ASEA WinterEd 2012

Win t er 2 012
volume 24, number 4
2011 OPENING DOORS FOR AUTISM GALA SPONSORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
EXECUTIVE
Dr. Shane Lynch
Susan Angus
Omair Peracha
Bonnie Stonehouse
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Laura Dumas
Candace Hall
Arif Khan
Chris Kish
Dr. David Nicholas
Jenni Shwetz
Alan Wagner
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Dr. Deborah Barrett
Articles, opinions and events in this publication do not
necessarily imply the endorsement of the Autism Society
of Edmonton Area and are printed for information only.
The editors of Autism Now are Deborah Barrett and
Roman Sokolowski.
The Autism Society of Edmonton Area is a non-profit
organization founded in 1971 by a concerned group of
parents and professionals. The Autism Society of Edmonton
Area helps families and communities embrace and support
people on the autism spectrum throughout their lives.
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
#101, 11720 Kingsway Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5G 0X5
780-453-3971 / 780-447-4948
email: [email protected]
website: www.autismedmonton.org
PLEASE PHONE THE SOCIETY FOR AD
PLACEMENT AND RATES
Layout by Vos Printing & Design Ltd.
Printed by Vos Printing & Design Ltd.
PM# 40020698
Education Matters
What is “Theory of Mind?”
Karen Bain
At a summer course sponsored by POPARD
(Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related
Disorders) in Vancouver in July 2011, the instructor
spent considerable time reviewing the concept of the
“Theory of Mind”. The instructor discussed the
difficulties individuals having autism demonstrate as a
result of inadequate development of social and
communication skills related to understanding the
feelings and behaviours of other people.
“Theory of Mind” is the ability of an individual to
understand mental and emotional states such as beliefs,
desires, and intentions in oneself and in others. It is the
knowledge that other people can have beliefs,
understandings and emotional states that are different
from one's own, that are based on a diverse set of
knowledge or mental states, and that stem from a
different set of life experiences. By the age of four,
typically developing children are usually able to
understand that other people can have preferences,
emotions and thoughts that can differ from their own.
These children can display empathy and compassion
for others based on their perceived points of view.
Since 1985 (Baron-Cohen et. al.), there has been
evidence suggesting that individuals having Autism
Spectrum Disorders have particular difficulty
developing theory of mind. Sometimes referred to as
“mind-blindness”, related social-communication delays
may include:
an inability to understand what others are thinking
or feeling
trouble realizing how one's personal behaviour impacts
the perceptions or behaviours of others
lack of shared attention, turn-taking and limited
pretend play
difficulty responding to the emotions of oneself and
of others
a lack of ability to attribute “false belief ”: that is, not
recognizing that others can have different beliefs based
on a different perception of actions or experiences
challenges with social reciprocity and the ability to
predict or explain actions and behaviours of other
people
problems understanding desires and emotional
feelings in others, and difficulty understanding how
someone will feel given a particular set of
circumstances, such as breaking a toy or getting a
special treat
limited use of eye-gazing or pointing as signals of
what is being referred to in verbal communication
academic difficulties related to understanding
emotions and the perspective of characters in
literature, as well as challenges in the areas of
problem-solving, hypothesizing and understanding
abstract language.
Although commonly discussed among parents and
professionals who support students having autism,
theory of mind is not always well understood. School
personnel frustrated with students displaying these
difficulties often misinterpret their actions or verbal
comments as rudeness or deliberately oppositional
behaviour. For example, students who have difficulty
taking the perspective of teachers may not:
understand the need to change activities or transition
to new activities prior to finishing the current task
“read" subtle social cues or subtle teacher annoyance
understand how his or her behaviour is influencing
people around them;
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take turns, "share" the teacher with other students, or
understand equality in getting help
refrain from saying what is felt or thought when it has
the potential to hurt someone else's feelings
appear as emotionally mature as same-aged peers
develop social communication skills readily
For students who have not yet developed an adequate
theory of mind, the following teaching considerations
should be made:
1. Do not assume that a student with autism has
developed the ability to understand subtle social cues
or has developed a mature theory of mind
2. Identify emotions in a way that is instructive. For
example: "I get frustrated when the class is wasting
time", "I need to have students line up quietly and
within 1 minute."
3. Make language clear and unambiguous when giving
feedback. For example: "You hurt my feelings when
you said […]", "A polite way to say that is […]", "The
class likes it best when everyone […]"
8. Directly teach and reinforce behaviours such as
showing respect, listening to others, speaking politely
and other social skills in the natural contexts in which
they are needed.
9. Provide opportunities to develop understanding
related to empathy, compassion and perspective
taking. Do this by providing natural experiences such
as collecting items for the food bank, having the
students help others, and providing opportunities to
become aware of and practice social supports.
10. In language arts, ensure students clearly understand a
character's actions, emotions and perceptions. Use
graphic organizers and visual representations such as
webs, character charts, and vocabulary development
activities to provide opportunities to review and
reflect on perspectives, emotional states, and
behaviours of others in an objective manner.
[email protected]
4. If specific indications of theory of mind deficits are
noticed, take an educational approach and teach
replacement skills rather than assuming the behaviour
is designed to be rude or disruptive.
5. Help students identify their own emotions clearly
within natural conditions: "You look relaxed and
happy right now!", "You are starting to look confused;
what do you need?"
6. Help students know where to look, what shared
experience is important, and what language is
required: "Everyone look at […], she is ready to
present […]", "At the end of the demonstration I am
going to ask you to explain […] and […]"
7. Help students appreciate different perspectives using
debates, graphics demonstrating various points of
view, Venn Diagrams comparing two views, and other
instructional strategies. This will help students
understand that individual perspectives are not
necessarily "right" or "wrong".
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
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Sinneave Family Foundation
Woody Gundy CIBC Children’s Foundation
Barbara Belch
ATCO Gas
Collins Industries Ltd.
Courtyard Marriot Edmonton
West
Edmonton Public Teachers,
Local No. 37 of the Alberta
Teachers’ Association
Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Parish
Suncor Energy Services Inc.
Syncrude
Union 52 Benevolent Society
United Way of the Alberta
Capital Region
Winners Merchant International
LP (In Honour of Emily
Ainsworth’s Family)
ATCO Gas
Butler Family Foundation
Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
Make A Dream Come True
(Lions) Society
Ryan & Koreen Anderson
Austin O’Brien High School
Charles Campbell
Simonne & David Lougheed
Jacquie McCubbin
Professional Corp.
Alberta Health Services
(Corinne Wentzell)
Karen Dickson
(In Honour of Jackie Watson)
Bonnie Gallop
Paul Garrick
Michelle Gartner
W. Hale
Henry Johns & Jacquie Johns-Scott
Emily Kaldestad
Michelle Kenny
Dave & Marie Lane
(In Memory of Mr. & Mrs.
David Davie)
Shauna L. Dimock
Tom & Zonia Ewancuk
(In Honour of Paul Garrick’s
Birthday)
John & Barbara Fisher
Harry Gafney
Sidney & Carolyn Pougnet
St. Albert Catholic High School
Debbie Legere
Odette Lloyd
Wallace & Debbie McTavish
Victor & Gladys Palahnuik
Barbara Penner
Mary Pidzarko
Karen Renaud
Paul & Darlene Shelemey
Sidney & Carolyn Pougnet
Gregory & Donna Skoreyko
Mike Strembitsky
United Way of Winnipeg
Jennie M. Wagner
John & Barbara Fisher
Bonnie Gallop
Emily Kaldestad
Wallace & Betty McTavish
Audrey & Gerald Hunt
Stuart Chambers
Mirvan Cruz-Rosal
Barbara & Glenn Hergott
Nancy Ng
Meredith Porter
Naushaba Qureshi
Evan Shore
Sabrina Tan
Justyne Tirrell
Your contributions make a world of difference for
people with autism & their families!
Want to see your name here? Just give us a call
at (780) 453-3971, or visit www.autismedmonton.org
to make a secure credit card donation through PayPal.
What Does ASEA’s Family Support
Department do?
Family Support started as one person answering
phones, and has grown into an entire department. Here
are some of the things that Family Support currently
deals with.
Family Support is intended to support people on the
autism spectrum and their families throughout the
entire lifespan. Parents, family members and people on
the spectrum are welcome to contact Family Support
with their questions by phoning (780) 453-3971 or by
e-mailing Patricia Terrett, our Family Support
Department Coordinator, at
[email protected]
Patricia or one of the student interns will get back to
you to answer your question or give guidance in the
puzzling situations our families find themselves dealing
with. We have built up a bank of resources for children
and for adults that allows us to refer parents and people
on the spectrum to community resources that can help
them.
Professional consultation is becoming a more
important part of what Family Support does.
Increasing numbers of professionals are calling to get
information for situations in which they are dealing
with clients who have autism. This cross-agency
interaction allows us to network with other autism
professionals and provide the most accurate
information possible. We are also making ourselves
available to do presentations in the community and to
facilitate for community groups that need to connect
with other professionals about autism issues.
Cooperative collaboration with the Glenrose Hospital
has become more important over recent years. Family
support actively refers clients to the Glenrose Autism
Clinic, and the Autism Clinic actively refers clients to
us. We participate together in committees like the
Children's Autism Collaboration Team, which brings
together agencies and government ministries to meet
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
autism community concerns.
The Parent Discussion Groups, one for parents of
newly diagnosed children and one for parents of
children with Asperger's, each meet once a month and
provide an opportunity for parents to connect with
other parents and to access resources that will help
them in their situations. Parents in these groups are
encouraged to share resources and cooperate on
advocacy. We are currently asking parents for input on
these groups as we consider locations of meetings and
meeting formats. Please feel free to let us know if you
have suggestions for improving these meetings, or
concerns about where these meetings are being held.
We need parent input to truly meet your needs!
The Autism Society of Edmonton Area Community
Group on Facebook provides an open forum where
parents can ask questions, share resources, and connect
with each other. This private group welcomes requests
to join from everyone associated with the autism
spectrum and their families. We have had some very
fruitful and exciting discussions about current issues
related to autism.
The Autism Society Family Support Department is
demand-driven. This means that when we get a
significant number of requests for information about a
certain topic we begin to consider how we might
program to meet the need better. This has led to the
establishment of the ABC's of Understanding
Neurotypicals discussion group for young people ages
18 to 24. This group was started to reach an age group
that was completely unserved in our community. We
find that the young people are enjoying this group, and
using it to improve their social and workplace
relationship skills.
We are currently discussing the need for a
discussion/support group for Asperger's/HFA
Marriages. We have been hearing from couples with
requests for information and help often enough to
realize that this might be a fruitful direction to explore.
All couples with one or both members on the autism
spectrum are invited to contact the office and ask to be
put on the e-mail list for this group. We are currently
looking for volunteer leaders with a mature marriage
and personal experience with Asperger's/HFA.
Another area of widespread concern is the
employment needs of young adults on the autism
spectrum. We have had so many requests for
information around this that we are currently
participating in research and program development
efforts to try to meet the needs of our young people
more effectively.
We are also actively supporting committees in the areas
of housing and secondary education. Anyone with
skills and training in these areas is welcome to volunteer
with us to help us to meet these needs.
Please consider calling or emailing us if you have
concerns in any of these areas, or if you have
suggestions for how things might be changed to better
meet the needs of our community. The Family Support
Department is here to help families and people on the
autism spectrum by connecting them to the resources
they need to live successfully in our community.
Changes to ASEA’s Summer
Programs
For many years, ASEA has dedicated a large percentage
of its annual budget to running the “Fun in the Sun”
summer respite program for children and young teens
with ASD. We regret that we can no longer provide this
program in a safe manner with quality programming.
This is due to financial restraints of provincial funding,
ASEA's budget constraints and the emerging demand
for summer programming for older teens and adults.
To learn about comparable existing summer programs
for children, including the Steadward Centre's
Free2BMeProgram, AdaptAbilities' Summer Camp, and
Camp ACE at the Centre for Autism Services Alberta,
we encourage you to visit our website at
http://www.autismedmonton.org/summer-programs
We continue to strive to meet the needs of our
membership and our community.
Programs for Teens & Young Adults
to Launch this Summer
This summer, the Autism Society of Edmonton Area
will be partnering with the Centre for Autism Services
Alberta and the Ability Hub to offer programming for
teens and adults that will run over a six-week period.
Teens and young adults with autism will have new and
exciting programming opportunities that will help them
learn and develop skills in a fun and motivating
environment.
Activity planning for this new program (we're working
on a title) is in the early process of development. This
summer's launch will accommodate approximately 40
participants.
The program will run for a two-week period (eight half
days over two weeks – Monday to Thursday) three
separate times over the summer, to accommodate
individuals at different levels of functioning.
Assessments will be conducted as a means of ensuring
each individual is placed appropriately in a high-, midor lower- functioning group. Higher-functioning
individuals will have the opportunity to learn vocational
and personal independence skills such as job
expectations, completing applications, job interview
preparation, hygiene and personal appearance, coworker conversations and conflict resolution. Mid-level
functioning participants will have an opportunity to
learn some basic office skills, food preparation, and
participate in activities to support greater skills for
personal independence. Lower-functioning group
participants will have an opportunity to work on
individualized skills for life goals.
Please contact Gail Stanford at
[email protected] for more
information or to register in this new initiative for teens
and young adults. Updated information will be
provided, as it becomes available, on the ASEA website
at www.autismedmonton.org and the Centre website
at www.centreforautism.ab.ca
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A Message from the Gala Chairs
The 2011 Opening Doors for Autism Gala would not
have been possible without the generosity of many
different people:
The generous gifts given by our Live and Silent Auction
donors.
