Autism Society launches new store

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Autism Society National Conference Opens Next Week

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IN THIS ISSUE ASA News >> Advocacy >> Research >> Education >> Conferences >> Resources >> PROUD SPONSOR                Update email preferences | Forward to a friend NEWS Autism Society National Conference Opens Next Week The Autism Society will gather the many experts, families, professionals, and individuals with autism who make up the autism community to St. Charles, Ill., next week for the 40th National Conference and Exposition on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Online registration closes Sunday, July 19, so sign up today at www.autism-society.org/conference. Read more ... Conference Highlights MedicAlert Foundation and Autism Society Launch New Program to Safeguard Individuals and Families Living with Autism MedicAlert Foundation International, the leader in emergency response medical information services, has teamed up with the Autism Society to provide protection and peace of mind through a new program, Medic Alert + Safe and Sound®, offered under the respective registered trademarks of the cooperating sponsors. The official launch of the program will take place at the Autism Society’s 40th National Conference at the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles, IL, from July 22-25. Read more … AMC Sponsors Family Movie Night at Autism Society National Conference Don’t miss Family Movie Night at the Autism Society National Conference! Sponsored by AMC Entertainment, it offers a great chance to relax as a family after a busy day at the conference. The movie will be a showing of Kung Fu Panda on Thursday, July 23, from 7-9 p.m. in the St. Charles Ballroom. Conference Symposium on “Science that Makes a Difference” This year’s Autism Society National Conference will feature the first-ever Science Symposium, on July 23 beginning at 8:15 a.m. The day opens with a panel discussion on how the key institutions that serve our citizens with autism and their families will view progress and challenges for families and professionals in the future, followed by a series of cutting-edge talks with extensive opportunities for speaker-panel-audience discussion. Read more … IACC Holds Town Hall Meeting at Autism Society Conference The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) will hold a Town Hall Meeting on July 24, 2009, at 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Autism Society National Conference in St. Charles, Ill. The town hall meeting is an opportunity to share your comments, feedback and questions regarding services for people with ASD and their families. Read more … Don’t Miss Sensory-Friendly Showing of Harry Potter The next AMC/Autism Society Sensory Friendly Film will be Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, July 25 at 10 a.m. local time. We will also be showing G-Force on August 1. Read more … UFC Legend Randy Couture Fights for Autism Five-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) winner, Randy Couture, will fight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to raise awareness and support for autism. On Saturday, August 29, Couture will fight at the first Portland UFC event; following the fight he will host a V.I.P. fundraising event called “Natural Understanding” to benefit the Autism Society of Oregon. The fundraiser will be held at the Marriott Downtown Portland Hotel. Read more … Rocking the Boat for Autism Five men are rowing up the east coast to make a difference in the lives of people affected by autism. John Lose, Larry Maher, Dan McCann, James O'Donoghue and Ryan Meyer are “Rock the Boat for Autism” - a grassroots nonprofit organization -- who are rowing from Boca Raton, Fla., to Sea Isle, N.J., this summer to raise $250,000  for the Autism Society. Read more … ADVOCACY Senate HELP Committee Moves Comprehensive Healthcare Reform On July 15, 2009, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) passed the Affordable Health Choices Act, a comprehensive healthcare reform package, by a vote of 13-10. The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, which also has jurisdiction over healthcare reform, is expected to release and make changes to its version of the bill in the coming weeks. Read more … HELP Committee Gets New Ranking Republican; Holds Hearing on Bullying Representative John Kline (R-MN) became the Ranking Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee. The Committee's Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittees held a hearing entitled, "Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying." Read more … Medicaid Answers Questions on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released one of a series of Medicaid Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) designed to provide guidance on the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The FAQs address questions that have been submitted to the ARRA mailbox, CMSOARRAQuestions@cms.hhs.gov. The new FAQs can be accessed at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/09_Medicaid.asp. Pennsylvania’s SB 850 Budget Bill Risks Autism Services The political news in Pennsylvania suggests that the House Appropriations Committee may vote Senate Bill (SB) 850 out onto the floor of the House as a "vehicle" for the budget. SB 850 is a bill that passed in the Senate that includes extraordinary cuts to the autism budget. Read more … Autism Coverage Language Removed from Ohio State Budget The autism insurance language in the Ohio budget bill, which was included in the senate version, was dropped in the conference committee. Although we were not able to secure the autism insurance language in this budget bill, our voices were heard, and those advocacy efforts will help us in the future. Further updates on insurance coverage for autism may be available when HB 8, which is the original bill that addressed autism insurance coverage, is considered. RESEARCH New Study Pinpoints Difference in the