January 30, Lake Forest , 7:00 pm
Dr. Michael Chez, pediatric neurologist, will present his latest
research findings and discuss potential treatment options for the children
he treats. There will be some time allotted for questions. This event will
be held in Lake Forest Hospital's Patient Services & Health Education
Center, 660 N. Westmoreland, Lake Forest. Please call the hospital's patient
services and health education center at 847-535-6112 to RSVP. (or just
show up - they will let you in I betcha! Tell 'em you did not know of this
until today!)
Autism on TV February 6
Hubby went to hear Wm. Walsh speak at Geneva group 1/22 - among other
things Walsh mentioned that he and others will be on the WTTW channel 11
show Chicago Tomorrow on Tues., Feb. 6 (7:30 I believe) when the show is
about autism..... just thought I'd pass this along.
All contents herein copyright 2001 by the Newsletter Mom. Freedom to recopy and share information fully granted as long as you credit the Autism Newsletter. Typos are what you get when you proofread and make dinner and drink a beer and listen to old Monty Python recordings simultaneously.
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This is not written for profit - then it would
seem like WORK!!!!
Multiple Meetings
Conferences - Workshops
Events
IEP Time is coming - are you dressed for it?
more news
What is Project CHOICES?
IEP Checklist for Students with Disabilities Who Exhibit Challenging Behavior.Back to AutismNews.net
February 1, Elgin 7:00 pm
Learn Negotiation Skills That Will Help You in That Upcoming IEP
Meeting! Jayne Shover Easter Seals, 799 S. McLean Blvd. will have Jennifer
Bollero, attorney and parent, speaking on this topic in lieu of a regular
support group meeting. Chris: 847/742-3264 ext 123.
February 1, Algonquin 7:30 pm
Parent support group meets at Northwest Pediatric Therapy, 1320 Chase
St. Bram and/or Kim: 847/352-7678.
February 5, Romeoville 6:30 pm
Parent support group meets at R.C. Hill Elementary School, 616 Dalhart
Ave. There will be a presentation about Kid Kit this month! Miki : 815/886-0080.
February 5, Park Ridge 7:00pm
Parent-2-Parent for Special Students, a support group for all parents
of special needs students, meets at Maine Township Administration Building,
1700 Ballard Road. Eva: 847/699-1223, email: [email protected]
February 6, Skokie
North Suburban ASI Chapter meets at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 W. Oakton
in the Lower Level Community Room. This month we hear from Margot Touris,
Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist.
Dr. Touris will present a roadmap for navigating the psychological testing
process that the child with autism must go though at his/her three-year
annual review. Michael: 847/541-9969 or email [email protected]
February 8 & 11, Freeport 6:00 pm
Networking For Families will meet Feb. 8 at St. Mary Catholic Church
(school building) 825 S. State Ave., where adults will hear from Marcy
White from RAMP. Siblings age 8 and up have their separate support group
(speaker TBA). Child care is provided for younger kids and kids with special
needs. Feb. 11 - each group will enjoy open networking. Nancy: 815/235-7553.
Feb. 10, Rockford 10:00 am - 11:30
(note new time!!!) The Northwest Illinois Autism Support Group meets
at Children's Development Center, 650 N. Main. This month please bring
your ideas for what you want to get out of this group as Patty needs your
input. Patty: 815/965-6745.
February 12, Chicago 6:00 pm
Parent support group of Illinois Masonic Medical Center will meet at
The Pediatric Development Center, 3040 N. Wilton, 2nd fl. On-site kidkare
is available IF you RSVP ASAP. Wendy: 773/296-5677
February 13, Villa Park 7:00pm
Parent support group meets at DuPage Easter Seals. Sharon: 630-620-4433.
February 13, Chicago 6:00 pm
The ASI Metropolitan Chicago Chapter meets at the Easter Seal Therapeutic
Day School, ITT campus, 3424 S. State St. Grace: 773-233-4716
February 13, Wheaton 7:30 pm
Advocacy 200 will meet at the Wheaton Community Center. Attorney Bob
Farley will discuss our Legal Rights in the IEP Process. Brian: 630-690-6385
February 13, Peoria 6:30-8:00 pm
Parent support group will meet at Faith Missionary Church, 1825 S.
