Autism 101
Seminar and Resource Fair for Newly Diagnosed Families
Saturday, June 9th
Mt. Zion Elementary School
2984 Mt. Zion Road
Jonesboro, GA  30236

"Autism 101" is a quarterly seminar and resource fair sponsored by
the Autism Society of America - Greater Georgia Chapter for families
of newly diagnosed children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The
seminar is free and provides information that educates, enables and
empowers families as they begin the journey of caring for, planning
for, and treating their child. There is a resource fair immediately
following the seminar for families to meet and interact with local
providers of autism related goods and services.

Pre-registration is required to guarantee receipt of printed
materials. Please contact ASA-GGC at 770-904-4474 to register.
Additional information can be found on our website at www.asaga.com.

Schedule
8:30am-9:00am - Check-in and receive materials
9:00am – Noon - Seminar
Noon – 1:00pm - Lunch (on your own)
1:00pm-4:00pm - Seminar
4:00pm-6:00pm - Resource Fair

Topics include:
What is autism and how is it diagnosed?
Services, Funding, and Advocacy
Autism's impact on the family
Sleeping, Feeding, and Toileting Issues
The Sensory Connection
Biomedical and Diet Interventions
The Basics of Applied Behavioral Analysis
Behavior Strategies and Positive Behavior Supports
Using Visual Supports
Promoting Language Skills
Enhancing Social and Play Skills
Planning and Organizing Tips and Tools

Providers, please contact ASA-GGC if you are interested in
participating in the resource fair.

Please forward this information as appropriate.

Go to the Roswell Parks web site for more info for the 26th annual
Roswell Field Day for the developmentally disabled on May 19th. The
event is no charge, but you must register no later than May 11th.
The link for participating or VOLUNTEERING for the event is here-
http://www.rumc.com/Page.aspx?id=237639
. Please contact Bob Markert listed on the flyer with any questions.

Parents Educating Parents and Professionals, Incorporated

PEPP Events—Summer `07

PEPP, Inc is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to contributing
to the needs of families, youth and individuals living with a
disability. PEPP houses the Georgia PTI or Parent Training and
Information Center, called PEPPAC.  PEPPAC provides free one-on-one
assistance to parents of children with disabilities dealing with
educational issues, as well as reources, trainings & workshops and
informative materials on a vast variety of topics are available by
request.  We provide trainings for parents and professionals on
various topics including, but not limited to, IDEA, IEP, Transition,
Behavioral interventions,Parent Rights, School Collaboration &
Involvment, as well as Self Advocacy. Other topics many be designed
upon request. Workshops are offered throughout the entire state of
Georgia and are absolutely FREE!!  Parent assistance can be recieved
by calling our offie today!

May 18th
Time: 9am-12:30pm Topic: Special Needs (BOOTH)
Location: Clayton Co CSA Inc. Headstart Program
667 South Ave
Forest Park, GA 30297

August 20th
                                            Time: 7pm-8:30pm Topic: IEP
Location: The Giving Tree
720 Church St
Decatur, GA 30030

Sept. 15
                                                 Time: 9am-12:30pm
Topic: ADHD/ Emotional Behavior
Location: 4825 Kenilworth Dr
Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Sept. 18
Time: 7pm-9pm Topic: SST/Medicaid
Location: Heritage Baptist Church
8800 Rose Ave
Douglasville, GA 30134

Sept 27
Time: 6:30pm-8pm Topic: Aggressive vs Assertive
Location: TO BE ANNOUNCED—stay posted to our website for details

June 28th
Time: 9am-3pm Topic: IDEA, IEP, 504
Location: Clayton Co Board of Health
117 Battle Creek Rd
Jonesboro, GA 30236

For more information, please contact Sarah Claussen at
770-577-7771 or email at Claussen.star@....
Stay posted to our website for more details. Also for a
complete listing of ALL upcoming workshops, please visit
our website at www.peppinc.org. A workshop can be requested
in your area by calling 770-577-7771.  Need atleast 15 people,
free location and you pick the topic.

