Hi everyone,

Please feel free to share these e-newsletters with anyone you think would be interested.  

If there are activities that you are interested in, but times or locations are not suitable to you, please let the organisers know – they may make changes if enough people need them.

1) Thanks to Steph, who looks after our website. Please visit us on http://www.autismsolutionsinc.org.au/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Solutions-Incorporated/145471282184384 . Please visit our website and forums http://autismsolutionsinc.forumotion.net/forum.htm to find out more about Autism Spectrum disorder and also to share your knowledge and wisdom with others.

2) Play Connect South Lake playgroup. Please contact Tanya for more information: Email dtpicen@iinet.net.au or phone 9417 9736 or phone or SMS  0423 099 736 . PlayConnect playgroups provide opportunities for families of children with Autism or similar characteristics to interact in a free, fun and supported playgroup. The group is for children aged 0-6years and all siblings/family members are welcome. Other Play Connect playgroups are currently running in Hillarys, Redcliffe, Forrestfield, Waikiki, Mandurah and Margaret River. Please contact Michelle at playconnect@playgroupwa.com.au .  View the latest Play Connect Australia Newsletter online here View it in your browser . There is a feature on the Margaret River group and surveys and studies that you can help with (not only for preschool-aged children).

3) Autism Link - get together for parents/carers of children on the Autism Spectrum, 2 or 3 times per school term. Please contact Sheryl if you are interested in coming along. Email sheryl8@optusnet.com.au or phone 9414 8003 or phone or SMS  043 173 6677 .

4) This study was conducted on boys with autism, regarding facial features http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-autistic-facial-characteristics.html

5) The City of Melville is getting behind the Every Australian Counts Campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. A public forum is being held at the Fremantle Town Hall at 10.30am Tuesday 15^th November. Could you please pass the information through to your networks and encourage attendance. For more info about the campaign and to register your support visit www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au and see the Every Australian Counts attachment.

6) Activ Library list.  See attachment.

7) Line Dancing for everyone in Queens Park.  See attachment Live it with Line Dancing.

8) To celebrate Disability Awareness Week and the International Day of Disability, you are invited to a talk by Jan Gothard, a parent of a daughter with a disability, at 10am on Wednesday 30 November 2011 in the AH Bracks Library in Melville.  This talk will be followed by morning tea.  Jan has written a book entitled “Greater Expectations”.  Please refer to the attached flyer.  If you would like to attend please email or telephone me on 9314 2811.  We look forward to seeing you there.  From Sandra Murray, Local Area Coordination, Bull Creek.

9) There is an iPod/iPad app that allows you to create a visual schedule (photo or video) without boardmaker, printing, laminating, velcro etc. The link for the site is http://www.myvideoschedule.com/resources.htm . The price has been reduced to $10.49 from US$54.99 for the week that A4CWSN is sponsoring it. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-video-schedule/id463787252?mt=8 .  I have had two people tell me their experience with it.  One says it is great and the other bought it for an iPod and says she thought it would be better for an iPad, and that the instructions could be better.

10) Autistic children may have too many brain cells - USATODAY.com

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/autism/story/2011-11-08/Autistic-children-may-have-too-many-brain-cells-study-says/51128494/1 .

11) Autism West would like help with their sausage sizzle on Saturday November 26^th at Bunning’s Cockburn.  If you can help, please contact Gabriella La Bianca on 6389 1833 or 0412 657 750.

12) identitywa still have vacancies in our Teen and SIBS Programs for the coming school holidays. I have attached a flyer which gives more detail on each program, along with a separate attachment which outlines the fees. See 2011.06.10 Recreation Programs, Promotional – Sibling Connections and Promotional – Teen Program.

13) Disability Services Commission Workshop for Siblings of Children with Special Needs - Saturday 19 November 2012.  A workshop for siblings aged 17+.  See DSC Sibsflyer attachment.

14) Kalparrin Siblings One-Day Camps - Dates for 2012.  Registrations for January 2012 Camp Now Open.  See 2012 Siblings flyer and Siblings Registration Forms attachments.

15)  From Sue Larkey:

For many students with an ASD some of their biggest challenges are their social interactions, friendships and understanding emotions. Social skills is an ongoing process, each age group has new learnings.  Think about a young child - their social skills may be turn taking and sharing, by secondary it is catching public transport, sexuality and more.  Each stage needs different supports and information.  In this e-newsletter I have provided 3 x Tips Sheets and a 7 minute video to help.

1.  THE TIP SHEETS

- Creating a Successful Social Skills Programme (link >> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=5rlP_&m=K0.4nLgWY2v439&b=1yz.6QMF5jmVhg2nwV9b8A)

- Where to Begin when it comes to teaching Social Skills (link >> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=5rlP_&m=K0.4nLgWY2v439&b=p6kwpNAh18wnb7NQoe6joQ)

- 9 Tips to Facilitate Social Skills Programmes (link >> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=5rlP_&m=K0.4nLgWY2v439&b=leiPKJNnPoiPoHfE4DfEQQ)

2. YOUTUBE  - Creating Successful Social Skills Programmes (7 mins)

Link- http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=5rlP_&m=K0.4nLgWY2v439&b=70nPGl8yw3yYYmwNNb4GHg

NOTE: I occasionally forget to attach a document I have referred to in the list, please email me if you can’t find what you are looking for. J

Bye for now,
Tanya
….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:…..:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:….:*¨¨*:.

