Announcements


New Family Autism Network Website
Orange County Autism Event Calendar Now Available


  A new, Orange County Autism Event Calendar
is now available for organizations to submit information about autism conferences, workshops, activities, family support meetings and other events

Open the document "New FAN Calendar" below to learn more about this unique community resource!


Documents for Download
New FAN Calendar.doc

Special Needs Acceptance Project:
Help GAN to prevent bullying


The Special Needs Acceptance Project
For K-6 Schools, Community Youth Groups,
Churches, Synagogues and Libraries

This Project is sponsored by GAN to increase peer support for all children with special needs and to prevent bullying.

Why is The Special Needs Acceptance Project important?
Bullying has become a national dilemma and raising awareness and empathy for others at the K-6 grade levels may help to prevent intolerant behaviors toward others as the
children mature.

What is the purpose of this project?

The Special Needs Acceptance Project is based upon The Special Needs Acceptance book  by Ellen Sabin.  It has interactive, educational and character building activities that introduce children to the challenges faced by those with special needs, while also raising their awareness that all people are different. The book covers a wide range of disabilities; some that are apparent, and others that are not.  It includes autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, asthma, blindness, deafness, emotional and behavioral challenges and learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD. 

A Teacher’s Guide is available for grades K-6 which includes lesson plans and activities compliant with numerous National and State Content Standards drawn from the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning National Standards, as well as National Character Education Standards (which can be viewed at www.character.org).   Each lesson plan and activity can be easily adapted to grade and ability levels and academic goals. The guide provides academic lessons in language arts, science, history, and character education.

Who can use this project effectively?

The project is intended to be introduced by educators, youth group leaders, volunteers, parents and others as an inclusion tool to help children with special needs to be better accepted by their peers.  It emphasizes that that we are all different, we are all special and we all deserve to be understood and accepted.

Where can you get this book and teaching guide?

The book is available at  www.wateringcanpress.com and other booksellers.  The Teachers Guide for school classrooms  and Guides for Teachers in Christian and Jewish Settings are all available at no cost for downloading at www.wateringcanpress.com  
Please contact  ganmarilyn@aol.com  for additional information.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen's
Transporters DVD - Now Available



Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, is a leading world authority on autism and Director of the Autism Research Center at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.  Many people who attended  the conference, Autism Research:  Fact or Fiction,  featuring Professor Baron-Cohen, have inquired about how they can order The Transporters DVD which was discussed in the presentation.

The Transporters stories are specifically designed to appeal to children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. The trains, trams and cable cars have adventures based around 15 key emotions. The vehicles have real human faces so the children learn to recognize emotions on real faces rather than cartoon ones. This helps them to generalize what they learn into everyday life. 

The DVD has taken almost 3 years of intense research and production effort to create and has involved children with autism at every stage.  Twenty-five percent of profits from the sale of the DVD go to autism charities around the world, including the Autism Society of America and Autism Speaks.

For more information and to order the DVD, please go to  www.thetransporters.com


 

Autism Research Study Participants Needed:
Support this New Genetic Project


  Simons Simplex Collection

UCLA researchers are involved in a multi-site research study called the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), to gather DNA samples from 2,000 autism patients and their families over the next three years. The SSC is a coordinated effort to create a database of information about cases where there is only one family member with autism. This group, which represents the great majority of autism spectrum disorders, will lead us to new genetic factors that increase the risk of autism.Families from Southern California are currently being recruited to participate. Families eligible to participate consist of: only one child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), age four or older; one or more siblings without an ASD, age four or older; and unaffected biological parents who are willing to participate. Eligible children with an ASD will receive a behavioral assessment and all family members will donate blood, a source of DNA. A small number of families with no siblings or siblings under the age of four may be eligible to participate in the study. This information will be made available to scientists around the world who are searching for clues to the causes of autism.


For more information on participating in the study, click on this link Simons Simplex   
For a list of additional studies seeking participants, please go to  http://www.autism.ucla.edu/files/

Autism Genetic Resource Exchange:
AGRE


If you have more than one family member who has autism, PDD-NOS or Asperger’s syndrome, you will want to learn more about AGRE…….


 What is AGRE?
The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) is the first collaborative gene bank for the study of autism spectrum disorders and one of the world’s largest shared resources to advance genetic research in autism spectrum disorders.  Genetic biomaterials and clinical data are obtained from families that have more than one family member diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The biological samples, along with the accompanying clinical data, are made available to AGRE-approved researchers.   

Learn more about this program  at:       LINK

Special Needs Trusts and Conservatorships
Learn how you can plan for your grandchild's future.


Several grandparents have requested more information regarding this topic. If you would like to attend an evening presentation by professionals, including an opportunity for questions and answers, please e-mail or call GAN to indicate you would like to be invited.

Independent Education Plan (IEP) Seminar
Learn strategies and plan ahead for IEP's


Please contact us if you would like a seminar regarding Independent Education Plans. Your children are welcome to attend this, as well. If there are many of you interested in attending, we will schedule it.

Online Course Can Build Advocacy Skills
Free tutorial helps "make your case"


“Making Your Case” is a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy.


Since 1987, graduates of "Partners in Policymaking" have used their newly acquired advocacy skills to bring about major policy changes at all levels of government in the United States and the United Kingdom.


The free course was designed to give potential advocates the critical skills they need to make a difference through advocacy by telling a story in writing and in person; identifying the policymakers who can help bring about targeted changes; writing effective letters and e-mails; conducting productive meetings with policymakers; giving effective testimony and answers to questions; and organizing with others to tackle community issues.


For more information or to take the course, visit http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase/.


Go Take A Hike ...
With your special needs grandchildren!


The head naturalist at Naturalist For You leads many local Orange County hikes.  He has experience working with special needs kids and is willing to lead a hike if there is sufficient interest.  He has suggestedthat a couple of short canyon hikes (Silverado and Black Star) would be most appropriate and that a small group would be best.

If you are interested in having your grandchildren participate in this activity, please e-mail to Donna Furon donnafuron@dslextreme.com  or call (562)430-0624 with the following information:  


  • Age(s) of child(ren)
  • Number of adults who would be coming
  • Preferences for weekday or weekend
  • Preference for morning or afternoon