A Sneak Preview of ASA’s Brand New Look!
ASA is proud to present its new logo in this edition of ASA-Net!
Our highly-anticipated branding initiative will be unveiled to our
chapters, board and membership any day now. ASA has been hard at work
with Fishtank Brand Advertising™ and BrandTeam™, creating a fresh, new
logo, which combines strong primary colors with a puzzle element, as
well as a new tagline—The Voice of Autism™. ASA’s popular Web
site is also being completely revamped and overhauled, making it easier
to navigate and more user-friendly, and full of new interactive
components.
Stay tuned for official branding announcements
over the next couple of weeks!
ASA’s 36th National Conference an Event to Remember;
Thousands of ASA Members, Supporters Descend on Nashville for Largest
Autism Conference in Nation
The Autism Society of America (ASA), the leading voice
and resource of the entire autism community, hosted its 36th National
Conference and celebrated its 40th anniversary in Nashville, TN, July
13-16, 2005. Thousands of ASA members and supporters attended the
conference, which offered more than 75 sessions on a variety of
autism-related topics applicable to individuals across the lifespan,
including sessions on behavior issues and supports; communication;
early intervention; education; family and sibling support; medicine and
research; personal perspectives; sensory processing; social skills;
technology; and transition planning and options for adulthood.
“In my mind, the most significant part of the ASA
conference is that it brings the entire autism community together and
unites us around issues and concerns we all feel are important to our
families,” said ASA President & CEO Lee Grossman. “The conference
provides an atmosphere where, in the spirit of education, advocacy and
research, we can also celebrate the achievements of ASA and the autism
community.”
The ASA National Conference: Informative, Fun,
Significant
This year’s opening ceremony featured VIPs across the
gamut, including NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray, who received a special
award of recognition for his contributions to and support of ASA and
the autism community; high-ranking government officials Jose Cordero,
MD, director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities (NCBDDD) at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and
Renard Murray, associate regional administrator, U.S. Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), who delivered speeches on the
various autism activities in which their respective agencies are
engaging; Sue Rubin, the individual with autism featured in CNN’s
Academy Award®-nominated documentary, Autism is a World, who
welcomed conference attendees through a facilitated communication
device; Alyssia Boyett, an individual with autism who sang the National
Anthem; and Tammy Vice, mother of a child with autism who performed two
original songs.
Conference attendees were also treated to three keynote
addresses by leaders and experts in the autism community. The opening
keynote session speaker was Paula Kluth, Ph.D., M.Ed., an independent
educational consultant and an adjunct instructor at National-Louis
University in Chicago, IL, who focused on differentiating instruction
and on supporting students with autism and other significant
disabilities in inclusive classrooms.
Keynoter Paul Shattock, Ph.D., director of the Autism
Research Unit of the University of Sunderland, founding chairman of
Communities of Autistic People (CAP) and European Services for People
with Autism (ESPA), and father of an adult son with autism, discussed
his current research into the possibility that changes in environmental
conditions could be responsible for the dramatic increase in autism.
And final keynoter, Stephen Shore, ABD, MusM, ASA board
member, adult with autism, and well-known researcher and author on
autism, presented “Success with Autism: Using Our Strengths for
Achieving a Fulfilling and Productive Life—Just Like Everyone Else,” in
which he drew from his own life experiences to look at how people with
autism are able to build fulfilling and productive lives.
Jamie McMurray: A True ASA Friend
This year, ASA was thrilled to offer several additional
events for conference attendees, including Driving Autism
Awareness: A Night in Nashville, featuring NASCAR’s Jamie
McMurray, who hosted an autograph/photo and question and answer
session. The event—which attracted multiple media outlets, including
Fox Sports Network and Speed Channel’s NASCAR Nation, along
with local network affiliates—was a huge success, drawing a large crowd
of conference attendees and McMurray fans.
McMurray, who has a niece with autism, discussed how
autism has touched his family’s life, why he has undertaken Driving
Autism Awareness—a national campaign sponsored by ChevronTexaco
Products Company (CTPC), in cooperation with Chip Ganassi Racing with
Felix Sabates, Home123 and Top-Flite, that raises funds for ASA’s
autism education and advocacy efforts—and many other autism and
racing-related topics. The event also included an appearance by Fox
Sports Analyst and 3-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Darrell Waltrip,
and was emceed by ASA Board Member and FOX Coordinating Director for
NFL and NASCAR Artie Kempner.
