# 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615 "2011-06-05T05:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 55
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 9:05am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1081 "2017-07-21T09:05:22Z")
The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Drive for Autism Foundation_ is a Somerset County, New Jersey-based nonprofit private charitable foundation. It was established to raise funds and distribute them to schools and non profit organizations committed to the education and treatment of persons with diagnosis’ under the Autism spectrum… > [@](#): > > Artie Kempner whisked his golf cart toward a grandstand at Dover International Speedway in June, not for a moment overwhelmed at the prospect of waving the green flag to start the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks, then having to rush back to a production truck for his day job. > > “I have a great life,” a smiling Kempner scoffed at any notion of inconvenience. > > Besides, the NASCAR on [television] director and 1977 Bellmore’s John F. Kennedy High School graduate’s moment of awe had already come a few days before, when his favorite announcer took center stage and knocked it out of the park. > > Kempner’s 19-year-old son Ethan, who is autistic, was in charge of announcing the rules for the annual Drive for Autism golf tournament, which for more than a decade has brought some of NASCAR’s top stars to Delaware the Thursday before the spring race to benefit Autism Delaware. > > “He’s got a really good voice, much better than his father,” bragged Kempner, 55. > > …It was a three-minute, two-page presentation. Kempner will never forget how Ethan didn’t skip a beat while flipping the page. > > “Those little things” Kempner said, pausing to enjoy the memory one more time. > > Delaware resident Kempner shared this story in an enclosed Dover grandstand, not far from a pink bean bag chair, some board games and a TV playing cartoons. While Kempner was being honored for his work as the founding president of Autism Delaware, the unique environment for a race showed how the work his organization has done had spread wings. > > For the third straight year, Dover International Speedway hosted ‘Autism Speaks Day at the Races’ for the spring event, utilizing an indoor grandstand that usually serves as seating for the harness racing track inside Dover’s one-mile NASCAR racing surface. Dover’s director of communications, Gary Camp, started brainstorming the idea after reading about similar Autism Delaware events, like movie nights at theaters specifically for families with autistic children. > > As Kempner explains, children on the autism spectrum can be hypersensitive. So the enclosed environment with adjoining rooms away from view of the track works for kids who need a break from the action. > > …But autism can also limit children’s ability to engage, and for that NASCAR has its benefits. Kempner received an explanation from a friend with Asperger syndrome, a high-functioning condition on the spectrum. > > “There’s something about the symmetry of cars going around in a circle – they’re going to come here and then they’re going to go around and be there – that is very intriguing for folks that he knows and the way he thinks,” Kempner said. > > Kempner’s employer has shown its support, making Autism Speaks one of the charter beneficiaries when the …charitable campaign began in 2007. But large-scale accomplishments notwithstanding, Kempner always comes back to the successes he’s seen at home. > > “Ethan has been the blessing for us,” said Kempner, whose wife Marcy is currently president of Autism Delaware. “As much as autism is a challenge, Ethan has put the perspective in my life, in our lives. My other boys [Jack and Matt] have grown up with an empathy and a perspective that I didn’t have until my 30s.” > > As for Ethan, Kempner forecasts that his son is going to have “not just a job, but a career.” Here is a link to a photo: [https://www.facebook.com/AutismDelaware/photos/a.413773027130.192267.186907592130/10151401306022131/?type=3&theater](https://www.facebook.com/AutismDelaware/photos/a.413773027130.192267.186907592130/10151401306022131/?type=3&theater) (source: [Artie Kempner, Fox Sports director and LI native, fights autism with help from NASCAR | Newsday](http://www.newsday.com/sports/motor-racing/artie-kempner-nascar-on-fox-director-continues-fight-against-autism-1.9427280)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1082 "2017-07-22T09:02:19Z")
The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Delaware. > [@](#): > > When Karen Tuohy’s children, Sean and Bridget, were younger, she took them to the public playground–where they usually got strange looks. > > …As Sean and Bridget began classes under the supervision of staff at the Delaware Autism Program’s Brennen School, Tuohy realized her children would not be subjected to these reactions anymore, at least not during school hours. > > “I felt relief,” sighs Tuohy. A few years ago, the second-grade team at Heritage Elementary approached Tuohy and asked if she would present to their classes a lesson on autism awareness. > > “As with all schools in the Red Clay Consolidated School District,” says Tuohy, “we have students with all types of abilities. Remembering my own children’s experience in the park, I agreed to come up with a kid-friendly approach that included acceptance of people who are different as well as awareness of autism and its effect on the family.” > > Now, every April, which is Autism Awareness Month, Tuohy gives her presentation to Heritage Elementary’s second-grade classes. > > She begins by showing an Organization for Autism Research (OAR) poster called Kids with autism might… and reading a few of the noted characteristics, such as ‘Have alot of energy,’ ‘Have a great memory,’ and ‘Giggle or smile a lot.’ > > “When I ask the students if they know anyone who has these characteristics,” notes Tuohy, "every hand shoots up. So, I discussa few more. In all the years and in all the classrooms I’ve given my presentation, the students always come to the same conclusion: Children with autism are not all that different–which means children with autism can succeed just like anyone else. > > "To reinforce this conclusion, Tuohy shows a CBS NEWS video featuring Jason McElwain who, back in 2006, was a teenager with autism and a member of his high school’s basketball team. During a highly competitive game, with only fourminutes remaining, McElwain’s team was down. The coach put him in. And McElwain proceeded to score 20 points including six difficult three-point shots’ to win the game. > > “The students love this video,” smiles Tuohy. “They get so excited that they end up jumping up and down and cheer-ing for Jason just like the crowd at the game. They clap and stomp when Jason gets lifted onto his teammates’ shoulders. The boys always ask ‘Can we watch that again?’” > > Tuohy ends the presentation by handing out a colouring page of an autism awareness ribbon. > > For students who want more information, she also hands out a booklet called Growing Up Together. > > “This booklet is a wonderfully kid-friendlyresource,” says Tuohy. “I highly recommend it, not only for itssimple language but also for the ideas on how to be a friendto someone with [Autism Spectrum Disorders]. Many children would like to reach outbut are not sure how. This booklet could get them started.”… (source: [http://www.delautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-Sun-Apr-Jun2015.pdf](http://www.delautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-Sun-Apr-Jun2015.pdf)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 4:33am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1083 "2017-07-23T04:33:59Z")
The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _Children’s Beach House_ (_CBH_) is a Sussex County, Delaware-based nonprofit organization. Its mission continues Miss Lydia’s vision to help children with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, reach their highest potential as functioning members of their families and communities… > [@](#): > > Shay Harper came to Children’s Beach House more than 10 years ago, when she was 7 years old, with a speech challenge. As a beach house kid, she came to summer camps and participated in weekend camps approximately once each month. Case managers supported her by building relationships with her mother and her family, and standing by them through all of the ups and downs of elementary school, adolescence, and high school. Case managers partnered with the school staff and worked to make sure her Children’s Beach House activities were helping her meet her academic goals. > At the closing camp ceremony this summer, Shay said, “I have been here for 10 years - longer than almost everyone in this room. The people here have changed, but since the beginning, the love has always been here. I got to work as a junior counselor with the little campers this summer, and I was so excited to see the love that was shared with them, just as it was with me. I know I am supposed to be saying goodbye to the Beach House right now, but surprise! I will return someday as a counselor and share the same lessons and love that were given to me.” > An important component of the Children’s Beach House program is its camps, in which the children spend two to six weeks over the summer using activities in the water, on the sand and at the house to transcend their difficulties with speech, language and hearing. Children get involved between the ages of 7 and 12 and participate until their high school graduation. > Usually they are at or above the cognitive levels of their peers, but their speech is often difficult to understand. Some may also have trouble with motor skills, making them the last to be picked for teams on the playground - but not at the Beach House. Camp is a place to build productive relationships with peers and caring adults. Shay said, “Children’s Beach House is a place where we all have friends.” > Children’s Beach House is a nonprofit started 76 years ago by Lydia Chichester du Pont. In 2003, the organization adopted the Positive Youth Development Model that emphasizes three keys to achievement: first, provide children with a safe and secure environment; second, work alongside parents and entire families; and third, support the individualized education plans provided by teachers. Fully engaged and actively involved parents are critical to a child’s current and future success in school, within their family, and in their future careers… Here is a link to a video: [https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensBeachHouse/videos/811870118966106/](https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensBeachHouse/videos/811870118966106/) (source: [A camper completes her tenure at Children](http://www.capegazette.com/article/camper-completes-her-tenure-children%E2%80%99s-beach-house/59350)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 10:03am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1084 "2017-07-24T10:03:19Z")
The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Delaware. > [@](#): > > Two local companies, Milford’s Hertrich Toyota and Seaford’s Peninsula Oil & Propane, recently signed on as sponsors for Autism Delaware’s annual Blue Jean Ball fundraiser scheduled for Sept. 20. > > Two local companies, Milford’s Hertrich Toyota and Seaford’s Peninsula Oil & Propane, recently signed on as sponsors for Autism Delaware’s annual Blue Jean Ball fundraiser. > Hertrich Toyota’s sponsorship will cover the cost of the event taking place at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center while Peninsula Oil & Propane’s sponsorship will support the event’s entertainment, which will be a live performance by Love Seed Mama Jump and Just Us. > “As sponsors of the Blue Jean Ball, both of these businesses are helping Autism Delaware to meet its mission: helping people and families affected by autism spectrum disorder [ASD],” said Deanna Principe, Autism Delaware’s events manager. “…we at Autism Delaware greatly appreciate the support.” > The 2014 Blue Jean Ball will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, starting at 6 p.m., with a ‘blue jeans and bling’ dress code. Tickets are $85 per person if purchased by Sept. 5. Prices go to $100 between Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 or until the event is sold out. Tickets include entrance to live and silent auctions, dancing and live music, beer and wine, and hors d’oeuvres and desserts from local restaurants including Big Fish Grill, Kick n’ Chicken, Moe’s Southwest Grill/Carvel Ice Cream, Nage and Touch of Italy. > Sponsorships range from $250 to $3,500. Companies and organizations interested in ad space can secure a spot in the event’s slide presentation for $150 donation… Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XlmxOcXjQA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XlmxOcXjQA) (source: [Local companies pledge support for Autism Delaware fundraiser - News - Milford Beacon - Dover, DE](http://www.milfordbeacon.com/article/20140716/News/140719834)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 10:41am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1085 "2017-07-25T10:41:22Z")
The subject of the last post was _Autism Delaware_, a Newark, Delaware-based nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals, including children, affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its vision is that all people with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities. > [@](#): > > Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. This is the world that the Delaware Theatre Company is exploring in the area premiere of LUCY by Damien Atkins. > > …Mr. Atkins wrote the play as a result of character research he did for a role he was portraying. Throughout the writing process, he constantly consulted with experts and families dealing with autistic children; he wanted to get it right. And he has done an excellent job, creating a solid piece of great storytelling. DTC is the second company to produce the play, following its premiere at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. > > The titular character is a 13-year-old girl being raised by her devoted father, Gavin, somewhere in the western part of the U.S. He has gotten Lucy accepted to a prestigious special school in the East, near her mother’s home. He asks his ex-wife to take Lucy for a year so the girl can get the advanced treatment she needs. Lucy’s mother, Vivian, is a brilliant anthropologist who is totally absorbed in herself and her work; she has no maternal instincts and left her daughter when she was quite young to spend years on a dig in Africa. > > Forced into caring for Lucy, Vivian is at a total loss as to what to do; her research assistant, Julia, is able to connect with Lucy instantly, much to Vivian’s surprise. Caring for her daughter brings many of Vivian’s own insecurities and fears to the surface and she starts to crumble. Ever the scientist, Vivian distrusts what Lucy’s therapist is recommending and rather than stick to the highly structured day that her ex-husband mapped out–and the therapist wholly endorses–she starts encouraging Lucy’s ‘acting out.’ > > Andrea Green tackles the difficult role of Lucy. In addition to portraying autism accurately, she also serves as the narrator of the piece, taking the audience inside Lucy’s head. Ms. Green is wonderful at these challenging transitions in and out of Lucy’s autistic behaviors. She instantly endears herself to the audience during her speeches directly to us. Then smoothly morphs into a scene with the skill of a seasoned actor. Kate Eastwood Norris is compelling as Vivian, deftly navigating the character’s difficult arc. Initially, Vivian is a bit off-putting, but Ms. Norris endows her with a humor and vulnerability that wins the viewer over. She is not afraid of the darker aspects of Vivian’s character. > > Supporting these two are Karen Peakes as Julia (she is lovely as the caring and supportive assistant, and brings an energy to each scene she’s in), Charlie DelMarcelle as Lucy’s dad, Gavin (always a solid and gifted performer, he does not disappoint here; his portrayal of a loving and dedicated father is spot-on) and Ross Beschler as Morris–Lucy’s therapist (he strikes just the right balance between humor and genuine concern for his patient). > > Director David Stradley has paced the play wonderfully, allowing the humor and pathos to share the stage. Strong and evocative design work adds much to the production. Alexis Distler’s set shows the frame of a typical suburban home, with Lucy’s therapist’s office sharing the space. It is a fascinating study of angles and connections?a perfect metaphor for the play’s story. Rosemarie McKelvey’s costuming complements each character and helps add to the feel of the story. The lighting design by Joshua Schulman includes an amazing gobo effect that creates Lucy’s African-like drawings on the walls of the stage and the theatre. Add to this Fabian Obisbo’s beautifully lyrical sound design and the viewer is totally drawn into the world of the play. > > This is a complex and thought-provoking play that does not wrap everything up in a neat little package for the audience. One is left with many questions at the end, but isn’t that what good theatre should do? Start the conversation? Here is a link to a video on ‘Lucy’ by the _Delaware Theatre Company_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atbJX7HFQeQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atbJX7HFQeQ) (source: [Gut-wrenching and Compelling Story Telling: LUCY @ Delaware Theatre Company | Stage Magazine](http://www.stagemagazine.org/2011/01/gut-wrenching-and-compelling-story-telling-lucy-delaware-theatre-company/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 10:00am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1086 "2017-07-26T10:00:33Z")
The subject of the last post was _Autism Delaware_, a Newark, Delaware-based nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals, including children, affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its vision is that all people with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities. _MarriOtters_ is a program that allows children with Autism, their families, and their friends to swim in the Courtyard Marriott pool for free… > [@](#): > > For Elizabeth and Rob Scheinberg, finding a safe haven for their family – a place where they felt welcome with their autistic daughter – all started with a letter… > > Delia was 6 years old when she placed a letter in ‘Santa’s Mailbox’ outside the Courtyard Marriott hotel on the University of Delaware’s Laird Campus. Hotel directors had put up the mailbox in order to connect with the Newark community during the holiday season, not knowing then that the connection they would make would ultimately change the lives of local autistic children and their families. > > The following year, Delia wrote another letter to Santa, this time for her 2-year-old brother, Harry. However, when she arrived at the hotel to mail the envelope, the mailbox was gone, which made Delia upset. > > “When you have autism, you’re used to the way things are and you can’t break from that,” Rob Scheinberg said last week. > > Bill Sullivan, Courtyard Marriott director, said he and his staff didn’t realize the impact of the mailbox and put it back up after learning of Delia’s emotional attachment. The Scheinbergs came back a few days later to mail the letter and were introduced to Tracy Holmes, director of operations, who apologized and invited them all to go swimming in the hotel’s indoor pool. > > Elizabeth Scheinberg said she and her husband didn’t take Holmes up on the offer, shrugging it off as nothing but a nice gesture. A few months later, Holmes reached out to the Scheinbergs and again invited them to swim in the pool, this time telling them to also bring along other families with children who have autism. > > “I thought to myself, ‘This woman is crazy,’” Elizabeth Scheinberg said. “You want me to bring my child into your beautiful hotel?..” > > …Rob Scheinberg added. “…I can’t tell you how huge it is to actually be welcome.” > > In April 2008, the Scheinbergs brought 25 families to swim at the Courtyard Marriott pool and, to their surprise, Holmes invited them back. After a few more swims, Elizabeth said Delia began referring to the hotel as “Tracy’s house.” > > Elizabeth said the pool quickly became a safe haven for families and a place where their kids could play, interact and be themselves ?without bothering other people.? It also served a sensory function, as children with autism typically have a dysfunctional sensory system, meaning that sometimes one or more senses are either over- or under-reactive to stimulation such as light, touch and sound. > > ?That?s what being in the water did. It fulfilled a sensory need for the children and it calmed them,? she said. > > For Kim Herbert-Cheeseman, of Hockessin, the pool was an ‘oasis.’ She was able to get out of the house and relax in the enclosed space without fear of her autistic twin boys, William and Andrew, running away. > > “As parents, we utilize those lounge chairs for sure,” she said. > > The pool also created a comfortable, judgment-free environment for William and Andrew to interact with other kids and practice making eye contact – an ability which many children with autism lack. Plus, she said, swimming is a good way for them to get some exercise. > > “The more and more we went, the more and more they loved it,” she said. > > After a while, the Scheinbergs and Holmes decided it was time to brand their little group and give the kids an identity to hold onto, so they called themselves the MarriOtters – a play on both the name of the hotel and the group’s love for the swimming pool. > > But the MarriOtters did more than just swim. Under Holmes? leadership and with help from Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management students at the University of Delaware, the hotel hosted Halloween parties, brunches, movie nights and other social gatherings for the children and their families. > > Sullivan said it’s been their goal since day one to make the hotel a strong part of the local community, and with the HRIM students just down the street, hosting the MarriOtters seemed like a win-win for everyone. > > “It was part of their education and part of our education and it helps us better care for the families that come in here,” he said. > > Delia, now 14 years old and a student at Gateway Lab School in Wilmington, said she still loves the MarriOtters and the Courtyard Marriott is pretty much her second home. > > “We get to hang out,” she said. > > She’s grown out of swimming and said now her favorite event is brunch. She said she likes the breakfast foods at the hotel, especially the oatmeal, and feels comfortable there, like she can be herself. > > “I can’t stress how important that is,” her mother said. > > Today, the MarriOtters is more of a free-swim format. Instead of organized meet-ups, families are welcome to come to the hotel whenever they want and just have to ask the front desk for a key to the pool. > > Herbert-Cheeseman said her boys, now 13 years old, still beg her to take them to the pool, and she is grateful the hotel has continued the program after all these years. > > “It is one of our escapes and our go-to for some sanity, and growing and social interaction for our children,” she said. “I just can’t say enough about it.” > > The group hasn’t got together in a while, but Elizabeth said members are planning an event in April for Autism Awareness Month. However, it’s been hard to carry on the group without Holmes, who [passed away] after her battle with cancer in August… (source: [Courtyard Marriott pool a safe haven for children with autism | News | newarkpostonline.com](http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_597dea8f-71d2-5b9b-a43b-a4bbb4f3dd00.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1087 "2017-07-27T09:11:22Z")
The subject of the last post was _Autism Delaware_ a Newark, Delaware-based nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals, including children, affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its vision is that all people with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities. > [@](#): > > Local tennis pro, Marty Godwin, played 24 hours of tennis recently at The Glade in Rehoboth Beach in support of the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation. Godwin hit the courts at 7am on Saturday, September 12th with a mission of playing until 7am on Sunday, Sept 13th. > > Despite being sick earlier in the week and the possibility of rain during the day, Godwin accomplished what he set out to do: play tennis for 24 hours to raise awareness and funds for LDAF. Hour long time slots were offered to the community to keep Marty on the courts and he was able to fill every time slot. > > “I decided to play from noon to 1pm on Saturday with Marty and it was great,” said Mary Landon Green, LDAF Program and Event Coordinator. “I haven’t played in a long time so this was the perfect reason to get back on the courts and when my hour was over, like most of the other players, I was having so much fun I wasn’t ready to go. We are very thankful for Marty and Doris Valenti who helped coordinate the event and everyone else who played and supported for making this happen.” > > The funds raised from this event as well as from Godwin’s tennis tournament the weekend of September 26th will benefit LDAF so they can continue to provide programs and services for individuals with autism in Sussex County. > > …[Autism Spectrum Disorders] are pervasive developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication, as well as the presence of atypical behaviors. There is no cure for autism, but appropriate interventions and programming can help ensure an individual develops functional life skills… Here is a link to a video on the _Lower Delaware Autism Foundation_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrF7oeuzp9s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrF7oeuzp9s) (source: [Lower Delaware Autism Foundation tennis charity event The Glade in Rehoboth Beach - Marty Godwin Tennis](http://www.martygodwintennis.com/Lower_Delaware_Autism_Foundation.php)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:54am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1088 "2017-07-28T09:54:26Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center_, a nonprofit based in Brooklyn, Maryland, looks at the world through each child’s eyes and see possibilities rather than limitations and find that special spark, unique strength or talent to make that gift shine. The _Autism Center_ uses the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related handicapped CHildren) approach together with Visual Language Learning to educate our students, recognized as the gold standard in teaching children on the Autism Spectrum… > [@](#): > > Growing up on Long Island, N.Y., Nancy Scheinman hated being in school. > > “Most schools are so institutional and visually boring, I looked out the window all the time,” she said. > > So it is fitting that the Stoneleigh resident, apart from her career as an established collage artist with an international following, now heads NS Studios, a team of young artists and designers, who are transforming school settings into “unique and imaginative spaces” as Scheinman describes them. > > Using art installations and murals, she designs three-dimensional, multisensory environments that set the scene for experiential learning ? learning through direct experience instead of just about the experience of others. > > Envision hallways transformed into streetscapes with storefronts, restaurants, signage, front stoops and faux cobblestone street surfaces, where, guided by teachers, students learn about business, serving food, counting money. A mural of an antique store helps pupils envision the past and encourage them to tell the story of their own families. > > The colorful, complex installations are designed to bolster a school’s programs and curriculum. The murals tell stories, portray a past to be remembered or a dream to be achieved, she said. Her installations invite interaction. > > “Children need an environment that is stimulating,” Scheinman said. > > NS Studios’ latest experiential environments project is the tuition-free Monarch Academy Public Charter School Baltimore, sponsored by The Children’s Guild in Baltimore. > > Since 1996, Scheinman has collaborated with the guild, which operates a number of schools and facilities in Baltimore, and Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties that serve youngsters who are learning-challenged because they are either at-risk, suffer from disabilities or are disadvantaged in some way. > > Monarch Baltimore, like other guild-operated schools, follows the school jurisdiction’s curriculum requirements. In addition, its mission, is to create a culture where students are guided to “think critically, problem-solve creatively, become self-disciplined” and to “understand that the goal of life is to serve a cause larger than one’s self.” > > But the guild’s guiding philosophy is “transformation education,” which revolves around teachers and staff adjusting to fit the needs of the student and is characterized in part by learning through stimulating visuals. > > “Art is a powerful teaching tool,” said Andrew Ross, guild CEO and president and a co-founder of the transformation education theory. “The brain is like a pharmacy. Environment stimulates those chemicals.” > > The Brain Trail, which is on display at guild headquarters and on-order for the Monarch school, is a perfect example. The 4-foot-high nose in the hallway with its flashing neon lights and push-buttons entice students to learn about the brain as if they