP MEETING
MONDAY NOVEMBER 15TH
10:00 - 12:00
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter office, 3rd floor
Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge Street
Richmond Hill

RSVP to <asoyork@axxent.ca>

________________________

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES DISCUSSION PAPER
http://www.bcclnet.com/documents/FINALEnglishTransformationofDSsectordiscussionpaper-Oct13.pdf

INPUT FROM YORK REGION STAKEHOLDERS - FAMILIES, SERVICE PROVIDERS,
AGENCIES, EDUCATORS
URGENTLY REQUESTED

Please consider participating in this important process. YOUR voice WILL be
heard.
Autism Society Ontario is gathering responses and preparing our submission
which will go directly to the Minister.

"The main purpose of [this] document ... is to gather the thoughts and
ideas of people from across Ontario to advance the discussion and to
prepare for a more extensive public consultation that the Ministry of
Community and Social Services will hold on a new plan to transform services
in Ontario for people who have a developmental disability."

Are you able to attend this group discussion session?
Please respond to <asoyork@axxent.ca>

Do you prefer to provide input in writing?
There are seven questions ("Questions for Discussion") starting on page 15
of the document. Please send your
responses to <asoyork@axxent.ca>

Thank you,
Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter

_______________________________

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES DISCUSSION PAPER
http://www.bcclnet.com/documents/FINALEnglishTransformationofDSsectordiscussionpaper-Oct13.pdf

Topics covered in this paper: Introduction, The Purpose of this Paper, A
Brief History of Developmental Services, Vision,
Principles, Dignity and Respect, Building on Community, Fairness and
Responsiveness, Accountability, Practicality, Sustainability, Challenges We
Face, Roles and Responsibilities, Characteristics of Quality Support,
Models of Funding, Legislation and Policy, Stresses on the Current System,
Questions for Discussion, Appendix A: Partnership Table Membership.

"Questions for Discussion ./15
Ideas and suggestions from all groups or individuals are welcome. The
following questions are offered as a guide for providing your ideas and
suggestions. Feel free to answer any or all questions. You may also provide
suggestions not related to the questions asked here.

1. What should be the roles and responsibilities of different parts of
society in supporting individuals who have a developmental disability?

For example, you may want to consider:

· What are the roles and responsibilities of:
- Individuals who have a developmental disability
- Families
- Governments
- Service providers
- Other parts of society, such as business, faith-based communities and
cultural organizations, service clubs, and voluntary organizations?

· What changes are necessary to encourage the above players to work
together to carry out their roles and responsibilities?

2. What strategies and resources would help individuals receive seamless
supports throughout their lives, including points of transition?

For example, you may want to consider:
- Transition into and out of the school system
- Into employment and through changes in employment
- Into senior years

3. What supports and services that are currently available work well and
should be built on for the future?

For example, you may want to consider:
- Special Services at Home program
- Day programs
- Foundations program
- Individualized funding

4. How should a reasonable level of government funding for an individual be
determined?

5. Services are changing in Ontario for people who have a developmental
disability. What would you like to see happen?

For example, you may want to consider:
- What do you need?
- Why do you need it?
- When do you need it?
- How long do you need it?

6. What do you think are the priorities the government should address?

For example, you may want to consider:
- Housing
- Day supports
- Special Services at Home program
- Creating linkages to other ministries
- Funding for community capacity building
- Funding and support for innovation

7. Is there anything else you would like to say about the ideas in this discussion paper, or ideas not included in the paper that you feel are
important?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario. Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you

Autism Society Ontario, Upper Canada Chapter Presents

What Now?!
A Symposium on Raising an Adolescent / Young Adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 8 – 10, 2005

Nav Canada Conf. Centre, Cornwall ON

Sample of presentations:

-Secondary School Transitions for Students with Asperger’s Syndrome (Richard Hales)

-Planning for Transition to Employment, Community & Post Secondary Education (Lindsay Moir)

-Panel Discussion On Educational Issues - Please come prepared to ask YOUR questions

-ASD Students in High School - Visual Supports for Meaningful Learning (Sheila Bell)

-Sexuality and People with Developmental Disabilities (David Hingsburger)

Registration must be received ON or BEFORE MARCH 25, 2005.

Early Bird Registration before January 21.

A brochure is available with all the details about the seminars, accomodations, costs and directions.
Contact the Upper Canada Chapter for a brochure (available via email).
Tel: 613-346-5745, e-mail: dkeillar@sympatico.ca

*****************************************************

QUEEN'S PARK RALLY

From Kerry's Place Autism Services

FRIENDS & FAMILY OF CHILDREN WITH "SPECIAL NEEDS" RALLY TOGETHER
LET'S SEND QUEEN'S PARK A MESSAGE!!!

