Autism Medicaid Waiver Webinar

Several states have implemented Autism Medicaid Waiver Programs that provide a variety of services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. These programs may include educational, medical, and/or social services. Ellen Blackwell from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide a national overview of Autism Medicaid Waiver Programs. Additionally, representatives from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and South Carolina will present information about their state programs and share strategies and lessons learned in the process of creating successful models for Autism Medicaid Waiver Programs. Following the presentations there will be an opportunity for participant Q&A.

Title: Autism Medicaid Waiver Programs: Federal and State Perspectives Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009 Time: 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/990556425

Improving Speech and Eating Skills

Improving Speech and Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Oral-Motor Program for Home and School by Maureen A. Flanagan is a practical and thorough guide for both parents and professionals. This user friendly guide shows how improvement of oral motor patterns facilitates in the development of communication and eating skills. It includes simple daily activities to help expand the child's diet and increase the number of sounds the child produces. This book is for parents, therapist's and anyone who works with children with autism spectrum disorders.

If interested in this book and live in Indiana?

If not, search WorldCat to see if your local library has it.

The Color of Autism

The Color of Autism: Methods to Reach and Educate Children on the Autism Spectrum by Toni Flowers is an ideal tool for professionals in learning how to provide a better learning environment for students with autism spectrum. Within the pages of this book, Toni Flowers provides great tips on how to communicate effectively in "autism speak," design effective classrooms and learning environments, create schedules that make sense to students, use creative cuing to reinforce lessons, and much more.

Flowers uses examples of problems a teachers might come across in the classroom and then uses real-life cases studies and teaching techniques to guide the reader through how to solve these issues.


Indiana residents may check out this book at CeDIR. Others might want to use WorldCat to find it in a library nearby.

The Autism Trail Guide

The Autism Trail Guide: Postcards from the Road Less Traveled by Ellen Notbohm is a great book for parents of children with autism and even for professionals interested in learning more about the subject. The Autism Trail Guide is helpful for learning how to take on the challenges of life while also seeing the amazing things their children can accomplish. Notbohm gives advice on how to tackle issues that could be seen as difficult such as doing homework, certain behaviors, when to know it is okay to take a risk in parenting, when to keep going with an issue and when it's okay to let go of it. Written as a collection of essays, The Autism Trail Guide makes it easy to keep going, even if you just have a few minutes to spare.

Interested in checking it out? Call us at 800-437-7924. Not an Indiana resident? No worries! Find the copy nearest you with worldcat.org!

Autism in Public Schools

There can be no doubt that autism in our public schools is on the rise. And as the number of children with autism in schools continues to increase, those schools are being challenged to educate their kids without breaking the bank. Check out this special report from Edutopia: Overcoming Autism: Public Schools Deal with a Growing Problem, that highlights some of the issues facing public schools today.

Autism Awareness - Helpful Tips from Autism Society of America

ASA’s Helpful Tips for Interacting with Someone Who has Autism

People on the autism spectrum may:

not understand what you say
appear deaf
be unable to speak or speak with difficulty
engage in repetitive behaviors
act upset for no apparent reason
appear insensitive to pain
appear anxious or nervous
dart away from you unexpectedly
engage in self-stimulating behaviors (i.e. Hand flapping or rocking) http://www.autism-society.org/


Helpful hints for interaction:

Speak slowly and use simple language
Use concrete terms
Repeat simple questions
Allow time for responses
Give lots of praise
Do not attempt to physically block self-stimulating behavior
Remember that each person is unique and may act differently than another


For more information, Visit: http://www.autism-society.org/

World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2009

World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2009

from Autism Society of America www.autism-society.org ......

In the U.S., 1 in 150 children born today will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Here are 5 ways to raise awareness and educate others on World Autism Awareness Day, April, 2, 2009:

1. FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO A FRIEND Share this email with family and friends asking them to sign up to receive the ASA Newsletter so they can stay informed about the news and views surrounding autism.

2. FACEBOOK Change your status to: “Today I'm donating my status to WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY — help spread the word!” And become a fan of ASA on Facebook.

3. BLOG Let your readers know that it's World Autism Awareness Day. Click here for our helpful tips for interacting with individuals with autism.

4. TWITTER Tweet to all your followers: “Today is WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY, visit the ASA Website for ways to get involved.”

5. DONATE Make a generous tax-deductible online donation today to help support our ongoing initiatives to accelerate critically needed autism early intervention programs, essential therapeutic research and vital support services.Autism needs to be top of the mind on World Autism Awareness Day — April 2, 2009. We need you to join us... get pro-active... be generous... and share.Thanks for joining our efforts to spread autism awareness!

from: Lee GrossmanPresident and CEO ASA member since 1991Parent of a son with autism

© 2009 AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA