CARD August 2014 Newsletter

3901 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21211

card.kennedykrieger.org

August 2014 • VOL. 7, ISSUE 4

Don’t Miss Our 14th Annual Autism Conference Autism: Transforming the Future On October 16 and 17, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) will host its 14th Annual Autism Conference. The opening keynote presentation will help you develop a greater understanding of emerging models in education that provide a theoretical foundation for the implementation of research-based practices. These practices emphasize school-wide and multitiered systems of supports, greater access to and involvement in the general education curriculum, an emphasis on universal design for learning (UDL), Dr. Wehmeyer Dr. Wehman and support for leaders to create an “assumption of competence” for all students.

Our opening keynote speaker, Michael Wehmeyer, PhD, is a professor of special education, the director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities and the associate director for the Beach Center on Disability, all at the University of Kansas. Dr. Wehmeyer has directed federally funded projects totaling more than $27 million for research and model development in education and support of youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is the author or co-author of 285 peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters and has authored or contributed to 32 books on disability and education-related issues, including self-determination, positive psychology, Continued on page 2

Back to School Tips for Parents from our friends at Pathfinders for Autism While going back to school may be a celebration for some parents, some of us worry about the transition for our kids, and the stress they may be feeling about a new class, new friends, and maybe even a new school. So let’s prepare to help make that first day back to school a great experience.

Inside this issue Director’s Welcome

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Employee Spotlight

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Upcoming STAR Trainings

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Treat the first day of school like a holiday Build up excitement for the first day of school like you do for Christmas or your child’s birthday. Circle it on the calendar, count down the days, pick out a special outfit (or item the child can take to school), and plan a celebration for that afternoon or evening.

Encourage your child to participate in buying school supplies and let her help pick her materials.

Visit the school Show your child his classroom and even his locker and desk if possible. If you go before the classroom is set up, go back closer to the first day so that your child will have a chance to see how the class will look when he gets there that first day. Take a walk through the halls practicing the routes he will travel to the various classes. While you’re there, take pictures that your child can refer to back at home.

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CARD Conference (continued) transition to adulthood, the education and inclusion of students with severe disabilities, and technology use by people with cognitive disabilities.

Did you know the unemployment rate of young people with disabilities, especially two to five years after school, continues to be 40 to 90 percent, depending on the level of disability? Unemployment is a major societal and educational problem, given the huge investment of money, time, and planning for young children and adolescents as they come through the school system. Join us for our closing keynote presentation by Paul Wehman, PhD, as he discusses, in depth, the extent of the problem and current predictors of successful employment. Dr. Wehman is a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). In addition to being chairman of the division on Rehabilitation Research at VCU’s School of Medicine, he holds joint appointments in the departments of Special Education and Disability Policy and Rehabilitation Counseling. He pioneered the development of supported employment at VCU in the early 1980s and has been heavily involved in the use of supported employment with people who have severe disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and autism. Dr. Wehman is also the director of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, and the director of the new VCU Autism Center for Excellence (ACE).

This two-day conference will address a wide range of topics, including strategies for developing literacy, translating evaluation results into relevant school recommendations, understanding sensory challenges, utilizing apps and devices for behavioral adaptation, facilitating communication, anxiety in youth and transition-age adults with autism, and much more.

Register online today to attend this educational conference and hear these inspiring speakers!

14th Annual CARD Conference October 16th and 17th, 2014 North Baltimore Plaza Hotel Timonium, MD Featuring Keynote Speakers: Michael Wehmeyer, PhD Kansas University Center of Developmental Disabilities Paul Wehman, PhD Virginia Commonwealth University Visit http://www.autismconference.kennedykrieger.org or scan the QR code for more information!

Hello everyone, As we enter into the ‘back to school’ season, lots of things cross our minds. One thought might involve a reflection on special moments shared with friends and family when we take our minds off of the usual extensive ‘to do’ list. We might also start thinking about the importance of learning when we see the ‘back to school’ reminders that are all around us. Learning is lifelong. For individuals on the autism spectrum, the learning process can be more arduous and, at times, even tiring.

At CARD, we are always focused on how to make learning more efficient for children and teens with ASD. Our emphasis on this topic is one of the reasons we placed such an emphasis on education at our annual October conference. Please spread the word about the conference so that as many people as possible may benefit from it.

And if you have children still in school, I wish you a smooth transition into the school year!

Warmly, Sign up to be added to CARD’s Rebecca Landa

mailing list!

Email us at CARDnewsletter@kennedykrieger.org

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Book Recommendation: Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism by Ron Suskind “I want to fix that, fix him, but lately Cornelia [Owen’s mother] is saying, maybe we have to think more about just enjoying him for who he is and not trying to improve or repair him every minute of every day.”

Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism, by Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and best-selling author, is a poignant and exceptionally written memoir of the life of his son, Owen Suskind, and their family, spanning from before Owen showed any signs of autism to when he went to college.

