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Community Calendar: KindTree Support
Group / KindTree
Forum Activism: National_Autism_Association_Newsletter
/JOIN THE OREGON NETWORK Greetings: It's another beautiful evening as I
write this. But tomorrow rain is forecast. What, did I think
it was gonna stay nice forever? Joy is never forever, and,
thankfully, neither is pain or sadness. Each in it's time,
and each to savor in it's own special way. I try to look at challenges in my life the same way. I really like the easy days - the ones where people smile at me, say encouraging words to me, and stuff goes right. But somehow I don't think I would enjoy them as much without the hard days. The ones where my computer just stops, or I can't find that phone number, or my ankle feels like a lead balloon. Like a bumper sticker I saw today: "Oh, no, not another learning experience." On we go... Coming up in less than two weeks (Sunday, May 16, 1 - 6pm) is KindTree's Autism Forum III - Supportive Interventions Throughout the Life-Span. We have gathered a terrific group of experienced people waiting to share their expertise with you - stuff that can help you through those "hard days". It's a FREE event, so everyone can attend. But that doesn't mean it's not valuable. It's a great place to get some info, to participate, to empower, to share, to learn. It's for you. And we'll be asking you to share with all of us your personal list of resources - your favorite dentist, doctor, school administrator, care provider, consultant - people who succesfully work with autists and are aware of their special needs. Please come. We need each other. One last word - FUNDRAISING! We all had a really great time at our Family Festival event. Many thanks to TR Kelley and Randy (the Raventones), Gordon David Kaswell, Nel Applegate, Max and Dave Lester and Emily Jensen for performing, and to Michelle and her crew for organizing all the great hat making! View Photo Album HERE!! Despite all the fun, we missed our financial goal. Please, give some thought to sending a bit of money our way. I think I'll make a "THANK YOU" page. You should be on it. Send a check ($10 would be nice), or click on one of the options below. You, too, can be a true KindTree supporter. Thanks - Tim Mueller 1) Order an Autism Rocks T-shirt. We're in the process
of restocking and all sizes should be available, from kids
medium to adult XXX large, in black, natural, and our new
color - Forest Green!
These are $15 each plus $4.50 shipping (unless you live close
enough to come pick up? 521 7208). And don't forget our beautiful Note Cards!
2) Visit our online store at OregonLive CaféPress. This site features Autism Rocks logo items as well as clothing, bags, hats, baby things, holiday decorations and more printed with autist's art. Check it out today. 3) Sign up for Escrip! PLEASE SIGN UP! THIS IS WORKING!! This program can send a percentage of each purchase you make at a participating merchant to KindTree Productions! Just go to www.escrip.com and enroll. It took me about 5 minutes. Enter our ID # 153141696 or Eugene or search for KindTree. It's pretty simple. Participating merchants include VISA, MasterCard, Big 5 Sports, Carl's Junior, PC Market of Choice, Whole Foods Markets, Wild Oats, Office Max, AAMCO, Edie Bauer, Sharper Image, Payless shoes, and more. What'cha waiting for? 4) Send KindTree a personal donation.
Your contributions are tax deductible and much appreciated.
We need your help. Thanks.
You Can Do It! Our
Donation Page...
Please direct all orders to: KindTree,
2096 1/2 Arthur St, Eugene, OR 97405 - 541 521
7208
KINDTREE CALENDAR: Mondays,
May 10, June 14
St
Mary's Episcopal Church, at Pearl and 13th in Eugene
4:30 - 6PM in the kindergarten classroom downstairs.
