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April 2011 |
Vol 1, Issue 2 |
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CONNECTing Families:
A Newsletter of Autism Families CONNECTicut |
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Greetings! |
 This April, Autism Awareness Month is more evident than ever. On a national level, with the Wall Street Journal's full page ad announcing Autism Awareness Month, and President Obama's proclamation of April 2 as Autism Awareness Day, we can see real progress toward helping the general public to better understand autism spectrum disorders and relate more compassionately and meaningfully to those whom it impacts. Closer to home, Autism Families CONNECTicut has planned several activities to keep our families connected and involved this spring, especially during April vacation. Please join us for at least one activity during the week of April 16! Our families have particularly enjoyed the Family Swim program at Avery Heights in Hartford. Try it out this April! And like you, we are starting to think about summertime activities. Please mark July 29 on your calendars for AFC's Night at the Rock Cats game in New Britain - get your tickets from us and bring the whole family! Finally, please check out the exciting new video highlighting the work of Autism Families CONNECTicut. We are grateful to Meghan Moore and West Hartford PATCH for producing this video showcasing AFC's mission and featuring our children in the Playing on the Spectrum gym program - just in time for Autism Awareness Month! Happy Spring to all! |
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Spring Up with Music! |
 Autism Families CONNECTicut and West Hartford Human Leisure Services' Special Needs Program invite you to Spring Up with Music! Wednesday, April 20, 2011 10:00am - 11:00am: Ages 3-6 11:00am - 12:00pm: Ages 7-12 Cost: $5 per child Elmwood Community Center 1106 New Britain Ave. West Hartford, CT Each session limited to 15 children. Parents must stay with child(ren). Board-certified musical therapist Emily Pellegrino, co-director of Connecticut Music Therapy Services, will lead the program. Children will enjoy music through song, simple musical instruments, and group social activities. Siblings may also attend for $5 each. |
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Come out and visit us in the community! We will be at... | |
The ASCONN Annual Conference on April 30, 2011.
The 2011 Greater Hartford Walk Now for Autism Speaks on June 5, 2011 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. |
| For more updates... | |
Join us on Facebook for more details on AFC and community events, news discussions, or post your own event.
We update it frequently with AFC events, and other events around the community.
Click on this symbol to see all the latest updates.  |
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Visit AFC's website at
We are always updating it with new information and programs! |
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AFC April Vacation Events | |
Are you looking for something to do with the family during April vacation?
AFC has scheduled a week of events to keep you busy!
Saturday, April 16: Wretches and Jabberers at the Plainville AMC Loews cinema.
Monday, April 18: "Meet and Eat" with other AFC families at A.C. Petersen in West Hartford.
Wednesday, April 20: Spring Up with Music program for children on the spectrum, and siblings, too!
Friday, April 22: Friday Family Swim at the sunny, indoor Avery Heights Pool. This is a one-time Friday program, separate from the month-long April swim on Saturdays.
Click here for full details.
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Upcoming Programs: Family Swim in April | |
 Returning program! Join us for a "vacation" without leaving town!
Family Swim program for children with autism spectrum disorders and family members at the beautiful, modern pool at Avery Heights, 705 New Britain Avenue, Hartford.
Co-sponsored by West Hartford Human & Leisure Service's Special Needs Program and the Marjory Doty Aquatic Center at Avery Heights.
* Four Saturday afternoons: April 2, 9, 16, and 30 (no swim on 4/23)
* 3:00 - 4:00pm (facility open 30 minutes before and after program) $16/participant includes all 4 weeks!
* To register, call Elmwood C.C. at 860-561-8160, Code 384103A.
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| Rita's Ice Fundraiser | |
Join us for a sweet ice treat, and listen to local youth performances!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
5:30-8:30pm
Rita's Ice, 1735 Ellington Road
Town Center Plaza, South Windsor, CT
A portion of all proceeds will benefit AFC's programming, including Playing on the Spectrum, Spring Up with Music, and Family Swim.
Hosted by the Porcello family of South Windsor. |
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Upcoming Community Events |
Aspergers College Bound: Spring offerings in Stamford and West Hartford for parents and students, to assist with the transition to college. Parents will identify the current strengths, challenges, and needs of their child and evaluate realistic post secondary goals. For more information, click here.
Special Needs Active Play (SNAP): Children with special needs and their families or caregivers are invited to play and socialize in an informal, fun-filled environment. First Saturday of each month from 11:00am-12:00pm at the Terryville Public Library; ages 3-8. Call 860-582-3121 to register.
