The Echo vol 12 issue 9 May 2014

The Echo….Keeping you informed!

IN THIS ISSUE

ASCC Programs & Events Find information on upcoming programs and events in

the enclosed program and calendar pages.

See Page 2

Our Donors and Volunteers who

support the ASCC– Thank you!

See Page 6

Fundraisers– Join us!

See Pages 4,5

Autism is Hard - That’s Why We Do This Together

By: Amy Perry, ASNC Autism Resource Specialist

ASCC Parent Education Presentation Monday – May 12, 2014 at 6:30 pm

Taking Care of Yourself:

The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers of Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Presented by : Presented by : Valerie McCants, M.S.W. (see pg. 2)

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the challenges of raising a child with autism?

Do you find your stress level often reaches an all-time high with hectic schedule you keep?

If so, please join us for this informative presentation where you will learn simple self-care strategies that you can easily squeeze into

your busy life.

May 2014 Volume 12, Issue 9

ASCC Summer Calendar

See Page 7

Whenever I see the movie "Mary Poppins" I smile at one of the early scenes in

the film where the next door neighbor fires his cannon on a daily basis, and everyone

in the house automatically anticipates this temporary disruption by manning their

"posts" to catch falling breakables and straighten the pictures on the walls. While a

blast that shakes the whole house would be a disaster in most residences, it is nothing

short of routine maintenance and survival in the Banks household. This scenario re-

minds me of what it's like to live with Autism.

In the wake of Autism Awareness month, I find myself wondering if the gen-

eral public is actually aware of how hard it can be to have a child with Autism. Some-

times Autism is hard in ways that nobody talks about; like walking through the produce

section of the grocery store with my 17 year old daughter, praying she doesn't take a

bite out of a random piece of fruit - or sniff the wrong stranger. At home we keep the

refrigerator locked because my daughter will drink a bottle of BBQ sauce if we forget to

lock it. We keep extra rolls of toilet paper hidden because if we don't, we risk them all

ending up in the toilet at once. It's fine to have dishes, cooking utensils or even junk

mail on the kitchen counter, but for reasons I will never understand it is an unforgiva-

ble offense to leave out salt shakers or seasonings (that's my daughter's rule, not

mine.) Our house has adapted to these "quirks" of Autism and I seldom think about

them until I'm at an autism-less house.

Autism presents challenges on several levels. There are the day to day sur-

vival tricks where we adapt and modify our behaviors or our environment and within

our own family. There's the bigger picture of dealing with Autism within our extended

network of family and friends. Have you ever had a well meaning friend or relative ask

"How's _____ doing?" and your mental response is "you wouldn't believe me if I told

you what I had to clean up last night" or "my life is somewhere between "Apocalypse

Now" and "Madagascar" Then there's the big question, "What's going to happen in the

long run? Does Autism grow up?" A question so scary I didn't allow myself to even ask

it for years. There is a lot to worry about, think about and plan for. How can anyone

survive this, and not only survive, but have a child with autism who is thriving?

Recently, I read a research study on the benefits of parental support groups

in families who have children with Autism. I wasn't surprised to see research reveal

something I already knew. Parents of children with Autism who participate in support

groups report a higher quality of life for themselves, their families, and their children

with Autism. This is especially true for families who have recently had a child diag-

nosed with Autism. The CDC reports that the incidence of Autism is now 1:68. That's a

lot of families, a lot of moms and dads struggling to adapt their lives for the special

child that is no doubt their greatest joy as well as their greatest challenge.

Cont. pg. 2

ASCC Programs-Opportunities for Parents and Children

Parent Education

Presentation

Please join us on

Monday, May 12, 2014

6:30 pm

at the

Partnership for Children Resource

Center

351 Wagoner Drive,

Multipurpose Room 343

for a presentation titled

Taking Care of Yourself:

The Importance of Self-Care for Care-

givers of Children and Adults with

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Presented by: Valerie McCants, Presented by: Valerie McCants,

M.S.W.M.S.W.

Free respite care will be available on

site through Community Based Devel-

opmental Services. Please contact

Cynthia Billops at 488-5820 or 488-

4584 to reserve your space at least

24 hours in advance.

ASCC Support Groups

Support Groups provide an opportuni-

ty to share, learn, and connect. Par-

ents, caregivers, guardians, and pro-

fessionals are welcome to participate

in all of our support groups. Please

check the calendar on page three for

meeting dates/times/locations.

The HFA/Asperger’s Support Group

meets every second Monday of the

month, Sep—Nov, Jan—May, immedi-

ately preceding the Parent Education

Program. This group meets in Room

414 of the PFC Resource Center.

Focus: Families of children, adoles-

cents, and adults diagnosed with HFA

or Asperger’s. Childcare will not be

provided.

The Autism Lunch Club (ALC) Support

Group meets every second Tuesday

of the month at various Fayetteville

restaurants. Focus: Families of ado-

lescents and adults with ASD. Child-

care will not be provided.

The Autism Breakfast Club (ABC)

Support Group meets every first and

third Wednesday of the month at the

PFC Resource Center, Room 414.

Focus: Families of children with ASD

up to age 12. Childcare will be provid-

ed.

The Preschool Support Group (The

High Fives) meets weekly on Thurs-

days at the PFC Resource Center,

Room 343. Focus: Families of

young children with ASD ages 1-5

years. Childcare will be provided.

While every group focuses on a spe-

cific age range, parents of children of

all ages are welcome to attend all

support groups!

Workshops

Please call the ASCC office at (910)

826-3004/3005 to register for all

workshops.

After the Diagnosis: Get Answers, Get

Help, Get Going workshop is led by

Amy Perry, ASNC Autism Resource

Specialist, and is held every first

Tuesday of the month from 9:30 am—

12:00 pm. (odd calendar months)

Autism Resource Roundtable is led

by Amy Perry, ASNC Autism Resource

Specialist, and is held every first

Tuesday of the month from 9:30 am-

12:00 pm. (even calendar months)

The Individualized Education Plan

Workshop, led by Amy Perry, ASNC

Autism Resource Specialist provides

an opportunity for parents and provid-

ers to learn all about IEPs. It will be

offered quarterly.

The Echo I Issue 9, May 2014 2

ASCC Board of Directors The nomination and election of the Board of Directors will be

held at the meeting of the general membership on May 12,

2014.

From the Desk of the Director…

Dear Friends and Families,

This is the last issue of The Echo newsletter for this fiscal

year. All support groups will continue to meet as listed in

the calendar on pages 3 & 7. Please visit our website at

www.autismcc.org, or visit our Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/asccnc to stay informed of the latest

information about our organization and upcoming events/

meetings. Please expect the next Echo newsletter in your

mailbox during the first week of September 2014. We wish

you all a safe and wonderful summer!

Sincerely,

Sylvia Adamczyk

Autism is Hard– That’s Why We Do This Together- Cont.

from pg. 1

One of the best things about the Autism Society is that at

any event you go to - support groups, parent education,

camps, conferences, workshops, it's full of people who "get

it.” There are other people who have to lock their refrigera-

tor or follow strange rules in hopes of avoiding a meltdown -

or a domestic malfunction.

The Autism Society is here for you - because we

are you - we get it - we do it every day. We sit in IEP meet-

ings and feel lost, we struggle to accept or decline invita-

tions at well meaning friends or relatives homes, we ignore

strangers who stare, we pretend shrieking in the checkout

line is normal. We learn from each other's experiences.

There's the very special grin when we hear another person

telling their story and it sounds so much like our own. Sup-

port for families really does make life better - for you as well

as for your child. The Autism Society of Cumberland County

offers a plethora of support groups, workshops and parent

education meetings every month. I have no doubt that you

want the best life possible for your child with Autism. The

first step, the next step, just might be for you. Please visit

one of our groups, workshops or trainings, find something

that meets your needs where you're at. As an Autism Re-

source Specialist for the Autism Society of North Carolina, I

teach a variety of monthly workshops for The Autism Socie-

ty of Cumberland County designed to help parents who are

new to the diagnosis, who are looking for more resources

and a place to get their questions answered, or the ever

popular topic of special education and IEP's.