Facilitated
by Cheryl Nel Applegate
Call
Mary-Minn at 689
2228
Sunday, May 16, 2004 Free Supportive Interventions
1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard Eugene, Oregon 97405 Mission: The purpose of KindTree Autism Forum 2004 is to bring together families, individuals, service providers and caregivers whose lives are impacted by Autism or Asperger's. The forum is intended to provide an opportunity for dialogue and exchange of information, and to provide a platform to discuss prevailing issues, concerns, and possible solutions. Also, when you arrive, we shall ask you to list services you are presently using (for our resource guide, published in KindTree's subsequent newsletter) and concerns you’d like to address at our concluding brainstorming session . Panel Format: brief panelist intro’s, questions, answers, and open discussion. Doors open at 1pm. 1:15-2:15pm: A panel of people with autism speak to their experiences. Facilitated by Cheryl Nel Applegate. Speakers: Josh Fraim, T.R. Kelley, Max Lester, Mary-Minn Sirag. 2:30-3:30pm: Supportive
interventions for kids from elementary school Q&A facilitated by Donna Atkinson, parent. These interventions prevent difficult situations (such as meltdowns or other "behaviors") from escalating into something menacing and possibly even dangerous. Panelists: Jessica Neyman, Special Education Attorney; Betsy LaCroix, Director of Case Coordination for Direction Service; Marilyn Nersesian, Special Education Administrator for 4J; Mary Bromley, Special Education Teacher at Crest Drive Elementary; Nan Gray Lester, co-founder of the Asperger Advocacy Coalition. 3:45-4:45pm. Supportive interventions for adults. Facilitated by Gary Cornelius, case manager for Lane DDS. These interventions prevent difficult situations from escalating into brushes with law enforcement, psychiatric personnel, and other officials unsavory and frightening to the freaking out autist. Other panelists will be Melissa Rizzo, Personal Agent from Full Access Brokerage; Steve Brown, group home provider and former group home manager at OSLP and former President of KindTree Productions; Jill Adler from Protective Services; Doris Germain, Autism Specialist for Linn-Benton County School District and teacher at Autism Training and Support. 5-6pm. Where-to, what-next brainstorming session with flip charts. Facilitated by Nan Gray Lester, co-founder of Asperger Advocacy Coalition Agency display tables available. Refreshments will be provided. Questions? 689-2228 Forum@kindtree.org KindTree Summer Autism Camp/Retreat August 27 - 29, 2004 *Lakeside and Ocean Walks *Non-competitive Games *Family Oriented *Vegetarian Food The retreat is a time for rejuvenation and solidarity. Autists are accepted and enjoyed for themselves, not forced into a procrustean neuro-normal mold. COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Art Careers
Show and Sale All proceeds from every sale go directly to the artist who created the piece. Refreshments will be served. Art instructors are Mary-Minn Sirag (jewelry class) and Amanda Hickok and Cathy Pekarsky (painting class). If you have further questions, call Molly Elliott at 582-5311. The Arc of Oregon Annual State Convention Eugene Hilton May 7th and 8th, 2004 Fast Facts: ¨ Hotel reservations Deadline: April 4, 2004—call today! 800-937-6660 or 541-342-2000. (Be sure to mention The Arc of Oregon Conference to obtain the group rate of $83 per night.) ¨ Exhibits will be open throughout the conference (See preliminary schedule below.) ¨ Registration Desk opens on Friday, May 7, 2004 at 12:00 (See preliminary schedule below) ¨ Up to thirty-two break out sessions plus exhibits! ¨ Scholarships for registration will be available for people with developmental disabilities and their families who have not received these funds within the last two years. For more information click here or call Pam at 343-5256. May Eugene Clinics at Bridgeway House: May 14 Brown Bag Lunch 12:30-2p.m.,Open
Discussion with Dr. Green and Dr. Contreras Dr. Alejandro Contreras, N.D. May 19th - Crime Prevention
Talk More classes and events here: www.bridgewayhouse.org. Autism
Training and Support, Inc. Social
Skills Classes 2004 Thursdays 4:30-6:00 pm, May
13 - June 17, 2004 Thursdays 6:30-8:00 pm, May
13 - June 17, 2004 Taught by Doris Germain, M.Ed., with guidance from Dawn Stahlberg, Autism Specialist. Doris has a Master's Degree in Special Education and has worked as an Autism Specialist since 1997. Doris has varied experience with students of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder. SPECIAL
TWO DAY AUTISM CONFERENCE Saturday, May 15, 2004
Autism One 2004 Conference, May 27 - 30, 2004, Chicago
The Most Comprehensive Conference on Autism Ever Assembled Autism One 2004, the most comprehensive conference on autism ever assembled, will be held May 27 - 30, 2004, in Chicago. It is a conference for parents and professionals for the care, treatment, and recovery of children with autism. Our web site is http://AutismOne.org.
