The Pingree Center~ SLC School for Autism

Dee Jennings was kind enough to pass this information along: Thank you Dee!

The Pingree Center

Parent Conference
Fall Session 2009
(Classes offered in Spanish and English)

Date: Wednesday, November 18th
&
Thursday, November 19th

Location: The Pingree Center for Children with Autism
780 South Guardsman Way SLC, UT 84108

Cost: $25.00 an individual
$30.00 per couple
$40 Professionals
Free for all VMH Employees (Registration Required)

Fees are accurate for full or partial attendance

Learn More about the Pingree Center

The philosophy of the autism program is based on achieving behavior change through the use of shaping and reinforcement. We work on teaching appropriate skills and behaviors to the child to replace any inappropriate behaviors. Teaching methods are based on the discrete trial format with programs taught using the Pingree Center’s “5-step” approach, which consists of prompting and fading techniques presented in a systematic approach. Programs are also taught using less structure as the child continues to learn and make progress. Data are recorded on a trial by trial basis and all behavioral data (attending, compliance, physical aggressions, etc.) is also recorded as it occurs. This assures that progress is documented, and that we can objectively track specific, measurable, and observable behaviors. Reduction procedures are used with behaviors that may be harmful or dangerous to the child and/or others. Any aversive consequence for an unwanted behavior is not implemented without first: evaluating any possible contributing factors or causes to the child’s behavior, evaluating the child’s reinforcement level for appropriate behavior, evaluating objective data on the behavior, discussing the specific behavior with parents, and discussing these factors with the unit manager and/or the unit director and clinical psychiatrist.

Website: http://carmenbpingree.com/

Please make checks payable to The Pingree Center
Payment and registration are due to Amy Buehler by
Wednesday, November 11th.

Yogurt Made At Home Saves You $$$

Greetings,

With a lot of trial and some errors I am unfolding the yogurt “how to” steps, one by one.

Why yogurt and why homemade?  I like to take the easy road when it makes the most sense.  The question in my mind was:  What’s wrong with just buying yogurt at the health food store and eating the stuff? 

Here is the answer from my research.  When you have digestive challenges, as noted in Autism, Crohn’s Disease, Diverticulitis, IBS, Cystic Fibrosis and Ulcerative Colitis, the sugars and additives in store bought yogurt is not a good answer.  Sugars and additives are requirement in store bought yogurt.  They allow the yogurt to withstand shipping and delivery, have a decent shelf life and still provide live bacteria.  I believe  the sugars and additives may cause more damage;  not what you want to happen to you or your loved ones.  To eliminate the sugars  and additives, it makes sense to make it at home.

Good healthy homemade yogurt balances the bacteria in your digestive system by adding an equal amount of much needed good bacteria.  Further, yogurt can help settle your digestive system by greatly reducing the overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria and yeast overgrowth. 

I love probiotics but they are expensive.  They can cost in upwards of $50.00 a month.   Homemade yogurt can help cut some of  that cost.  Be in charge of your digestive health by learning how to make these low cost healthy forms of food at home.

Yogurt can also be expensive and will add dollars to your monthly food bill.  The cost of making your own yogurt is 80% less than store-bought.  Once you get the hang of it, yogurt is easy to make.  Following the directions closely is important since you are creating live bacteria.  Live Good Bacteria!

Here is a video I found and follow for making my yogurt.  I will be making my own video soon because I do a few things differently in preparing my yogurt.  I must say that this gal is a good role model.

Here are a few points I would like to add:

• Do not add fruit to your yogurt.  Fruit always needs to be eaten alone,  between meals or as a meal.  Fruit is best eaten as a ”stand-alone” food since it tends to ferment with other foods, blocking your system from proper digestion.  Fruit can cause an overfull feeling and, depending on your digestive challenges, it can cause a great deal of unnecessary discomfort.
• Add proteins instead; ground nuts are a super protein choice.
• For flavoring, organic cinnamon and almond extracts are terrific.  I like my yogurt sweet so I always add honey from a local source.

