Here is your update on the TACA (TALK ABOUT CURING AUTISM) Group for December 2003 #1. As always, email your thoughts and/or questions.
I want to make this e-newsletter informative for you. Let me know your thoughts on how I can improve it.
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IF this email is NEW to you and you don't recognize the name... WELCOME! These emails happen two to four times a month for the Southern California autism support group called TACA.
We focus on parent information and support, parent mentoring, dietary intervention , the latest in medical research, special education law, reviews of the latest treatments, and many other topics relating to Autism. Our main goal is to build our community so we can connect, share and support each other.
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides general information of interest to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources and TACA does not independently verify any of it. The views expressed herein are not necessarily TACA’s.
TACA has an official web site at www.tacanow.org
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In this edition of TACA e-news:
- Next TACA Meeting Information
- Upcoming TACA Costa Mesa schedule & other TACA
meeting schedule info –
December 2003 - March 2004 - IMPORTANT: Location & time change information for TACA Costa Mesa meetings!
- General News:
- Join us for the special event - Dr. Rimland @ TACA San Diego on December 9th
- Don’t like the idea of RADICAL budget cuts? Rally in Sacramento on December 10th
- Want to go to the Rally? Carpool starting in Orange County!
- LA Daily News prints an article on how budget cuts could hurt families
- Vaccine & FLU News
- IMPORTANT information about Dec 13th TACA Costa Mesa SCHOOL DISTRICT ROUNDTABLE MEETING
- Need more support? MORE Coffee Talk!
- New Web & Book Resources
- Social Events
- Upcoming Conferences
- Personal note
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1) Next TACA COSTA MESA support group meeting:
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2003 (always the 2nd Saturday of each month)
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 (NEW TIME!!!!!)
TOPIC: School District Round Table
An open discussion about school district services for PARENTS
AND
CARETAKERS OF ASD children only!
SEE ITEM #5 FOR IMPORTANT DETAILS ON THIS MEETING!
PLACE: VINEYARD NEWPORT CHURCH - 102 East Baker Avenue - Costa Mesa
(I am happy to report the church is back! With the new
time, consider it our new home!!)
(Please do not contact the church for meeting details. They have graciously offered use of their facility, but are not affiliated with TACA.)
Directions:
405 FWY South, Exit Bristol
Right on Bristol
Left on Baker
Go under FREEWAY.
The Vineyard Church is on the corner just after the freeway - turn left onto the freeway access road, make FIRST right into the Vineyard's parking lot.
And remember, we are still a non-faith based group!
CONTACT PHONE FOR DAYS OF THE MEETING ONLY: 949.678.9010
Please do NOT use the cell contact for days outside of the meetings. Thank you!
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2) UPCOMING TACA Costa Mesa Meeting Schedule:
All meetings at the Vineyard:
January 10, 2004: Big Fun Gymnastics – Occupational Therapy for ASD Kids
Gene Hurwin
February 14, 2003: An Insiders View on Autism – What does the DSM IV Criteria for Autism mean? Important information for parents and friends of autistic children.
Attorney and mother of four Dana, who, like her seven-year-old son, is autistic, will share her unique insider view on autism. An active, devoted mother, Dana offers her views on autism, including building on her strengths, her philosophical perspective on autism, and how she helps her children.
We are excited to have Dana take the time to be with us at our group!
March 13, 2004: Speaker to be announced!
Much more is being planned for 2004! Stay tuned!
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TACA has FIVE So. California meeting locations:
1) Costa Mesa: 2nd Saturday of each month (info in item #1 for meeting subjects and details.)
2) Mission Hills (the Valley, man!): NEW the 1st Sunday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Location: Jay Nolan Community Services – 15501 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Suite 200, Mission Hills CA 91345... -- Info: Contact Us
3) San
Diego: 4th Tuesday
evening – 6:30- 8:00 p.m. –
info: Becky Estepp
December
9, 2003 - 6:30-9:00 p.m. (see item 3 for more details!)
A Very Special Presentation by - Dr. Bernard Rimland
What Research Tells Us About the Cause and Treatment of Autism
4) Corona: 3rd Saturday – 1:30–4:30 pm - NEW LOCATION!!!