The gift of sharing wealth: financial support from our
sponsors the Naqvi family of Cameron Developments
Ltd., and Bill and Grace Knight of B&B Demolition
Ltd.
Our media sponsors, the Edmonton SUN and CTV
The gift of time and various talents of our incredible,
hard-working and dedicated committee members.
The gift of time from our many event volunteers
The gift of fine food and great service from the EXPO
Center staff (thank you Patricia, Ray, and the chefs and
servers).
Thanks to our entertainers: Firefly entertainment's
Annie Duggan, Don Berner and his jazz quartet,
Derrick Taylor and the Trinidad and Tobago Society 's
volunteer drummers and dancers.
Thanks to Danny Hooper, our MC and auctioneer
extraordinaire.
The gift of the participation and support of our valued
guests.
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
These gifts make it possible for the Autism Society to
offer support to people with autism and their families
in our community.
One of the most important gifts we all can give people
with autism and their families is the gift of acceptance
and inclusion in our community. When we open our
eyes, our hearts and minds to people with autism, we
are free to see their many unique and wide-ranging gifts.
The Autism Society is working toward a future where
society will embrace and include the gifts of people
with autism in all facets of family and community life.
Special thank you to each one of you for helping us
continue to “Open Doors” for people with autism!
With appreciation,
Anita Ferri and Jean Ashmore, Co-chairs, “Opening Doors for
Autism” Gala
Celebrating 40 Years
Gino Ferri
Many of you know that I am a grandfather and that
one of my grandsons, Nicholas, has autism. It's because
of him that I became involved with this cause two
decades ago.
Over the years, the Autism Society of Edmonton Area
has had one goal: to make life better for people with
autism and their families.
Forty years ago, children with autism were taken away
from their homes and placed in institutions. Many
children were deemed “uneducable” and experts
incorrectly said that autism was caused by cold,
unloving “refrigerator” mothers. What a painful and
incorrect message to parents! Luckily a group of
parents didn't believe them.
It took a lot of courage and foresight for families to
band together to form the Edmonton Autism Society,
whose goal was to create a school so that children with
autism could live at home and still go to school. The
school was successful and operated for several years
before Edmonton Public Schools assumed
responsibility for the program. It was a major step
forward for children with autism and their families!
little. A few years ago, the Autism Society worked with
the Glenrose to extend the Autism Follow-Up Clinic at
the Glenrose to include school-age children. Today, we
are hoping a Clinic for Adults with Autism is just
around the corner.
What's ahead? This past year, the Autism Society of
Edmonton Area initiated a request to the Government
of Alberta to appoint a cross-ministerial committee to
develop and implement an Alberta Strategy for Adults
with Autism. ASEA knows that the work must continue
so that adults with autism are not “discarded”, but
instead have viable options for post-secondary
education, employment, health care, and housing.
It's been 40 years. We've come a long way. Help us
celebrate, and carry the work forward so that all
persons with autism can have full and rewarding lives
right here in Edmonton!
Later, in response to tragedy, the Autism Society
initiated legislation for protection for adults who
required care outside their homes. Eventually, due to
the work of the Society, the Protection of Persons in
Care Act and Creating Excellence Together Standards
were established. When families found they were
getting confusing messages from different ministries,
which delayed appropriate services for their children,
the Autism Society established the Autism
Collaboration Team, to coordinate services and
information offered to families of children with autism.
Alberta now offers a range of quality programs for
children. But teen and adults with autism have very
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THANK YOU to our Sponsors, Donors, Guests and Volunteers for a
Highly Successful Opening Doors for Autism Gala.
We would like to Recognize these Community Leaders who Supported
us as Gala Financial Sponsors
Pat Boersma & Gino Ferri
Rod Connop
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
Official Media Sponsor
Official TV Sponsor
WAYNE GUENTER
David Jardine
DESCO Coatings
Esther Ondrack
Dr. Eric Schloss Professional Corp.
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Thank You to our Generous Live Auction Sponsors
Alexis Harke & Jill Sarluis
Tina Naqvi-Rota & Tony Rota
Gino Ferri
John Chomiak
Chris Lachance
Dr. Mike Hatzinkolas
c e nt ur y hos pit a lit y gr oup
Tally Hutchinson
Dustin & Nicole Tersigni
CRAIG SIMPSON
Tye & Jen Fields
Brian Gingras
Tom Fath
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
Naqvi Family Receives Gino Ferri Community Builder Award
The Gino Ferri Community Builder Award is given to
an individual or group of individuals who engage the
public beyond the autism community, and who live,
work with or support individuals with autism, thereby
expanding community connections for individuals and
families. Award recipients have shown years of
commitment to volunteerism above and beyond their
paid positions. They donate or raise funds for local
charities that help people with autism, and they
demonstrate great generosity of spirit. This year, the
Autism Society of Edmonton Area is proud to honour
the Naqvi family as the 2nd recipient of the Gino Ferri
Community Builder award.
In 1964 Jerry Naqvi immigrated to Canada. Since then
multiple generations of Naqvis have worked together
to make a positive impact on our community. Over the
years, the Naqvi family has been involved with 27
different societies and charitable organizations,
including the Autism Society. Jerry, who is the
grandfather of a child with autism, also founded
Cameron Development Corporation – a major donor
and supporter of programs and services for kids and
adults with autism.
The Autism Society of Edmonton Area is grateful for
the support of the Naqvi family and for the generosity
and leadership they show in building a community that
supports and embraces people on the autism spectrum.
They are truly deserving of the Gino Ferri Community
Builder Award.
We would like to recognize our generous in-kind donors:
Champagne Sponsor:
Wine Sponsor:
Decor Sponsor:
Design Sponsor:
Print Sponsor:
vos
Thank you to B&B Demolition for being our SUPER Silent Auction Sponsor
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And Thank You to our Wonderful Silent Auction Donors
Adam Ungarian
Al Anderson
Alexis Harke
Aliya Rota
All Tucked In
Allure Promotional Sales Ltd.
Amelia Maciejewski
Anita Ferri
Anne Brown
Annie Nelson
Army and Navy
ATB Financial
Autism Artistry
Banister Research
Barbeque Country
Bella Casa Design Centre
Bella Music
Bernards's WholeSale Florist
Biagio Luggage
Birks & Mayors
Bow Valley Ford
Cameron Homes
Canada North Camps
Canadian Hudson's Tap House
Canadian Tire
Candace Hall
Capelli Ferrari Hair
Capital Packers
Carmen Plante
Champion Pet Foods
Chianti Café and Restaurant
Children's Autism Services of
Edmonton
Chris Antolov
Chris Naylor
Chris Sterling
City of Edmonton
Cleanit Greenit Composting
System Inc.