Airport Rd. . Child care provided by the supervised local high school key
club. Contact: Lauri Hislope 309-697-3300 or [email protected]
February 17, Chicago, 10:00 am
Chicago South Side ASI chapter meets at the Hayes Park District Building,
2936 West 85th St. on Saturdays from 10 - 1. This month Occupational Therapy
will be discussed (with real O.T.'s on-hand - bring your questions!) Call
Wanda for more info at 815/469-5870
February 20, Elmhurst 6:45 pm
Parent group meets at Center for Speech and Language Disorders, 195
W. Spangler, suite B. to hear Charles Fox, Attorney: "When Negotiations
Fail: What You Need to Know About Filing a Due Process Hearing.". Margie:
630/530-8551, ext. 108
February 20, Flossmoor, 7:00pm
Chicago South Suburban ASI Chapter meets at Flossmoor Community Church,
2218 Hutchinson. No topic this month - just come shoot the breeze! Marie:
708/206-0379.
February 20, Bolingbrook 7:00pm
Far West Suburban ASI meets at the Bolingbrook Medical Center. Our
speaker this month will be Ms. Sandy Trusewych, Community Outreach Coordinator
for the DuPage Children's Museum. Sandy is interested in having
a discussion with parents regarding the needs of families. School groups
have been visiting the museum for years and Sandy would like to discuss
possibilities to make their facility more accessible to families with children
on the autism spectrum. 630/969-1094
February 20, Gurnee 7:00pm
Northeast ASI Chapter has invited Kim Garvey from KGH Consulting in
Libertyville to attend and discuss several behavioral intervention methods.
Come to the Warren Township Center (Southwest Corner of Washington and
Almond Rds.) Eric: 847-543-4502
February 21, River Forest, 7:30 pm
The Illinois Interdisciplinary Council will soon be meeting
in both R. F. and Wilmette - in the meantime this month come to
the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Center, 1530 N. Jackson Ave. Jane: 708-771-1918.
February 21, Oak Park 3-5 pm
Asperger/High-Functioning Autism Support Group at Pilgrim Congregational
Church, Lake St. & Scoville Ave. This month come learn about Physical
Therapy/Martial Arts/Relaxation techniques (yoga, self-hypnosis, etc.)
Is this for the kids or us parents (or both)? I forgot to ask - call Debbie
at 708/383-1209 or just come and find out! (Personally, I find Chocolate
Therapy quite effective for kids and self!)
February 22, Oak Lawn 7:00pm
Parent support group meets at Hope Children Hospital, sw corner 93rd
& Kostner. Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Desch will be on hand - bring
your questions! Amalia at 708/346-1356
February 26, Geneva 7:30 pm
Special Needs Support Group meets at Kane County Chronicle Building,
1000 Randall Road. Come join this month's practical, round table discussion
among parents who are using or want to try dietary or nutritional interventions.
We would like parents to share recipes, websites, resources, problems and
solutions!! We invite anyone who is willing share successes (and woes)
with others!! Shelley Swanson : 630/208-8880
February 27, Schaumburg 7:30 pm
Northwest Suburban ASI Chapter meets at the Township of Schaumburg
Meeting Hall, 25 Illinois Blvd., in Hoffman Estates. Randee : 847/884-9194.
Naperville
This parent support group may be meeting in a new location/day - please
call Bernie at 630/357-8569 in early February for info.
Hickory Hills
Support group for parents of children on the autism spectrum may or
may not meet this month call Druanne at 708/599-0098 in early Feb. to find
out more.
Woodstock
This new support group that was meeting at the Verda Dierzen Early
Learning Center, 2400 N. Seminary is on hold for a time. Stay tuned to
this channel for updates! Amy: 815/337-1043.
gracious, sure are a lot of meetings these days!
February 9, Chicago
Alice Belgrade, M.S. Ed., L.C.P.C. and Clinical Director of Chicago
Behavior Consultants, Inc. will lead this training sure to help parents
and care givers of children with autism see their child's behavior in a
whole new light. Be ready to leave with practical techniques and methods
that will give you the results you and your child have been seeking. Cost
is $50/person or $80/couple and 10:30am-1:00pm training will be held at
Chicago Behavior Consultants, Inc. 6232 N. Pulaski Road, Suite 203. Call
773/777-2121 for more info or to reserve a spot.
Children's Center for Autism
1182 E. Danbury Drive
Cary, IL 60013
847-269-4211
847-516-4211 (fax)
The Homestead,
8272 NE University Ave.
Runnells, IA 50237
phone: 515-967-4369
Email: [email protected]
Website:www.thehomestead.org
March 17, University Park
Parent/Family Member: $20.00, Professional: $40.00. The registration fee covers the cost of materials, refreshments and lunch. Please contact The Arc of Illinois for a registration form:
The Arc of Illinois
1820 Ridge Rd., #300
Homewood, IL 60430-1739
708/206-1930
Dr. Tony Attwood will appear at an all-day conference at Concordia
University, cosponsored by Oak Park School District 97. Dr. Attwood is
a renown expert on Asperger Syndrome! I will have more info on this next
month (or kept yourself in contact with the Asperger Support Group in Oak
Park for they will have any info earliest of all I betcha!)
Tournament Expenses: $15.00 per couple
Variety of Door Prizes will be awarded
Prize money will be determined by the
number of entries
For more information or questions, of if you would like to make a donation
to
CAN, please contact Jeff & Jill Plato at 217-942-6856 or Tri-County
Bowl at
618-498-5978.
This winter and spring the Family Support Network is continuing
with our One-Day Conferences! We provided 4 last fall in Chicago and Greater
Chicago. This winter and spring we will be doing 6 more in northwest and
downstate Illinois.
The Family Support Network is an advocacy organization of people with
mental and developmental disabilities and their family members. We have
banded together to advocate for programs and polices that support children
and adults with disabilities so that they can live with their families
and in their communities. This spring, the Family Support Network is hosting
6 Saturday Conferences on family support in northwest, central and southern
Illinois.
These conference are free to all who would like to attend. To register, please contact Charlotte Cronin at the Family Support Network, 5739 West Martindale Lane, Peoria, IL 61615 (phone: 309/693-8981, email: [email protected]) and ask for a registration form.
The sites and dates for these 9:00 am - 3:30 pm conferences are:
February 17 , Urbana, IL
March 10, Carbondale, IL
March 24, Collinsville, IL
April 21, Galesburg,
May (to be announced) Byron, IL
From the good folks at Unlocking Autism:
We hope that you are marking your calendars and planning for the second
Autism Awareness rally in Washington, DC on April 27, 2001.
Unlocking Autism is also pleased to announce that we have scheduled a conference prior to the rally for parents, other family members and people with autism to learn about how to become more politically active. Ê
This conference will not focus on treatments or therapies but will teach you how to make the most out of your political officials and how you, as one person, can directly affect change in your own community, city, state and even the country. The theme of the conference and rally this year is simply "The Power of ONE!" Change begins with one person, one change at a time, but working together what great power our community will have!
More information is coming soon....please stay tuned to our website at www.unlockingautism.org for more information. Seating is limited and on a first come, first serve basis.
Following lifted verbatim from Michael Kanter's newsletter:
Unlocking Autism is once again asking for you to send in pictures of children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For it's 2nd OPEN YOUR EYES National Autism Awareness project. Last year they collected over 3500 pictures and assembled them into 100 boards. Your child's / adult picture will be displayed in front of the US Capitol on Friday, April 27, 2001 in Washington, DC. at the 2nd Hear Their Silence Rally. Mail your pictures to: Unlocking Autism, PO Box 1086, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. For further information about this project call toll free 1-877-662-8847 or 1-877-769-6736. You can visit their websites at: Open Your Eyes www.littleangels.org or Hear-Their-Silence www.ark-inc.org
The NAAR Walk-a-thon will not be happening until the fall
- the date has not been finalized. Volunteers are needed. Pester Bonnie
at Micki Moran's office: 847/835-6212 for more details for wait patiently
for me to pass on info as I get it.
************************************
Since the NAAR Walk-a-thon will not happen until the fall local ASI
Chapter President Grace Dyson is working to find sponsors and volunteers
to have one (or more) local autism awareness walks during April -
Autism Awareness Month. Raising awareness in our own communities is a grand
idea, I think - if you agree, why not call Grace and volunteer to help?
She is at 773/233-4716.
************************************
BHARE Foundation annual tag days are being organized now. Volunteers are needed for 2 1/2 hour shifts. Want to help out or learn more? Call Kim or Barm at 847/891-1969. You can also email them at [email protected].
***********************************
There is a program at Loyola called "Parents as Partners" in
which families are assigned medical residents to mentor. Last I heard they
were still looking to recruit more families. Do you know anyone who might
be interested? Are YOU interested? This is the perfect opportunity to show
these fledgling doctors the real deal about our kids. I know of two moms
in Rockford who are in that region's program. They have had the residents
along on doctor visits, had them in their homes, etc. This is a great chance
for us to catch some upcoming medical professional young and make sure
they get a real training in autism!!!!! Interested parties can call "Loretta"
at 708/237-9045 for more information.
Volunteers are also needed for CycleUSA. The Chicago stop will be
Sunday May 20th and there will be a rally at Daley Plaza from 2:00pm -
4:00pm. Marie Amenta, Chicago South Suburban ASI Chapter President, is
co-running this show, and recently posted on-line that we hope to have
a famous Congressman, a Police Marching Society, many cyclists and many
folks with autism. Please, if you can not do anything else, come to the
rally!
We also hope to have a benefit dinner sometime between 05/20 and 05/24; we are waiting for the people from CycleUSA to tell us what day will be best, but as soon as we know, YOU will know. Much needs to be done. The ASI chapter presidents are having an organizational meeting in early February, and we will be able to tell you how all of YOU can help after that. In fact, I will post to this list after to give you more specifics. (so - either you will learn more on the autismnews list and/or from your local ASI support group and/or from a future issue of this newsletter.)
The Cycle USA contacts and Co-Chairs in Illinois are Arlene Blaha and Marie Amenta (me). Arlene has asked that you please contact me for any OFFICIAL information or if you would like to help. Any information from other sources about the Chicago leg may not be correct.
We are excited about this event to 'raise' autism: raising funds for research and raising awareness for this disability so dear to all of our hearts.
Marie Amenta, Chicago Leg Co-Chair CycleUSA
[email protected]
(708)206-0379
Speech Pathologist Marci Melzer will explain how she uses the computer based FastForWord Program at Fox Valley Therapy Resources. The FastForWord Program has been reported to help children with language delays, learning delays, or reading issues. This presentation will be part of the Indian Prairie Special Needs PTA (District 204) meeting. Marci will begin at 10:00 am; a brief PTA meeting will follow (non-District 204ers can sneak out then).
Saturday, February 24, 2001
10:00 am - 12:00pm
Neuqua Valley High School
2360 95th Street Forum Room 200
Naperville, IL 60564
For more information about this meeting email [email protected], or visit
http://chicagotribune.com/link/sepo. For more information about FastForWord,
go to: www.scientificlearning.com
I just had a phone call from a pleasant, intelligent-sounding young woman who has a relative with autism (so she knows something about it). Sara wishes to become trained as an ABA therapist, in fact, she intends to make it her career (do we have a potential, home-grown future consultant in our midst?) She wonders if anyone out there with an ABA program in place is in need of a willing worker. Although not yet trained in ABA, Sara sounds like a capable person who would learn fast. If interested (and within a reasonable commute distance of Hoffman Estates) please call Sara at 847/885-0054 (I warned her that she might become very popular very fast!)
Ever the vigilant mavens of style, the Mothers from Hell 2
parent advocacy group has a selection of T-shirts, hats, buttons, click-pens,
and more featuring our logo and/or pithy sayings that can help you make
quite a statement* at your next IEP meeting or annual review.
If you have not yet received a brochure from your Mothers detailing all our current products please check out our website: http://www.mothersfromhell2.org and click under new products. Or call us at 815/362-5302 and ask for a brochure.