For more info: Contact us
5) Torrance: 3rd Monday of each month at Whole Foods Market on PCH in Torrance – 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. For more info: Contact us
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3) General News:
A) REMINDER! San Diego TACA meeting announcement:
Tuesday
evening, December 9, 2003
6:30-9:00
A Very Special Presentation by
Dr. Bernard Rimland
What Research Tells Us About the Cause
and Treatment of Autism
The founder and director of the Autism Research Institute, Dr. Rimland
is an internationally recognized authority on autism and the father of a high
functioning autistic son. Dr. Rimland is the author of the prize-winning book Infantile
Autism and the founder of the Autism Society of America and the Defeat
Autism Now! (DAN!) Program. He served as chief technical advisor on the film Rain Man. He has
earned many awards for his work.
Mission
Valley Public Library
Community Room
2123 Fenton Parkway
San Diego, CA 92108
(Next to IKEA-see directions below)
Directions to Mission Valley
Library: 2123 Fenton Parkway San Diego, 92108
From I-15 exit, west on Friars Road and travel west towards Qualcomm Stadium.
Turn left at the second stoplight after the stadium (just past Costco) onto Fenton
Parkway. Take Fenton Parkway south, past
stoplight. Turn left into the parking lot towards the IKEA store. The library
is just east of IKEA. Please park in the shopping center lot, leaving library
parking for library users.
We have
no affiliation to the library, so please do not contact them regarding our
group.
Sorry, childcare is not offered at this time.
This program is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the San Diego Public
Library. The Library is not responsible for information provided in this
program.
SPECIAL THANKS TO CHERRI
AND BECKY FOR ARRANGING THIS WONDERFUL, SPECIAL EVENT! PLAN TO JOIN US!
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B) Senate Budget Subcommittee Hearing on Governor's Spending Cuts Including Lanterman Suspension, IHSS and Respite Program Elimination Scheduled for Wednesday, 12/10 @ 11:00 AM - Protest Rally Set for 10 AM
http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/Budgt03-04/Current_yr_reduc.pdf
The list of cuts from the Department of Finance can be found at the link above.
The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), has rescheduled the informational hearing on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's current year budget cuts for December 10, Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM in the State Capitol, Room 4203. The hearing will cover the Governor's health and human services related cuts proposed by the Governor, including suspension of the landmark Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act - the civil rights act that protects people with developmental disabilities - proposed elimination of many programs including respite (for people with developmental disabilities), enrollment caps and waiting lists for a wide range of health programs - including Regional Center services – and elimination of the In-Home Supportive Services residual program which employs parents and other family members to provide assistance to family members with disabilities.
Advocates for people with developmental and other disabilities and others, furious with the proposed cuts and suspension of the Lanterman Act, are mobilizing across the state with protests and rallies. A large protest rally, planned for Dec. 3 to coincide with hearings that were scheduled but postponed, is now planned for December 10, Wednesday morning at 10 AM on the North Steps of the State Capitol. For more information, contact Marty Omoto at 916/446-0013 for more details (or send email to address below).
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Department of Finance released Tuesday late afternoon actual draft legislation (referred to as "trailer bills") that details his proposals announced last week to suspend the landmark Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act - the civil rights act that protects people with developmental disabilities in California - along with draft language covering proposed massive cuts to Medi-Cal, Regional Center-funded services, In-Home Supportive Services and other programs. These cuts, proposed for the current year budget that California is now operating under, were announced last week as part of the Governor's package of proposals to address the state's fiscal crisis.
The Governor's proposals all require approval of both houses of the Legislature. The Senate Budget subcommittees - including the subcommittee that deals with health and human service programs - were all scheduled to hold initial hearings Wednesday, December 3, on the Governor's spending cut proposals, however, due to the urgency to pass the proposed bond and spending cap measures, those hearings were postponed, possibly until next week.
The draft
legislation from the Governor stunned advocates for people with developmental
and other disabilities, already reeling from what one parent called an
absolutely "devastating" proposal to suspend the historic Lanterman
Act and includes the following:
* Would make drastic changes
to the authority of a person's "individual program plan" by allowing
Regional Centers to ignore any requirements in order to keep within their
individual budgets.
* In addition, the draft
language proposes even tighter restrictions on spending for individual
Regional Centers that fund services provided by community-based organizations
and others by prohibiting any overspending of their individual budgets for any
reason.
