FOCUS Festival For Autism/You Can Help

FOCUS Festival for Autism

Autism-Friendly Family Fun

Every year, FOCUS Center for Autism holds its FOCUS Festival for Autism, a safe, family-friendly carnival that attracts over 300 individuals.

Old Fashioned Fun

Food - Games – Pony Rides – Petting Zoo – Eurobungy – Music -Teacup Raffle

FOCUS Festival for AUTISM is a place where kids on the Autism Spectrum can:

·         Be themselves and enjoy the Festival safely and independently.

·         Socialize with peers in a fun and judgment-free atmosphere. 

·         Families can kick back and have a good time.

 The Festival’s environment supports the needs of children on the Autism Spectrum.

Ample opportunities for sensory integration are provided while, at the same time, preventing sensory overload by eliminating activities with bright lights and loud noises, as you might find at a typical carnival.

Get Your Message Heard

Become a Donor or Vendor at the next FOCUS Festival for Autism. The Festival takes place on June 7, 2014 from 12-4 PM. Past participants have included: The Litchfield County Autism Spectrum Association (LACASA), Coldwell Banker, Collinsville Savings Society, Long’s Automotive, Dynamic Auto Works, Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding, Roses for Autism, Star Winds, The Canton Lions Club, Guida’s Dairy, Kohl’s Cares Hometown Partnerships and K21 Kidstrong Foundation.  

FOCUS Center for Autism is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

How You Help

FOCUS Festival for Autism is one of our major fundraising events supporting our successful Extended Day Treatment Program and Summer Social Skills Immersion Program.

Please help by becoming a vendor at the FOCUS Festival for Autism.  Thank you for considering this request.

Contact

Colleen Burns at colleen.burns@focuscenterforautism.org or Kim Grehn at kim.grehn@focuscenterforautism.org.    (860) 693-8809

Insurance Help for Autism Treatment

JPMorgan, other employers move to cover costly autism therapies

Reuters reports that companies like JP Morgan and United Technologies are now helping their families dealing with Autism. The cost for therapies can run over $60,000 a year. Total cost over the lifetime of a person with Autism can run as high as $2.3 million. Insurance companies have been hesitant to cover therapies because of those costs but, there is evidence that thinking is changing.

Therapies that help with social skills and job skills can bring people on the spectrum to their full potential. I work for FOCUS Center for Autism. We work with children to do just that. Some of our children go on to college. Others, with supports, find jobs. The therapies are expensive. Having insurance cover some of those costs will give hope to these families.

Winning that Grant

Questions I'm Most Often Asked about Winning Foundation Grants

I like this article by Martin Teitel about grant making. His advice about keeping it fresh hits home. The tendency is to write the same thing over and over when describing our non-profit. Custom tailoring the language to appeal to the grantor in order to stand out makes sense. Martin Teitel's three C's will help cut through to the grantor. Make it easy to read and to the point.

1. Clear means you eliminate jargon
2. Concise means you don't go one letter over the prescribed limit
3. Compelling means you let ideas do the work

Martin Teitel is is the author of The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Winning Foundation Grants: A Foundation CEO Reveals the Secrets You Need to Know. He has worked in the world of nonprofits for 45 years.

The article appeared in Guidestar's Newsletter.

The Autism Therapy That Works For Us: Time | Cognoscenti

The Autism Therapy That Works For Us: Time | Cognoscenti
Susan Senator's thoughtful blog about how people on the spectrum are lifelong learners struck me. She writes about her son who was diagnosed at age three...too late for early intervention. It has been reported recently that children can be diagnosed early...as early as two months.

Senator writes about her search for therapies. It's something most of parents of an autistic child go through. Senator writes about her son's behavior therapy but, nothing had the dramatic results (read cure) that so many hope for.

The breakthrough for her son was when he turned 17 and he suddenly wanted friends. The experience coincided with his participation in Special Olympics. For our son the transition seemed to happen over the period of a few months. He started attending the Extended Day Treatment Program at FOCUS Center for Autism.  That was quickly followed by  Special Olympics, Unified Sports, Unified Theater, and the post high school program in our town that taught him life and social skills.

Above all, for both boys, they matured. They were ready. As Senator points out...their experiences cry out for services for adults on the spectrum. Services should not end at age 18 or 21.

You can read the entire blog at Cognoscenti...featured on the website of public radio station WBUR.

Seeking Positive Outcomes

Looking For Good Intentions

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4.8
I might add...speak up!

Every year, FOCUS Center for Autism holds its FOCUS Festival for Autism, a safe, family-friendly carnival that attracts over 300 persons.

