# '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:** 62
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 9:13am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1221 "2017-12-11T09:13:13Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. The _Cincinnati Center for Autism_ (_CCA_) is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based nonprofit that was formed with the sole purpose of improving the outcome for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. We are committed to offering a variety of programs which address the communication, educational, social and behavioral needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, to assure that they are able to achieve happy, fulfilling lives… > [@](#): > > …For those on the autism spectrum, social cues are sometimes misunderstood and new people and experiences can feel overwhelming. As parents, we want all children, no matter what their abilities, to feel valued and included. How can you help achieve this? By teaching your children about autism and showing them how to reach out to children on the spectrum in the classroom and beyond. > > “It’s all about patience,” says 30 year-old Lauren Meyer, reflecting on her own experience as a child with autism. “It’s about patience on the part of the kid on the spectrum and for kids trying to make friends with them, too.” Meyer vividly recalls the unique social challenges she faced growing up. “Most other kids just didn’t get it,” she says. “They didn’t always read me right.” > > …Megan Thomas and Susie Wolfe of the Cincinnati Center for Autism recommend following these simple suggestions: 1. Gain the student’s attention. 2. Say “Hi.” 3. Wait for the student to respond; don’t walk away until you get a response. 4. Repeat on a daily basis at the same time so the student will come to expect the interaction. Thomas and Wolfe stress that it is important to remember that “our friends with autism want to interact with peers. They just aren’t always sure how to interact.” > > People first language > When it comes to autism and other labels, ‘person first language’ is important. The Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati encourages people to refer to a child as having autism versus being an autistic child. This is considered a more respectful and accurate, since autism is only one aspect of a child’s whole being. > > The word ‘spectrum’ is used to describe autism because how it manifests in different people can vary greatly. > > …Northern Kentucky mother Jeanette Tacon offers this firsthand advice for approaching kids who are sensory avoiding: “Think of ways these folks may be affected. Loud, sudden noises at a party or event may be enough to make the child anxious enough that they can’t stay, because they don’t want to have another noise surprise them,” she says. “And once it has happened once, it’s all over.” > > Planning ahead > Meyer says that while maintaining a routine can be important for people on the spectrum, they do want to enjoy new friends and experiences. “It’s helpful to us when we have plenty of advance notice,” she explains. “Parents can encourage their kids to think ahead when it comes to including a child on the spectrum – try to ask way ahead of time for a play date.” > To that end, Tacon suggests sending the child pictures or websites for new places in advance so they know what to expect. “Let them become as familiar as possible with new surroundings before you get there,” she recommends… Here is a link to a video: [https://m.facebook.com/pg/Cincinnati-Center-for-Autism-81138076469/videos/?ref=page\_internal&mt\_nav=1](https://m.facebook.com/pg/Cincinnati-Center-for-Autism-81138076469/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1) (source: [403 Forbidden](http://cincinnatiparent.com/connecting-with-kids-on-the-autism-spectrum/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 8:57am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1222 "2017-12-12T08:57:05Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio has its own annual _Autism Speaks_ Walk, held in Cincinnati’s Coney Island Amusement Park. _Autism Speaks_ is North America’s leading Autism science and advocacy organisation… > [@](#): > > Today was a wonderful day down at Coney Island Park in Cincinnati OH. > > I enjoyed supporting my daughter…Blue Ash & Clippard YMCA Autism program, and the many families with autistic children in the community today to bring a sense of belonging and support. > > There is still so much that is not known about this condition, so bringing awareness is important. > > Families need to know where to turn for help with their children diagnosed with autism. > > Getting the support they need in developing communication and behavior skills for their children is paramount. Here is a link to photos from this year’s _Autism Speaks_ Walk in Cincinnati’s Coney Island Amusement Park from earlier this year: [https://www.facebook.com/pg/AutismSpeaks.Cinci/photos/?tab=album&album\_id=10153954242308078](https://www.facebook.com/pg/AutismSpeaks.Cinci/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10153954242308078) (source: [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/autism-speaks-cincinnati-ohio-greg-siegel/](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/autism-speaks-cincinnati-ohio-greg-siegel/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1223 "2017-12-13T05:40:25Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. _NEXT for AUTISM_ is a New York City-based nonprofit that transforms the national landscape of services for people with autism by strategically designing, launching, and supporting innovative programs… > [@](#): > > NEXT for AUTISM (formerly New York Collaborates for Autism) was founded in 2003 by [two women], an entrepreneur and former law partner respectively, both with sons who are on the autism spectrum. [The two] envisioned an organization that would advance the field of autism services and challenge the status quo. After consulting scientists, educators, and thought-leaders, they convened a group of like-minded philanthropists to create and support exemplary, innovative programs that would improve the lives of individuals and families living with autism. > > NEXT for AUTISM has built a portfolio of programs with respected service organizations, medical centers, universities, and other educational institutions. Each new initiative is aligned with the corresponding life stage of individuals living and growing with the disorder. Each incorporates best practices and state-of-the-art interventions. Here is a link to a video: [1K views · 15 reactions | At NYCA we often say, Someone You Know Loves Someone With Autism. Check out this great PSA we did with SundanceTV in anticipation of their upcoming series The A Word, which premieres July 13th. | NEXT for AUTISM](https://www.facebook.com/NEXT4AUTISM/videos/1394000053947067/) (source: [https://www.nextforautism.org/](https://www.nextforautism.org/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 10:37am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1224 "2017-12-14T10:37:08Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. Across the Atlantic, in the United Kingdom ‘The A Word’ is a television series about a family with a child on the Autism Spectrum… > [@](#): > > THE A Word is a BBC One drama which focuses on an autistic child as he learns more about his condition. > > But who is Max Vento, the actor who plays Joe? Here’s what you need to know as the show airs its second season. > > Max Vento, from West Yorkshire, plays autistic five-year-old Joe Hughes in BBC show The A Word > Who is Max Vento? > > Max Vento, from West Yorkshire, plays autistic little boy Joe Hughes in BBC show The A Word. > > Joe is the child at the heart of the show and the part is Max’s first TV role. > > Joe’s biography on his agent’s website reads: “I am a typical little boy who loves drama and acting…” > > What will happen in Series 2 of The A