Owen was three years old when he stopped talking and began to withdraw from his family and engage in repetitive behaviors. One of his favorite activities became watching Disney movies; the family started joining him as a way to spend time with him and try to connect. Through the years, Owen and his family memorized most of the hand-animated movies, as Owen began to use the characters, dialog, and plots to understand emotion, comprehend social interaction, and, later, to solve problems he was experiencing in school and at home.

This thought-provoking story is told through the perspectives of Owen’s parents, brother, and Owen himself, and shows the lengths that a family goes to when trying to reach inside of their child’s world and help him connect to theirs.

By Jennifer Horton, LCSW-C

Employee Spotlight Josh Haworth, PhD Joshua Haworth, PhD, joined the CARD team this summer as a postdoctoral research fellow. In 2010, as a doctoral candidate at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Dr. Haworth was awarded the Dennis Weatherstone Pre-Doctoral Fellowship from Autism Speaks which funded his research project. During this time, he investigated the link between visual perception and movement in children with and without ASD. A key finding from this work was that children with autism did not react to complex motion in the same way as children without autism. This behavior difference may be related to social disinterest and motor repetitiveness tendencies found in individuals diagnosed with ASD. Prior to joining CARD, Dr. Haworth completed one year of postdoctoral research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. At CARD, Dr. Haworth plans to explore diagnostic and therapeutic means to address movement skill acquisition with the hope that enhanced motor development will positively impact both cognitive and social development.

Book Recommendation: Milan & Jack: An Autism Friendship by Anouk van der Riet Milan & Jack: An Autism Friendship Story is a wonderful children’s book with beautiful illustrations and an overarching message about accepting others’ differences.

Written by Anouk van der Riet, a physician and parent of a child with autism, it showcases a friendship between two boys, one of whom has autism.

When Jack initially sees Milan, he notices that Milan is acting differently, and Jack is confused by his behavior. Milan does not talk and seems unaware of others around him. When Jack learns that Milan acts differently because he has autism, he tries to learn more about autism.

That night, Jack dreams he is on another planet where he does not speak the same language as the other children. He does not understand their rules and soon acts in ways that upset the other children. When Jack wakes up, he realizes this is how Milan must feel every day. Jack decides that although he and Milan are different, he will find a way to celebrate their similarities. He also tells his friends at school what he learned about autism and encourages them to be nice to those who seem different.

This heartwarming story illustrates the importance of accepting others and encourages putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. With an informative afterward written by Dr. Anna Maria Wilms-Floet, a behavioral/ developmental pediatrician at CARD, Milan & Jack is a great way to introduce autism to children.

By Jessica Smolarz, MS 3

Back-to-School Tips (continued) Meet with the teacher and inclusion helper Ask for a copy of a typical day’s schedule so that you can prepare your child with social stories, visual schedules and discussions. Let the teacher meet your child and go over your child’s reactions, learning styles, favorite things, and what challenges and frustrates your child. Make sure you share with the teacher systems that work for you at home. If you have charts or tools you use at home, offer a duplicate set for the classroom for consistency for your child. Ask the teacher if you may take a picture of her to have at home so that her face will be even more familiar to your child on that first day.

Play school Go through typical school activities, practice walking up to school, unpacking, taking jackets on and off, walking quietly through a hallway. Keep them used to the feeling of “school” even if it’s at home.

Make sure your child’s IEP is up to date If you haven’t looked at your child’s IEP since your last annual meeting, go through it and make sure that the goals and accommodations listed are still relevant. Have your child’s needs changed since your last meeting? Has she met some of the goals listed and is now ready to take on new challenges? Remember, you don’t have to wait for an annual meeting – you can request an IEP meeting at ANY time.

Go to www.pathfindersforautism.org for more information on resources.

Written by Shelly McLaughlin, Pathfinders for Autism © 2008 Pathfinders for Autism

Stella & Dot Donation CARD would like to say thank you to our friends at the accessory company Stella & Dot! This year, Stella & Dot donated a portion of the revenue from April sales to help support CARD. Special thanks to Laurie Syphard and Helen Rexrode for attending ROAR, CARD’s annual fundraising event, and encouraging others to support Stella & Dot in their mission to raise funds for CARD! We look forward to continuing this collaboration and ROARing with them again next year!

Laurie Syphard and her daughter, Dr. Rebecca Landa, and Helen Rexrode

Free Upcoming STAR Trainings for August and September Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders– Wednesday, August 13, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., presented by Laura Solomon, PsyD Toilet Training in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders - Wednesday, September 3, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., presented by Karishma Chengappa, PhD Getting an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: Where Do I Go From Here? - Monday, September 15, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., presented by Cathy Groschan, LCSW-C What is Transition Planning for a Teen with an ASD Diagnosis? - Monday, September 15, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., presented by Cathy Groschan, LCSW-C For more information or to register, visit kennedykriegercard.eventbrite.com.

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Did you know that all of our previous STAR trainings can be viewed online? To access the archive, visit the Outreach & Training section of the CARD website and click on “STAR Parent Trainings.”