http://empowerautism.com A Site for Autism Stakeholders Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:31:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Last spring, the Autism Community Center piloted some fabulous activity groups which were designed for people on the autism spectrum. A lot of people had a great time attending cooking, music, theater, art and hiking groups, but, unfortunately, the center closed due to financial challenges. See a video ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/08/autism-activity-groups-and-clubs-are-back/ Both sessions for campers with autism were a huge success this summer! Dragonfly Forest is a free camp for kids with autism, and this year we had two sessions, each with about 70 campers. I'm always happy when the campers enjoy themselves, try new activities like the ropes ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/07/autism-camp-success/ Over the course of my career, I've worked with almost 100 families with autism. Each of those families has been really different, but some common themes exist in all of them: the capacity for hard work, a broader definition of what it means to be human, and a hard-won sense ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/05/home-program-design-for-families-with-autism/ Our schedule for this post: FIRST disclaimer, THEN soapbox. Now, I'll admit right now that I'm no fluffy optimist. I'm not as bitter and blustery as several of my ahem fellow bloggers, but I do have a sarcastic side, I try not to be too corny. All that being ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/05/autism-awareness-month-misses-poin/ I only have a few autism news updates this time around. Someone email me if I'm missing something big (that doesn't have to do with Jenny McCarthy). The federal government is looking for autism research to fund, based on recommendations by the IACC's 2009 Strategic plan . The proposal includes ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/04/autism-news-update-5/ TIME magazine is running a photo essay by Mike Belleme about the autism program at Dragonfly Forest in Philly! I had the privilege of creating this program, and I'm SO proud of it. There is a hilarious picture of me getting mobbed by a bunch of campers on ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/04/exciting-publicity-for-dragonfly-forest-autism-camp/ "Well, do you want your DS?" asks a one-on-one worker at an activity group I'm leading for the Autism Community Center of Asheville. "Yeah", is the response. "Ok, it's in the car. Do you want me to get it for you?" ...and this is when I start grinding my ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/04/when-helping-doesnt-help/ In much of my work, I am asked to facilitate or design activities that are accessible to people on the Autism Spectrum. As it happens, this is not rocket science. People with autism do not need to play ‘autism soccer’ or play the ‘autism guitar’. I ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/03/respectful-programming/ This is Bailey, who has been developing her art skills for a long time. I really like her characters. You can see more of her stuff over at Deviant Art! http://empowerautism.com/2010/02/bailey-talks-about-her-anime-characters/ This is Zoe, who studies math with me. She has come so far this year and last! I'm proud of her hard work, and wanted to show you her system for multiplying. It is often hard for her to remember all the times tables, but she understands ... http://empowerautism.com/2010/02/proud-math-student/