Around the House Banner
August 23, 2016                                          
In This Issue
Support Avondale House at Kroger
 
Kroger Community Rewards
Every August 1 you must update your Kroger Shopper's Card so that we can receive a portion of your purchase. Avondale House's organization number is 91091. 


Click here to update your card.
Labor Day Holiday
 
Avondale House's main facility will be closed September 5 in observance of Labor Day.
Walk Now for Autism Speaks 
Look for us at the Autism Speaks Walk
September 18 at Minute Maid Park. 
A Great Read: Uniquely Human



What was on your summer reading list? 

 
Essential reading for any caregiver of a person with autism is Dr. Barry M. Prizant's 2015 book called Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism.


In it, Prizant suggests a major shift in our thinking about autism: that the most successful approaches to autism don't aim at fixing a person by eliminating symptoms, but rather seeking to understand the individual's experience and what underlies the behavior.


Members of our teaching staff have been doing a book study of Uniquely Human as part of their professional development.


Parents, we recommend that you pick up a copy of this impactful book.






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A Letter from our Principal


Dear parents, friends and supporters,
 
As we look forward to an amazing 2016-2017 school year, our teaching staff has completed a seven-day professional development series focused on:

 
applied behavior analysis,
driver's education for community-based outings,
core vocabulary (functional communication training),
non-violent crisis intervention (CPI),
book study of Barry Prizant's Uniquely Human,
medical training by AH Nurse Kara Smith, and
cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Becky Ingalls leads CPI training.


In addition, guest speaker Paul Louden, an autism awareness advocate and radio host, joined us mid week to speak to our teaching teams about his personal experience navigating school as an individual with autism.
 
Our teaching teams have also enjoyed a very special brand of Avondale House Olympic Games with several days of fun team-building events. No doubt, a team that works well together is more effective, more productive, and more successful -- not to mention happier and more fun to work with!


We look forward to seeing our returning students and families as well as welcoming new students and families. Please know that we truly value our parents and supporters. Your attendance at student events, your feedback and sharing of observations and your volunteerism are critical to the growth of our students and the success of our day school.
 
Excited about the year!


Becky Ingalls, Principal
It's Back... Everyone's Favorite Fall Fundraiser!





Click here to register your team!

Our Newest Superheroes!



Join us in applauding Avondale House employees Bethuel Akuma, Leslie Fiedler and Ben Snyder for becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).
From left to right, Ben Snyder, Leslie Fiedler and Bethuel Akuma



Each completed 40 hours of training on topics such as behavior management, stimulus control, fading prompts, token economies, crisis behavior and ethical guidelines. They have also passed a national competency assessment and exam. Each of these individuals will practice under the close, ongoing supervision of Tarah Bowser, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and will help her employ carefully designed behavior plans for our students.  


"I really enjoyed the RBT training," said teaching assistant Ben Snyder. "It's online and was really convenient for my own schedule. Some of the material was a review from working here, but much was
new information and techniques that I have been able to implement in my classroom. The coursework was definitely worth my while."


Training Program with UH-Clear Lake Grad Students


Just in time for the new school year, two graduate 
students from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) behavior analysis program will be interning with Avondale House starting this week.
 
Desire� Dawson and Morgan Campbell, both second-year masters candidates, will be doing a nine-month graduate assistantship under the supervision of Avondale's Tarah Bowser, BCBA, and UHCL assistant professor Sarah Lechago, Ph.D., BCBA-D.
 
Dr. Sarah Lechago
"Avondale's day school is a wonderful setting for our graduate students to refine their clinical skills," says Dr. Lechago. "We plan to have them spend about 20 hours per week assisting the teaching staff with one or more cases, providing assessments, treatment strategies and implementations."
  
The behavior analysis masters' program is a three-year degree plan accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International that provides students with a foundation in behavior analysis and psychology through an integrated sequence of coursework, practicum and research activities.
 
We are so excited to welcome these graduate students from UHCL!




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