SIGN-UP FOR SWIM LESSONS IN MD; NATIONAL PARKS PASS FOR FREE!!!

Registration for Summer Swim Lessons with Sports Plus NOW OPEN
Swim classes begin July 7, 2012.  Classes held at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, MD.  Three session times are avail.  Register at http://www.playsportsplus.org/uploads/Swim_2012_Summer2_Sports_Plus_Flyer.pdf

 

(An information alert prepared by Fifth Freedom Information courtesy of the National Parks Service

and the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities)

 

Free National Parks Pass For People With Disabilities

 

When visiting a federal recreation site, present some documentation of disability status and ask for the free Access Pass. Documentation includes a physician's statement, or a document issued by a State or Federal agency like the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income, Supplemental Security Income, or a vocational rehabilitation agency. This pass gives you and three adults life-long, free admission to federal recreation sites around the country.  For details visit the National Park Service's Web sites: http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm 

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm

HEART-FELT POEM BY 13 YEAR OLD; GOLF TORNAMENT; AND DANCE CLASSES!!

Friends, the author and her mother of this beautiful poem gave me permission to put this on my blog.  By Elizabeth, age 13, wrote this poem for her brother William, age 18, with autism.
You don't belong in the world, this world of pain and sadness, that's for others, you have already paid the price, and if life was fair you wouldn't have had to.

You are past the confines of society, the limitations, you are free of that. They don't understand you, but I do. And they don't understand me, but you do. And together we understand, that some things don't need words, and that differences are often to your advantage.

And while I miss the brother that you might have been, I will never love you more than I do now. I love you, William.
 9th Annual Main Street Tower Golf Tourney June 29, 2012, at the Wetlands Golf Club, in Alberdeen, MD.  410-273-7488.
Proceeds to benefit Pathfinders for Autism
You don't need to be a great golfer. We don't care if you've never golfed at all because it's just a great day of fun.  Your entry fee of $100 includes:
http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/news/view/298

Fun, Rythem, and Roll AND E-Z Hip Hop DANCE CLASSES in Montgomery County, MD.  Starting June 30, 2012!!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCTrans/message/4804

FABULOUS READS: MED FOR REDUCING RELAPSES IN MS; AUTISM - ART, SURVIVAL GUIDE, & TOILET TRAINING; NATIONAL MS BLOG.

(Article)  Clinical Trial Shows Teriflunomide Pill REDUCES Relapses In Relapsing-Remitting MS

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=6456

CONNECT With People And Information That Move Lives Forward!!  Join the NATIONAL MS SOCIETY BLOG!!!
http://blog.nationalmssociety.org/

(The following is information provided by the Autism Society.)

INTERESTING READS....RESOURCES In Topics For Autism

Toilet Training for Children with Autism or Intellectual DisabilitiesA new book shares the toilet training approaches and methods developed by author, Sue Bettison, Ph. D., after eight years of research and 30 years of professional practice. Read more…
The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (And Their Parents)

“I have to work hard to pay attention to what is happening.”
“I have trouble communicating. Like it’s hard for me to say, What’s up?”
“It’s really easy to lose focus when I look people in the eye.”
These are the words of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Read more…
The Art of Autism: Shifting PerceptionsThe Art of Autism: Shifting Perceptions contains art, poetry and stories from 77 individuals on the autism spectrum. The Art of Autism Project highlights the creative spirit of those on the spectrum. Read more…

FREE Dinner for Parents but you have to register by June 11! Support group meeting also in June.

The Parent Connection-Support Group~ sponsored by the LDAMC will be held on June 20, 2012 at the Flower Valley ES in Rockville, MD.  This meeting will be from 7-8:30PM geared to parents of children with learning disabilities.  FREE.  Please RSVP at  ldamcpc@yahoo.com or 301-933-1076.

Extraordinary Parents' Night and Dinner to Celebrate the End of the School Year  This event is on June 13, 2012, from 7-9PM, at the Rockville Memorial Library in Rockville, MD.  Have a night out without the kids!  A relaxing evening of dinner is provided.  Connect and share with other parents on the autism spectrum.  FREE but donations are appreciated.  RSVP is required.  Register at http://xminds_dinner.eventbrite.com/ or 301-444-5225 by June 11, 2012.

TALK TO MR. KNOW-IT-ALL....REALLY!, PARENT SUPPORT GROUP, WELCOME TO A CHURCH THAT WELCOMES YOUR WHOLE FAM!

Come visit a church that will accept you and your special needs child/adult!  McLean Bible Church in Leesburg, VA.  It's less than 10 minutes away from Tyson's Corner Mall.  I personally go and have never looked back!  I've been going for 8 years now.  They have 'Sunday Class' especially geared to special needs children/adults.  They have summer camp and respite care too!  They have a Parents' Support Group.  No matter the severity, your child is welcomed.  Please call them for details of all they have to offer ALL members of your family!   703-790-5590.

Parent Support Group for parents who have children and adolescents with mental illness.  Held on June 3, 2012, from 3-4:30PM, in Rockville, MD.  For details email dbaylinson@namimc.org


PUT YOUR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO A WORLD LEADING AUTHORITY ON ASD, PROFESSOR GARY MESIBOV, ON JUNE 25, 2012
Prof. Mesibov, director (until 2010) of Division TEACCH in North Carolina - is one of the top authorities on the planet in education and support for children and adults with autism. He will be online from the morning of Monday, June 25, 2012 on the Awares conference site (www.awares. org/conferences) until late that night, to receive and respond to YOUR questions. TEACCH's internationally recognised programme has a pioneering approach to service, treatment, training, research and the education of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.  This is the first in a series of monthly one-day online seminars on www.awares.org/ conferences in 2012 (featuring an outstanding line-up of figures from the world of autism) to be run by Autism Cymru, Wales's National Charity for Autism. To cover our costs, we are charging an entry fee of just £5 for members of Autism Cymru or £12.00 for non-members. Fees are paid when you initially register for this one-day online seminar.  Details about this and all other Awares online autism conferences, email adam@autismcymru. org

LECTURE, FREE MAGAZINE, MOVIES FOR THE WHOLE FAM

Understanding Medications for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities  Speaker Dr. Difazio, is head of pediatric neurosciences at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.  This lecture is FREE.  Dr. Difazio will be speaking in Gaithersburg, MD, on June 6, 2012.  For specifics and to register, call 301-869-7986 or email thehartungs@comcast.net

This June, Get a Free Digital Download of the Autism Advocate on Facebook  For the entire month of June, each fan of the Autism Society on Facebook will have access to a free digital download of one of our favorite issues of the Autism Advocate, titled Tools that Help Individuals Communicate Effectively.  Communication is a basic function of life that we take for granted; however, for many individuals with ASD, it is a real struggle. This edition of the Autism Advocate takes a hard look at critical skills and addresses strategies that will assist individuals to improve their communication skills, enhance their social communication and use a variety of ways (such as pictures) to effectively communicate.   visit the Autism Society on Facebook all month long to claim their free digital copy of the magazine!

Let's Go to the Movies... for the WHOLE FAMILY!!!!

Join AMC Theatres and the Autism Society on June 16, 2012 for a special showing of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. We will be showing the movie at 10 a.m. local time in participating theatres nationwide. For more information or to find a theatre near you, visit www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms .