National Family Support Survey

You are invited to be in a national research study of supports for families of youth with disabilities. This National Survey is for the parent or primary caregiver of a young person with disabilities between 12 and 22 years old. If you qualify please follow the link below in order to partake in this research study.

Your answers to the questions on the National Family Support Survey are confidential and will help the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, parent centers, and researchers understand the information and supports families need to prepare for moving into adulthood.

The information you share is extremely valuable and may help to inform program development for youth with disabilities in the future. We encourage you to participate and greatly appreciate your time :

http://rtc.umn.edu/fast/main/index.asp 

The Family Advocacy and Support Training (FAST) Project is funded by the Administration on Development Disabilities (ADD) as a Project of National Significance. FAST is a project of PACER Center in Minnesota in collaboration with Parent Centers throughout the United States and Territories and with the help of the University of Minnesota.


Your chance to help out research…

For study: Mothers of two children, one diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, one not are the participants.

Women who have at least two children who were born from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 2007 with a minimum of 36 weeks of gestation.

These are the basic steps:

1. Fill in consent form   Download a consent form here.

2. Fill in the data gathering form -   Download the data gathering form here.

3. Get a copy of their prenatal visits from their MD for both children- normally this is only one page as all the data are on one form, but it varies from MD to MD.  Download a Letter to your provider here.  

4. Submit all forms electronically or mail to the PO box located on the letter.

 

The study question: What is maternal prenatal body mass index (BMI) at 12 weeks of pregnancy? Is it different for two siblings, one later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, one not?

 

Two participants will be randomly selected each of the two will each be given a $30 gift card. Participants have a one in 60 chance of winning a $30.00 gift card which will be mailed.

 

If you who like to participate, please email  Ruthann.hendrix@waldenu.edu  

 


2nd Annual Casino Night Fundraiser

Date: Friday, April 16, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Nebraska Methodist College  720 N 87th St, Omaha, NE 

The 2nd Annual Casino Night: A Benefit for Autism will be held at Nebraska Methodist College on Friday, April 16, 2010.

ALL proceeds will be given to the Autism Society of Nebraska - last year over $1,300 was raised!

A delicious dinner from Spaghetti Works will be served at 6 pm followed by games from 7-9pm. Raffles will be done throughout the evening.

TICKETS are only $5/person or $20/Family

raffles. dinner. blackjack. roulette. poker. bingo, left right center, kids casino, and more!

Download a flyer here


LINCOLN: The Horse Boy co-sponsored by the Autism Society

http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=15877&news_iv_ctrl=1882

How far would you travel to heal someone you love? For one Texas couple, it means a spiritual journey halfway around the world to Mongolia. When their son is diagnosed with autism, they seek the best treatments, but nothing works … until they discover their son’s connection to horses and the effect it has on him. Part travel adventure and shamanic quest, this is the story of how one family found a gateway into understanding their son’s life.

The Horse Boy is being co-sponsored by The Autism Society of Nebraska and will be showing in the Lincoln theater from April Friday April 2 through Thursday April 8th.    You can view the trailer here.  

Please visit the Mary Riepma Ross web site to find out the movie showtimes!

Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
313 N. 13th Street
Lincoln, NE 

Mention that you are with the Autism Society of Nebraska Group and get the discounted rate of: $5.50.

Questions to Michaela Newman-Autism Society of Nebraska-President


Please help by completing a Dental Health Survey

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.


FREE “WEB”-inar : Wednesday, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST.

Fabulous Opportunity to Learn More About WRAP

FREE Webinar with Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD - Living WRAP

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST 
Online and over the phone

Please join us for the FREE webinar with Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD, on how people can live day to day using WRAP as their guide to recovery and wellness.  She will talk about the importance of hope, personal responsibility, education, self advocacy, support and problem solving in using WRAP.  In addition she will share ideas for enhancing each section of WRAP, from the Wellness Toolbox to the Post Crisis Plan, so that it becomes a truly powerful personal guide.  Her presentation will include stories  that she has gathered from people around the world who use WRAP, stories that illustrate the challenges of using WRAP and the power of WRAP in helping people in improve the quality of their daily lives and going on to meeting their own goals and dreams.

This webinar is open to anyone who is connected to WRAP.  However, Dr. Copeland feels it is particularly important that Copeland Center certified WRAP facilitators and anyone who works with others, either in groups or as individuals, including veterans and people in the military attend this webinar.

Certificates of attendance will be available upon request.
  
Mary Ellen Copeland worked with a group of people who have a lived experience of mental health challenges to develop WRAP.  She  is the author of  WRAP® (Wellness Recovery Action Plan), and many other recovery-oriented resources.  For more information on her work go to http://www.mentalhealthrecovery.com.

This webinar is sponsored by the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery where you can get trained to be a certified WRAP Facilitator and Essential Learning, your resource for online WRAP and recovery courses.

The webinar requires both access to the Internet and a phone for joining the conference calls. Long distance charges do apply. The webinar is recorded and posted on mentalhealthrecovery.com after the broadcast.

