Autism Awareness for First Responders

The SC Autism Society is honored to announce that Autism Society Task Force members, Sergeant Jimmy Donohoe and Captain William Cannata, Jr, are coming to South Carolina in May to present training sessions in three locations around the state: Greenville, Charleston and Columbia.  They are providing ‘Autism Awareness for First Responders’ in collaboration with the SC Fire Academy, Mt. Pleasant PD, Greenville PD, and CICP Carolinas Institute.

This opportunity is being provided free of charge for all emergency response professionals including law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency medical personnel and school resource officers. Our instructors are first responders with extensive experience in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Training is available in three different locations on three different days.

5/19/15 - Alhambra Hall, Mt. Pleasant, SC at 9:00 am

5/20/15 - Greenville Technical College, Greenville, SC at 9:00 am5/21/15 - SC Fire Academy, Columbia, SC at 9:00 am

Capt. Cannata and Sgt. Donohoe have collaborated with the Autism Society in its Safe and Sound initiative since 2005. Sgt. Jimmy Donohoe is the creator of the ‘Take Me Home’ program, a database where participants who are unable to properly identify themselves register with a photo, physical description, and contact information so first responders can interact with increased knowledge when contacting a person with autism. Capt. William Cannata is retired from the fire service after serving more than 30 years, and is now the Program Director of the Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition, which was formed in 2003.

First responders can register online at http://scautism.org/event/autism-awareness-first-responders/. 

Read about how the SC Autism Society is working with First Responders statewide! http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150308/PC16/150309560/1005/training-geared-toward-public-safety-interactions-with-autistic-individuals

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

Resource Fair Opportunities: Annual Conference & Strides for Autism

Resource Fair Opportunities

The South Carolina Autism Society is excited to announce several upcoming Resource Fair Opportunities.  We invite you to consider participating in these exciting events.  Spaces begin at just $75.  Register now, or email me at SusanL@scautism.org for further information. 

Strides for Autism – Upstate
Saturday, April 11, 2015, Heritage Park, Simpsonville
http://scautism.org/event/strides-upstate-2015/

Strides for Autism – Midlands
Saturday, May 2, 2015, Saluda Shoals Park, Irmo
http://scautism.org/event/strides-midlands-2015/

Annual Conference
Friday, April 17, 2015, Saluda Shoals Conference Center, Irmo
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Jed Baker
http://scautism.org/event/2015-annual-conference/

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

3-2-1 DASH for Down Syndrome

3-2-1 DASH for Down Syndrome is a 5K fundraiser; run an extra .11 mile to the 2nd finish like for a 3.21 finish! 

Event proceeds benefit Education Programs for individuals with Down syndrome. Educational programs in the greater Charlotte area are helping to support educators and enable students with Down syndrome to live up to their full potential.

Time: March 21, 2015 from 8:30am -12:00pm
Location: 8835 Blakeney Professional Drive, Charlotte NC 28277
Course: 5k/3.1 miles; run an extra .11 miles to the 2nd finish line for a 3.21 finish!

5K Registration Fees: $25 until Jan 31; $35 Feb 1-Mar 20; $40 Race Day
Fun Run Fees: $15 until Jan 31; $20 Feb 1-Mar 30; $25 Race Day


For more information and to register please visit: http://www.dsa-gc.org/services/5Krace/

SC Assistive Technology Expo 2015

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

Free Trainings Sponsored by the AT Coalition

Free Webinars - Younger Children

Pre-Writing Apps from SETC
Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern
  

Free Webinars - K-12 & Adults

Switch Assessment, Part 2: for those w/increased muscle tone  from AbleNet
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 9am Pacific, Noon Eastern

Free & Low-cost Strategies to Improve Reading and Writing- Tweetchat from CTD
Tuesday, March 10 at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern

Examining Your School's AT Service Design: Session 1 from AbleNet
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 9:30am Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern

The Top 5 iPad apps for Struggling Readers and Writers from CTD
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 1pm Pacific, 4:00pm Eastern

What Is Speech Recognition Software, How It Is Used, and What You Should Know about When Authoring Web Content - from the ADA Centers
Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 11:30am Pacific, 2:30pm Eastern

AEM (Accessible Educational Materials) in the IEP from NCAEM
Monday, March 23, 2015 at 1:30pm Pacific, 4:30pm Eastern

Voices in AAC Apps: What Are the Options...? from AbleNet
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern (30 min.)

