The Echo….Keeping you informed!

IN THIS ISSUE

ASCC Programs & Events Find information on upcoming programs and events in the enclosed program and calen-

dar pages.

See Page 2

CCS Teacher Mini-Grants

See Pages 5

Autism Resource Roundtable

See Page 4

iPads and Autism: A Perfect Match? By: Amy Perry, ASNC Parent Advocate/Trainer

The Spectrum, Volume 29, Number 2 Summer Edition

On April 3, 2010, Apple released the first generation iPad. Steve Jobs called it a ‘magical

device,” and in many ways, that is exactly what it is: a slate of glass possessing the pow-

er of a computer, the vast content of the Internet, and a bottomless well of software

applications or “apps”. The iPad literally puts the world at your fingertips, requiring only

the operator’s fingers and imagination. Simply put, the real magic of the iPad is that it is

truly a blank slate, designed to be customized by each user for his or her unique needs.

It was clear to everyone that this new and powerful technology had the potential to be

world-changing, but few knew just how many worlds it would change for those with au-

tism.

The iPad is, in many cases, a natural match for people with autism. Stories are told every

day of people who had been locked in their own worlds, unable to communicate, find a

portal in the iPad to reach out an interact with families for the first time. Children who

were thought to have severe intellectual disabilities are able to show intelligence and

awareness no one thought was possible. A child who refused to hold a pencil or write on

paper now draws and writes freely using the magic of his fingertip. You don't have to

look very far to see lives changed by this technology, but about the iPad that makes it

such a natural match with autism?

Design:

The design of the IPad is simple: a 9.7-inch glass screen with one circular button at the

bottom. Power and volume controls are on the sides and out of the main view: there are

almost no visual distractions on the outside body. The layout of the screen is a natural

grid made up of approximately 1-inch icon squares, each activated by a single touch.

The number and layout of icons on any screen can be customized by the user so that the

screen can contain only one or two choices, or as many as twenty-five. The ability to

customize the number of choices and the amount of information on a page can be very

helpful. Many people find that iPad screens mimic the ‘choice boards’ that the autism

community has been using for years.

Interaction:

The beautify simplicity of the iPad is that it is operated by the touch of a finger; this is

also what makes it such an ideal tool for people with autism. One of the skills that is

looked for in early childhood development is the ability to point to indicate interest. The

iPad requires the user to do exactly that, providing children with autism with many op-

portunities to develop this skill. (cont. pg. 2)

ASCC Membership Are you interested in becoming a member of the ASCC ? Learn how you can support the ASCC

and stay connected with our organization.

See Page 8

7th Autism Awareness Vera

Bradley Bingo Night

See Page 6-7

ASCC Parent Education Program

Monday- October 14 2013

Pictures Speak Volumes Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) for children, adolescents

and adults with ASD

By: Missie Holmes, Speech Pathologist (see pg. 2)

September 2013 Volume 12, Issue 2

ASCC Programs-Opportunities for Parents and Children

Parent Education

Program

Please join us on

Monday, October 14 2013, 6:30 pm

at the

Partnership for Children Resource

Center

351 Wagoner Drive,

Multipurpose Room 343

for a presentation titled

Pictures Speak Volumes Picture Exchange Communication System

(PECS) for children, adolescents and

adults with ASD

Missie Holmes, Speech Pathologist

Speech and Language Rehabilitation

Services

Free respite care will be available on

site through Community Based

Developmental 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

opportunity to share, learn, and

connect. Parents, caregivers,

guardians, and professionals 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,

immediately preceding the Parent

Education Program. This group

meets in Room 414 of the PFC

Resource Center. Focus: Families of

children, adolescents, 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

adolescents and adults with ASD.

Childcare 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

Thursdays 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

specific 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.

The Newly Diagnosed Workshop is led

by Amy Perry, ASNC Parent Advocate,

and is held every first Thursday of the

month from 9:30 am—12:00 pm.

(even calendar months)

The Autism Resource Roundtable is

led by Amy Perry, ASNC Autism Re-

source Specialist, and is held ever

first Thursday of the month from 9:30

am-12:00 pm. (even calendar

months)

The Individualized Education Plan

Workshop, led by Amy Perry, provides

an opportunity for parents and

providers to learn all about IEPs. It

will be offered quarterly.

The Little Miracles Child Development

Services Workshop will be offered

every fourth Wednesday of the month

by Board Certified Behavioral Ana-

lysts. The workshops will cover differ-

ent parenting topics every month.

The Echo I Issue 2 , October 2013 2

Ipads and Autism: A Perfect Match? cont.

Pointing is one of the most basic forms of gestural commu-

nication, and the iPad responds instantly in an infinite num-

ber of ways. On the iPad, the finger can play musical instru-

ments, write words, turn a page, pop balloons, make choic-

es, complete puzzles, and even launch angry birds at towers

of blocks. The mere interactive nature of the iPad can cre-

ate a natural gateway for more gesture-based communica-

tion and even joint attention activities.

Portability and Accessibility

Before iPads, the closest thing we had to portable technolo-

gy was laptop computers. But laptops are heavier and more

cumbersome, making them less accessible to young chil-

dren and people with physical challenges. Laptops also re-

quire a touchpad or a mouse, which can be a barrier to use.