To Register
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/691703217

For More Information:
http://mentalhealthrecovery.com/webinars.php


Event Cancellation: Omaha Metro Stars open gym

 Open Gym on Sunday November 15th at 3:00 - 4:00 has been cancelled.


The November 10 PRISM Meeting has been CANCELED.

Kathleen Feller, (the presenter) has been called to participate in a meeting in Washington DC and will be unable to present.  The topic will be scheduled again sometime early in 2010.


OMAHA: ASD Network workshops to check out!

The ASD Network is an amazing resource for our community.  They have coordinators who represent across the state and put on some amazing training sessions.  There is always a link on the bottom of our Newsletter to their web site showing their current training schedule.  These are open to parents and professionals so please be sure and check them out!

Here are a few additions to their calendar that the ASD Network has coming up!

OMAHA: Social Skills Training for the Inclusive Classroom - Simple Peer Lead Social Skills that Produce Positive Results in Just ONE Day for Children with ASD and Their Peers

OMAHA: Autism and the Very Young Child

OMAHA:  Sensory for Sensational Kids

KEARNEY:  The Ziggurat Model: Planning Comprehensive Behavioral Interventions

These are just a few additions.  Be sure and check out their web site for other trainings!


Autism Society and Education.com Launch Special Edition on Asperger’s Syndrome

EXCITING NEWS FROM OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION!

Education.com, a leading web destination for parents of school-aged children, and the Autism Society have teamed up to launch the Special Edition on Asperger’s Syndrome, which will give readers access to the latest information on Asperger’s Syndrome along with original articles from world experts and educators.

By partnering with organizations such as the Autism Society, Education.com has increased its capacity to provide information, ideas and inspiration to help parents effectively address the unique educational and developmental needs of their children. Education.com’s CEO Dr. Ronald Fortune notes the importance of contributions from organizations, such as the Autism Society. “We believe all parents want to do what’s best for their children. We’re here to provide world-class information, resources, ideas and inspiration to help parents get involved, stay involved and be powerful advocates for their children’s education. No organization on its own could generate the volume of credible resources required to meet the incredibly diverse needs of parents, so we’re thrilled to partner with the leading experts in each topic who can help us get parents what they need.”

The Autism Society has been contributing articles to Education.com for some time, but agreed to serve as Guest Editor of the Special Edition on Asperger’s Syndrome. Dr. Brenda Smith Myles, the Autism Society’s Chief Program Officer, took the lead on the project by developing the topics and inviting numerous esteemed experts in the field to contribute, as well as submitting an article herself. More than 30 articles can be found under the following topics: What Is Asperger’s Syndrome, Social Life, School Performance, Interventions, Beyond High School and Personal Reflections. Access the issue here.


2nd Annual Autism Fire Safety Day

Join the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Dept and the Autism Society for an Autism Fire Safety Day!

 

2nd Annual Fire Safety Day sponsored by the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE DATE.  IT WILL BE HELD OCTOBER 25TH AND NOT OCTOBER 18TH AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED!

Let’s give a big cheer for the Bellevue Fire Department!  They will be hosting their 2nd Annual Autism Fire Safety Day on October 25th.  

Last year was an amazing event!   The only major change this year is that instead of traveling through the stations in a group your family will be able to naviagate through the stations at your own speed and in your own time.   The event runs from 2 to 5pm.

Come see a rollover car demo, friendly firefighter in full equipment, smoke trailer, learn about 911, bike safety, halloween safety tips and even some basics about first aid.  Take a ride on a fire engine and visit with Conan the arson dog.  (Conan is aware that some of us might be timid so he will just be hanging around for those who might want to meet him.)

Download a flyer here and help spread the word!

Check out some pictures from last year’s event. 

Here is a local news story on last years event.


LINCOLN: Developmental Play Group

Developmental Play Group for Children with Special Needs & Their Families
Developmental Play Open House - Lincoln Parks & Recreation
Tuesday,  August 25
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Ager Play Center
1300 South 27th St.

A developmental play group designed for very young children with special needs and their families.  Contact Sara Masten at 402-416-7607 or smasten@lincoln.ne.gov 

This program is a series of 9 week sessions for children ages 6 months - 5 years. It is a great opportunity for parents to play with their children. Siblings are welcome.


Are you on Facebook? Become a fan of the Nebraska Autism Society!

Autism Society Nebraska on Facebook

Omaha: Powerful tools for Caregivers

The Ollie Webb is offering a new workshop, “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”. This is a program directed at helping us caregivers take better care of ourselves, which is critical for our wellbeing. It is being offered to parents of children with disabilities.

Details:
• It is a six-week program, meeting one Tuesday evening per week
• Dates: June 9, 16, 23, 30 and July 7 and 14, 2009
• Dinner will be provided
• Each evening will run from 5:30 – 8:30 pm
• Held at: Ollie Webb Center, Inc., 1941 So. 42nd Street Suite 122
• Cost: $25/per person (covers workbook and other materials) Stipends will be available.

Download their flyer here.