were playing a video game. > > The cafeteria is designed to look like Waverly Market to help students explore gardening, nutrition, money and arithmetic, and history. Murals show the African Americans who became entrepreneurial arabbers selling produce from carts drawn by ponies. > > “Nancy is really good at taking the ideas we are trying to convey to the children and turning them into something exciting that motivates them to learn,” Ross said. > > Monarch Baltimore is the second of four charter schools with experiential environments planned by the guild. The first has been operating in Glen Burnie. The others are scheduled for Laurel later this year and for Anne Arundel County next year. > > Located since September on Kirk Avenue in the northeast section of the city in what had been the Coca-Cola Building, Monarch Baltimore currently serves 1,000 students grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Within two years, plans call for adding seventh and eighth grades. > > Monarch was housed formerly in the guild’s headquarters on McClean Boulevard in an environment nearly as enriched as in the environment of its new quarters will be. > > Scheinman confers with school representatives on a concept from the curriculum and then creates the multi-sensory environment design to support it. Once computer images of the design are done, she and NS Studios artists transfer the images to school walls. > > “We get better each time,” Scheinman said. “It’s a work-in-progress,” Scheinman said, adding that the project could take a year or more to complete. > > With 92,000 square feet of space that has to be transformed, “it is a mammoth project,” Ross said. > > Fostering positive sense of community > > Scheinman’s list of clients began with her own high school in New York, which hired her when she was a student to paint a mural of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence for the superintendent’s office in 1975. “It’s still there,” she said. > > Other clients include …the Janet and Frank Kelly Center for Autism in Brooklyn, Md… > > Scheinman established NS Studios more than 15 years ago to mentor young artists and help them use their artistic skills to support themselves, as she has. > > “I didn’t have to compromise what I painted in order for me to support myself,” she said. > > NS Studios has been “a wonderful place to have,” said Garrett Ames-Ledbetter, 24, who created the 4-foot nose. “It has brought people together to establish a small community of artists who all do work of their own on the side.” > > Scheinman has curated for galleries and museums, created licensed art under another name for retailers and produced architectural illustrations. > > She said she owes her architectural illustration skills to her husband of 30 years, Jim Wheeler, now president of the architectural firm Ayers Saint Gross. They have two daughters, Alena and Kerstin, 24 and 28. > > Scheinman’s work with school environments has been her most personally rewarding business, she said. > > She was at Monarch recently working on a mural of a pet store when she overheard a student say, “When I grow up, I want to own a store just like that.” > > “That’s exactly what we all wanted to hear,” she said. > > Monarch’s lower school librarian Wendy LaTour-Morone said she enjoys the lively additions to the school. > > “The murals just draw you in,” she said. “I think it’s important to know about history and to stimulate the imagination.” > > …Monarch plans call for a second phase of streetscapes that show new stores and restaurants that the neighborhood could have in the future. Community activists could bring developers and business people to the school to show them the streetscapes and invite their participation, Ross explained. The school could be the anchor for the revitalization of the entire area, he said. > > “What goes up on the walls will be a road map for the redevelopment of the neighbourhood – a vision for how students and teachers can apply their learning to help the community transform itself,” Ross said. “This school will be far more than a place to educate students.” > > Scheinman concurred: “I felt that using the school environment as a tool to show what revitalization could bring would foster a sense of pride in the students and their families.” > > “We’re very proud of the project,” Ross said “It’s unique. I think public schools in general should adopt the approach. It doesn’t cost that much more to create a school this way,” he said. > > Randy Sovich, the Towson architect who transformed the Coca-Cola Building into the school, agreed. > > “A lot of schools are being built with blank walls. It’s a dimension missing in education,” Sovich said. > > Scheinman said she esteems being a part of the movement to transform educational environments. > > “Being able to use art to effect change is a powerful thing for an artist,” she said. “I am very proud of what we at NS Studios do – to enhance environments to give children a positive sense of their communities and the world.” Here is a link to a video: [The Middle School kids had a race at Museum Day with their solar powered soda can cars. It was a hit with guests and students alike! | The Children's Guild](https://www.facebook.com/thechildrensguild/videos/vb.58046216836/10152807388781837/?type=2&theater) (source: [The Baltimore Sun](http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79078085/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 9:07am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1089 "2017-07-29T09:07:34Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > The opening benefit for the Jefferson Whitney Foundation, which is dedicated to helping special needs children, took place on the evening of Feb. 28 at The Greenhouse in Hurricane. The benefit doubled as an open house, to introduce the foundation formally to the public.The foundation was formed last October by Jefferson Jarrell and Whitney Stricklin, partners at the Hurricane-based financial planning firm which supports the special needs community in the region through a variety of programs and fundraising endeavors. “The open house … has raised about $2,000, with donations still coming in,” said Jefferson Whitney Community Relations Specialist Stacie D. Thomas last week. “We had a fondue, presented by The Greenhouse, who charged only the cost for food and donated their cost in labor, as well as a $50 gift certificate that we used for a door prize to the 30 attendees,” added Thomas.Guest speakers at last week’s benefit for the nonprofit foundation, included Jill Scarbro-McLaury of Bright Futures Learning Center, Valicia Leary of the Children’s Therapy Clinic and Angel Banister of the Tri-County YMCA in Scott Depot. Each of the speakers discussed their respective organizations and the programs they offer, such as therapies and the YMCA’s Challenger Sports, for children with special needs. > The speakers also noted that most special needs therapies and diagnoses aren’t covered under health insurance, said Thomas.“We had a silent auction of a donated reprint of artwork by Jules Burt, the Pop Art Diva, who started the High Heel Hike and provided much of the artwork in Central Perk on [the television show] ‘Friends,’ and a piece of artwork donated by Naomi Jarrell,” Thomas said.Naomi Jarrell is the 11-year-old daughter of Jefferson Jarrell. She produced the artwork to honor her brother, Noah, who has autism.Thomas said Naomi Jarrell’s artwork sold for $175 at the auction.The first board meeting of the Jefferson Whitney Foundation was held in December. Board members include John Jarrett of Jarrett Construction, Jim Strawn of Highland Hospital, Rebecca Hansen of the West Virginia Autism Training Center-Asperger College Program, Natalie Corrigan of Campbell Woods PLLC in Huntington and Kay Roberts of Poca Valley Bank… (source: | JeffersonWhitney launches foundation at open house/benefit ([http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/201304070207](http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/201304070207))) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 9:09am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1090 "2017-07-30T09:09:41Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. To the northeast, _Community Resources For People With Autism_ is the western Massachusetts experts when it comes to autism. We provide education, advocacy and support for an individual’s whole life span. Its goal is to help families build on their strengths, work together to create a positive vision for the future, and help their children learn, grow, and be welcomed, fully included members of their communities… > [@](#): > > …[The Autism Spectrum] varies widely in severity, but one common trait is the tendency to get over-stimulated by noise, lights, and other trappings of modern life. A recent effort tried to bring down the sensory stimulation – just in time for back-to-school shopping. > > The Holyoke Mall is one of the most obvious places to do back-to-school shopping, but one of the last places you’d take a child who has problems with sensory overload. That describes both of Mary Ellen Demaris’s sons. > > “Things that are simple for other kids – like going shopping – are really hard for kids with autism,” she says. > > Demaris is shopping with her oldest boy, a high-functioning 8-year-old who was able to keep it together for the duration of their mall errands. > > It’s her 7-year-old, who’s more severely autistic, she really worries about. > > “He actually uses a wheelchair because just even walking in the mall is hard for him, so he’s better if he’s safe in the seat,” Demaris says. “He’s very loud, he gets very stimulated here–he flicks his hands, he makes a lot of vocal sounds. It’s really hard for him to come out and do things like this.” > > But on this late August evening, she’s on her way to pick him up from his therapist and bring him back here. That’s because mall management agreed to designate five hours as sensory-friendly back-to-school