FOCUS Festival for Autism is a place where kids on the Autism Spectrum can: 

Be themselves and enjoy the Festival safely and independently.
Socialize with peers in a fun and judgment-free atmosphere. 

Families can kick back and have a good time.

Be a part of something good...something positive

We could use your help. There are many ways to help.
Donate time
Donate items for the raffle
Become a donor
Become a sponsor
If you have a child on the Spectrum...attend the event.

Contact us!

kim.grehn@focuscenterforautism

seecolleen@gmail.com

FOCUS Appeal Tells a Story

The approach is something new for The FOCUS Center for Autism. For this Fall's appeal we're telling a story about a positive outcome. Storytelling is something we did extensively in public radio. Admittedly we didn't do it enough in fundraising. But, I'm hopeful the appeal will reach or donors. Look it over. Let me know what you think.

WITH YOUR HELP, FOCUS MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Alison is a vivacious twelve-year-old with Autism who, before FOCUS, struggled both academically and socially. Alison represents a unique aspect of Autism as it affects boys four times more than girls. She has the same needs as her male counterparts on the Spectrum, but her sweet disposition caused some adults to overlook her. Many adults described Alison as “cute” and “bright”, and couldn’t believe she could need assistance with academics or social skills. She had teachers who didn’t understand her, and peers that would bully her. Because her needs were not being met, Alison was feeling more and more isolated and depressed. She thought her life didn’t have a purpose.  

Alison has been enrolled in FOCUS’s Extended Day Treatment program for three years. This program has helped her develop and practice the social skills she needs to navigate her world. However, the problems she was having at school still remained. It was then decided that she would attend FOCUS’s Clinical Educational Support Program. This program serves children who are having a difficult experience in their traditional school setting. With low teacher to student ratios, a multimodal approach to academics, and a strong emphasis on social and coping skill development, this program supports the whole child in order to ensure their success.  

Now in her second year, Alison is thriving both academically and socially. She finally has the help she needs, which puts her at ease. She also feels safe and accepted in the FOCUS environment. For the first time in her life, she is making friends! Alison’s experience at FOCUS is so profound that, in appreciation, she raised $215 which she donated to the Clinical Educational Support Program. 

Alison’s story doesn’t end here. She, along with her family, is using her voice to advocate for Autism Awareness in the community. Her family participates in Autism rides, and she is an active participant in FOCUS’s “Autism Spectrum Unplugged” panel. Alison also led the charge to have blue Autism ribbons distributed throughout her hometown. As a result of all her hard work she was honored this year by her State Senator, Jason Welch, during Autism Awareness Day at the State Capitol! 

Alison’s story is just one of the many reasons why YOUR support of FOCUS Center for Autism is so important.

Your donation will make a difference. Your contribution to FOCUS will help us continue to provide the child-centered programming you have come to expect.  

 

Your Support Helps Fund:

·         Our Clinical Educational Support Program

·         Our After School Program

·         Our Parent Support Program

·         Our Education and Mentoring Program

·         Our Scholarship Program

Please consider a gift today! Our unique model of care can change a child’s life. It has changed Alison’s. 

Help FOCUS help children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders achieve their full potential.

“because the creatively wired and socially challenged should not have to go it alone”™

Thank you so much!

Early Signs of Autism

Lack of eye contact may be first sign of autism in infants


This story, reported by CBS News, will be interesting to follow. Many believe there is a link between Autism and the MMR vaccines. If the diagnosis predates the vaccines are the vaccines eliminated as a cause for Autism? The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, the World Health Organization, and the Institute of Medicine all agree that there's probably no relationship between autism and vaccines. Many parents believe otherwise. Their evidence is anecdotal. What happens to the anecdotal evidence if Autism can be diagnosed before the vaccines are administered?

Canceled Policies and Name Calling

The political rhetoric around the Affordable Care Act remains unabated and disingenuous. Republicans and the Tea Party are feigning surprise that Obama exaggerated when he said that nobody would have their current policy cancelled. Actually, they are calling him a liar. Name calling seems to be the standard in Washington. Especially among the opponents of the Obama Administration.

Those who actually followed the debate knew well before this current storm that certain policies would not qualify. Here's the issue according to FactCheck.Org

The issue now getting attention is that the new law sets minimum standards for health insurance coverage, requiring, for example, that all health plans carry mental health benefits, prescription drug coverage, vaccinations, dental and vision care for children, maternity care for women, and more. Coverage also must be available to all regardless of preexisting medical conditions. In effect, this outlaws many existing “bare bones” plans that were cheap, but didn't cover all (or any) of the required benefits and were available to mainly healthy persons. Those plans are now outlawed, and not all who had them welcome better insurance at greater cost.

Over 30 million people need affordable health care. Many millions more need coverage that will actually take care of their needs. This isn't about freeloaders (more name calling). This about the working poor, children and people with disabilities.

The Affordable Care Act requires that insurance companies actually cover your health care needs. The cheap product insurance companies offered for individuals cost a lot and didn't cover much of anything.  Our politicians are supposed to know this stuff. Why didn't they bring this discrepancy up in 2010? Why wasn't this more widely reported by the media in 2010? I guess bringing it up now is an opportunity to grandstand and to call people names. It would have been much more beneficial to actually do something to make people aware of the issue three years ago and, to look for a way to fix the issue.

Life on the Spectrum - The FOCUS Spectrum Unplugged

Dispelling Preconceptions about Autism

Recently FOCUS Spectrum Unplugged presented a panel at SEPTO in Willington.  The mission of the unplugged panels is to help give people a greater understanding of what it is like for families on the Spectrum.  Since 2004 and with over 100 presentations under their belt the FOCUS “panel of experts” has wowed educators, students, service providers, business and community groups all over Connecticut and Massachusetts. This panel consists of current FOCUS students, alumni and staff who are all on the Autism Spectrum. Led by Donna Swanson our FOCUS Executive Director the panel is an open and honest discussion about what life with autism is really like. Panel members clearly describe their school experiences, their difficulty with relationships and their feelings of isolation and loneliness. They are also quick to relate to educators’ and service providers which approaches and techniques worked and which did not. The panel is always enthusiastically received and is responsible for providing awareness and hope to thousands of children and families and for raising the consciousness of many concerning this growing disorder.

Yesterday the FOCUS Spectrum Unplugged spoke at the SEPTO in Willington. It was a very long day but we love to be together. The audience was so attentive and interactive. The panel was the same members as last year as were some of the attendees who could not believe the changes and growth in the panel. What impresses me the most is not only their growth but the fact that this growth is apparent and happening at the same time that each panel member is going through some very difficult life changes. The message here is there is hope even when life throws us a curve ball if we are surrounded by support and people who believe in us. So proud of all of FOCUS..kids, families and staff..WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN TOGETHER! Donna Swanson, founder and executive director.

Success SEPTO is to works within our local communities to encourage school districts, legislators, and families to work together. The organization strives to understand, support, and enhance education, and provide greater opportunities for children with special needs. They serve Ashford, Mansfield, Stafford, Tolland, Willington and other surrounding towns in Northeast Connecticut.

FOCUS Center for Autism is a grassroots, community-based nonprofit whose mission is helping children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders achieve their full potential. FOCUS Center for Autism became a non-profit organization in 2000. It began as an after-school program and a camp in the summers for children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum and, is now an intensive and growing clinical continuum of care. In 2009 FOCUS expanded its Extended Day Treatment Program to include the morning hours and to offer a Clinical Education Program that targets children who are having a difficult experience in their traditional school setting. This program coupled with our After School Program offers a comprehensive clinical model that promotes social, emotional and academic growth. The FOCUS Extended Day Treatment Program has developed into a well respected community-based model of treatment that has now served over 500 children.

Creating jobs for their Autistic children

A Proactive Choice - Some Parents Stepping In

There's a report in USA Today about parents creating jobs for their Autistic Children. The story features Lori Ireland and her non-profit organization Extraordinary Ventures which employs 40 young adults on the Spectrum. They're doing jobs cleaning buses and making candles. 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/28/autism-jobs-parents/2839027/

The article also mentions The nonPareil Institute in Plano, Texas. The Institute started five years ago to offer the founder's children training in technology. The non-profit trains young adults on the spectrum to develop digital games and apps. The cost is $675 a month. According to CEO Dan Selec, they have released five apps and a couple of games. There are plans to expand to seven more cities.

In both these examples parents with means are offering their children opportunities. There's nothing wrong with that but, there are many parents who do not have the means. There are many young adults on the Spectrum who do not have the support from their parents. As a community, we need to come together to find solutions for young adults on the Specturm. Many are waiting for the chance.

At FOCUS Center for Autism, this subject is on the front burner. When I was on the Board we made attempts at expanding our transitional role. Now as a member of the development team the need for funding has come into sharper focus. We hope to be offering housing and support services for young adults transitioning out of the system at age 18. The stumbling block is always resources.