FOCUS Launches Its New Website

FOCUS has a new website!

You're invited to check it out.

The website was redesigned to make it easier for you to navigate, offer updated information in a timely manner, and give clearer sense of what FOCUS has to offer you and your family. 

Features include ease of navigation. We've organized the information on the website in a simple and structured way.   The main function of the website is to convey relevant content to our visitors and help you understand our services and the support we can offer your family. We hope the site will encourage you to dig deeper for more information. 

We’re hoping our site can build a community. Interaction with the Autism community is essential to the site. The site has built-in links to social media including Facebook and Twitter. It also has space for a blog.  Creating and maintaining a blog is one of the most effective ways to build community and a great way to offer content that promotes dialog. Blogs are a great way to have a conversation with our visitors and families on a regular basis and improve the level of trust website visitors and families have over time.

While you’re there look at past episodes of FOCUS on Autism TV, get an update on the FOCUS Festival for Autism, find out where the next Unplugged Panel will be and, enjoy the photos from our programs.

FOCUS would like to thank Constanza Gowen-Segovia, Melissa Harris, Rich Hollant, and the Co:Lab team for all of their great teamwork and expertise.

We want to hear from you! Let us know what think and what you might want to see!

Autism Bill Proposed in Massachusetts

Update

The bill passed the Massachusetts House 151-0.According to masslive.com the bill "would also expand eligibility for developmental services to individuals with IQs higher than 70, a current rule that Bradley said excludes many people with autism who have other developmental challenges they must overcome."

A Greater Need

The increasing diagnosis of Autism among children is moving some legislators in Massachusetts to increase services. WCVB in Boston is reporting a bill is being proposed to develop training for schools and  teachers. The bill would also provide tax exempt savings account for extended care needs.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo says in a statement, "I believe this bill is the next, crucial step to make Massachusetts the leader in caring for residents confronting autism,"

Read more: http://www.wcvb.com/health/proposed-autism-bill-to-develop-training-for-schools-teachers/25479152#ixzz2yxnMeSg9

Serving Adults

In an acknowledgement that supports are needed for individuals on the spectrum after they age out of the school system, the bill would expand eligibility for IQ-based state programs to adults with Autism.

The bill is scheduled to be debated Wednesday.

Offering Hope  

At the FOCUS Center for Autsim we provide therapy for children and young adults on the spectrum on a daily basis. We're serving over 80 children and young adults a week. That only scratches the surface. It is estimated there are over 51,000 persons on the spectrum in Connecticut alone. For many families the cost of care is out of reach. More children will be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder than AIDS, cancer, and diabetes combined. Intervention and treatment offer hope for the parents and a sense of belonging among the children we serve.

Tablets Can Help Teens on the Autism Spectrum

A new study from UNC-Chapel Hill touts the value of Tablets as a teaching tool for Teens on the Spectrum.
The study focuses on teaching independence to high school students with Autism. According to Kara Hume, a researcher at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “It’s clear that teaching independence to students with autism should be a central focus of their activities in high school.”

Independence is the biggest indicator of which students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are likely to live on their own, have a job, and participate in their communities after high school.

The full report is published in Remedial and Special Education.

The Clinical Educational Staff at the FOCUS Center for Autism employs this technology with the Children in the FOCUS Extended Day Treatment Program. They would like to expand it. We're in the process of looking for funding to acquire new iPads.

We'll need your help in acquiring the funds. Have any thoughts? Leads? A willingness to help?

Year End Appeal - The need continues.

In an organization that is focused on treatment for children on the Autism Spectrum, it might be hard to imagine that something as simple as transportation could stand in the way.

At FOCUS...we're like most non-profits. We put out an appeal letter and a couple of email blasts trying to garner donations. Beyond the messages we sent there's a real need. Transportation costs are very high.