night. They turned off the Muzak that usually pipes through the common space, lowered the lights and asked individual stores to turn down any music or strobe lights. > > “And then we have near the pottery barn, is a quiet area – at least, as quiet as the mall can be without being an inside soundproof space,” says Hope Tremblay. > > Tremblay is the mother of a six-year-old autistic son, and a member of the group Autism Speaks. > > …“I appreciate the mall is trying to–give folks an opportunity to at least try–just that hope that they can make it through a shopping trip–and mom and dad aren’t pulling their hair out at the end,” she says. > > Sensory-friendly events have become more common nationwide as autism rates climb. Theaters now offer sensory-friendly movies; cafes host quiet hours. Sarah Hunter is with Community Resources for People with Autism. She says this trend does more than just accommodate the harried parents of autistic children. > > "Just in saying this is a sensory-safe time or autism friendly time, that says to parents, “We know about autism. We understand your kids. …you don’t have to worry as much about being judged by other people,” Hunter says. “That’s a huge thing that keeps people at home and not in the community, is feeling that people are judging them.” > > Hunter joined Hope Tremblay at an information booth outside Target, where parents like Amy Tosi stop by. Tosi saw the event advertised on Facebook, so she brought her 11-year-old son Mac, who’s on the autism spectrum. She asks him what he thinks of the changes. > > “Well, it seems a little different.,” Mac says. “It’s just like nicer, and much more gentler.” > > But even though the sights and sounds were more muted than usual, it’s still a triple-decker shopping mall, and if you didn’t know it was sensory friendly night, you might not be able to tell. Many retail workers didn’t know about the event or chose to keep on their shop’s music regardless. > > At the Apple store, an employee had apparently forgotten about the quiet hours. While he was happy to shut off the music, the in-store chatter was so loud, it was hard to tell the difference. > > A Holyoke Mall spokesperson says next time they host a sensory-friendly shopping night, they may be stricter about stores turning off their music. > > The organisers don’t know if any of the autism families used the designated quiet area, but there were some regular mall shoppers who chose to sit there. > > And that underscores another reason, Hunter says, that sensory-friendly mall nights could really catch on: It’s not just autistic children who prefer a toned down shopping experience. > > “Oh, yeah. I hate noise,” Hunter says. “I never go to the mall! I feel like that’s something I get about these kids. I get sensory-overwhelmed, as well.” > > But while many of us can relate, she adds, it’s important to distinguish between a preference for peace and quiet, and a brain that really needs it. Here is a link to a photo: [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209169897432236&set=a.1910436088312.2094659.1464152618&type=3&theater](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209169897432236&set=a.1910436088312.2094659.1464152618&type=3&theater) (source: [Massachusetts Mall Offers ‘Sensory-Friendly’ Shopping Hours For Kids With Autism | New Hampshire Public Radio](http://nhpr.org/post/massachusetts-mall-offers-sensory-friendly-shopping-hours-kids-autism#stream/0)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 10:23am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1091 "2017-07-31T10:23:23Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The ‘Paddle for Humanity’ has raised more than $100,000 since its inception in 2009 and helped galvanize paddling communities across the country. The ‘Paddle for Humanity’ is open to all paddle craft with recipients including the nonprofit, _Talk About Curing Autism_ (_TACA_)… > [@](#): > > Paddlers from around the US will descend on Washington D.C. this Labor Day weekend for Watermans Paddle for Humanity’s third annual race on the Potomac River in front of Washington Harbours. > > …Paddle for Humanity is a grassroots paddling event series with the stated purpose of bringing the paddling community together to support humanitarian causes. The event is the largest and most prestigious paddle race in the region, drawing competitors from as far away as Florida and California to the iconic venue for the weekend. Paddle for Humanity is open to all paddle craft, including canoes, kayaks, surf skis, dory’s and traditional paddleboards. > The national event series has grown year after year and has been nominated for 3 consecutive years as one of the top philanthropic events in the paddling community raising both funds and awareness for organizations like the Navy SEAL Foundation, Oceans of Hope, Best Day Foundation and many others. The events continue to grow and attract record numbers of participants and spectators with events in Deerfield Beach, FL, Minneapolis, MN, Washington, DC, Austin, TX and Newport Beach, CA. > > First and foremost, Paddle for Humanity is a fundraising event. Twenty percent of the proceeds from each entry fee are donated to one of five charitable organizations chosen by the paddler. Participants are also encouraged to raise additional funds for the organization of their choice. This year’s recipients include: …Talk About Curing Autism (TACA). > > This year’s Paddle for Humanity national event series sponsors include, SUP ATX, LiftSUP, Watermans Sunscreen, Futures Fins, Landshark Lager, Fender Guitars, and Tito’s Vodka. Landshark will be hosting the event pre-party and awards ceremony at Sequoia’s Grill on the waterfront. Fender has signed on to provide custom paddle for humanity guitars to the winners of select events. > As part of the race weekend SUP ATX will be hosting a pre-race clinic and demo at the world famous Washington Canoe Club. The clinic will give first time competitors a chance to experience the course, learn from pros and demo new equipment. The clinic is totally free, open to the public and will run from 4pm-6pm on Friday August 30th on the docks at the Washington Canoe Club… Here is a link to photos: [https://m.facebook.com/pg/paddleforhumanity/photos/?ref=page\_internal&mt\_nav=1](https://m.facebook.com/pg/paddleforhumanity/photos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1) (source: [Paddle for Humanity Heads to Our Nation](http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb11070701.htm)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 9:32am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1092 "2017-08-01T09:32:05Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > The New York Red Bulls have announced plans for a permanent sensory-friendly space at their stadium for families impacted by autism. > > Formerly executive offices, the space overlooking midfield is a calm area that is free from the crowds and the noise of Red Bull Arena during matches. Families can use it for free. > > The team announced the new space on Saturday before [a home match] …It was Autism Awareness Night at the stadium. > > “Families deserve to feel welcome and comfortable each time they step foot into Red Bull Arena, not just one night a year,” Red Bulls GM Marc de Grandpre said in a statement released by the club. > > “We hope all sports teams and entertainment venues are inspired to take similar action to provide comfort for families with loved ones on the autism spectrum.” Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayHYaMBDKYE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayHYaMBDKYE) (source: [New York Red Bulls introduce sensory-friendly space for autistic kids - ESPN FC](http://www.espnfc.com.au/new-york-red-bulls/story/3115746/new-york-red-bulls-introduce-sensory-friendly-space-for-autistic-kids)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 6:34am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1093 "2017-08-02T06:34:41Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > After completing her training as an occupational therapist, Julia Riemann, age 23, had a choice to make. She could go to work immediately for a clinic in her native Germany – or she could travel to the U.S. and live with a family who had a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. She chose the later, and today, nearly two years later, she has no regrets. > “At first I was nervous – coming to live with a family that I’d only spoke with several times via Skype,” said Riemann. “What would it be like? But, the experience has been so valuable, both personally and professionally.” > Riemann is one of dozens of occupational therapists from Germany and other countries who, rather than put their professional aspirations on hold for a post-college gap year, have discovered a way to further develop their professional skills while experiencing the benefits of living in another country. For many – like Riemann – the experience has profoundly affected their approach to occupational therapy. > Through PROaupair, Riemann matched with the McBride family of Baltimore, Maryland. The McBride family has two children – [including] seven-year-old Mikey. Mikey was diagnosed with autism when he was about a year old. > “Once we figured out what the costs were going to be, there was no way that one of us could stay home,” says Luisella McBride. “And what does staying home mean? Am I or is my husband the right person to provide what Mikey needs for his success? We wanted somebody who knew how to work with Mikey and was on board with our goals.” > After two years of working with Mikey, Riemann has seen significant improvement. > “When I first arrived, I needed to tell Mikey every single item that he had to put on the morning and help him with buttons and zippers,” she explained. “In the last 20 months he’s improved his fine motor skills to the point where he is able to close most of the buttons and zippers on his clothes independently.” > Riemann is in close contact with Mikey’s