                 
Would
You Like To Make A Donation?
Please do so by making a check
payable to Broward Chapter / Autism Society and send it to:
Autism Society of America Broward
Chapter
PO Box 450476,
Sunrise, Florida 33345
Please include your name, address,
and phone number.
If applicable, please include the
person(s) "In honor of," or "In memory of." Make sure that you
include the address (or estate) of the of the person(s) receiving
the honor.
If you have any questions, please
contact us at 954-577-4141 or e-mail
info@asabroward.org
Donations to ASA Broward are Tax
Deductible!
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Welcome
To The Website of The Autism Society of America - Broward
County, Florida Chapter!
The National Autism Society of America was founded in
1965. The mission of the ASA is to promote lifelong access and opportunities for all individuals within the autism spectrum and
their families, to be fully included, participating members of their
communities. Education, advocacy, public awareness efforts and the
promotion of research form the cornerstone of the ASA’s activities.
The Broward Chapter
of the Autism Society of America invites you to join the Broward ASA.
Our chapter, founded in 1992, is dedicated to the education and
welfare of children and adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Through support for one another and the community, we strive to
educate other caring people about autism.
Locally, the Broward
Chapter has had many accomplishments in the areas of advocacy,
information and referral. Broward ASA has been the impetus to
initiate many educational programs for autistic students in Broward
County Public Schools. We continue to work with the school system
to dispense information and support through ACE, the Autism
Committee of Exceptional Student Education.
By joining the
Broward Chapter of the ASA you will become part of a larger voice
for positive change in our school systems and local, state and
national government. Your membership will help provide some of the
funds and manpower needed to continue this work and to dispense
newsletters, provide workshops and supply informational material to
the community.
For more information
please do not hesitate to either join us for our monthly meetings
that are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at ARC
Broward located at 10250 NW 53 St, Sunrise, FL or call our office at
954-474-5333.
Through it’s varied
benefits and services, the ASA continues to be the voice and
resource of the autism community.
Sincerely,
Stacey
Hoaglund
Autism Society of America - Broward Chapter's Mission Statement
The mission of the ASA is to promote
lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the
autism spectrum, and their families; and for these individuals to be
fully participating, included members of their community. Education,
advocacy, public awareness efforts and promotion of research are
what we strive to enhance. By embracing the diversity of our group,
ASA seeks to provide an open forum for exchange of ideas.
ASA Brochures &
Pamphlets
 ASA
publishes a variety of informational brochures and pamphlets about
autism. To access ASA's free, downloadable brochures, please click
on the image to the left.
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 2008
ASA Broward Summer Camp Guide
By Denise
Crosnick, President, ASA Broward
On Wednesday, March
19th, ASA Broward held its annual summer camp meeting.
This article is a summary of presentations given by several local
camp representatives. We would like to thank them for participating
and for providing parents with “one-stop shopping” for summer camp.
Camp DMC,
Tropical Elementary School, 1500 SW 66 Avenue, Plantation. Contact
person: Maria De Jesus, 954-385-6258,
maria.dejesus@mch.com. Dates: June 16th – August 8th.
Hours: 8am to 5pm. Ages accepted: 5 years to 14 years.
Eligibility: Must be toilet trained. Staff to child ratio: 1:2 to
1:7. Staff members include therapists, teachers, college and high
school students. This program is funded by Children’s Services
Council of Broward. Fees range from $0-$1380. Pre-camp screening
is required. Application deadline is April 30, 2008. Activities
include: math, reading, social & adaptive behavioral functioning,
communication, physical fitness, therapeutic, nutrition, science,
arts/crafts, swimming instruction, yoga and music therapy. Snacks
are included.
City of
Pembroke Pines Summer Camp, Walter C. Young, 901 NW 129 Avenue,
Pembroke Pines. Contact person: Mary Palacios, 954-987-1741,
mpalacios@ppines.com. Dates: June 9th – August 1st.
Hours: 7am to 6pm. Ages accepted: 6 years – 11 years and 12 years
– 17 years. Eligibility: Child must be toilet trained and able to
self-administer medication with supervision. Severe behaviors are
not accepted. Staff to child ratio: average 1:4. Staff members
include recreation therapist, recreation aid and unit leaders.
Fees: $100 per week before May 16th, $120 per week
after May 16th. Registration begins on May 5th
at several locations. Call for details. Activities include:
swimming, arts/crafts, indoor and outdoor games, field trips, etc.
Child must bring lunch and two snacks daily. This program has been
in existence for five years.
Dimensions Kids
Camp, 20700 West Dixie Highway, Aventura 33180. Contact
person: Amber Reid, 305-933-5887,
dimensions@bellsouth.net. Dates: Session One is June 9th
– July 3rd, Session Two is July 7th – August 1st
and Session Three is August 4th – August 8th.
Hours: 8:30am to 3:45pm. Ages accepted: 4 years to 21 years.
Eligibility: Special needs and their siblings and friends are
welcome. Staff to child ratio: 1:4, 1:3, 1:2 and 1:1. Staff
members include therapists, teachers, college and high school
students. Fees: Please call for pricing and paperwork.
