KindTree is dedicated to serving and celebrating the Autism Community through art, education, and recreation. With warm hearted whimsy, an open sense of family and a deep level of caring, we reach inside ourselves to embrace our flaws, gather our strengths, and offer our love while reaching out to people with autism spectrum disorders, their families and care givers. Through the power of self-advocacy in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect, autistic and neuro-normal people alike can work toward self- realization.

Autism Community News  April, 2006 AUTISM ARTISM 2006 Lane Arts Council, GreyWolf Projects VSA Washington, Elizabeth King, Ruth & Ken Ross Art by people with autism   Flash 1-06 / Flash 2-06 Flash 12-05 / Flash 10-05 / Flash 7-05 / Flash 4-05 / Flash 2-05 /Flash 10-04 Flash 5-04 / Flash 4-04 / Flash 1-04 Autism Artism 2006 / Mike's Barber Shop / Disability News Radio Chia Bush T-shirt / Art Careers Sale / ARC Awards Autism Speaks / Community Calendar / Autism Spectrum Disorders Hope for the Future   Hi All, This is just a short issue. Stuff is Happening in Autism Awareness Month that you might like to know about. So here ya go. AUTISM ARTISM 2006 Lane Arts Council, GreyWolf Projects VSA Washington, Ruth and Ken Ross Elizabeth King & Four Leaf Press April 3 - 30, Gala Opening Saturday, April 15, 4 - 8pm. DIVA, 110 W Broadway, Eugene This project is made possible in part by a grant by Lane Arts Council with support from City of Eugene Cultural Services Division Frank Flanders Kim Miller Melissa Dahl Carl Kinney Ryo Mastrogiovanni Karl Gieben Max Lester Jacynthe Geshke Renee Curtiss Alex Curtis Way Kwame Minta Mary-Minn Sirag Gala Opening Special Guests: Mayor Kitty Piercy Commissionor Anna Morrison Queen Slugnostra Paul Orbell Magicians Jay Frazier and Tony Diaz Program at 6PM Mary-Minn Sirag Mike's Barber Shop in Lincroft NJ is extending an invitation to children in the Autistic Community in Lincroft and neighboring towns to submit their works of art. Autistic artists may submit an 8 1/2" by 11" image that will be framed and displayed in the Shop at 669 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft. In conjunction with a program set up by Suzann Brucato, owner of Work Smarter Now, these works of art will also be scanned and sent to KindTree Productions (www.KindTree.org) for display on a dedicated web page for New Jersey artisans. Works of art may include paintings, photography, poetry, weaving, or any image that can be sent in a digital format. Images will need to include a card (available at the Shop) with the artist’s name, age, address (for mailing purposes only), a short biography (no more than 100 words), the title of the piece submitted, and an optional two- sentence description. Work Smarter Now will provide a dedicated link to purchase note cards and other products containing these images (through KindTree Productions) with 50% of sales given back to the artists. Work Smarter Now & KindTree Productions - Supporting the Autistic Community Tim Mueller and other guests will appear Wednesday, April 19 from 4 – 5:30 PM, PDT. www.disabilitynewsradio.com  Monica Moshenko, Host DisAbility News & Views Radio Network LIVE ONLINE every Sunday and Wednesday EDT Our TALK makes a difference! Get Carl Kinney's Chia Bush T-shirt $24.95 at the Autism Rocks CP Store Showcasing the work of community artists who experience disabilities. A variety of quality artistic pieces including painting, cards and jewelry will be displayed and available for purchase. All proceeds from every sale go directly to the artist. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call Molly Elliott, Hilyard Community Center, 682-5311 Friday, May 5 10 am - 7 pm 2580 Hilyard Street The ARC of Lane County announced today that Cheryl Nel Applegate, facilitator of KindTree Autism Support Group, has won the ARC of Oregon’s Professional of the Year Award. Congratulations, Nel, and thank you. Also, KindTree volunteer, Bridgeway House board member and Founder of the Aspergers Advocacy Coalition Nan Lester has won the Volunteer of the Year Award. We are so grateful to have you both here in Lane County. Autism Speaks Advocacy Update    On April 4, nearly 90 volunteers and staff of Autism Speaks went to visit their U.S. Representatives and Senators on Capitol Hill. They visited 40 Senate offices and 51 House offices to urge support of the Combating Autism Act. On April 5th, Bob and Suzanne Wright, their daughter Katie, Deirdre Imus, and Autism Speaks board member Ann Gibbons joined board members from Cure Autism Now to meet with members of Congress to encourage their further support of the Combating Autism Act. Read more.  