Coca Cola Bottling
Cooper's Cove Guesthouse
Cottswood Interiors
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CTV
Cycle Works Motorsports
Darcey Parasynchuk
David Jardine
David Nicholas
David Yee
Dawson Wallace Construction
Delcor Painting and Flooring
Ltd.
Diagold Design
Diane Stone
Dispensaries Limited
Dr. Margaret Ann MacKay
Dr. N. O. Nielson
Duy Trung Pharmacy Ltd.
Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Oilers
Ericksen Infiniti
Esther Ondrack
Fairmont Hotel McDonald
Fath Group
Fifendekle Pie Shop
Flaman Fitness
Focus on You Day Spas
Gino Ferri
Golden Lady Wholistics
Grant Kurtz
Grant Watson
Harley Davidson of Edmonton
Helen Murray
Henrietta Naqvi
HESCO
Honorable Laurie Hawn
Honourable Gene Zwozdesky
HSBC
Il Forno
Isabelle Stahl
J. Ennis Fabrics
J.N. Gri Custom Wood Furniture
Jackie Miciak
Janette Akers
Jean Ashmore
AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
Jim Webb
JLT Canada
Joanne Boothby
Just Be
Kamena Gallery
Karen & Roly Labahn
Karen Bain
Karen Phillips
Kim Lafond
Larry Louie
Lauren Hawkeye
Lauren Murray
Lexus of Edmonton
Louise Smith-Szo
Lucien G. Bosc
Lululemon
Lux Beauty Boutique
Malcolm Johnson
Marc Schmidt
Maria Skog
Marietta Lazenby
Marsha Johnston
Martin Walrath
Matteo Rota
Mayfield Inn & Suites
McLennan Ross LLP
MI Salon and Spa
Michael Boothby
MJF - M Jennie Frost Storyteller
MSC Financial
Naqvi-Rota Family
Nelson Lumber
NRG Support Services
Park Lighting
Patricia Boersma
Paul McAndry
Peace Hills Insurance
Penny Hawkeye
Penny Peterson
Peter Steblyk
Phyllis Ludlow
PossAbilities
Printing Impressions and
Graphics Inc.
R & T Network Solutions
Rebecca Summach
Red Arrow Motorcoach
Richard Nys
Rob Spanach
Robinson Lighting
Rogers Communications
Sabor Dinino Restaurant
Sandra Paetsch
Sandra Single
Scott Gallery
Shaw Media
Sicilian Pasta Kitchen
Silpada Jewelry
Simon Chang Concepts
SKF Canada Ltd.
Sofia Rota
Somatics Massage Therapy
Staples
Starbucks Coffee
Susan Angus
Tamara Baltzan
Taylor Developments Inc.
Telus World of Science
The Bandstand
The Cutting Room Salon Inc.
The Sanctuary
The Wind Shoppe
Tina Naqvi-Rota
Todd Bradley
Union Bank Inn
Viewpoint Photography
Westcon Precast Inc.
WestJet Community Investment
Whistler's Inn
Willie Wong
World Health
YMCA
Thank You to Our Other Cash Donors
EBA, A Tetra Tech Company
Ove Minsos
Deborah Carlson
Empire Auto Body
Qualimet Inc.
Cynthia Dickins
Kevin McTavish
Robert & Nelva Woolnough
Fran Vogel
Shane Lynch
Malcolm Stewart
Anita Ferri
Joan Pitfield
William Mathewson
Jarry Gaffney
Special Thanks to the Gala
Committee for their Dedication
& Hard Work
Honorary Chairperson: Tina Naqvi-Rota
Gala Advisor: Gino Ferri
Gala Chairs: Anita Ferri and Jean Ashmore
Mike Lake Receives the Autism
Society’s “Golden Key” Award for 2011
Presented at the "Opening Doors for Autism" Gala Dinner &
Auction, sponsored by Cameron Developments, South Edmonton
Common, and Cameron Homes, held on Friday October 28,
2011 at the Edmonton Northlands EXPO Center, Alberta
Ballroom.
The "Golden Key" Award is given to someone in the
Edmonton area who, of their own initiative and
independent of the organization, has made significant
contributions to the Autism Society of Edmonton Area
to support our on-going work. Without this kind of
financial support, our work would not be able be
possible, and families might have their calls for help
unanswered.
As a community member and as a Member of
Parliament, Mike Lake's ongoing work to raise autism
Awareness on a local and a national level is critically
important. The work he does on behalf of all of our
children, teens and adults that helps to "open doors"
for them as they move through their lives with the
support of their families.
Thank you and congratulations, Mr. Lake!
David Angus
Susan Angus
Joanne Boothby
Deborah Barrett
Tracee Baird
Kelly Bullee
Alexis Harke
Candace Hall
Marsha Johnston
Simonne Lougheed
Megan Morris
Cindy Pearn
Roman Sokolowski
Bonnie Stonehouse
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Outstanding Long Service Award:
Gino Ferri
Presented by Joanne Boothby at the 2011 Opening
Doors for Autism Gala
Gino Ferri will tell you he became involved in the
Autism Society of Edmonton Area as a way to help his
daughter and her son, Nicholas, who has autism. He
has helped many other children and adults with autism
along the way. Gino became involved with the Autism
Society 20 years ago, and has served on the executive
for 10 years, including holding the position of
President for three years.
Gino was a leader in the re-establishment of a defunct
provincial organization- the Autism Society Alberta
(ASA). He served on the Board of the ASA for several
years while the organisation found its footing.
Opening Doors for Autism Award:
Sandy Litman
Presented by Anita Ferri at the 2011 Opening Doors
for Autism Gala
I am here to talk to you briefly about the work of a
very special person, Sandy Litman. Sandy is currently
the Director of the Paediatric Rehabilitation Division at
the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. It's a position that
involves a very big portfolio of responsibilities – one
that might keep a person busy enough on its own!
But tonight, based on things she does in addition to her
work portfolio, Sandy is receiving the “Opening Doors
for Autism” Award. The award is based on three
separate criteria, and as you will hear, it is an award she
richly deserves.
During the years Gino has been involved with the local
and provincial Autism Society boards, he has shared his
businessman's approach to making decisions and
running meetings, offering valuable skills and working
hard to "keep it simple".
The award should be awarded to an individual or group
who:
Gino has also been instrumental in the huge success of
the Gala Dinner and Auction fundraisers. He was a key
organizer, as well as acquiring the most donations and
selling the most tickets for these events. He matched
this accomplishment again for the 2011 Gala event.
2. Has created or expanded existing services, programs
or supports for those affected by autism.
Gino has never hesitated to make use of his business
connections to help raise funds and awareness for the
Autism Society. Gino's commitment to the Society has
never faltered over the past twenty years, and his
dedicated volunteerism gives meaning to the phrase
"leading by example".
Gino: for your 20 years of volunteering and in honour
of our 40th anniversary, we present you with this award
for your outstanding long service. Our heartfelt thanks
to you!