Autism is hard, that's why we do this together. I

look forward to seeing you at an ASCC event soon.


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

10:00-12:00 pm Preschool Support Group

PFCRC RM 343

2

3

4 5

69:30-12:00 pm

After the Diagnosis : Get Answers Get Help, Get Going, Workshop

PFCRC RM 414

79:30-11:00 am

ABC Support Group

PFCRC RM 414

8


PFCRC RM 343

9

10 Cape Beard Follicles of

Freedom- Pig Pickin’–

2-10 pm (Children’s

Activities 2-6 pm)

11 12 5:45-6:30pm HFA Support

Group, PFCRC, RM 414

6:30-8pm Parent Education

Presentation, PFCRC RM

343

139:30– 12:00

IEP Workshop

11:30 am Autism

Lunch Club (ALC)

Support Group—Red

Lobster

14

15


PFCRC RM 414

16

17 10:30 am-Rhythm

and Rhyme

Sensory Story time

Hope Mills Library

18 19

20

21 9:30-11:00 am

ABC Support Group

PFCRC RM 414

22 10:00-12:00 pm Preschool Support Group

PFCRC RM 414

23

24

25 26

Memorial Day

ASCC Office Closed

2711:00-1:00 pm

ASCC Board of

Directors Meeting

PFCRC RM 414

28

29 10:00-12:00 pm Preschool Support Group

PFCRC RM 343

30 31 ASCC Golf Tourna-

ment at King’s

Grant

Tee time! 8:00 am

May 2014

NEW DATE AND TIME!!!

iPad Lending Project

Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month -1-4 pm

5/13– iPad Lending Project – 9:30-12:00 pm, Rm 414


Special Events– 3rd Annual Autism Awareness Pig Pickin’

Raffle Prizes!

Family Fun!

Live Music!

Bring your friends and family and

join us!


8th Annual Autism Awareness Golf Tournament


THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS! We are grateful for the following donors who have supported the ASCC with monetary contributions during the months of January-March 2014:

Mr. & Mrs. David Quinn

Katherine Fasul

Mr. & Mrs. William Summers

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox

Church

Mr. & Mrs. Tildon Downing

Best Buy

Eric A. Williams– Coastal Family Services,

LLC

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Branch

Knights of Columbus Council 9847

(Sons of Mother Seton)

Knights of Columbus Council 2838

(Cardinal Gibbons)

GAP Inc.

Cathy Howell

Jersey Mike’s– Yadkin Road Store

Kohl’s

Cynthia Billops– Community Based Devel-

opmental Services

Wilburt Gunter

Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Scott

Anna & Hank Finch

Mr. & Mrs. Don Lucero

Michael Taylor

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! We value our volunteers. Your efforts and your willingness to make a difference in the services we provide make the ASCC shine. Thanks to the follow-

ing volunteers for the months of January-March 2014.

Brandy Mello

Anna Finch

Dr. Suzanna Fletcher

John Allen

Gwen Scott

Ronda Holden

Chris Leacock

Cynthia Billops

Dr. Kelly Charles

Andrea Bennerman

Samantha Brockney

Adam Jackson

Ann Palmer

Trish Schnabel

Linda Annas

Roszella Major-Williams

Nancy Childress

Julie Aul

Your donations help support the ASCC monthly programs, workshops, and support

groups offered to our families.