Way Children with Autism Learn New Behaviors Researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have collaborated to uncover important new insights into the neurological basis of autism. Their new study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, examined patterns of movement as children with autism and typically developing children learned to control a novel tool. The findings suggest that children with autism appear to learn new actions differently than do typically developing children. As compared to their typically developing peers, children with autism relied much more on their own internal sense of body position (proprioception) rather than visual information coming from the external world to learn new patterns of movement. Furthermore, researchers found that the greater the reliance on proprioception, the greater the child’s impairment in social skills, motor skills and imitation. Read more … Mothers of Children with Autism have Higher Parental Stress and Psychological Distress Researchers at the University of Washington's Autism Center asked mothers about their experiences raising their children, and found that moms of children with autism had higher levels of parenting-related stress and psychological distress than mothers of children with other developmental delays. Children's problem behavior was associated with increases in both parenting-related stress and distress in both groups, but this relationship was stronger in mothers of children with autism. Read more … EDUCATION Artist Plans Plein Air Painting Day to Benefit Transition Program Artist and mother-of-three Nancy Bea Miller is organizing a plein air (outdoor) painting day to benefit Camphill Special School's Transition Program for teens and youth with developmental disabilities. Read more … CONFERENCES INDATA Project Hosts Special Pre-Conference on Augmentative and Alternative Communication The INDATA Project will host a special pre-conference focusing on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) on Thursday, August 6, 2009, at 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Room 209, in Indianapolis. This AAC pre-conference is being held in conjunction with the 2009 Statewide Assistive Technology Conference taking place the following day, Friday, August 7. Read more … 'Mini-DAN!' Set for Southern California Next Month The Autism Research Institute will present a condensed version of the Defeat Autism Now! treatment guidelines, Sunday, Aug. 16, at the conclusion of the 4th Annual "Back to School" Autism/Aspergers Conference, held at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101. Read more … RESOURCES Scholarships Available for Special Education Certification The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire will offer scholarships to a limited number of highly qualified students in its Special Education Teacher Certification in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) beginning fall 2009. Read more … New Tool to Help Children with Autism Sleep Researchers estimate that between 40 and 80 percent of children with autism have difficulty sleeping. Difficulty falling asleep, inconsistent sleep routines, restlessness or poor sleep quality, and waking early are just a few of the problems, according to WebMD. The Good Nite Lite offers parents a way to help their kids learn healthy and acceptable sleeping habits that fit in better with the family's normal schedule. Read more … New Movie Tells Story of Asperger’s Romance Romance can be risky, perplexing and filled with the perils of miscommunication - and that's if you aren't Adam, for whom life itself is this way. Read more … Asperger Syndrome and Dating: A Guide for Teenagers In The Guide to Dating for Teenagers with Asperger Syndrome, Jeannie Uhlenkamp addresses common topics that arise when talking about teens and dating, with a focus on the needs of teens with AS. Using the fictional characters Haley and Jerome, Uhlenkamp presents the information in an advice-column format written in language that resonates with young people. Read more … A Rare Glimpse of Life with Autism Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see life through the eyes of someone with autism? Walk a mile in his or her shoes? Diagnosed as an adult, Judy Endow gives you the unique opportunity to do just this through her latest book, Paper Words: Discovering and Living with My Autism. Read more … Update email preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Forward to a friend  |  Visit our web site Autism Society of America 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301.657.0881 or 1.800.3AUTISM

Keep Autism at the Forefront of the Health-Care Debate

Historic Health-Care Reform is Needed for ASD Patients But We Need Your Help! The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has begun its mark-up on health- reform legislation.  Offices on the Hill are being flooded with calls and emails opposing health-care reform.  This historic reform, however, is crucial to families affected by autism. The draft of the Affordable Health Choices Act currently in the HELP Committee in the Senate addresses many of the issues that impact people with autism, including: prohibiting discrimination based on health status or disability; requiring guaranteed issue of insurance policies; prohibiting pre-existing condition exclusions; prohibiting lifetime and annual caps on coverage; and inclusion of community-based long-term services and supports. The passage of health-care reform that addresses all of these issues would profoundly help many families affected by autism. The Autism Society is deeply excited about the current draft of the Affordable Health Choices Act and applauds its commitment to aiding people with disabilities. Please contact your two (2) U.S. Senators as soon as possible to them know your views on the importance of health-care reform efforts. Click here to find the phone numbers of your Senators and to read an example of points you may want to make when calling your Senators. We thank you for your enthusiastic advocacy on behalf of people affected by autism.  Sincerely, The Autism Society

