| ASA Launches New Grassroots Fundraising Web Site The Autism Society of America recently launched its "1Power4Autism" campaign, a public awareness and fundraising effort that will, through an interactive Web tool, enable everyone to make a difference in the lives of those affected by autism. As the nation's largest grassroots autism organization, ASA hopes the new tool will create a "power grid" of communities across the country that can join together to help others during National Autism Awareness Month this April. Read More … Pump It Up and Autism Society of America Host "Bounce for Autism" The Autism Society of America and Pump It Up, the nation's largest and fastest-growing franchise of giant indoor inflatable playgrounds for private parties, are teaming up for the second year to host "Bounce for Autism" this April in over 30 locations nationwide. This community-based fundraising event combines family fun with raising awareness and support for autism in locations that welcome children on the autism spectrum. Autism now affects one in every 150 children in America, and ASA and Pump It Up hope to energize families affected by autism and their friends to raise funds for and awareness of autism today. Read more … Sensory Friendly Films Expand to New Markets Don't the next ASA-AMC Sensory Friendly Film this weekend! AMC and ASA are showing Race to Witch Mountain on March 14, at 10 a.m. local time. Visit www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms to find a theatre near you, and be sure to look for our new locations in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Houston; San Francisco; Spokane, Wash.; and Tampa, Fla. ASA Teams Up with Little, Brown Company to Promote Awareness through The Horse Boy In The Horse Boy, Rupert Isaacson shares his inspiring story of how he and his wife learned to think of their son's autism as an adventure rather than a curse, a beginning rather than an end. Little, Brown and Company is publishing the book on April 14, 2009, and will be partnering with the Autism Society of America to raise awareness. Both the ASA and the book aim to empower families to think creatively and openly when it comes to treatment. Read more … New Thriller Features Hero with Autism Glasshouse Press recently published Gauntlet, a new international thriller by Richard Aaron whose hero is on the autism spectrum. Aaron will be donating 10 percent of his proceeds to support the Autism Society of America. Read more … ASA-PCC Piece the Puzzle Autism Walk/Run Join ASA-Pima County Chapter on March 28 for the 3rd Annual Piece the Puzzle Autism Walk/Run and Resource Fair at 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson. Read more … Autism Society of West Shore Announces Three Major Events for April The Autism Society of West Shore (ASWS), the Holland, Mich., chapter of the Autism Society of America, is hosting three amazing and different events for April 2009, National Autism Awareness Month. Read more … Inaugural Tallahassee Walk for Autism Celebrate National Autism Awareness Month with the Autism Society of America-State of Florida Chapter and the Florida State University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the Tallahassee Walk for Autism on April 2, 2009. Lt. Governor Kottkamp and his wife will join the crowd as they walk from the FSU Law School to the Old Capitol. Governor Charlie Crist will be holding a news conference at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Old Capitol. Read more … ASA Statement on IACC Strategic Plan Last week, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) published its Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research. This Strategic Plan will advise federal agencies and Congress on needs and opportunities for research investigating autism. ASA President and CEO Lee Grossman serves on the IACC, and ASA welcomes the plan and applauds the committee for its diligent work on this important issue. Read more … Urge Your Legislators to Support the ABLE Act! The Autism Society of America is pleased to support the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 ("ABLE" Act), S. 493/H.R. 1205. This legislation was recently introduced by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) in the Senate, and the House companion bill was introduced by Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Kendrick Meek (D-FL). This critically important piece of legislation has the potential to help improve the lives of all affected by autism. Read more … State Autism Insurance Equity Activity ASA is pleased to report that there has been a flurry of positive activity across the U.S. on autism insurance reform bills. Just this past week, there was activity in several states on such measures, including Minnesota: HF 359/SF 312; New Hampshire: HB 569; Ohio: HB 8; Nevada: AB 162; Georgia: SB 161/HB 426; Utah: SB 43; and Kentucky: SB 74/HB 190, and most of the bills are moving forward. Read more … Restraints and Seclusion Rep. George Miller (D-CA) has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to draft a report on restraint and seclusion in schools. Read more … President Obama Hosts White House Summit on Health-Care Reform President Obama kicked off the first serious effort to overhaul the nation's health-care system in 15 years on Thursday, March 5, 2009, with a pledge to include Republicans and consider opposing views — and a vow to get