Autism Speaks is sponsoring an Autism Walk next September in Eugene. Watch for it. AUTISM ONE 2006 CONFERENCE Wednesday, May 24 – Sunday, May 28 Chicago Westin O’Hare Hotel http://AutismOne.org   Hope is Real. Healing is Real Dear Tim The newsletter looks fabulous, as always, as does the activities and events going on in Lane County and at the state level. If anyone at KindTree is still in touch with the "Mom needs help in Oregon" or other parents for that matter, please don't forget to tell them about Direction Service Case Coordination services (541-686-5060). That is truly a one-stop information and more importantly, advocacy program, unlike any other I have found.Thanks once again for a stellar job you all do, Best regards,  Andrea Watrud Saturday, April 15 4-8pm “Autism Artism 2006” Gala Opening, DIVA, 110 W Broadway, Eugene. More here.... Saturday, April 15, 7pm. Portland Trail Blazers 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Night-- Blazers vs. Golden State Warriors. ASO, FEAT-OR, ARRO Ryan Williams, 503-963-3982; 8:30-5:30M-F or e-mail ryan.williams@trailblazers.com Sunday, April 23 Autism Walk-a-thon for the ASO. Waterfront Park under the Morrison Bridge, downtown Portland 10-12am., registration opens at 8:30. athensc@comcast.net Autism Training and Supports: Strategies for Working with Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 8:30am every Friday in April and May of 2006. (541) 689-2327 Bridgeway House: Tuesdays - Handwriting in Motion, 3:30pm / Parent Support Group (2nd & 4th) 7pm. Wednesdays - Music Ther-apy 4pm. First Saturday - Exploring Aspergers Syndrom with Nan Lester, MS, 11:30am. 345 0805. Saturday, April 29, 2006 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon Autism Spectrum Disorders Hope for the Future Educational practices and biomedical treatments The Northwest Autism Foundation and Western Oregon University are sponsoring this event, designed to bring together parents, educators, instructional assistants, administrators, people in the medical field and others to talk about an important issue: autism. We have gathered experts in the medical and education fields, parents, and an individual with autism to speak about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from each of their unique perspectives. These sessions are further complemented by a Brown Bag Lunch Session, an open-ended time to meet, hear more and ask questions of both the facilitators and conference participants. ASD resource tables will have materials to further connect you with area resources. Online registration /Printable registration form (requires Adobe Reader) Sunday, April 30. Autism Awareness Walk. Oregon State Capitol Bldg, front steps, 900 State St, Salem. Rhonda Brown, par-ent. Fun and prizes. catrhonda@comcast.net Friday, May 5, 10 am - 7 pm Art Show and Sale Hilyard Community Center, 682-5311, 2580 Hilyard Street An Afternoon with David Kirby by Bridgeway House David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm; Mercury In Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy, will be speaking at Studio One in the Hult Center. Please join us! Friday, May 12th at Noon Tickets are $25.00 Tickets can be purchased through the Hult Center Ticket Office. You can contact them by calling 541-682-5000 or (800) 735-2900 or visit their website at www.hultcenter.org. For more information, call (541) 345-0805 Saturday, May 20, Hilyard Center 1 - 6pm KindTree Autism Forum. “Navigating the System” for children and adults. Come participate. FREE! Tuesday night, May 23rd, ASO – LCC meeting. 6:30 at Bridgeway House. Mark your calendars. Monday-Friday June 26-30, Autreat by ANI Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Featuring Mary-Minn Sirag on "Traveling with a Purpose Overseas: Benefits and Strategies for Autists," www.ani.autistics.org Every Month at Bridgeway House (345 0805) Current Classes: Dad’s night out, Dad’s support group, Social Peer Play Sessions, Music Therapy, The Listening Program Support Groups: Sibling Support Group, Parent Support Group, Spanish Speaking Parent Support Group, Gluten & Casein Free Diet, Support Group Gluten & Casein Free Bread Baking Demonstration, Low Cost Counseling Service. The first Saturday of every month, 11:30 - 1pm The Asperger Advocacy Coalition strength-based diagnostic discussiongroup meets , at Bridgeway House, Nan Lester 345-3467. Second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30pm Asperger Advocacy Coalition open meetings Understanding Aspergers, featuring speakers, diagnostic information and support. Now at Bridgeway - Please sign up - no fee Offering 1 hour introductory ABA sessions for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. Becky Watson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst specializing in behavioral approaches to teaching language (verbal behavior) and critical learning skills. For more information or to schedule a session, please call Bridgeway House at 345-0805. If you would like more information about consultation services, please call Becky at 345-2043 or e-mail at watsonbcba@yahoo.com.