AMC Van Ness 14
1000 Van Ness Ave San Francisco, CA 94109
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AMC Mercado 20
3111 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95054
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AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.

In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Tickets are $4-6 depending on location and can be purchased on the day of the event.

A Reward System That Really Works!

Come see a reward system that really works to reinforce positive behaviors and discourage negative ones without spending tons of money on rewards, without constant punishment or nagging your children. This is quick to set up, easy to understand even for non-verbal children and fun for all.

Assistive Technology and Autism

IPAT is the Interagency Program for Assistive Technology and is a statewide North Dakota program. While IPAT serves people with a wide range of abilities and needs, this meeting will be focusing on families affected by autism. Ms. Krull will have several AT devices for families to see and consider for their child's unique needs. Assistive Technology is a great tool for a child with special needs such as autism. This can range from special pencil grips to laptops.

Wouldn't it be nice to rent a communication device and try it out before you decide to make a purchase? You can do exactly that through the services at IPAT. Jeannie will present on the inventory available through IPAT for children with special needs. There will be a focus on communication technology. If you are new to technology or interested in the latest advancements with iPods, iTouch, etc...there will be valuable information for you.

The Interagency Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) delivers services so people with disabilities can get the assistive technology they need for work, school, and home. IPAT is North Dakota's Statewide AT Program and was established in 1993. IPAT's services provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about, try-out, and get assistive technology. IPAT receives federal and state dollars to conduct required activities, engages in additional services on a fee-for-service basis, and seeks other funding through contract or grant opportunities.

Personal experience from the Kern Family -

"We found out about IPAT's loan program and utilized it to rent an iTouch with many new applications. The cost was low ($25 to use it for 6 weeks which included numerous applications already on the iTouch). We were then able to try it out and determine if this was an investment we wanted to make. We couldn't believe that nobody had told us about this agency when our son was non-verbal. We would have loved to graduate from PECS cards throughout our house, the car, my purse, school, etc. If your child is nonverbal, this is worth considering."

Scholarships are offered to families in need. Please contact Moira Giammatteo for more information.

This intensive two-day training is designed to teach participants to appropriately implement the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). It begins with an overview of designing effective educational environments. A historical overview of language training programs used with non-verbal individuals is discussed along with how to set the stage for an abundance of communication opportunities. Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, including attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples and role-play opportunities.

Gluten-Free, Casein-Free, Soy-Free (GFCFSF) Cooking for Beginners

We will be sharing gfcfsf recipes and websites, offering samples of foods both homemade and store bought and answering questions about this way of cooking. We will also have suggestions for packing lunches for school.

The Importance of the Biomedical Approach for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Nathan will discuss how biomedical interventions can aid in the treatment of autism, PDD-NOS, ADHD, asthma and allergies.

Dr. Nathan has a gentle approach and commitment to healing. His unique biochemical approach blends traditional and alternative medicine: what he likes to call CHO (Complementary, Holistic, Integrative). He has expertise in working with autism and is a Defeat Autism Now! trained physician. In addition to his background as a family practice physician, Dr. Nathan is also trained in a number of adjuvant modalities, including classical homeopathy, osteopathy, craniosacral therapy and Reichian therapy. His book, On Hope and Healing: For Those Who Have Fallen Through the Medical Cracks, will be released some time in 2010.