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 2/3

Teacher Mini-Grants The ASCC announces six teacher mini-grant recipients

for the 2014/2015 school year!

See Page 5

Camp Sunshine Update Information on the status of Camp Sunshine applica-

tions and the next steps in the application process.

See Page 2

Board Member Opportunity Important information for Individuals interested in

serving on the ASCC Board of Directors

See Page 5

March 2015 Volume 13, Issue 7

ASCC Parent Education PresentationASCC Parent Education Presentation

Monday – March 9, 2015 at 6:30 pm

“Utilizing the iPad to Promote Speech/Language Goals at Home” “Utilizing the iPad to Promote Speech/Language Goals at Home” “Utilizing the iPad to Promote Speech/Language Goals at Home”

Presented by : Presented by : Sonya Evans Oates, MSCCC - SLP/IFTS, Need Speech? (see pg. 2)

This presentation will provide an interactive discussion on how to use the iPad to address speech/

language goals. Mrs. Evans Oates will explore simple game apps, review YouTube, and give information on specific speech/language

apps that are fun but encourage language development. Please bring your iPad and your questions!

C ommunicating with a child who has Autism

may be more challenging than communi-

cating with a typical child. Communication

delays may prevent your child from speaking,

speaking in complete sentences, or pronuncia-

tion of words may be difficult to understand.

Here are a few ways you can foster language

development at home.

No matter how little the accomplishment, cele-

brate! If your child tries to say “ball” and only

gets “ba,” that is success if your child has no

language! By all means, continue to encourage

speech. Celebrate every victory; the sense of

accomplishment your autistic child will feel will

encourage him to continue to try.

Wait for it! As parents we want our children to

respond when we ask them a question. For a

child with autism who may struggle to express

language, it may be unrealistic to expect a

quick response. Be patient …… wait for it! Give

your child time to answer.

Provide an opportunity for your child to speak.

Ask questions and allow your child the oppor-

tunity to answer: Would you like juice or milk?

What would you like to do: read a book or

watch TV? What would you like for your snack:

apple or orange?

Constantly talk to your child. Constant lan-

guage is productive for the autistic child. Talk

to your child as often as possible. While driving,

explain where your are going; while making

dinner, explain your cooking techniques; when

getting ready for school, discuss clothing, col-

ors and fabrics. One-on-one activities provide

you with opportunities to have your child’s

undivided attention. Don’t forget to “wait for it”

and allow your child time to respond to your

questions and/or comments.

Play. Constructive play time is beneficial. When

is the last time you sat on the floor and played

“Legos” with your child? Again, this is great one

-on-one time with your child. While you play,

talk to your child about the shape, colors and

what you’re building. Give clear, simple instruc-

tions. Encourage your child to try and say the

words or imitate your speech instead of point-

ing at objects.

Eco . . . Repeating Language of Others. If your

child repeats language heard on TV, music or

even you . . . . some speech is better than no

speech. This is echolalia (the often pathological

repetition of what is said by other people as if

echoing them), but it is speaking. Don’t be

frustrated or discouraged; remember, it’s an

accomplishment! It may be annoying, but it’s

progress.

Continued on p. 2, See Speech Strategies

Simple Strategies to Stimulate the Speech of a Child with Autism

By Cindy Blanton, Speech Language Pathologist Assistant, Need Speech?

In the event the program is cancelled due to inclement weather, the ASCC will send out notification by email.

ASCC Programs-Opportunities for Parents and Children

Parent Education

Program

Please join us on

Monday, March 9, 2015,

6:30 pm at the

Partnership for Children

Resource Center

351 Wagoner Drive,

Multipurpose Room 343

for a presentation titled

“Utilizing the iPad to

Promote Speech/Language

Goals at Home”

by

Sonya Evans Oates

MSCCC—SLP/IFTS,

Need Speech?

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) Sup-

port Group meets every second

Tuesday of the month at various

Fayetteville restaurants. Focus:

Families of adolescents and adults

with ASD. Childcare will not be pro-

vided.

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

provided.

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.

Workshops

Please call the ASCC office at (910)

826-3004/3005 to register for all

workshops.

The After the Diagnosis Workshop is

led by Amy Perry, ASNC Parent Advo-

cate, 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, pro-

vides an opportunity for parents and

providers to learn all about IEPs. It

will be offered quarterly.

Please Note: In the event a program or meeting is cancelled due to in-clement weather, the ASCC will send

out notification by email.

The Echo I Issue 7 , March 2015 2

Continued from Page 1

Remember to be mindful of what you say in the presence of

your child, what he watches, and the music he hears. Children

will pick up bad language as well.

Mouth, Tongue, and Facial Exercises. Blowing Bubbles, play-

ing with a straw (blowing air through the straw) and poking

your tongue out as far as it will go are great exercises to pro-

mote an autistic child’s mouth muscles and tongue. Have a

competition to see who can make the silliest face, and this

really stretches all the muscles and articulators in the child’s

face. You can come up with a lot of exercises all by yourself, by

using a little creativity and ingenuity.

Flash Cards, Flash Cards and More Flash Cards. Each day

devote time to flash cards. Flash cards should have an item

and the word typed in large print. For example, a yellow bana-

na with the word “banana” typed underneath. Through repeti-

tion your child will begin to recognize the item and word. Your

child will hopefully try to pronounce the word; always encour-

age your child. Once your child has mastered the flash card, it

is time to teach more words and get a different set of carts.

