Walk For Autism Awareness

Transcription

1 Business Name Autism Suppor t of Kent County Volume 6, Issue 2 March/April 2015 THE VOICE I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Sensory Friendly Films Easter Egg Hunt Support Group Meetings Conferences & Workshops Walk Pledge Form Walk Sponsorship Form Walk Donation Form Donor Recognition Autism Support of Kent County Walk For Autism Awareness Calendar: Board Meetings KISD Educ. Service Center 6:30 p.m., Public welcome. March 2, 2015 April 13, 2015 May 4, 2015 June 1, 2015 Events: Easter Egg Hunt March 21, 2015 Walk for Awareness April 26, 2015 Golf Classic August 3, 2015 Sunday, April 26, :00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Kuyper College 3333 E. Beltline, Grand Rapids, MI The event will be held Rain or Shine! Come and join our 6th annual Walk for Autism Awareness! This event is a forum for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), families, friends and our community to join together to direct public attention to how ASD affects our lives, and promote understanding and acceptance through education and communication. We will have a free Community Resource Fair, which provides a wonderful opportunity for families to meet with Service Providers and Exhibitors, specializing in a wide range of services, programs and resources offered in our area. There will be live music, a Silent Auction and activities and fun for all ages. Autism Support of Kent County (ASK) is deeply committed to raising awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder and helping to educate, support and empower our families. Visit our website at like us on our 2015 Walk for Autism Awareness Facebook page for up-to-date information regarding our upcoming Walk, or call (616) All attendees must register. New this year online registration! Pre-register yourselves and family members online at (enter "Autism Support of Kent County Walk for Autism Awareness" in the search box or download a registration form from the ASK website at Online registration will be available on Monday, March 9. Schedule of activities: Registration is at 12:00 noon. The Resource Fair will be held during our entire event 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. The Walk will commence at 1:00 p.m. Thank you for your support.

2 Page 2 Volume 6, Issue 2 Sensory Friendly Films Presents: 10:00 a.m. AMC Star Grand Rapids 3000 Alpine Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, Tickets: $5.50 HOME Saturday, March 28, 2015 Underdogs Saturday, April 18, 2015 The Sensory Friendly Films program provides a special opportunity for families to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment. The auditoriums dedicated to the program have their lights up, the sound turned down and audience members are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing! Heart of West Michigan United Way investors can choose to designate all or part of their annual contributions to Autism Support of Kent County. To designate your gift to ASK, use the United Way Designation Form and write: Autism Support of Kent County, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thank you! Visit our website to view and/or download the Community Resource Directory:

3 Page 3 Volume 6, Issue 2 ASK Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 21, :00 11:30 a.m. Countryside Elementary School 8200 Eastern Ave SE Byron Center, MI Egg hunt, games, prizes, and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Space available for an indoor egg hunt, if necessary. Donuts and juice provided. Free to ASK families in Kent County. Reservations are required! Please register online at (enter Autism Support of Kent County s Easter Egg Hunt in the search box) or call the ASK phone line at (616) and leave your last name and the number of children and adults attending. Also, please leave your phone number in case we need to contact you. See you there!

4 Page 4 Volume 6, Issue 2 Our March Parent Support Group meeting will be held on Thursday, March 26th from 6:30 until 9:00 p.m. at KISD (Kent Intermediate School District) at the Educational Service Center Building in the Board Room (park in lot #11). The address is 2930 Knapp Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI. We are very pleased to have as our guest speakers, Andrea Vugteveen and Aubrey Boerema, who will be presenting to our group about Sibling Relationships of Children with Autism. Our sibling children experience their life "journey" with their brother or sister with autism, along with their parents. Andrea and Aubrey will talk about how being the sibling can affect his or her life, the family dynamics, the unique challenges, as well as the rewards. ASD SUPPORT GROUP Andrea Vugteveen runs a monthly Sib-Shop at Family Tree Therapies and Aubrey is a Calvin College student who has grown up with a sibling with special needs. Together, they will provide some insight from the perspective of the sibling, share some information based on their experiences, as well as strategies on ways to support the sibling and keep our families happy and healthy. The date and speaker for the April meeting will be announced soon, so watch for a flier and/or an announcement on the ASK Facebook page. As always, we will be having our parent support group meetings immediately following our speaker presentations. Please feel free to share information about our meetings with fellow parents and caregivers. If you have any questions, please send them to: asdsuppgrpkentcounty@yahoo.com We ask that parents arrange for childcare as this meeting is for parents/caregivers only. The address for the support group is asdsuppgrpkentcounty@yahoo.com Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) 2930 Knapp NE Grand Rapids, MI (616)