I would love to hear what you have done to create the best yogurt.  Any tips or suggestions are welcomed and you are invited to add them to any comment box.  Comment boxes are on every page and will be approved and posted.  

Blessings,

Cam

Cowboy and Wills~

Good Day,

A Mother’s journey loving her son with Autism. Meet Cowboy and Wills….  Enjoy, get involved, share your stories with me and others by posting your story on www.autismconnection.wordpress.com

Blessings,

Cam

Here is the Video

 In this exceptionally touching memoir, critically acclaimed author Monica Holloway shares the extraordinary, deeply moving story of Cowboy, the golden retriever puppy who changed her son’s life.

 

 

 

 

The day Monica learns that her lovable, brilliant three-year-old son, Wills, has autism spectrum disorder, she takes him to buy an aquarium. It’s the first in a string of impulsive trips to the pet store to buy animals as a distraction from the uncontrollable, crushing reality of Wills’s diagnosis. But while Wills diligently tends to the growing menagerie, what he really wants is a puppy. And one Christmas, when Wills is six, Cowboy Carol Lawrence joins their family.

Like all dynamic duos, Cowboy and Wills complement each other perfectly. Wills is cautious, fastidious, and irresistibly tenderhearted. Cowboy, a rambunctious golden retriever, is overeager, affectionate, and impulsive. And from the moment Cowboy enters their lives, Monica sees her son step a little farther into the world.

Soon, the boy who could barely say hello to his classmates in kindergarten is sharing stories of his new “sister” Cowboy during morning circle. Children crowd around them at the park, and instead of running away, Wills, holding Cowboy’s leash in his sweaty fist, proudly answers all of their questions. With Cowboy, he finds the courage to invite kids over for playdates, overcomes his debilitating fear of water to swim along beside her in the family pool, and, after years of gentle coaxing, Wills finally sleeps in his own bed with Cowboy’s paws draped across his small chest.

Through it all, Cowboy is there, dragging him toward other children, giving him the confidence to try new thingsand the courage to face his worst fears. And when Cowboy turns out to need her new family as much as they need her, they discover just how much she has taught them — about devotion, about loyalty, and about never giving up.

Sometimes it’s what you don’t know to hope for that saves you. For Monica, her husband, Michael, and their son, Wills, salvation came in the form of a puppy with pale blond fur, chocolate brown eyes, a fondness for chewing the crotch out of underpants, and a limitless capacity for love.

Phoenix has Great Services for Autism Support! What about your state?

Greetings,

On a journey to find my way around the state of  Arizona, I rarely leave the house without a Map Quest,  here is one of the many companies I recommend.

 I have found an abundance of companies, colleges and support for the Autism epidemic.   My mission is to provide information and choices.  Here is an agency that has earned my respect:  Arizona Autism United.

http://www.azaunited.org

602-773-5773

Services for Families

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Habilitation

Habilitation involves 1-to-1 intervention in the child’s home or the community, with clear goals designed to maximize functional skills and positive behavior. There are a variety of teaching approaches that can be used as part of habilitation, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Natural Environment Teaching (NET), Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT), visual communication systems and more. Parents are always encouraged to share the approach they are most interested in for their child’s program. AZA United can help each family determine appropriate goals and teaching strategies that best fit their child’s needs and abilities. Typical goals are in the areas of language and communication, self-help, social skills, memory and cognition, motor skills, community integration, and adaptive behavior.

Respite & Attendant Care

Respite provides short-term care and supervision for the child to provide relief for the parents or caregivers. It may take place in the child’s home, in the community, or in the home of the respite provider (with prior authorization only). Respite does not include individualized goals and objectives. Attendant Care provides a qualified attendant to supply needed services that the person cannot perform individually. The general purpose is to assist with maintaining personal cleanliness and daily living needs. Areas of intervention may include bathing, oral hygiene, toileting, feeding, dressing, etc.

