'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

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The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Maryland.

The Shafer Center for Early Intervention, based in Owings Mills, Maryland, is a school and treatment center for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders…

An autism diagnosis can raise all sorts of concerns for families, including how to best educate their child. A local mother told 11 News she wasn’t satisfied with her options, so she started her own school that, so far, has spawned a number of success stories.

Kirby Gleason, 9, now confidently takes the ice to hone his hockey skills. Aside from passing and shooting, he’s also scoring points with his parents for participating.
“He’s progressing. It’s been a long, slow progress, but we’re glad it’s something he’s had the opportunity to do,” said Mark Gleason, Kirby’s father.
Kirby was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. His mother called it a very dark period for the family.

…She said she could barely communicate with her son, so preschool seemed out of the question until she heard about a school started by another mother, Helen Shafer.
“The seed was my love for my child,” Shafer said.
Shafer’s son, Hayden, was diagnosed with autism in 2006. At the time, she felt like the label limited his educational opportunities, so she sought out experts to design a program to better serve Hayden and other kids on the spectrum.
“Not because I needed him to go to Harvard but because I wanted him to have a shot at a fulfilling life and to be able to make the choice to go to college,” Shafer said.
The Shafer Center in Owings Mills got off the ground with an enrollment of six. Shafer said classroom instruction is tailored to meet the specific needs of each child, which is why she said multiple instructors and aides often work in tandem. She said the goal is to prepare students to function in the world on their own terms.
“What we’re really trying to create here are supports and programs that are 24/7, almost so that there isn’t an aspect of life that is forgotten so we can support not only the child but also the parents,” Shafer said.
“In a week of having Kirby attend the Shafer Center, we saw a difference,” Adrienne Gleason said. “It’s because they paid attention to what his triggers were and what was going on.”
The classrooms are currently set up to serve children up to second grade. Despite requests from a number of parents, Shafer said she does not plan to expand the programs.
“I’ve done that very deliberately in stopping it at second grade. Our goal has always been to get kids ready for that next level – to be included in their community school programs,” Shafer said.

…As for Kirby, he transitioned to a public elementary school in the fall and is thriving in the classroom.
“That child who couldn’t speak except to beat on you or bang his head or scream at you is a funny, cute, vibrant kid who has a sense of humor, loves to draw and has friends,” Adrienne Gleason said of her son.
The Shafer Center offers full year-round instruction, as well as sessions for specific services. Fifty children are currently enrolled.

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qS70O6soRw

(source: http://www.wbaltv.com/article/md-mom-starts-school-for-autistic-children/7087480)

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The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Carroll/Frederick Autism Support Group is a Marriottsville, Maryland-based autism support group with a focus on getting the kids out to play with each other. Middletown Primary School hosts one of Frederick county’s ‘Challenges’ programs that serves the needs of students with Autism and related communication disorders…

Parker Langston, 6, can’t chat about his day when he arrives home from school.

But after more than a year in Middletown Primary School’s ‘Challenges’ program, he is finally able to communicate his needs and wants instead of crying – something his mother, Heather, feared he’d never manage.

“They’ve really taught him how to enjoy being around people,” she said.

Challenges uses pictures, sign language, iPads and more to build communication and interpersonal skills in students such as Parker, who have been diagnosed with autism and other severe communication disorders.

The specialized program serves 65 students across six Frederick County public schools: Middletown Primary, Carroll Manor and Middletown elementary schools; Oakdale and Gov. Thomas Johnson middle schools; and Gov. Thomas Johnson High School.

More than 560 students are formally recognized by the school system as having autism, said Dan Martz, special education and psychological services director. Parents choose whether to enroll their child in Challenges based on recommendations by school and special education staff.

…After more than a decade in practice, the Challenges program has fostered greater inclusion and understanding of autism among even the littlest students, teachers said.

In support of Autism Awareness Month, Middletown Primary students on Wednesday formed a human puzzle piece – a well-known symbol of the complexity and uniqueness of the autism spectrum – outside the school. Similar celebrations will continue through April at schools countywide.

Educators said hosting Challenges in their buildings makes every day an autism awareness day.

…Unified classes such as peer physical education and art pair Challenges students with first- and second-grade general education buddies as a way to encourage communication to transition into a regular classroom setting.

That interaction builds skills used outside of school as well, Heather Langston said. She said she can now take her son to the park without worrying he may hurt others.

“Peer P.E. taught Parker how to play with other children,” she said. “His partner last year was so patient with him and talked him through things as simple as catching a ball.”

Budget constraints sometimes limit Challenges teachers from buying new classroom materials or programs, and they are grateful for the support of numerous instructional assistants and speech therapists.

…Langston said the Challenges program’s approach and staff-to-student ratio is still overwhelmingly positive. Her son keeps calm thanks to his rigid classroom routine and a daily schedule using pictures, a technique that she now uses at home.

Helping parents create functional lives and the joy of hearing autistic students speak is most rewarding for teachers…

Here is a link to a video from the Carroll/Frederick Autism Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/anna.curtis.31/videos/g.830227013751519/1017325584979019/?type=2&theater

(source: https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/every-day-is-autism-awareness-day-for-challenges-program/article_7fcbf983-4f3c-5ce5-a33c-4af803335e13.html)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

To the south, Service Dogs By Warren Retrievers is a Madison, Virginia-based nonprofit committed to changing the lives of those with various challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders. Warren Retrievers has developed a proprietary and unique program for training dogs to support those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders…

There’s no such thing as a typical day for New Baltimore parent Kelly Somes when she’s taking care of her two autistic sons Jared, 17, and Nathan, 12. Somes must be constantly on alert for meltdowns from her boys, which can be brought on by basic scenarios such as using a toothbrush, bright lights or the sound of a shower running.

“We struggle to do any daily activities,” she said.

Jared was diagnosed with autism at the age of 10, and Nathan at the age of 11. Somes said the boys have meltdowns, often connected to sensory overload.

“As a single parent I am only one person, and when each has a meltdown or sensory overload I can’t be in two places at once,” she added…

The boys will soon be going for therapy at The Center for Therapeutic Learning and Communication on Hall Road, but Somes is seeking additional assistance. To help her sons better cope with their autism and the world around them, Somes is hoping to fund service dogs for each boy. Dogs can assist with deep pressure therapy, sleep problems and memory concerns, among other things, said Somes.

“The dogs are trained to sense when a child is getting overwhelmed and overstimulated and try to get the child focused on them, to pet them, and focusing on them lowers the stress to help avoid the meltdown,” Somes said.

Although Somes began her research by looking at many different organizations that offer service animals for the autistic, many included age limits that her sons exceeded. She was able to locate a non-profit organization in Virginia that placed no age restriction on obtaining a dog, the Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers (SDWR).

“This is the one organization I found that was able to accommodate both children. It is a non-profit; however, the way it works is any family needing a dog can get one but you have to donate a certain amount or fundraise to an amount,” Somes said.

The cost of each dog is $25,000, she noted.

Families must set up their own personal fundraising campaigns to participate. Somes chose to call her personal campaign for her boys Dogs for a Cause.

“Both Jared and Nathan have sensory processing issues…” Somes wrote on the fundraising site…

According to information on its website, the SDWR program is specifically designed to place a dog trained for service needs such as autism, then allows for continued specialized training once the dog is placed with the person it will assist. Trainers also visit families every 90 to 120 days for up to 18 months after placement, and follow-up training is available.

Dogs are trained first to become service dogs, and then once the fundraising concludes for a family, the dog’s training is tailored for specific needs of the individuals they will be assisting, said Somes.

She added that a trainer from the non-profit will come directly to her home for a week, spending eight hours per day on training. The trainer will return every two to three months for up to two years.

Having the dogs could assist Jared and Nathan socially also, as both have concerns in this area, their mother said. She wrote on her fundraising webpage that Nathan struggles with interactions and keeps to himself when around other children.

“Jared is verbal and will talk to anyone that talks with him, but he struggles with social reciprocity and hasn’t been able to make friendships,” she wrote. “He doesn’t understand unspoken cues.”…

Here is a link to a video from Service Dogs By Warren Retrievers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcDELaBEaHI

(source: New Baltimore family raising funds to get autism therapy dogs | Life | voicenews.com)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last post was Service Dogs By Warren Retrievers, a Madison, Virginia-based nonprofit committed to changing the lives of those with various challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders. Warren Retrievers has developed a proprietary and unique program for training dogs to support those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders…

The Autism Society of Northern Virginia is an Oakton, Virginia-based non-profit that builds community for over 5,000 individuals and families affected by autism through education, advocacy, and support…

“I became a member of the Walk shortly after my son was diagnosed with autism. I have two lovely children, Logan (3) and Grace (19 months). My son, Logan was diagnosed with regressive autism at 21 months of age (meaning that he had normal development and then lost all language, communication and social skills).
We as a family were devastated. We had just given birth to our daughter when we noticed our son had somehow slipped away from us. Immediately after diagnosis I immersed myself in information on autism, trying to find a cause, a cure, a glimmer of hope. I found myself feeling extremely helpless, frustrated and overwhelmed in anguish. We wanted to do the most promising therapies because of the huge stress on early intervention. Experts believe that the earlier children receive appropriate therapy, the higher the possibility of significant improvement. We had read many testimonials of children being recovered from autism using a therapy called Applied Behavioral Analysis. Although we could not afford this therapy we were determined to help our son and chose to put ourselves in serious credit card debt and beg from family and friends to pay for the promising therapy.
This is when I found Walk for Autism-Virginia. This was my glimmer of hope and my family’s saving grace. The walk not only provided resources and a helping hand but the Walk committee currently consists of people, mainly parents of children on the autism spectrum, who aside from their jobs, family commitments and special needs children, put their blood, sweat and tears into this necessary cause.”

The Autism Society of Northern Virginia not only provides important information and resources to help individuals and families coping with Autism, it provides real connections to community and hope for people who did not believe hope was possible.

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCactrmKxHM

(source: Autism Society of Northern Virginia: De la Cruz Family Finds Hope through Connection | United Way of the National Capital Area)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Linwood Center is an Ellicott City, Maryland-based nonprofit, that offers services to individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Linwood’s year-round program and services offerings include a nonpublic special education school program, Linwood School, and community-based residential services for children…

Board members Donna and Lowell Pidel recently held a party to unveil plans for an expansion to Linwood Center in Ellicott City. A capital campaign is underway for a new school building adjacent to Linwood’s historic manor house purchased over 50 years ago by founder Jeanne M. Simons, a pioneer in the field of autism.

…Linwood is expanding to meet the needs of the autism population throughout the Central Maryland region. A new state-of-the-art school will allow Linwood to increase capacity to 70 students and accept younger children as well as middle and high school students. The State of Maryland has invested over $1 million in the project, and other funding is now being sought among local supporters.