* either "I have access to full information about my child's legal right to an appropriate education and how to work with you as a full member of the IEP team to draft a program to achieve those goals don't try to snow me this time" distilled into the logo "Mother From Hell 2" or "I am fashionably clueless/everything I own except this T-shirt is in the laundry."
Since I edit the Brimstone Bulletin too (this AutismNews stuff and having four kids etc. leaves me too much spare time to fill - gotta do something or hubby will ask me to get a "real job"!) and nepotism is rampant in this publishing empire of mine, I shall let myself toot my own horn and say that those Brimstone Bulletins are a blast of fresh air. Yessirree, surefire stuff. And another issue is in the offing - MFH2 President Beth has already sent me some very good material for the Spring 2001 B.B., so if you have not yet subscribed you may well want to do so! Right now! Or no dessert! This is your Mother speaking! It is only $10 for four quarterly issues! Or $1000 if you want to be our benefactor and receive heartfelt thanks; $100,000 if you want to unleash the Mothers on the world and grant every parent of a child with a disability a free subscription!
Send vast sums of money (or $10) to:
Mothers From Hell 2
P.O. Box 19
German Valley, IL 61039
www.mothersfromhell2.org
(don't forget that "2" before the ".org" or you will never find
us!)
Attorney Robert H. Farley, Jr. filed a class action lawsuit against the State of Illinois in September, 2000 for failing to provide to the adult developmentally disabled, residential (group home) and non-residential (day programming) services. Under federal law, all developmentally disabled persons are entitled to services with responsible promptness. The federal courts have ruled against many other States for failing to provide services for the developmentally disabled within 90 days of their application for services. The fact that the State has not appropriated enough money to fund the services is not a valid defense under the law. Parents need to know that the State of Illinois must provide all the necessary services for their adult developmentally disabled son or daughter. If your son or daughter has been denied services or if you are seeking services, then please contact:
Robert H. Farley, Jr.
1155 S. Washington
Naperville, IL 60540
630/369-0103
[email protected]
more info is available at:
www.illinoisclassaction.com/
Note Mr. Farley, like ourselves, is the parent of a child with autism.
The latest edition of of Listening to You, The Newsletter for AGRE Families is out, and features a couple area families, the Beytiens and the Stepnowskis. What cute kids those folks have! Thanks to all the families with multiple members on the autism spectrum (siblings and/or cousins) who recently rolled up their sleeves and donated blood for research when the AGRE phlebotomist, Ed Berry, was in town collecting samples from Illinois. Too bad we can not yet clone a human - every child who needs to have blood drawn should have an Ed Berry to perform the procedure - he is that good!
Project CHOICES (Children Have Opportunities in Inclusive Community
Environments and Schools) assists school districts and communities in developing
and expanding inclusive options for children and youth with disabilities.
Project CHOICES exists to empower communities/school districts in
developing processes for changing their systems so they are able to
successfully educate all students, at all levels, together.
Project CHOICES believes:
What doesn't Project CHOICES do?
Does Project CHOICES do individual
child advocacy?
Project CHOICES staff are not able to represent a family within a district. However, in providing technicalWhat does Project CHOICES do to
assistance to districts, staff do support the rights and well-being of children.
How much does Project CHOICES charge?
Project CHOICES is FREE to school districts. Project CHOICES is supported entirely with federal discretionary funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA money is provided through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.
How are services from Project CHOICES accessed?
Any school district personnel can fill out a "Request for Technical Assistance" form
To request technical assistance:
Access the Project CHOICES web page at "www.projectchoices.org"
[where do you think I found all this info - great website!] and e-mail
the form - or call/write Project CHOICES and request they mail you more
information AND a request form (worth asking for - quite a bit more info
in the brochures than I can cram onto this one page).
Project CHOICESFunded by the Illinois State Board of Education
SASED Administrative Center
6S331 Cornwall Road
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: (630) 778-4508 Fax: (630) 778-1791E-mail: [email protected]
Administered by School Association for Special Education in DuPage County (SASED)
(recopied with permission from The Inclusion Notebook, Summer 2000 edition. For more info about TIN check out www.pennycorner.com)
The recent amendments to IDEA include changes to the way schools handle
misconduct by students with disabilities. This checklist includes new requirements
for students with problem behaviors.