3680 Kings Hwy
Douglasville, GA 30135
Www.peppinc.org
peppinc@...

Beginning  Tuesday @ 7:00 PM, Channel 11 Fox news will be featuring stories
about autism.
www.11alive.com or www.WXIA.com

The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) for the Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) program of the Georgia Department of Labor will
hold public comment hearings throughout the State regarding the state
plan for delivery of vocational rehabilitation services for fiscal
year 2008.

Take the survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=399543830889

SRC COMMITTEE: PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS – May 7-18th, 2007

Parents Educating Parents & Professionals, Inc. (PEPP) is proud to
assist with the 2008 Vocational Rehabilitation Public Hearings. Send
written comments to the attention of Linda Shepard, PEPP, by mail to
3680 Kings Highway, Douglasville, GA 30135; or email to
shepard.linda@.... Please limit written statements to two (2)
pages. A survey of the proposed plan is also available at our PEPP web
page at www.peppinc.org.  You may also call our office at (770)
577-7771 or toll free at 800-322-7065 if you have any questions about
submitting your comments or accessing the survey.

Comments and survey responses must be received by May 21, 2007.

The survey hosted by PEPP, Inc can be accessed by clicking here
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=399543830889 or visit the PEPP
website at www.peppinc.org for all releases, survey link, talking
points and updates.

HB 549
HB 549 seeks to amend prior authorization requirements for recipients
of Medicaid funded services.  The proposed changes inadvertently
conflict with federal mandates on Medicaid services.  Specifically, HB
549 would restrict the States ability to conduct appropriate prior
authorization review as required by federal regulations (CFR
433.15(b)(7)).  Federal regulators have also indicated an objection to
the establishment of different standards for recipients based on a
general categorization of their condition rather than based on an
individuals specific medical needs and likely rehabilitation and
recovery (CFR 440.240).  For these reasons, federal approval of the
changes mandated by HB 549 is not expected.  The timeliness of these
services, particularly to this constituency is important.  I am,
therefore, directing the Department of Community Healt h to continue
its efforts to provide for a more streamlined preauthorization process
so as not to unduly burden the practitioners and patients this bill
seeks to assist.

----- Original Message -----

From: Toni

To: AspergersSupport@yahoogroups.com ; GA-ChildrensNetwork@yahoogroups.com ; AspergersParents@yahoogroups.com ; opengaautism@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 11:11 AM

Subject: (AspergersSupport) Lake Party this weekend

I apologize for posting this again.. My hard drive crashed while I was out of town two weeks and I don't have the replies of people saying they were coming. If you replied or still want to come could you please email me again and let me know. Thanks in advance...

 

The party is this weekend starting at 12. It is on Lake Sinclair about 1 1/2 south east of Atl. You bring hotdogs or hamburgers (or other meat) and a side dish. I will provide paper products, tea, and water. We have a pontoon boat for rides or for the kids to be pulled on a tube, a boat ramp for smaller children to play on with sandy bottom past concrete, a dock to jump off of with ladder for climbing back up and a shade tree for parents to sit under and chat and watch kids. Please reply again.. this is a great opportunity for parents to  get to know each other and allow our kids to play with others like them.If you have folding chairs please bring them too as I only have a limited amount. PLEASE COME>>> IT WILL BE SO MUCH FUN! Thanks again, Toni

 

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/837 - Release Date: 6/6/2007 2:03 PM

----- Original Message -----

From: mcgkcc@...

To: opengaautism@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 3:22 PM

Subject: Re: [opengaautism] Lake Party this weekend

Toni,

Would LOVE to come to the party Saturday, but do not know if we can make it. Picking my daughter up from Asthma Camp Friday night in Rutledge from Warner Robins, then back to Macon. Saturday was planning on packing- as we are leaving for Orlando Sunday. How far is your place from Macon ?? I'd love to meet everybody, but if we come could probably only stay a couple hours or so to have time to prepare for our trip Sunday. ( have old van with lots of miles being put on it- and no hopes of a new one anytime soon ) Let me know the directions and we are a "maybe" for the party.