* It also appears that this draft
language would propose to limit who could receive Regional Center services to the caseload of individual Regional Centers as
of December 31, 2003 - and just a statewide caseload
total.
DRAFT LANGUAGE TO SUSPEND
THE LANTERMAN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES ACT AND LIMIT THE NUMBER OF
CONSUMERS SERVED BY REGIONAL CENTERS
(Draft submitted to
Legislature 12/2/03)
Welfare and Institutions
Code
Section 1. Section 4631.6
of the Welfare and Institutions Code is added to read:
(a)
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to limit the caseload of the regional
centers to the total number of individuals served by regional centers as of December 31, 2003.
(2) Effective January 1, 2004, notwithstanding any provision of law or
regulation, including but not limited to, the Lanterman Developmental
Disabilities Services Act and the California Early Intervention Services Act,
the total number of consumers for whom each regional center provides service
coordination, develops an individual program plan or purchase of services or
supports may not exceed the total number of consumers who were served by that
regional center on December 31, 2003. However, regional centers shall continue
to provide each individual with intake and assessment and shall determine
whether each individual would be eligible for services if the caseload were not
limited.
(3) Effective January
1, 2004, no
regional center may make new consumers eligible for services unless and until
attrition occurs at that regional center. In determining which consumers are to
be added to the regional center's caseload, the regional centers shall give
priority to those consumers whose health or safety is jeopardized.
(b) The prohibitions contained in subdivision (a) shall not apply to consumers transitioning from a developmental center or state-operated facility pursuant to a community placement plan.
(c)
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that regional centers shall not exceed
the amount appropriated for regional center services in the annual Budget Act,
even if the result is that consumers with developmental disabilities are denied
services or supports that have been included in the consumer's individual
program plan.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation, including, but not
limited to, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and the
California Early Intervention Services Act, no regional center may expend more
than the amount allocated in that center's contract with the State Department
of Developmental Services for that fiscal year.
(3) Each regional center shall have the authority to deny, modify, reduce or
terminate services to any consumer, including, but not limited to, those
services and supports identified in the consumer's individual program plan.
(4) Unless required by the Social Security Act or Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, none of the provisions of Chapter 7, section 4700 et seq.,
including the right to fair hearing, shall apply to any consumer whose services
or supports have been denied, modified, reduced or terminated pursuant to this
section.
Section 2. Section 4631.7 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is added to read:
Unless required by the Social Security Act or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, effective January 1, 2004, notwithstanding any provision or law or regulation, including but not limited to, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, consumers receiving services through the Habilitation Services Program may not transition to a day program with an employment component or to service codes 055 and 063, unless the consumer is unsuccessful in the Habilitation Services Program.
Section
3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of
Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The
facts constituting the necessity are:
In order
to make the necessary statutory changes to implement budget reductions relating
to public social services during the 2003-04 fiscal year, it is necessary that
this bill take effect immediately.
DRAFT LANGUAGE ON
REGIONAL CENTER SERVICE ELIMINATIONS
(Draft submitted to
Legislature 12/2/03)
Welfare and Institutions
Code
Add Section 4659.1
(a) Effective January 1,
2004, notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation, including but not
limited to, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and the
California Early Intervention Services Act, no regional center may expend
purchase of service funds for any existing or new consumer for any of the
following services or supports: respite, social recreation activity, social
recreation program, camp, or non-medical therapy.
(b) The services and supports identified in subsection (a) include the following service codes as contained in or established pursuant to Title 17, California Code of Regulations, sections 54340 through 54356: 008, 028, 072, 084, 106, 525, 625, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, and 850; and, to the extent that the service is for the purpose of providing respite, the following service codes: 074, 405, 415, 420, 707, 740, 742, 743, 744, 760, 851, 854, 856, 858, 860, 862, 864, 868, 869, 905, 910, 915, 920, 925, 930, 935, and 940.
(c) Unless required by the Social Security Act or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, no consumer whose services or supports have been denied, modified, reduced or terminated pursuant to this section shall have a right to a fair hearing as described in Chapter 7, section 4700 et seq., and the regional center shall not comply with Chapter 7, section 4700 et seq. if it denies, modifies, reduces or terminates a service or support pursuant to this section.