Get free real-time news alerts from the Ellicott City Patch.

Guests at the Pidels’ party included State Delegate Guy Guzzone and Howard County Council member Courtney Watson, Linwood board members and staff, friends and neighbors.

Donna Pidel is the Founder/Executive Director of Ballet Royale, and Lowell Pidel is President of Glass and Aluminum Concepts. Their son receives services from Linwood Center…

Here is a link to a video: https://www.linwoodcenter.org/video/linwood-center-boutique-commercial/

(source: Pidels Host Party for Linwood Center - Ellicott City, MD Patch)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Arrow Center for Education Tangram is Towson, Maryland-based nonprofit nonpublic day school designed to provide full-day special education and related services to students from the age of 8. The nonprofit’s offerings include Elementary School grades 3 through 5…

…Parents of autistic children often face huge challenges trying to get their kids a good education.

Mike Schuh reports a new school has opened in Towson to help.

In Towson, the school day has begun–but Connor Feron is the only student in class.

Tracie Feron is Connor’s mom. He’s 19 years old, has autism, and for years, she’s fought public school administrators to admit he needed more than his local schools could give.

“We weren’t looking for a cure. We were looking to give Connor the opportunity to be the best Connor that he can be,” she said.

Feron’s expertise in getting schools to recognize the needs of autistic students has led her to help with a new school, called Tangram, in Towson.

…“We want him to live the most independent, fulfilling life that he can,” said Feron.

He can do algebra and has passed his high school assessments–something his mom was told would never happen. There are 15 other students at the school.

Tracie now works for the school. Given a son with special needs, she and the others there know that they’re changing lives.

“It’s pretty fabulous to be a part of something, an organization that believes in helping children and strengthening families,” said Feron.

The folks there say they have the capacity and resources to double or even triple the size of the school–if necessary.

It can cost up to $100,000 a year to provide such an education to an autistic child.

Here is a link to a video from the nonprofit: https://www.facebook.com/ArrowTangram/videos/854362257932626/

(source: New Towson School Hopes To Give Autistic Kids Good Education ? CBS Baltimore)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Bike to the Beach Baltimore is a nonprofit that also acts as a fully supported 100-mile Charity Cycling event from Baltimore, Maryland to Dewey Beach, Delaware offered on the first weekend of August. Bike to the Beach is not just the host of charity bike events, but a community made up of individuals, cyclists, local organizations, advocates, philanthropists, corporate companies and national partners all who participate in our mission to promote bicycle riding, raise funds and make an impact on the community affected by Autism…

Bike to the Beach Baltimore is a fully supported 100-mile Charity Cycling event from Baltimore, MD to Dewey Beach, DE offered on the first weekend of August to educate our community about the benefits of cycling and to raise awareness and funding for autism.

The charity ride goes from Federal Hill in Baltimore to Annapolis, MD; over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (in buses and moving trucks); and through the beautiful farmland of Eastern, MD and the Delaware shore. It ends on the beautiful shores of Dewey Beach where we host finish line festivities for our riders, volunteers, and their friends and families. The organizers encourage riders to stay the weekend in Dewey Beach to enjoy the beach and attend our annual Saturday Crab Feast – a celebration of the ride, cause, and community.

The ride is fully supported with rest stops (spaced an average of 15-miles apart), bike mechanics, Support and Gear (SAG) vehicles, and a route marked with turn-signs and road markings. The organizers provide all of the food, water, and ride support needed to get from Baltimore, MD to Dewey Beach, DE. Riders even receive a custom Bike to the Beach jersey – all you have to bring to the starting line is your road-ready bike, bike shorts, and helmet!

Bike to the Beach will provide the support, structure, and community you need to ride 100-miles, support extraordinary autism organizations and charities, and meet any other goal that you may have – whether it is to become a cyclist, lose weight, get healthier, take on a fitness challenge, make new friends, or raise funds for autism.

Bike to the Beach will host FREE training events and various social events in the months leading up to the Charity event, and provide riders the fundraising support to reach the $500.00 fundraising minimum associated with the ride.

Join to have fun, undertake a challenge, make friends, and bike to a beach destination, all while supporting the millions affected by autism, worldwide…

Here is a link to a video on last year’s event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Pq4f23fYc

(source: Bike to the Beach for Autism - Bike Maryland | Bike Maryland)

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The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism related organisations and events in the state of Maryland.

Across the state border, Autism Delaware is a Newark, Delaware based nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals, including children, affected by Autism. Its vision is that all those with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities…

Autism Delaware announced the Lewes leg of the 2015 statewide Walk for Autism is set for Saturday, April 18. Stepping off at 11 a.m. in Cape Henlopen State Park, the annual fundraiser will be led this year by Grand Marshal Jacob Pantano. The 5-year-old attends the Delaware Autism Program’s inclusion program at Brader Elementary School in Newark.

Funds raised at the annual Walk for Autism support Autism Delaware programs and services across the state. Autism Delaware helps people and families affected by autism spectrum disorder by addressing the range of services they need to live full lives as valued members of their communities.

“Families affected by autism need a wide range of services,” said Autism Delaware Executive Director Teresa Avery. “Autism Delaware works to provide family support, adult employment and community resources, clinical services, advocacy at both the state and local levels, and awareness. To meet the growing need, we need to continue to grow. Our goal for the Walk for Autism this year is to raise $200,000.”…

Here is a link to a video: Autism Delaware promotional video 2017

(source: Walk for Autism to be held April 18?in Lewes | Cape Gazette)

[Visionary7903]

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. Its vision is that all those with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities.

7-year-old Aiden, a second grader in Dover, Delaware, is overcoming some pretty amazing challenges. And now he’s doing it in front of thousands of smiling eyes on social media.

Aiden is a student at Booker T Washington Elementary School and is getting rave reviews for his performance at the school’s talent show.

His mother, Susan, says he has autism, but he’s been making such incredible strides

She posted the video of him singing “Cheerleader” by OMI on Facebook, saying to see him have the confidence to do the show was amazing. Plus, she got a shoutout!

“I want to give a shoutout to my mom and dad. I love you guys!” Aiden says in the video…

(source: Delaware boy with autism wows crowd with talent show performance | 6abc.com)

[Visionary7903]

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. Its vision is that all those with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities.

The Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is a Wilmington, Delaware-based nonprofit hospital.

When Zachary Bascelli heard the autism diagnosis for his 18-month-old daughter, Eva, in 2014, it felt like a ‘kick in the stomach.’

Then, the more he learned about autism spectrum disorder, the more overwhelmed he felt.

…Bascelli said. “I just wondered: Will she ever be in a relationship? Will she ever get married? Will she ever have babies? Who will take care of her when we’re gone?”

That experience is something Bascelli wants to spare others as part of a parent advisory group helping to shape an expanded program for autism at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children north of Wilmington. The expansion, the result of a $4 million gift to the hospital by Dan and Susan Katzin of Greenville, will enhance the hospital’s ability to research, diagnose and treat autism.

Autism spectrum disorder affects brain development due to genetic or environmental factors. People on the spectrum tend to have problems communicating and interacting in socially appropriate ways, although individuals can vary widely in how the disorder is expressed. They may exhibit repetitive motor movements like hand flapping or spinning or they may have restricted interests.

Although Nemours has treated children with autism for decades, the Katzins hope their gift will serve as seed money to make the hospital and Delaware a major center for the understanding and treatment of autism. Their son Jack [has Autism.]

“Delaware is small enough to have a tremendous impact,” said Dan Katzin, a former venture capitalist.

The Katzins’ donation will go toward both clinical and research programs in neuroscience. Currently, two of the hospital’s divisions, behavioral health and developmental pediatrics, are working on a multidisciplinary autism clinic with a targeted opening of late 2016. Physical space in the hospital is being renovated, with one of the goals to create an autism-friendly environment.

One big component is the addition of a PET (positron emission tomography) technology, which has been key in understanding the mechanisms and potential treatments of neurological disorders such as autism. The Katzin Diagnostic and Research PET/MRI Center will allow neurologists, neurosurgeons and other specialists to offer state-of-the-art care, according to the hospital.

Thanks to the Katzins’ donation, Nemours recruited Diane C. Chugani, a renowned autism researcher, and Dr. Harry T. Chugani, a prominent neurologist and epilepsy specialist. The Chuganis will join the Nemours faculty in December. Diane Chugani will join Nemours as director of Neuroscience Research.

“We have a chance to put together something unique to better understand the scientific causes of autism and to work toward better treatments and better support,” said Diane Chugani, who has been director of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Autism Center.

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJa-5TRJpGw

(source: Nemours enhances autism program)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism related organisations and events in the state of Maryland.

Across the state border, Autism Delaware is a Newark, Delaware based nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals, including children, affected by Autism. Its vision is that all those with Autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities…

Johnny Kaczmarczyk had avoided haircuts his entire 5-year-old life. In fact, he was terrified of them.

Johnny was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a group of developmental disabilities that impact the brain. Kids on the spectrum may have difficulty communicating, interacting and may repeat motor movements.

Due to his fear, his parents, John and Lori, would sneak snips to his shoulder-length golden locks while he slept.

That all changed last week when they were able to cut his hair with ease. And Johnny got a new style and a remote-controlled fire truck out of the deal. The Kaczmarczyks thank their new parent-child interaction therapy sessions for the breakthrough.

“It’s taken me five years to cut his hair,” Lori said incredulously during therapy one recent Wednesday at Autism Delaware. “The goal is to trust us and be able to work with us.”…

Here is a link to a recent video from Autism Delaware: Autism Delaware promotional video 2017

(source: http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/health/2016/05/03/therapy-builds-parent-autistic-child-bond/83500270/)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Hussman Institute for Autism is a Catonsville, Maryland-based nonprofit whose mission is to to improve the lives of individuals with Autism. At the core of the Institute is a focus on the strengths, value and potential of individuals with autism, a presumption that they have competence, and a commitment to finding ways to help develop and demonstrate these abilities…

For many people living with autism, it takes years to carve a place in life where they can thrive.

But for Matt Kaiser, it took more than three decades for the diagnosis to come. Finding his niche was a much simpler journey.

“I’ve found that when I perform on stage, I’m a different person than when I’m not performing,” said Kaiser, who has found his passion as a comedian since being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a type of autism. “When I’m not performing, I tend to be a little bit off to the side and to myself, and that’s kind of gotten me in trouble. – A lot of people were misconceiving me in every way possible. Being in the dark for 35 years, I didn’t know why.”

It wasn’t discovered that Kaiser, 39, had Asperger syndrome until he was 35. Since then, the Towson University graduate has honed his comedic skills and recently began teaching them to others in a new program at Towson’s Hussman Center for Adults with Autism. His goal is to open doors of self-discovery for others who live with autism.

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears early in life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. The effects of autism are different for each person with it. Though symptoms can include cognitive and physical impairments, people living with autism also typically excel at something.

The comedy program, which began in March, has eight registered participants and meets once a week in the center’s space at the newly renovated Towson City Center. There, too, the Catonsville resident is far from the man who used to stand on the periphery.

“I’m just a different person when I’m performing – same goes with when I’m conducting a class or a workshop like this,” he said. “I’m, in essence, in performance mode.”

On Tuesday, April 9, the third meeting of the workshop, Kaiser worked with participants, many of whom are in their 20s, along with university student mentors on improvisation games using props. The participants brought their own props and acted out scenes with creative uses for each.

Before the session started, the participants stood apart from each other and didn’t interact much. But as the program progressed, connections were made and smiles grew.

Since the program began, Rhonda Greenhaw, director of the Hussman Center, said she’s seen the participants open up and connect with their “artistic selves.”

“For so many of the participants, for their whole life they’ve been told to do things differently,” Greenhaw said. “Initially, they feel like ? they can’t even connect” to what they were watching.

“They can’t even connect to something unique and original. They want somebody to tell them, ‘What should I do?’ Just by providing them with a safe and supportive environment, we’ve really seen people break out of that, to really connect with it,” she said.

As she has seen with participants in the center’s other programs, it has taken a while for some of them to open up in a more structured setting.

"A lot of our participants come … to our programs with this mistrust and this sense that, "Oh, I’m going to come to another place and be told that I need to change, and how much work I need to do and how many deficits I have.’ " Greenhaw said. “This is very different. This is all about your strengths and connecting to yourself and using those things to really come into your own, and I think that’s really meaningful.”

That they’re taking their cues from someone who, despite not being diagnosed with autism until his mid-30s, can relate to them and shares their experiences of feeling different from those around them.

‘Everything clicking into place’

Kaiser found his niche while in the acting program at Towson University, which he graduated from in 2010. He said some aspects of the program weren’t clicking for him, but then an instructor who saw him thrive in mime and movement classes suggested he take a techniques in comedy class.

“Of course, I did, and suddenly everything was clicking into place,” Kaiser said.

Now, his repertoire includes the mime, physical comedy, improv, standup and prop work he learned in that class. He’s taken three classes at the famed Second City Improv Theater in Chicago, and hones his craft at comedy shows and workshops in the Baltimore/Washington area.

He got plenty of laughs from the participants on Tuesday. After teaching them to use the props, he put on his own prop routine using a collapsible neon yellow tube. He flopped around the floor and used the tube as an elephant trunk, inchworm, a snorkel and Groucho Marx’ cigar. He invited participants to show their own ideas during his display.

During the participant’s prop routines, he was empathetic and supportive, encouraging applause and pointing out their particularly clever uses of the items.

He participated with the previous incarnation of the Adults with Autism program on campus, before it moved to Towson City Center. After attending a couple of events, he and Greenhaw established a program for him to teach his passion to others on the autism spectrum.

He worked with his job coach, Susan Howarth, on a proposal for a weekly program, and although all parties were apprehensive before the first class, Kaiser was a natural teacher and Howarth has been thrilled to see him thrive in the setting.

“One of the reasons I think he wanted to do this was he wanted to help other autistic people learn other communication modes where they’re comfortable,” she said. “For me to watch him in this situation – it’s just so cool.”

Here is a link to a video from the Hussman Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9_bvukCexY

(source: The Baltimore Sun)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Howard County Autism Society (HCAS) is a Columbia, Maryland-based nonprofit. HCAS is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with Autism, their families and the professionals with whom they interact…

For the past several years, the Howard County Autism Society has partnered with the Mall in Columbia to host “Sensory Friendly Santa,” a chance for children on the autism spectrum to visit with Santa and get their picture taken without the traditional lights, noise and chaos that might distract or irritate them.
The event, held in two sessions, Dec. 8 and 11, is held before the mall opens, so organizers can tightly control the amount of sensory stimulation. Participating children are assigned a number so they don’t have to stand in line and wait their turn, said Howard County Autism Society board member Jennifer May, who helped organize the event.

“Sensory issues are so much at the forefront with these kids on the spectrum,” she said. “Coming here and waiting in line for an hour is just not something that’s realistic.”
This year was the third time Columbia residents Matt and Shelley English attended the Sensory Friendly Santa event. Their 6-year-old son, Spencer, is on the autism spectrum …his parents said.
“He doesn’t like to wait in line, so this is good for him,” Shelley English said. She and her husband took Spencer to a traditional Santa event before he was diagnosed with autism several years ago, she said.
“It was not fun,” she said.

Sensory Friendly Santa drew about 100 people last year, and the number has increased since its inception, said Howard County Autism Society Board President Sherri Braxton-Lieber.
“We’re reaching a lot of people and it makes you feel good,” she said.
The Mall in Columbia is also home to the AMC Theatres venue that sparked the nationwide Sensory Friendly Films program, which allows children with autism to view new movies in a less stimulating setting. The theater in Columbia sold almost 200 tickets for last week’s sensory friendly offering, “Frozen,” Braxton-Lieber said.
Matt English said he and his family attended the special showing of the Disney movie, and try to participate in most of the other events held by the Howard County Autism Society. He said these events are less stressful for children, but also provide support for the parents.
“Having an autistic kid is really stressful as a parent, because you just don’t get a lot of time to yourself,” he said. “[At these events,] everybody looks out for everyone else’s kid, because everybody’s in the same boat … so it’s not as stressful for you.”