Personalized Learning with Assistive Technology from PACER
Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 4:30pm Pacific, 7:30pm Eastern

Connecting All People to "Places:" Content and Design Considerations for App Accessibility - from the ADA Centers
Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 11:30am Pacific, 2:30pm Eastern

K-12 Teachers may also want to look at the 16 other webinars from the Special Ed. Technology Center in WA, mainly held at 3:30 PM Pacific, 6:30 PM Eastern. Topics: joystick & switch access for iPads, Fast ForWord, adapted books, AAC, etc.

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

Accessible Technology Webinar Series Session 2015

The Great Lakes ADA Center in collaboration with the ADA National Network is pleased to announce the March 19, 2015 Accessible Technology Webinar Series Session:


Title:   "What is speech recognition software, how it is used, and what you should know about when authoring web content"

Description:
This presentation will describe what speech recognition is and the people who use and benefit from speech recognition. It will cover what is available on different platforms such as Windows, Mac, and mobile platforms. Sample demonstration of speech recognition will be provided and a review of designing websites for use with speech recognition will be provided. This review will include what to know about speech recognition and the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Specification (ARIA). Follow-up resources will also be provided and questions will be taken.
Presenter:  Jonathan Avila, Chief Accessibility Officer, SSB

Time:  2:00-3:30PM ET
Cost:   Free
Registration is available on-line at: http://www.ada-audio.org/Webinar/AccessibleTechnology/   (New users will be required to establish an account in our system prior to completing registration)
Format:  The webinar will be held using the Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing System v 12.6   Real-time captioning will be provided via the webinar platform.   Audio is delivered via the webinar platform or telephone connection.
Questions?: Call 877-232-1990 V/TTY M-F 8-5pm CT or email at webinars@ada-audio.org

Monthly Workshops Offered at the SC Autism Society

All workshops will be held at the SC Autism Society 

806 12th Street West Columbia

10:00 AM Until Noon

Space is limited

Register by calling Delilah at 750 6988 ext 108 or email iandr@scautism.org

Thursday, March 19th	Visual Supports in the Home and School Environment	Visual supports are crucial to children with autism.  They help them to break down tasks into small steps, know what is expected of them, know what to do and how to do it, and to help alleviate anxiety that comes from not knowing what to expect.  A student with autism needs structure and visual support that can help them in many ways.  In this workshop, we will demonstrate many wonderful free or low cost materials and resources that can be used for scheduling, task analysis and behavioral modification.
Thursday, April 23rd	How do I read my child’d IEP?  Important factors that all parents should know.	IEP meetings can be overwhelming to say the least.  In this workshop, we will go over IEP’s and show you exactly what you need to know when you attend these meetings.  Crucial elements of the IEP will be discussed to ensure that your child is getting the services that they need.
Thursday, May 28th	Adolescents and Sexuality; Resources that can help	All individuals experience sexual urges and some students need help with learning how to deal with these feeling when they start.  In this workshop, we will go over how to deal with your sexuality for males and females, personal hygiene, and birth control.  We will also demonstrate various texts and websites that can help your adolescent child better deal with their sexuality.
Thursday, July 30th	Sensory Integration – How Can I Help My Child?	The majority of students with autism have Sensory Processing Disorder.  Students can be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to certain sights, sounds, smells and especially noises.  This disorder can interfere with everything in the child’s life.  We will discuss what this disorder is and how we can help to desensitize children who experience problems in this area and how exercise and movements is vital to calm and relaxed to they can attend to various tasks.  We will demonstrate items that can help students in these areas and discuss books that can help educators’ and parents to learn more about SPD.
Thursday, August, 27th	Creating Social Stories	Since students with ASD are extremely visual, social stores can help alleviate difficult behaviors, anxiety, stress and the unknown.  In this workshop, we will discuss how to create a social story and we will also go over free and low-cost resources where you can find social stories that are premade.  Bring your own computer or iPad if available.