NEXT STEPS
* SENATE: postponed budget
subcommittee hearings scheduled for 12/3 but may reschedule for next week to
consider the Governor's proposals. Passage of many of the Governor's
proposals are very uncertain.
* ASSEMBLY: the Assembly
budget subcommittees did not schedule hearings this week - and may meet next
week - and as in the Senate, passage of many of the Governor's proposals is
very uncertain.
* GOVERNOR - Schwarzenegger is
hoping for swift passage not only of his proposed spending cap and bond
measures (the deadline for that is December 5 in order to qualify for the March
2004 primary ballot) but for his spending reduction proposals - many of which
assume passage by January 2004. The Governor's Department of Finance is
urging quick passage in order to achieve the greatest savings for the current year
budget.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CA UCP CAPITOL REPORT
* This is a online report for
all Californians with developmental (& other disabilities), families,
providers and other advocates, from the California Coalition of United
Cerebral Palsy Associations, a link to the California Community Advocacy
Network.
* If you would like to get on
this distribution (and conversely, get off of it), please send an email with
that request to: martyomoto@rcip.com. Sharing information is part
of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy this (attribution
is nice). We're all in this together!
Marty Omoto, Legislative
Director - CA Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814 VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number:
916/446-0026 email:
martyomoto@rcip.com
Coalition Chair: Philip
Ksarjian (UCP of Greater Sacramento)
Past Chair: Ron Cohen (UCP of
LA and Ventura Counties)
PROTEST RALLY NOW
SCHEDULED FOR:
12/10/03 @ 10:00 AM, NORTH STEPS OF STATE
CAPITOL
"FIGHT FOR THE PROMISE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND SENIORS!" and then attend and testify at the Senate
Budget Subcommittee hearing that will consider the Governor's spending cut
proposals at 11:00 AM.
- - - - -
Super Parent Scott Riley organizing a carpool to SACRAMENTO for the RALLY!
Want to go? Need a ride or just want to follow other parents? READ ON:
From Scott Riley:
My plan is to leave early Tuesday morning from San Clemente. I want to make it in time for the Christmas
tree lighting event Tuesday afternoon/evening. I'm going to leave after the thing is finished on Wednesday, getting home probably late Wednesday evening.
I'm willing to pick up anyone on the way to Sacramento from San Clemente. Anyone from San Diego is welcome to meet me up here, and they can park their car by our house, it's a quiet neighborhood.
Schedule is - Leave San Clemente Tuesday, 5am. Depending upon traffic and whoever else we need to
pick up, that will get us there between 12pm and 1pm I figure. I think I'm going to stay at the Hyatt Tuesday night, it's right across from the Capitol. We gather for the Tuesday night vigil at 3pm. Wednesday morning at 10am, the rally starts. After that is done, and the hearings are done, we head for home. I'm not sure when that is, so we may getting home late Wednesday night.
If there's enough people, I'll take the Sequoia, it seats 8 pretty well, plenty of room for overnight bags
signs, etc. I'm going to be bringing plenty of material for signs, and I'll provide that stuff for anyone coming along. Anybody interested can email me at ocangelfan@yahoo.com , or call me at (949) 735-9680.
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C. Los Angeles Daily News
Some cuts are deeper
State budget fixes hurting families of disabled kids
Saturday, December 06, 2003 - By Eugene Tong , Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA -- Logan and Trevor Allen bounce and swing amid the trampolines and forts in a special activity room, laughing gleefully at each tumble as their therapists look on.
But in private, Trevor, 5, and Logan, 4, require constant care and supervision. Both were diagnosed with autism when they were just 22 months old, and they each spend several hours a week in physical, social and speech therapy to keep at bay the silent withdrawal often associated with the disease.
"You're kind of in a bottle all the time," said mother Sherlene Allen, 39, of Valencia. "That anxiety level all the time is very intense."
For a break from the fray, Allen relies on respite care. Professionals spend a few hours a week with Logan and Trevor, allowing her some time away with her husband and 8-year-old son Wyatt.
"When you're back home, you can take on that battle again," she said.
Yet this and other programs Allen relies to keep her family together have fallen on the chopping block in Sacramento. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to slash $3.8 billion from the state's budget over two years include the elimination of "non-core" services for the developmentally disabled, to save $250 million.
