AutSocSDLogo
Autism Society of San Diego E-Newsletter
YOUR LINK TO THE SAN DIEGO AUTISM COMMUNITYDECEMBER, 2011
In This Issue
Holiday Tips for Families
Annual Holiday Parties
Holiday Shopping with GoodSearch
Research Projects
Article Headline
Children of the Sun
Join Us on Meetup.com and Facebook
Sensory Friendly Film
Aspies & Friends
Swim Party for Teens and Young Adults
Autism Through the Lifespan
Support Groups
 
HOLIDAY TIPS FOR FAMILIES LIVING WITH AUTISM

 


 

While many happily anticipate the coming holiday season, families of people on the autism spectrum also understand the special challenges that may occur when schedules are disrupted and routines broken. Our hope is that by following these few helpful tips, families may lessen the stress of the holiday season and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The following tips were developed with input from the Autism Society, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, Easter Seals Crossroads, the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism at Logan and the Indiana Autism Leadership Network.

 

1. Preparation is crucial for many individuals. At the same time, it is important to determine how much preparation a specific person may need. For example, if your son or daughter has a tendency to become anxious when anticipating an event that is to occur in the future, you may want to adjust how many days in advance you prepare him or her. Preparation can occur in various ways by using a calendar and marking the dates of various holiday events, or by creating a social story that highlights what will happen at a given event.

 

2. Decorations around the house may be disruptive for some. It may be helpful to revisit pictures from previous holidays that show decorations in the house. If such a photo book does not exist, use this holiday season to create one. For some it may also be helpful to take them shopping with you for holiday decorations so that they are engaged in the process. Or involve them in the process of decorating the house. And once holiday decorations have been put up, you may need to create rules about those that can and cannot be touched. Be direct, specific and consistent.

 

to read more, click here

 
CELEBRATE THE SEASON AT OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTIES IN CENTRAL SAN DIEGO AND NORTH COUNTY
Santa Bring the entire family for food, fun and merrymaking at the Autism Society of San Diego Annual Holiday Party! We have two locations to choose from: A pool party Clairemont and a gym party in Escondido. Come to one party or both! Please RSVP so that we can ensure we'll have enough food, drink and goodies for everyone. Details follow:

 

Central San Diego Pool Party
Friday, December 9, 2010, 6:00- 8:00 pm
Aqua Pros Swim School at the Clairemont Boys and Girls Club
4635 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego
Enjoy supervised swimming, pizza, pasta, salad and drinks, holiday cookies. There will also be a visit from Santa that will include photos and goodie bags for the kids.

North County Gym Party
Saturday, December 17, 2010, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Palomar YMCA
1050 North Broadway in Escondido
Enjoy an evening of holiday activities, crafts, visits and gifts with Santa and open gym. Food and drinks will be served.

PLEASE RSVP by calling or e-mailing Kay at info@sd-autism.org or by calling: 858-715-0678
 
 

DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH GOODSEARCH: THE NEW SEARCH AND ONLINE SHOPPING TOOL THAT BENEFITS THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO 

 Goodsearch Logo

 

By downloading the GoodSearch toolbar (powered by Yahoo), and using it as your search engine, you can help earn cash for our programs! It's an easy download, and every time you search online, something we ALL do every day, you can make a difference in the lives of children in San Diego impacted by Autism! You can also get a jump on your holiday shopping, through partner stores on GoodShop (a feature of the toolbar), and use special coupons for purchases that will ALSO benefit our organization! Please join me on GoodSearch - a small thing that really can make a BIG difference for our children!

  

 

GoodSearch Toolbar San Diego ASA - Click HERE To Get It Now!  

 

 
HELP THE CAUSE BY JOINING A RESEARCH PROJECT
Research is the key to improving our knowledge about possible causes of autism and helping to identify effective treatments. Several local researchers are seeking participants to assist in their studies. Please click here for more information and to participate.
 
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH STAUFFER FOUNDATION FUND
Money 

The Stauffer Family Foundation has generously provided grant monies to the Autism Society of San Diego to offer scholarships to educate individuals caring for, or working with children or adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder.

The scholarships are for autism specific conferences, training, or seminars. Per the Foundation, scholarships may be awarded to teachers, aides, school administrators/personnel or caregivers who have a role in the care and/or education of a child(ren) or adolescent(s) with an autism spectrum disorder and are current members of the Autism Society of San Diego.

 

For more information and to download an application, please click here

 
HELP SUPPORT CHILDREN OF THE SUN, A NEW PHOTO EXHIBIT FEATURING CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM 
 

The "Children of the Sun-Like All of Us" photographic project has been accepted for display at the San Diego International Airport, Terminal Two, from March 2012 through September 2012.

Photographer Natasha Kozlova has created this beautiful photographic homage to our children and has partnered with the Autism Society of San Diego to bring this beautiful work of art to our community.

There are 40,000 people who pass through terminal two daily, so the public awareness opportunity is immense. We at the Autism Society of San Diego are helping Natasha raise funds needed to produce this project by accepting designated donations through our local chapter. If you know of anyone, individual or business, who would be willing to donate to this project, please contact our office or got to: http://www.causes.com/causes/638639

 

Major donors will be recognized at the display. 