5 Page 5 Volume 6, Issue 2 Conferences and Workshops LEAP Lead-Empower-Assist-Parents Saturday, March 7, 2015 Kent Intermediate School District Educational Service Center 2930 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids, MI Parking Lot 11 This day-long workshop is designed for parents and providers of children with special needs. Considerations for Transition Age Students Wednesday, March 18, :00 am 3:30 pm Kent ISD Educational Service Center Coldwater Room 2930 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids 49525, Parking Lot 11 Session topics will include: Rethinking Guardianship: Facilitating Life-Long Self Determination, Work Incentives for Transition Students Receiving Social Security Benefits, Transition Top 10 from the Educator s Perspective, Accessing Adult Services, and Introduction to Self Directed Services. This workshop is for families whose child/young adult has a developmental disability, as well as service providers working with students. Register by with Katie Meyering at (616) or katie@arckent.org or online at Success is a Spectrum Parent Conference April 17, 2015, Wayne County Community College Western Campus, Belleville, MI The Success is a Spectrum Parent Conference will provide information on today s best practices, evidencebased treatments and a number of other topics relevant to give parents tools they can use to help their children with autism. Our goal is to share practical tools, strategies, and resources that can be used immediately. Along with terrific breakout sessions, we ve developed a dynamic event full of opportunities for conversation and problem solving. Come out to listen, share, network and grow. Our Opening Session will feature a parent panel of autism heroes whose stories will allow us to look beyond the everyday challenges of raising a child with autism and celebrate success from multiple perspectives. Join AAoM in this unique, uplifting event! NO PARENT LEFT BEHIND. Tickets $50 per person. Need-based scholarships available, apply online or call (248) th Annual Living with Autism Workshop Friday, April 24, :00 AM to 4:00 PM The Marriott Hotel 200 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan Featured Speakers: Liane Holliday-Willey, Ed.D, worldrenowned author and psycholinguistics expert and Elaine Hall, autism advocate and founder of The Miracle Project. To register: daily/parenting/special-needs-resources/8th-annualliving-autism-workshop/ How to Develop Your Child s SELF Skills Life Solutions for Autism Parent Empowerment Saturday, April 25, :00 am 4:00 pm Foster Community Center - Room # N. Foster Street, Lansing, MI Check-in Begins at 8:30 a.m. (A continental breakfast and boxed lunch will be provided). Learn how you can develop your child s SELF Skills at home and school: self-empowerment for lifelong fulfillment, self advocacy, self-determination, problem solving, and goal setting. To register, call (517) or send an to: asminr@autism-mi.org START Conference Monday, April 27, :30 am 3:30 pm Crowne Plaza Lansing West 925 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mark Durand Dr. Durand's presentation focus will be An Optimistic Approach to Helping Students with Challenging Behaviors. AutismOne/Focus Autism 2015 Conference: Focus. Think. THRiiiVE. May 20 24, 2015 Loews Chicago O Hare Hotel, Rosemont, IL. AutismOne: The Cutting-Edge Autism Conference is delighted to join forces with Focus Autism, the leader of integrity in protecting children s health from the harmful effects of environmental and other neurotoxins, to become the AutismOne/Focus Autism 2015 Conference.