We bring our clients to and from our Extended Day Treatment Program in Canton, Connecticut. For some of the kids, the costs are covered by the state. For others, parents cover the costs. For some of our families the cost can be a barrier. They simply cannot afford it. We're hoping , to raise awareness of the need to cover these expenses. Consistent care and treatment is so important to these children.  If they have difficulty attending because of resources...treatment is set back. Let me rephrase. They're progress is set back. The continuum of treatment is interrupted.

You can help!
The cost for the entire transportation program is over $10,000. The cost per client (their share) is about $900.
Send a donation now.

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.

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

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.

Cuts at Head Start

Sequestration is leading to an even wider divide between the 1% and the rest of us. Sequestration means 57,000 children will be cut from the Head Start Program. For those who think we cannot afford Head Start and other social programs consider how much we (Americans) spend on ice cream each year. We spend $10 billion a year according to statistics provided by the International Ice Cream Association.

I'm not saying we need to give up ice cream. I'm saying our priorities need to change if we want to grow as a country. Giving children living in poverty a chance with programs that help them with their education should be at least as important as an ice cream cone. If you're thinking, there's nothing I can do. It's the government. We are the government.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/the-numbers-are-in-seques_b_3780237.html

There's a lot more on the cuts from a posting by Kathleen Sibelius in the Huffington Post. ( link above)

There Are People Who Care
There are organizations trying to help the poor and other groups in the greater Hartford area. Asylum Hill Congregational Church house a neighborhood daycare in its building. Grace Lutheran Church in Hartford offers a free meal to its neighbors Fridays. Grace Lutheran is struggling too. The congregation is small and the church has been running a deficit. Yet, through alliances with groups like Foodshare, the church is feeding neighbors who are struggling with poverty. I work for FOCUS Center for Autism. We serve children on the Autism Spectrum. We depend on funding from State sources as well as grants and individual donations.

In each of these cases these organizations could be doing more. Other organizations could be joining in to lessen the load. The key is resources. There are not enough available to go around.

There would be if more of us would become involved. The cuts to Head Start this year will be $400 million. That works out to about $1.27 per person in this country. The cost of an ice cream cone is about $2.50.

Coping with autism at college

Coping with autism at college - Health - MiamiHerald.com

For any parent with a child on the spectrum, this is a good read. According to the article in the Miami Herald, there are 20+ colleges and university's now offering accommodations to students with autism. These are high functioning individuals.

My initial impression...is that all? Aren't there more programs like this?

The accommodations come with a fee. The cost mentioned in the article is about $8,000 at the University of Miami. Parents need to understand that the services that were offered in high school are no longer there. The transitions for someone with autism can be daunting but, not impossible to overcome for a college student on the spectrum as long as they have support.

Many parents have a misconception that college life will include an extension of high school accommodations and processes, said Paul Hanson, Resource Adviser and Learning Disability Specialist at Miami-Dade College.
“Some parents think you’re going to have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting every year, and it’s just not going to happen,” Hanson says. Parents should be realistic about their child’s symptoms, he says.
“The student has to be able to stay in a classroom, control their behavior and emotions, and try to fit in.”

Transitions to adulthood is one of the areas of support for the FOCUS Center for Autism. We have residential programs for young adults. We building support systems for parents and, we are moving toward a program for higher functioning adults. We're grappling with funding but, we're optimistic we can find solutions. You can find out more at our website.

http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/

Pollution and Autism

The cause of Autism has not been determined yet. Pollution is a primary suspect.
Moms for Clean Air has come up with a list of the top ten suspects among pollution as the cause (or causes) for autism.

Moms have passion and power — an unbeatable combination. We are harnessing the strength of mother love to fight back against polluters.Moms are uniting to come out in strength for our kids’ right to clean air — just as our parents fought for us, forty years ago, to get the Clean Air Act signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Moms Clean Air Force is nonpartisan–because clean air should be more important than politics.- See more at: http://www.momscleanairforce.org/mission/#sthash.fZrPnWAU.dpuf

Among the suspects

• Lead
• PCP's
• Mercury
• Insecticides
• DDT
• Automotive Exhaust
• Flame retardants

When I was a child there were about 3.5 billion people on this earth. Today we are approaching 7 billion. The cumulative effect of chemicals and other pollutants on the air we breath and the water we drink is exponential. There are twice as many people spilling this stuff into our air and water supply. In developing countries like China, the production of pollutants seems unbridled. The air in their big cities is unbreathable. The stuff they're putting in the air does not stay contained at their borders. Combine their pollution production with our own and the consequences seem dire.


