March 2008 Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings

We are pleased to have two special presentations at our March and April Meetings.  

On March 25, The Spectrum Unplugged Panel from the Focus Alternative Learning Center will be our guests.  This panel of teens and young adults will share their perspectives on autism, schools, peers, their challenges and their successes.  If you have never heard the panel speak before, you will learn much about how it feels to be on the spectrum from a group that is both honest and articulate.   If you have previously heard the panel, you will be surprised at how much you still learn the second (or third . . .) time you hear them.  Parents and professionals are welcome.  We also want to extend a special invitation to any teens or young adults, whether on the spectrum or not, to come and hear from their peers.  

On April 28, Kristen Powers, OTR will present Incorporating a Sensory Diet in Everyday Life.  The presentation is for both parents and professionals and will provide information on how do address the sensory needs of a child on the spectrum.

Announcements

Many things are happening in Connecticut around Autism: several bills are in committee in the legislature concerning expanding the Pilot Program for adults, expanding insurance coverage for many essential therapies for our children, and a bill centered on professional training. Please support these bills by talking or writing your legislator, coming to a public hearing or writing the governor. 

April 2 is Autism Awareness Day worldwide.

We are asking members to update their membership for 2008.  While FAVAN is run on a very low budget, dues are used to cover costs for speakers, snacks at meetings, yearly mailings, the website, and books for the library.   Joining FAVAN and paying the yearly dues is voluntary but appreciated.   To register, please fill out the membership form and bring it to a meeting or mail it to us.

Conferences and Workshops

The Yale Child Study Center is holding a conference titled The Road to Post Secondary Education:  What parents need to know to prepare students with Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, & Related Conditions on Friday April 18 in New Haven.

The Autism Society of Connecticut's Annual Conference is on Saturday, April 26 in Hartford.  The conference is titled Behavior Management: From Toddler to Teen Age and Beyond.  The conference is always a great opportunity to learn as well as network with other families from around the state.