Word? > > The show’s second season picks up two years after the first season. > > Now aged seven, Joe has begun to look at the world and finds that he doesn’t fit in. ‘Autistic’ is a word he has heard but can’t yet understand. > > ‘Different’ is what he feels, and fears might be something bad. Here is a link to a trailer of the show: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXJvWVl2KKM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXJvWVl2KKM) (source: [Who is Max Vento and does The A Word actor who plays Joe have autism? |](https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4870348/max-vento-the-a-word-joe-hughes-bbc-one-autism/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 7:58am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1225 "2017-12-15T07:58:43Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. The _Center for Alternative and Augmentative Communication_ (_AAC_) _& Autism_ was established less than a decade ago to serve as a resource for those working to improve the language and communication skills of kids with autism. Its purpose is to improve awareness of the power of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) devices to change the lives of children who are nonverbal or have limited verbal abilities due to Autism and various other challenges… > [@](#): > > While speech therapist Sarah Allen has records denoting certain goals achieved while working with 8-year-old Isaiah who has autism, like the increasing frequency with which he’s sought out augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), more important to her – and harder to measure objectively – is how often his intent is successfully communicated. > > With Isaiah, it can be tricky. For instance, he might be looking right at her, with a certain look in his eye, and using his PRC Vantage to say “eat.” “More likely, what he’s really saying is ‘bite me,’” laughed Sarah, who has worked with Isaiah for the past year and a half. “He’s funny. He’s really funny!” And the Vantage has played a significant role in that, giving him the language he needs to express that humor. > > “If you’re using single-meaning pictures, an apple is ‘apple’ and eat is ‘eat.’ There’s no room for ‘bite me,’” said Isaiah’s mom, Rose. It’s just one example of some of the surprises Isaiah is capable of producing with his Vantage, which allows him to press buttons showing images and letters that can “speak” for him. > > On a recent extended visit to the relatives, Rose explained, leaving took longer than Isaiah would have liked. When tapping out the symbols and saying “go car” and “go home” didn’t get anyone’s attention, he hit the button for “snail,” expressing his displeasure for the pace of their departure. > > “We knew he was funny. We just didn’t know how funny he could be,” said Rose, who admits she didn’t even know there was a button for “snail” and still doesn’t know how Isaiah knew. > > …For Isaiah, whose autism was late onset, “everything was right where it should be up until about 18 months,” said Rose, describing how at that age he was using words and had a vocabulary that was normal to above average, maybe around 120 words. Then it abruptly stopped. “When autism took over his life, the first thing we noticed was the loss of verbal communication,” she said. > > The family tried different things like using the picture cards of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and teaching Isaiah sign language. “He learned them fine,” Rose said, “but would not use them.” Early on, he would resort to “pull and drag,” taking her directly to the things he wanted – but leaving her guessing on specifics… > > It was with that thought that she found the Vantage, with programmable buttons that allow him to specify not only what he wants -his first spoken words with it were “eat Cheetos” - but even where he wants to go… Or he can ad lib. “If he wants to go outside but he doesn’t have a key for ‘outside,’ he’ll find the closest thing, like a bird, and say ‘go bird’ because in our lives the only place for birds is outside,” said Rose. > > …“That Isaiah has learned to initiate those requests himself rather than simply being asked what he wants is a huge step,” said Sarah. “And that ability to be specific – to properly convey intent – has relieved a tremendous amount of frustration for him,” she added. > > “He used to be really bad about just giving up, chucking the chair and removing himself from a situation to avoid it,” she said. “…Instead of removing himself from the situation at hand, he’s telling me ‘I don’t want to be doing this, I want to go [to the playground],’ and we’re able to have a conversation about it.” And that, Sarah said, works better than a preprogrammed series of sentences or phrases that fit into a specific plan. > > Because Isaiah was able to say what he wanted – what he intended – he took to using the Vantage very quickly. “Within one or two session he was spontaneously going to it and making requests,” said Sarah …“Anything we would do, I would always make it a point for him to see the multiple meanings behind the icons.” > > “That the icons representing core language do not change from screen to screen to screen is a help and also aids in motor planning,” said Sarah, who has seen children on speaking devices set back by drastic changes to the icon locations they are accustomed to. She likens it to “removing their tongue.” > > …“Indeed, Isaiah knows that pain,” said Rose. Though no one touches the device but Isaiah and his caregivers, on one occasion the Vantage broke. Though [the company] shipped a replacement while it was serviced, the day waiting on transit was “agony” for him, like “having a piece of tape over your mouth with a toothache,” said Rose. > > He was so miserable that the family subsequently “searched every newspaper in the country” to buy a second Vantage so that Isaiah would never be without again. “The seller,” notes Rose, “said they were only parting with it because the child using it could speak now and did not need it anymore.” Isaiah is not there just yet, though he has very recently started to verbalize, and long-term Sarah is “absolutely optimistic that we will be able to transition from two and three button sequences to longer phrases and sentences in the print world.” > > However, Rose still wonders. Though she’s gotten over her initial reservations that the device speaking for him would prevent Isaiah from wanting to talk, she’s not sure he will be a verbal communicator. If not, she can still be content. “When we chose the Vantage for Isaiah, we were looking as far ahead as he could go. If he has to deliver a lecture in college, this could do it for him, whereas if you’re in a crowded room using signs, people are going to miss that,” she said. "Even if he never has a voice of his own, this can do that for him. > > In fact, that’s what we say when we see him without it: ‘Isaiah, where’s your voice?’" Here is a link to a short video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWblqzfqUto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWblqzfqUto) (source: [https://www.aacandautism.com/success/isaiah-finds-his-voice](https://www.aacandautism.com/success/isaiah-finds-his-voice)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1226 "2017-12-16T08:47:19Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. _Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy_, based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, tries to help those, including children, affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders… > [@](#): > > Nearly 70 families with an autistic child will receive financial aid from the National Autism Association Northeast Ohio Chapter. > > When a child has an autism label, it’s sometimes an uphill battle with health insurance companies to get them to pay for treatments such as speech therapy, occupational therapy or biomedical, said Don Pattison, president of the NAA-NEO. > > “They don’t think it’s curable,” he said. > > Pattison’s group has worked to raise funds to help these families. All 68 applicants were awarded some amount for the care of their autistic child. The recipients include families in Willoughby, Painesville, Mentor, Chester Township, Wickliffe, Mayfield Heights and South Euclid. > > Pattison is the father of an autistic son. > > “Of the 68 applications, $60,000 worth of total need was based on the amount of the application received,” he said. > > Requests [were up] to $1,000. All who requested $300 were given the full amount, while most who requested the higher amounts were given half, with the hopes that recent fundraisers will allow the group to award the rest, he said. Money is paid directly to the service provider the family requests. > > “No one was turned down, but those who didn’t make it in that funding cycle are on a waiting list,” he said, adding that $21,000 has been awarded so far. “Some people on the waiting list are for summer camps, and they don’t need funding right now.” > > Families’ requests ranged from money for speech and occupation therapy to money for sending the child to a special-needs summer program. Others requested it just to help with therapies or for schools with special programs. > > Many of the funds came through as monetary donations, but Cleveland Heights-based Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy donated $500 worth of compounds to an area family that is treating their child biomedically. > > The group hopes to raise more funds through two benefit concerts planned for February. Todd Snider, who won the 2006 Top Album honors by Rolling Stone Magazine, will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 29… Tim Easton… also will perform. > > In addition, Easton will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in Akron. Tickets are $30 for the Beachland show and $20 for the Akron concert. All proceeds go to NAA-NEO to help these families… > > “It’s a really good fundraiser, and hopefully, we could hit the waiting list,” he said. “If not, we could prioritize based on financial need.” > > The group also is seeking corporate sponsorship. > > “None of our funding is from government sources,” Pattison said. > > Autism is a neurological disorder that affects as many as one in every 150 children. It causes significant problems with social skills, behavior and communication. Necessary interventions for these children can cost as much as $70,000 a year, with insurance companies typically paying very little, according to the NAA-NEO… (source: [Autism families finding relief](http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20080204/NEWS/302049986)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 8:07am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1227 "2017-12-17T08:07:27Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. _Cyclist Connection_ is a Canal Winchester, Ohio-based nonprofit whose aim is to share its vision of fun and fitness, one ride at a time. It is a different kind of bike shop… > [@](#): > > The 5th Annual Ride 4 Autism, presented by Cyclist Connection, will be held …in Canal Winchester. This year, all proceeds will benefit patients and families served at the Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. > > April is National Autism Awareness Month and this ride will help raise awareness of the 1 in 110 autistic children born each year. This developmental disorder continues to affect thousands of children across the country and this ride will help fund treatment and educational toys for newly diagnosed autistic children. > > The ride, designed for all bikers, novice to expert, will have three different routes for participants to choose from: 10, 30 and 75 miles. Each route will begin and end at …Canal Winchester, Ohio. The three separate routes are based on rider level. The 10-mile route is for families and beginner rides on a flat to rolling surface; the 30-mile loop is for intermediate riders; and the 75-mile route is for the more advanced riders on a hilly surface. Registration is $25 and participants will receive a t-shirt and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a 2011 Giant Cypress ST… (source: [http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/news-room-articles/ride-4-autism-bike-tour-slated-for-april-30?contentid=89318](http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/news-room-articles/ride-4-autism-bike-tour-slated-for-april-30?contentid=89318)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 6:50am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1228 "2017-12-18T06:50:29Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. ‘Yellow Peppers’ is an [Israeli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel) [drama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drama) [television program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_program) about a family that raises an [autistic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism) child in a rural village lacking any therapeutic resources. It was also presented as a part to the [World Autism Awareness Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Autism_Awareness_Day) at the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations)… > [@](#): > > …The series was devised, written and directed by Keren Margalit (daughter of journalist and TV personality Dan Margalit and sister of TV producer Shira Margalit), based on her personal experience as the mother of an autistic child. It focuses on a family that has to cope and go on with their lives while taking care of an autistic child in a remote community in the Arava in southeastern Israel, far from places that could provide them with basic means of coping. > The first series of 13 episodes went into production in 2008 and was broadcast in 2010. It told the story of a couple – Ayelet, played by Alma Zak, and Yaniv, played by Yossi Marshak – who discover that their 5-year-old son Omri, (played amazingly well by 7-year-old Michael Zapesotsky) suffers from autism. Initially – and apparently this is one of the ways many families deal with such a predicament – they withdraw from active life to a remote place in the Arava (where the mother’s father, a widower played by Yehuda Barkan, owns a plantation of yellow peppers; hence the series’ title) and provide the child with the best home care under the circumstances, while keeping the fact that he is autistic within the extended family. > The first season won accolades from all (including Israel TV prizes for the series itself, Margalit as its creator, writer and director, and an acting prize for Zak. It also garnered about 26 percent ratings, unusually high for a drama series devoid of overt entertainment value. It was acquired for production in the U.S. by Lionsgate Studios, of ‘Mad Men’ fame. > The second season, which went on the air in January this year, picked up the story of the Ohayon-Rotenberg family three years later, with Omri aged 10 and Ayelet and Yaniv conceiving a second child, hoping that he or she will be ‘normal.’ They go on with their lives in the Arava, coming to terms with various familial sub-plots and managing as well as they can. There is also a kind of intriguing, comic-ironic ‘chorus’ in the series, made up of Thai workers on the plantation, who comment and gossip (in Thai) about the family and become emotionally involved in the situation of living with the mystery, fear and very special charm of the phenomenon labelled with the enigmatic word ‘autism.’ > > One of the good things about this drama series is that it is not plot-driven, and consequently the reviewer need not fear spoilers. The question that hovers over the second season is whether Ayelet and Yaniv’s second child will be autistic (by the end of episode 11, Ayelet is hospitalized for observation, but that in itself does not necessarily mean a thing). Whatever the answer turns out to be ? and I don’t know it ? this should not matter at all in assessing the artistic merit of the series. > > For those of you who have seen some of the episodes, and for those who decide to sample it after reading this column, I wish to draw your attention to a particular quality of Alma Zak’s acting, and to a particular scene in the 11th episode, both of which highlight the special flavor of ‘Yellow Peppers.’ Zak, one of the stars of the ‘What a Wonderful Country’ satirical program on Channel 2, rose to fame for her uncanny ability to create unerring impressions of female figures from Israel’s public life. In her straight dramatic parts in Israeli movies (unlike many other Israeli TV personalities, she does not cultivate an active stage acting career) she manages to project a character who seems to be ever so slightly ‘distancing’ herself emotionally from the situation she is in. There is some measure of flatness in her tone of voice, which makes one wonder whether there is some degree of ‘autism’ in her personality as well. We gauge the emotions raging in the series to a great extent through her emotional prism, which in a very special way makes the viewer experience the story as someone on the autistic spectrum – which seems wider than we may have thought ? might experience it. > In the 11th episode there is a scene in which Omri (in a really magnificent display of screen acting by Zapesotsky) gets ‘stuck’ on a word and behavior: He insists on seeing the credits of a TV program, and keeps repeating the Hebrew word ?efshar? (which means, in this context, ‘[is it] possible?’). His father cannot get through to him and leaves, exasperated. Zak manages to get through by insisting first on questions, uttered in a sort of neutral but insistent (on answers) tone of voice, and then by joining Omri in the pattern of repeating one word (efshar) and by gently inserting more words into the pattern as she lies on the floor next to him. Miraculously, she manages to get Omri ?unstuck,? and guide him ever so gently into communicating with her. One short scene, beautifully written and performed by Zak and Zapesotsky, told me much more about autism and the possibilities of functioning within this world than many learned studies. > > As far as it is known, the American version has not been produced yet, and we do not know if there will be a third season for this Israeli series. Pending that, one can only hope that a version with English subtitles will be prepared for those of you who are not fluent in Hebrew. Since nothing human is alien, it is certainly worth the effort to make this series accessible to all. (source: [Autism, the TV Show: Israeli Drama Communicates on Another Level - Television](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/television/.premium-1.582369)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 9:18am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1229 "2017-12-19T09:18:32Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the east, _Horses with Hope_ is a Bethel Park, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit whose mission is to apply the power of equine therapy to improve the physical, mental, emotional and social quality of life for individuals in the Pittsburgh region. This is for individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders… > [@](#): > > Jennifer Gallucci had been afraid to find out, but last month, she finally got her answer: Her 2-year-old son, Jude, does not show any signs of autism. > > It was a small but important victory. > > Mrs. Gallucci and her husband, Bruno, who live in the tiny community of Burgettstown in Washington County, already have two sons with different forms of autism… > > It’s not that their lives would have been shattered by having another child with autism, they said, but in a schedule already packed with therapy sessions, visiting aides and special diets, the conclusion by a psychologist at the Autism Center of Pittsburgh was a relief. > > The examination showed that Jude has a speech delay but otherwise is “neurologically typical,” Mrs. Gallucci said. The psychologist "said he didn’t see anything indicating autism, and I said, ‘I like that. Let’s go home.’ " > > Her son Joe, 10, has moderate autism, and only began to speak in full sentences this year. Her next youngest, 8-year-old John, has Asperger’s syndrome, a higher-functioning form of autism, and also has some problems with aggression. > > Because of that history, it made sense for the Galluccis to enroll Jude at the University of Pittsburgh’s Infant Communication Lab, which is part of a national network of centers studying children who have an older sibling with autism. > > In 2011, the Pitt center and several others published a study that showed that nearly 20 percent of those younger children ended up with autism themselves – far higher than the estimated 1.1 percent rate in the general population. > > The study suggests that autism has a strong inherited component, but it doesn’t rule out the possibility that some families might have experienced a common environmental exposure. > > …Even if the driving force for the Gallucci family’s autism is genetic, scientists do not yet have the ability to pinpoint a specific set of genes that are at fault in most cases of the disorder. Scott Selleck, a geneticist at Penn State University, said there are many different forms of autism, and hundreds of genes have been implicated. > > “One could make the argument that to talk about a single entity called autism is a bit of a misnomer,” he said. “It is quite likely that autism is a disorder that has 2,000 genes, so what do we call it now?” > > The Galluccis see that variation within their own family. > > After their oldest son, James, 13, was born, Mrs. Gallucci remembered how active and verbal he was. So when Joe was born three years later, her first impression was that in contrast to James, “Joe didn’t need constant attention and he hit all of his milestones except for his speech, and I just figured he was quiet. And after Jim talking so much I was happy he was quiet.” > > In preschool, though, it was obvious Joe had behavior problems. School officials recommended Mrs. Gallucci take him to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and "at that point I was angry, and I thought, ‘I’ll take him just to prove you’re wrong.’ " > > After testing Joe, Mrs. Gallucci said, "the doctor left the room, and she came back in and handed me a book and said, ‘Your child’s autistic,’ and that was it. I shut down right then. I had no idea what she was talking about. I don’t think I’d even seen ‘Rain Man’ [the 1988 film starring Dustin Hoffman as an autistic man] at that point. > > “Then I cried about it for two to three months.” > > Soon, her pain turned to anger again, and she vowed that “if you’re going to give my child a label, and he’s going to be stereotyped and looked down upon, then I’m going to make sure he’s going to get all the good things that come with it.” > > That meant signing up for therapy appointments, special school programs and enrichment activities, a jam-packed life that only became more crowded after John was born in 2005 and eventually got his own autism diagnosis. > > Unlike Joe, who still speaks haltingly and has just begun to read, John is articulate, high-energy and fascinated by computer games, especially his favorite, Minecraft. He also has behavior problems at school, Mrs. Gallucci said. > > “He’s much better in school during structured time; during unstructured time is when I get the phone calls. John has done many, many things in school. John is the bully; he doesn’t get bullied. John has started food fights. John has thrown wet paper towels all over the bathrooMrs. John is very loud in the halls. Just mischievous stuff, but now it’s getting to be a big deal.” > > The Galluccis found out a couple of years ago that John has a rare genetic duplication on part of his 17th chromosome, one that has been associated with intellectual delays and autism. > > Both boys get in-home visits from