The complete suspect list of pollutants as causes for autism is at the Moms for Clean Air website.

I'm the Development and Marketing Coordinator for the FOCUS Center for Autism in Canton, Connecticut. FOCUS Center for Autism helps children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.

FOCUS Bikes the valley. Can you help?

More details of Bike The Valley have come out. They're looking for riders. So are we.

Bike the Valley is a new event for family riders and serious riders. The registration prices make this an affordable event that benefits the Y and several charities including FOCUS Center for Autism.

The registration goes to the Y to cover the costs. Additional gifts can be designated to the charities co-sponsoring the event. You can support FOCUS by riding and by giving an additional amount over an above the registration. So far, I'm the only rider in support of FOCUS. To help augment donations to FOCUS, I'm seeking riders and sponsors. Seven have stepped forward so far donating one or two dollars a mile for the ten miles I'll be riding.

FOCUS Center for Autism: helping children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.

 If you would like to support my ride, let me know. Contact me at kim.grehn@focuscenterforautism.org.  You can also pledge to FOCUS on-line at http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/supporting-focus


Here are more details:

This is for families & serious riders!!   Register by this Wednesday, 6/12  & get a free T-Shirt!!

HELP OTHERS BY RIDING IN OUR EVENT – BIKE, 5 OR 10 MILES ON RAILS TO TRAILS, ALONG THE BEAUTIFUL FARMINGTON RIVER!

BIKE 25, 50 OR 100 MILES  - ALL RIDES HAVE REST-STOPS (with food and snacks), SAG-WAGONS, marked routes, etc. = FULL SUPPORT!!

All at YMCA CAMP CHASE on RT 4 in Burlington, 15 Canton Rd. between Unionville & Collinsville – The Camp will have "an open house" for all – come and enjoy the Pool, kids water pad, bike rodeo for kids, picnic (under cover; food from Max's and First & Last), showers for all riders, arts & crafts, wellness activities & more - - Including give-aways & raffles -

Join in on THE BAKE-OFF!! WIN A BIG PRIZE!! Open to all – Bake your favorite dessert – cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, cheese-cake, etc. Bring as much as you like & the riders will judge your entry!!  Final vote goes to Stacia (a Y employee).  No cost to you, open to kids & adults!! Just show up with your Dessert by 12:30!!

REGISTER:

Farmington Valley YMCA Home Page - Greater Hartford YMCA ...<http://ghymca.org/farmington/>  (find member, if you are a member) or

BY CALLING THE Y  860-653-5524   Ask for Sam or just ask to register for the Y Bike the Valley Ride - or

ON ACTIVE: http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2091182  (find bike the valley)

Who do you "HELP" when you Ride?  Register for our RIDE & make a donation to us:

FOCUS CENTER FOR AUTISM.

Register (see above) or donate $25.00, $50 or $100 now – mail donations to:

FOCUS

Checks payable to:

FOCUS Center for Autism or on-line at http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/supporting-focus

THIS EVENT IS GOING TO BE BIG – BE A PART OF IT – HELP OTHERS WHILE YOU RIDE – PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY – BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION -

5 & 10 mile rides start at 11:30 am  basically a flat route – all Paved!!          ALL WITH FULLY SUPPLIED REST-STOPS!!!!

25 at 10:00 am         1,800 ft of climbing

50 at 8:30 am           4,200 ft of climbing

100 at 7:00 am         8,500 ft of climbing  100 mi check-in 6:15 am to 6:50 but Register now! Other distances, check in 45 to 10 minutes prior to their start 

Lunch at about noon

Activities 10:30 to 3:30; Open House all day - -