Habilitation- Behavioral (Hab M & Hab B)

“Hab M” is a service that provides a thorough assessment by a Master’s level behavior analyst of the child’s current skill level and challenging behaviors, followed by a written report that includes a recommended amount of habilitation hours, teaching strategies and positive behavior supports to be implemented. “Hab M” can also include ongoing oversight and updating of the child’s behavioral habilitation program. At this time, DDD can authorize this service to eligible children diagnosed with autism (or at risk) under the age of 3, with the service continuing up to age 5. “Hab B” is a follow-up service that funds hands-on training for habilitators and parents to implement the goals and strategies identified in the “Hab M” program. A total of 100 hours is available to children who qualify, to be used by age 5 in any combination of Hab M & Hab B, with a maximum of 55 used in the first year. For more information, contact your DDD Support Coordinator.

Skills, Behavior & Sensory Assessments

For children who do not qualify for “Hab M,” AZA United is pleased to offer a FREE skills, behavior and sensory assessment to any child receiving our habilitation services. This process provides a customized questionnaire for parents to complete (with our help if necessary) so that we can capture a strong sense of the most important needs to work on at this time. Skills are categorized chronologically into the areas of Communication, Motor Skills, Self-Help, Cognition & Memory, Gross & Fine Motor, Social Skills, and Adaptive Behavior. Our assessment also addresses behavior issues including aggression, self-injurious behavior, and stereotypy (e.g., self-stimulatory behaviors or “stimming”). Additional areas assessed include sensory needs, effective reinforcement strategies and preferred teaching approaches. The result of the assessment is a list of recommended goals and teaching strategies, each of which includes an Activity Instruction Sheet. An AZA United Program Specialist is then available to visit with the family and model how to implement the recommended programs and behavior management strategies for parents and habilitators. This assessment is available for children of all ages.

Trainings & Workshops

AZA United offers several training classes and workshops to benefit our families, employees and other community members. Topics include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Making Visual Supports. Employees may be eligible for a raise for completing certain trainings. As AZA United continues to grow, more trainings and workshops will become available. Contact us for more information or subscribe to our newsletter to be updated monthly on available trainings.

Ongoing Support & Home Visits

AZA United believes that providing services involves a commitment to help each family and employee to the best of our ability. We do not have a limit or set procedure on how to do this because every family has a different situation. Instead, we invite you to communicate with us any time you need support or a home visit. Whether there are new behaviors to address, a habilitator that needs more guidance, or simply a program that is ready for some new ideas, we will be there to help you in any way we can.

Getting Started

Contact our office to request a Welcome Packet. If you are seeking new habilitation or respite providers, we will get the information we need and contact you as soon as we have a potential match. If you currently have a provider in mind for your child, we will explain the application process and help you get started as quickly as possible.

Arizona Autism United
5025 E Washington St
Suite 212
Phoenix, AZ 85034

(602) 773-5773 [office]
(602) 273-9108 [fax]

What services do you know about in your state? Have you had an experience with a company or school or service that you can recommend? 

Feel free to use the comment boxes located on any page of this site.

Sincerely,

 Cam Williams

Now playing at select theaters! ADAM

Greetings,

The media is helping impact and empower people with knowledge about  Autism Spectrum as well as Asperger’s Disorder.   I consider this film below a great educational tool.   This powerful, fun and lovable film,  is a love story about a young man’s journey with Asperger’s Disorder.   Watch the film trailer Below.

Saara Ullery made me aware of an award-winning film.  Saara is not only my friend she is a  business liason and Co-Founder of Autistic TV.    http://www.autistic.tv .   You are invited to communicate with Saara on Face Book (Saara Ullery) and/or her website.   The website is informative, has great games for Autistic kids and I highly recommend the newsletter.    For more information on Autism and what you can do to help with this global epidemic see Saara’s  website.

 

 

Asperger’s Disorder is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder. Both
Asperger’s Disorder and Autistic Disorder are in fact subgroups of a larger diagnostic category. This larger category is called either Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

In Asperger’s Disorder, affected individuals are characterized by
social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. There are impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal
communication.