Autism Oasis Conference June 19th To all persons with, and parents, caregivers and love ones of persons with autism; On June 19th at the Oregon Convention Center, the Northwest Autism Foundation and Oregon Health Sciences University will publicly announce that OHSU has agreed to become one of five medical treatment centers in the nation that will be established to treat children with autism following an accepted medical protocol that has been nationally recognized as effective in treating children with autism that suffer from gastrointestinal, absorption and other related medical problems. The conference will last all day and is currently slated to begin at 9:00 a.m. OHSU will be replicating the L.A.D.D.E.R.S. program in Boston, currently being run by one of the worlds leading brain specialists Dr. Margaret Bowman and Dr. Timothy Buie, a pediatric gastroenterologist from Harvard Medical who has had huge success in treating children with autism. For more information on the L.A.D.D.E.R.S. program that OHSU will emulate, and details regarding results of medical procedures that have been performed in Boston, visit the Northwest Autism Foundation website at www.autismnwaf.org. The press will be at this conference, as will representatives from Boston, the Northwest Autism Foundation and others. Break-out sessions will also be held in the afternoon session. THE CHANGING
FACE OF POVERTY NEWS: Emily Neuhause #346-1987 - eneuhaus@darkwing.uoregon.edu - is doing a study trying "to understand how children and adolescents with and without autism think about the behavior of the people around them". They're looking for children between 5-10 to come to their playroom at the UO campus for one hour. Childcare provided for siblings. More info contact Emily. DIRECT SUPPORTS CONFERENCE SEEKS PRESENTERS Presenters
and exhibitors are being sought for The Oregon Conference
on Direct Supports, a conference for direct support workers,
self-advocates, and families, sponsored by the Oregon Developmental
Disabilities Coalition in collaboration with the Oregon Rehabilitation
Association. The theme of the conference
is "The Power of One", focusing on how one person
can make a difference in the lives of many. Over 600 participants
interested in the field of developmental disabilities are
making plans to attend. The conference will offer close to
100 concurrent sessions on the following topics: Session and Exhibit
proposals are due on or before MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2004. A Beach Center survey for Self-Advocates about their use of information technology, including computers and cell phones, is on the web at http://survey.ablelinktech.com/QuestNet/bcstart.asp "Whatever we resist, persists - Whatever we think about, we bring about". Activism:
National Autism Association Newsletter The National Autism Association Weekly E-Newsletter.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/8572390.htm By Sandy Kleffman CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Critics blasted last week's decision, particularly in light of government warnings about other types of mercury exposure. "There are all these concerns about
mercury from these coal-powered plants and yet they kind
of shrug their shoulders at mercury in the vaccines and
frankly, I'm outraged," said Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Florida,
one of the few members of Congress who also is a physician. New Pink &White
M&M's
JOIN
THE OREGON NETWORK This fits in with some things I am thinking about why " autism rocks " Subject:
Another perspective from a parent of a child with autism Wisconsin State Journal A government Web site defines autism
as a "devastating scourge." An autism "expert"
decrees that autism is worse "than Sept. 11 and AIDS
combined." An Autism Society Canada board member proclaims
that autism is worse than cancer -- because people with
autism have normal lifespans. Oh, you say, those people don't want
to get rid of my son, they just want to get rid of that
part of him that's autistic. But research demonstrates that
autistic traits are distributed into the non-autistic population;
some people have more of them, some have fewer. History
suggests that many individuals whom we would today diagnose
as autistic -- some severely so -- contributed profoundly
to our art, our math, our science, and our literature. Gernsbacher is Vilas
Research Professor and Sir Frederic Bartlett Thanks for Listening. May 4, 2004 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological disorder of development. It causes problems with the way a person processes, uses and organizes information. ASD affects a person's abilities in Communication, Social Interaction and Sensory Processing. People with ASD may also have restricted, repetitive behavior, interests, and activities that can affect how they learn. |
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This Friday (May 7), Hilyard Community
Center will be hosting its spring Art Careers Show
and Sale, showcasing the work of community artists
with disabilities. A variety of quality artistic pieces
including jewelry, paintings and cards will be available
for purchase (and visual enjoyment).