1. Directly addresses an aspect of life for individuals
with autism and/or their families
3. Has provided service above and beyond the ordinary
expectations for their work or volunteer role.
What do families do when their child is in crisis? Where
do they take them? Who will help them? Well, there's a
committee for that, and Sandy Litman has been on that
committee. The committee was designed to address the
lack of services for families who found themselves
unable to help or manage their child with ASD, and
where the family functioning was becoming severely
impacted.
Sandy took the issue to JACC – the Joint Action
Committee on Children – and got initial funding for a
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
report to be prepared on the issue. A broad range of
professionals in education, health and children's
services, as well as parents, were consulted for this.
After that, the results of the report were submitted to a
cross-ministry committee. Sandy Litman has chaired
each committee and has shown consistent and
persistent efforts to better meet the needs of families
and children with autism.
Out of this work, a new training program was
developed for families and school personnel: the
Positive Behavioural Support Workshops. And once
again, Sandy Litman was involved in its development.
Now Sandy is continuing her work in championing the
needs of families in crisis by working with the crossministry committee to address the next major
challenge: emergency intervention services for families
who are in crisis, and who are asking for help by
bringing their children to hospital.
Sandy is helping to create a plan for emergency room
doctors to access advice from our expert pediatricians
at the Glenrose Autism Clinic so that they can better
respond to emergencies. At the same time, she is also
working on a follow-up plan for a new children's
mental health coordinator to coordinate a wide range
of professionals and programs on behalf of families.
There are huge challenges and barriers that must be
addressed to get all of these programs and people
moving forward together. Sandy Litman has been a
consistent, persistent presence, working across
departments and hospitals, doctors, mandates and areas
of responsibility to get things done. Sandy Litman has
been the champion who has brought people together
to creatively and innovatively address these complex
challenges. It has been an honour and an incredible
learning experience to watch her work.
Who’s In Your Court?
Tanna Somerfield
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: as we consider what
we know about special education programming for
exceptional children on the spectrum, let us begin by
reflecting and eliminating everything that neither works
nor fits. For our consideration, let us only weigh in
evidence of educational programming that best serves
our Asperger's students. We are not discussing guilt or
innocence, nor are we sitting in judgment. This is not
about penalization or blame; it is about discovery and
honouring principle-based, student-centered
educational programming strategies, approaches and
techniques that empower autistic students.
In order for members of our autistic community to
unleash their potential and cultivate their innate genius,
they must first succeed in the classroom. Those of us
who have experienced the frustrations of ferociously
advocating for individuals on the spectrum can
commiserate ad nauseam. That is not the purpose of this
submission.
Imagine yourself behind a high-powered lens bringing
into focus the salient details of a successful model of
educational empowerment. Cast off preconceptions.
Throw away cookie cutters, yardsticks and manuals. We
work to accommodate the shapes of our students. We
do not organize these kids into size lines or ageappropriate, grouped assignments and activities that
assess outcomes according to generic, one-size-fits-all,
benchmark-grade-based rubrics. No, we do not herd,
harvest or hot house – we honour these students and
program for them based on their individual needs,
strengths and divine, distinct, innate, uniqueness.
Therefore, I invite you, members of the jury, to empty
your minds of residual tar-like, stop-gap measures used
to lay ground work for tracking student achievement.
Firstly, our students are not passengers so much as they
are engineers. They do not follow manufactured maps
and grids – rather, they blaze their own trails and new
frontiers. I promised not to get didactic. I will get to the
point:
17
I believe that principle-guided teaching, tailored to
accommodate two major deficits, as identified and
diagnosed in children on the spectrum, must be
inherent to any successful Individual Program
Plan, in order for these students to succeed.
The two deficits to which I refer are:
no executive thinking skills.
profound social and emotional delays and
impairments.
Based on these anomalies alone, no two students on
the spectrum are the same. Therefore, teachers and
parents, your challenges are:
to compensate for these deficits.
to identify and remove obstacles that lie
between these students and their achievements,
their pursuit of happiness, and their
development of socially rewarding, responsible
behaviour.
Step away from the table and imagine your life with
neither of those mechanisms, which we take for
granted due to being so high-functioning. Furthermore,
these skills – innate in everyone, unless they are autistic
– occur so automatically that they become second
nature. Those two skills are constantly integrated across
every aspect of our lives. All of our experiences,
interactions, tasks and passions are governed by
executive thinking skills and sophisticated, welldeveloped, intuitive and highly perceptive social and
emotional savvy.
Think about that, and allow it to resonate. Go to a
dictionary if you have to. Google it; discuss it; get a
handle on those two innate tools that drive every
decision and action we perform, day in and day out,
throughout our entire lives. Then stop and ponder the
ramifications and implications of life without those two
internal piloting devices.
Imagine you are an air traffic controller expediting the
safe and orderly inflow and outflow of traffic that takes
place on a daily basis. Now imagine the air traffic
control screen goes blank. This is your brain on autism.
The fundamental difference between people on the
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
spectrum and the rest of us is autistic people are born
with an empty air traffic control panel. Did they get an
extra helping of genius because of it? Maybe so; it all
remains to be seen, and each person on the spectrum is
different. Therefore suffice to say, we are all equal.
Everyone is equal, that is, unless you are born with autism.
The prosecution rests. I have nothing more to add,
your honour. Court adjourned.
EXCUSE ME!
I beg your pardon, what is that I hear? – You are all
waiting for copies of the program? Sorry, it doesn't
work that way. We do not impose a generic framework
on an autistic student. Rather we gain their trust, accept
their offers, learn to understand the sets of unique rules
that govern and guide their individual cognitive
frameworks and we work our way into their world,
from the outside. We do so based on principles, not
theories.
There is no recipe; we are not making beef and barley
soup. We are serving a distinct community of distinct
individuals that must first be understood and
accommodated before they can deliver and reciprocate.
I am a teacher, parent and sibling to autistic individuals,
and despite years of brain-racking frustrations, I have
come to realize that working to empower and support
the autistic community is not only our responsibility,
but also an adventure and profitable investment in
culture, civilization, technology, music, design, sciences
and humanity.
Check out the legacy of autistic frontiers and leaders:
Da Vinci, Mozart, Einstein, Bob Dylan, Bill Gates, Jim
Carrey. Or maybe the guy up the street. The custodian
at your workplace. The young woman eating her lunch
alone, reading a book and feeding the birds. The little
kid shopping with a parent, staring into mirrors in a hat
boutique and seeing infinity for the first time.
We are surrounded by people on the spectrum. That's a
comforting thought to me: being surrounded by angels.
We just need to remember to take care of them, and
they will look after us in return. In fact, if I was ever on
trial, I know who I would want for representation.