Though grammatical, their speech is peculiar due to abnormalities of inflection and a repetitive pattern. Clumsiness is prominent both in their articulation and gross motor behavior. They usually have a circumscribed area of interest which usually leaves no space for more age appropriate, common interests. Some examples are cars, trains, French Literature, door knobs, hinges, cappuccino, meteorology, astronomy or history.
What are the differences between Asperger’s Disorder and ‘High
Functioning’ (i.e. IQ > In some cases. Each person is an indiviual and that fact we need never over look.

If you would take a moment to add your feed back and comments on the blog using the comment box below. I would love to hear your feedback! Enjoy the movie,

Cam Williams

http://www.autismconnection.wordpress.com

Jenny McCarthy: cookiemag.com

“For all her on-camera bombast and her outspoken crusade to link autism and vaccinations, the actress, author, and mother (of son Evan, 7, who was diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2) is entirely reasonable in person—not to mention wildly articulate—no matter which side of the vaccination debate you’re on. Indeed, McCarthy is so universally appealing, striking that elusive combo of unapologetically attractive and wickedly funny, that Oprah Winfrey is in negotiations with her for a multi development deal that includes regular appearances on Oprah and the possibility, down the road, of her own talk show”

Excerpt from Article in, Cookie Magazine, read more click Link Below!

 

Jenny McCarthy: cookiemag.com

Shared via AddThis

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Almond Meal Muffins for no Grain Baking!

Researchers have found that a large proportion of autistic children, particularly those with late onset autism, respond well when fed a diet low in wheat (Gluten Free)  or no wheat at all. Below no Grains Muffins.

Almond Meal Muffins

Yields 12 Muffins

Pre heat oven to 375

2 1/2  cups Ground Almond or Almond Meal

1/4 cup Butter

1/2 cup Honey (local to your area is best)

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/8 tsp Sea Salt

3 Eggs

Blend together all dry products, add eggs, add honey, and butter, stir well. Turn into paper lined muffin tin, bake for 18 to 20 mins. Let Cool!

Additions that give life to the favor of your Muffins, here are a few I have tried.

Apples, Cinnamon & Walnuts

Shredded Coconut &  Raisins

Pecans & Bananas

Note this recipe can be baked in a bread loaf pan * Add 5 mins to bake time.

Autism Connection

Interest sparked Autism Program~ ASU

 

 

 

Education creates Self Empowerment

Taken from the Arizona Reporter, Sunday August 23, 2009

 

 

 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, describes people with autism as  having some common conditions: a problem with spoken and/or non-verbal communication, an impaired ability to socialize with others and unusual, repetitive or limited interests and activities. A child with autism often insists on rigid routines and displays repetitive behaviors.

Arizona – ASU Adding autism track for students

Global Availability,

Internet Course.  Fall 2009

Who can take this class? The master’s program is not limited to teachers, Professors hope to help nurses, social workers, therapist, parents and anyone who is coping with autistic children.

On line for working adults

Students must take 33 credits. the courses are offered two at a time in a10-week sessions. All the classes are on line so that working adults can complete the assignments when it is convenient.

Learn More http://teach.asu.edu/node/334 or call 602-543-6358

Check our educational listing often.  Your invited to suggest courses, books and classes that you think might help others. Simply click the comment button.

Grow in wisdom, grow your life,

Cam Williams

Contact Us

August 23, 2009

Autism Connection

Arizona, US

1-801-577-3646

autismconnection@gmail.com

Our site is currently under construction. We will be adding interactive software shortly which will generate a community style site.  As the Autism Connection is relying on your personal results, recipes and information to serve our community. The Goal is keep us all updated on the latest development of whole health approach to Autism.

Feel free to e-mail us directly or make a comments in our comment boxes located on each page.  We will respond to each post and do our best to answer your questions and/or provide a resource for answers. 

Warm Regards,

Cam Williams