"We need to focus on saving core services, and these are difficult decisions," governor's spokesman Vince Sollitto said. "The people elected Gov. Schwarzenegger to lead and to make difficult decisions. The simple fact of the matter is we don't have any money."
Besides respite care, art and music therapy, equestrian therapy and camp experiences for the mentally disabled also face cuts. Most of these services receive state funds through the North Los Angeles County Regional Center -- one of 21 regional centers established statewide to help those with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other disabilities.
The Van Nuys-based center serves some 12,000 people in the Antelope, San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. Executive director George Stevens said the proposed cuts mean an estimated loss of $12 million, and would disrupt services for some 2,600. The center's annual budget is roughly $124 million.
"It creates more and more challenges this year," he said. "We would have no choice but to terminate the services. ... This is not something we want to do. We're here to help people."
The center also won't be able to assist new families. Schwarzenegger's proposal includes a cap in services for the disabled, suspending the Lanterman Act. The 35-year-old act signed into law by Gov. Ronald Reagan guarantees state care for all disabled.
Allen is prepared to turn to private care providers should services be eliminated, but it will likely cost her more. Caring for a disabled family member already costs $6,000 to more than $12,000 a month, she said.
"I'll have to choose which kid gets what service," Allen said. "That is just an absolutely awful situation for any parent to have to go through. ... The families who don't have the income to do that, the children are the ones that are getting hurt."
But alongside the threat of cuts, parents such as Allen feel a sense of betrayal. Schwarzenegger has earned a reputation for service to the disabled and has been an active volunteer with the Special Olympics -- founded by his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Gary Spindt, who has worked with the group's Santa Clarita chapter, recalled attending the Special Olympics World Summer Games this year in Dublin, Ireland. Some 700 athletes there were clamoring to meet Schwarzenegger, he said.
"I feel rather like he's betraying those people," said Spindt, whose 21-year-old daughter Janelle is a Special Olympian diagnosed with mental retardation. "I would like to know what the Shriver family thinks about this."
Still, pulling California out of the red must remain a top priority despite some painful belt-tightening, said Sollitto, the governor's deputy press secretary.
"If we don't put the state back on sound financial footing, we cannot provide any kind of service for anyone," he said. "The governor has said a bankrupt California can't provide any services to anyone."
Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong@dailynews.com
Note: This article is on our very own Sherlene Allen! GREAT JOB SHERLENE! We love you!
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4) VACCINE NEWS – THE FLU!
There is so much news about the flu striking across the US in record numbers and sadly, in deaths. Even more so, there is so much talk about whether or not you or your family should get a flu vaccine.
First some notes:
1) TACA does not provide medical advice. ALWAYS check with your doctor on any information and especially before you administer any supplement.
2) The current flu vaccines (nasal and traditional vaccines) currently have thimerosal as a preservative. Here is the package insert for FLUMIST:
Who should not get FluMist?
(this is directly from the package insert)
You should not
receive FluMist if you:
1)
are less than 5 years of age. In
one study, an increase in asthmatic events was
seen in children under 5.
2) are 50 years of age or older
3)
have an allergy or history of
allergic reaction to chicken eggs or egg products or
any component of the vaccine (see Additional Information). Symptoms of a
severe allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing, or
difficulty
breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or other parts of the body; skin
rash,
itching, or hives.
4) are a child or adolescent who regularly takes aspirin, or products containing aspirin
5) have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome
6)
have a known or suspected immune
deficiency disease or condition such as
combined immunodeficiency, gammaglobulinemia, HIV infection, thymic
abnormalities,
malignancy, leukemia, or lymphoma
7)
are immuno-suppressed or have
altered or compromised immune status due to
treatment with systemic corticosteroids, alkylating drugs, antimetabolites,
radiation
or other immunosuppressive therapies
8) have a history of asthma or reactive airways disease
9)
have underlying medical conditions
such as but not limited to chronic disorders of
the lungs and heart; or have had regularly scheduled follow-up visits or have
been
hospitalized in the past year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including
diabetes), kidney dysfunction, or a hemoglobinopathy such as sickle cell
disease
10) are pregnant
11) Due to the possible transmission of vaccine virus, FluMist recipients should avoid being in close (for example, within the same household) contact with immuno-compromised individuals for 3 weeks following vaccination.
Details can be found from
Wyeth PDF : http://www.wyeth.com/content/ShowLabeling.asp?id=460
NOW FOR SOME ALTERNATIVES TO THE FLU VACCINE:
Some homeopathic alternatives for treating and possibly “preventing” the flu are:
1) Olive Leaf Extract – can be bought from Mothers, Whole Foods and other health food stores
2) Lauricidin – for more info and purchasing: www.lauricidin.com
PLEASE check with your doctor on dosing, possible interactions with other medications, etc. Do not misconstrue this information as medical advice.
NOTE: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides general information of interest to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources and TACA does not independently verify any of it. The views expressed herein are not necessarily TACA’s.
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5)
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT DECEMBER 13th
TACA COSTA MESA – SCHOOL DISTRICT
ROUND TABLE MEETING
Important note: YOU MUST RSVP to attend! (To also organize districts and similar geographic areas!) To RSVP send a note to tacanow@cox.net
Meeting Goals
School districts vary greatly in the services they provide and approaches to helping special education children meet their annual goals. This is often the case for children where cases vary drastically even WITHIN THE SAME DISTRICT.
The goal of the TACA December meeting is to connect with community, freely discuss district high points and possible issues, and use the time to share important information about our children. These discussions will be set up by school district wherever possible and then by city and close geographic proximity.
What we need
1) For TACA’s most popular districts – a district parent volunteer to facilitate the meeting.
2) A note taker for important elements learned.
3) And a sign-in sheet should the round table participants wish to keep in contact for future issues and discussions.
Rules:
1) Everyone must do one thing at the meeting:
· Introduce themselves, specify relationship to the child, provide the child’s AGE and what district they reside in. It would be best but optional if they could say if they have an in-home program or school site program and services.
· NOTE: Parents are NOT required to share any information, sign in for future meetings and correspondence. The rest of the meeting is optional.
2)
If you learn something from a new
friend at this meeting you are NOT TO SAY NAMES OF PEOPLE RECEIVING
SERVICES TO YOUR DISTRICT. A good way to discuss with the district at
a meeting is:
”I have acquaintances in this district who receive such services for their
child with similar issues. I am not going to share names, that is not what is
important here. What is important is a disparity of services. How are you
suggesting we move forward here?”
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? Retribution to the family who shared
important information is possible. And it is not required you share
confidential information shared in confidence by parents in the same district
with the district.
3) If you have a confidential settlement with your district, you may NOT discuss this settlement with anyone else. Please contact your special education attorney for details.
4) TACA cannot guarantee all people will follow these rules or that a district person is present at this meeting. If a piece of information is truly confidential and you are concerned about confidentiality and protection, please do not share this information!
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6) Need more support? MORE COFFEE TALK !
Coffee talk is going to be your hour (or so) once the kids are away at school to chat with other families affected by Autism. This is an unstructured, casual meeting environment to chat and talk about what you want to talk about.
Date: Tuesday,
December 16th
Time: 9:00 a.m. –
10:30 a.m.
Location: Diedrich Coffee – Costa Mesa
1170 Baker Street (off the 405 freeway and Fairview Street)
NO need to RSVP, just join us for a little coffee, a little talk, no big whoop!
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7) New Web & BOOK Resources
WITH SO MUCH TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC CARBOHYDRATE DIET (SCD Diet), here are the web sites for information:
http://www.scdiet.org/2recipes/default.html
SCD
Diet Books:
Breaking the Vicious Cycle - Elaine Gottschall
Lucy's Specific Carbohydrate Diet Cookbook - Lucy Rosset
SCD with Taste and Tradition - Rochel Weiss
NOTE: Jeff is currently not on the diet and I cannot provide any advice or guidance. But try this YAHOO GROUP for more help and info: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ANDI-ADI/
8) SOCIAL EVENTS
From our very own Diane Gallant:
OCME plans to have Santa Claus on their December dates. What fun! (I know
who they'll be using, too....we were there yesterday, and one of the workers looks exactly like Santa....and his full beard is REAL!)
FREE TRAIN RIDES - third full weekend of every month. The OCME Train Rides for the remainder of the year are:
Saturday and Sunday: 12/20 and 12/21
Run 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Their track is located in Fairview Park on Placentia Ave. between Adams on the north and Wilson on the south.
For Information, call (714) 54-TRAIN.
============================================
Get your tickets now… http://www.goldstarevents.com/projectsea/groupevents/event.pl?id=911
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Special thanks to Gil Murillo for this information!
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9) CONFERENCES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
Dramautism – Studio City
Drama
therapy for HFA/Aspie kids (ages 4 to 7). Taught by Debra Clark,
producer-writer and mother of two autistic sons; and Patsy Keating, a special
education teacher for LAUSD.
Now until Dec. 28, Studio City - 4pm to 5pm, $30/session - CBS
Television Studios
Debra Clark, dclark0704@yahoo.com
or 818-360-7125
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JANUARY 7, 2004 - SPECIAL EDUCATION & THE LAW WORKSHOP Presented by East County Children’s Disability Council and Team of Advocates for Special Kids. (Previously scheduled October 29 at El Cajon Library, but canceled due to wildfires). Due to limited space, the Workshop is $10.00 to professionals and $2.00 to parents of children with disabilities, with scholarships available. Please send your check to reserve your place at the table to: Location: East County Children’s Disability Council - 1068 Broadway, Suite 221 - El Cajon, CA 92021For more information, contact Janet Light 619-465-2288 or e-mail: secsess@cox.net. Time is 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. ***Come as early as 9:00 am for a tour of our Library and see what books are available for check out. Question and Answer period after presentation. ===== Asperger Syndrome - Clinical Features, Assessment, and
Intervention Guidelines -Fred Volkmar, M.D. ===== Solving the Relationship Puzzle: Opening Doors to Friendship
for People on the Autistic Spectrum – Los Angeles |
|
===== Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) 2-Day Workshop –
San Diego |
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MAJOR Autism Conference announced for Southern California by CASD.
Location: Santa Monica – April 23-24, 2004
Watch web site for speaker list: http://www.casdweb.org/index.htm
If you have questions or would like more information, please email the director at kazuko@grandecom.net.
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10) Personal Note:
I am busily compiling all the surveys (over 125), notes and emails planning the TACA 2004 speaker list. It is unfortunate that I have enough ideas and needs for over 35 seminars, but alas, a budget for only 12 months – so we will go with what is the most requested at each TACA monthly meeting -- after all, we are a democracy.
The other TACA locations in Corona, Torrance, West Hills and San Diego are also busily compiling their wish lists, too. I will do my best for advising on all meeting topics – many of these meetings will be worth the drive. Note: Not all topics are repeated at all locations.
In the next TACA e-news, I will send a summary of the beginner, intermediate and advanced topics you have been requesting. If I have not heard from you – please contact us and request a 2004 Speaker Topic questionnaire– I want to make sure I hear from as many people as possible, or choices will be made without your input!
Status on the Jeff-man: I just got his report card for his first
quarter at school. I have to say – so far, so GREAT! He is at grade level for
most skills. Jeff’s areas of concern are: social, speech, telling a story or
summary of a story, auditory processing, and a few others. Behaviors are in
check, attitude is great and he is loving school! AND all academic skills are
grade level! This is a great accomplishment for Jeff! He is doing a great
job. But of course, this would not be possible without a great support team
(special thanks to: Sean, Kim, Jessica, Kim, Gaya, & Nancy) and his wonderful teacher, Mrs.
Glantz! We will be trying out an auditory trainer and other creative teaching
ideas for the balance of his year in Kindergarten.
(More info on auditory trainers http://www.telex.com/education/products.nsf/pages/ProductType=Auditory+Trainer+Systems
)
I hope this school year is going well for all of you and your knuckleheads.
Now on to holiday shopping and card writing (!!) ONLY 19 MORE DAYS! (Jeff is so excited about Christmas he can hardly contain himself!)
Hugs, thanks, and be SAFE,
Lisa A Jeff's mom
Web Page for the TACA GROUP: www.tacanow.com - check it out/let me know your thoughts at contact us !
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides general information of interest to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources and TACA does not independently verify any of it. The views expressed herein are not necessarily TACA’s.
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P.S. TACA e-news is now at 958 families