2012 Graduate Student Pilot Grants
The 2012 Graduate Student Pilot Grants (minimum of
two in a 12 month period) will support individuals
conducting graduate research in any field related to
Autism Spectrum Disorders to begin May 2012. These
scholarships are jointly funded by the Autism Society
of Edmonton Area and the Autism Research Centre
at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (affiliated
with Alberta Health Services and the University of
Alberta). Each pilot grant (maximum $5,000.00) is to
be applied towards the operating costs of the
successful applicants' graduate research project.
Applications will be judged on the quality and
originality of the proposed project, and on the
potential of the research to contribute to the well-being
of persons with ASD and their families.
Each successful applicant will provide a written
progress report at 6 months and a final report and
presentation of study findings (see below) at the
conclusion of the project.
Deadline to apply: April 1, 2012. Funding for May
15, 2012 to May 15, 2013.
For more information about how to apply, visit
http://www.autismedmonton.org/files/2012_Pilot_
Grant_Application.pdf
Get Ready - Cycle for Autism 2012 is
Coming on June 3rd!
rd
On your mark... get set... GO! This June 3 , the Autism
Society of Edmonton Area is gearing up for one of its
most popular fundraisers, the Cycle for Autism, with
the theme "Children with Autism Become Adults with
Autism". You'll have the chance to cycle, run, or walk
through gorgeous Gold Bar Park while raising money
for people with autism and their families. Plus, it's
going to be a party in the park with hot dogs, snacks
and drinks, plus live entertainment and fun activities for
all!
Want to get started? You can already visit
www.cycleforautismedmonton.com to register
yourself or a team of friends, family or co-workers.
Soon we'll be accepting pledges, too, including secure
online donations through PayPal. Keep checking the
site for news and some exciting changes coming your
way this year!
John Windwick Champions ASEA in
Charity Shootout
It's not every television station that has its own skating
rink. And it's not every television station that decides to
do something wonderful with it. But that's what CTV
did. They decided to use their rink to promote some of
the unsung charities in Edmonton. They teamed
together with ATB Financial to create ATB's Charity
Shootout on the CTV Rink of Dreams, featuring
shooters who championed small charities from the
Edmonton Area.
How did ASEA get involved? It was ATB's John
Windwick, who chose us as his charity of choice after
talking with Rob Brown. And what a champion John
was, taking us all the way to the finals, before losing the
final shoot out to Darcy Seaton, representing the
Arthritis Society. What a trooper John was, and what a
way to bring so much awareness to ASEA and other
charities! Plus, by making it to the finals, John was able
to raise nearly $3,000 for autism programs and services!
Many thanks to John Windwick, ATB and CTV for this
amazing event!
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Thank You to Vos Printing
ASEA would like to thank Vos Printing (www.VosAds.com) for the terrific Autism Society T-shirts that they donated for the
ATB Charity Shootout on the CTV Rink of Dreams. In the midst of some chilly weather, everyone was grateful to have the
great T-shirts for an extra layer of warmth, as well as to show support for ASEA!
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AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
A Community of Support
Kristeen Gordon
We go early for the quiet, inviting breakfast, and stay
for the non-stop coffee and tea. We go to find that
perfect book, fidget or resource, and stay for the hope
that one of the highly-touted speakers will have that
one special idea that will send us home with renewed
energy and enthusiasm. We find all of these things and
more at the Children's Autism Services of Edmonton
(CASE) Annual Conference, but that's not the best
part. We are the parents and professionals whose lives
have been affected by the autism spectrum, and we find
ourselves in an amazing community.
You can't feel the same sense of support and
camaraderie by sitting at home with your fingers on a
keyboard and your eyes fixed on Google. You can't find
it by reading a book or even by talking to a friend who
understands. You find it by sitting in a room filled with
hundreds of people who nod their heads at the same
moment you do. You find it while you stand near the
snack table during a conference break and bond
instantly with a complete stranger because you share a
struggle. It is not what you hoped to find, but it puts
you at ease, and it makes you feel like you are part of
something much bigger than yourself. And it's worth
the price of admission.
The food offerings at the Conference are always
excellent, and this year was no exception. They
expanded the vendor area, and they offered the other
little perks we have come to expect - sensory snacks in
the afternoon, fidget toys on the tables and ball chairs
at the back of the room. It is a well-run event, and the
growing attendance is a tribute to the effort that CASE
puts in each year. You get the feeling, sitting in your
chair, waiting to be informed, that they get us and they
get our kids. Each year is a new mix of offerings
perfectly suited to our incredible variety of needs.
and I no longer have such a daunting hill of
information to climb. This year as I walked into the
Conference I was hoping for a few tiny nuggets of
wisdom that I could cling to. I found them, and was
able to share them when I got home each night, eager
to tell my husband about my adventures.
If I'm being honest, I was also looking forward to a
few days out of the house and away from the familiar
hum of life. I found this, too, but with a twist. Unlike
my regularly scheduled respite outings to the coffee
shop, this was time away from home with a room full
of people who make the same choices that I do. This
was like date night with experts and teachers and
support-staff and a myriad of professionals. There is a
sense that we're all in this together, doing our best.
Probably the most surprising part of this year's
conference for me was the positivity that permeated the
entire event. Every person I met was smiling and
hopeful. I often feel that much of the autism
community is focused on our struggles and not our
triumphs, but here I felt surprised to find the opposite.
The truth, it turns out, is that the world may feel
negatively about autism, but those of us living with it,
or at least those of us who are seeking support and
encouragement, are quite a happy bunch.
I ran into an old acquaintance at this year's Conference.
He and his wife are facing a diagnosis that is only two
months old. He seemed relieved to see me. I smiled and
told him to keep his chin up and enjoy the journey, and
that it would all feel very different in a couple of years.
As we exchanged phone numbers he told me that it was
nice to know someone who has been there. I looked
around the crowded room and grinned. Yes, I thought,
it is.
After my first Conference I had an exhaustive list of
ideas and a bag full of squishy toys and chewy tubes. It
was overwhelming and thrilling all at once. Over time, I
have been educated by many wonderful professionals,
21
“Working Effectively” Workshop
Ready for Prime Time
Roman Sokolowski
In late 2010, a group of theatre professionals and
adults with autism began developing a training DVD
and workshop entitled “Working Effectively with
Adults with Autism”. The project, funded by a
Community Services Grant from Autism Speaks, was
designed to teach respect, understanding and
compassion for adults with autism to those who work
with them. It was meant to help avoid the kinds of
awkward situations and misunderstandings that can
often arise from a poor understanding of ASD. The
workshop and DVD were intended for staff who
provide full-time care and support to adults with
autism; providers of short-term services such as nurses,
teachers, or program staff at support facilities; and
emergency first responders such as police, paramedics,
and fire fighters.
For almost a year, the Autism Society Players worked
with Dramaturge and Project Coordinator Sam
Varteniuk to write, film and edit the DVD, as well as
design the workshop materials that would help bring
their message home. Sam spoke with parents,
caregivers, health care professionals, doctors and
clinicians, along with many people living with ASD, and
asked them what they'd like to see in a training DVD
and workshop.
