Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Resources for Children 2008-09 Training Series

What’s Out There and How to Get It
2008-2009 Free Training Series
For Families and Professionals Needing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities

Gary Shulman, MS.Ed.:212-677-4650
gshulman@resourcesnyc.org
www.resourcesnyc.org
www.resourcesnycdatabase.org

Bronx

Jewish Child Care Association 555 Bergen Ave. Bronx 10455

November 5, 2008 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
December 3, 2008 Advocacy Skills for Parents 10 AM-1 PM
January 8, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10 AM-1 PM
February 4, 2009 Turning 5: Transition to School Age 10AM-1PM
March 4, 2009 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
April 1, 2009 Community Resources 10 AM-12 Noon
May 6, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
June 3, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10 AM-1 PM

Bronx Family Center of the Children’s Aid Society 1515 Southern Blvd. Bronx 10460

November 7, 2008 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10AM-1PM
January 23, 2009 Transition from School to Adult Life 10AM-1PM
March 13, 2009 Turning 5: Transition to School Age 10AM-1PM
May 8, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10AM-1PM
June 12, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10AM-1PM

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Heights Library 280 Cadman Plaza West Bklyn. 11201

October 24, 2008 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
October 29, 2008 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
November 5, 2008 Advocacy Skills for Parents 10 AM-1 PM
December 10, 2008 Community Resources 10 AM-12 Noon
December 19, 2008 Turning 5: Transition to School Age 10 AM-1 PM
Jan, 16, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10AM-1PM

Central Library Grand Army Plaza Flatbush Ave. and Eastern Parkway 11238

October 23, 2008 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10AM-1 PM
November 12, 2008 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10AM-1PM
December 17, 2008 Transition from School to Adult Life 10AM-1PM
January 22, 2009 Turning 5: Transition to School Age 10AM-1PM

February 12, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10AM-1PM
March 10, 2009 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
April 22, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10AM-1PM

Manhattan

Andrew Heiskell Braille & Talking Book Library 40 W. 20th St. NYC 10011

November 14, 2008 Getting Appropriate Educational Services
10:00 AM- 1 PM
November 20, 2008 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM- 1 PM
November 25, 2008 Advocacy Skills for Parents 10 AM-1 PM
December 2, 2008 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
December 16, 2008 Community Resources 10 AM-12 PM
January 15, 2009 Turning 5: Transition to School Age 10AM-1PM

West Harlem Head Start 121 W. 128th Street, NYC 10027

March 12, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10 AM-1 PM
March, 19 2009 Community Resources 10 AM-12 PM
March 26, 2009 Turning 5:Transition to School Age 10 AM-1 PM

Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. 116 E. 16th St. 5th Floor NY, NY 10003

November 18, 2008 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
January 28, 2009 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
February 26, 2009 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10 AM-1 PM
March 31, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
April 6, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 6 PM-8 PM
April 28, 2009 Community Resources 6 PM-8 PM

Queens

Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning 161-04 Jamaica Ave. Jamaica NY 11432

January 7, 2009 Community Resources 10 AM-12 Noon
January 13, 2009 Transition to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
January 29, 2009 Getting Appropriate Education Services 10 AM-1 PM
February 11, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
February 25, 2009 Advocacy Skills for Parents 10 AM-1 PM

Staten Island

Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
1466 Manor Road, Staten Island NY 10314

Dec. 4, 2008 Getting Appropriate Educational Services 10 AM-1 PM
Jan. 6, 2009 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM
Feb. 5, 2009 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM
March 18, 2009 Advocacy Skills for Parents 10 AM-1 PM
April 7, 2009 Community Resources 10 AM-12 Noon

Saturday, June 21, 2008

QSAC Manhattan Parent Support Group

An agency moderated support group that meets in the evening.

Tuesdays

July 8 & 22
August 5
September 9 & 23
October 7 & 21
November 18
December 2 & 16

6:30* pm -- 8 pm
(building entrance doors locked at 7:15 pm)

253 West 35th Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10001

REFRESHMENTS will be served

For more information please contact: Annie Washington at 718-728-8476, x 1219

To reserve in-home respite conatct: Kiesha Cannon at 718-728-8476, x 1322

Thursday, June 12, 2008

New York Magazine on High Functioning Autism

Though few in the downtown support group have adult children, and among our children only some appear to have a likely future where getting eligible for supportive services will be a problem, the news media has caught on to an angle that uses autism as a lens to talk about what is normal and what is a disabling condition.

Now that I work in the field of developmental disabilities services, I see adults on locations of the spectrum that I had previously thought of only as imaginary, unoccupied spaces.

In many respects I admire the people in this article for their thoughtfulness, but overall I worry that the message I need to be out there strongly, that people with autism can live in the community successfully with adequate and appropriate supports will get diluted with this more abstract discussion. And this is important, because I need that message not merely to validate my goals for my kids, but because reaching those goals is going to require substantial pubic support for significant public expenditures.

Anywhow, here's what New York Magazine has to say about them.

The Autism Gap

This week's Gotham Gazette tells of  "The Autism Gap", and it doesn't really tell you anything you don't already know if you have a school-aged child on the spectrum in New York City. But you can share it with your friends as a demonstration of just what has you frustrated about placements, or quality, or just the DoE in general.

David Kirby on Vaccines & Autism at NYU

THE VACCINE-AUTISM DEBATE WHY WON’T IT GO AWAY?

NYU – LECTURE & Q&A

JOIN DAVID KIRBY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
“EVIDENCE OF HARM – MERCURY IN VACCINES AND THE AUTISM EPIDEMIC: A MEDICAL CONTROVERSY”
FOR A FREE LECTURE AND TOWN HALL DISCUSSION

David Kirby, the New York based investigative journalist and author of the NY Times Bestseller, “Evidence of Harm,” will speak and take questions from the public during a free event at New York University School of Law.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
NYU School of Law, 40 Washington Square South,
Vanderbilt Hall, Room 204
6:30 – 9:00 PM
RSVP REQUIRED: kirbylecture@gmail.com

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Among the subjects Kirby will address and take questions on:

1) A recent case in the US Vaccine Court in which the government conceded that vaccines induced autism in one little girl, and updates on other cases.
2) Growing evidence of a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and autistic regression, and case studies of several ASD children with mitochondrial issues.
3) State-of-the-art research underway at top universities on the connection between environmental toxins, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, glutathione depletion, neuro-inflammation and autistic encephalopathy.
4) Declarations by US Presidential candidates that autism is epidemic and calling for more research into vaccines and mercury as possible causes.
5) Recent studies linking ASD with heavy metals and contaminants in air pollution.

Kirby is a former contributor to The New York Times and a regular writer for the The Huffington Post. Mary Holland, Director of the NYU Graduate Legal Skills Program, will host the event. This event is made possible by Generation Rescue, Autism Research Institute, National Autism Association, SAFE MINDS, and Talk About Curing Autism. Information on Evidence of Harm is at www.evidenceofharm.com Kirby’s Huffington Post essays may be viewed at www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby

Friday, May 30, 2008

Governor of NY announces Autism Platform

Governor David A. Paterson Announces Autism Platform to include Inter-agency Task Force and Statewide Autism Research Consortium

May 28, 2008, 10:30 a.m., State Capitol Blue Room

Governor Paterson will announce the formation of an inter-agency Task Force on Autism that will ensure that New York State government is united as it takes the necessary steps to respond to the increasing incidence of autism and autism spectrum disorders and the challenges these disabilities bring to thousands of New York's families. The Task Force is a key component of a full platform of initiatives underway in New York State's Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD). OMRDD and the State Education Department will co-chair the Task Force, ensuring that the state agencies involved in supporting individuals with autism and autism spectrum disorders work together to improve our understanding of these disabilities, our services and treatment options, our educational programs, and our ability to help families and individuals pursue their richest lives. The Task Force will also include New York State's Office of Mental Health, Office of Children and Family Services, Department of Health, Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and Council on Children and Family Services.

Another key component of OMRDD's Autism Platform is the formation of the New York State Autism Spectrum Disorders Consortium. Governor Patterson tasked OMRDD with creating this multi-party research consortium that will unite New York's most prestigious institutions and most accomplished scientists, doctors, researchers, educators and service providers in a common mission: advancing our ability to understand and respond to ASD. The New York State Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Consortium will establish New York as a leader in both basic and applied research and training related to autism and ASD. It will position New York to pursue and execute large scale research studies in areas ranging from the causes of autism and early detection to studies of its occurrence throughout the state and development of "lab schools" that support focused study of individual responses to treatment in natural settings. Investing in this kind of large scale research and training infrastructure will maximize New York's ability to address the needs of those with autism and ASD. It will ensure that state-of-the-art understanding, prevention, detection and intervention is available across the state through each service system that supports individuals or families facing the challenges of autism.

OMRDD's Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter will also introduce OMRDD's larger Autism Platform, a multi-faceted, system-wide plan for addressing the needs of those with autism and ASD through research, improved services, improved collaboration and coordination among state service systems, and improved information for families, service providers and others. OMRDD's mission is to help people with developmental disabilities lead richer lives, to help them enjoy meaningful relationships, experience personal health and growth, live in homes of their choice, and fully participate in their communities. The Autism Platform, along with the Research Consortium and the inter-agency Task Force, will move New York forward to fulfill that mission for the growing number of people with autism or ASD.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

11/15 Mark Durand at Hunter College

Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Hunter College
Information, Inspiration, and Best Practice
SAVE THE DATE

Fall Conference for Families and Professionals

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Mark Durand

Optimistic Parenting and Optimistic Teaching:
Hope and Help for Challenging Children


Watch for conference registration after September 15, 2008