therapist and works together with an interdisciplinary team of OT’s, teachers, psychologists, and [Applied Behaviour Analysis] and TEACCH therapists. They come up with routines and materials that help Mikey internalize things he needs to do on a daily basis. > “In the beginning, Mikey had a hard time tolerating the sensory input of a toothbrush in his mouth,” Riemann explained. “Now he can hold the toothbrush himself and brush his teeth for more than a minute.” > Riemann has benefitted from her unique perspective living with the McBride family. > “I have grown so much as a person and gained experience that has impacted my client-centered view on therapy,” says Riemann. “I have also experienced the importance of working together as an interdisciplinary team with teachers, therapists, and doctors – but also parents – to assure the best care possible for each individual.” > Living and working with a family is an intimate experience that provides Riemann with a window into the life of the whole family, not just Mikey. > “It’s hard to fully understand the family of a child you are working with when you only get to see them after a twice-weekly therapy session,” Riemann said. “Being around them 24 hours a day gives me a better perspective on what it really means to live with a child with special needs and see the effect it has on the family.” > She has been impressed with the …dedication she’s seen from her host family, and how they try to make their kids happy. The admiration is mutual. > …said Luisella. “We really admire Julia’s dedication, work ethic, and the drive she has to help both of our kids succeed. Julia’s background as an OT has been very beneficial when I have sought advice on how to help Mikey with certain behaviors. She also works with his OT on helping generalize at home what he is learning at school.” > Even thought Riemann is looking forward to her return to Germany, she acknowledges that she’s been changed by her time in the U.S. > “I’ve become a much more independent and mature person in the last few years,” she explains. “Living in a different country, with a whole different culture, and speaking another language affects you in so many ways. The experience is something that no one can take away from me.” > The core of that experience is Riemann’s client-centric philosophy, inspired by her time with the McBride family. > “Even if you have a fantastic sense of empathy you don’t know what it’s really like to be part of a family with a child who has autism,” she said. “As a therapist you might hear excuses from families about why homework wasn’t done, etc., that are hard to understand. But, when you live with a family you see how hard the parents are working and what they are going through on a day-to-day basis. You also see how much faith they put in the teachers and therapists to help them with their children.” > Riemann’s support and training has benefited the entire family, not just Mikey. > “There are a lot of challenging things that come with having a child with autism,” said McBride. "But, having someone else there with you who is not a parent but a professional that can provide you support and understanding, it makes a huge difference. There are times when I’ve felt overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel and then here comes Julia and she says “I’ve got it.'” Here is a link to a video: [Mikey's story - Occupational Therapist Julia in Special Needs Program for Autism in Baltimore, MD, USA](https://vimeo.com/122023929) (source: [Why an Occupational Therapist Came to the U.S. as a Professional Au Pair - PROaupair.com - Professional Live-In Childcare](https://proaupair.com/blog/why-an-occupational-therapist-came-to-the-u-s-as-a-professional-au-pair)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:05am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1094 "2017-08-03T10:05:51Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > For three young men the Primo House is a big step on the road to independence. The one-story home, located in North Beach, fulfills a major objective for The Autism Project Inc. (TAP), an Owings-based nonprofit whose mission includes empowering individuals on the Autism Spectrum. > > According to TAP Director Angel Gaither-Parker, opening a group home for young adults on the Autism Spectrum was been a goal of the agency for several years. > > Momentum for the group home project started to build about three years ago. One of the first steps was identifying a location for the house. > > “We chose North Beach because of its access to community resources,” said Gaither-Parker, who explained all three residents are in their late 20s and employed at area businesses, including Safeway, Harrington on the Bay and Breezy Point Grill. > > “This beautiful home will serve some of Calvert County’s most important citizens,” said Commissioners’ President Steve Weems …during a ceremony held at the house Tuesday, July 21. In addition to the county commissioners, North Beach Mayor Mark Frazer and two members of the town council attended the ribbon cutting ceremony/housewarming party. > > Gaither-Parker explained on TAP’s web site that the independent living home has been named the Primo House in honor of her grandfather, who was from Sicily. Primo means ‘first’ and Gaither-Parker confirmed it is the agency’s plan to have more than one independent living home for its clients. > > The house has a fourth bedroom that is currently unoccupied. Gaither-Parker said TAP will provide the three renters with one-on-one counseling, group meetings, financial advice, cooking instruction, social opportunities, life skills development and vocational support. > > “They [the three residents] have worked very hard with one another,” said Gaither-Parker. “I’m glad to see them enjoy life as young adults.” > > Funding for the house came from several sources and various fundraisers. > > According to TAP President Chip Gaither, several businesses donated materials for the project. Originally, TAP planned to have a modular home transported from out-of-state. However, “we were asking a community, a town to support these young men” therefore the workers contracted for the constructed project were all local. > > “We’re proud of this house and what it stands for,” said Chip Gaither. > > When asked what he likes best about his new home, one of the residents, Chris, said it was ‘being with friends and learning how to save money.’… (source: - Page Not Found ([http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0715/autismprojectopensgrouphome.html](http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0715/autismprojectopensgrouphome.html))) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1095 "2017-08-04T09:27:22Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. To the west is the _West Virginia Autism Training Center_ (_WVATC_) at _Marshall University_. The mission of the Huntington, West Virginia-based nonprofit is to provide support to individuals with autism spectrum disorders as they pursue a life of quality… > [@](#): > > More than 1,100 miles separate Sugar Land, Texas, and Huntington, but no distance was too far for Pam McClung when it came to making sure her son, Kyle, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was 2, had access to the best education he could find. > > Specifically, what she wanted access to was something Marshall University had to offer that no school in Texas – or any other state they looked in – had; that is, the West Virginia Autism Training Center… > > “He liked the campus, and he picked it out,” said McClung, who moved …to Huntington 3 – years ago. “If we don’t put programs like this in more universities, you’ve got a slew of kids coming up who were diagnosed (with autism spectrum disorders) in the 1990s who are not going to be able to navigate college – (students) that are smart enough to finish college, who are smart enough to hold jobs, who are going to be able to be part of a skilled workforce.” > > More than a decade ago, officials with the training center and the university realized that need and developed the nation’s first support program for college students diagnosed with autism, said Marc Ellison, executive director of the training center. > > The College Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder was developed in 2002, and it provides individualized skill building and therapeutic supports for students with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] in a mentored environment, Ellison said. > > “We try to provide opportunities for the transition into, and transition out of, college,” Ellison said. “The three areas we focus on are academics, social communication and independent living skills. A lot of students who require a significant amount of support from us early on require less and less as they mature and grow.” > > Although it’s been headquartered at Marshall University since its inception in 1984, the West Virginia Autism Training Center is a state entity that provides training and support services throughout the state with locations in Fairmont and the Eastern Panhandle. Most recently, the center expanded to Concord University to provide support for students diagnosed with [Autism Spectrum Disorders]. > > That’s in addition to the training to educators, state officials and private employers that center officials provide throughout the state to make sure that once students leave campus, they are entering a workforce system that is capable of supporting their needs while they utilize their education and skill sets. > > That’s good news to students such as Raven Witzigreuter, 19, who came to Marshall from Cleveland, Ohio, to pursue an undergraduate degree in biology, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. > > Witzigreuter said she’d looked at other schools, including Ohio State University, before she settled on Marshall because of its compact campus and the ATC. > > “The program is fantastic, and it helped me integrate into college life,” she said. “I