Teaching your child to speak is a “team effort” between you

and your child’s speech language pathologist, but know with

consistence and working with your child at home the probabil-

ity of speech is higher. It is important to work with your child

every day and all day. Remember to celebrate every accom-

plishment and be patient. Have realistic expectations; improve-

ment in your child’s speech will take time.

Dear ASCC Family & Friends:

Camp Sunshine will return to Loyd Auman Elementary

School this summer! Camp dates will be June 29,

2015 thru July 31, 2015.

Notifications of acceptance into camp will be mailed

either via traditional mail or email by mid March. Par-

ents, please complete the Parent Intake Form and re-

turn it to our office no later than April 1 2015. Parent

Intake Interviews will be held in April/May. Please call

our office once you receive notification of acceptance

to schedule your appointment.

Applications for employment at Camp Sunshine must

be received by our office no later than March 31, 2015.

Volunteers are needed to make Camp Sunshine a great

success. Please contact our office at (910) 826-

3004/3005 to find out how you can make a difference

in this valuable program!

Speech Strategies

The Echo I Issue 7, March 2015 3

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

After the Diagnosis Workshop 9:30 am - noon Multipurpose Rm. 343

Rhythm and Rhyme Sensory Story Time - Hope Mills Library

4 ABC Support Group 9:30 - 11am Multi-Purpose Rm 343

5 Preschool Support Group 10am-12pm Multi-Purpose Rm 343

6 7

8 9 HFA Support Group

5:45pm Conference Rm 414

Parent Education Program 6:30pm Multi-Purpose Rm 343

10 Autism Lunch Club (ALC) Support Group 11:30 am - Memphis Barbeque

iPads for Autism 1 - 4pm Conference Rm. 414

11 12 Preschool Support Group 10am-12pm Multi-Purpose Rm 343

13 14

15 16 17

St. Patrick’s Day

18 ABC Support Group 9:30 - 11am Multi-Purpose Rm3 43

19 Preschool Support Group 10am-12pm Multi-Purpose Rm 343

20 21

22 23 24 ASCC Board of Directors Meeting 11 am - 1pm Conference Rm B

25 26 Preschool Support Group 10am-12pm Special Outing

27 28

29 30 31

March 2015March 2015

SAVE THE DATE!!!

10TH AUTISM AWARENESS

VERA BRADLEY BINGO

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 – 6:00 PM

ST.PATRICK’S CHURCH

The Echo I Issue 7, March 2015 4

The Echo I Issue 7, March 2015 5

The ASCC is seeking interested individuals who would like to serve as members of the ASCC Board of

Directors beginning July 1, 2015. If you are willing to serve, you must be a member of the ASCC and notify

the ASCC office of your intent to serve no later than Friday March 13, 2015. You will then receive an appli-

cation which must be completed and submitted to the ASCC no later than March 31, 2015. The ASCC

Board Development Committee will review all applications and recommend nominees to the Board of Di-

rectors. The nomination/election of the Board of Directors will be held at a meeting of the general mem-

bership on May 11, 2015.

Congratulations to our 2014-2015 Mini-Grant Recipients!

Fundraising with the ASCC– How Can You Help?

What are the BENEFITS of fundraising for the ASCC?

Help spread autism awareness

Help share the story and mission of the ASCC

Help support organizational costs for the ASCC

Help provide program services for families

Connect with like-minded people with a common cause

Become life-long partners with the ASCC

How can you help RAISE FUNDS for the ASCC?

Become a SPONSOR or HELP FIND SPONSORS for an annual event

(Autism Awareness Vera Bradley Bingo and Autism Awareness Golf

Tournament)

Make a donation to the ASCC

Spread awareness with your personal and professional networks who

support our mission

Tell others your personal story about how the ASCC has helped you

Our mission at the ASCC is to provide support and to promote opportunities which enhance

the lives of individuals within the autism spectrum and their families. In order to provide the

best support for our families we are dependent upon fundraisers, donations, contributions, and

grants to ensure our families continue to receive the quality services we provide each year.

“ A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite imagination, and instill a love of learning.” (Ward)

The ASCC is pleased to announce six Cumberland County Schools teachers who received mini-grants up to $200.00 each to im-

prove their classrooms. All teachers work with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and are assigned to self-contained

AU classrooms. Congratulations to the following teachers:

FY 2014/2015 ASCC Board of Directors Opportunity

Alison McNeill White, Westover High School

Corrie Harris, Glendale Acres Elementary School

Julia King, Lake Rim Elementary School

Stacy Henry, Gallberry Farm Elementary School

Helen Frey, Luther Nick Jeralds Middle School

Nisi Farley, Ponderosa Elementary School

Please note: The use of our logo without prior permission is prohibited. If you are interested in holding a fundraiser to benefit the

ASCC, please contact our office to obtain a copy of our fundraising guidelines.

The Echo I Issue 7, March 2015 6

The Echo I Issue 7, March 2015 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 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

March 2015 The Echo Volume 13, Issue 7

FY 2014/2015 Board of Directors & Staff Funded In Part By:

Like us on Pinterest

Board of Directors:

Anna Finch, President

Gwen Scott, Vice President

Brandy Mello, Secretary

Chris Leacock , Treasurer

John Allen

Cynthia Billops

Melissa Reed

Eric Williams

Staff:

Jeannie Hodges, Director of Programs & Outreach

Jennifer Lyden, Program & Outreach Assistant

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