Activities: Aquatics, hippotherapy, music, rock climbing,
arts/crafts, yoga, creative movement and field trips. Campers must
bring lunch, bathing suit and sneakers. Snacks are included.
Dimensions
Therapy Center, Therapy of the Arts/Pathways to Independent Living,
12545 Orange Drive, Suite 502, Davie 33330. Contact person:
Valerie Herskowitz, 954-236-9415,
info@dimensionsspeech.com. Dates: June 9th –
August 15th. Hours: 9am to noon or 1pm – 4pm. Ages
accepted: 3 years and up. Eligibility: Difficult behaviors such
as biting and hitting are not accepted. Toilet training is included
if accompanied by a shadow. Staff to child ratio: 1:4. Staff
members include therapists, paraprofessionals and student
volunteers. Fees: Session One is $900 for three weeks, Session Two
is $1200 for four weeks and Session Three is $900 for three weeks.
Medicaid therapy services can be offered during camp time which will
help offset these costs. Activities: on-site Wacky Wednesday.
Campers must bring a snack.
Kamp Krayola,
ARC, 10250 NW 53rd Street, Sunrise 33351. Contact
person: Tonya Ricker, 954-746-9400,
kampkrayola@arcbroward.com. Dates: Begins June 16th
– August 8th. Hours: 8am – 5:30pm. No more than five
absences or will be disenrolled. No transportation provided. Ages
accepted: 3 years to 21 years, if in Broward County School.
Eligibility: Children must be ineligible for any other summer camp
in the county due to severe behaviors. Staff to child ratio: 1:1
and 1:2. Staff members include teachers, behavior analysts and camp
counselors. Fees: sliding scale. Deadline is based on first come,
first serve basis. Activities: swimming program through Swim
Central, community outings and structured activities on-site.
Therapies provided depending on insurance. Lunch fees are on a
sliding scale.
UCP Summer
Challenge, three locations: Fort Lauderdale, West Hollywood,
and Pompano. Contact person: Either Amy Karpf or Sylvia Brown at
954-584-7178. Dates: June 9th to one week before school
starts. Hours: 8am – 6pm. Ages accepted: 3 years to 22 years.
Eligibility: all disabilities. Staff to child ratio: max is 1:5.
Staff members include school board aides and certified teachers.
Fees: rolling admission. Call to obtain a packet. Activities:
art, drama, music therapy weekly, in-house shows weekly and field
trips. Lunch and snacks are provided. However, parents may need to
provide for special requests.
YMCA,
Children’s Advocacy Family Center, Camp Escapade, various
locations. Contact person: Adamma Ducille, 954-623-5555,
aducille@ymcabroward.org. Dates: June 9th – August
14th. Closed July 4th. Hours: 9 am – 4 pm.
Pre-care from 7:30am – 9am and post care from 4pm – 6pm. Ages
accepted: general population 5 years to 12 years, special needs 3
years to 22 years. Eligibility: Varying disabilities including
developmental, physical, etc. Staff to child ratio: 1:2 ,1:4 or
1:6. Staff members include site director, group leaders with at
least two years experience with special needs children, Broward
County School Board Certified Teachers and technical assistance
staff. Fees: $135 per week with financial aid available. Intake
required and by appointment only. On-going registration now through
end of summer. Activities: reading, math, science, art, group
games, sensory station, swimming, cultural arts, weekly trips,
sport, nutrition. Inclusion is part of the YMCA program. Snacks
are provided. Lunch is available on certain sites.
This article is
for informational purposes only. ASA Broward cannot recommend camps
nor guarantee availability, days, dates, times, places, cost,
financial assistance, curriculum or any other information pertaining
to camps.
Please
contact camps of interest for complete, up-to-date information.
Remember, camp enrollment reaches capacity quickly and most camps
have deadlines for registration and payment.
Window
Of Opportunity Act
 The
"Window of Opportunity Act"
requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for screening,
diagnosis, intervention, & treatment of autism spectrum disorder in
children; requires treatment plan; prohibits insurers from denying
or refusing coverage or refusing to renew or reissue or terminate
coverage based on diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder; provides
coverage limitations; provides treatment plan requirements; limits
frequency of requests for updating treatment plan; provides maximum
benefits limitation; requires public institutions of higher
education to incorporate into educator certificate course curricula
recommendations of Commissioner of Education relating to autism
awareness & teaching students who have autism spectrum disorder;
requires commissioner to develop recommendations for instruction &
course curricula relating to autism spectrum disorder & requires
commissioner to submit such recommendations to SBE & BOG; requires
DOH, in conjunction with DOE, DCFS, AHCA, & APD to establish
statewide system of early autism spectrum disorder intervention
services for infants & toddlers; requires DOH to establish Internet
website for disseminating information.
Please support the Window of
Opportunity Act by contacting your representatives in Tallahassee.
The House version of the bill is HB-1291 and its related Senate
version is S-2654.
What is Inclusion?
