Awesome Website- Autismhangout.com

Good Morning! In my usual scouring the web for information & ideas about autism I luckily stumbled upon Autismhangout.com. This site has so much information, help, ideas, sharing, and much more. Instead of telling you about it I took the information about the site right from their "About Us" section. After reading about the site below, be sure to check it out. There is something for everyone on the spectrum!

From Autismhangout.com:
Today, autism associations (and their web sites) primarily focus efforts on finding CAUSES and CURES for autism. That’s great! But there are 12 to 17 million caregivers looking for daily insights on how to assist those living with autism. AUTISM HANGOUT provides the Autism Community with an online resource that compiles news, knowledge and personal experiences on how best to thrive with autism.

What is Autism Hangout?
AUTISM HANGOUT is an online discussion forum that reports news, complies facts and community-submitted personal experiences and invites ongoing discussion to discover insights on how best to deal with the daily challenges of autism.

AUTISM HANGOUT is a dedicated resource serving the autism community, defined as:
a. Parents of children with autism
b. Children and adults with autism
c. Caregivers to the individual with autism such as siblings, grandparents, other relatives, teachers, classmates, doctors, clergy, care providers, community service professionals (i.e. policemen and firemen), neighbors and product and services providers wanting to service this community
d. The media at large

AUTISM HANGOUT is a compendium of community-reported reviews of products and services. Reviews serve as both recommendations and warnings. Product and service businesses are invited to join in discussions to learn how their offerings can best serve the autism community.

AUTISM HANGOUT is also a social networking opportunity – similar to myspace – that invites autism community members (i.e. caregivers as well as those with autism) to get to know and learn from each other. Groups of those sharing similar interests can also be formed.

*The above information is from the website Autismhangout.com

Free Hands On Activities for Kids

Farmers' Market at the Williamsville Mill

56 Spring Street, Williamsville , NY 14221 (716) 984-6572 ‎

Williamsville Farmers Market from 5/21-10/29 offers free hands on childrens activities every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon under the supervision of the following agencies:

5/21- Just For Kids

5/28- Ballet Arts

6/4- Open Door Nursery

6/11-Edukids

6/18- Childtime

6/25- Just For Kids

7/2-Just For Kids

7/9- Amherst Youth and Recreation

7/16- Childtime

7/23- Edukids

7/30-Audubon

8/6- Amherst Youth and Recreation

8/13- Edukids

8/20- Childtime

8/27- Just For Kids

9/3- Just For Kids

9/10- Open Door Nursery

9/17- Childtime

9/24- Karima Storyteller

10/1-Just for Kids

10/8- Special Activity with Karen

10/15- Childtime

10/22 and 10/29- Open

Sensory Friendly Lion King in NYC

Sensory Friendly Showing of Lion King in New York

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is piloting a new program, Autism Theatre Initiative, to make theatre accessible to children and adults on the autism spectrum, and their families.

The program, which is a part of TDF’s Accessibility Programs (TAP), will present the first autism-friendly performance of a Broadway show at Disney’s landmark musical THE LION KING at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street, NYC) on Sunday, October 2 at 1pm.
In order to be autism-friendly, the show is being performed in a friendly, supportive environment for an audience of families and friends with children or adults who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other sensitivity issues. Slight adjustments to the production will include reduction of any jarring sounds or strobe lights focused into the audience. In the theatre lobby there will be staffed quiet areas, if anyone needs to leave their seats during the performance.
A downloadable social story (in Word format) with pictures of the theatre and production will soon be available on this page, designed to personalize the experience for each attendee with ASD.
Tickets are being offered through TDF at affordable prices:
Orchestra (all seats) — $79
Front Mezzanine (Rows A-G) & Box Seats — $67.50
Mid-Mezzanine (Rows H-J) — $57.50
Rear Mezzanine (Rows K-L) — $38.00
Limit 6 tickets per order. For larger groups and further information contact Deborah Stein, Coordinator of Autism Theatre Initiative: autism@tdf.org or call (212) 912-9770 x383 – Monday – Friday 11am to 3pm.
Running time: Two hours and thirty minutes, including one intermission.
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Now in its 14th year, over 55 million people worldwide have come to discover the wonder, the majesty, and the truly one-of-a-kind experience that is THE LION KING. Hailed by Newsweek as “a landmark event in entertainment,” THE LION KING is a breathtaking musical adventure that stretches the boundaries of Broadway, from the heart of Africa to the plains of your imagination. THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony® Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor.
TDF wishes to acknowledge the following donors for their generous support of the Autism Theatre Initiative:
The Joseph LeRoy and Ann C. Warner Fund, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation

Lose The Training Wheels

June 27th to July 1st, 2011
East Aurora High School

DSPG is proud this year to partner with People, Inc. and Heritage Centers to bring the Lose The Training Wheels bicycle camp to Buffalo for a third Summer. This is a wonderful program for children 8 years and older with special needs to learn to ride a two wheeled bike in 5 days. The program has been such a success the past 2 years that this year's organizing committee has several parents on it whose children learned to ride and were so impressed that they wanted to help bring the program to Buffalo again so that other kids could take advantage of the opportunity.
For more information about the Buffalo camp, see the attached brochure, e-mail wnylearntoride@yahoo.com or call 817-7204. For more information about Lose The Training Wheels and to see videos of kids learning to ride, visit www.losethetrainingwheels.org.

