A report in the Hartford Courant yesterday reported that 40% of the children put in restraints or isolation in Connecticut's schools are diagnosed with Autism.
Report: Autistic Children Restrained Most Often In School

Is it lack of training and lack of resources that leads to the need for restraint?

The needs of these children do not fit neatly into categories. The needs are as individual as each child. When we were going through the school system we had more than one teacher tell us they simply did not have the time to deal with our autistic child. Yet state law required them to attend to his educational needs. Fortunately, he did not need restraint. Two things helped him immensely. We enrolled him in FOCUS Center for Autism where he started to learn social skills and make friends. It was a place outside school...away from the bullies. The school system came through for him after his senior year with their Achieve program. They too worked on social skills and life skills. 

The report seems to imply that it is just easier to isolate and restrain. I hope I am wrong.

Can We Talk?

I think there is a need for dialog and action.

I am interested in your thoughts. Is it better to try to fit these children into norms? Is it better to actually develop individual plans so these children can reach their full potential? Are the school systems in this fractured state able to provide the resources needed or, will it take something larger like regional, state or federal resources?

Breakfast Is Served at FOCUS

FOCUS Center for Autism is serving breakfast on a daily basis.

Study after study points out the link between good nutrition and the ability of children to learn and socialize with peers. Kendra Cherry, writing for ABOUT.COM - Psychology cited a Harvard study. The Harvard researchers found that students who ate breakfast were "…significantly more attentive in the classroom, earned higher grades in math, and had significantly fewer behavioral and emotional problems.(1)  In a report published by NPR, Alison Aubrey found that eating breakfast really does help kids learn. After fasting all night, a developing body (and brain) needs a fresh supply of glucose — or blood sugar. That's the brain's basic fuel. Your can hear the entire report by linking to A Better Breakfast Can Boost a Child's Brainpower.

Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the 15 children enrolled in our day program are now served breakfast each morning. We’ve even put a FOCUS twist on this. Run in a restaurant-style fashion, each child has a responsibility in making the program a success. They take menu orders, set tables, serve breakfast, and clean-up; which gives them essential social and employment skills that will benefit them in the future.

Skipping breakfast isn't really an option. J. Michael Murphy EdD of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in his report for the Food Research and Action Center said behavioral, emotional and academic problems are more prevalent among children with hunger. His report goes on to say, children who eat breakfast show improved cognitive function, attention, and memory. (You can review Murphy's report, Breakfast for Learning by clicking in the link. Offering breakfast to our children gives them a leg up on their day.

Breakfast isn't the only nutrition offered by FOCUS. Healthy snacks are served to the more than  65 children in our extended Day Treatment Program and, the children often help in the preparation of the food. We're also feeding clients on a daily basis in our residential programs.

The Breakfast Club needs your support. $250 can help 15 children have a nutritious breakfast for a week. Please consider making a contribution to this vital program today! For more information contact us at FOCUS Center for Autism or donate on-line. 

860 693-8809

Email: info@focuscenterforautism.org

(1) Kleinman, R. (1998 March). New Harvard research shows school breakfast program may improve children's behavior and performance. KidSource Online. Available at: http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/breakfast.html

FOCUS at Wolfpack

FOCUS Center for Autism will be attending the Wolfpack Game on February 21st. We want you to join us!

Friday February 21st is Autism Awareness Night at Hartford's XL Center. FOCUS will be there with several other Autism groups and programs to increase awareness of this disorder that affects one in every 88 children in the United States.

We're also there to have fun and enjoy the hockey game in an Autism and family friendly environment.

Tickets purchased through FOCUS benefit our programs.

FOCUS Center for Autism:  helping 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.” ™ 

Contact Yvonne Gardner for you tickets. Deadline for the best seats is February 7th.  860 693 8809 or email yvonne.gardner@focuscenterforautism.org

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.

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.