“It was a really cool experience for me to get to meet
all the families that are involved with ASA and to hear their stories. Our
Driving Autism Awareness event went really well. It’s great to see
the NASCAR fans embrace this program,” said McMurray. “I must say, I
was a little overwhelmed at the opening ceremonies. There were so many
people there! It meant a lot to me that ASA presented me with the
achievement award. There are so many people behind the scenes that make
the Driving Autism Awareness campaign run smoothly, that the
award is for all of them, too.”
In addition, ASA and The Gary Rosenthal Collection’s Art
as a Catalyst program kicked off an arts enrichment initiative—the
Become A Piece of the Puzzle campaign—to raise
money for the autism community during McMurray’s Driving Autism
Awareness event (see story below).
ASA members and conference attendees were also able to
join McMurray the next morning for a special breakfast, where McMurray
interacted with families and signed autographs.
A big shout out to Jamie for his willingness and
cooperation in making these events truly special.
ASA at the Movies: A Whale of a Time
ASA board members, staff, chapter leaders, members, and
conference attendees, gathered at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum for a gala movie night, which included a screening of Mozart
and the Whale, a romantic comedy starring Josh Hartnett, Radha
Mitchell and Gary Cole—which was inspired by the lives of ASA members
Jerry and Mary Newport, who have Asperger's syndrome—followed by CNN’s
Academy Award®-nominated documentary, Autism is a World.
World-renowned jazz artist David Anderson welcomed
attendees by treating them to a repertoire of country and swing, soft
rock and other favorites. Upon entering the Ford Theater, Mozart's Jerry
Newport shared his thoughts on the movie’s adaptation of his life, and Autism
subject Sue Rubin, with the help of her mother, Rita, thanked attendees
for coming.
ASA would like to send a heartfelt thank you to board
member Artie Kempner, who served as the evening's eloquent and humorous
host, and to ASA national staff members; to the Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum and Ford Theater teams; and to the studio houses for
sharing with us their wonderful productions. ASA is especially grateful
to ASA President and CEO Lee Grossman, ASA Board Chair Cathy Pratt,
and Artie Kempner, for generously underwriting the evening and making
ASA’s movie night a huge success.
Evening of Champions Gala Dinner: A
Night to Honor, Remember and Rock Out
For the fourth year in a row, ASA honored leaders in the
autism community at its Evening of Champions gala dinner.
The Evening of Champions dinner was created as a forum for
ASA to honor those individuals who have contributed in ways big and
small to education, advocacy, and research for autism. This year’s
honorees included ASA’s founder, Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.; Travis LaBoy,
member of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, whose brother is on the autism
spectrum and has created SACK Autism and the LaBoy Foundation; Pat
Levitt, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, who is a leading
researcher on autism; and Art and Chelly Sellinger, CEO/Owner, Long
Drivers of America, who are long-time friends and supporters of ASA.
Each honoree was presented with a recognition award
created by artist Gary Rosenthal, as well as a beautiful basket of gift
products donated by the company Melaleuca. Rimland, who founded ASA in
1965 and was honored on its 40th anniversary, received a standing
ovation from teary-eyed and appreciative attendees.
"The Evening of Champions was a special event
this year for ASA for several reasons, particularly because as we
celebrated our 40th anniversary as an organization, we were thrilled to
have in attendance our founding father, Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.," said
President Grossman. "Autism is finally receiving worldwide attention,
and the autism community can directly thank Bernie for being one of the
first advocates for individuals with autism, at a time when no one knew
what autism was."
After award presentations, dinner, and a silent auction,
country music icon, Ronnie Milsap, rocked the house, playing for a
crowded dance floor such favorites as “Stranger in My House,” and
“Smoky Mountain Rain.” The 8-time Country Music Association winner also
has seven Grammys® and four America Country Music awards throughout his
career.
ASA would like to thank Travis LaBoy for his generous
contribution to ASA presented at the dinner; the Middle Tennessee
Chapter of ASA for its tremendous support, particularly in handling
silent auction logistics; Nashville’s #1 country music radio station,
95.5 The Wolf’s on-air personality, Karen Keeley, for emceeing the
event; and Angela Curley, LaBoy’s mother, for leading an energetic live
auction for items donated by the LaBoy Foundation—including a trip to
Hawaii—as well as a pearl and diamond necklace made by ASA’s very own
Connecticut Chapter President, Kim Newgass. A special thanks to
sponsors and those who purchased tables at the dinner for helping
underwrite the cost of the evening.
So you missed the conference in 2005? Start thinking
ahead to 2006! ASA’s 37th National Conference & Exposition on
Autism Spectrum Disorders will be held in Providence, RI, July 12-15,
2006. Stay tuned for conference promotions and information on ASA’s Web
site, http://www.autism-society.org/,
in the Advocate and ASA-Net, and on ASA’s chapter
network.