6 Page 6 Volume 6, Issue 2 WALK FOR AUTISM AWARENESS Sunday, April 26, 2015 Kuyper College Pledge Form Autism Support of Kent County (ASK) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving the families of persons living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Kent County, Michigan. Every dollar raised at this event will stay in Kent County. Visit to learn more about ASD and our organization. Follow us on Facebook at 2015 Walk for Autism Awareness for updates leading up to our event! Please copy this form as needed for additional pledges. **For each $ in pledges collected, one t-shirt will be awarded. New this year Prizes will be awarded to the top three pledge earners! Watch for updates on Facebook!** Participant names: Team Name Address City State Zip Daytime Phone Number Please collect money at time of pledge and turn into ASK no later than the day of the Walk April 26, Every attempt will be made to have a sufficient quantity of t-shirts at the Walk. If necessary, rain checks will be given. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Autism Support of Kent County. Early pledges may be mailed to ASK at P. O. Box , Grand Rapids, MI Please copy this form as needed for additional pledges. Please give complete name and address of persons pledging to this event. Tax receipts available upon request. Tax Receipt? Y/N Name/Address Donation $ Name/Address Donation $ Name/Address Donation $ Name/Address Donation $ Name/Address Donation $ Name/Address Donation $ Total donations collected: $ T-Shirts Earned: Sizes/number of t-shirts: Adult S M L XL XXL Child S M L

7 Page 7 Volume 6, Issue 2 WALK FOR AUTISM AWARENESS Sponsorship Form Autism Support of Kent County (ASK) will hold its annual Walk for Autism Awareness on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at Kuyper College, 3333 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. ASK is seeking sponsorships from members, friends and local businesses. Would you consider a sponsorship this year? The following packages are available. Deadline for sponsorship application is April 13, If paying by credit card, this form may be faxed to Celia Andrus at (810) Please return entire form with your sponsorship. Thank You! $1,000 Platinum Sponsor Listing as a Platinum Sponsor in the ASK E-Newsletter, The Voice, with a link to the business website. Listing as a Platinum Sponsor on the ASK website, with a link to the business website (For 3 months) Listing on the ASK main and ASK Walk Facebook pages, with a link to the business website (Monthly posts for 3 months) Name and/or Logo on ASK Walk T-Shirts Full page ad in the Walk program Recognition from the podium by the Master of Ceremonies 2 T-Shirts (Qty/each): Adult (S) Adult (M) Adult (L) Adult (XL) Adult (XXL) Child (S) Child (M) Child (L) $750 Gold Sponsor Listing as a Gold Sponsor in the ASK E-Newsletter, The Voice Listing as a Gold Sponsor on the ASK website, with a link to the business website (For 3 months) Listing on the ASK main and ASK Facebook pages (April-May) Name and/or Logo on ASK Walk T-Shirts ½ page ad in the Walk program Recognition from the podium by the Master of Ceremonies 2 T-Shirts (Qty/each): Adult (S) Adult (M) Adult (L) Adult (XL) Adult (XXL) Child (S) Child (M) Child (L) $500 Silver Sponsor Listing as a Silver Sponsor in the ASK E-Newsletter, The Voice Listing as a Silver Sponsor on the ASK website, with a link to the business website (For 3 months) Listing on the ASK main and ASK Facebook pages (April-May) Name and/or Logo on ASK Walk T-Shirts ¼ page ad in the Walk program Recognition from the podium by the Master of Ceremonies 2 T-Shirts (Qty/each): Adult (S) Adult (M) Adult (L) Adult (XL) Adult (XXL) Child (S) Child (M) Child (L) $300 Bronze Sponsor Listing as a Bronze Sponsor in the ASK E-Newsletter, The Voice Listing as a Bronze Sponsor on the ASK website (For 3 months) Listing on the ASK main and ASK Facebook pages (April-May) Name and/or Logo on ASK Walk T-Shirts Business card spot in the Walk program Recognition from the podium by the Master of Ceremonies 2 T-Shirts (Qty/each): Adult (S) Adult (M) Adult (L) Adult (XL) Adult (XXL) Child (S) Child (M) Child (L) Yes, I would like to sponsor at the level. Amount $ Company Contact Person Phone Website: Address: Make check payable to: Autism Support of Kent County, P. O. Box , Grand Rapids, MI Visa/MC# Exp. Date Name on Credit Card