In-Kind Donations– Car Quest and O’Reilly Auto Parts

Circle of Parents–

Preschool Support Group iPads for Autism Workshop Circle of Parents– Core Training


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 ABC Support Group

9:30-11:00 am, Rm 414

5 Preschool Support Group, 10-12 pm , Rm 343

6 7

8 9

10 iPad Lending Pro-

ject, 1-4 pm, Rm 414

Autism Lunch Club (ALC)

Support Group 11:30 am–

Logans

11 12 Preschool Support Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 13 14

15 16 17 18 ABC Support Group

9:30-11:00 am, Rm 414 19 Preschool Support

Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343

20 21

22 23 Camp

Sunshine begins!

24 25 26 Preschool Support

Group, 10-12 pm , Rm

27 28

29 30

June 2014

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 ABC Support Group

9:30-11:00 am, Rm 414

3 Preschool Support Group, 10-12 pm , Rm 343

4 Fourth of July

Office Closed 5

6 7 8 Autism Lunch Club

(ALC) Support Group

11:30am– Sammio’s HM

9 10 Preschool Support

Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 11 12



Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 Preschool Support

Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 25 Camp Sunshine ends 26

27 28 29 30 31 Preschool Support

Group, 10-12 pm , Rm 343 1 2

July 2014

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 4 5 6 ABC Support Group


Group, 10-12 pm Rm 343 8 9

10 11 12 iPad Lending

Project, 1-4 pm, Rm 414

Autism Lunch Club (ALC)

Support Group 11:30 am–

Smokey Bones


Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 15 16



Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 22 23

24 25 26 11:00-1:00 pm

ASCC Board of Direc-

tors Meeting, RM 414


Group, 10-12 pm, Rm 343 29 30

31

August 2014

ASCC Summer Calendar of Events

6/3- Autism Resource Roundtable – 9:30-12:00 pm, Rm 414

8/5- Autism Resource Roundtable – 9:30-12:00 pm, Rm 414

7/1– After the Diagnosis: Get Answers, Get Help, Get Going – 9:30-12:00 pm, Rm 414

351 Wagoner Drive, Suite 410

Fayetteville, NC 28303

Tel: 910-826-3004/3005

Fax: 910-868-5881

E-mail: [email protected]

www.autismcc.org

“Supporting Individuals Within The Autism Spectrum”

Winner of the Autism Society of

North Carolina affiliate of the Year

Award—1996, 2002, & 2003

Membership & Donations

Return Service Requested

The Autism Society of Cumberland

County is an affiliate of the Autism

Society of North Carolina.

Mission Statement:


County is committed to providing

support and promoting opportunities

which enhance the lives of individu-

als within the autism spectrum and

their families.

Vision Statement:


County strives to create a community

where people within the autism

spectrum and their families receive

respect, services, and supports

based on individual differences,

needs, and preferences.

Disclaimer:


County does not take any position

regarding studies of ASD, nor en-

dorse any particular form of treat-

ment, intervention, or therapy. This

newsletter allows us to pass along

current information in the field of

ASD to our families and organization

members.

Please make checks payable to:

Autism Society of Cumberland County

351 Wagoner Drive, Suite 410

Fayetteville, NC 28303

Name:

Parent/Caregiver Professional

Sibling Individual with ASD

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

A great way to help support our program is to

become a member. As a member of the ASCC, you

enjoy voting rights during membership meetings,

you are eligible for election to the Board of

Directors, and you receive priority for conference

scholarships. Membership is effective for one year.

Please remember the ASCC with your tax-deductible

charitable contribution. Thank you!

Annual Membership ($10.00)

Donation $_________

Join us on Facebook

Cumberland Community

Foundation

Board of Directors:

Anna Finch, President

Gwen Scott, Vice President

Brandy Mello, Secretary

Chris Leacock , Treasurer

John Allen

Cynthia Billops

Dr. Kelly Charles

Dr. Suzanna Fletcher

Ronda Holden

Staff:

Sylvia Adamczyk, Director of Programs & Outreach

Alvita Blue, Program & Outreach Assistant

May 2014 The Echo Volume 12, Issue 9

FY 2013/2014 Board of Directors & Staff Funded In Part By:

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The Echo vol 12 issue 9 May 2014