Autism Society of America Award Winners Honored at
Conference Opening Ceremony; ASA National Office Recognizes Leaders in
ASA Family
The following lists the 2005 ASA National Awards, the
2005 Wendy F. Miller & ASA National Recognition Awards, and 2005
Scholarships, which were presented at the opening ceremony of ASA’s
36th National Conference:
2005 ASA National Awards
ASA Chapter of the Year Award: San Diego County
Chapter; Shirley Fett, president
ASA Media Excellence Award: Autism is a World; Geraldine
Wurzburg, producer, State of the Art Productions
ASA Outstanding Literary Work of the Year: Autism Spectrum
Disorders; Chantal Sicile-Kira, author, Penguin Group (USA),
publisher
2005 Wendy F. Miller & ASA National
Recognition Awards
Wendy F. Miller Parent of the Year Award: Phyllis Shingle
Wendy F. Miller Autism Professional of the Year Award: Mitch Goldstein
Wendy F. Miller Outstanding Individual with Autism of the Year Award:
James Olin Horne II
Wendy F. Miller Outstanding Program of the Year Award: Therapeutic
Programs: Activity-Based and Sensory-Driven; Clay White, LLC
2005 Scholarships
The Eden Services Charles H. Hoens, Jr.—Scholars Program Award: Dana E.
Goyette
The Collins Scholarship: Jason Fletcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison
ASA would like to congratulate each and every 2005 award
winner. We appreciate your hard work and dedication to the Society and
to autism.
Autism Society of America Kicks Off Partnership with
The Gary Rosenthal Collection; McMurray, National Conference Attendees
Become a Piece of the Puzzle
The Autism Society of America (ASA) and The Gary
Rosenthal Collection’s Art as a Catalyst program have teamed
up to provide a unique opportunity to create artwork supporting those
affected by autism. Launched at ASA’s 36th National Conference this
month, the Become a Piece of the Puzzle campaign generates
awareness and support for the autism community through arts enrichment
activities.
NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray, along with internationally
renowned artist Gary Rosenthal and ASA leaders, officially kicked off
the campaign during Driving Autism Awareness: A Night in Nashville,
McMurray’s autograph, photo, and question and answer session at the
conference.
McMurray and his niece, Lauren, who has autism, began
the process of placing individual pieces of polished, colored glass to
create a mosaic. Throughout the conference, thousands of others
affected by autism added their personal touches to the artwork.
Following the conference, the mosaics were sent back to
Rosenthal’s studio in Kensington, MD, where they will be fired and
crafted into jewelry, bookmarks, money clips, and other pieces of art.
Each piece of art costs $20, and a portion of sales benefits ASA and
autism research.
The Gary Rosenthal Collection employs individuals with
autism who are professionally trained to help with the production and
creation of this artwork. Additionally, The Gary Rosenthal Collection
created all of the national awards presented at this year’s conference.
ASA chapters are encouraged to develop similar Become
a Piece of the Puzzle campaign projects for local meetings,
special events, and fundraisers. These projects are ideal sibling
programs. Chapters also can purchase personalized corporate gifts
created by The Gary Rosenthal Collection and worked on by the studio’s
autistic employees.
Rosenthal has been a leader within the American craft
movement for more than 30 years. His unique blend of metal and
brilliant glass has been given to American presidents and displayed in
museums throughout the world.
The Art as a Catalyst program practices a distinctive
brand of social entrepreneurship designed, funded, and implemented by
The Gary Rosenthal Collection. The initiative develops cause-related
marketing programs to help non-profit organizations raise money and
support arts enrichment and education, focusing primarily on
intergenerational community-building activities.
For more information about the Become a Piece of
the Puzzle campaign, please visit the ASA Web site at http://www.autism-society.org/,
the Art as a Catalyst Web site at http://www.artasacatalyst.org/,
or contact ASA Director of Development Carol Folsom at cfolsom@....
ASA Representatives to Help Launch Art as a Catalyst
Retailer Network;
Philadelphia Mayor to Participate, Artist Gary Rosenthal to Announce
Plans
The Autism Society of America (ASA) will be helping The
Gary Rosenthal Collection launch its Art as a Catalyst
Retailer Network Friday, August, 5, from 9-10am at the Philadelphia
Buyers Market of American Craft—the nation’s largest trade-only craft
show with more than 3,000 craft retailers and industry professionals in
attendance—to be held at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
ASA member families will make a colorful mosaic as
world-renowned artist Gary Rosenthal announces plans for the Retailers
Network, a nationwide system of craft galleries that will sell pieces
of artwork created by non-profit organizations under Rosenthal’s
direction. The network will provide craft galleries with the
opportunity to support community-based programs and help non-profit
organizations, such as ASA, raise money.
Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street also will be taking
part in the event and will add his personal touches to the glass
mosaic.
The mosaic created in Philadelphia, just as the ones
created at ASA’s National Conference, will be fired and crafted into
jewelry, bookmarks, money clips, and other pieces of art. Each piece of
art costs $20, and a portion of sales benefits ASA and the autism
community.
To participate in the Philadelphia event, please contact
ASA Director of Chapters & Membership Jeff Sell at jzsell@....
PLEASE NOTE: Children must be over six years old to participate. For
more information about the Art as a Catalyst Retailer
Network, please visit http://www.artasacatalyst.org/.
ASA, Bluespan, Inc. Partner at National Conference;
Company to Provide Monitoring Equipment to ASA Members at Discount!
The Autism Society of America (ASA) and Bluespan®, Inc.,
an emerging company in the research and production of wireless
applications for consumer purposes, established a partnership at ASA’s
national conference to provide the company’s state-of-the-art
monitoring equipment to ASA’s membership at a significant discount.
The company's first product, ionKids®, is an easy-to-use
system designed to assist parents and guardians in keeping tabs on
children and other dependents. ionKids’ short-range monitoring
equipment consists of a wristband, or Wristag™, worn by the child or
dependent (a tamper- and water-resistant bracelet that requires no
interaction on the part of the child and contains a strong locking
mechanism that cannot be easily opened without a key), and a handheld
device, or base unit (a small, device used by the parent or guardian to
monitor the location of the Wristag wearer, which also allows parents
to monitor up to four Wristags simultaneously).
Normally costing $219.95, ionKids’ child-monitoring
device is being offered to ASA members for $165 each for a limited
time! Click
here to order now!
For more on ionKids, go to http://www.ion-kids.com/.
HHS Press Conference Cause for Concern;
ASA Affirms Support for Bill Removing Mercury from Vaccines for Children
The Autism Society of America (ASA) was concerned during
a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) press conference last
week, particularly because representatives from HHS, the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) and others “did not address the autism epidemic
that exists in this country, which is growing at similar rates in many
parts of the world,” said ASA President & CEO Lee Grossman.
“Instead, HHS repeated the same message regarding vaccine safety that
many in the autism community have challenged.”
On the subject of vaccines and autism, “ASA has
consistently asked agencies to undertake more research, specifically
with clinically-based subjects rather than large-scale epidemiological
studies that do not address the possible subsets of those who may be
more prone to injury by vaccines and their additives; has insisted that
those who have been injured by vaccines be fairly compensated and
receive the services and interventions that are appropriate and
necessary; and has supported legislation that calls for the removal of
thimerosal from all vaccines,” said Grossman.
And while HHS at its press conference had an opportunity
to address the lack of appropriate services for individuals with autism
across the lifespan, the woefully inadequate funding for research, and
the steps it would take to address this national health crisis and
therefore build a trusting relationship and dialog with the autism
community, the presentations may have caused further divisiveness and
did not directly address concerns about vaccine safety.
A step in the right direction for the autism community,
however, is the bipartisan Mercury-Free Vaccine Act of 2005 (HR. 881),
introduced by Congressman Dave Weldon, MD (R, FL-15) and Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney (D, NY-14), and the Senate version, S. 1422, introduced
by Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NB), both of which ASA staunchly supports.
The bills ensure, through law, that thimerosal will be phased out, and
kept out, of vaccines.
“ASA wholeheartedly endorses both bills, and applauds
legislative efforts to protect our nation’s future. We appreciate the
continued support of families in the autism community by Dr. Weldon,
Congresswoman Maloney, and Senator Hagel,” said ASA Board Chair Cathy
Pratt.
“ASA looks forward to the passage of HR.881 and S. 1422,
and to the removal of the potential exposure of our children to mercury
through vaccines. ASA urges the passage of both bills, and we ask that
the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services directly
engage the autism community to address the funding for autism-related
services and research,” added Grossman.
U.S. Supreme Court Announces Hearing Date for Landmark
SCHAFFER v. WEAST Case;
ASA Supports Families, Provides Brief to Champion Position
The United States Supreme Court has announced that it
will hear argument in Schaffer v. Weast (No. 04-698) on the first day
of oral argument in the new term, Wednesday, October 5, 2005. ASA
Director of Chapters & Membership Jeff Sell, who is also an
attorney, is a member of the team representing the plaintiffs’
interests in the case, the parents of Brian Weast—a child with ADHD and
other learning disabilities—who believed the individualized education
program (IEP) at their son’s school was inadequate for his needs.