8 Page 8 Volume 6, Issue 2 WALK FOR AUTISM AWARENESS DONATION FORM Autism Support of Kent County (ASK) will hold a Walk for Autism Awareness on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at Kuyper College, 3333 East Beltline Avenue in Grand Rapids. ASK is seeking donations from members, friends and local businesses. Donor information will be listed in the Walk program, our bi-monthly newsletter, The Voice and our Facebook pages. Donations of products and services will be given to our walkers/attendees and offered in a silent auction during the event. Some of the monetary donations will be used to buy products and services for use during the Walk such as food, beverages, entertainment, etc. Your monetary donation and/or donation of any product and/or service for use during the Walk would be greatly appreciated. Please complete this form and mail it to ASK at P.O. Box , Grand Rapids, MI or fax to Celia Andrus at (810) If you have any questions, please call us at (616) or send a to askkentcty@aol.com. All donations are tax deductible (Tax ID # ). Thank you! (Check here if you would prefer to be an anonymous donor: ) Name: Address: Phone: Amount/Value: $ and/or Item Description:( **Please be sure to include**) I will mail the item (gift certificates or monetary donations only please) to ASK at P. O. Box , Grand Rapids, MI, I would like someone from ASK to pick up the non-monetary donation. Phone # Contact Person: Thank you for your donation!

9 Page 9 Volume 6, Issue 2 ASK wishes to thank the following businesses and individuals for their financial contributions. Without your generosity, we could not continue to provide our many programs and services. Thank you for making a difference! Jayne Ver Lee Teresa Neal In Memory of Ron Hare Margaret Reveal In Memory of Ron Hare Frederick and Kathleen Burkhart Andrea Crumback Behavior Health Partners Steven and Theresa Thomsen TAD Magna Mirrors Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pax In Memory of Ron Hare Gina Schneider In Memory of Ron Hare Edith Rashewsky Mary Jones Brad Carlton Julie DeJohn Danita Greene David Heinz Steve Rapanos Theresa Thomsen Rick Sandtveit Tom and Cathy Mall, Mall Family Foundation Knit Wits of Gilda's In Honor of Linnea Renterdahl David and Lois Neal In Memory of Ron Hare Jean and Kevin Wilshere In Memory of Ron Hare Annette Stark Save the Date! ASK Golf Classic Monday, August 3, 2015 Thornapple Pointe 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start Thank you to these donors to the Puzzle Partners program! Gerald and Betsy Joubert Lon and Laura Morrisson Robin Easley Thomas and Susan Bylsma Michele and Gerald Magle Mary Weadock Lisa Andersson-Zetye Larry and Celia Andrus Brian Lee Chassee Alaina Lomasney Doug Domine Alan and Janet Koncz Michael and Jan Page Joe and Debra Russo Spring Arts & Crafts Fair Friday, April 10th 10:00 am 12:00 pm No entry fee Vendors will be individuals with microenterprises or start-up businesses with home/handmade products. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase and will benefit Indian Trails Camp Community Integrated Program.

10 Autism Support of Kent County P. O. Box Grand Rapids, MI Phone: Do you? To find our Facebook page, simply type Autism Support of Kent County in the Search bar located in the upper left corner. Click on like to join our page and receive updates. Be sure to tell your friends and family! Disclaimers Articles, conferences, workshops, presenters or information contained in this newsletter or at meetings are not endorsed by Autism Support of Kent County. Articles occasionally offer information about medical/pharmacological research, treatment and therapies or legal issues. This information is given for informational purposes and is not intended to act as a substitute for professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with their own practitioners for individual or specific advice. Autism Support of Kent County Autism Support of Kent County (ASK) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of parents, school staff, and others who actively seek to support and advocate for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. ASK is committed to partnering with local schools and agencies to promote the welfare of individuals with ASD in our community. Please note that Autism Support of Kent County does not endorse any specific therapy, product, treatment, strategy, opinions, service, or individual.