Resources To Help Families With Autism

Columbia (WLTX) Sandi Bretten has been blessed with two wonderful boys... who happen to have autism.

"Some children with autism are brillant and some children like mine are learning disabled. Some children have splinter skills, " said Bretten.

Those with autism can have varying degrees of difficulty in a multitude of areas, like speech, learning and sensory and social skills.

"Chase is an amazing musician. My son Julian was reading at a third grade level when he was three years old but can barely string three or four words together in a sentence", said Bretten.

But one of the problems a 2012 study confirmed and that many parents already knew, wandering by children with autism is common. It's dangerous and puts tremendous stress on families.

To read this story in full & to read tips to help prevent wandering and wandering-related incidents please visit: http://www.wltx.com/story/life/2015/02/25/resources-to-help-families-with-autism/24028797/

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

SC Autism Society: Mini Update

From The SC Autism Society President:

Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month may not arrive until April, but the staff at the South Carolina Autism Society is busy planning many opportunities for families and professionals to learn, advocate, and just have fun in the coming months.   We are busy planning Disability Advocacy Day at the South Carolina Statehouse on Wednesday, March 4th.  Whether you can get to Columbia or not, please take a moment to contact your State Legislators to share your thoughts and needs regarding autism.  This is a great opportunity to talk to them about the need for the expansion of Ryan’s Law, thank them for maintaining funding for critical services and expanding ABA services through Medicaid, or simply sharing your own family story. Our April events kick off with our annual Strides for Autism event in the Upstate on Saturday, April 11th.  Come out for a fun morning with other families affected by autism!  We will have a walk, music, and lots of fun family activities.   On Friday, April 17th, we are excited to have one of the foremost presenters on autism and social skills, Jed Baker, PhD, at our Annual Conference.  Dr. Baker will talk to us about “Preparing for Life”, and how we can start preparing for transition now.  We have been busy working with partner organizations to bring Wings for Autism to the Columbia Airport on Saturday, April 18th.  This is a chance for individuals with autism to “practice” getting through the airport, going through security, and boarding the plane.  We hope to partner with other airports to bring this event to different locations throughout the state. Finally, we will extend our awareness and acceptance efforts in to May when we hold our Strides for Autism event in the Midlands on Saturday, May 2nd.  We are excited to be moving the event to Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo this year! Please contact us if you have questions, need assistance, or would like to get further involved.  Our main number is 803-750-6988, or visit our website at scautism.org. Sincerely,

Kim Thomas, President & CEO South Carolina Autism Society

Wings for Autism is Coming to Columbia!

We all look forward to taking vacations and visiting family and friends. These experiences create lifelong memories and strengthen the important relationships in our lives.  However, for many people with autism and other intellectual/developmental disabilities, the experience of air travel can be overwhelming and difficult, making these trips seem impossible.

Wings for Autism® program is an airport rehearsal program specifically designed for individuals on the autism spectrum, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. The program gives families the chance to experience the process of taking a flight. Families arrive at the airport, check in at the ticket counter and receive their boarding pass, go through TSA security, and board a plane. 

The original program was designed for a family that had a negative experience while attempting to travel. Their story prompted the Charles River Center (CRC), a local Chapter of The Arc, to reach out to other families to understand their experiences with air travel. CRC learned that hundreds of individuals with autism and their families in the greater Boston area were interested in participating in an air travel training program, and as a result designed the Wings for Autism program with the Massachusetts Port Authority Boston Logan International Airport.

