An Online Magazine Dedicated to Awareness, Acceptance and Awesomeness Presented by We Rock for Autism
PINS OF THE MONTH
November 2014 Issue #3
The Chocolate Spectrum
TATTOO OF THE MONTH NJ Special Education Teacher Named Teacher of the Year
Helping Adults on the Spectrum and Making Delicious Treats
80's in the Park -REVIEW -PICS -GUITAR GIVE-A-WAY RESULTS -BANDS DEBUT ARTICLE FROM
Project Chance
www.WeRockforAutism.org
Autism Support Dogs
November2014 Issue Editor: Chris Wilson Proofreader and Content Editor: Justin Wilson, Jr. Front Cover: The Chocolate Spectrum (photo courtesy of Valerie Herskowitz) Subscribe for FREE today! www.TheMonthlyMelody.com/subscibe ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The Monthly Melody is a Publication of We Rock for Autism, Inc. a Nonprofit Organization. PO BOX 25884, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 – support@werockforautism.org www.themonthlymelody.com – www.werockforautism.org ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The Monthly Melody and We Rock for Autism, Inc. does not endorse the views, products, or services contained herein. We are not responsible for omissions or errors. The Monthly Melody and We Rock for Autism, Inc. are not responsible for articles submitted to us without the final approval of the organization’s President. All articles and Advertisements are subject to final approval by our Board. We reserve the right to edit any article sent to us. Letters to The Editor should be sent to support@werockforautism.org We do not publish open letters or third-party letters. Letters for publication must include the writer’s address and phone numbers. We cannot return or acknowledge unpublished letters. Writers of those letters selected for publication will be notified prior to press date. Letters may be shortened for space requirements. . Copyright © 2014 We Rock for Autism, Inc. All rights reserved. Content contained in this publication may be reproduced for onetime personal use. However, anyone wishing to reproduce and distribute any content from within this publication for purposes other than personal use must request this intention in writing directly to the publisher. Failure to do so will be in violation of the copyright held by this publication.
STATEMENT OF POLICY AND DISCLAIMER The views expressed in any articles or advertisements included in this publication are not necessarily those of The Monthly Melody or the publishers We Rock for Autism, Inc. The Monthly Melody, We Rock for Autism, Inc. and the publishers do not promote or recommend any specific therapy, treatment, institution or professional viewpoint. Please check with a doctor when changing any diet or major nutritional change.
We Rock for Autism is dedicated to promoting the awareness and acceptance of autism. Through various events and fundraisers we strive to raise funds to help children with autism attend music and art therapy session. If you would like to learn more about We Rock for Autism or keep up with upcoming events and the latest news, check out our website at www.WeRockforAutism.org or connect with us on our social media pages.
Fun, Mud and the 80’s in the Park! The second annual 80’s in the Park festival took Melbourne, FL by storm and We Rock for Autism was proud to be part of it all. The outdoor music event was held at Wickham Park Pavilion over the weekend of Sept 26th – 28th It featured some of the top rock and roll bands from the 80’s and 90’s, as well as tribute acts and cars that dominated the Rubik’s Cube era. The conditions weren’t perfect, but they were good enough for rock and roll. The rain reared its head a few times and kept the humidity high and the mud consistent. But, despite the unsavory weather, thousands of fans showed up and the show went on as planned.
Stevie is the frontman for the glam rock band TUFF and owner / operator of the infamous Metal Sludge website. So, I have long supported his band and the site. When I founded We Rock for Autism, Stevie was first to donate banner ads on his site to help promote the foundation and gave me the contact info for other industry sites that helped out as well. With my original plans being to attend the event as a fan, I soon realized the possibilities of combining my two interests into one meaningful weekend. I contacted the promoters of the event and inquired about going as a vendor, and setting up a booth for We Rock for Autism as a way to spread awareness and possibly gather some donations.
Earlier this year Stevie Rachelle contacted me to let me know that he would be performing with his band, TUFF, in Melbourne, FL at this event. This would be the first time TUFF had played Florida in many years, and it had been over 10 years since I last seen Stevie. Back in the mid-90’s Stevie and I were roommates and he produced my band’s first album. We have been in constant communication since I moved to Florida many years ago and have always supported each other’s projects and endeavors.
Without hesitation, the promoters of the event contacted me back and were more than accommodating. Richard and Kyle (the promoters) took a genuine interest in the We Rock for Autism cause. They made sure we had the appropriate size booth and also made sure we had enough tickets so that our board members and their families could attend. They were very instrumental in the success of the event and in the success of our fund raising efforts. We got a guitar to bring to the event, and they arranged for it to be held backstage for the three days and have most of the bands sign the guitar as they prepared to go on stage. So, there we were…selling raffle tickets at our booth
and the guitar was being signed by some of the biggest names in rock history! Julie quickly became another friend and supporter, as she was the one who took responsibility for the guitar being signed and arranging for its safe return to us on Sunday.
So, we are all set up at our booth and ready for the event on Friday afternoon. The gates open and the fans start to filter in. Now, let me remind you, this was NOT an autism awareness event. This was a three day event celebrating everything 80’s…music, movies, TV and more! We were not sure what type of response we would get, promoting autism awareness and acceptance and trying to sell raffle tickets for a guitar that was not even present at the booth while in the middle of vendors providing food, drinks, snow cones, information on medical marijuana, T-shirts and novelty items (your typical outdoor event vendors). But, as the fans started making their way to the stage, they began to stop and take notice of our efforts and thanking us for being there. From the 16 year olds to the 60 year olds, men and woman, boys and girls, people of all walks of life walked up to our booth to tell us how their lives have been touched by autism. It was amazing to hear all the stories about their own children, or their nieces or nephews, or siblings or friend’s children or a co-workers child that has been diagnosed ASD. It was insightful and heartbreaking at the same time. The glow that came over them was infectious as they spoke about their experiences! But, it also confirmed the reality of how many people are affected by autism, and the fact that there is still no cure or exact reason known for the onset. We really enjoyed talking with each one of the guests at our booth and sharing stories and smiles.
Our booth consisted of We Rock for Autism’s President, Chris Wilson and his family (wife Teresa and daughters Samantha and Mackenzie…Casey and Olivia, his other two daughters were in Atlanta, where they live with their Mom and could not attend this event). We shared the booth space with AutismAwarenessShop.com and they had some great awareness merchandise for sale. Our Vice President, Jenifer Band, also runs Autism Awareness Shop with her husband Scott. Cody, her son was there too! He made the whole weekend worthwhile. Cody was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. He is now 17 and he really seemed to enjoy himself. Of course, everyone fell in love with Cody. Even Peter, the roasted corn vendor, who offered him ALL the FREE corn he wanted. If you know Cody, you know the size of his smile. If you saw Cody being offered all the free corn he could handle…you saw that smile get even bigger!
Friday started out with some cover bands and some tribute bands, playing tunes from U2, A-ha, The Cure, AC/DC and The Cult. The day progressed and the more well-known acts started taking the stage. As the rain finally started to slow down, and the sun started to slowly make its way to the West, TUFF took the stage and really kicked the event into high gear. Cranking out all of their hits, the fans could not get enough. They were singing along with every word and screaming out requests. It was really great to see them on stage again and to meet the newer members of the band. Michael, the drummer, and I become good friends and he has become a big supporter of We Rock for Autism since the event. He has a grandson with autism and really embraced the music theme of our organization. Michael is a super cool guy and an awesome drummer. TUFF donated a “fan package” that included TUFF CD’s and Shirts for our raffle and donated a brand new cooler full of ice, drinks and snacks. A great band and great guys. You can find them online at TuffCDs.com or on
Facebook at facebook.com/StevieRachelle and show them some love and support. Friday wrapped up with Faster Pussycat and Jack Russell’s GREAT WHITE playing. Both bands sounded amazing.
pair of tickets for a guided Kayaking tour courtesy of Palm Bay Kayaks. We got the guitar back around 4PM and displayed it at the booth. It was FULL of various autographs. Swarms of people were checking it out and inquiring on the raffle tickets, in hopes of being the lucky winner. Almost everyone who bought a raffle ticket wanted to win, but expressed their gratitude for the work we were doing. They said they didn’t mind if they did not win, the money was going to a good cause. The kids would be the true winners. THAT my friends meant the world to us! We drew the raffle tickets around 6:30 and attempted to track down the winners. That was a mission in of itself, but we got a hold of some and had to follow up with others. The winner of the guitar, Charlie, was not available to pick it up. We chatted online the next day and he was SUPER excited about winning. We shipped the guitar to him. He is now enjoying his new gold Fender Squire COVERED in autographs.
Saturday brought some early morning rain and left lots of mud waiting for everyone, but the fans still showed up by the thousands to see the day’s bands. Saturday featured Killer Dwarfs, Gene Loves Jezebel with Michael Aston, Bang Tango, Bow Wow Wow, L.A. Guns and a few more. We had more visitors to our booth on Saturday than any other day. We sold some raffle tickets, some bracelets and Cody had some more corn. Saturday night we attended a small V.I.P. after party at the hotel. We had the chance to talk with a few of the bands and watch a few intimate performances by some of the bands as well. But, after being at the park all day, bed was calling! Sunday, we got back to a soggy park and waited for the gates to open. Kenny McGee, John Corabi, Pat Travers, John Waite and Stephen Pearcy of RATT were some of the big draws for Sunday’s line up. The attendance was not as large on Sunday as it was on Saturday, as it seemed like the rain persuaded some rockers to stay home. The ones that were there, were there for the long haul and having a blast. This was the day of our raffle and we had three prizes to give away. First prize was the autographed guitar. Second prize was the TUFF “fan package”. Third was a
So, to EVERY person that stopped by our booth to say hi, share a story, offer a donation or buy a raffle ticket…THANK YOU! To the bands, especially TUFF, that supported us…THANK YOU! To Richard and Kyle of 80’s in the Park…THANK YOU and we look forward to working with you again. To anyone and everyone that has been touched by autism, shown their support or taken a moment to notice…THANK YOU! YOU ALL ROCK! See you next year in the park.
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Early detection provides best outcomes for autism
“With Emily I didn’t want to admit anything was wrong. She was my perfect baby, and I didn’t want to admit it, and that probably hindered her a lot,” Goins said. Because Brady was atypical, he had too few symptoms to be diagnosed with autistic disorder or Asperger‘s syndrome. “We had a hard time getting a diagnosis because he did excel at a lot of things at the early ages that autistic children don’t typically excel at,” Goins said. According to recent findings from the University of California Davis’ MIND Institute, detecting early signs of autism may help reverse issues of the problem. The institute found providing therapy for babies ages 6-9 months old who have exhibited related health symptoms to the health issue may reverse or even stop signs of the health issue. This includes children who lack the ability to make eye contact, babble or other exhibit marked habits. Goins firmly believes children should be diagnosed and receive treatment as soon as possible.
(Photo: MARGARET CROFT/THE NEWS-STAR)
Like every mother, Erica Goins has certain hopes and dreams, concerns and fears for her children. She doesn’t consider her children to be any different from other youths, but she knows they will have certain challenges many will never face. Her son, Brady Brewer, 15, was diagnosed with atypical autism when he was 8. Her daughter, Emily Brewer, 20, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome with autistic tendencies when she was 5. Typically children are diagnosed earlier, but Goins said she was a parent in “a great amount of denial.”
“Early detection is the key, and I admit I didn’t get it early enough with my kids. Denial was a big factor in that. I strongly encourage anyone who thinks a child in their life may have autism, Asperger’s or any of the tendencies of either to work with groups like Families Helping Families. They have so many resources, and they will help educate you,” Goins said. Dr. Michelle Yetman, clinical psychologist with LSU Health Shreveport’s Children’s Center Interdisciplinary Team, said early detection is critical and provides opportunities for better outcomes for children who receive the diagnosis. Current incident rates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say one in 68 children in the United States are diagnosed with some form of autism. That’s up from one in 150 in 2000. “It has steadily increased over the years and we don’t have an explanation for that,” Yetman said.
Children can be diagnosed as early as 18 months now, which means they have earlier intervention to reduce symptoms for a better chance of independence and a successful life. “Parents are struggling with this behavior, and some may not know it is autism so early detection is critical. It affects how successful that child will be. The whole idea is to get them in there and get intervention so they can become as independent as possible,” Yetman said. Early diagnosis means those children can receive social skills training, speech training and other therapy to improve chances for living independently. “I think people are quicker to go to their pediatrician for help if there is a delay. Time is of the essence and parents should get their child evaluated. All children deserve to be evaluated to determine if they need help or not,” Yetman said. Challenges are plenty in their household, especially since Goins has her own medical issues, including Lupus. Most days are hard. Some are frustrating.