HiFADD meeting: The High Functioning Autism and Developmental Delays Support Group (HiFADD) will host an open discussion meeting for parents and providers on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 from 7:00-8:30 on the 3rd floor of the Family Resource and Development Center. Walk-ins welcome. Contact weinertherapy@gmail.com for more information.
Newington SEPTA Special Needs Fair: Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 10:00-3:00 at Newington High School. Event is free. Click here for more information.
Stress Busters: When Your Child Has Special Needs: Workshop to focus on understanding and reducing stress by Dr. Robert Naseef on April 9, 2011 from 2:00-4:00pm at the Terryville High School auditorium.
Doug Flutie's 2nd Annual Rock 'N Hoops: Friday, April 15, 2011 at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA from 6:00-10:00pm. Compete in a free throw contest, meet Doug, and enter to win raffle prizes! Click here for more information.
ASD Lecture Series at St. Joseph's College, 1678 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT. Next lecture is Monday, April 18, 2011 at 6:30pm in the Hoffman Auditorium. Julie McCombes-Tolis Ph.D will discuss "Strategies and Resources to Support Text Comprehension Instruction for Students with Autism."
Monthly Worship Service: Rythms of Grace hosts a worship service for children with special needs and their families on the first Sunday of every month at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Shelton at 12:30pm. Click here for more information.
Do you know of other community events? To submit events for AFC's next "CONNECTing Families" newsletter, email afc@autismfamiliesct.org
*AFC is not responsible for the content of these programs and does not necessarily support opinions expressed at external community events. |
| The Board Corner: Ideas for learning and fun from AFC Board Member Christina Kiley | |
"Laundry" by Christina Kiley, M.A.
Ever wonder how you can fill some down time with your child? As a developmental resource teacher I often get the question of what are some activities I can do at home that are low cost?
Here are 7 Things to do with Laundry...
1. Laundry basket basketball: 1. Get a clothes basket and some balls/rolled socks. 2. Place the clothes basket on a surface (couch, table, chair, etc.). 3. Ask your child a question or have them make a request for the ball/socks. 4. After they ask for the ball/socks or answer a questions, give them the balls or socks to shoot a basket.
2. Sorting: 1. Get some clothes. 2. Have your child sort by color (white, blue, etc.) or sort by type (socks, pants, etc.).
3. Movement & Matching: 1. Get a pile of clothes, a few clothes baskets/boxes and some paper and a marker. 2. Label the baskets/boxes with pictures or words of articles of clothing. 3. Use your paper to make flashcards with action words or pictures (i.e. jump 5x, spin 1x, run in place). 4. Place the flashcards next to the pile of clothes. Place the baskets/boxes near the pile of clothes. 5. Have your child choose a card, then do the action. So if they get a card that says, walk around a table, have your child walk. After he or she does the walks give them a piece of clothing.
4. Obstacle course: 1. Get some clothing and baskets. 2. Set up a course. You may need words or pictures. Example: Station 1 - Jump over the basket, 2 - roll over the t-shirts, 3. Walk like your on a balance beam over a line of socks, 4 - make bridge using chairs and pants to crawl under, 5 - use scarves as ribbon twirlers, 6 - hop on a washcloth path, 7 - zip a zipper, 8 - put glove or mitten on, 9 - sock toss into a basket, 10 - hide under a blanket, 11 - pillowcase hop (get in a pillowcase and hop).
5. Fold: Get some clothes and fold them.
6. Rainbow Wash: 1. Get some different color washcloths. 2. Have your child choose a color, wet the washcloth and clean a surface. Example: 1 - Use a blue washcloth to wipe a table, 2 - Use a red washcloth to wipe a cabinet, 3 - Use a white washcloth to wipe a chair
7. Decorate: 1. Get an old t-shirt and decorating materials (paint, markers, glitter, etc.), 2. Cut the t-shirt up into pieces. 3. Have your child decorate the pieces of fabric. Note: You can frame the fabric to give as a gift.
Hopefully you will have fun with these activities, while also helping your child learn and grow! |
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Do you have ideas for programs? Are you interested in volunteering? We would love to hear from you. Please email me at afc@autismfamiliesct.org with any ideas.
Sincerely, |
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Leah Bailey Moon
President and Co-founder
Autism Families CONNECTicut, Inc.
P.O. Box 370162
West Hartford, CT 06137 www.autismfamiliesct.org
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