 

 
NOW THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO STAY INFORMED AND IN TOUCH WITH THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO
 
The Autism Society has created a Meetup site and we'd like you to join. By joining our Meetup group, you can check out our numerous upcoming events, RSVP, post questions and stay connected. Go to www.meetup.com/sd-autism to register

 

The Autism Society of San Diego is also on Facebook. Join us at http://www.facebook.com/#!/autismsandiego to read about chapter news, events within the San Diego autism community, and
other autism-related information. It is also a great place to find support and post questions and/or comments.

                                                                      Facebook Logo

 
AMC AND THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA
PRESENT SENSORY FRIENDLY FILMS  

Sensory Friendly Film logo

 

UPCOMING SENSORY FILM

  

THE MUPPETS

Saturday, December 3, 2011

10:00 A.M./ Admission: $6

 

Locations:

AMC Mission Valley -or-AMC Palm Promenade

 

For more information on Sensory Friendly Films, click here

 
COME TO A MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PARTY WITH ASPIES & FRIENDS, A SOCIAL GROUP FOR YOUNG ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
Autistic Adults
Aspies & Friends is holding a Monday Night Footbal Party on Monday, December 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Mountain Mike's Pizza, located at 3089 Clairemont Dr Ste E, San Diego, CA 92117-6973.
Aspies & Friends is a social group by and for young adults on the spectrum. If you or someone you know is interested in meeting and socializing with other like-minded young adults and participating in fun events around San Diego county, send an e-mail to the Autism of Society of San Diego at info@sd-autism.org.  Aspies & Friends also has a Facebook page on which is posted its schedule of events and other information.  Go to: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/153406191354571/
 
DON'T MISS OUR DECEMBER SWIM PARTY FOR TEENS AND ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
Adults SwimmingOur pool party for teens and adults, ages 16 and up, will be held Saturday, December 10 from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Aqua
Pros Swim School at the Boys and Girls Club, 4635 Clairemont Mesa in San Diego. This event is free and will include light refreshments. Lifeguards will be on duty. Participants requiring supervision will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please RSVP by contacting the Autism Society office at info@sd-autism.org
 
"AUTISM THROUGH THE LIFESPAN" INFORMATION AND SUPPORT MEETING WILL DISCUSS DEVELOPING SOCIAL SUPPORTS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SETTING
Lit puzzle piece

This series of informational and support meetings designed to address challenges and issues from early diagnosis through adulthood, is a collaboration between the Autism Society of San Diego and San Diego Unified School District.

 

The meetings are open to all, regardless of the age of your child or the school district of residence. Each meeting will feature professionals with expertise in the subject area and a parent representative from the Autism Society of San Diego. We will address a different, consecutive stage of development every month.

 

The December meeting will address:

 

"The Development of Social Supports in an Elementary School Setting"

 

 Each subsequent monthly meeting will examine a later developmental stage.

 

Every third Thursday of the month 
Thursday, December 15, 2011
9:30-11:00 am
Ballard Center in Old Town
2375 Congress Street
San Diego, Ca 9211
 
For more information, please e-mail info@sd-autism.org or call
858-715-0678

 

 

 

 AOA 2010 color logo 

SUPPORT AND INFORMATIONAL GROUPS

 

All Autism Society of San Diego Meetings and Events are regularly updated on Meetup.com.  Stay informed and register at  www.meetup.com  
 
Family and Friends of Adults on the Spectrum Meeting
We will be taking a break for the holidays. Meetings will resume in January, 2012
 
 
 North County Meeting
Every first Wednesday of the month
 
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
7:00-8:30pm
Palomar Family YMCA
1050 North Broadway
Escondido, Ca 92026

 

This group is open to all parents, professionals, and members of the community interested in improving the lives of those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. The format will generally be a relaxed, "support group" type environment, with an occasional special topic, speaker, or presentation for attendees. The group's demographic includes all ages, home & out of home placements, and all "levels of functioning." There's a wealth of information to be shared by our more "seasoned" families, and it is a welcoming place for those new to the Autism diagnosis.

 

Please join us after the meeting at Chili's Bar & Grill in Escondido for a bite to eat and some friendly conversation with fellow parents of ASD individuals.  

 
Coffee Talk
Second Wednesday of the month (unless noted)

 

Wednesday, December 14 
9:30am
Panera Bread
575 Grand Ave
 San Marcos, CA
chat...sit back...relax
 
Coffee Meetup
First Friday of the month
  
This is a casual meetup for all parents who would like to sit and chat with other parents of children with ASD. Meet and chat over a relaxing cup of coffee. Kiddos are always welcome.

We ask that the first person there please put a paper marked "ASA" in the table number stand on the table, to identify the group to any new parents joining us.

Coffee usually wraps up around 11am - but all are welcome to continue chatting after that.

 

Friday, December 2, 2011

9:30 am

Boudin SF

113 South Las Posas, Suite 112

San Marcos, CA

 


Spanish Support Group/Grupo de Apoyo en Espanol 

The second Monday of the month
Monday, December 12, 2011,
6:00 - 8:00pm
St. Rose of Lima Parish
293 "H" Street
Chula Vista, CA 91910
For information call 1-800-281-8252

 

Proxima Reuinion Grupo de Apoyo en Espanol
Lunes, 14 de noviembre, 2011,
6:00 - 8:00pm
St. Rose of Lima Parish Salon
293 "H" Street
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Por mas informacion, llame 1-800-281-8252
 

Autism Society of San Diego
4699 Murphy Canyon Rd.
San Diego, California 92123
858-715-0678