Brady is the complete opposite. He is a social butterfly and considers everyone a friend. “Brady loves people. He loves everyone he meets, trusts everyone he meets and thinks the world is his friend,” Goins said. “He is very outgoing, friendly and loving.” Brady wants to be a police officer. “It’s not the cute ‘cops and robbers’ dream of children. He wants to be a police officer, a state trooper, however high up he can get. He wants a future, and he wants it to be that,” Goins said. Emily wants to get married and have children of her own one day, though she hasn’t picked a career path. “I want her to grow up and have a future, and I realize at 20 most people would think she should have already grown up, but I have to look at her mental age, not her physical age. I think I have a couple of years to help her find where she wants to put that toehold in,” Goins said. SOURCE: www.theadvertiser.com
“I blame myself a lot, which is normal, but they are my kids, and they were given to me for a reason. God knew what he was doing when he gave me my babies. They have taught me to slow down and take my time doing things and get a full picture of everything around me. They have taught me how life is supposed to be,” Goins said. She has different concerns for her children. She knows each faces specific hurdles. Emily is a recluse who doesn’t want to be around most people, Goins said. She gets nervous easily in social situations. The majority of her time is spent at home, though she is involved in church. “As far as working outside the home, she gets nervous and reverts to a childlike mindset. She can’t function with a lot of people around her. It’s very difficult for her and it’s heartbreaking for me as her mom, to know she will always have so much trouble no matter how much counseling we do,” Goins said.
For parents of children with autism, the reality of their child becoming an adult can be difficult. The services and programs that were readily available as a child often become scarce at best for adults with autism.
chocolate making. As she was working in her kitchen, perfecting the art of chocolate, she realized Blake was taking interest in her new found passion. Together, they started building the foundation for The Chocolate Spectrum.
Valerie Herskowitz of West Palm Beach, Florida was nearing that transitional period with her son, Blake. Blake is non-verbal and was almost finished with high school. With the local resources being so limited, Valerie evaluated her options to determine the best path for Blake. Valerie was not satisfied with the available options, so she decided to use the resources and skills she had to create her own.
The Chocolate Spectrum started as a journey for Valerie and her son Blake, but it soon took on a much greater role. Seeing the need for so many adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, Valerie added the Chocolatier program. The Chocolatier program offers individuals with developmental disabilities training opportunities in the kitchen that transcends into life skills.
Valerie had worked as a Speech and Language Pathologist for many years, and owned her own therapy center prior to relocating from Broward County to Palm Beach County, Florida. Her years of experience working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities gave her insight in to how to provide her son with opportunity. Her background also provided her with the knowledge of what other adults needed as well.
So, now The Chocolate Spectrum operates as an artisan chocolate company that provides training opportunities to adults and donates a portion of all sales to various charities. The chocolates, caramels and other treats hand crafted by The Chocolate Spectrum are amazing. They offer various themes as well, from autism awareness chocolates to spooky Halloween treats. Be sure to visit their website and order a box today. You will be doing yourself and the autism community a favor!
After selling her therapy center, Valerie took an interest in becoming a pastry chef. She went through the proper training and moved on to
www.TheChocolateSpectrum.com
The Chocolate Interview Please describe what The Chocolate Spectrum does.
What are some of your most popular items?
We are a family owned and operated artisan chocolate company. It was started by Valerie Herskowitz for her son, Blake, who is a young man with autism. Our purpose is to offer delicious chocolate confections while also helping individuals with developmental disabilities. We accomplish this two ways: By providing individuals with developmental disabilities training opportunities and by donating a portion from each item sold to various charities. We make chocolate for all occasions: gift boxes for holidays, gifts, corporate needs, weddings, parties, etc. Whatever anyone wants or needs chocolate for.
Truffles are our #1 seller followed by the chocolate assortment that goes along with each holiday theme.
Our Chocolatier Training Program provides opportunities for older individuals with autism (high school and up) to learn how to make chocolate confection products. They learn how to operate the equipment, mold chocolate, prepare fillings, measure ingredients and clean up the equipment, packing and shipping. These skills may then be utilized later on in a job setting possibly with The Chocolate Spectrum.