Kim
Conner and Kayleigh's mom

Kim,I would love for ya'll to come, even if only for a few hours. I shop
at the commissary in W Robins and it takes me an hour to get there from
here. About 40 minutes from Macon. Our addy is 149 Tanglewood Rd SW Eatonton
Ga 31024. you can mapquest or if you need, I can send directions. I hope
ya'll can make it so some of us mamas and dads can get to know other
parents. Toni
----- Original Message -----
From: <mcgkcc@...>
To: <opengaautism@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: [opengaautism] Lake Party this weekend


> Toni,
>
> Would LOVE to come to the party Saturday, but do not know if we can make
> it.  Picking my daughter up from Asthma Camp Friday night in Rutledge from
> Warner Robins, then back to Macon.  Saturday was planning on packing- as
> we are leaving for Orlando Sunday.  How far is your place from Macon ??
> I'd love to meet everybody, but if we come could probably only stay a
> couple hours or so to have time to prepare for our trip Sunday. ( have old
> van with lots of miles being put on it- and no hopes of a new one anytime
> soon )  Let me know the directions and we are a "maybe" for the party.
>
> Kim
> Conner and Kayleigh's  mom
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Does anyone have any knowledge about the company doing this
conference or either of the speakers?  Before I consider attending
and spending the money and time, I would like to know how valuable
the two days will be.....Any feedback?


> I just received notice about this upcoming Autism Conference.
>
> Heidi Fernandez
> Parent and Advocate
> "Knowledge is Power"
> "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be
the world."
>
>
>
> Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Classroom
>
> October 25 - 26, 2007
>
> Atlanta, GA
>
>
>

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "riggsteam" <sandrariggs@...>

Does anyone have any knowledge about the company doing this
conference or either of the speakers? Before I consider attending
and spending the money and time, I would like to know how valuable
the two days will be.....Any feedback?

> I just received notice about this upcoming Autism Conference.
>
> Heidi Fernandez
> Parent and Advocate
> "Knowledge is Power"
> "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be
the world."
>
>
>
> Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Classroom
>
> October 25 - 26, 2007
>
> Atlanta, GA
>
>
>

You are so sweet- we are on our way to the beach on Sat.  Our Burt loves the
water so if you ever decide to do it again I would love to help you just let me
know= thanks so much.  Have a great time!

________________________________

From: opengaautism@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Toni
Sent: Wed 6/6/2007 12:11 PM
To: AspergersSupport@yahoogroups.com; GA-ChildrensNetwork@yahoogroups.com;
AspergersParents@yahoogroups.com; opengaautism@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opengaautism] Lake Party this weekend



I apologize for posting this again.. My hard drive crashed while I was out of
town two weeks and I don't have the replies of people saying they were coming.
If you replied or still want to come could you please email me again and let me
know. Thanks in advance...

The party is this weekend starting at 12. It is on Lake Sinclair about 1 1/2
south east of Atl. You bring hotdogs or hamburgers (or other meat) and a side
dish. I will provide paper products, tea, and water. We have a pontoon boat for
rides or for the kids to be pulled on a tube, a boat ramp for smaller children
to play on with sandy bottom past concrete, a dock to jump off of with ladder
for climbing back up and a shade tree for parents to sit under and chat and
watch kids. Please reply again.. this is a great opportunity for parents to  get
to know each other and allow our kids to play with others like them.If you have
folding chairs please bring them too as I only have a limited amount. PLEASE
COME>>> IT WILL BE SO MUCH FUN! Thanks again, Toni
<http://www.dogster.com/?370577>

we'll do it again next year and every year if people are interested... Have
a great time at the beach and we'll see you next year :)  Toni

----- Original Message -----
From: "Waters, Mary" <watersm@...>
To: <opengaautism@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 8:49 PM
Subject: RE: [opengaautism] Lake Party this weekend