Tanya Picen
Autism Solutions Incorporated
www.autismsolutionsinc.org.au

Please feel free to share these e-newsletters with anyone you think would be interested.
If there are activities that you are interested in, but times or locations are not suitable to you, please let the organisers know – they may make changes if enough people need them.
1) Please visit our website http://www.autismsolutionsinc.org.au/ and forums http://autismsolutionsinc.forumotion.net/forum.htm to find out more about Autism Spectrum disorder and also to share your knowledge and wisdom with others.
2) Play Connect South Lake - Play Connect playgroup will resume soon. Please contact Tanya for more information. Email dtpicen@iinet.net.au or phone 9417 9736 or phone or SMS 0423 099 736 For information about the playgroups and where they are held in other areas visit this webpage - http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/wa/go/our-services/special-projects/playconnect-playgroups
3) Autism Link - get together for parents/carers of children on the Autism Spectrum, 3 times per school term. Please contact Tanya if you are interested in coming along. Email dtpicen@iinet.net.au or phone 9417 9736 or phone or SMS 0423 099 736. (Sheryl will be taking care of this from Term 2.)
4) Anna Hunt is a researcher in Dr Andrew Whitehouse ’s team at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. Dr Wray and other prominent Autism specialists are involved. They want to recruit children with autism (and their families) for a research project. WAABR attachment available. Please email us.
You can contact me via email or by phone for more information or to register your interest. Regards Anna Hunt, Research Assistant, WA Autism Biological Register, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
Direct line (08) 9489 7721
ahunt@ichr.uwa.edu.au
5) We want you to know about the new competition format Football West has introduced as part of the Equal Footingball Club League specially designed for teenagers. The free event is open even to people who are not in the age category for the ongoing competition – we want as many young people with disabilities to enjoy the opportunity and see what the Tuart Hill Junior Soccer Club has to offer.
We welcome you along to attend the Open Day at Tuart Hill. (Club League attachment available, email us)
6) This website has some interesting stuff, especially for the older ones, including from Tony Attwood and Donna Williams. It is American. http://www.autismhangout.com/lists/email.asp?id=e0ml58z44lms124lxsm1f06 .
7) This afternoon (March 1st) the Productivity Commission released its long awaited draft report into Disability Care and Support. The Commission has recommended the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and has outlined a number of recommendations about the way it could operate and be funded. This is a very important draft document, and I’d encourage everyone to have a look and to make a submission or participate in the discussions. Very in the news TODAY (Tuesday 1st March). In regards to the National Disability Insurance Scheme – they are doing public forums in every federal electorate (including one in Melville on 31st March).
WANDA attachment available on request. Please email us.
8) AuS has reserved 15 Entertainment Books for this year. They cost $65.00 and AuS earns $13.00 for each book sold. They will be available in mid-May. If people could think about purchasing, share with family and friends, and let us know if they want one or more i.e. a reservation. Payment will be required before or on collection or by bank deposit (deposit will need to be verified before collection). Please contact Tanya on dtpicen@iinet.net.au if you are interested.
9) There are two vacancies at Beckenham in the afternoon sessions for preprimary children. We are pretty desperate-may lose staff so any help would be appreciated Mon -Thurs 12:30-3pm kids can still attend mainstream the rest of the time. Contact. Patricia Gray, Program Coordinator, A.L.C.A on 0439976463 for further information.
10) Caring Matters March E-Bulletin available by typing ‘carers wa’ into your search engine.
11) social story apps on IPods http://www.modelmekids.com/iphone-app-autism.html .
12) These sessions are titled “seniors safety sessions” mainly due to the funding sourced, but many sessions are relevant to people of all ages and abilities and may be of interest to many people. Please RSVP for the individual sessions to customer service on 1300 635 845. http://www.melvillecity.com.au/news-folder/seniors-safety-sessions-provide-practical-advice/ is the website to view more information.
Bye for now,
Tanya Picen
Autism Solutions Incorporated is not promoting any of the services or organisations that are forwarded and are in no way associated with them, they are purely for information purposes only.

Would you like to be a volunteer? A few options to get you started…….
We are hoping to find a website volunteer with the necessary skills to work with the HTML codes that were used to design/develop it. We will probably close the forum as it is not actively being used, which is a shame. How does this sound? It is something you could work on at your own pace and quite independently. Once complete you could perhaps move on to other volunteer activities.
Steph is also keen to be using the media to promote AuS and Autism awareness in general, if you are interested in this sort of thing, I’m sure she’s love to chat with you about that. Much of it can be done by email these days.
We are about to go through our storage unit on Friday this week to find out what things we want to donate to other charities and what might need throwing away. Once we have done that we could do with a hand finding homes for the things we want to donate. Would that interest you??
At some stage AuS will again apply for grants for certain projects and a very valuable volunteer or team of volunteers searches for appropriate grants and completes the applications. A natural and rewarding follow on from this is to be involved in the successful projects if those people wish. Usually these sorts of things are end dated so once the money is spent and acquitted there is not an ongoing “job”.
So, lots of opportunities, and over to you to let us know which takes your interest.
Hoping to hear from you soon and thank you for becoming involved in AuS.
Contact us at autismsolutionsincorporated@hotmail.com
Del, Steph and Tamara

Autism Solutions Inc.

I’ve done it! “The Spectrum” is out there on facebook for everyone to enjoy. Please share this link on your profiles to raise autism awareness and celebrate April 2 by wearing blue :) http://apps.facebook.com/slideshare/slideshow/7397770?from=wall_to_canvas