What is your personal favorite? Easy: caramels. We make awesome caramels covered in chocolate. Does your husband or son have a favorite creation? My husband also loves the caramels. Blake likes whatever we make that is GFCF as he is only allowed that stuff. But we make fabulous GFCF chocolate filled bonbons and even GFCF caramels. What has the general response been like to The Chocolate Spectrum? The response to the concept has been outstanding. We have gotten great press, been on TV twice, asked to charity events, been written up in magazines, and that kind of thing. But we need way more orders and donations to keep us going
When did you start The Chocolate Spectrum?
How does one become a Chocolatier?
2013 when Blake graduated from HS
There is no requirement for certification, though I was certified and trained by EcoleChocolat. Of course, I train our trainees here!
How did you decide to use chocolate to help adults with autism? After I sold my therapy center, I had some time on my hands though I was still working part-time. I became interested in the pastry arts and got trained. I moved on to chocolate. During this whole time, Blake was showing a lot of interest in working with me in the kitchen. So, after high school was over, and there was virtually nothing for him to do up here in Palm Beach, I decided to try and see if we could make a go of this business purely to keep him occupied. Then, I realized that his situation was not unique, so I expanded it to other adults with ASD or other Developmental disabilities as well.
What is the National Autism Registry? The National Autism Registry (NARY) was started in 1999. The mission was to provide opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to engage in community-based experiences that were not available to them due to the difficulties of the individual with developmental disabilities. Our first project was the NARY CARD PROJECT. We developed free business sized cards that we sent out to over 7,000 families. These cards were used for families to ask establishments for special consideration when there was a long line (attractions, restaurants, etc). We were the
first organization that was recognized by Walt Disney World, and families used our cards to obtain special access. From there, we started pot luck BBQs that we held on the weekends. These events were often the only time that families with special needs individuals could socialize in a relaxed environment. Shortly thereafter, we established the Family Club. NARY was the creator of the sensory movie. We had the theaters agree to provide us with lowered sound and a dim lighting in our own special theater. In this environment, many individuals with special needs and their families were able to attend the shows. We were able to raise the funding to pay for admission and snacks for all the participants. We then expanded our outings to include other attractions where special modifications were made to accommodate our families. Eventually, our program caught the eye of Representative Susan Goldstein, who was able to provide a bill that provided funding for our program, though the funding was shortlived due to cut backs. Later on we provided summer camp scholarships for low income special needs children and also started The Baking Program at Dwyer High School for adolescents with special needs to learn to bake. And now we are supporting The Chocolatier Training Program. How many Chocolatiers have you trained to date? So far, we have 5 in training What are some of the responsibilities of a Chocolatier? They learn how to operate the equipment, mold chocolate, prepare fillings, measure ingredients and clean up the equipment, packing and shipping. What is your favorite part of this experience? I love it all. I love making chocolate. I love working with the guys. I enjoy our shows that we go to display and sell our stuff. It’s all good!! What do you do for fun? Seriously, this is what I do. It’s a hobby and job all rolled into one. I don’t travel much as it’s tough to leave Blake, so I have to have my fun on a daily basis. Do you have any family members that help out?
Yes! My daughter-in-law, Poom, is great at the shows and is a real sales person. She’s also an awesome promoter. Hunter, my older son, came up with the name, The Chocolate Spectrum, and helps out once in awhile at the shows. He’s a Behavior Analyst in Orlando and works in the autism field. The other two boys are my taste testers. LOL How can others help or get involved with your organization? All we want is for people to enjoy our chocolate by purchasing our chocolate and/or making tax deductible donations to the National Autism Registry to support our training program. Here is the link to make donations:
http://www.thechocolatespectrum.com/support-ourchocolatier-training-program.html How much chocolate do you go through in a month? Depending on the orders, we could go through 25 pounds easily Where can our readers buy your chocolate?
http://shop.thechocolatespectrum.com/ Anything else you would like our readers to know about you, your family or The Chocolate Spectrum? If you try our chocolate, you will never go back to your old brand, I am sure!!