SIMCOE COUNTY AND YORK REGION IS THE ONLY AREA LEFT IN THE ENTIRE PROVINCE
THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CHILDREN'S TREATMENT CENTRE!

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 23,000 CHILDREN IN SIMCOE COUNTY AND YORK REGION
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ON.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22/04 AT 10:30 AM

AT SIMCOE NORTH MPP'S OFFICE
GARFIELD DUNLOP
14 COLDWATER ROAD WEST
ORILLIA

*****************************************************

TOY SHOPPING FUNDRAISER

We would like to thank all of those who participated in our fundraising event at Miko Toy Warehouse.
Your support is much appreciated.
Please mark November 24 - 28th for the next ASO -YRC week at Miko Toy Warehouse.
Miko Toy Warehouse is located at:

60 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill

(905) 771-8714

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Remember, you MUST have your receipt stamped by the cashier, and send it in to the ASO York Region chapter office within 3 days.

*****************************************************

GENEVA CENTRE: OPEN HOUSE

Geneva Centre for Autism invites you to
an Open House
To help celebrate 30 years of Service

Friday, December 10, 2004
2:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m.

Geneva Centre for Autism
112 Merton Street, Toronto

Join us for light refreshments, some holiday cheer
and highlights from our last 30 years

RSVP by November 30th to
Linda Rice: Development@autism.net

*****************************************************

from AUTISM SOCIETY CANADA

Open Letter to the Autism Community from Autism Society Canada
As an organization with a 28-year history of dedication to improving the services and opportunities available to people with autism and their families, Autism Society Canada would like to take this opportunity to let
our community know more about who we are and the work that we do.

To read the full letter, click here:
http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/en/welcome.html

Louise Fleming
Executive Director/Directrice générale
Autism Society Canada
Société canadienne de l'autisme
613 789-8943
louise@autismsocietycanada.ca
www.autismsocietycanada.ca

*****************************************************

CHAPTER LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

The next CLC meeting of the York Region Chapter
of the Autism Society of Ontario will be
November 16, 2004 from 10:00 am - 12:30pm in Room B13.
We welcome all members to join us.
Your ASO membership must be in good standing to attend.
Please RSVP to CenzaN@aol.com by November 11th.

*****************************************************

BARRIE AREA SUPPORT GROUP

The Don't Stand Alone Foundation For Children With Autism invites you to their next monthly Support Group Meeting

We will have a guest speaker for the first half, followed by support time.
The guest speaker will be John Clarke from Behavior Management Services of York & Simcoe discussing strategies and problem solving behavioral
management issues that arise when raising children/adults with autism.

When: Thursday, November 18th, 2004

Time: 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Where: Zehrs Big Bay Point in Barrie
Upstairs in the Community Room (at the intersection of Young St and Big Bay Point road.)

RSVP: Tel # 721-8607 or 424-4527 or by e-mail at dcurrie@sympatico.ca

Visit our Web Page at http://dsaf4.tripod.com/ to learn more about our new charity.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents
of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter.
We encourage decisions based on knowledge.
The information brought to you through
our "Items Of Interest"
does not necessarily imply endorsement
by the Autism Society Ontario.
Please submit all correspondence
(including submissions and change of email address)
to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTISM IN THE MEDIA
Two-hour special, Sunday Nov. 7th on ABC

Special Home Make-Over

Ty Pennington and the rest of the cast on the popular TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition recently teamed with Abilitations®, an education company specializing in therapy solutions and equipment for children with special needs and learning differences, to renovate a special home. The two-hour special will air at 8 pm (ET) on Sunday, Nov. 7, on ABC.

The show assists families that persevere with courage and generosity despite difficult circumstances. Family members are treated to an
all-expense-paid vacation while their home is remodeled and decorated.

For the upcoming episode, the producers of Extreme Makeover asked Abilitations to provide consultation and equipment to benefit a 12-year-old boy who is visually impaired and autistic. Both of his parents are deaf.

"Autism is one of the largest spectrum disorders we cater to here at Abilitations," said Ilana Danneman, PT, catalog director at Abilitations, a member of School Specialty Inc. "We are always searching for products and designing new ones that assist children living with autism to become more oriented, enabling them to function at their highest level of ability."

Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L, Product Education director at Abilitations and a specialist in sensory processing disorders, and colleague Sue Wilkinson, OT, worked on-site during the week of shooting outside Detroit, MI. The hectic home renovation and filming process is completed in just seven days. From 50 to 100 workers are on the set at any given time, including designers, landscapers and film crew members.

"The pace is overwhelming, so we did our best to help the staff de-stress and stay positive," stated Cruse. She and Wilkinson taught yoga stretches and provided stress toys or fidgets from Abilitations, based in Atlanta, GA.

""It was one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, experiences of my career," Wilkinson said. At Abilitations "we are incredibly proud of our work to provide solutions for children who possess learning or sensory differences. We believe learning and therapy is an everyday activity to be integrated into the school, clinic and home environments."

When the family members returned from their week-long vacation, they toured their refurbished home.

The Oct. 3 episode of Extreme Makeover also featured Abilitations products.

For More Information
* School Specialty Inc., online: www.schoolspecialty.com

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Autism Society Ontario - York Region Chapter presents
Author Thelma Wheatley
'My Sad is All Gone, A Family's Triumph over Violent Autism'

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19TH
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
[rescheduled from Tuesday November 2nd due to a publisher's delay]

Meeting Room B13
Loyal True Blue and Orange Home building
11181 Yonge St., Richmond Hill
[2 streets north of Elgin Mills, east side of Yonge]

Thelma will have a limited number of her books available for purchase at a discounted presentation price. RSVP appreciated but not required to ensure there are enough copies: <asoyork@axxent.ca>

ASO PEEL CHAPTER PARENT PUBLISHES BOOK:
"My Sad is All Gone, A Family's Triumph over Violent Autism" is the true-life story of how the author's autistic son, Julian, became suddenly violent, self-mutilating and "psychotic" in his teens. He used to tear the flesh on his face, slam his head against walls, throw himself through windows, and "see" non-existent students jeering at him. The parents tried everything to get Julian under control. Eventually he was put on anti-psychotic medication.

After Julian had a horrific experience on Perphenazine, the parents were desperate until they luckily met Dr Joseph Huggins, a Toronto doctor whose expertise in treating rage behaviours got Julian under control. Today, at 27, Julian has 4 community jobs and is a loving, loveable young man. "My Sad is All Gone" is also a book of searing insight into the education of autistic/DC children and into the world of psychiatry. Thelma wrote it entirely in the coffee shops of Port Credit! Thelma is winner of Cross-Canada Writer's Quarterly Short Story Contest, and has published stories, poetry and articles on autism. She is past-president of Peel Chapter ASO and gives talks about her experience.

"My Sad is All Gone, A Family's Triumph over Violent Autism"
ISBN number: 0-9760576-0-3
Order online and support ASO
Visit the Autism Society Ontario website
www.autismsociety.on.ca
Click on the Chapters/Indigo icon, and a portion of each purchase of ANY
item goes to ASO

also available through 'Parentbooks'
1-800-209-9182
www.parentbookstore.com

*****************************************************

PARTICIPATE IN A CLINICAL TRIAL

Child Development Centre, Hospital for Sick Children
Clinical Trial of Fluvoxamine (Luvox) and Sertraline (Zoloft) in Childhood Autism

Families Needed.
Join our EXCITING study happening right now at The Hospital for Sick Children. Volunteers are needed to participate in a research study to determine the effectiveness of these specific medications for some of the difficult behaviours that occur in children with autism. Because of our controlled environment, this is the perfect opportunity for those families who are uneasy about medications. We need children:
. 3 to 10 years of age
. diagnosis on the autism spectrum
. symptoms of anxiety/irritability, compulsive/repetitive behaviours, aggression
. not on medication for behaviour (anti-seizure medication is okay)
. able to visit the Hospital several times during an 11-week period

Please leave a message for the SSRI study coordinator (at the number below) and a member of our research team will return your call.

Becky Young, SSRI Study Coordinator
Phone: (416) 813-7654 ext. 1289

*****************************************************

TUTOR AVAILABLE

In a previous mailing we advised you of this opportunity. Please note the corrected contact information:

My personal email is: susanjwallace@yahoo.ca
My home phone is: 905.737.2097

To Whom It May Concern,
I am emailing to ask about opportunities for tutoring children with Autism. I am currently working as a special education teacher on the YRDSB Regional Behaviour Team. I have extensive experience working with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities in all facets of education (e.g. language, communication, mathematics, social skills, behaviour, etc.). I would like to be able to work at least one week night a week, 1:1 with a child to assist him/her with his/her education. I am available to work in either Richmond Hill, Aurora, or Newmarket. I am wondering if there are opportunities to work with children who have accessed your services. Please let me know.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Sue Wallace

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "Items Of Interest" are prepared by volunteer parents of the Autism Society Ontario/York Region Chapter. We encourage decisions based on knowledge. The information brought to you through our "Items Of Interest" does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Autism Society Ontario. Please submit all correspondence (including submissions and change of email address) to our Chapter Office at asoyork@axxent.ca.
Thank you

AUTISTIC MAN STILL MISSING

Hello everyone:

Please pass this message along to as many people as possible. This man with autism is still missing and wandering somewhere in Ontario. The Halton police are asking for people to do what they can and keep an eye open for Randy Mogridge. Check your backyards and surrounding areas where you live and work - particularly, but not limited to, the GTA. There is a photo of Randy in the link below. There is no reason to be afraid of Randy. The most important thing right now is his health and safety. Please contact police immediately if you see him.