realized I did need this help and there are a lot of people on the spectrum. It’s important for people to know there’s something out there for them and someone who cares for them and wants them to succeed in the real world.” > > Witzigreuter is one of about 50 students who get to use the college support program at the center, which annually has between eight and 10 openings for 50 and 75 applicants, Ellison said. The program doesn’t have a waiting list, so applicants often have to be turned away. > > However, not getting into the program isn’t enough to deter students with ASD from attending Marshall, said Jackie Clark, assistant coordinator for the college program. > > “It happens every year,” Clark said. “Many people still choose to come here because of the compactness of campus and the feel of Huntington, which I’ve heard described as being a comforting kind of feel. I think a great part, too, is that because of our existence since 2002, many of the professors and employees here are more understanding and accommodating.” > > McClung shared that sentiment, saying that even if her son had not been accepted into the program, she and her husband had decided to move to Huntington regardless. > > “It’s not only the academics,” she said. “It’s the socialization, how you interview, how you perform on the job. They’re teaching him how to be employable.” > > Approximately 94 percent of the students supported by the program since 2002 have graduated or currently are on track to graduate, Ellison said, and the success of the alumni of the program bodes well for the increasing understanding of people who have [Autism Spectrum Disorders]. > > “In general, autism used to be thought of as a behavioral disorder, and I think now we recognize that it’s a neurodevelopmental disorder,” Ellison said. “Because you have autism doesn’t mean you have behavior problems. They may result as challenges with communication, but it’s not a behavioral disorder. I think there’s a greater understanding because of the more popular kinds of media …where those folks are not explicitly called out as having autism, but they really are, if you understand what you’re watching.” > > Being diagnosed with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] when she was in second grade was an educational experience for Witzigreuter, who said her own understanding of the diagnosis has changed over the years, indicating, in her eyes, that others can do the same. > > “There’s so many different things that cover autism, like being anxious and not learning as well,” she said. “I think people need to learn to accommodate autism on all the spectrums and realize being autistic isn’t a bad thing. It’s a core part of people’s personalities, and it’s OK to be autistic and accepted in this world. I think talking with more people with autism and talking with people in the community about offering jobs to people with autism can help. It’s helping them be aware of what it’s like and also knowing there’s a spectrum and not thinking that there’s just one type of autism.” Here is a link to a video on the _WVATC_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0N6ma8pfT0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0N6ma8pfT0) (source: [MU center top choice for autistic students | Marshall University | herald-dispatch.com](http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/marshall_university/mu-center-top-choice-for-autistic-students/article_7f3bcc4c-bf52-11e6-9f90-5727101e3ebf.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 10:10am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1096 "2017-08-05T10:10:09Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. To the west, the _Mountaneer Autism Project_ is a Charleston, West Virginia-based nonprofit made up of a unified group of parents and professionals whose goal is to have one voice in the state dedicated to providing accurate and up-to-date information, empowering parents, supporting best practices, and making lasting changes in the state to enable West Virginia’s children with autism to achieve their highest potential. It provides advocacy, family support, and information resources… > [@](#): > > he Affordable Care Act (ACA) is not perfect, but repealing it without a better replacement would be devastating to 184,000 West Virginians, many of them children and seniors – who are enrolled through the ACA. > > One of the groups at greatest risk is children with autism …The condition severely limits a child’s ability to communicate and engage in social relationships. > > …children with autism in West Virginia …stand to lose a lot if the ACA is repealed. The act provides essential, life changing therapy to them – and depending on the replacement, this critical coverage could be taken away. > > Prior to 2011, children with autism who lived in West Virginia were excluded from coverage because their insurance companies considered autism a pre-existing condition. Even if their parents had health insurance, their policies specifically denied autism treatment. > > Imagine the frustration and desperation of these parents. They knew that autism is treatable but were unable to provide that treatment to their child because insurance companies refused to cover it. Imagine if families dealing with other neurological diseases …faced the same frustration. > > Families who could escape moved to other states for coverage. The majority were trapped with no viable way to help their own children. > > In 2012, the West Virginia legislature took notice of the egregious situation these families endured and passed HB 4260, an autism insurance law requiring public and private insurance companies to pay for evidence-based treatment of autism. While a welcome step in the right direction, the law only provided half-coverage and only impacted 23 percent of all the children with autism in the state (the other 77 percent either were on Medicaid or had self-funded insurance plans). > > It took the Affordable Care Act to finally provide coverage to most children with autism. The ACA allowed children with autism to purchase individual health insurance plans that cover autism treatment. > > The results have been remarkable in several ways. First and most important, this coverage provides evidence-based treatment that works. The cost of lifelong care for individuals with autism can be reduced by two-thirds with early diagnosis and treatment, according to the Autism Society of America. > > With the ACA, our state is saving taxpayers’ millions of dollars in lifelong care by giving them access to early, effective treatment. In many cases, a child will ultimately be able to attend school in a regular classroom with his or her peers and go on to lead a productive life. > > Second, there’s the economic impact from the increase in therapists. The ACA has helped create hundreds of new jobs around autism therapy. Repealing the ACA could endanger those jobs. > > Third, access to evidence-based autism treatment is preventing young families from leaving West Virginia. With our state steadily losing population, we need to do everything we can to encourage young families to stay. > > Given the obvious benefits of the ACA – to families, to children and to West Virginia ? it makes no sense to repeal it without a replacement that offers the same or better coverage. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House of Representatives on May 4, is not the answer. > > At risk again is pre-existing conditions. While insurers could not deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions under AHCA, it is highly probable that they will drastically increase their premiums as they would legally be allowed to do so. This would present an undue hardship on West Virginia’s neediest families. > > …we have …seen what proper treatment can do, treatment made possible for our poor families only through ACA. It would be callous and cruel to repeal this vital law. > > Kathy Shapell, of Charleston, is president of the Mountaineer Autism Project. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2OM5c\_A\_tY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2OM5c_A_tY) (source: [Charleston Gazette-Mail | Pulitzer Prize-winning West Virginia news | Kathy Shapell: American Health Care Act would hurt WV kids with autism](http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20170603/kathy-shapell-american-health-care-act-would-hurt-wv-kids-with-autism)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1097 "2017-08-06T04:48:37Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > Like many children with autism, Julian Brown has trouble reading emotions in people’s faces, one of the biggest challenges for people with the neurological disorder. > Now the 10-year-old San Jose boy is getting help from “autism glass” - an experimental device that records and analyzes faces in real time and alerts him to the emotions they’re expressing. > > Julian Brown, right, talks with his mother Kristen during a meeting with Jena Daniels, a clinical research coordinator at The Wall Lab in Stanford Jeff Chiu / AP > The facial recognition software was developed at Stanford University and runs on Google Glass, a computerized headset with a front-facing camera and a tiny display just above the right eye. > Julian is one of about 100 children participating in a Stanford study to see if “autism glass” therapy can improve their ability to interpret facial expressions. > “There’s not a machine that can read your mind, but this helps with the emotions, you know, recognizing them,” Julian said. > Julian wears the device each day for three 20-minute sessions when he interacts with family members face-to-face - talking, playing games, eating meals. The program runs on a smartphone, which records the sessions. > ?I think the glasses are a positive way to encourage a kid to look someone else in the face.? > When the device’s camera detects an emotion such as happiness or sadness, Julian sees the word “happy” or “sad” - or a corresponding “emoji” - flash on the glass display. The device also tests his ability to read facial expressions. > “The autism glass program is meant to teach children with autism how to understand what a face is telling them. And we believe that when that happens they will become more socially engaged,” said Dennis Wall, whose lab is running the study. > Stanford student Catalin Voss and researcher Nick Haber developed the technology to track faces and detect emotions in a wide range of people and settings. > “We had the idea of basically creating a behavioral aide that would recognize the expressions and faces for you and then give you social cues according to those,” said Voss, who was partly inspired by a cousin who has autism. > > …Google provided about 35 Google Glass devices to Stanford, but otherwise hasn’t been involved in the project. The Silicon Valley tech giant stopped producing the headset last year after it failed to gain traction, but the device found new life among medical researchers. > Brain Power, a Cambridge, Mass.-based startup, is also developing Google Glass-based applications to help children with autism improve their face-reading abilities and social skills. > “Glass and wearable technology are the future. They’re going to play a pivotal role in how we understand, manage and diagnose disorders like autism,” said Robert Ring, chief science officer at Autism Speaks. > ?Glass and wearable technology are the future.? > Currently, many autistic children learn to read facial expressions by working with therapists who use flashcards with faces expressing different emotions. The Stanford team hopes autism glass can provide a convenient, affordable therapy that families can do at home. > “Kids with autism are not getting enough of the care that they need for as long as they need it, and we need to fix the problem,” Wall said. > If the study shows positive results, the technology could become commercially available within a couple years, Wall said. > “Anything that can help this population is very welcome and very important, but even the best technology will never be enough because we are dealing with a population with often very, very profound needs,” said Jill Escher, president of Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area. > The study is still in its early stages, but Wall said participating children have shown gains in their face-reading abilities and family feedback has been encouraging. > “It has helped our son who’s using the Google Glasses connect with the family more,” said Kristen Brown, Julian’s mother. “I think the glasses are a positive way to encourage a kid to look someone else in the face.” > Julian also gives the device positive reviews: “I really think it would help autistic people a lot.” Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKknNM5QoJo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKknNM5QoJo) (source: [Google Glass App Helps Kids with Autism ‘’‘See’‘’ Emotions - NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/google-glass-app-helps-kids-autism-see-emotions-n597641)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 5:38am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1098 "2017-08-07T05:38:19Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > Southern Maryland Roller Derby is proud to partner with Chronic Ink Tattoo and the Autism Spectrum Support Group of Southern Maryland for Tattoos for Tuition! > > The proceeds from this event will help Southern Maryland children on the autism spectrum attend therapeutic summer camps. These camps are not covered by insurance and can cost as much as $300 a week, but they are an enriching and fun social experience for the children lucky enough to attend. We want to make that happen for more SoMD kids and we need your help! > > There are three set tattoo designs for this fundraiser: (You pick the color and placement.) > > The puzzle piece tattoo costs $20. > > puzzlepiecetattoo > > The sparrow costs $40. > > sparrowtattoo > > The third tattoo is (a set of steampunk cogs and gears, photo to follow) and will cost $60. > > We will also have temporary tattoos with the same designs and one with the Southern Maryland Roller Derby logo available with a donation, for those not quite ready to go under the needle! > > And, if you don’t want a real or temporary tattoo, you can always make your way to the shop anyway for some sweet Southern Maryland Roller Derby merchandise (t-shirts, stickers and more)! > > Please join us for this worthy cause and fun event! Come on down, get some ink, meet some roller derby girls and support this amazing cause! (sources: [Tattoos for Tuition!](http://autismsupport-somd.org/2014/03/30/tattoos-for-tuition-2/); [Tattoos for Tuition ? SMRD](http://somdrollerderby.org/tattoos-for-tuition/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 11:00am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1099 "2017-08-08T11:00:18Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. > [@](#): > > For 17 summers, Camp C.A.R.E. has offered children with disabilities the opportunity to feel like kids. > > On Friday, 50 campers and their families celebrated the joy that Bayside Community Network’s three-week camp brings to children without many opportunities. > > The children go swimming, bowling and horseback riding with trained personnel during the camp. They also took a field trip to the Six Flags America Amusement Park. > > Sharon Boyd, of Port Deposit, the mother of two sons diagnosed with autism, said Camp C.A.R.E. has given them the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. > > “There are no other camps in the county that can provide support to children with a variety of disability needs,” she said. “Once you talk to Roberta (LaPorte, camp manager), though, you realize that they care for each of these children.” > > Karl Guldner, the camp’s executive director, said it grew out of a need that Bayside saw in the Cecil County community. > > Any Cecil County student with a diagnosed developmental disability enrolled as a full-day student, during the previous school year, is eligible to apply for the camp. Applicants from ages 5 to 21 go through a selection process to insure appropriateness for the camp. > > This year, 31 staff members were chosen from roles within the Cecil County Public School system as well as college students looking to work with special needs children, Guldner added. > > “We have a lot of businesses and individuals that come together to make this camp happen every year,” he added. “Without the community’s support, we wouldn’t be able to run this camp they way that we do.” > > Parent Connie Colosimo said Camp C.A.R.E. is not only about what opportunities it can offer her son, Kyle, but what it can offer her as well. > > “This camp has come to mean the world to (Kyle),” she said. “It is also the only help that parents get in a year, because when your child has disabilities you worry about their well-being. With this camp’s staff, though, you never have to worry about your child’s safety.”… Here is a link to photos: [Camp C.A.R.E. - Bayside Community Network](http://thevalueofcommunity.org/camp-c-r-e/) (source: [Camp C.A.R.E. offers fun in safe environment | Local News | cecildaily.com](http://www.cecildaily.com/local_news/article_de52ec5e-c149-11e0-8e44-001cc4c03286.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 9:48am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1100 "2017-08-09T09:48:02Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. To the south, _Surfers Healing Virginia Beach_ is a Virginia Beach nonprofit that hosts surf camps at the beach for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The nonprofit provides camps that are free and could not be done without the sea of support from many Community Partners, Sponsors and Volunteers… > [@](#): > > A group of autistic kids got some down time over the weekend as they hit the water on surf boards. The 8th annual Surfers Healing Camp offered the kids the chance to do something some of their parents thought they’d never do. > > More than 225 kids took part in the event. Lily Olsen braved the rain to catch the waves. Her mother Felissa says she loves to watch her daughter surf. > > “She doesn’t really talk so I don’t really know what she’s thinking,” Felissa Strickland said. “She looks like she’s having fun.” > > …Volunteers hope the water has healing power for the kids. Duane Webster was a pro-surfer for 20 years before he volunteered at Surfers Healing. > > “That’s the biggest reward right there is, uh, seeing that the kids are just having the time of their life,” Webster said. > > Children of all levels of autism showed their excitement and joy of taking time to just be a kid. > > “It’s so empowering to be able to see her out there and actually doing something that she enjoys that I never in a million years thought she would be able to do,” Strickland said. > > Some who are involved in the event say the surf event may help family members as well as the kids. > > “I’m just so grateful that there are things like this and there are people out there that have creative minds and come up with programs like this, so it’s just awesome,” she said. > > The Surfers Healing organization was founded by a former competitive surfer and his wife who had a son diagnosed with autism at age three. They say he often suffered from sensory overload, but the ocean was the one place where he seemed to find respite. Here is a link to photos from a _Surfers Healing Virginia Beach_ event from three years ago: [Surfers Healing August 16 2014 - Thirty-ThreePhotography](http://www.yourttp.com/Galleries/Client-Galleries/Surfers-Healing-August-16-2014/) (source: [Kids with Autism Hit the Water at Surf Event | FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports](http://fox4kc.com/2012/08/20/kids-with-autism-hit-the-water-at-surf-event/)) [Previous page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=54) [Next page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=56)