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsQ5mAOGkeU

(source: Children with autism share special time with Santa - Howard County Times)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Logan Dutton is only 5 years old and in kindergarten at Forest Lakes Elementary, so he’s new to the public school system, but already his mother can see he’s beginning to fall through the cracks.

Logan, who is on the Autism spectrum, and has had early intervention through the county’s Infants and Toddlers program, sometimes comes home from school with half of his lunch left, his mother, Pilar Dutton said.

He has trouble with fine motor skills, she said, and sometimes can’t open the bags with a sandwich in it or take the lid off the yogurt. Yes, there are helpers in the cafeteria, Dutton said, but sometimes Logan forgets to raise his hand. And when he doesn’t get help, he doesn’t eat.

“The fact that the problems will get worse as he gets older, things need to change. Maybe they will by the time he gets older,” Dutton said standing outside the Harford County Public Schools headquarters on Hickory Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

She and a group of other parents, who brought their children with them, are hoping to draw attention to the problems with the autism program in Harford County Public Schools…

(source: The Baltimore Sun)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

The Avergan Foundation is an Annapolis, Maryland-based nonprofit whose mission is to promote awareness and acceptance of Autism Spectrum Disorders and provide hope to affected families…

Allison and Tom Barnhill know what it’s like to be told your child is on the autism spectrum.

They learned of their son’s diagnosis when he was 20 months old. But through early intervention and the help of many services and teachers, he has made huge strides.

So now the Annapolis family wants to help other families in their shoes. Next week they are holding a party to officially launch the Avergan Foundation, which they have created to promote awareness and acceptance for autism spectrum disorders and to offer hope to affected families by providing scholarships for private special needs educational services.

“As parents with a child diagnosed with an ASD, we know how important early detection and intervention are to the success of a child with autism,” explained Allison Barnhill. “We also know the financial and emotional burdens are overwhelming.”

…The Avergan Foundation launch party will take place Dec. 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge. There will be food, music by Mixing Maryland, and a silent auction featuring items donated from area businesses. The highlight of the evening will be the premiere of a documentary short, by Clickspark, sharing the Barnhill family’s personal story, and showing the positive impact the Avergan Foundation can have on children and families affected by autism spectrum disorders. All proceeds from the event directly benefit the Avergan Foundation in providing scholarship programs for children with developmental disabilities.

Proceeds for the Avergan Foundation will be used toward scholarships for the Cisco Center in Severna Park, a non-profit educational center serving children and families with special needs. One child has already benefitted from the Avergan Foundation’s help and began attending the Cisco Center this week. The Liverman family of Annapolis was told by their daycare center that they needed to find a new placement for their son, Braydon, who is on the autism spectrum, Allison Barnhill explained. They couldn’t afford the Cisco Center without a partial scholarship but soon after the Barnhills heard about the situation, they were able to find a sponsor willing to pay the necessary fees.

“The community support has been amazing,” Barnhill said. “Everyone you talk to knows someone on the spectrum. It can be near and dear to so many people’s hearts.”

That’s why the family has incorporated a heart in Avergan’s logo. Avergan is a combition of both their children’s names – their son, Logan and his twin sister, Avery who are now 9.

“We have been so lucky with Logan, and we knew that we wanted to do something that would leave a legacy for our children and teach them how good it is to do for others,” Barnhill said of the foundation.

To get tickets to the launch visit the Avergan Foundation Launch Party website. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $30 for vip admission which includes a Luxe Swag Bag of goodies. For details about the foundation visit the Avergan Foundation website.

Here is a link to photos: https://m.facebook.com/pg/averganfoundation/photos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

(source: Annapolis family starts foundation to support kids with autism)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

RISE is a Severna Park, Maryland-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide community and professional awareness, family support and resources, financial assistance, and a continuum of therapeutic services to promote confident, competent individuals with Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders. RISE stands for Resources Interventions Support Education…

…RISE, which stands for Resources, Intervention, Support and Education, seeks to provide therapeutic services, financial and family support for people with autism spectrum and related disorders. The hope is to help them become competent and confident individuals while providing community and professional awareness.
RISE recently held a community event at Ruth Parker Eason School in Millersville to do just that and introduce to the public new safety initiatives it has created in partnership with the Anne Arundel County Police and Fire Departments.

…The recent event concentrated on safety issues that face parents with children with developmental disabilities. The first part of the safety project is concentrating on RISE’s current partnership with the county police and fire departments and getting information to them. The parent registers through RISE to provide pertinent information that can be provided to the 911 system, which will alert police officers and fire personnel that a person with disabilities lives in that household. Specific information can help emergency personnel be better prepared to provide the best support possible.
The second part is the introduction of the safety bracelet which houses a GPS unit for those who are prone to wandering.
“The device will allow officers to channel the location of the individual,” said county police Capt. Francis Tewey. “It is a quicker recovery with fewer resources.”

The day included information from the Anne Arundel County Crisis Prevention Office and Pathfinders for Autism. The county police and fire departments invited children to sit in and honk the horns of emergency vehicle and many sensory station were available including sand art and a moon bounce.

…“It’s a no-brainer,” said Tewey. “It promotes awareness and provides safety information.”
Since its founding, RISE has provided over $68,000 worth of services to families statewide, concentrating in Anne Arundel County. These are services like speech therapy, motor therapy and adaptive sports that many insurance companies don’t cover. They receive funds from their annual conference, workshops and through grant programs.
“The ultimate goal is to get a facility to teach life skills,” said Brandy Tayman, a RISE volunteer. “We want to have a place to teach children on the spectrum to boil water, manage money and do laundry – just to be independent.”

…They are co-sponsoring the [awards] held Thursday …for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee which honors teachers, parents and those who help support individuals with developmental disabilities.
“I am so excited to see things happen,” said Tayman, of the goal of attaining a facility to support teens with life skills. “Cheryl is working so hard to get it all together.”
RISE for Autism will be participating in the 24-hour Great Give taking place from 6 p.m. May 5 through 6 p.m. May 6. Their next fundraising event will be the annual golf tournament beginning at 8 a.m. May 15 at Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville.

Here is a link to a video from RISE of some bicycle riding kids involved in the ‘Bike to the Beach’ fundraiser: 18 reactions | Look at all these independent riders!!! They CAN ride!!!! Bike To the Beach iCanShine | RISE For Autism, Inc.

(source: Millersville/Crownsville: Parents looking for autism resources look to RISE - Capital Gazette)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

We Rock the Spectrum Severna Park, located in Severna Park, Maryland, is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and fun environment to foster learning, exploration and safe sensory experiences. Through its nonprofit My Brother Rocks The Spectrum Foundation, social skills groups and activities for children across the Autism Spectrum are provided…

Many times, parents with children on the autism spectrum said playgrounds can be difficult places. They often worry their child will be judged or feel intimidated by other children.

One gym in Severna Park offers such children a place to call their own.

This includes Kyle Alton. The 6-year-old travels with his family to Severna Park from the Eastern Shore so he can go to We Rock the Spectrum at 160 Richie Highway. The location is one of about 30 such special needs gyms in the national chain.

“There’s a lot less chaos for him because his brain is here and there, to keep him focused on one thing is better,” Jack Alton, Kyle’s father, said.

…We Rock the Spectrum gym is the right place for him to play, his family said.

“One of the issues with (Kyle) is he has low core strength, so we are taking him to OT and a lot of the equipment there, they have here so it’s helping him build some strength and makes him more confident,” Alton said.

We Rock the Spectrum owner Courtney Cahill said the equipment at the gym is gentler than most, which can make the experience easier for children with sensory issues.

After a career of teaching children on the autism spectrum, Cahill knew there was a need for a place like her gym.

“A lot of parents feel like they can’t take their kids anywhere,” Cahill said. “Here, we accept it, we let it happen and the parents don’t have to be nervous.”

The gym’s motto is on the wall and lets children and their families know that it is a place where they don’t have to apologize for being themselves.

Cahill said some children might not be ready for the equipment and physical activity, so there are other areas of play that they can enjoy, like costumes or arts and crafts.

Cahill said the goal at We Rock the Spectrum is that there is something for every child, so they can play and parents have less to worry about.

“They can sit quietly in the corner and play with puzzles, or trucks, or draw,” Cahill said.

Here is a link to a video: https://m.facebook.com/WeRockTheSpectrumKidsGym/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

(source: Gym offers option for children on autism spectrum)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) is a Montgomery Village, Maryland-based nonprofit that whose services include an Intensive Early Intervention program for ages 18 months to 7 years. CSAAC is one of the oldest and largest autism services providers in the nation…

…Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC), based in Montgomery County, is one of the oldest and largest services providers in the United States dedicated to helping those individuals with autism overcome obstacles, reach their potential and contribute to the community with confidence.

On Friday November 8th, CSAAC held their 8th Annual Honors Gala in Bethesda under the theme ‘Winning for Autism.’ Over 350 guests turned out for a night of Monte Carlo-style mock gaming, silent and live auctions, a seated dinner, open bar, music and dancing all hosted by CBS television journalist, author and long-standing supporter Mark McEwen.

Each year CSAAC honors leaders who strive to transform the lives of children and adults diagnosed with autism. This year, CSAAC presented their first-ever award for ‘Global Innovation in Autism Employment’ to Thorkil Sonne of Specialisterne, which in conjunction with the global software company SAP, has launched a worldwide initiative to employ 100,000 adults with autism.

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kvhnubp4eI

(source: CSAAC’s 8th Annual Honors Gala - Bethesda Magazine - November-December 2013 - Bethesda, MD)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Sports Plus is a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based nonprofit organization that provides innovative sports, swim, camp, social and employment training programs to individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. All the nonprofit’s programs, including the EXTRA program, are designed for children whose capabilities fit between existing mainstream sports programs and adaptive sports programs designed for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities…

Blue skies, green grass, laughter and high fives surrounded dozens of children that jumped, ran and played without hesitation.

Children went through sprints, obstacle courses and other track and field mainstays on the first day of the Sports Plus track and field practice at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds this month.

Sports Plus is geared toward children with autism, a developmental disability that often excludes them from group interactions.

The nonprofit’s founders, Natalie and Tom Liniak of Gaithersburg, started Sports Plus …when they could not find sports programs for their autistic son, Jonathan.

“We felt Jonathan, then almost 7, needed and wanted to play sports, his younger brother was playing sports and he had to go and just watch. I looked for programs that would be beneficial for Jonathan; there just weren’t any,” Natalie Liniak said.

So the Liniaks united with five families and started a soccer program for autistic children.

“I think all these kids need social opportunities and physical fitness, particularly those I call the tweeners, those with a mild to moderate disability,” Natalie Liniak said.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability according to Marguerite Colston, vice president of constituent relations for the Autism Society in Silver Spring.