Link to Halton Regional Police Media Releases and photo of Randy at this link:

http://www.hrps.on.ca/data/media/04-10-25-01%20Oak%20-%20Missing%20Autistic%20Man.doc

Thank you very much for your help.

Marg Spoelstra
Executive Director, Autism Society Ontario
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca

*****************************************************

SOCIAL GROUPS

Support Transitional Aged Youth
Kerry's Place Autism Services

Homework/Social Groups starting November 3rd. and 4th.,
Newmarket Youth & Recreation Centre, 56 Charles Street.

Grade 9 and 10, every Wednesday, beginning November 3rd. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm,
Grade 11 and 12, every Thursday, beginning November 4th. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

These are integrated groups for students with Aspergers and mainstream. The groups will operate from the Newmarket area.
This is a great opportunity for students to receive help with their homework, and help others. The groups will meet once a week for three
hours, the first hour and a half is devoted for homework, and the remaining hour and a half for social activities - whatever the group
chooses to do. Guidance and support is provided by Kerry's Place staff.
Students who need community hours are welcome.

Cost for all Homework/Social Group participants to cover snack and some activities:
November 3, 2004 - February 16, 2005 $30.00
February 23, 2005 - June 1, 2005 $30.00
Students who cannot afford the cost do not have to pay.

Contact person is Dafna Avisar (905) 713 - 6808 x 341

Rock Climbing groups for Adults with Autism and Aspergers
On Tuesdays we will be running 2 different groups,
starting October 19, 2004 - April 26, 2005
2:00pm - 4:00pm Rock Climbing for adults with autism.
5:00pm - 7:00pm Rock Climbing for adults with diagnosis of Aspergers
ages 16 - 25.
Total: $15.00 per session
Contact person is Dafna Avisar (905) 713 - 6808 x 341
Participants who cannot afford the cost can contact Dafna in advance.

Volunteers are welcomed, no charge.

*****************************************************

TUTOR AVAILABLE

Hello List;
The following was received at asoyork. If interested, please contact Sue directly at Susan.Wallace@yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Thanks,
Lynda

To Whom It May Concern,
I am emailing to ask about opportunities for tutoring children with Autism. I am currently working as a special education teacher on the YRDSB
Regional Behaviour Team. I have extensive experience working with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities in all facets of education
(e.g. language, communication, mathematics, social skills, behaviour, etc.). I would like to be able to work at least one week night a week, 1:1 with a child to assist him/her with his/her education. I am available to work in either Richmond Hill, Aurora, or Newmarket. I am wondering if there are opportunities to work with children who have accessed your services.
Please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Sue Wallace, Special Education Teacher
Regional Behaviour Team
EC Newmarket
905-895-7227, 905-727-0022, 416-969-7170
ext. 3324 mailbox 2975
fax: 905-830-9259
"Wallace, Susan" <Susan.Wallace@yrdsb.edu.on.ca>

*****************************************************

GENEVA CENTRE MOVIE NIGHTS

Movie night is on again for this year. September through November and January through May. Movies are held at the Regent Theatre, 551 Mount Pleasant Road. Doors open at 6:30 and movie starts at 7:00 pm. Snacks and drinks are provided and no reservation is needed. For more information, dates, titles please contact Geneva Centre: 416-322-7877

**************************************

SEAC INFORMATION EVENING

Hello ASO Chapter Presidents and ASO staff and members,

Thanks in advance for your speedy responses.
Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO

Pre-Budget Consultation Submission

GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO

REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING OF THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT:

Feb 6, 2005

TUESDAY MORNING SUPPORT GROUP/WORKSHOPS

Jan 24, 2004

Tuesday Morning Support Group

Hot Stone Massage

SEAC INFORMATION EVENING

Hello ASO Chapter Presidents and ASO staff and members,

Thanks in advance for your speedy responses. Margaret Spoelstra Executive Director Autism Society Ontario 1179A King Street West, Suite 004 Toronto, ON M6K 3C5 marg@autismsociety.on.ca www.autismsociety.on.ca 416-246-9592 x22 Member, ASD-CARC www.autismresearch.ca

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO

Pre-Budget Consultation Submission

GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO

AUTISM SOCIETY ONTARIO

REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING OF THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT:

Feb 6, 2005

TUESDAY MORNING SUPPORT GROUP/WORKSHOPS

Jan 24, 2004

Tuesday Morning Support Group

Hot Stone Massage

Thanks in advance for your speedy responses.
Margaret Spoelstra
Executive Director
Autism Society Ontario
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
Toronto, ON M6K 3C5
marg@autismsociety.on.ca
www.autismsociety.on.ca
416-246-9592 x22
Member, ASD-CARC
www.autismresearch.ca