Five teens charged in Ice Bucket Challenge attack on teen with autism CLEVELAND — Five Ohio juveniles were charged in an Ice Bucket Challenge attack on a 15-year-old with autism on Tuesday. According to FOX31 Denver sister station FOX8 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty announced that three of the juveniles were charged with two counts of delinquency, assault and disorderly conduct. The other two juveniles were each charged with a single count of disorderly conduct. The teens are accused of dumping a bucket of human waste and tobacco spit over the autistic boy’s head shortly before the start of the school year, and it was all captured on video. The autistic boy’s mother said her 15-year-old son wanted to take part in the Ice Bucket Challenge and enlisted help from the group of teens. However, the teens decided to pull a prank on the boy instead. The autistic boy’s cell phone was used to record the bucket being dumped on him. His mother said the family wanted the video to be made public to help raise awareness about bullying. “He was embarrassed because he didn’t know what the contents of the bucket were until afterwards,” the boy’s mom said. “This challenge was supposed to be raising awareness for this disease, and now they’ve turned it into a sick joke. I just can’t understand why kids would do something this cruel.” The prank drew outrage across the country. Celebrities Jenny McCarthy, Donnie Wahlberg and Drew Carey even offered $10,000 each to anyone who offered information on the teens behind the prank. SOURCE: Fox8.com
The Monthly Melody Welcomes JOE NORMAL to Our Writing Team!
Songwriter, Performer, Author, Educator (and, oh yeah‌ Autism Parent.) @JoeNormalUSA
The Wonderful Sounds of Godzilla and Shrieking Jet Planes By Joe Normal Drayke’s first attempts at words were “pumpkin” and “light bulb,” however in those early days of speech development he favored his Binky. I remember the feeling of his gums chomping on the knuckle of my index finger when the dreaded pacifier went missing! On his third birthday he earned the honor of depositing his mouth-plug into the trash bin, a symbolic gesture that worked to get him off his habit for good. I know other Aut parents who have experienced the common regression scenario in which the child loses the vocabulary he or she has built, and sadly disappears into their mysterious world of isolation and frustration, but I’m not sure to what extent regression plays into Drayke’s story. Our kid was always behind the milestones. Low muscle tone, failure to thrive, too small of a head (wha??), not sitting up, not standing, not walking, (but no problems dirtying diapers, whining and fussing, or wanting to sleep in our bed every night, (an old habit that still revisits our home 12 years on!) And at some point, for a spell, he seemed to become mildly non-verbal. Speech is something he’s had to work at. The amazing thing I witnessed in this early part of his journey was how his word formation was replaced by all these noises and a slew of repetitive sounds that he would make. The word Echolalia entered our vocabulary at about this time. We didn’t know what stimming was then, but in my gut I knew this behavior of his was something more intelligent or purposeful than just random noises to soothe himself. God knows he had the Binky for that! Being a musician I began to recognize patterns to the sounds he was making, and was astonished when I realized he was imitating the sounds of the world around him. Bird calls, cats meowing, barking dogs, squirrels chirping, numerous other animal sounds, and
the woo-wooing train whistles that only he could hear way off in the distance. (His hearing was acutely refined, and continues to be so. He picks up whispered conversations between parents and therapists effortlessly like a wiretap! You can also imagine the anxiety he experiences during a thunderstorm or in a loud restaurant.) At this time in his life, my son was communicating on a whole other level. As a musician cops the licks of his favorite guitarist or drummer, Drayke was copping the licks of the music that filled his environment! Looking back, I wish I had catalogued his unique repertoire with the mini-recorder I use for my songwriting. I didn’t realize that that was some of Drayke’s finest work! One of his favorites was the sound of the jet planes that would frequently pass over our residence as they made their way into Burbank Airport a mile or two away. We would sometimes go outside to look up at the belly of these monsters as they flew over, a site he would get noticeably excited about. We started making regular trips to the airport to see the planes taking off, a memorable bonding experience for both my sons and I. The sound of a child screeching loudly over and over again like the sweeping roar of a barrage of 747’s landing on your eardrums might have been too much for other parents to tolerate, but as with everything we’d come to discover about Autism, you survive by accepting and embracing your child’s differences. And if Drayke fantasized about being a decibel shattering Boeing aircraft, I was going to ride that ship to the very end, even encourage it, knowing it was going to make a difference in his learning to express himself. Perhaps this was his way of controlling the noise in his own environment, much the same as I do as a musician, playing loudly or bombastically at times to express and release the emotions below the surface of the music. Today Drayke still has his challenges with expressive language and learning difficulties. We try to focus on visual and auditory learning styles. (Reading aloud to
