Autism Society of Nebraska Puzzle Walk Meeting
February 8th, 2010
7pm-9pm
The Nebraska Medical Center- Durham Outpatient Center Room (DOC) 2628
4400 Emile St- Omaha, NE
Michaela’s Cell Phone: 402-658-5261                     (See Map here)

Directions:
Off interstate-Take the 42nd St Exit (Exit 451)
Turn Left onto 42nd St. (Going North)
Continue on 42nd St.
Emile St. Turn Left at lights
Drive until you see the big circle drive on your Right- says “Durham Outpatient Center”
park in the parking structure to the West

Go in main doors of Durham Outpatient Center
Take elevators or escalator in the main entrance to second floor- room 2628

A few weeks ago we asked our community to help us design the 2010 Autism Puzzle Walk T shirts.  Here are three designs that were submitted in the contest and we humbly thank everyone who took time to get creative.    Two of the designs below were submitted by persons on the spectrum and one was submitted by a sibling.  All of the submission were all wonderful and we applaud your creativity!  Thank you!!!!

But now we need our community to help us decide which design to put on the Autism Society’s 2010 Puzzle Walk T shirts!  Please follow the link below and cast your vote! 

DESIGN A:

DESIGN B:

DESIGN C:

Click here to vote for your choice for the

2010 Autism Puzzle Walk T shirts! 

(Vote closes on Sunday February 14th)

Check out Omaha’s Family Spectrum Magazine in March for two very special Young Heroes. Every month this Omaha parenting magazine spotlights some very special young people in the community and in March it will spotlight the autism community and specifically JP and Trey Neff!

Family Spectrum also hosts a daily radio show and hosted a discussion about autism with JP and Trey’s mom, Shawn Neff.   Shawn is a former Autism Society Board member and the current leader of the Omaha Autism Society Support Group.  If you’d like to listen to the interview it can be found here.  (February 2nd archive)

For great community connections and parenting information be sure and check out the Family Spectrum Magazine.  The magazine comes home monthly with your school age children and is also available online. www.familyspectrum.com  This was a great autism awareness piece as Family Spectrum helps us bring an autism perspective to their readers and listeners!  Thank you to Family Spectrum Magazine!

The Autism Society of America and AMC Entertainment have worked together to create sensory friendly films in an attempt to accommodate families with special needs.  This is not only for autism families but also for any families with special needs. 

The movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up, the sound turned down, and AMC’s “Silence is Golden^®” policy will not be enforced.   There will be no previews before the film so plan to arrive early as the movie will start at 10am!   AMC is also being very generous and letting our families bring in their own GFCF snacks. Regular concessions are also available to purchase.

Questions - contact Michaela Newman at (402)933-1216 or bnewms@cox.net 

The Tooth Fairy

(view trailer here)
Saturday, February 6
10:00 am
Omaha’s AMC Oakview 24 Theater
3555 S 140th Plaza
$5 per person

Please help us spread the word.  Download a flyer here.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

(view trailer here)
Saturday, March 20th
10:00 am
Omaha’s AMC Oakview 24 Theater
3555 S 140th Plaza
$5 per person 

Please help us spread the word.  Download a flyer here.

How to Train Your Dragon

(view trailer here)
Saturday, April 10th
10:00 am
Omaha’s AMC Oakview 24 Theater
3555 S 140th Plaza
$5 per person

Please help us spread the word.

Every year the Autism Society of Nebraska awards an individual who shows outstanding commitment to the Autism Community. Anyone who touches the lives of individuals with ASD’s is eligible. This award will be presented at the Statewide Annual Conference held this year in Kearney on April 8th & 9th.

Nominations should be emailed to the Nomination Committee at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org prior to March 1st, 2010.

Please include the name of the person being nominated, contact information for yourself and the nominee, and a one page narrative on why you think this person should be awarded the Excellence in Autism Award from the Autism Society.  Please help us honor those who work so diligently to improve the lives of those affected by autism.

In an effort to reach more families of children with disabilities in the Metro Omaha area, PTI Nebraska has opened a satellite office in South Omaha.  Join them for an Open House on Thursday February 11th. 

Download a flyer here.

Dental Health is important for our children with special health care needs and/or disabilities.  Please take a few minutes to help our friends at PTI-Nebraska by completing the following survey.  Click on this link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GHXVFT6  and it will take you to the online survey.

Kathleen Feller, Associate Vice President of Early Childhood Programs, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation will be in town to offer training for parents and professionals. You will learn to 

Identify normal sexual behaviors of your children
Respond to your child’s questions about sexuality
Respond to your child’s sexual; interactions
Identify and report suspected child abuse

This training also recognizes that a crucial component of nurturing healthy sexual development is protecting children from sexual abuse. The training is for parents of children of all ages. It is never too early to begin talking.  Call in your reservations today!  Call Cleo at 346-5220 ext 10.

Tuesday February 9th

6:15pm - 8:30 pm

St. Timothy’s Church (93rd and Dodge)

Download flyer here.

Download flyer in Spanish here.

Feeling Stretched Raising a Child/Adult with a Disability?