therapeutic support staff, known as TSS aides, who spend time helping with daily activities, and from behavioral specialist consultant aides, who can help write treatment plans and go with them to doctors’ appointments, as well as from specialized therapists. Altogether, these visits, paid for by Medical Assistance, take up about 11 hours a week. > > The Galluccis also have enrolled both boys in numerous outside programs. One of the best, she said, has been the equine therapy sessions Joe has participated in at Horses with Hope, a riding program for special needs children… > > “Within two months of starting there,” Mrs. Gallucci said, “Joe was flying through his occupational therapies. His balance increased, his throwing aim, everything just went through the roof. When he’s on the horse, he can be having a very bad week, but something about that horse walking calms him down and he’s good to go.” > > Besides managing the family’s schedule, Mrs. Gallucci works at an office involved in land purchases for shale gas development. Mr. Gallucci, who recently went back to school for training in cybersecurity, is still looking for work. > > What does the future hold? > > “I want to see all four of my children with college-educated jobs, living in their own houses with their own wives and children and driving their own cars,” Mrs. Gallucci said without hesitation. "I’m pushing for that. The only one I worry about getting to that goal is Joe. Will he get there? I don’t know – but I’m hoping for that. > > “Because eventually I’m going to die. Either Joe’s going to stand on his own two feet, or one of his brothers will have to help him, and what are their wives going to say? Are they going to want to deal with that? I don’t know.” > > In the meantime, the Galluccis said, they make sure the boys are well cared for and not in the least hidden away. > > “We don’t have a lot,” Bruno said, “but these kids are all fed very well, they play, they are in their community. Right now, we live for them.” > > “We don’t have time to sit around and say ‘Oh, autism is so horrible’ and you should feel bad for me,” Mrs. Gallucci added. "I know a lot of people who do that, who sit and cry about how horrible everything is. > > “OK, yeah, it’s bad – let’s move on from that.” Here is a link to some photos from _Horses with Hope_: [https://www.horseswithhope.org/gallery](https://www.horseswithhope.org/gallery) (source: [One family, four children, two forms of autism | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2013/10/08/One-family-four-children-two-forms-of-autism/stories/201310080038)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 7:47am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1230 "2017-12-20T07:47:46Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the southeast, _Surfers For Autism_ is a Florida-based nonprofit whose mission is to unlock the potential of individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its focus is to eliminate stigma through public awareness and education and to unite communities through volunteerism… > [@](#): > > Applause and cheers rang through the salty air at Flagler Beach as 14-year-old Ryan Metzelar sprang to his feet on a blue surf board. While this was his fifth year participating in Surfers For Autism’s annual surf day, it’s the first time he stood while catching a wave. > > The Metzelar family, from Coral Springs, was one of the 200 families affected by autism who participated in the event on Saturday, Aug. 19. > > Don Ryan, founder and president of Surfers For Autism, said families traveled from eight or nine states for the free event, which gives autistic people ages 4 and up therapeutic and stimulating opportunities to communicate and get out of their shell. > > “It’s a day for parents to have a day at the beach like a typical family when they maybe never get to have that,” Ryan said. > > Sean McKenney, a 16-year-old Bunnell resident, has been participating in Surfers for Autism for eight years. > > “To see how kind people are is amazing,” Sean’s mother Linda McKenney said. “It’s one of our favorite activities of the year.” > > Sean said he likes interacting with all the people at the event. > > Ryan noted that this event wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers, of which there were about 350 this year. > > Brandi and David Rastetter just moved to Palm Coast this summer from Ohio, where Brandi worked with autistic children for 12 years. > > She said she was thrilled to have found this opportunity to volunteer because she misses her former students in Ohio, many of whom she still keeps in touch with. > > “You can’t cut that mommy cord,” Brandi Rastetter said about her unbreakable connection with the kids she used to work with. > > The Baker family has been present at the Surfers For Autism events for six years, and now can finally all volunteer as a family since their youngest, Kasandra, turned 10. > > “It’s amazing to work with the kids,” Kassandra Baker said. “You get to learn about them.” > > To make an impact beyond volunteering, last week the family opened the doors to their own business in Palm Coast called Kascel Therapy. > > Kascel Therapy, located at 3 Cypress Branch Way, Suite 108 C, is an occupational therapy business that provides outpatient clinic and early intervention services. > > “Being about to see (the kids) achieve something they want to is just amazing,” said Jennifer Baker, Kascel Therapy owner… Here is a link to a video of a _Surfers for Autism_ event from last year: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSzisjbT0jA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSzisjbT0jA) (source: [Catching waves and making smiles: Surfers For Autism event rides into Flagler Beach | Observer Local News](https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/photo-gallery/catching-waves-and-making-smiles-surfers-for-autism-event-rides-into-flagler-beach)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1231 "2017-12-21T05:48:37Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. The ‘Team Mary 5K Run/Walk for Autism’ is an annual event that is held on the Catawba peninsula… > [@](#): > > For the fifth year, friends and supporters of the Lucas family are joining to raise money to help children who have special needs. > The Team Mary 5K Run/Walk for Autism is scheduled for Sunday at …Catawba Island. > Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the race begins at 10. Those who have pre-registered can get their bibs and T-shirts from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. the day before at Rudder’s, across Ohio 53 North from the entrance to [the] Beach. > For two years, the ‘Team Mary’ event was part of the Glass City Marathon. This is the third year the 5K has been held as a standalone event at [the] beach. Mary Lucas is a 9-year-old who has autism. Her mother, Erin, said the money raised from the 5K will benefit the Advocacy and Resource Center of Ottawa County – specifically, to the camp run by the ARC every year. > > “It’s a summer program for kids with special needs in Ottawa County,” Erin Lucas said. > The camp provides activities and opportunities for the children to socialize. They do things many children do at camp, including going on field trips and swimming. > “Mary, she is a delightful little girl. She is non-verbal. She pretty > She pretty much needs assistance for most things. She really can’t do anything independently,” her mother said. > Like any other parent, Erin appreciates the fact that the camp gives her some help with Mary’s care during the summer months. “It’s a break for the parents,” she said. > Like any other parent, she also wants her child to be accepted by others. “I started doing this to raise awareness,” she said. “From the time that Mary went to school, I’ve always wanted typical peers to be aware of Mary.” > > She hopes that the other children will see Mary for who she is and become accustomed to the fact that people have different needs, behaviors, and forms of communication. > “I never wanted her to be an outcast.” > Erin said one of her favorite things about the annual 5K is the feeling of support her family receives from the community. > Other parents get to celebrate their children’s successes like sporting events, good grades and school plays on a regular basis. > “It’s a special day,” Erin said. “I feel like it’s a ‘big day.’ Most parents get these ‘big days’ all year long.” > The day of the annual Team Mary event is like that for Mary’s family. “To me, this is her ‘big day’ where she’s celebrated, and all kids like her are celebrated.” (source: [Team Mary 5K raises funds, awareness for autism](http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/story/news/local/2017/09/05/team-mary-5-k-raises-funds-awareness-autism/634764001/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 8:39am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1232 "2017-12-22T08:39:18Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the south, Reaching Milestones is a Columbus, Georgia-based Autism therapy clinic that bills itself as one of the leading providers of Applied Behavior Analysis services in the Southeast. It specialises in comprehensive behavioral treatment for children with autism and various other challenges… > [@](#): > > Cheryl Esch says some parents are wary about taking their children diagnosed with autism out in public because of the fear of inappropriate behaviour… > > She says people on the outside looking in don’t know the family and don’t understand the problem. > > Esch is supervising analyst at Reaching Milestones, an autism therapy clinic that opened July 1 at 1450 54th Street in Columbus. > > …Esch said Reaching Milestones works to get children with autism to the point where they fit into society as much as possible. School personnel, speech therapists, occupational therapists and other professionals work with the children and their parents to accomplish the goal. > > “Speaking with other service providers here, we found a great need for what we do,” Esch said. > > She has heard that some providers have people on a waiting list. > > Autism is a developmental disorder that leads to differences in communication and social skills… > > According to Reaching Milestones literature, every behavioral aspect of autism can be addressed using scientifically validated behavioral interventions and that more than 40 years of empirical research has shown Applied Behavioral Analysis interventions to be highly effective. > > Children attending the clinic work in groups to help develop social skills as well as getting one-on-one attention. Esch said each child has a comprehensive treatment plan. > > “All have their own needs – some need more language skills, some need toileting skills,” Esch said. > > Though analysts work in homes, Esch said training in the clinic is more effective because of fewer distractions. > > “We can control the environment,” Esch said. > > Students are rewarded for doing well. > > "Positive reinforcement is huge. > > All humans look for praise," Esch said. > > The reinforcement also helps makes learning fun and motivates the child. > > Esch said children are taught appropriate behavior – for example, asking for a cookie instead of throwing a tantrum. > > They also learn how to accept “no.” > > Parents learn strategies on what to do at home to reinforce what is taught at the clinic, and Reaching Milestones builds in the clinic on what children learn in school. > > Esch, who came here from Savannah, Ga., said boys and girls up to the age of 18 may receive help at the clinic. > > Some health insurance providers help cover the cost. “We believe every child can be helped,” Esch said… Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRbSYT1BB8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRbSYT1BB8) (source: [Autism therapy clinic opens in Columbus | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer](http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/business/health-care/article29477206.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1233 "2017-12-23T05:45:39Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. > [@](#): > > April is Autism Awareness Month, and Pickaway County is one of more than 40 counties across the state participating in a project aimed at combating the disorder. > > Four staff members, Aimee Roberts from Help Me Grow, and Joyce Lutz, Sharon May, and Carolyn Stevens from Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities Early Intervention, joined the Autism Diagnosis Education Project (ADEP), a statewide project administered by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) in collaboration with Akron Children’s Hospital/Family Child Learning Center. > > Lutz, Early Intervention Specialist, says the project aims to increase local autism diagnostic capacity utilizing existing resources in Pickaway County. > > ?This is a wonderful opportunity for our families in Pickaway County,? Lutz said. ?We are excited to work together to continue to give our families the best services we can. Because waiting lists are so long at many of the major hospitals where initial diagnostics take place, many families become frustrated that assistance and support for immediate concerns regarding the possibility of autism cannot be addressed more quickly giving them the abilities to support their children in early development. This project will help give us the means to meet that need with our families, getting them strategies and support when they initially express concerns.? > > Lutz and her colleagues are in the midst of live and Online training to evaluate children suspected of having autism. They will then take their findings and partner with a local physician, Dr. Linda Iskra, who will be trained on the medical component of an autism evaluation. Together, the team will make a diagnosis using internationally recognized evidence-based tools. > > ?Some families travel hours to receive these evaluations,? said Dr. John Duby, director of Developmental-Behavior Pediatrics at Akron Children’s Hospital, and ADEP Medical Director. ?It?s a new way of thinking about how we interact with our youngest children and their families.? > > Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate, interact, and play with others. > > …?By getting involved in ADEP, our team hopes to help diagnose children earlier, getting them quicker access to early intervention that can help the child and family.? > > The ADEP training comes at no cost to the county. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is supporting ADEP through $1.325 million in federal grant funding to OCALI. (source: [New Autism resources coming to Pickaway County](https://www.circlevilleherald.com/community/new-autism-resources-coming-to-pickaway-county/article_4e14b0a5-af1d-5a77-99a6-29f084ffc954.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:10am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1234 "2017-12-23T08:10:33Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the east, _Kennywood_ is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Its Koaster Kids campaign aims to help kids, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders… > [@](#): > > He is a boy with autism – once afraid of heights, noise and fast-moving things – but he conquered those fears by riding on roller coasters at Kennywood. > > Rides …could scare the wits out of anyone. But for Logan Joiner, visiting Kennywood with his parents, roller coasters have the opposite effect. > > Joiner, a 12-year-old with autism, was fearful of loud noises and public places until he rode his first roller coaster and loved it. > > During his trip to Kennywood on Thursday, he rode [a roller coaster] and rated the coaster for his YouTube audience. > > “The launch was fun,” Joiner, from Cincinnati, said. “The top part was very cool. It was just very awesome. I’d probably rate it 3.5 out of 5.” > > Logan’s dad shot video of his son’s 8-day journey to 10 theme parks. His Koaster Kids YouTube page has had more than 2 million visitors. > > “It just makes me feel happy that other people know who I am, and it just makes me feel special that people actually support me in what I’m doing,” he said, “and it just feels great.” > > The Koaster Kids campaign aims to help other kids face their fears just as Logan faced his own. > > “It just feels so good that I’m actually making a difference in someone else’s life,” he said. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykf5VM1nSao&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykf5VM1nSao&feature=youtu.be) (source: [12-Year-Old Boy With Autism Conquers Fears At Kennywood ? CBS Pittsburgh](http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/06/08/koaster-kids-kennywood/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1235 "2017-12-24T05:41:03Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the east, through its partnership with _Specialisterne USA_, _AHRC NYC_ in New York City continues to provide opportunities for individuals with various challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, to thrive in the labor market… > [@](#): > > Combining AHRC NYC’s experience in supporting people with disabilities, its established relationships with New York City-based businesses, and [Specialisterne USA](http://usa.specialisterne.com/)’s proven assessment, training and placement methodologies, we are providing opportunities for adults with autism and improving the quality of their lives. > > When paired with the right employment environment, adults with autism and similar challenges might not just hold down a job, but can also be the best person for it. Certain fields of work require certain abilities: > **\> An ability to concentrate and focus** > **\> A meticulous memory** > **\> An eye for detail** > **\> Pattern matching skills** > **\> A high tolerance for repetitive tasks** > These abilities can often be found in people with autism, and when workers who have autism are coupled with innovative employment models, their ability to focus and attention to detail can be a competitive advantage to businesses. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aZpcsJPq8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aZpcsJPq8) (source: [https://www.ahrcnyc.org/services/work/preparing/specialisterne/](https://www.ahrcnyc.org/services/work/preparing/specialisterne/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 7:57am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1236 "2017-12-25T07:57:14Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. _Heartland Academy_ is a Lexington, Ohio-based private school for children with Autism. It aims to develop an inviting space that provides an enriching, sensory friendly environment for Autistic Students… > [@](#): > > For the majority of the past 17 years, the former Hardee’s building in Lexington has sat vacant. > > But local dentist and businessman Rock Webster has a vision to transform not only the building but also the lives of students with autism. > > He plans to renovate and add on to the building at 1575 Lexington Avenue and open Heartland Academy …in August. > > Renovation on the old restaurant has already begun, but Webster had an official groundbreaking ceremony Monday to help spread the word about his new venture. > > Webster plans to fund the school mostly through Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program, which provides state vouchers of up to $27,000 per student per year, as well as through grants and private donations. > > Axis/Adena Corporation has agreed to complete the first phase of the building project with the understanding that the school will pay the company back in four years, according to Webster. > > The school will start with 50-student capacity, Webster said. In subsequent phases of the project, Webster hopes to add additional classrooms, a sensory gym and an aquatic center to accommodate more students. > > Webster purchased the building in 2013 and considered other options, such as restaurants, for the space. He said his idea for the school came from conversations with his patients about the need for an autism program in the area. > > The school will be run by director Bob Neumann, who has served as director of the autism program at [another school] for the past four years. > > Neumann said he feels the new school will offer another choice for parents of children with autism, one that is designed specifically for students with autism rather than tacked onto an existing school. > > “We have a fairly significant number of kids that have autism in this area, and they have to go elsewhere to get services,” he said. “So the idea is to bring something to this area that is unique and different. They can have choices.” > > He plans to integrate a variety of therapies, including a new therapy called environmental enrichment therapy, to help reach students with autism. > > In addition to Neumann, the school will start with two occupational therapists, a speech and language therapist, a physical therapist, an intervention specialist and some aides, Neumann said. > > “We are going to be fluid and we are going to move faster than everybody else can in the bureaucracy of school systems,” Webster said, adding that he and the school staff will be able to make decisions for the school without taking it to a school board and complying with long lists of government regulations. > > Lexington Mayor Gene Parkison took part in Monday’s groundbreaking. > > “This is great not only from the school point of view but also from a site point of view,” he said. “This wasn’t necessarily what we pictured for this corner, but why not?” > > Parkison said the village had made unsuccessful attempts to get franchise businesses interested in the location since Hardee’s closed around 2000. A few businesses have opened in the location since then, but none have stayed, he said… Here is a link to photos: [https://www.facebook.com/pg/HeartlandAcademy.us/photos/?ref=page\_internal](https://www.facebook.com/pg/HeartlandAcademy.us/photos/?ref=page_internal) (source: [New private autism school coming to Lexington](http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2017/05/22/new-private-autism-school-coming-lexington/335701001/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1237 "2017-12-25T13:35:19Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the southeast, _Island Dolphin Care_ is a Key Largo, Florida-based nonprofit that provides unique, therapeutic, motivational and educational dolphin assisted therapy programs for individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. It does this through the use of innovative therapy techniques, which enables participants to discover and achieve desired goals, strengths and their maximum potential for individual fulfilment… > [@](#): > > In this world there are many troubling things, aspects of society and life in which many people wish not to deal with or think about, a child with some disability, like autism or even worse. We don’t like to think of the young in such terms, the human mind wishes and interprets the world in a positive fashion, or at least that’s how we hope to interpret it. But the reality unfortunately is never any less true. Yet even so there are those, that care, those that show their love and their affection, these individuals at the facility known as Island Dolphin Care make it possible for children with such disabilities like autism to have a chance to interact and explore the world around them. They do this with one of the most loveable creatures ever, the humble dolphin. There are no words to express a picture of a young child, feeling the love and warmth of a dolphins soft touch… All the constants that define our society is left behind in an instant, and only the pure and love is left from the experience of the dolphin, and that in its entirety is what makes this experience so much more important. > > Now that you have the generalized description of what those at Island Dolphin Care do, you should understand the specifics of what the dolphins do with the kids. When they get there, including the structure, and skills performed for the kids. Each package is uniformly made to specialize and maximize and conform to the individual needs of the child. Every interval that is spent with the dolphins and the specialized trainer is also reinforced with other activities to strengthen character and confidence, to build the child’s self-esteem, and in general to make the child happy. Some of the confidence building techniques are as follows, allowing the children to feed the dolphins, which builds both trust and confidence. Another activity is to pet and hold the dolphins, which embodies a sense of love and belonging to the child. Another activity and one of the most famous, is the 1 on 1 time between the dolphin and the child, where the child gets to explore the world on his or her own, without the aid of others constantly guiding or helping, or advising, which is essential for a strong independent future. This chance of swimming with the dolphins is another boost to the child and it’s confidence. > > It is interesting what they do here at Island Dolphin Care. One would imagine that to taylor every activity to every different child, would be a monumental and insurmountable challenge. Yet they have pulled it off with masterful success and grace. For example, a child that is autistic finds the activities with the dolphins boring, and begins to lash out and behave irrationally. The child is not dismissed as ‘cannot be helped’ but instead the trainers at Island Dolphin Care sets the child up with different activities and control building exercises, some are even constructed on the spot just for him, and this is true for all cases. If one activity fails, another activity is recommended and then executed, and so on and so forth until the child finds something they enjoy. This guarantees that the child will enjoy their time spent here, and that the investment of the parents are well utilised… > > …All in all, the dolphin is by far one of the best creatures to assist in child dolphin therapy, or any kind of recovering therapy whatsoever. The very fact that dolphins have almost the identical range of emotions as humans, give them the greatest capacity to connect to humans on many level, not on physical and mental, but some even say spiritual. This then endorses the truth that dolphins have some kind of healing power, not necessarily the dolphin itself, but the act of being with the dolphin, and allowing this magnificent creature to show you its love and affection. Within that fact has healing potential, there is without a doubt something mystifying about this creature… Some say the dolphins can interpret human emotion, they know when you are sad, when you are scared, when you are worried, when you are angry and especially when you are happy, and they are intelligent enough to decipher these emotions and act accordingly in a manner to improve your demeanor and condition regardless the situation. It is not hard to see why then, that at Island Dolphin Care these animals are responsible for changing lives every day, to bring a smile to a child that really needs some form of happiness is not measured by any monetary or fiscal amount, but only by the happiness of the children themselves. That is why within that reasoning, Island Dolphin Care has been such a great success, and hopefully their contributions to the children that need it most will increase and flourish to touch bright new stars of a coming generation. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuYCe0GUKmY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuYCe0GUKmY) (source: [Swimming With Dolphins: Dolphin World - (800) 667-5524](https://www.dolphinworld.org/stories/dolphin-assisted-therapy.htm)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1238 "2017-12-26T05:46:05Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. ‘Autism Family Exploration’ is a program designed for families with children with autism to explore the nonprofit _Cincinnati Art Museum_ before public hours. Families or individuals are welcome to visit sensory stops, and participate in an art making experience… > [@](#): > > This program is designed for families with children who have > autism to explore the Art Museum before public hours. Each > month we explore different galleries through multisensory learn- > ing centers, lead by specially trained docents. Families are also > welcome to stop by the [local education center] to partici- > pate in an all-ability art making activity. This program is FREE, > and no reservations are required. (source: [lindengroveschool.org/wp-content/uploads/CAM\_Autism\_Flyer.pdf](http://lindengroveschool.org/wp-content/uploads/CAM_Autism_Flyer.pdf)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1239 "2017-12-27T03:34:12Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the west, the Illinois-based _Apex Pediatric Therapy Services_ is a pediatric therapy services organization, providing Applied Behaviour Analysis (Autism), Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy Services to children from the age of two. It aims to help each child achieve his or her ultimate potential… Here is a link to a video: [Apex Pediatric Therapy Services - Introduction](https://vimeo.com/248780788) (source: [Oakstone Academy educates students on spectrum - CityScene Magazine](http://www.cityscenecolumbus.com/communities/westerville/oakstone-academy-educates-students-on-the-autism-spectrum/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 6:57am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1240 "2017-12-28T06:57:54Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. _Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries_ is a nonprofit that serves individuals with various challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, throughout the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region… > [@](#): > > Ohio Valley Goodwill was proud of be one of the exhibitors and sponsors of the 1st annual ‘Autism All Stars’ event held Sunday, April 10th at Great American Ball Park. The inaugural celebration was hosted by the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati and welcomed more than 200 guests to honor 18 students for their outstanding achievements. As the excited attendees entered the Champions Club, they walked past the exhibit area and Ohio Valley Goodwill’s booth. …95th Anniversary gift bags [were handed out] filled with informational materials to the award recipients, family members and many teachers participating in the first-ever event. The awards ceremony was paired with video of the honorees engaged in many of their school-related activities including band, sports and theatrical productions. As each excited honoree was presented to the attentive audience by a teacher from their respective school, they received not only their personalized award but the opportunity to make an acceptance speech. All of the students not only thanked the teachers that supported them but also, poignantly, their parents and family members. "It was a lovely event and Ohio Valley Goodwill was honored to be part of the first-ever “Autism All Stars’ celebration,” said [the nonprofit’s] Marketing Specialist. The award recipients will also be recognized during a special Reds pre-game ceremony… (source: “Ohio Valley Goodwill Supports 1st Annual Autism All Stars Event!” - Goodwill Cincinnati ([http://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/ohio-valley-goodwill-supports-1st-annual-autism-all-stars-event/](http://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/ohio-valley-goodwill-supports-1st-annual-autism-all-stars-event/))) [Previous page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=61) [Next page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=63)