> You are so sweet- we are on our way to the beach on Sat.  Our Burt loves
> the water so if you ever decide to do it again I would love to help you
> just let me know= thanks so much.  Have a great time!
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: opengaautism@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Toni
> Sent: Wed 6/6/2007 12:11 PM
> To: AspergersSupport@yahoogroups.com; GA-ChildrensNetwork@yahoogroups.com;
> AspergersParents@yahoogroups.com; opengaautism@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [opengaautism] Lake Party this weekend
>
>
>
> I apologize for posting this again.. My hard drive crashed while I was out
> of town two weeks and I don't have the replies of people saying they were
> coming. If you replied or still want to come could you please email me
> again and let me know. Thanks in advance...
>
> The party is this weekend starting at 12. It is on Lake Sinclair about 1
> 1/2 south east of Atl. You bring hotdogs or hamburgers (or other meat) and
> a side dish. I will provide paper products, tea, and water. We have a
> pontoon boat for rides or for the kids to be pulled on a tube, a boat ramp
> for smaller children to play on with sandy bottom past concrete, a dock to
> jump off of with ladder for climbing back up and a shade tree for parents
> to sit under and chat and watch kids. Please reply again.. this is a great
> opportunity for parents to  get to know each other and allow our kids to
> play with others like them.If you have folding chairs please bring them
> too as I only have a limited amount. PLEASE COME>>> IT WILL BE SO MUCH
> FUN! Thanks again, Toni
> <http://www.dogster.com/?370577>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

http://thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2007/06/house_overrides.html

07 June 2007
South Carolina House overrides autism veto; bill now law

The House easily overrode Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a bill Thursday
  extending insurance coverage to children with autism.
The vote was 114-0.
After voting, House members turned toward the balcony and gave
families representing children who have the disorder a standing ovation.
Before the vote, Rep. B.R. Skelton, R-Pickens, chastised the governor
for striking down the measure.
"He has four healthy children and I don't think he has ever met
anybody who didn't have healthy children," Skelton said.
The Senate had previously overrode the veto, also unanimously.
The governor' s office maintains the provision will raise health care
costs.

Fox News:  Celebrity Autism Group in Civil War

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,278814,00.html

Autism Speaks, the celebrity group founded by former NBC chairman Bob
Wright and his wife Suzanne, is in the middle of a family feud and a
dispute over whether they have swiped an award-winning film from its
director.

The charity is unusual because in a short time it has raised millions
of dollars and called upon such celebrity friends of the Wrights like
Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Simon.

The Wrights created Autism Speaks just three years ago when their
grandson, Christian, was diagnosed with the disorder. But since then
they have had such a severe falling out with their daughter Katie,
Christian's mother, that the Internet is now buzzing with a new scandal.

This week, the Wrights posted a press release on the Autism Speaks Web
site in effect disowning daughter Katie's comments in a video
interview she gave to a critic of Autism Speaks.

Katie Wright also appeared on the "Oprah" show in April, where she
talked about the split with her parents.

Even the press release issued by the Wrights caused a buzz because it
initially read: "Katie Wright is not a spokesperson for Autism Speaks.
Our daughter's personal views differ from ours and do not represent or
reflect the ongoing mission of Autism Speaks. ... Her appearance with
David Kirby was done without the knowledge or consent of Autism
Speaks." Ouch!

Only later, when the statement seemed too harsh, the Wrights changed
the release, adding of Katie: "She is our daughter and we love her
very much."

But the damage was done.

With the scandal quickly overtaking the cure of autism as a subject
comes a new dilemma. Filmmaker Lauren Thierry is accusing the Wrights
of appropriating her award-winning film "Autism Every Day" for their
own purposes.

Thierry made the film, which was shown at Sundance this year and is in
this month's Nantucket Film Festival, after the Wrights saw an
earlier, shorter version they liked.

Thierry says Suzanne Wright then commissioned a feature version, and
told her "money is no object." While the Wrights paid all the film's
costs, they never came to terms with Thierry, the director says. They
systematically cut her out of the promotion of the film, she says,
when the Wrights took it on the media rounds.

This was odd, considering Thierry and husband Jim Watkins, an
anchorman for Channel 11 in New York, have a good PR hook of their
own: They are parents of an autistic son.

