December 2008

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)

for Supporting Young Children with ASDs in Home, School and Community Settings

Speaker: Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA

Clinical Services Director, SARRC

When: Monday, December 15

Where: University of Arizona

Student Union, Kiva Room

Tucson, Arizona

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cost: No Fee

This workshop is designed for parents and professionals working with young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA, SARRC’s clinical services director, will describe the devel­opment and implementation of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), an evidence-based intervention for teaching children with autism. PRT is a family-centered approach that may be implemented throughout the day and across natural environments such as in the home, at school or in the community. Dr. Openden will discuss procedures for improving the pivotal response of motivation to produce generalized improvements in language and social skills and reductions in disruptive behaviors. Video examples will be used to illustrate how professionals can implement the procedures throughout the day and across settings. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance for professional development.

The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to autism research, education and resources for children and young adults with autism and their families. SARRC undertakes self-directed and collaborative research projects, serves as a satellite site for national and international projects, and provides up-to-date information, training and assistance to families and professionals about autism and related disorders. For more information about SARRC, call (602) 340-8717 or visit www.autismcenter.org.

Registration: PRT Workshop

Please contact SARRC’s

Intake Coordinator at

602-340-8717

SARRC, 300 N. 18th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85006

Phone (602) 340-8717

FAX (602) 340-8720

Forwarded from: Arizona Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities

Dear Community Partners,

The following email is being forwarded on behalf of the American Association of People with Disabilities, and is intended for informational purposes only.  The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities does not necessarily endorse or oppose the content of this email.  All questions should be directed to AAPD.  Please do not reply to this email.  

Begin forwarded message: 

The American Association of People with Disabilities is looking for college students with disabilities to apply for the:

2009 Summer Internships for Students with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.!

To apply, visit http://www.aapd.com/internships.html   The MEAF-AAPD Congressional Internship and the Microsoft-AAPD Information Technology (IT) Internship are both for currently-enrolled college students with disabilities.   Accepted candidates will spend the summer in Washington, DC working either in Congressional offices or the IT Divisions of Federal Government Agencies.

Roundtrip airfare, accessible housing, and a living stipend will be provided to each intern.   Hosted by AAPD and sponsored by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, the AAPD Congressional Internship Program welcomes all sophomore and junior applicants with disabilities to apply! Selected interns will have the unique opportunity to work on Capitol Hill for members of Congress.

Previous Congressional placements have included:

·     Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

·     Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)

·     Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)

·     Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI)

·     House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

·     Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

Hosted by AAPD and sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation, the Microsoft-AAPD Congressional Internship Program encourages undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in Information Technology to apply!  Selected interns will have the unique opportunity to work in various agencies in the executive branch of the Federal government.

Previous IT placements have included:

·     US Coast Guard

·     Department of Homeland Security

·     US Patent and Trade Office

·     National Science Foundation

·     US Department of Transportation

·     Transportation Security Administration

·     Federal Aviation Administration

To apply for the AAPD Summer Internship Programs, please visit http://www.aapd.com/internships.html.

For additional information or for questions, please contact the AAPD National Programs office at 1-800-840-8844 ext. 22 or via email at internship@aapd.com.  

Warm regards,

AAPD Programs Team American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)    

1629 K ST. NW, Suite 503 Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 457-0046 x22 (202) 457-0473 (fax) www.aapd.com

A quick reminder for you.  We went to last year’s holiday event for the first time and will be going again tonight.  We ran into so many people that we knew, some that we hadn’t seen in a really long time.  It was a wonderful evening!

Special Night for Special Kids
at the Railroad Park

December 10, 2008
6:30-8:00 pm

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Scottsdale Road and Indian Bend

This FREE event for special needs children and their families features train rides through a spectacular Holiday Lights show, carousel rides, tons of fun activities and a special visit from Santa and his elves!  Look for your favorite cartoon characters!

Pam Murphy, President of Special Education Parent Advisory Council in Scottsdale, recently was contacted by a parent living in another part of the valley about starting up a group in their school district.  Pam copied me on her response, and I thought she did such a great job that I asked her if I could share it:

Wow!! How exciting!! It sounds like the Special Ed director and parents are already working together!!