We are delighted to bring Wings for Autism to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) on Saturday, April 18, 2015, and we would like to extend an invitation to you to join us. There is no registration cost but families are responsible for paying their own costs to travel to and from the airport. Space is limited.  The South Carolina Autism Society is partnering with several organizations to bring this exciting program to South Carolina.  We hope to schedule additional events at other South Carolina airports in the future.  

Click here for additional information and to register for this event!  

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

NEDAwareness Week 2015

Get Involved in NEDAwareness Week!

NEDAwareness Week 2015 kicked off on Sunday, February 22nd and there are so many ways to get involved! In addition to online events happening every day, there are many live events taking place in your area.
Check out these events in South Carolina:

• Hope in Recovery: Panel Presentation  
• “How To Manage Serious Mental Illness and Eating Disorders in Schools”  
• Affirmation Workshop – Turning Negative Thoughts into Positive Statements  
• Dads – How to Help Improve Your Son or Daughter’s Body Image and Overall Self-Esteem 
• Mother / Daughter Yoga Practice, Sponsored by YogaLicious / Hub-Bub  
• Inner Beauty / Healthy Body Image Workshop  
• Free Peer-Led Eating Disorder Support Group for Students Ages 18 and up  
• Eating Disorder Prevention Workshop for College Students
• And many more events!

However you decide to get involved, please take pictures and share them via social media, using the #NEDAwareness hashtag, so that we can keep up with all of the great stuff you're doing!
To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.asp

Brain Injury Association of SC Annual Golf Tournament

Golf FORE! Awareness!  *  Golf FORE! Support!  *  Golf FORE! a Better Future! Register Today! Support the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina and register your team for the 12th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser! Date: Friday, April 17, 2015 Location: Indian River Golf Club, 200 Indian River Drive, West Columbia, SC  Format: Captain's Choice Tee Off Time: 11:00am Shotgun Start How to Register: Register online here. Lunch and dinner will be provided! Contests include:  -Top three teams -Hole in one prizes- Kindle Fire, $500 Visa Giftcard, Nike Irons, $10,000 cash prize.  -Men's and Women's longest drive -Closest to the pin  -$50,000 Putting Shot Chance* *Purchase $10 tickets for a chance to putt for $50,000! Ten different names will be drawn at the end of the tournament. The ten individuals whose names are drawn will get a chance to putt 10 ft, 30 ft, and 50 ft away from hole. Those that make it in all three times will win $50,000! There is no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase.  For more information on other ways to register or sponsor, please contact us at 803.731.9823/877.TBI.FACT or visit our website, www.biausa.org/SC/

SC Autism Society Annual Conference 2015

DON’T MISS THE SOUTH CAROLINA AUTISM SOCIETY’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE, FEATURING JED BAKER AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER. 
Jed Baker, Ph.D. is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, a private organization, serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He is on the professional advisory board of Autism Today, ASPEN, ANSWER, YAI, the Kelberman Center and several other autism organizations. In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award-winning author of five books.
His presentation is titled, “Preparing for Real Life: Harnessing Strengths, Overcoming Obstacles and Learning Relevant Skills” and reviews some of the key predictors of successful adult outcomes among students with special needs, including the awareness of strengths and challenges, perseverance, learning skills to accomplish realistic goals, and preventing disruptive behaviors. The second part of the presentation details effective social skill training strategies for all individuals and reviews some common skill needs for young adults, including the realm of sexuality and dating.

Limited Scholarships are available for parents and self-advocates.  Click here to apply.

Annual Conference, Friday, April 17, 2015Time: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Location: Saluda Shoals 5605 Bush River Road, Irmo, SC  29212 Cost: $50 per person

For additional questions, please email scas@scautism.org, or call 803-750-6988.
Click here to Register for this Conference