March 3, 2016

In This Issue

HLSR Tips

Valentine's Treats

New Property Development

Autism 40 Years Ago

The Red Carpet Treatment

Avondale House residential clients danced the night away on Feb. 13 at "Night to Shine," a prom experience for special needs individuals, presented by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

School Closures

Avondale House day school will close for Spring Break March 14-18. All programs and administrative offices will close on Friday, March 25 in observance of Good Friday.

Faces of Autism

On April 6, Texas Southern University will kick off the "Faces of Autism" exhibit for Autism Awareness Month. "Faces of Autism" features student artwork from local schools that work with children on the spectrum. Be on the lookout for more Autism Awareness Month events sponsored by Avondale House.

It's Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Time!

Are you heading to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to experience animals up close and personal? Studies suggest that interaction with animals may benefit those with autism. When animals are present, children with autism show an increase in social behaviors, such as talking, making physical contact and looking at faces.

To read more about the benefits of animals for children with autism click here and here.

However, it is important to consider each individual's sensitivities prior to encountering an animal. Before heading to the petting zoo, here are some ways to prepare your child for a positive rodeo experience.

Clowns are friendly, but your child may need to be prepped for meeting one.

Familiarize yourself with the HLSR website and event details.
Prepare an exit strategy - have a grounds map handy.
Show and discuss various photos of animals, people and scenes that may be seen or touched during your rodeo visit.
Emphasize the importance of being aware of others, your surroundings and waiting in line.

We hope you enjoy this great Houston tradition with your child!

Register Online for the Challenging Autism Luncheon

Online registration for the 2016 Challenging Autism Luncheon is now open! We are excited to celebrate this milestone event with everyone who has been a part of our forty year history. Table sponsorship and individual tickets are available. Click on the image above for full details.

Parents of Avondale House clients can receive discounted ticket prices with a promo code by calling Alyssa Purcell at 713/993-9544 or through e-mail at alyssap@avondalehouse.org.

Students Create Valentine's Masterpieces

Marquez shows off his artwork.

Students brought home special artwork this Valentine's Day, thanks to the creative idea and generous donation of frames from the Friends of Avondale House.

The students, with help from St. John's School volunteer 8th grade students, painted hearts that were framed for a timeless memento!

Students were also treated to cupcakes and drinks by the Friends. Thanks for spreading the love this Valentine's Day Friends!

New Property Work Underway

With the help of 25 eleventh grade students from YES Prep East End, Avondale House's newly acquired property received a proper trash and

recycling pick up. Almost 20 bins of trash, bottles and cans were picked up from the property, clearing the way for phase one of construction.

A YES Prep East End student sorts recycling.

Then and Now: Help for the Refrigerator Mom

It is no surprise to any parent of a child with special needs, that over 40 years ago, services for individuals with autism were very dire. In fact, many parents, particularly mothers, were blamed for their child's condition, under the mistaken belief that autism was related to a lack of maternal warmth.

This theory gained traction in 1967 when psychologist Bruno Bettelheim alleged that "refrigerator mothers," as he termed them, caused autism by not loving their children enough. Bettelheim, a renowned University of Chicago professor and child development specialist, championed the notion that autism was the product of mothers who were cold, distant and rejecting, thus depriving their children of the chance to "bond properly." Unfortunately, this view met with widespread acceptance by the public and by the experts in the medical establishment and was not rebuked until a few years later.

Education services for those severely impaired by autism were also extremely limited. Over 40 years ago, public schools accommodated only 1 out of 5 children with disabilities. Many states had laws that explicitly excluded children with certain types of disabilities from attending public school, including children who were blind, deaf, and children labeled "emotionally disturbed" or "mentally retarded." Many of those children lived at state institutions where they received limited or no educational or rehabilitation services. Other children attended school but were "warehoused" in segregated facilities and received little or no effective instruction.

Relief for the falsely accused refrigerator mom, in the form of educational services for her children, came in 1975 with the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) (Public Law No. 94-142). The goal of EHA was to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as those students who do not have a disability. It ensured that students with a disability were provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs. In 1990, Congress reauthorized EHA and changed the title to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Autism was once blamed on "refrigerator mothers" alleged to not love their children enough.