While the average laptop weighs 6-8 pounds, iPads weigh

just 1.5 pounds, are approximately one-third smaller than a

laptop, and can be placed in a variety of cases to make

them easy for even very young children to hold. Laptops

typically can run four hours or less requiring a recharge.

IPads have up to ten hours of battery life on a single charge.

Software or “apps” for iPads are also much more readily

available than computer software, new content can be pur-

chased from the App store instantly on the iPad with just a

few taps, and where are no disks or system requirements to

keep up with. Additionally, more and more programmers are

developing apps specifically for the autism community.

What Can’t the iPad Do?

For all of the terrific things the iPad can do, there are many

things it cannot do. I cannot “cure” autism, it is not a “magic

bullet”, and simply placing it in the hands of a person with

autism isn't necessarily any more beneficial than putting

them in front of a computer or television. An iPad should

never be a substitute for personal interaction, nor should it

be replace opportunities to practice real world skills. It

should never be imposed on a child who is uninterested or

unwilling to use it. When iPads are used by caring parents

and professionals to help people with autism reach their

highest potential, wonderful things can happen.

Permission to reprint by Amy Perry

The Echo I Issue 2, October 2013 3

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

9:30-11:00 am

ABC Support Group

PFCRC RM 414

3

9:30-11 am Preschool Support Group

PFCRC RM 414

9:30-12:00 pm

Autism Resource Roundtable

PFCRC RM 414

4 9:00-12:00 pm iPad

Lending Project

PFCRC Conf. RM B

5

6 7 1:00-4:00 pm iPad

Lending Project

PFC RM 414

8 11:30 am Autism

Lunch Club (ALC)

Support Group

Lone Star Restaurant

9 10

9:30-11:00 am Preschool Support Group

PFCRC RM 343

11

9:00-12:00 pm IPad

Lending Project

PFCRC RM 414

12 ASNC Triangle Run/Walk for Au-tism

Raleigh, NC For more information, please call:

(800) 442-2762

13 14 1:00-4:00 pm

iPad Lending Project,

PFCRC RM 414

5:45-6:30pm HFA Support

Group, PFCRC, RM 414

6:30-8pm Parent Education

Program, PFCRC RM 343

15

16 9:30-11:00 am

ABC Support Group,

PFCRC RM 343

17

9:30-11:00 am Preschool Support Group

PFCRC RM 414

18 9:00-12:00

pm IPad Lending

Project PFCRC RM

414

Vera Bradley Bingo Night! (doors open at 5:00 pm)

19 10:30 am-Rhythm

and Rhyme

Sensory Story time

Hope Mills Library

20 21 1:00-4:00 pm iPad

Lending Project

PFCRC RM 414

22 11:00-1:00 pm

ASCC Board of

Directors Meeting

PFCRC RM 414

23 10:00-11:00 am

Little Miracles

Workshop

PFCRC RM 414

24 9:30-11:00 am

Preschool Support

Group

PFCRC RM 414

25 9:00-12:00 pm IPad

Lending Project

PFCRC RM 414

26

3:00 pm—6:00pm

Partnership for

Children Pumpkin Patch Party, PFC Parking Lot

A free and fun family event!

27 28 1:00-4:00 pm iPad

Lending Project

PFCRC RM 414

29 30 31 9:30-11:00 am

Preschool Support

Group

PFCRC RM 343

October 2013

7th Autism Awareness Vera Bradley Bingo

Friday, October 18 at 6 :00 pm

Doors Open at 5:00 pm

Location: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

2844 Village Drive, Fayetteville NC

The Echo I Issue 2, October 2013 4

The Echo I Issue 2, October 2013 5

The ASCC is excited to announce the availability of funding for teacher mini-grants again this

school year. Teachers of self-contained autism classrooms are eligible to apply for this grant. All mini-grant requests

must be written for no less than $100.00 and no more than $200.00. We hope that this opportunity will provide some

assistance to teachers as they are serving students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Applications will be

emailed in mid November and are due to the ASCC no later than January 17, 2014.

The ASCC would like to invite our Families out

for a great day of fun!

The ASCC Supports Children and Teachers

in Cumberland County Schools

Thank you Isaiah for your donating

your birthday gifts to the ASCC!!!

Learning with iPads at

Camp Sunshine 2013 was a great

experience!

Camp Sunshine

campers visited the

Millstone Theatre

this summer!

The Echo I Issue 2, October 2013 6

The Echo I Issue 2, October 2013 7

351 Wagoner Drive, Suite 410

Fayetteville, NC 28303

Tel: 910-826-3004/3005

Fax: 910-868-5881

E-mail: autismcc@ccpfc.org

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:

The Autism Society of Cumberland

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:

The Autism Society of Cumberland

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:

The Autism Society of Cumberland

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

Ronda Holden

Dr. Suzanna Fletcher

Staff:

Sylvia Adamczyk, Director of Programs & Outreach

Alvita Blue, Program & Outreach Assistant

October 2013 The Echo Volume 12, Issue 2

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

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