…From the original handful of families, the group has grown to more than 200 families and Sports Plus has added track and field and swimming. This fall, 100 children are registered in programs in Montgomery and Howard counties.

“It’s gone beyond anything we thought,” Natalie Liniak said. “People don’t feel so isolated, they are connecting and [the kids] are doing something really good for themselves. I find the kids’ self esteem and confidence goes sky-high when they see they can do it. Sports is a bridge to socialization. They make friends from this program. There are play dates and birthday parties.”

Tom Liniak helped the children, along with parents, siblings, volunteers and coaches, warm up and stretch at the first session Sept. 19. Then the group split to run hurdles, weave in and out of cones or just run and jump.

Alex Sanchez of Bethesda encouraged his son, Francisco, 6, to pay attention and try hard. Alex did just that but also came back to his father frequently to tell him what he was doing and receive a high five and “great job.”

Francisco even took the time to show his dad how to get set for a standing long jump and then do it, jumping about three feet.

“I’ve always wanted to put Francisco in sports. This is a place you feel welcome; it’s a safe environment,” Sanchez said.

The classes are open to children ages 5 to 14 and cost $145 per session, except for private swim lessons, which are $195. Parents are asked to stay at the activity although they do not have to participate. There are paid coaches and a number of volunteers that help keep the ratio of children to adults about two to one.

T.J. Brockway, 17, a student at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, volunteers with many of his peers at Sports Plus.

“I’ve learned how to work with autistic kids and it’s a lot of fun. You have to take things slowly and demonstrate. That’s a good quality to have. You have to be more patient,” T.J. said.

The Liniaks are hoping to extend Sports Plus programs to northern Virginia, Tom Liniak said, noting that some families already come from there to participate.

Here is a link to a video from Sports Plus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCXDMAUr27s

(source: Sports teams are a rare opportunity for autistic children)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland.

Tom Liniak remembers how excited his 13-year-old son, Jon, was the first time he put on his new, white apron.

“His face,” Liniak said. “It was phenomenal.”

Jon was pumped up in the days before his first day of school, his father said.

“He has a brother who is 11,” he said. "He [was] going around the house saying, ‘I am going to work at Spagnvola. I am going to work at Spagnvola. I have a job.’ "

Jon is the first intern at Spagnvola, a chocolatier in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg.

But this experience will be more than just a job for Jon, who has autism, Liniak said.

In the unpaid internship, Jon will learn what ‘work’ really is, he said; he will be taught the social skills and other qualifications he will need to transition from school to a full-time career.

Eric and Crisoire Reid, who own Spagnvola, have formed a partnership with Tom Liniak and his wife, Natalie, who together founded Sports Plus, a Gaithersburg-based nonprofit organization that provides sports, camps and social programs for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Sports Plus will run the internship, where students will help prepare the chocolate into truffles and bars in the factory basement of Spagnvola’s shop and ship the products to customers nationwide.

Sports Plus’s board of advisers, which includes doctors, executives, special-education workers and physical and speech therapists, will often visit and help the organization develop a program to successfully transition the students, Liniak said.

So far, the interns are Sports Plus clients, but the Liniaks plan to expand the program to others.

Marcy Bennett, who is on Sports Plus’s board of directors, said this program could become a model for companies that want to better understand how to successfully employ adults with disabilities.

Bennett is the program administrator for Jewish Foundation for Group Homes’ Meaningful Opportunities for Successful Transitions program, which facilitates successful transitions into the workplace for young adults with disabilities.

The internship was created to benefit the children, but researchers and experts in the field can learn just as much from it, Liniak said.

“How do we get these kids to do this by themselves for the rest of their lives?” he said. “We are willing to learn as much as we can.”

…Of students with autism, 47 percent had jobs a few years after high school, according to the 2009 National Longitudinal Transition Study 2, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Of Maryland residents ages 21 to 64 with any kind of cognitive disability, about 31.9 ercent were employed in 2009, according to a 2009 Cornell University survey.

One of the greatest challenges for people with autism is learning social skills, said Andrew Egel, a professor at the University of Maryland and an expert in applied behavior analysis and its application to education for people with autism.

“That is not to say that people with autism cannot be taught social skills and taught to work in that situation,” he said.

Egel said that in the past, people with autism mostly worked in jobs out of the public eye, such as in workshops building equipment. But with new technology and understanding of autism, more jobs are becoming available in the community environment.

Although cognitive abilities vary, some people with autism are good at sorting and can learn well visually. They might succeed in jobs requiring those skills, Egel said.

At Spagnvola, interns can look at pictures on the walls to see where the chocolate comes from: the cacao trees on the Reids’ estate in the Dominican Republic.

The company name originated from a map that had named the island of the Dominican Republic ‘Isola Spagnvola.’

Eric Reid said Sports Plus’s mission blew him and his wife away, so they want them to use their store in any way they wish.

He wants to give back to his community, he said.

Jon started working there last month. His first job is to sort pieces of shells from tubs of ground cacao beans to prepare the chocolate.

Recognizing patterns is one of Jon’s talents, Tom Liniak said.

On Friday, Jon said he wants to work at Spagnvola for a ‘long time.’

“Because I’m good at it,” he said.

(source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/chocolate-and-charity-gaithersburg-businesses-partner-for-autism/2012/02/07/gIQA2AbsyQ_story.html?utm_term=.5b491cf2f682)