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The Autism Society Announces 2009 Autism Champions; Rock the Boat for Autism Takes Off From Florida

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IN THIS ISSUE ASA News >> Advocacy >> Research >> Education >> Conferences >> Resources >> PROUD SPONSOR   PROUD SPONSOR              Update email preferences | Forward to a friend NEWS The Autism Society Announces 2009 Autism Champions The Autism Society is excited to announce four people and organizations who have made a huge difference in the autism community—the 2009 Autism Champions! Autism Champion awards are given by the Autism Society to organizations or persons who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of all affected by autism. The champions will be honored with a special reception at the Autism Society’s National Conference, July 22-25, in St. Charles, Ill. This year’s awardees are champions who have helped improve the lives of people with autism through their work in movies, advocacy, vintage cars and music. Read more … The Autism Society is Now on Twitter! Can’t wait for the next issue of ASA-Net to get the latest news from the Autism Society? Follow us on Twitter - @AutismSociety: http://twitter.com/AutismSociety for general news and @Vote4Autism: http://twitter.com/Vote4Autism for advocacy news. Rock the Boat for Autism Takes Off From Florida People across the country are using 1Power4Autism to help make a difference in the autism community. The Rock the Boat for Autism team took off from Florida last week, and are rowing up the Atlantic coast to New Jersey to help raise support. Read more … ADVOCACY Obama Administration Proposes Medicaid/Medicare Cuts In his weekly address, President Obama proposed an additional $313 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years to help offset the cost of health-care reform. Read more … Congress Tackles Health-Care Reform Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), on behalf of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a draft version of the Affordable Health Choices Act, comprehensive legislation to overhaul the nation's health-care system. Read more … ABLE Act Briefing Re-Scheduled A new time and place have been set for the legislative briefing on the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) of 2009 (H.R. 1205/S. 493): July 21 at 12-1:30 p.m. in Room B-340 of the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C. Read more … Connecticut Governor Signs Autism Insurance Bill Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell has signed a bill requiring health insurance companies to cover the cost of autism treatment and diagnosis. Read more … IDEA Fairness Restoration Act Introduced Congressmen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) have introduced the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act (H.R. 2740). Read more … RESEARCH New Study Examines Problem-Solving Skills in People with Autism People with autism can be up to 40 percent faster at problem solving than people who do not have autism, researchers at the University of Montreal and Harvard University have found. Read more … Research Shows Wide Age Gap Between Possible and Actual Autism Diagnosis A new study on the timing of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identification recently found that diagnoses are often not being made as early as possible. Read more … Autism Costs the U.K. More Than £27 Billion a Year A new report from the London School of Economics recently found that care and support of individuals with autism costs the U.K. over £27 billion (or about $44 billion) each year. The largest portion of this figure—£25 billion, or about $41 billion—goes to adult care. Read more … EDUCATION New College Transition Program for Students on the Autism Spectrum Gateway Academy, a K- to 12th-grade private day school in Scottsdale, Ariz., recently opened the first residential college transition program, the Spectrum College Transition Program, solely for students with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism and PDD-NOS. Read more … CONFERENCES The Autism Society National Conference—5 Weeks and Counting! This year's conference will be held in St. Charles, Ill., at the Pheasant Run Resort, July 22-25. The full conference program with breakout sessions and presenter information is now online at www.autism-society.org/conference.  For 2009 we are offering CEUs for BCBA and ASHA as well as educators. We are also hosting a full-day CME track on Saturday, July 25. This year we are holding our first annual Science Symposium. Titled “Science That Makes a Difference,” this special session will focus on the Autism Society’s Treatment Guided Research Initiative and will include a partnership of scientists, physicians and caregivers to dialogue about science needs and priorities. It will be held on Thursday, July 23, and is open to all conference participants. Order your conference recordings now! We are currently taking orders for the full recordings of the 2009 conference—including all breakout sessions. Go to www.autism-society.org/conference and click on 2009 Recordings. If you’d like to exhibit or know someone who might, the Autism Society has six booths remaining for sale for the upcoming Expo. Contact Meg at Ellacott@autism-society.org or visit www.autism-society.org/conference for an updated floor plan and application. You can access all information about the conference and registration at our Web site: www.autism-society.org/conference.   If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at conference@autism-society.org. American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Environmental Health Workshop The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) will present a workshop on early life exposure to household gas appliances and indoor nitrogen dioxide, and associations with cognition and attention behavior in preschoolers on Tuesday July 14, at 2-3 p.m. Eastern time. This is a free teleconference, with Jordi Sunyer, M.D., presenting. Read more … Workshop with Michelle Garcia Winner The Autism Society of Collin County, in cooperation with Whole Foods, the Rubin Family Foundation, North Garland Vision and The Arc of Dallas, is excited to sponsor a social skills seminar featuring Michelle Garcia Winner. “Thinking about You, Thinking about Me,” will take place September 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Garland Special Events Center, 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd, Garland, Texas 75040. Read more … RESOURCES New Book on Video Self-Modeling The new book Seeing is Believing (Woodbine House) describes video self-modeling (VSM), a technique that anyone with basic video equipment can use to help children and adults with autism and other developmental delays improve skills and behavior. Read more … Sometimes Things Just Become Too Much to Take Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that occurs when the brain perceives sensations from touch, sight, hearing, smell, taste, joints and muscles, and movement differently. Whether the child over- or under-reacts to these sensations, the results affect daily routine activities, making it difficult to cope and function. In Jennifer Veenendall's latest book, Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears? Dealing with Sensory Overload, we meet Izzy, a feisty first-grader, who experiences sensory overload on a daily basis. Read more … Using Art to Help Kids with Autism Find Their Voice Packed with tips and suggestions for how to provide art therapy for children with autism, Art as an Early Intervention Tool for Children with Autism by Nicole Martin covers topics such as the basic materials required, safety issues, how to set up a workspace and ideas for managing difficult behavior. Read more … Autism and Computers Valerie Herskowitz, M.A., CCC-SLP, one of the world’s foremost speech pathology experts and speakers on the subject of computer-based intervention with special-needs individuals, has released Autism and Computers: Maximizing Independence Through Technology, a comprehensive guide on how technology can provide a key element in successful and independent living with developmental disabilities, as well as a powerful way to teach many skills to individuals with autism. Read more … New Book on Autism and Nutrition Nourishing Hope for Autism: Nutrition Intervention for Healing Our Children by Julie Matthews is a new book that explains why and how special diets can help children with autism. Read more … Children’s Book Series About Mental Health Disorders Iris the Dragon was created for adults and young readers to help facilitate a conversation among parents, teachers and children about issues relating to mental health and wellness. The Iris the Dragon books address a variety of emotional, behavioral and neurodevelopmental conditions, and recognize the importance of family, school and community in promoting the potential of every child and youth, regardless of mental health challenges. Read more … Update email preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Forward to a friend  |  Visit our web site Autism Society of America 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301.657.0881 or 1.800.3AUTISM

Autism Treatment Acceleration Act Introduced in U.S. House

Autism Treatment Acceleration Act Introduced in U.S. House On May 14, the  Co-Chairs of the Coalition on Autism Research and Education, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), along with Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) introduced the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 (ATAA). This is a companion to the bill of the same name introduced in the Senate in April. The Autism Society applauds this comprehensive autism legislation focused around enhancing the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The Autism Society especially applauds the inclusion of support services for adults on the autism spectrum in this bill. Currently, the federal government provides for educational services until age 21; however, autism is a lifelong disorder, and when the school bus stops coming, individuals and families are often left to fend for themselves. ATAA creates a demonstration project to provide an array of services to adults with autism spectrum disorders, including: postsecondary education; vocational and self-advocacy skills; employment; residential services, supports and housing; nutrition, health and wellness; recreational and social activities; and transportation and personal safety. The legislation also would provide for the establishment of a national network in order to strengthen linkages between research and service initiatives at the federal, regional, state and local levels, and facilitate the translation of research on autism into services and treatments that will improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families. A national data repository would be created to share emerging data, findings and treatment models. Other key aspects of the bill include: the establishment of a national training initiative on autism and a technical assistance center to develop and expand interdisciplinary training and continuing education on autism spectrum disorders; and a requirement that health insurers cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, including Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, assistive communication devices and other effective treatments. The Autism Society needs your help in order to help pass this critical legislation. Please contact your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor the bill. We’ve composed an e-mail describing all the vital aspects of this bill but it will be especially effective if you add your own story describing how ATAA would help you and your family. The time to act is now. Please support this important issue today, and urge your friends to take action as well. Together, we can improve the quality of live for individuals with autism across the lifespan.

