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  July, 2006   Art & the Vineyard Art by people with autism Autism Camp / Retreat Welcome home... Art by people with autism: Notecards and More... Help Support Artists With Autism   Flash 1-06 / Flash 2-06 / Flash 4-06 / Flash 5-06 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 1-0 Retreat Info / News / Events Greetings, I think this is Summer. Pretty sure. For calendar info please go to our Community Calendar page. There are some great things happening in our area. Check them out. Our 10th Autism Retreat is coming this August 25-27 with all the fun stuff you've grown accustomed to: swimming, boating, campfires, woods, networking, friendship. This year the Raventones are back, too. And, as an added treat, award winning author Kristi Sakai (Finding Our Way - Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family) will be joining us and sharing her thoughts. See you there... This will be our 4th year at Maude Kerns Art Center's "Art & the Vineyard" festival of music and art, July 1 - 4 from 11AM to 7PM (plus the fireworks on the 4th). "Autism Rocks Traveling Art Show" will again be in the Special Attractions area, displaying original art by people with autism, as well as prints and note cards, and our awesome new Autism Rocks T-shirt colors. This year we have a great supply of original pieces from our Autism Artism 2006 show, as well as pieces from Melissa Dahl and new Springfield artist Stephen Peeler. Stephen will be with us for awhile on Saturday, Cark Kinney will be here, too, as well as other KindTree artists. Please join us, enjoy the festival, and have fun under the sun. Stephen Peeler Blank Stare - Blue Stephen Peeler Nude Expressionist Stephen Peeler Punk Rock - Detail Autism Camp / Retreat 2006 Camp date: August 25 - 27, 2006 (For Saturday - Sunday only)  Person with autism - $75  Family Member/ Caregiver - $20 (each)  Group Maximum - $130 plus:  Friday night arrival add- $35 / group shared cabin fee - $30 / group no extra fee for tent dwellers (bring your own or use the Scouts' tents) The retreat is designed around the needs of those living with autism. Parents and caregivers can bring their autistic charges and relax with them over the weekend, knowing that they are in a safe and nurturing environment. The retreat is a time for rejuvenation and solidarity. Autists are accepted and enjoyed for themselves, not forced into a procrustean neuro-normal mold. This is some of the greatest autistic fun there is.   Sponsor a Family Apply for a scholarship Pictures from past Retreats Register online (credit card ready) Registration Form NEWS: Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures from NPR, June 26, 2006. Michael John Carley is trying to change your image of autism. He has autism and he's happy just the way he is. He thinks that might surprise you. Mark Leland, Country Music star, is enjoying success with "Missing Pieces", a song about autism. The largest motivation behind this CD is the title track, “Missing Pieces”. Leland’s manager and long time friend, Tim Calhoun, is the father of Nathaniel, the inspiration for this song. Nathaniel, like 1.7 million other children, is autistic. After listening to the stories of the challenges that families face in receiving treatment for their children diagnosed with autism and watching the pain his close friend was facing, Leland began to learn more and more about autism. Together, Calhoun and Leland wrote “Missing Pieces”. It is a touching song that takes a listener through the anguish of having a beautiful baby whose neurological sense become challenged in the first few years of life. The autism community faces a constant struggle of learning about the causes of this terrible disease and the ever-changing ideas on effective treatment. Doctor Who Sparked Vaccine Controversy Faces Charges The doctor who sparked a worldwide scare over the safety of the MMR vaccine is expected to be charged with professional misconduct by Great Britain's General Medical Council, the London Independent reported Monday. Autism groups want mercury ban Preservative used in vaccines for children By Richard Nangle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF, Massachusetts rnangle@telegram.com A battle pitting many parents of autistic children against the bulk of the state’s medical establishment, with state lawmakers squarely in the middle, could spill onto the House floor this week as debate begins on a bill to ban mercury from children’s vaccines. What spurred the proposed legislation is a rise in autism rates that coincides with an increase in the required number of children’s vaccines. Since 1989 the number of required injections is up from about 8 to 22. In that same time period, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incidences of autism have risen from 2 in 10,000 to 1 in 166. Cheryl Guadino took this picture of her son Ryan’s reaction to several vaccinations containing thimerasol. The North Attleboro mother has sent a copy of the photo to every member of the Legislature. (CHERYL GUADINO) "A lot of folks don’t want to believe that we could have been unwittingly doing harm to our children." STATE REP. BARBARA L’ITALIEN, D-ANDOVER, MOTHER OF AUTISTIC SON Linked articles: » Autism battled in different ways Grafton family’s autistic son recovers (6/18/2006) » Parents speak out, say epidemic exists (6/18/2006) Be proactive if you suspect disability By Nanny Yvonne, Thursday, June 15, 2006 Q: I have a child who likes to keep to himself and won’t interact with other children. Some of my friends have suggested I have him tested for autism. What are the signs of autism and how do I get him tested? i m a g i n e: Finding New Stories For People Who Experience Disabilities My practice is based upon a simple idea: difficult behaviors result from unmet needs. Article by Geri Newton: Social/Sexual Awareness For Persons With Disabilities Poetry Contest: Work Smarter Now would like to share with you a website for children who are creative communicators. Creative Communication - Your Writing Contest Headquarters Deadline for Summer 2006 Contest -- entries must be postmarked by August 15, 2006 The purpose of the poetry contest is to bring recognition to poets both young and old. Winners share over $70,000 in prizes. With most contests regionally based, poets are competing against their peers in both age and location. In addition to the winning poems, other poems of high merit are accepted to be published in our hard bound anthology. Within the guidelines of accepting less than 50% of the poems that are entered in each contest, the contest is selective so that it is an honor to be accepted, yet not so exclusive that it is discouraging to enter. Unlike many other organizations who sponsor poetry contests, there is no entry fee and no required purchase in order to become published. Creative Communication staff is comprised of teachers, professors, and poets. July 27, Foster Provider Picnic 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come join us for the 7th Annual Foster Provider Appreciation Picnic. We’ve changed the location this year but we’ll still bring the food, the music and the “thanks”- you just bring yourselves! Let us show you how much we value your hard work with a day in the park with us and other foster providers. Where: Island Park – 200 West B Street Springfield RSVP to Ranee at the DDS office – 682-3655 ZOOWALK FOR AUTISM RESEARCH & TREATMENT, PORTLAND, OREGON Saturday, August 5th.  8:00 a.m. registration booth opens, walk starts at 9:00 a.m. concludes at 11a.m.  Be one of the first to see the new cougar exhibit opening that morning! Visit www.zoowalk.com for details and to register on-line.  Minimum donation of $10 receives all day zoo pass, zoowalk, bracelet and more! All money raised goes to Autism research and treatment.  Presented by the Autism Research Institute, www.AutismResearchInstitute.com. Many More calendar items here Thanks for listening - "The strongest shield is Knowledge, the greatest sword, Compassion."