 Seeking a More Balanced Life?

The Ollie Webb is announcing a new session of their program, “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”(PTC).  This is an educational program adapted to provide persons, who are raising and caring for individuals with disabilities, the tools needed to care for themselves. 

Attendees will learn how to:  reduce stress, balance life, improve self confidence, and better communicate feelings. 

Here is what one past participant said about the program:  “For eight years, I felt so alone, caring for my special needs son.  PTC opened the door for me to a world of caregivers that felt just like me.  Now I am no longer alone.  I know others who walk in my shoes each day and this is so comforting.  PTC has given me the tools to cope with my life and the validation that what I do each day for my son is special and meaningful”. 

When: 

6 Week Program
Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
March 16, 23, 30 and April 6, 13, 20

5:30 - 6:00pm Dinner
6:00 - 8:30 pm Class

Cost:  $35 single or $45 couple (covers book and dinner) 

Where:  Ollie Webb Center, Inc, 1941 S 42nd St, Suite 122

Download the registration flyer here.`

Do you know of anyone who might be interested in serving as a corporate sponsor for our 3rd annual Autism Society Puzzle Walk?  Please contact the Autism Society right away at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org!

Do you have a contact that would be interested in donating a raffle prize for our event?  The raffle is always amazing!  Help us make it even more spectacular and raise even more funds for a great cause!    Contact us at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org to make a donation!

From the Autism Society Web site….New visual teaching tool from Model Me Kids

Model Me Kids^® recently introduced a new visual teaching tool for helping children learn to navigate challenging locations in the community: Model Me Going Places^™, an application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The app contains photo slideshows of children modeling appropriate behavior in various community locations, such as the:

hairdresser
mall
doctor
playground
grocery store
restaurant

The app is based on locations included in the Model Me Going Places DVD, the latest addition to the Model Me Kids social skills training series for children with autism and Asperger Syndrome (expected release date for the DVD is March 2010).

Users can touch the forward and back buttons to move through the photos one by one, or simply press a slideshow button to advance photos automatically. A home button brings users back to the navigation menu where they can choose their next destination. The app also includes audio narration (English) and descriptive text for each photo.

Download the free app at the Apple store or to learn more, visit http://www.modelmekids.com.

Siblings of children with autism have unique needs.  The Support Group for Siblings of Children with Autism may increase siblings’ understanding of their brother or sister’s disability and help them feel more positive about themselves and their role with their sibling. 

•          Sponsored by Autism Action Partners—no cost for participation!!!

•          Meet weekly for four weeks

•          Age groupings (younger elementary, upper elementary, middle school, high school)

You can register your child for one of the following sessions by filling out the onine registration on the Munroe-Meyer Institute web site at www.unmc.edu/mmi   Download their flyere here.

Session A: February 2, 9, 16 & 23 (younger & upper elementary) 4:30-5:30 pm

Session B: March 9, 16, 23 & 30 (middle & high-school age) 5:30-6:30 pm

**Sessions A & B will be held at the South Omaha Library (2808 Q Street)**

Session C: April 6, 13, 20, &27 (younger & upper elementary) 4:30-5:30 pm

Session D: May 4, 11, 18, & 25 (middle & high-school age) 5:30-6:30 pm

**Sessions C & D will be held at the Millard Library (13214 Westwood Lane)**

Session E: June 1, 8, 15, & 22 (younger & upper elementary) 4:30-5:30 pm

**Session E will be held at Munroe-Meyer Institute (44^th and Dewey Ave)**

If you have question, please contact Teri Sedersten at (402)559-5732 or Tsedersten@unmc.edu

With Open Arms:  Creating Communities of Support for Socially Challenged Kids

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Presenter:  Mary Schlieder

Location:  ESU3 in Omaha

Download flyer here

___________________

Using Visual to Communicate

February 26, 2010

Presenter:  Diane Ellis

Location:  Fremont Public Schools Central Office

Download flyer here.

___________________

For more trainings provided by the ASD Network visit their web site at www.unl.edu/asdnetwork

The Nebraska ASD Network will hold its 7th annual ASD Conference in Kearney, NE on April 8th and 9th. Speakers will include Fern Sussman, Ruth Aspy, James Emmett, Barry Grossman, and Mary Schlieider. They will also hold a speakers dinner with individuals on the autism spectrum. 

This year the conference will include a new vocational strand sponsored by Voc Rehab & Region 7 TACE as well as a parent track sponsored by the Autism Society of Nebraska.

You can register here or download the conference flyer here.  Be sure and take advantage of the Early Bird pricing!

(The Autism Society has some funding set aside for scholarships for parents to attend the state conference. You can download a Supporting our Families Scholarship Application HERE.  Act fast because completed scholarship requests must be postmarked on or before March 1st, 2010.   Click HERE to join the Autism Society of America)  

The Omaha Challenger Baseball league has opened registration for their Summer season.   This league is for individuals between the ages of 6 and 21  with any developmental or physical disabilities. 

All forms for registering can be found at www.challengerlittleleague.org/register.html  Forms MUST BE received by February 28th, 2010.