Learning More about the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

I have had many families ask about having an article about how to go about accessing UCF-CARD services for their child/children with Autism. I spoke with Dr. Daly with UCF CARD and asked her to write us an article listing the step by step guide to accessing their services for home and school. Here is Dr. Daly's Article:

Learning More about the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

Many families of children with autism and related disabilities are referred by their doctors or teachers to register with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). Often, the professional making the referral will not understand or explain what CARD is, or what should be expected, or even how to go about accessing CARD services. Why should families register with CARD and what will happen when they do? First, families should register with CARD so that the State of Florida understands the numbers of individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD)—CARD is responsible for providing the statewide census of ASD. How services and supports are funded for ASD depends on the legislature having accurate numbers. But more importantly, a family should register with CARD to be able to take advantage of the many complimentary services it provides.

What exactly is CARD and what is it supposed to do? Although we are called a “Center,” we are not the type of place you bring your child for treatment. The Florida Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities are a network of state-funded secondary support programs located at universities around the state. Secondary support means that we don’t work directly with the person on the spectrum, providing therapy or treatment. Instead, we work with the families, schools, agencies and community groups that are part of the everyday life of the person with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We provide consultation, advice, and resources/referrals to these people who will be interacting with the person with ASD on a daily basis. We do this through technology, and school, home, and community visits, as well as parent education seminars and support groups. Our visits to observe, meet or work with the person on the spectrum are for the purpose of providing recommendations about how to deal with a particular challenge, for demonstration of strategies that are research-proven in helping people with ASD, and to gather information that will assist those who live and work with the individual to better achieve their goals. In addition to these activities, UCF CARD provides more than 100 community based training programs each year for schools, churches, law enforcement and other groups that need additional information and strategies to work with people with ASD. We also provide free screenings for ASD, and an active library on ASD issues. The mission of CARD is to optimize the lives of people with autism and related disabilities.

After a family registers with CARD, which can be done online at www.ucf-card.org or by calling 407 823 6011, they will receive an information packet electronically. CARD must have a diagnostic report documenting an eligible condition (these are defined in the statute that created CARD) in order for services to proceed. (Families in need of diagnosis or awaiting diagnosis may also register with CARD if their child is under 10, and will be granted a pending status for three months, so that they may start taking advantage of services while they await their appointment.) After this information is received, families will receive a call or email identifying their regionally-based CARD coordinator, and will be offered a phone or office-based consultation to discuss their needs. After that, an action plan or follow up email will be provided that outlines the steps recommended, and assigns responsibility for who will complete each step. CARD may recommend the family or individual complete certain steps, such as attending a parent education seminar on the topic of their need, before conducting a community, school, or home-based visit. This is done to insure that face-to-face time with the child or adult is most productively spent problem-solving and working together, rather than merely providing information or basic training.

UCF CARD serves over 6500 families, and each coordinators serve over 1000 families each, so we rely on families and adults with ASD to let us know when issues arise and what they need. After an initial action plan or follow up email is created, we rely on the families to let us know how it worked and if there are additional items that they need to address. This may occur in a short period of time, or not for several years until a new challenge comes up. It is also important for families to keep their email addresses and phone numbers current with CARD, as we do not have the ability to help people if we have no way of contacting them. Coordinators can be contacted via email, voicemail, or calling the office directly. Families should call the center directly if they are not hearing back from their coordinator, as that person may no longer be working at CARD due to budget cuts, or may be away from the center for weeks at a time working with individuals in their area.

CARD does have some limitations on what it can provide for families. We cannot register families who do not have a member with one of the statute-mandated ASD conditions. However, families of any child with a disability can take part in our educational seminars by simply registering to be on our electronic newsletter list or by going on our website and choosing the seminar they wish to attend. We cannot provide crisis support, educational or legal advocacy, or duplicate the purpose of other state agencies. We cannot work with people supporting or living with adults with ASD unless they have obtained guardianship or a consent from that adult. We also cannot go into any school, agency or other program without an invitation from the administrator of that program. If parents would like for their child to be observed at school, or their child’s teacher to be provided help from CARD, they should contact the principal and make that request. Our outcomes will always be best when the school has welcomed us to assist.

Because CARD is funded by the state, supports are offered to families and individuals at no charge. However, that does not mean that the services are without value or cost. We rely on families to be responsible for keeping appointments, returning communications, and involvement in the action plan or follow up recommendations. We must be efficient in allocation of staff time and travel in order to serve the many families registered with us. We partner closely with PALS (Providing Autism Links and Supports, www.pals-ucfcard.org) to offer additional family-oriented supports, such as summer camps and intervention programs, picnics and outings and social groups. PALS also assists CARD with its fundraising mandate.

For more information on CARD, or on Autism Spectrum Disorders, please go to www.ucf-card.org.

Ability Awareness Day on February 4, 2012 1:00pm- 4:00pm at Gadson Park (Tampa). Hosted by Chelesa's Voice and Shane's inspiration. Contact Veleria Fabiszak at 619-253-6928 or visit www.shanesinspiration.org

 

LIFESKILLS ACADEMY OF ORLANDO SELECTS FAST FORWORD SOFTWARE FROM SCIENTIFIC LEARNING TO HELP STUDENTS ACCELERATE LEARNING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:                                                                           

Wendy Cox Blair

Director

LifeSkills Academy of Orlando

407-388-1808

wendy.blair@lifeskillscfl.com

LIFESKILLS ACADEMY OF ORLANDO SELECTS FAST FORWORD SOFTWARE FROM SCIENTIFIC LEARNING TO HELP STUDENTS ACCELERATE LEARNING

Winter Springs, Fla. — Jan. 12, 2012 — This month, students at LifeSkills Academy of Orlando, a non-profit private K-8 school in Winter Springs, Fla., will experience first-hand how cutting-edge technology and neuroscience are transforming education — and helping students become successful lifelong learners. Taking an innovative approach to classroom instruction, LifeSkills Academy will implement an educational software program called Fast ForWord® to help students exercise their brains, build brain fitness, and increase their capacity to learn.

Developed by Scientific Learning Corp. (NASDAQ:SCIL), the Fast ForWord family of educational software products accelerates learning for students across a wide spectrum of ages and abilities by applying proven research on how the brain learns. It helps students rapidly improve reading and learning ability by strengthening memory, attention, processing rate, and sequencing skills. By building brain fitness in these areas, learners can realize achievement gains of up to two years in as little as three months and maintain an accelerated rate of learning even after the programs end.

LifeSkills Academy purchased the Fast ForWord software earlier this month and plans to roll it out to students the week of January 17^th. LifeSkills Academy is a sensory-based school that uses occupational therapy and speech/language therapy to support the academic and social needs of students with sensory integration, auditory processing, and communicative disorders.

“LifeSkills Academy is centered on an individualized curriculum that focuses on academic excellence, sensory integration and language development. Because we’re a sensory-based school, we firmly believe in the plasticity of the brain — the brain’s ability to change itself in response to new experiences,” said Wendy Blair, director of LifeSkills Academy. “Scientific Learning has scientifically-based research that shows how the Fast ForWord program works to change the brain. Our goal with the Fast ForWord program is to help students improve their language and reading ability to help them reach their full potential. We’re very excited to begin using the program.”

About LifeSkills Academy of Orlando

LifeSkills Academy of Orlando is a 501(c)(3) non-profit private school for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Students who attend the school have diagnoses such as Sensory Processing Disorder, High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Persuasive Developmental Delay, and other learning disabilities. The school’s mission is to offer first-rate academics in a unique and flexible environment, which also includes onsite and individualized occupational and speech therapy. For more information, please contact Wendy Blair, director, at 407-388-1808.

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FREE Dyslexia Presentation

FREE Dyslexia Presentation
Meet leading dyslexia expert, Susan Barton at a free
presentation on the symptoms & solutions of dyslexia.

Dyslexia affects 20% of the population, and is the most common
reason a bright child will struggle with reading, writing, and
spelling. Find out why they struggle and what you can do to help.

Friday, January 20, 2012
6:00 to 9:00 pm
Eckerd College – Fox Hall
4200 54th Ave. South
St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Reserve your seat at:
www.Poulson.EventBrite.com
or (727) 743‐0416

Evening of The Arts Benefiting The Providence Academy & Foundation

"Moonlight Over The Louvre" is the theme for the Evening of the Arts benefiting the Providence Academy & Foundation!

Saturday, April 21, 2012
Rosen Centre Hotel
9840 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
Reception: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Dinner, Dance & Auction: 7:00 pm to 11:00 p.m.

For More Information Contact:
Lori Brown 407-291-1500 or lbrown@bridgesofamerica.org
Alicia Braccia 407-718-4430 or abraccia@theprovidenceacademy.com
www.TheProvidenceAcademy.com
www.ProvidenceFoundation.org

Sponsor Levels
Gold: $3,500
Table for 10 guests located in the Gold Premier Sponsorship area
Business logo on tables
Full page black/white ad in event program
Company banner display at event (provided by sponsor)
Logo and direct company link on Providence Foundation website for 1 year
Logo placement on promotional items
Last opportunity to bid in silent auction
Name recognition during welcoming comments and throughout event

Silver: $2,500
Table for 10 guests located in Silver Premier Sponsorship area
Business logo on tables
Half page black/white ad in event program
Company banner display at event (provided by sponsor)
Logo and direct company link on Providence Foundation website for 6 months
Name recognition during welcoming comments

Bronze: $1,500
Seating for 6 guests in Bronze Premier Sponsorship area
Quarter page black/white ad in event program
Logo and direct company link on Providence Foundation website for 3 months
Friend of Providence Foundation: $1,000
Seating for 4 guests in Friends of Providence Foundation Premier Sponsorship area
Name recognition in event program as a Friend of Providence Foundation
Name recognition on Providence Foundation website as a Friend of Providence Foundation

Promotional Advertising:
Full black and white page $1,000
Half page black and white (horizontal) $650
Quarter page black and white $325
Sponsor In Kind: Amount modified to donor’s desire

Contact Providence Foundation Board President– Alicia Braccia
abraccia@theprovidenceacademy.com

Please join LifeSkills for… CONFIDENT PARENTING

A supportive group for parents and guardians of SPD/special needs children. Have you registered yet??? Start the New Year right and improve those parenting skills!! Share what you know and help others…  

Day: Six Tuesday evenings  
Dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31 February 7 &  21 (not Feb.14th -Valentine's Day)  
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM  
Location: 1935 State Road 436 Winter Park, FL 32792
Cost: $30/individual for the series $50/couple for the series
Please call the office to register: 407-629-9455
Whether you are a parent or a guardian of an SPD/special needs child, more than likely you are stressed. This group, led by Dr. Richard Horn, is designed to diminish stress and to increase confidence, clarity, authority, and success in parenting.

Dr Mary Travis Hosts Several Workshops forTrichotillomania, Social group- Victims of Bullies, Asperger's Syndrome

1. Trichotillomania Writing Workshop
Hope at Hand with Steffani Gilligan
January 20th
10:00 AM - 4:00PM (1 hr/Lunch Break)

2. Power Play Social Group: Victims of Bullies
Middle School- Beginning High School
Mondays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
January 23 - February 27, 2012

February
Trichotillomania Workshop
February 18th
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cheryn Salazar & Dr. Mary Travis
St. John Lutheran Church
1600 S. Orlando Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32789

March
Social Group
Asperger's Syndrome
Grades 7 - 12
Mondays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
March 12 - April 23, 2012

All of the events are at Dr. Mary Travis's office EXCEPT the February Trichotillomania workshop with Cheryn Salazar. It is being held at St. John Lutheran Church in WP. Registration info is on my website and my Facebook fan page as well as on Linked In. Thanks so much for you help. I appreciate it. Happy Holidays!

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Mary A. Travis, PhD
1950 Lee Road, Suite #213
Winter Park, FL 32789
407-644-1522
www.travisps.com