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Upcoming Events
June 12 - Tempe
ABA Training Class
June 14 - AZA United |
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Take Advantage
Contact us about any of the services below by clicking on the link.
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Each provider agency has its own unique set of services and benefits to consider. Here are some things that AZA United can offer you:
For Hab & Respite Providers:
Wages up to $13.50/hour
Matching wages for transfers
Frequent raise opportunities
Home visit support any time
Paychecks twice per month
Taxes withheld
Coming soon:
Health insurance
401K plans
Online timesheets
Performance reviews
Lead Habilitator positions
For Families:
Home visit support any time
Monthly family events
Free skills assessments
Voting rights (Annual Meeting)
Ongoing employee recruiting
No sequenced waiting lists
Hab M services available
For more information about our services, please contact us. |
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Link of the Month
In a conversation that appears to be about basketball, an unexpected lesson emerges about family values.
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Join the Cub Scouts!  Kimberly Crook, Community Relations Facilitator for AZA United and mother of a young boy on the autism spectrum, has agreed to be the assistant Cub Scouts troop leader for her son's group in the Northeast Valley (Ellsworth and Brown). The group is for 8 to 9 year old boys, and they meet every Wednesday starting in July. If you would like to get more information, please contact Kimberly. She is also available to train a habilitation provider for any child who wants to participate. If you like this idea but won't be able to join this particular troop, contact Kimberly to brainstorm how we can expand this program to kids around the valley. |
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Cast Your Vote for the "Good Guy"  Aaron Blocher-Rubin, Executive Director of AZA United, has been selected as a finalist for the Goodman's Furniture "Eye for the Good Guy" contest! The winner will receive a $20,000 office makeover. The timing is perfect for us as AZA United is preparing to move to a new office & clinic in the Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona this fall. This project would be a great contribution to the capital expenses we will need to successfully transition to the new center and continue to invest our funds into providing high quality services for individuals on the autism spectrum. So if you like what we do and want to see more of it, take a moment from your day and vote for Aaron! You can do so as often as once per day until June 30th, and of course please pass it on to anyone else who wants to help. Thanks for your support! |
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A Poem from a Parent Remarkable Child
(dedicated to my daughter)
Remarkable child with eyes so deep,
Your amazing mind you'll always keep.
Remarkable child you shine so bright,
With peaceful arms to hold you tight.
Remarkable child your laughter grows,
With faithful heart for those to know.
Remarkable child you swing and run,
You play your games,
Your life is fun.
My remarkable child I love you so,
I'm proud of you from head to toe.
Denise Jones is a member of AZA United and the mother of Ashley, a 7-year-old girl with autism. She has recently started a jewelry making business, Laughing Heart Jewelry and Gift Designs. If you have any used jewelry items (necklaces, bracelets, beads, etc.) that you'd like to donate, please contact Denise or bring them to our office. A portion of all sales will be donated to autism charity programs, such as summer camps. |
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Helping Families Relocate  AZA United member Jason Geroux has been an active force in the autism community since his son was diagnosed 5 years ago. His contributions include co-founding Arizona Autism Support, organizing the inaugural Walk for Autism, serving on the advisory committee for the Arizona Autism Coalition, and working full-time for the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. Since that obviously was not enough to keep him busy, he has started yet another venture! AutismRelocation.com was created to assist families with a child on the autism spectrum who are relocating to Arizona (or anywhere else in the United States), to make the transition from one area to the next as smooth as possible. Services include assistance with finding schools and service providers, qualifying for state services, connecting with community resources, and real estate services. Part of the service includes making a $250 contribution to the charity of that family's choice with each closed real estate transaction. Says Jason, "There have been so many people who have helped my family along the way, so now it is my turn to give back in my own unique way." |
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A Creative Awareness Project  Bari Watnick, a provider for AZA United and a middle school teacher for children with autism, recently made headlines with a very creative approach to increasing autism awareness at her school. She gave students large blank puzzle pieces and asked them to design their piece by answering the question, "How can you be friends with someone with autism?" The pieces have now been connected on a wall displayed on the school campus. Together, the puzzle spells "FRIENDS." Bari's inspiration for the project was the belief that, by working together, we will find the missing pieces and work together to become one. |
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"Helping HANDS" National Autism Bill  U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has unveiled legislation to support families with members with autism spectrum disorders. The legislation has three parts: a national grant program to create "autism navigators" that help families navigate their way through services, supports, and treatment options; autism training for first responders (police, fire departments, emergency medical technicians and other volunteers); and the creation of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Task Force to address the "serious lack of sufficient housing" for adults with autism. You can read the bill (S2950) or track its progress on the Library of Congress website. |
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A New Community Autism Calendar To stay on top of autism related events and trainings, visit the new Calendar page on the Arizona Autism Coalition website (www.AZautism.org). The calendar includes lectures, workshops and other events happening throughout Arizona. The page includes separate calendars for Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. You can even add events by including all required information (dates, times and locations). There is also a separate Support Group page. For more information about the Arizona Autism Coalition or to become a member, contact Jessica Lewis.
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Thanks for all you do, and don't forget to tell us what else we can do...for you! |
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