him, watching a lot of movies and YouTube, and always asking questions about what he thinks will happen next, what the characters might be feeling, etc.) As every proud dad likes to expose his kids to something cool from his own childhood, A few weeks ago on one of our “family movie nights” Drayke and his younger brother Myles saw their very first old-school GODZILLA flick. I wasn’t sure at first if the lo-tech quality of the film made an impression on them. Perhaps I may have enjoyed seeing it more than they did. But then I noticed it’s been unusually noisy around here lately…. It took me a few days to pinpoint why. Can you say, “Draykezilla?!”“EEEooooRCCCCHHHHHH!!!!!” I guess old habits really do die hard…
Joe Normal www.JoeNormalUSA.com Songwriter, Performer, Author, Educator (and, oh yeah… Autism Parent.) JoeNormalUSA@gmail.com
Hoboken educator named New Jersey's State Teacher of the Year
In April, Mautone was named Hudson County Teacher of the Year, marking the first time in 16 years that a Hoboken teacher received the title. Mautone has been teaching for 19 years and is known for using technology to improve instruction for autistic students. “It is my belief that all children, despite the obstacles, deserve the highest quality of education possible so that they can learn to their maximum potential and lead a productive life as independently as possible,” Mautone said in a statement.
(Photos from NJ.com) HOBOKEN — A Hoboken special education teacher has been named New Jersey's top teacher for 2014, the state Department of Education said on Wednesday. Mark Mautone, who teaches preschool children with autism at Wallace Elementary School, was named New Jersey's State Teacher of the Year for 2014. He was selected among 21 county teachers and beat out six finalists for the statewide honor. “Mr. Mautone has a deep enthusiasm for helping his students overcome the challenges they face so that they can receive the best experience possible in the classroom,” acting Education Commissioner David Hespe said in a statement. “He is an inspiration to teachers, parents and members of the community.”
As part of the teacher of the year program, the Mautone will be granted a six-month sabbatical worth $60,000 from January to June 2015, according to the state Department of Education. During this time, Mautone will work with the DOE on special projects and give presentations throughout the country. He will also get to meet President Barack Obama, the DOE said. SOURCE: www.NJ.com
Project Chance
ease sensory overload, which is a common challenge for those with autism.
Training and Placing Autism Assistance Dogs
Another benefit to an autism assistance dog comes from a safety angle. Often times, children with autism have a decreased or lack of personal safety concerns. Children that are prone to wondering or straying away from the family can be tethered to the dog by using a special harness in the beginning, then ultimately the child would learn to hold a handle that is attached to the dog’s harness. Of course, a parent would also be holding a separate leash to maintain the presence of the dog. BJ and Project Chance are very well versed in training their puppies to be acclimated to wearing the harness and providing that safety feature to their new families.
Last month we did an article on Pets and Autism. This month, we wanted to follow that up with a story on a great organization that trains puppies to be placed with children with autism. Project Chance is based in Fernandina Beach, Florida and they work with a select group of breeders to raise and train white Golden Retrieves for select families. Project Chance has made it their mission to provide clinically prescribed and professionally trained service and therapy dogs with the specific skill sets needed to aid children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. They have been training and providing dogs to families since 2008 and they are recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Their trained dogs help these children achieve maximum potential and independence in executing therapeutic, social, and physical tasks at a higher rate of success throughout their lives.
It seems that a properly trained autism service dog can serve as the link between a child with autism and the world we live in. Every child deserves the opportunity to have a companion that can help them with daily tasks and being around a crowd of people. By providing a focal point for the child, a dog can ease them through, otherwise, difficult situations. As parents, we can’t do it all, and sometimes that four-legged friend could just be the assistance we need too.