PEOPLE FIRST WAIVER - PUBLIC FORUMS
The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) will hold public forums to hear public comment on the development of the People First Waiver. Over the coming months, OPWDD and DOH will engage members of the public, key State agency leaders, experts in the fields of health care and long-term care, and representatives from nonprofit service providers in a collaborative process of developing the formal application to the federal government. The public forums are the first of many opportunities that will be provided for broad public participation in this process.
The forums are scheduled to occur in the following locations:

New York City, May 25, 2011, at 75 Morton Street (three sessions, register for one)
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Rochester, June 2, 2011, at the National Museum of Play, The Strong
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Schenectady, June 6, 2011, at 500 Balltown Road
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Video conference to multiple locations, May 31, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sites established in Long Island DDSO, Broome DDSO, Sunmount DDSO, Taconic DDSO, Hudson Valley DDSO, and Western New York DDSO (Please see registration form for exact locations.)

The public is invited to submit recommendations during the forums that address the following questions:

How can we further break down barriers and support people to live truly integrated lives in the community?
What do families need to better support their loved ones at home?
What reform ideas do you have to help us operate more efficiently so that more funds can be directed to the services and supports people need to be healthy and engaged in meaningful work and activities?
What should we be measuring to tell us if we are doing a good job supporting people to have good health, positive relationships, live in homes of their choice, and enjoy meaningful activities and employment?

While the People First Waiver public forums are open to anyone, prior registration is required. To ensure all interested parties have the opportunity to present at these forums, recommendations should be limited to two minutes.

You may register by visiting the site below:

http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/2011_waiver/waiver_public_forums.jsp

Research Every Drug and/or Therapy Before Treating Your Loved One

I thought this was too important to not share. I have always researched everything before trying with my children, no matter how much I trust the doctor or therapist.


A doctor nationally known for treating autism with a drug sometimes used to chemically castrate sex offenders has been suspended from practicing medicine in his home state of Maryland after state officials determined he is putting children at risk.
      Dr. Mark Geier allegedly misrepresented his credentials, misdiagnosed children and urged parents to approve risky treatments without fully informing them of the potential dangers, according to the Maryland Board of Physicians.
      The board's order, dated April 27, states that Geier "endangers autistic children and exploits their parents by administering to the children a treatment protocol that has a known substantial risk of serious harm and which is neither consistent with evidence-based medicine nor generally accepted in the relevant scientific community."
      Geier told the Tribune in 2009 that he had treated hundreds of children with a testosterone suppressant called Lupron, which he called a "miracle drug." But a Tribune investigation exposed the therapy as a potentially dangerous treatment based on junk science and promoted by a physician not board-certified in any specialty relevant to autism or the use of hormone-disrupting drugs.
      Geier, who has treated Illinois children and retains a license to practice medicine here, is prominent in the world of alternative treatments for autism. His ASD Centers advertise "new hope for autism," and he has offices around the country, including in Springfield. Geier is scheduled to speak at the annual Autism One conference this month in west suburban Lombard.
      The Maryland board found that in six of nine cases it reviewed, Geier incorrectly diagnosed children with autism with precocious puberty — that's the extraordinarily early onset of puberty — and prescribed Lupron, which is sometimes covered by insurance to treat that rare condition.
      In some cases, according to the board, Geier diagnosed the children with precocious puberty and prescribed drug protocols without examining them or conducting proper tests. Some of the children Geier diagnosed were too old to have the condition.
      Geier is a genetic counselor, but according to the Maryland board order he has falsely claimed to be a board-certified geneticist and epidemiologist.
      Geier, who is not allowed to practice in Maryland while the case is pending, referred questions to attorney Joseph Schwartz III. At the root of the case, Schwartz said, was a "bona fide dispute over therapy" rather than a doctor who posed an immediate threat to patients.
      "If you read the (order), you say, 'Holy God, this is awful.' But if it were so awful, they should have an injured child, and they don't," Schwartz said. "…It's just like shadowboxing with allegations that sound awful, but when you delve into the facts of them you say, 'What's the big deal here?'"
      Experts have long doubted the scientific basis for Geier's claims and treatments. In 2009, about two dozen prominent endocrinologists, in a paper published online in the journal Pediatrics, dismissed his Lupron protocol. Experts also warn that Lupron can disrupt normal development and potentially put children's hearts and bones at risk.
      The medical board also noted that Geier's son, David, who is not a medical doctor but serves as executive director of ASD Centers, examined a 10-year-old boy in May 2008. David Geier ordered lab tests for him and tried to check his neck and stomach by tapping him with an ultrasound wand as the boy moved around the room, the boy's mother told the board..
      A record documenting that visit said the child's "symptoms are compatible with a diagnosis of pervasive developmental delay — not otherwise (specified)," and also noted insomnia and Unspecified Metabolic Disorder.
      Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed David Geier in 2009 to the state's Commission on Autism as a "diagnostician," a decision state officials are reviewing. David Paulson, a spokesman for the state health department, said David Geier declined Wednesday to resign from the position.