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Colorado Legislature Passes Autism Insurance Coverage; Riders Roll Through Jacksonville for Autism Awareness

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IN THIS ISSUE ASA News >> Advocacy >> Research >> Education >> Conferences >> Resources >> PROUD SPONSOR   PROUD SPONSOR         Update email preferences | Forward to a friend NEWS Riders Roll Through Jacksonville for Autism Awareness The thunder rolled last weekend as motorcyclists converged on Jacksonville for the 7th annual Lex and Terry’s Ticket to Ride. Read more … National Autism Awareness Month Draws to a Close National Autism Awareness Month has come and gone, and though those affected by autism continue to live with it every day, this April offered a time to give others a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of people on the spectrum and others affected by autism, and a chance for them to offer their support to this important cause. Read more … Autism Society of California Publishes Survey Results The Autism Society of California recently conducted an online survey to determine a course of action to assist families living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in California. Read more … An Essay for Mother’s Day Chris Chu of Prospect, Kentucky, recently wrote an essay entitled, "What My Mother Means to Me" for the annual 5th Grade Essay Contest sponsored by American Mothers, Inc. Chris' essay shares the incredible story of how his mother received the news that he was on the autism spectrum and how she helped him to learn despite his diagnosis. Read more … Resource on Planning for Pandemic Influenza and At-Risk Populations In light of the recent outbreak of H1N1 virus, At-Risk Populations and Pandemic Influenza: Planning Guidance for State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Health Departments, published by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), can serve as a valuable planning resource for those considering how the virus could affect those with special needs. Read more … ADVOCACY Colorado Legislature Passes Insurance Coverage for Treatment of Autism A landmark, bipartisan bill expanding the treatment of autism was given final approval by the Colorado State Senate and is on its way to the Governor. Senate Bill 244, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) and State Representative Dianne Primavera (D-Broomfield), will require health insurance providers to cover assessment, diagnosis and treatment of autism, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Read more … Pennsylvania Autism Services Face Budget Cuts The Pennsylvania autism community has worked hard in the last several years to bring to Pennsylvania a Medicaid waiver to provide services to adults with autism; three regional centers (West, Central and East) that aim to bring the best knowledge about autism treatment to our neighborhoods; and the Adult Community Autism Program, another innovative and promising vehicle for supporting adults with autism in the community. Now, Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate have introduced an alternative budget that would cut tens of millions of dollars from the budget of the Bureau of Autism Services in the Department of Public Welfare. Read more … Autism Insurance Coverage Passes the Ohio House The Ohio House has passed HB 1, the Ohio budget bill, with language to include autism insurance coverage. HB 1 passed with 54 yea votes out of 99 possible. Read more … RESEARCH California Department of Developmental Services Releases Statistical Report Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Changes in the California Caseload is a new report that provides a summary of the caseload growth of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders served by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Changing patterns in age, ethnicity, cognitive level, residence status and geographic location are described over the 20-year span of June 1987-June 2007. During this period, California experienced a twelve-fold increase in individuals with autism being serviced by DDS. Read more … Autism Linked to Birth Circumstances Children who are firstborn or breech or whose mothers are 35 or older when giving birth are at significantly greater risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder, University of Utah School of Medicine researchers have reported in a new study with Utah children. Read more … Imaging Study Finds Evidence of Social Orienting Ability Associated With Brain Abnormalities in Toddlers with Autism Toddlers with autism appear more likely to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area associated with numerous functions, including the processing of faces and emotion, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, this brain abnormality appears to be associated with the ability to share attention with others, a fundamental ability thought to predict later social and language function in children with autism. Read more … Autism Genes Discovered; Help Shape Connections Among Brain Cells A research team has connected more of the intricate pieces of the autism puzzle, with two studies that identify genes with important contributions to the disorder. One study pinpoints a gene region that may account for as many as 15 percent of autism cases, while another study identifies missing or duplicated stretches of DNA along two crucial gene pathways. Significantly, both studies detected genes implicated in the development of brain circuitry in early childhood. Read more … EDUCATION Developing Minds Software Releases DDtrac Upgrade Developing Minds Software recently announced significant upgrades to DDtrac, the company’s special education data-tracking software. The software upgrades include data import and export capabilities, so educators can transfer data collected in programs like Microsoft Excel. In addition, DDtrac now includes easy-to-use wizards that walk new users through the process of setting up individual student profiles, instructional and social behavior data, as well as group objective information. Read more … Teaching Teens with Autism to Make Friends A new special class at UCLA is helping teens with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) learn to interact appropriately with their peers. Read more … CONFERENCES ASA National Conference, July 22-25 in St. Charles, Ill. Have you registered for the conference yet? Registration is online at www.autism-society.org/conference. This year's conference will be held in St. Charles, Ill., at the Pheasant Run Resort July 22-25. The full conference program with breakout sessions and presenter information is now online. The 2009 Conference offers Continuing Education Credits for BCBA and ASHA, as well as a Continuing Medical Education track and a full-day Science Symposium. We anticipate close to 2,000 attendees and 150 exhibitors this year. ASA has negotiated discounts with United and Continental Airlines for all conference participants. Click on Hotel and Travel on the ASA conference Web site for more information. Respite care information and registration are also online.  We are thrilled to be able to offer a theatre workshop as a respite care option. This workshop will be run by the Applied Theatre Research and Autism Network (ARTRAN), and is open to all children ages 7 and up.  It will be fully staffed by our respite care providers and ARTRAN staff. You can access all information about the conference and registration at our Web site: www.autism-society.org/conference.   Over 101 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 are unable to exhibit with us, consider advertising in the onsite conference and show guide, which has a shelf life of up to 2 years and is an excellent resource. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at conference@autism-society.org. UJA-Federation Autism Symposium The UJA-Federation Autism Symposium will take place Monday, May 11, 2009, at 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the UJA-Federation of New York Seventh-Floor Conference Center, 130 East 59th Street, New York City. The topic will be “Promoting Inclusion: Best Practices for Education, Vocation, and Socialization Across the Age Continuum.” Read more … 35th Annual ABAI Convention The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) is hosting its 35th Annual Convention May 22-26 in Phoenix. Of the numerous presentations throughout the convention, a large number of them will focus on autism. Read more … Workshop on Asperger’s Syndrome “Voices of Asperger Syndrome: Supporting Individuals in the Home, School, and Community” will take place at 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Read more … RESOURCES New Book Shares Grandson’s Autism Challenges In her new nonfiction book, My Angel Gabriel: My Autistic Angel, Aida Santiago shares three years in the life of her grandson with autism, Gabriel, shedding light on the trials that autistic children and their families must endure in order to give them opportunities and hope for the future. Read more … Life with a Spouse or Partner with Asperger Syndrome In Dr. Kathy Marshack's new book, Life with a Partner or Spouse with Asperger Syndrome: Going over the Edge? Practical Steps to Saving You and Your Relationship, Marshack seeks to help neurotypical individuals learn how to arrive at a new understanding of themselves and their significant other on the spectrum in an effort to help them cope with marital challenges. Read more … Interactive Autism Network Launches Research Initiative for Adults The Kennedy Krieger Institute will commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Interactive Autism Network (IAN), with the much-anticipated launch of its research initiative for adults and the unveiling of a more user-friendly, easily navigated online community. Read more … Book Offers Guidance for Parents of Recently Diagnosed Children In this landmark guide, Wiseman offers both compassionate insight and a wealth of information for diagnoses from Asperger’s to classic autism. Day by day, week by week, month by month, The First Year®: Autism Spectrum Disorders walks parents through a wide range of medical and lifestyle concerns; helps them navigate the healthcare, insurance and educational systems; and ensures the best possible outcome for their child. Read more … EYE POWER, Volume One Released Thought Bubble Productions and Playtime with Zeebu have released the first of 5 activity books—EYE POWER, Volume One. This activity/coloring/sticker book is intended to help children on the spectrum develop the foundation for social learning and social awareness. Read more … Update email preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Forward to a friend  |  Visit our web site Autism Society of America 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301.657.0881 or 1.800.3AUTISM