Their placements include service dogs for individual children on the autism spectrum, down syndrome and therapy dogs for classrooms serving those with autism or other developmental disabilities. Autism assistance dogs are unique in the ways they provide support and help to their human counterparts. An autism assistance dog is there for the primary purpose of emotional support and focus. A guide dog, for example, would be used more for assistance in physical tasks. Both are extremely important but have major differences. The training provided by the founder and director of Project Chance, BJ, and her team really hone in on the emotional side of support and assistance that is to be provided by the dog. By simply being there, a well trained and reassuring companion can help
Read our interview with the Founder/Director of Project Chance, BJ Szwedzinski, to learn more. Please visit their website at www.ProjectChance.com
Our Interview with founder and director of Project Chance, BJ Szwedzinski about her organization and Autism Assistance Dogs 1. How would you describe Project Chance to someone who is hearing about you for the first time? Project Chance is a 501c3 located in North East Florida that trains service dogs for kids with autism. 2. When did you start Project Chance and was your motivation / inspiration for starting it? We started Project Chance in 2008. As an educator and dog trainer working with the autism community, I saw the need for this service. 3. Who helped you start Project Chance and who or how many people are involved now? My daughter KCJ and I started Project Chance and there are currently 25 volunteers. 4. Do you breed all of the puppies you train? If not, where do you acquire the puppies for training? We currently do not breed for our program and get our puppies from a few select breeders around the country. 5. Do you focus on one breed? What breeds to you feel best are for training for an autism companion? We train specifically white golden retrievers. This breed is smart, empathetic, quick to learn and incredibly loving.
6. How long do you normally train a puppy before placing into a new home? What age is the puppy when placed? We train the puppies as a rotation. They divide their time between our training facility, puppy raisers and the family who will receive the puppy. They are placed permanently around 16 months. 7. Do you always know who you are training the puppy for, or do you start training the puppy while looking for placement? As soon as we receive the puppies we start their training. We pair the puppies with their children as soon as possible to start the bonding process. Early placement facilitates early intervention. 8. What are the requirements for getting a puppy through Project Chance? Two adults in the family, regional location, ability for the family to come to the training facility 50% of the time and the child’s age bracket. 9. What is the average cost to the family for a puppy? $18,000 10. What is your favorite part about what you do? Watching the process of the dog help the child to become more independent and functional. 11. Do you stay in contact with the families after placement? Absolutely. We stay in touch with the families for three years, many have become good friends and extended family. They also become mentors for new families receiving puppies. Many of the kids end up becoming friends by working together training their dogs and it increases their social skills and leadership.
12. What kind of dogs did you have growing up? I had a dog named Frisky, he was a Westie Mix. 13. If a parent is considering getting a puppy for their ASD child, what advice would you give them? Be sure that everyone in the family is willing to pitch in. It is not just one person’s responsibility to raise the dog and remember for a while it WILL be like raising another child. It will rock their world if they get it right.
18. Do you ever fall in love with a puppy so much that it is hard to let him or her go to another home? We fall in love with every puppy and it is not hard to send them on their way because the joy of knowing we were a part of their life journey to help someone else far outweighs any heavy feeling. 19. How many dogs do you have now? I have 4 personal dogs and we just got 6 new puppies for Project Chance. 20. Do you have any other pets? Yes, a cat named Grey Boots. 21. How can people find out about getting a Project Chance puppy? Go to our website www.projectchance.com and friend us on Facebook at Project C.H.A.N.C.E 22. How can people help Project Chance? Donations are accepted and voice their new information how a service dog can help a child with autism.
14. What are some characteristics that a child may show that would help a parent decide if they should look into a puppy? Our agency looks at this a little differently. For the safety of our dogs, we look OUT for abusive or harmful tendencies in children. Other than that, almost any child on the spectrum can benefit from a service dog. 15. The bond between a dog and a human is huge and dogs, in general, seem to do so well with children with autism. Why do you think dogs do so well? Dogs are intuitive and non-judgmental. They learn easily and are quick to want a life time job and companion. Because of the high standards of training we set for these dogs, it opens up their higher critical thinking skills to perform their jobs on an individual basis. 16. What is the best way for the family to pick out a dog? We match the puppies with the children. 17. How many dogs has Project Chance placed with families? 17 with kids as service dogs and 3 in educational settings as therapy dogs.
Featured TATTOO of the Month The Monthly Melody appreciates good art! Each month we feature an autism inspired tattoo. This month we bring you the tattoo of Joanne Hampson. We first saw this tattoo posted to Autism Tattoo’s Facebook page and thought it was amazing. Joanne says this tattoo represents both of her children and she plans on adding the words, “together they are perfection”.
Do you have an autism related tattoo that you would like to share? Send us a picture to support@werockforautism.org
www.TheMonthlyMelody.com I www.WeRockforAutism.org I support@werockforautism.org