7 year old with Autism has his first book signing!

Can I just say that I am proud parent of an incredible child, who has incredible potential, with thoughts and talents that make me stand in awe daily...oh yeah, and he just happens to have Autism.

This past week I was honored to stand beside him at his first book signing at Young Author Night. It was amazing to watch him share about his book to kids and people who came up...with the occassional running around the gym with friends.

Just wanted to share our joy with you all!

About the Author of Jelly Pirates

Joshua is 7 years old and has Autism. He was diagnosed when he was 2 years old and we were told they were not sure he would ever talk. Our son lived in his own world, which seemed to trap him where he would spend hours screaming and banging his head. After his diagnosis he began speech therapy and occupational therapy as well as early intervention and eventually mainstreamed preschool where he had a very involved teacher.
Even though he could not talk, but only babble at the time he entered preschool, his teacher always encouraged him to participate.

Joshua wrote Jelly Pirates when he was six. The story was inspired by the Smuckers Jelly packets that sat on the table in the Kaffee Haus, a local restaurant in Wooster, Ohio. We sat and marveled as he voiced and acted out the story that lay within his mind. I quickly pulled out my pen and paper and wrote down the words he spoke, which are now housed between the covers of his book, Jelly Pirates. Since that day, Joshua’s imagination and expression of stories continues to grow and he is excited to write another book in the future which he has already titled: Jelly Pirates and Friends.

As parents we are told our children on the spectrum of Autism will have difficulty with expression of emotion and words. We have found that to be true, yet when not pressured and allowed to enter their world and when they invite you in…it is amazing what you will find.

Joshua hopes you like his book. We want you to know that any proceeds that he earns from sharing his world with you will be used to help with his continued therapy, and a portion will be placed in college fund as he has a desire to go to college.
To learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders go to:
www.oasisautism.org

In the future look for Joshua’s new stories:

The Adventures of Joshua & Tenison
The Gas Dinosaur
Jelly Pirates and Friends

Mothers and Belief by Dan Coulter

Mothers and Belief
By Dan Coulter

I finally went through a box of papers I got from my mom a while back, before she moved into a retirement home. It was a Dan shrine. I found every issue of the high school newspaper I edited. And mementos of every accomplishment or award she could get her hands on and save. Right down to a red ribbon I got for coming in second place in a sack race at church camp when I was in grade school. I called Mom and got her standard greeting, “How are you, honey? Is everyone feeling okay?”

I think every mom worries about her kids. But if my mom ever had a doubt about my worth or my ability to succeed in the world, I never saw it. There were plenty of times I doubted myself while I was growing up, but seeing my mom’s confidence in me was a great antidote.

And if she had doubts, but mastered them so I couldn’t see them, I think I appreciate that even more.

Many moms of children with Asperger Syndrome and autism have doubts thrust upon them. Sometimes by supposed experts who tell them what not to expect of their sons and daughters.

I thought of this when I heard an interview recently with Quinn Bradlee, a young man who has Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome. VCFS is not autism, but like autism, it can generate a range of physical problems and learning disabilities.

Quinn’s mother, writer Sally Quinn, says she was told by a psychologist when her son was young that he would never lead a normal life and should be institutionalized. She and her husband, former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, refused. Quinn says his mother was his leading advocate and calls her a lioness for the way she always believed in him and fought for him.

While he’s had a rough road, Quinn Bradlee is now 26. His accomplishments include writing a memoir, A Different Life: Growing Up Learning Disabled and Other Adventures, participating in a documentary about VCFS, and starting a website for people with learning disabilities: FriendsOfQuinn.com. He’s recently made appearances on a number of national news programs, sometimes with his parents.

In an interview on PBS' News Hour, Sally Quinn explained her approach, “I think the most important thing is to love your child…and make them believe in themselves…there’s a thing that the shrinks call 'mirroring,' when somebody looks in your eyes and they see themselves through your eyes. And I wanted always when Quinn looked in my eyes that he saw nothing but love, and appreciation and belief in him.”

In our work with families dealing with Asperger Syndrome and autism, my wife and I see more and more parents taking this positive approach. Refusing to accept that their children can’t do something without giving them an opportunity to try. Realizing that a child who believes he can accomplish a task is more likely to keep trying until he finds a way.

Society’s view is changing, too, as children who once would have been written off are blowing past expectations. This is due, in no small part, to mothers.

Society is relearning an age-old lesson.

You don’t mess with a lioness.

* * *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -- Dan Coulter is the producer of the DVDs "Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome" and "Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Autism." You can find more articles on his website: www.coultervideo.com.

Copyright 2009 Dan Coulter All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
www.coultervideo.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: (We're distributing this article at no charge -- provided you run it unedited and unchanged -- for use in websites, newsletters, magazines, and other communications. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Coulter at dan@coultervideo.com or 336-608-4224.)

Summer Programs by Kids Link

Summer is quickly coming, which means, as parents, we are trying to put together activities for our kids.

KidsLink Neurobehavioral Center has an incredible list of summer programs for our kids! Check them out below, and if you want to find out more, go to http://www.kidslinkohio.com/

KIDSLINK Summer 2009 Services

KidsLink offers a number of special summer programs. These programs are detailed below and in our Summer 2009 brochure. To sign up for one of these programs, you can fill out the Program Interest Form in the brochure and mail or fax it to us. (The address and fax number are provided on the form.) Alternately, you can fill out the web form on our Schedule an Appointment page. Be sure to choose Other Group from the "Choose provider/service" pop-up and use the Additional Information field to let us know which program you are interested in.
Regardless of which form you fill out, KidsLink staff will contact you for additional details once the form is received.

Intensive Summer Therapy
What: Speech and/or occupational therapy services for children with neurologic or developmental disorders
Ages: All
When: Day, evening or weekend
Pkg. 1:10 one-hour sessions
OT or speech therapy
Cost: $1100
Pkg. 2:10 90-minute sessions
45 min each of OT & speech
Cost: $1600

Social Communication Groups
What: Speech-based treatment groups focusing on social communication for children with autism spectrum disorders or communication disorders
Ages:3-14
When:1 hour / week - days flexible
Screening: 1st week in June
Session 1: 6/15 - 7/10
Session 2: 7/13 - 8/2
Cost:$240 / session

Facilitated Play Dates
What:Facilitated play dates promoting active play & social engagement for children with developmental disabilities
1 adult per 2 children
Ages:Any
When:Flexible (home- or center-based)
Cost:$30 / hour (+ travel fee for home settings)

KidsLink Buddy Day Camp
An Extended School Year Program
What:An inclusion summer experience for children with autism spectrum disorders & other developmental disabilities
Ages:4-8
When:7/7 - 8/6 (5 weeks)
Days:Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday
Time:9 am - 11:45 am
Where:Hudson Community Chapel
Cost:$2700

Schedule will include:
Social skill development
Large & small group activities
Games & crafts
Movement / Music
Individual focus on IEP-driven goals
Weekly individual speech therapy & group speech therapy
Progress monitoring
...and More!
Each child will work directly with at least one peer buddy daily. Buddy recommendations are welcome. No charge for buddies.
Space is limited to 8 participants and 8 peer buddies.
Daily camp staffing includes:
Certified special education teacher
KidsLink speech or ABA therapist (split schedule)
One aide per participant.


SUCCESS Club / Teen Club / Young Adult Club
What:Psychological treatment group for those with Asperger's Disorder/High Functioning Autism providing direct teaching and practice of social and friendship behaviors, self-esteem development and coping skills

SUCCESS Club
Ages:7-12
Cost:$720
When:Saturdays, 6/13 - 8/15
ages 7-9: 9:00 - 10:30 am
ages 10-12: 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
Teen Club
Ages:13-18
Cost:$360
When:Wednesdays, 6/24 - 8/19, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Young Adult Club
Ages:18-25
Cost:$360
When:Wednesdays, 6/24 - 8/19, 7:15 - 8:30 pm

Gaming Group
What:Recreational game group for students with Asperger Disorder or high-functioning autism
Ages:8-12
When:Wednesday afternoons
7/8 - 8/15 (5 weeks)
Cost:$150

Play Group
What:Facilitated recreational group for young children with autism or other developmental disabilities
Ages:2-5
When:Wednesdays, 7/8 - 8/15 (5 weeks)
90-minute sessions
Cost:$300

Gateway Academy: residential college transition program

Hello OASIS family and friends across the state of OHIO, the United States and Globe.

Wanted to send you a quick note to share about an incredible Academy in AZ that is starting something incredible for our kids. The CEO sent this to me last night and we here at OASIS want to help out Gateway with getting the word out...so we wanted to share it with each of you! We know we get many hits from the great state of AZ and we wanted to make sure you all knew about this Academy!

Gateway Academy, a K-12th grade private day school in Scottsdale, Arizona, and we have just opened the first residential college transition program, Spectrum College Transition Program, solely for students with Asperger's, High Functioning Autism, and PDD-nos in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our program is set up literally as a home-away-from-home, but with support services such as: Group Therapy, On site Tutoring Center, Social Support, Classes in cooking, hygeine, time management, advocating, etc. We are about to launch a video tour at www.gatewayacademy.us, which may be quicker and easier to access.

Click GATEWAY to visit their photo gallery.