By Stacey
Hoaglund, Vice President, ASA Broward
September’s ASA Meeting focused on Inclusion and the rights that all
children have in this area. Barbara Krakower of the Florida
Inclusion Network was a guest speaker that evening. She brought
with her a wealth of information for families. Many brochures and
resource materials were given to those who attended.
Including children with disabilities in regular education classes
with children their own age is not just the law, it works. Research
has shown over and over again that inclusion benefits children with
disabilities. Inclusion also benefits children without disabilities
and the whole school environment.
Inclusion means….
*Students with disabilities are in general education classrooms and
settings with their same age peers without disabilities.
* Special education instruction, supports and services follow the
student to the general education setting rather than the student
going to a separate classroom.
* All students with disabilities are full members of the school
community and have the chance to participate fully in school
activities.
* Education is based on the needs of each individual student, not on
his/her disability level.
What does the research say?
Studies show students with mild to significant disabilities in
inclusive settings…..
* gain social and communication skills
* increase participation and independence
* have more academic objectives on their IEPs
* increase academic achievement
* develop positive behaviors
* take part in more school activities
Who
should be included?
On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed the new IDEA into law.
This law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement
Act of 2004, clearly states that “the education of children with
disabilities can be made more effective by having high expectations
for such children and ensuring their access to the general education
curriculum in the regular classroom, to the maximum extent
possible.”
Parents should always be included on teams where decisions are made
about their child’s educational placement. When determining
inclusive settings “to the maximum extent possible” for each
student, IEP teams should consider the supports and services that
the student will need to meet their goals.
For more information, check out the FIN website at:
www.FloridaInclusionNetwork.com
For understanding rights to inclusion check out the Florida Dept of
Education site:
www.myfloridaeducation.com/commhome/pub-home.htm
(Put in Keyword "inclusion" and read "Inclusion Brief 6.5")
A portion of it states:
"Providing to all students, including those with significant
disabilities,
equitable opportunities to receive effective educational services,
with the
needed supplementary aids and support services, in age appropriate
classrooms in their neighborhood schools, in order to prepare
students for
productive lives as full members of society. (1995, p.99)3"
The definition of "Supplementary Aids and Services" is: "Assistive
technology, environmental adaptations, specialized instructional
strategies, peer supports, curricular adaptations or modifications,
and collaborative teaching."
Cuts stealing hope from disabled
September 30, 2007
By Karen Clay
The families of those caring for a loved one with a
developmental disability don't ask for much. In fact, they give
of themselves in a way few can understand. Theirs is not a story
of burden; it is a story of love. It is a story of commitment
and principle and standing up for those who cannot stand up for
themselves.
During the legislative session ending in May, lawmakers passed a
bill that asked for $126 million in cost savings on the backs of
individuals with developmental disabilities from the Agency for
Persons with Disabilities' budget.
The results have been immediate and devastating.
Legislators approved service reductions and eliminations to the
Home and Community Based Waiver Program that have severely
impacted the quality of life and opportunities for individuals
with developmental disabilities and their families. These cuts
aren't just taking away services; they also are taking away any
hope recipients had for living independently.
Now, in the call for additional belt tightening, even more
service cuts are being threatened. Many parents and other
caregivers will be cut off from the nurturing relationships they
have fostered over many years because they will not be able to
afford to provide the level of care required.
As dedicated as these families are, they simply cannot bear the
financial burden of care alone. They depend on the Medicaid
waiver for services that are essential for the caring of persons
with developmental disabilities.
These services are key for families such as Tallahasseean
Melinda Warren and her 29-year-old brother, Michael. Michael has
spina bifida and cerebral palsy, is blind and requires a feeding
tube. Earlier this year, he developed aspiration pneumonia,
became bed-ridden and dropped to 58 pounds.
As a result of his illness, however, his personal care
assistance was increased to 18 hours a day, allowing him to
fight back to his current weight of 101 pounds. His future
prognosis, however, is less promising; on October 1, his
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) help will be cut back to six hours
a day.
In Broward County, Wendy Bellack and her son, Steven, 23, are
preparing for the elimination of Non-Residential Support
Services, which have allowed him to volunteer at his church and
hold down a job at the local Center for Autism and Related
Disabilities.
The waiver gave Steven, who has autism and mental retardation,
the ability to develop important life skills that prepare him to
contribute as an independent adult. Without the waiver, his
future will most certainly include a greater need for care with
far less self-sufficiency.
These service cuts are not only stealing independence and
forcing the exclusion of people who have much to offer society
given the proper help, they are wasting our money. The cost of
providing home care for a person with developmental disabilities
averages $20,000 a year; for a group home it is $55,000 a year,
and for an institution, the cost is a whopping $130,000 per
year.
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Inc. strongly
urges the Legislature to restore services provided through the
Home and Community Based Waiver Program and to spare any further
cuts. We should not become a society that abandons those who are
vulnerable or one that pulls the rug out from the unsuspecting
because they cannot defend themselves.
It's time to protect those counting on us to give them a chance.
Copyright © 2007,
South Florida
Sun-Sentinel
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