Jill probably told you most of what you need to know about us. You are certainly welcome to model your group after ours, or develop something different to meet your needs. Feel free to copy our mission and goals if they fit, or develop your own. Cave Creek is actually modeling their group after ours and is using much of what we use. Fountain Hills and Gilbert, for example, have developed their own style. I included Lisa Myerson Marshall in this email since she’s our out-reach board member who has brought together other district parent leaders with ours. In fact, we have a collaborative meeting on December 3rd we’d love to have you come to!!

Our group was started about 5 years ago by Margaret Corcoran-Smith and Shauna Mattson, two present board members. We represent all parents of children with IEPs, and we try to keep our focus broad. Monthly programs highlight broad needs – IEP workshops, meeting with administrators, transition issues, behavior concerns to name a few. In addition, our board meets regularly with our special education director, Lois Healey, (who is absolutely wonderful and wonderfully supportive of our group) and our now interim co-superintendent Katy Cavanagh who is in charge of curriculum and teaching. The meetings are collaborative and deal with issues of testing, identification of special needs, para-professional training, program availabilities, and inclusion to name a few.

Over the past few years we have really tried to focus on inclusion of our kids with special needs into the school communities. We take no stand on whether kids should be in self-contained classes or included in general ed classes. Those decisions are individual, and our board represents parents of children on both sides of that decision. What we focus on is the inclusion of our kids in the general school environment. We promote buddy programs and special social programs for the playground. We remind administrators to plan special ed classrooms in the middle of new facilities plan and not on the outskirts. We educate the principals and general PTO parents about the importance of inclusion of our kids in all school activities. Our administration has even given us the opportunity to present to an all district principal meeting!! We used pictures of our kids, and one of the middle school principals identified one of his new students immediately from the pictures and made him (and his mom) feel so welcome!

At our meetings we have made a tremendous effort to avoid a personal complaint session. This was a problem initially but has seemed to subside.

Now, I’m just rambling. Check out our website at www.sepac-scottsdale.org.  Our mission and goals are under “about SEPAC.” We have regular columns from Lois Healey, and Jill Castle writes an excellent column as well!! Thanks Jill. News items and notifications are prevalent.

So, we wish you good luck! And, we hope you can join us in December!

If you are thinking of started a parent group and would like to chat with us, you can find our current board members listed on our web SEPAC web site on the Contacts page.

Parents and advocates of special kids:

To date we only have 5 registrations for the SUSD Special Needs Winter Camp. I know there are more of you out there planning to attend this camp.

Please turn in your registration form ASAP. If we do not meet the minimum of 12 per day, camp will be canceled.

Registration deadline is December 12th – but we need to know now that we have minimum numbers to move forward with planning.

Let’s get 50 families signed up now. We can accommodate lots of kids with awesome facilities and staffing – now we just need you!!!

Thanks!
Julia Whitt
Sam’s mom
julia.whitt@cox.net

Link to:  SUSD Special Needs Winter Camp Registration Packet

Come hear Joseph A. Gentry, Ph.D. from the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center “SARRC” talk about…

The FRIEND Playground Program

The FRIEND Playground Program is a school-wide social skills program for children who have trouble joining in activities on the playground, making friends and initiating play and conversation with peers appropriately. Learn about this program which is being implemented in several schools in the Phoenix area.

When: January 22, 2009

Where: Horizon High School Media Center

5601 E. Greenway Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Laura Bistrow, Director of Special Education for the Paradise Valley Unified School District, will be introducing Dr. Gentry.

RSVP: Allison Cahill, Special Education Committee Chairperson at aecahill@cox.net  

Presented by Paradise Valley United Parent Council’s Special Education Committee – www.PVUPC.org

T’was a Special Night… for Special Kids

December 10, 2008
6:30-8:00 pm
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Scottsdale Road and Indian Bend

This FREE event for special needs children and their families features train rides through a spectacular Holiday Lights show, carousel rides, tons of fun activities and a special visit from Santa and his elves!  Look for your favorite cartoon characters!

For more information, please contact:
Julie Gieringer @ 480-310-0521
No reservations or registration needed.

See flyer for more details and local sponsors who are making this Special Night for Special Kids on Dec. 10th possible!