it done this year. Read more … Education Funding Update U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan unveiled the Department's plans to send approximately $100 billion to states and school systems within the next few months. The new funding is part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Read more … U.S. Senate Approves $410 Billion Omnibus Bill The Senate approved a $410 billion spending bill Tuesday, March 10, 2009, that will fund the federal government until the end of September. The omnibus bill requests $30.3 billion for NIH, an increase of $938 million, and $6.6 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up $239 million. Read more … Researchers Identify Gene Variant Associated with Autism and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction A study led by researchers at the University of Southern California and Vanderbilt University have identified a specific gene variant that links increased genetic risk for autism with gastrointestinal conditions. Read more … New Research Highlights Ability to Recognize Emotion in Sound In a study in the latest issue of European Journal of Neuroscience, an interdisciplinary Northwestern University research team for the first time provides biological evidence that musical training enhances an individual's ability to recognize emotion in sound. Read more … Virtual Expert Clinics Launch AutismPro for Educating Students with Autism Virtual Expert Clinics, Inc., a provider of a 21st century response to educating students with autism, recently launched AutismPro. A customizable package of tools, content and programming, AutismPro allows administrators to build capacity and helps educators to improve outcomes for each student with autism. Read more … 2009 Autism Society of America National Conference and Exposition, July 22-25, in St. Charles, Ill. Registration for the 2009 ASA National Conference and Exposition is now open! This year's conference will be held in St. Charles, Ill., at the Pheasant Run Resort July 22-25. Early bird registration rates are in effect until April 1, so register early for the best discount. You can access all information about the conference and registration at our Web site: www.autism-society.org/conference. We anticipate 2,000 attendees this year and more than 150 exhibitors, plus speakers from around the globe. In 2008, we were able to expand our professional credit offerings and create a comprehensive program that drew a record number of attendees. The full schedule of conference offerings will be available online soon. Over 80 booths have already sold for this year's event. To participate as an exhibitor, program guide advertiser or sponsor, please contact Meg Ellacott, Ellacott@autism-society.org or 302.260.9487. Visit www.autism-society.org/conference and click on exhibit information to learn more. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at conference@autism-society.org. ASA-GPC Autism/Asperger's Conference Join the ASA-Greater Phoenix Chapter for the 10th Annual Autism/Asperger's Conference, April 4-5, at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Ariz. This exciting conference will have over 20 great speakers and practical information for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Read more … Improving Health WITH Communities: The Role of Community Engagement in Clinical and Translational Research "Improving Health WITH Communities: The Role of Community Engagement in Clinical and Translational Research," will take place May 14-15 at 8 a.m. - 4:35 p.m. at the Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health Building 45, Main Auditorium, 45 Center Dr., Bethesda, Md. This is the second annual conference to discuss, share best practices and collaborate with communities and health-care providers to improve health. Participants will develop recommendations for academic-community collaborations and partnerships with other community programs to establish research agendas. Read more … New GFCF Diet Book The Autism and ADHD Diet is a parents' guide that provides a detailed account of the benefits of the gluten-free, casein-free diet and other interventions. Read more … Siblings Share Their Stories Autism and Me: Sibling Stories is a new book that looks at autism through the experiences of real siblings. Read more … New Site for Preschool Games Aven's Corner is an online preschool and education game Web site specifically designed for children with autism spectrum disorders. Read more … New Book Looks at the Upside of Asperger's "Life is too short for us to be anything other than true to who we are," writes Brenda Boyd, an author with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and the mother of a son with AS. Boyd's new book, Appreciating Asperger Syndrome: Looking at the Upside, shows that for every characteristic of AS that can be looked at negatively, such as learning styles, obsessions and perfectionism, there are several positive aspects that can be drawn on and developed. Read more … "Miracle Run" Tells Story of Hope Parents of children with autism often wonder: What will happen to our kids when they grow up? Can they work? Can they have relationships and their own families? Miracle Run: Watching My Autistic Sons Grow Up—And Take Their First Steps into Adulthood is the poignant story of one woman watching her autistic twins grow into adulthood. Read more …
 | 
My StumbleUpon Page