The DVD and workshop began to develop around the
concept of pairs of scenes involving interactions
between people with autism and neurotypicals. The first
scene would show an interaction that went badly
because of a poor understanding of ASD or badly
chosen behaviour by the neurotypical person – for
example, a conflict between a shopkeeper and a person
with ASD who had been wandering inside a store for
more than an hour. The second scene would show how
the scenario could be improved through better choices
of words and actions. After that, workshop participants
would discuss the contrasting scenes and talk about the
Thank You to Our Incredible ASEA
Volunteers!
Don Anderson
Susan Angus
Anthony Barrett
Deborah Barrett
Chris Brown
Iris Barrington-Leigh
Barbara Belch
Sheila Court
Emily Crate
Jessica D'Silva
Anita Ferri
Jenni Frost
Michael Frost
Kathy Girard
Peggy Graham
David Jardine
Michelle Kenny
Roma Kurtz
Terry Kurtz
Cathy Lamoureux
Dave Lougheed
Simonne Lougheed
Shane Lynch
Adam Martz
Wendy Mitchell
Omair Peracha
Sara Percy
Karen Phillips
Tracy Pollard
Terry Robson
Kelly Sheehy
Noor Shrestha
Jenni Shwetz
Bonnie Stonehouse
Patricia Terrett
Alan Wagner
Leanne Weidman
Gail Wyatt
Ian Wyatt
Logan Zadrey
Ray Zadrey
Than You to Our Autism Now
Contributors!
Anthony Barrett
Deborah Barrett
Karen Bain
Daryl Burd
Anita Ferri
Gino Ferri
Kristeen Gordon
Shane Lynch
Maggie Neilson
Russ Peardon
Roman Sokolowski
Tanna Somerfield
Marielle TerHart
Patricia Terrett
Thank you for your insightful and entertaining
articles and stories!
And special thanks to Nicole Gour and her family
for contributing pictures to recent issues of Autism
Now!
22
AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
right and wrong ways to work with adults who have
autism.
After the initial fine-tuning, the workshop and DVD
were ready to be tested out with the general public.
Starting in November 2011, the workshop and DVD
were presented to five different groups of stakeholders
and interested people. Everyone from the public was
welcome to attend, and a variety of people showed up
to experience “Working Effectively with Adults with
Autism”, share their thoughts and suggest
improvements. The workshops were enhanced by the
presence of adults with ASD, who shared their own
real-life experiences and related them to the dramatized
versions presented in the DVD. Workshop participants
were impressed by the professional quality of the
DVD, and thought the scenes did a great job of
bringing home the message of respect and
understanding.
They didn't always agree with the scenes that showed
“correct” way of working with adults with autism, but
this led to more lively discussion of the right and
wrong ways to handle each situation. After a few
sessions, the participants began to write and act out
their own improved versions of the scenes, showing
their own ideas for how to work appropriately with
adults with autism. The fact that the DVD and
workshop got the participants thinking about better
ways of doing things could be the greatest tribute of all
to its effectiveness.
Special thanks to the Autism Society Players, Sam
Varteniuk, Ellen Chorley and Alan Wagner. You've
done a great job of bringing an important message to
the public in an entertaining and effective way!
Are you interested in having a presentation of
“Working Effectively” for a group of service or
support staff in the Edmonton Area? Just e-mail
[email protected] or call the ASEA
office at (780) 453-3971.
Specialisterne Canada Project
Russ Peardon
Observing the amazing abilities of his own son with
Asperger's, Danish Information Technology
professional Thorkil Sonne founded Specialisterne
(“The Specialists”) in 2004, employing persons on the
autism spectrum as IT consultants, primarily in
software test and data conversion. The Copenhagen
Company has thrived on the special skills of its
employees, delivered the benefits of their talents to
Danish firms, and created good jobs for over 50
people, 33 of which are on the autism spectrum.
In 2009, Thorkil set up the non-profit Specialist People
Foundation and sold Specialisterne to it for a single
Danish Krone (about 20 cents). The foundation's goal is
to create one million jobs for those on the autism
spectrum, in part through facilitating start-up of similar
operations in other countries. Licensed Specialisterne
operations have been established in Reykjavik, Glasgow
and Berne. Operations in Berlin and Warsaw are in the
start-up phase, and planning is underway for companies
in many other countries around the world.
Alberta has tremendous potential to host a successful
Specialisterne site. Each major city has roughly twice
the population of Copenhagen, and more significantly,
a much higher proportion of Information Technology
activity. The Specialist People Foundation has adopted
a licensee model to facilitate the start-up of local
companies. Licensed operations gain access to the
Specialisterne business model, an extensive library
covering the topics of assessment, training,
management and marketing, and access to
Specialisterne's existing business contracts with global
companies such as IBM, Microsoft and Nokia.
The Specialisterne Canada Advisory Board's goal is to
establish Specialisterne Canada as an Alberta-based
not-for-profit company. We are a diverse group of
people, with representatives from the autism, education
and information technology communities. We are a
project of Autism Calgary.
23
To achieve licensee status, candidate firms must first go
through a rigorous start-up process. The first step is a
very thorough feasibility study. In short, the study will
attempt to answer two questions: Can a Specialisterne
licensee succeed in Calgary, and what changes will need
to be made to the Danish model? We are very pleased
to announce that we have raised the $42,000 required
to fund the feasibility study, and it will commence in
January, 2012.
The feasibility study process will be performed locally,
but will be guided by the Specialist People Foundation
and will follow their model. If the outcome of the
feasibility study is positive, the project will then move
into a business planning phase, followed by start-up
and commencement of operations.
This is a very worthwhile project. It has the potential to
address a serious and growing social issue using a
sustainable business model, creating winning
conditions for the autistic consultants it employs, the
companies it serves, and our larger society. It is a
powerful thing to meet the consultants at Specialisterne
and hear them describe what it means to have
employment that accommodates their autistic needs,
giving them a chance to contribute with their
considerable, special skills.
Our project is a small step towards Thorkil Sonne's
goal of one million jobs for “specialist people”. That
dream is really one of diversity in the workplace –
showing companies the value of employing all kinds of
people, and showcasing management approaches that
derive value from a diverse and creative workforce.
For More Information
The Specialist People Foundation
www.specialistpeople.com
Specialisterne
www.specialisterne.com
Autism Calgary
www.autismcalgary.com
24
AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
A well-researched recent article in the New York
Times
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/
putting-the-gifts-of-the-autistic-to-work/
Thorkil Sonne's blog
http://thorkilsjourney.specialistpeople.com/
Russ Peardon
Chair, Specialisterne Canada Advisory Board
[email protected]
Think About Your Future, Too...
Daryl Burd
Parents devote a great deal of time and thought to
planning for the ongoing daily needs of their
dependent child or adult. This could leave them
without the time or energy to plan for their own
futures. However, stepping back and thinking ahead for
both themselves and their dependents is critical.
Caregivers need to be able to live and enjoy their lives
and plan for their own futures, too. Gaining this
perspective is especially difficult given the amount of
energy that must be devoted to the day-to-day
functioning of the family. But this perspective is
essential, as it will establish the future for their
dependent as well as for themselves.
A well-funded RDSP can take some of the emotional
burden off of families who worry about the long-term
welfare of their dependent adult. The question remains:
“Will all of this be enough to provide for my child's
long term care at a level at which I am comfortable?”
There are other options in addition to the RDSP that
really should be considered to provide additional
support. Of course the dependent family member's
long term welfare will be one of the family's main
financial planning goals. But it should not be the only
financial goal. Any properly conceived and written
financial plan will address a dependent's long-term
welfare. But it must also address the long-term desires
of the parents for themselves.
So with this in mind…
Your Ideal Life
Take a few minutes to imagine your ideal life. Think
carefully about the following questions, one at a time:
What does your ideal life look like?
What does your ideal life sound like?
What does it feel like?
What are you doing?
Who are you with?
Who are you being?
It might help to make a few notes as you go through
the list of questions. Don't think about worries or
limits – just imagine your ideal life. It might be many
years since you've really thought about how things
could be.
Your ideal life may sound like the waves lapping at the
beach below the veranda of your retirement condo in
Hawaii. If it does, then this should be reflected as one
of the goals of your plan. If your ideal life involves
being with your spouse on an around-the-world cruise,
then this should be part of your plan. While there may
need to be tradeoffs among your goals, these personal
goals must be part of your plan.
A friend of mine speaks of the Four D's of time
management - Drop, Delay, Delegate and Do. In the
interests of simplifying your life, give some thought to
which of these Four D's apply to your activities.
Obviously it's not possible to drop or delay caring for
your dependents. We roll up our sleeves and “do”.
Are there activities that are better done by someone
else? These should be in the “delegate” category.
Financial planning and money issues should be a big
“delegate”. Your written financial plan can eliminate
most day-to-day money stresses. Receiving fully
comprehensive financial services allows you to spend
your time managing your daily life. Concentrate on your
“do's” – on the things that you cannot delegate. You
can be secure in the knowledge that someone else is
working hard to get your financial house in perfect
order and keep it that way.
Next Steps
Take action.
Start the process. Actually construct and own a plan
that addresses your needs and desires and your family's
long-term needs and desires. This will increase your
confidence in your future and provide peace of mind
now. Not knowing (or not wanting to know) how to
work things out is an approach that will probably
guarantee that things will not work out. Some things are
more important than money – concentrate on those
things.
But it's important to start now. A longer planning
timeframe opens up more planning options to achieve
your goals.
Daryl Burd, CFP is a Values Based Financial Planner.
Rap Van Crew Ride
Marielle TerHart & Anthony Barrett
“The radio was loud. The van smelled like red, like
strawberries. It smelled like a swimming pool.”
Anthony Barrett, a twentysomething with autism, wrote
that description of the “Rap Van Crew” the morning
after he joined the group. “Rap Van Crew”, as the name
implies, is a forum created for the appreciation and
sharing of rap music. More specifically, it was a crew of
exactly fifteen twenty-somethings, squished into a
touring van, driving around Edmonton, eating snacks
and, of course, listening to rap music. The night
25
featured live, in-van performances from local rappers
Mikey Maybe and Mitchmatic, rap-themed coloring, as
well as a playlist that everyone contributed to. In spite
of the tinted windows and the dark exterior, the van
was decorated with construction paper flowers and had
a crooked “Rap Van Crew” sign, missing the “E”,
taped to the window. And it was within this van, on a
chilly night at the start of the New Year, that Anthony
found himself officially belonging to a crew.
“I rode with Marielle. Mike sat in the van. We got a
McDonald's cheeseburger and ice cream.”
Anthony, a last minute addition, was invited when his
mother needed respite for that night and both of his
workers had already committed themselves to
participating in “Rap Van Crew”. It was the simplest
solution – if that was how his workers, two people who
share similar interests with Anthony, planned on
spending their free Tuesday night, why wouldn't
Anthony want to do the exact same thing? Anthony
loves music, car trips, spending time with Marielle and
Mike, and he, just like most 23-year-olds, prefers to go
out at night rather than staying in. So, apart from a few
modifications (a fidget, a window seat, and the
opportunity to get out of the van whenever it stopped
so that he could stretch his legs), Anthony was just like
everyone else. He rocked to the beat, laughed softly,
and watched Edmonton flash by his window. Anthony
spent the night with people who appreciated his
company and enthusiasm. He spent his night with
people who were not paid to be there, but rather
wanted nothing more than to share their passion for
music with Anthony and learn about Anthony's own
personal rap preferences.
Nearly a month later, after what may have been just a
small act of inclusion, when Anthony was asked about
how his night out made him feel and why, there was no
hesitation in his answer: “I felt good because I liked the
music and the people – the Rap Van Crew.”
26
AUTISM SOCIETY OF EDMONTON AREA
www.autismedmonton.org
Events at a Glance
For a complete, up-to-date listing of events from ASEA
and the local autism community, please see ASEA’s web
site. Just visit www.autismedmonton.org and click the
“News and Events” button at the top of the screen!
Special events will continue to be sent to members via ebulletin.
Do You Have A Story To Share?
Autism Now would love to hear your stories - about your
kids, your concerns, your family. If you have time to write,
please email your articles to
[email protected] (All submissions
must follow the submission guidelines posted at
http://www.autismedmonton.org/autism-nowsubmission-guidelines/). If writing isn't your thing,
send us an email or give us a call - w e will be happy to talk
with you and write an article based on your experiences.
Autism Now would love to include a full spectrum of
stories about living with autism.
We Want Your Pictures!
Do you want to see your child or family member in the
pages of Autism Now and on ASEA’s web site? Send us
your favourite pictures so we can fill our magazine and
web site with the faces of real people with autism. ASEA
reserves the right to reproduce the pictures electronically
or in print publications, and will not identify any of the
individuals in the photos. To submit your pictures, just email them to [email protected].
Make sure your e-mail includes the words “I allow ASEA
to use the pictures submitted in electronic and print
publications for the purpose of promoting ASEA
programs and services” so we know you accept the terms
of submission. (If that takes too long to type, visit
http://www.autismedmonton.org/we-want-yourpictures and copy-paste the text above.)
ASEA has simplified its membership offerings for your convenience
*
p
ASEA recognizes that some families are unable to afford annual fees. ASEA will consider requests for assisted
family membership on a case by case basis. All inquiries will remain confidential.
Please consider giving
of your time or financial
resources in addition
to your membership.
All donations over
$25 are eligible for a
charitable tax receipt.
E-mail: [email protected]
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