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.