In April, ASA filed an amici curiae brief, which
includes additional information or arguments that outside parties with
a direct interest in the outcome of the case wish to have considered.
The case addresses whether burden of proof should be assigned to the
parents, or to the school district that is responsible for implementing
the IEP and ensuring that Brian, and all 6.6 million children covered
by IDEA, receive a free and appropriate education in the least
restrictive environment.
The question presented to the court is: “Under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), when parents of a
disabled child and a local school district reach an impasse over the
child’s individualized education program, either side has a right to
bring the dispute to an administrative hearing officer for resolution.
At the hearing, which side has the burden of proof: the parents or the
school district?”
IDEA does not specify which party—the parents or school
district—should bear the responsibility, and the 13 United States
Circuit Courts of Appeal are split on the issue. Six circuits (2nd ,
3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th and DC) place the burden of proof on the school
districts; four circuits (4th, 5th, 6th and 10th) on the parents; and,
two (1st and 11th) have not yet addressed the issue.
ASA, along with its co-amici, The ARC of the United
States, Epilepsy Foundation, NAMI, United Cerebral Palsy and The
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, argued that
responsibility should be placed upon school districts for a variety of
constitutional, procedural and historical reasons. School districts
typically have far more resources than do parents, and should step up
to the plate and show why its proposed IEP is appropriate. Moreover,
for children with autism, early intervention is crucial and there may
be no second chance if opportunities for effective educational
interventions are squandered. Without appropriate early intervention,
children may lose the opportunity to learn the skills they need to grow
up as constructive members of society. If school districts, with many
resources at their disposal, are unable to persuade a hearing officer
that services sought by parents are unnecessary, the school district is
not entitled to prevail.
According to ASA’s brief, “Given the high individual and
societal costs involved in denying a child even temporarily the
appropriate public education to which he or she is entitled under the
IDEA, the burden of proof is properly placed on school districts to
avoid the risk of error and encourage compliance with the law” (p.30).
“The placement of the burden of proof on the school
districts is the fairest way of leveling the playing field to ensure
that our children receive the free and appropriate public education
that IDEA requires,” said ASA President & CEO Lee Grossman. “ASA
would like to thank everyone involved in this landmark case whose
dedication can make this possible. In October, we hope the Supreme
Court sees it our way, the fair way.”
Sixteen National Organizations Cite Crisis in Mental
Health System, Release Roadmap for Reform
This week at the U.S. Capitol, the Campaign for Mental
Health Reform released “Emergency Response: A Roadmap for Federal
Action on America’s Mental Health Crisis.” The coalition of 16 national
organizations proposed 28 action steps as a “roadmap” for Congress and
the Administration to transform the country’s ailing mental health care
system.
Speaking at the press conference in support of the
campaign’s efforts were members of Congress from both political parties
and both chambers: Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Edward Kennedy
(D-MA), and Representatives Sue Myrick (R-NC), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI),
Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and Ted Strickland (D-OH).
The campaign came together after President Bush’s New
Freedom Commission on Mental Health released its groundbreaking report
in July 2003, “Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care
in America.” In that report, the 22 commissioners found the U.S. mental
health system “fragmented and in disarray, lead[ing] to unnecessary and
costly disability, homelessness, school failure and incarceration.” The
commission called for a “fundamental transformation of the nation’s
approach to mental health care.”
In all, there are an estimated 20 million adults and 6
million children and teenagers in the U.S. with serious mental illness.
The Campaign for Mental Health Reform seeks to make mental health a
national priority and to make early access, recovery and quality in
mental health services the hallmarks of our nation’s mental health
system.
Named for Senator Gordon Smith’s son who died by
suicide, the law provides Federal funds for youth suicide prevention
initiatives. Among the 28 action items included in the roadmap report
are proposals by the campaign to:
- End discrimination by health insurance plans through
enactment of parity legislation this year;
- Better utilize Medicaid dollars by providing
cost-effective home- and community-based care in lieu of institutional
care, and permitting states to utilize Medicaid dollars for
comprehensive treatment plans;
- Allow families to buy-into Medicaid to access
services for a child with a disability;
- End the unconscionable and costly “warehousing” of
youth with mental disorders;
- End discrimination against mental health treatment in
Medicare, which requires higher co-payments for mental health
outpatient care and limits inpatient hospital coverage for mental
health treatment;
The full list of 28 action items and the entire text of
the report, as well as an executive summary, can be found on the
campaign’s Web site, www.mhreform.org/emergency.
Also on the Web site are links to each of the campaign’s 16 constituent
organizations.
The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
Report, released in 2003, may be found at http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov/.
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