ASO respite program extended

Again this year the ASO has funded an important respite care program, the “Take a Break” program. This program provides funding for a dinner and movie plus up to 4 hours of respite care services.

Caregiver Guidelines:
- First step: call or e-mail Chapter Rep. Tim Mueller to get in line. He will answer all your questions. 541 521 7208.- Caregivers are responsible for booking the respite care. You may hire your own respite provider, or visit the ARC of Lane County's web site to find one of their trained providers.- Caregivers will provide to ASO the name and contact information of the respite care provider as soon as they have it. - Child care must be provided by a respite care provider. Family members under 18 are not eligible. - A $25 gift certificate to a restaurant, 2 movie tickets and 4 hours of respite care at $12.00/hour is the maximum per excursion. - ASO will pay the respite care provider directly. Respite care providers will be given a form to fill out and return to ASO-LCC. Upon approval, payments to respite care providers will expedited by ASO. - This program is on a first come, first serve basis. asolanecounty.org

ASO Lane County Social Skills Class

The ASO Lane County Chapter is sponsoring a Social Skills Class and scheduled social outings on alternating months for adults with HFA and Aspergers who can get around independently in the community. The Social Skills class is free. The Autism Society of Oregon will help to subsidize entry fees for the activities. 

During the Social Skills class, conversation is taught, role-modeled and practiced. The class is taught by Doris Germain, an Autism Specialist in the Linn-Benton School District. Her skill in teaching social skills has been learned from 20 years of working with people on the spectrum.
. 
The Social Skills Class is taking place on  the 3rd Monday of odd-numbered months from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church on 13th and Pearl in Eugene. The Social Skills Class will choose the activity for the following month's Social Outing. 

The Social Outing is taking place sometime during the weekend of even-numbered months-- on Friday evening or Saturday, depending on the activity chosen by the previous month's Social Skills Class. There will be no Social Outing in August because of KindTree-Autism Rocks' Autism Retreat. 

Activities have included karaoke, a picnic at Alton Baker Park, a trip to OMSI, a trip to the coast, the Asian Celebration. 

If you have questions, call ASO chapter representative Mary-Minn Sirag at 541-689-2228 or email sirag@mindspring.com