Thierry wants to be paid for making "Autism Every Day," but when the
Wrights sent her a contract, with a blank space for the fee, it also
included a proviso that Thierry could not do any publicity for it.

Thierry countered by sending a bill for $104,000, including $64,000
for labor and $40,000 for intellectual property. For that amount she
was willing to allow the Wrights buy her out. Ironically, Thierry had
already told the Wrights she would be splitting her fee with an autism
school in New York.

The Wrights countered, through their executive, Alison Singer, that
Thierry was paid $30,000 and that they have compensated her in full.
But Singer can't produce any evidence of this.

"Alison Singer sent me a check for $30,000. I never cashed it and sent
it back. There was never an agreement for a fee," Thierry said.

Singer, who at first told me about paying Thierry, is now playing her
cards close to the vest.

"Autism Speaks feels it inappropriate to publicly disclose its
details," Singer said.

The chaos surrounding Autism Speaks is not surprising. In short order,
the new group has shut down or subsumed a number of other, older
organizations that used to do the same work, but without the resources
of the Wrights.

Sources at the longstanding Nordoff-Robbins Foundation, for example,
have complained recently that their fundraising sources have dried up
since Autism Speaks came on the scene.

In her video interview, Katie Wright criticizes not only Autism Speaks
but also a group they took over, the National Alliance for Autism
Research, which has organized marches and vigils for 20 years.

Katie Wright now believes that vaccinations and the environment may be
responsible for autism — a controversial theory among others who say
it is a genetic disorder.

Whichever side turns out to be correct, the split in the Wright family
cannot be good for the cause of autism.

"The whole reason for Autism Speaks was because of Christian," one
critic said. "And now the Wrights are dissing his mother, their own
daughter."

Singer says none of that is true.

"The Wrights started Autism Speaks for all families, not just their
own," she said.

She agreed, however, that the couple would not have known about autism
at all had their own family not become involved in it.

Meanwhile, Thierry says she remains unpaid and that, despite the
Wrights' assertions, she is paying her own expenses. When she goes to
the Nantucket Film Festival later this month, it's the festival that's
picking up her travel and accommodation expenses.

Kim, from Macon take 1-75 to the first exit off of I-16 which is 129/Gray
highway, turn left towards Gray. In Gray just across railroad tracks turn
LEFT on hiway 129/44 towards Eatonton, continue approx 13 to 14 miles til
you get to a 4 way stop at the BP station. Turn RIGHT at 4 way stop onto
hiway 212 go approx 1 mile and turn left on TWIN BRIDGES RD. continue approx
3 miles, cross over bridge to stop sign, turn RIGHT cross over small bridge
and take the first RIGHT onto Tanglewood RD. Follow Tanglewood to the end to
the cul-de-sac and take driveway on far left (blue 149 sign) go straight
down driveway till you see a tan house with a green metal roof. I'm hoping
to get balloons for Tanglewood Rd and my mailbox. It's fairly easy to get
here from Macon. Takes about 45 minutes... I hope you can come. Stacy and
Preston are coming and a total of 15 so far so it won't be too many people.
We can talk and sit under the shade tree and watch the kids or ride the boat
while the kids are pulled on the tube. It'll be low key and not too
overwhelming... I hope you can drop by, it'd be nice to meet you. Sharon
Gudger and her daughter, Alison and John from the list are coming too...
call if you need to ok? Thanks, Toni
----- Original Message -----
From: <mcgkcc@...>
To: <opengaautism@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: [opengaautism] Lake Party this weekend


> Toni,
>
> Would LOVE to come to the party Saturday, but do not know if we can make
> it.  Picking my daughter up from Asthma Camp Friday night in Rutledge from
> Warner Robins, then back to Macon.  Saturday was planning on packing- as
> we are leaving for Orlando Sunday.  How far is your place from Macon ??
> I'd love to meet everybody, but if we come could probably only stay a
> couple hours or so to have time to prepare for our trip Sunday. ( have old
> van with lots of miles being put on it- and no hopes of a new one anytime
> soon )  Let me know the directions and we are a "maybe" for the party.
>
> Kim
> Conner and Kayleigh's  mom
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>