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Hey everyone,

This video was made through a grant that the Utah Parent Center received. We collaborated with them to write the scripts and come up with the ideas and people. We think it’s awesome…a bit cheesy perhaps, but awesome. It is all dedicated to building your own autism community, don’t wait for someone to help you or for funding, etc. start building your own supports where you can. Not that we will ever stop advocating for supports for our families, but it’s a start.

Pass it on.

Thanks, and hang in there!!

http://www.utahparentcenter.org/training/videos/families-living-with-autism/

New resource for autism peeps…. YAY!

The Autism Resource Partnership, a “one stop shop” for parents and professionals, is being created through a $450,000 grant from The Regence Foundation.

Spread over three years, it will enable the U. to provide information and training for families and professionals and develop a website with information on evidence-based treatments, local resources, including support groups and therapy options, and ways to get involved in local research projects, a state-wide network. The media asked me if this wasn’t what the ACU already does? I told them that there is no competition in autism, just collaboration and commitment. I am also sitting on this committee and I’m sure the ACU will link to this Partnership website.

“Anybody who is close to autism knows there are a lot more questions than there are answers,” he said, noting that his niece’s son has the disorder. “We want to start answering questions,” including what causes it and how best to treat it. (wow, that would be GREAT!!)
Considering 1 in 77 8-year-olds in Utah has autism, “it just screams out for an area of focus,” said Robert Hatch, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah.

Another question is whether insurance companies should cover autism behavior therapy. Attempts to mandate coverage in Utah were defeated in 2009 in part due to complaints by insurance companies. Hatch said his company covers medical treatments, including medication, psychiatric care and occupational and physical therapy. (Parents will be going after insurance reform again this year!)

Cheryl Smith, president of the Autism Council of Utah, said she is “thrilled” with any money that is available to help families who have children with autism. She expects to see more referrals to her group because of the efforts. “I’m excited to see health care step up and take a part in trying to find help for these families.” (That’s me…)
Heather May, SL Tribune

I had the great opportunity to attend a demonstration of such a product with the Layton City Police Department. The product called EmSeeQ, by EmFinders (www.emfinders.com) uses the E 9-1-1 network and advanced cellular technology to rapidly locate your missing loved one and direct first responders with one phone call to the EmFinders call center. Within minutes, EmFinders activates the device, contacts the 9-1-1 system and emergency responders are sent to the location. Having the pleasure of watching this device in action, it is really that simple and that effective, and most importantly, provides peace of mind. In addition to the benefit, the fact is this product is more than affordable. The device itself ranges from $169 to $199 for the two different models, whereas the service is at a very reasonable $25 per month or $250 per year. However, cost is nothing next to the peace of mind, the comfort we have that our loved ones can be located by simply making a phone call. How can you put a price on that?
As a consumer, I find this to be a tremendous technology. I can see how this can save precious time for our first responders. The Layton City Police Department spent over 425 hours looking for missing persons from June 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011. That’s 425 hours of fear, despair and risk to our loved ones. As a dad, I see this is a way to locate my child much faster and bring him home to me. The fear of wandering shrinks as would my anxiety that the minutes may turn into hours, or days. As a father, a mother or any caregiver, who can put a price on a safe return home?

James S. Vaughan
Member – Autism Council of Utah
Families of Autism and Asperger’s Standing Together (F.A.A.S.T.)

http://faastutah.weebly.com

School is underway again. For many of us it means new routines, new teachers, maybe even a new school… For others, it’s another reminder how close we are to transitioning to adult services, if not in the midst of that transition or still trying to sort out what’s out there for adults on the spectrum. There certainly is no rest for the weary, because just because this year is underway, there’s always next year to think about.

There are so many of us who have spent more hours trying to figure out where to send our child with ASD to elementary school than what many of us spent trying to sort out where to go to college! Not to mention the inordinate amounts of time figuring out doctors and therapy and social groups and support.

The ACU is “Your Autism Connection” here in Utah! The Events and Resources pages are alive and ever changing, with new resources being added all of the time. There are so many listings for education, recreation, and plenty of service providers, too. And we’ve linked it up with facebook, so you can tell how many people have recommended it. If you like a resource and aren’t into social media, feel free to use our comment section to tell us and we’ll add your recommendations, too.

And speaking of recommendations, have you seen the video and materials on “Autism: Essentials for Educators”? I love them! They are produced by the Utah Personnel Development Center, and can be found at http://www.updc.org/autism-essentials/. We saw parts of the video at the last ACU annual meeting, and I think it is fabulous! Even for me, as a parent, because it gives a great summary of autism (when people ask me about it, sometimes I would be stumped for a reply, and this has given me some things to say!) as well as handy tips and tricks for working with kiddos that can be used immediately. I personally have recommended this site to friends who are teachers or otherwise work with children, and they also think it is great!

Here’s to a great school year!

-Liz Saling
Membership & Information Chair