Nutrition and Autism

Dana Laake is a licensed nutritionist in Kensington, Maryland. Within her practice, Dana Laake Nutrition, she provides preventive and therapeutic medical nutrition services. Her practice includes nutritional evaluation and treatment of the full spectrum of health issues affecting adults and children with special needs. She will discuss common nutritional deficiencies found in autism, along with testing and treatments.

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.

Jeannie Krull, MS/CCC-SLP is an assistive technology (AT) coordinator and speech/language pathologist, who has worked with children and adults with varying disabilities for over 18 years.

Ms. Krull spent the first half of her career in private practice speech/language pathology, specializing in many areas to include augmentative communication. In 2000, Ms. Krull joined the Interagency Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) as an assistive technology coordinator. She currently provides technical assistance, trainings, equipment demonstrations/setup, consultations, evaluations, and public awareness activities in the area of assistive technology (AT) for North Dakota. Her statewide activities include reviewing and monitoring current state and federal policies governing AT, funding issues, and she has been the Chair/Co-Chair of the Regional Assistive Technology Expo since its inception in 2004.

Ms. Krull received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Speech Language Pathology from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota.

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families.

We have no affiliation to the church, so please do not contact them regarding our group.

Sibling Issues and ASD

To help prepare parents for some of the issues they will be facing when their child enters high school. We will be discussing what “transition services” are and how a student’s IEP must address transition services. In addition we will also be discussing, pitfalls to watch out for at IEP meeting when your child is in high school and changes to the California High School Exit Exam requirements.

The building is on the north side of W. Sahara, just west of Jones. Parking is in the rear lot. The Wengert Room is inside the curved wall at the rear of the building.

Tomatis Method

The Tomatis Method improves skills for listening, communicating and learning and has been clinically proven to improve expressive/receptive language, focus/attention, auditory processing, social/behavioral skills, sensory integration and overall learning. The Listening Center is a California based clinic that travels to communities that are geographically inconvenienced by their facility locations. The Listening Center is owned and operated by Dr. Deborah Swain.

Dr. Deborah Ross-Swain, CCC-SLP is the founder, owner and clinical director of The Swain Center and The Listening Center for Listening, Communicating and Learning. Dr. Swain is the former Chief of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and held a clinical staff faculty appointment at the School of Medicine. She is the Past President of California Speech Pathologists and Audiologists in Private Practice (CALSPAPP) and is a board member of the American Academy of Private Practice Speech Pathologists and Audiologists (AAPPSPA). Dr. Swain served on California Speech-Language and Hearing Association (CSHA) Task Force for developing Guidelines for (Central) Auditory Processing Disorders as well as the committee investigating Professional Encroachment. Dr. Swain is a nationally recognized speaker and professional writer. Dr. Swain is on the Board of Directors of The National Coalition of Auditory Processing Disorders (NCAPD) and the Northern California Representative of the Educational Audiology Association. Dr. Swain is a frequent guest speaker for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) and Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) and works collaboratively with health care professionals in the treatment of autism. She is the author of numerous standardized test batteries and treatment manuals.

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families. Hosted by Sue Backer.

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