One Hope… Many Causes

Sip a glass of wine and support the autism cause! ONEHOPE Wine was created to make a difference. The vision of eight young professionals, all under the age of 30, ONEHOPE wines raise awareness for six causes that affect millions of people: cancer, breast cancer, autism, AIDS, the preservation of our environment, and support for our troops. 

Each cause is paired with a different wine. ONEHOPE’s 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (the autism pairing) is a dark crimson color, with ripe berry and plum aromas, and a full, lasting finish. AADigest taste testers found it rich and luscious, its dark fruity flavors nicely balanced with tannins. It has captured awards and medals at the Tasters Guild Wine Lover’s Consumer Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru competition, Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, and the Florida State Fair International Wine Competition.

ONEHOPE donates 50% of the profits from sales of the cabernet to support the autism cause. Their wines are currently available in restaurants and stores in 14 states, and can be shipped to 33 states. A bottle sells online at $18.99. Learn more at www.OneHopeWine.com

World Autism Day - April 2nd

April is National Autism Awareness Month in the U.S., and April 2^nd is World Autism Day, celebrated by countries across the globe. This year marks the third anniversary of World Autism Day, when organizations large and small focus efforts to increase public awareness of the condition and the needs of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

If 2010 is your first experience with this global happening, keep abreast of events going on here in the U.S. and internationally by visiting this website often: www.worldautismawarenessday.org. There you’ll also find history, past messages from global leaders, as well as ways you and your family can get involved. Among them:

Ask local organizations to create autism awareness displays: school, public and university libraries, churches, community centers, health food stores. Provide a one-page sheet of resources they can display or draw from: suggested books, local parent group contact information, sources for free/low cost “What is Autism?” brochures, posters and autism merchandise (pins, awareness decals, T-shirts, etc.). Even a small display can be effective in promoting awareness.

Offer to speak to local groups who encounter individuals with ASD: police and fire stations, PTA, business groups, Boy/Girl Scouts, etc. Speak from the heart and share what daily life with a spectrum child is like.

Pitch some ideas to local newspapers for stories they can run during April. The issues and topics are endless! 

Create a weekly community Autism Movie Night during April. Coordinate with a local theatre (or library) to show one of many “autism movies” now available.

Make and distribute Autism Awareness Ribbons for family, friends, groups or your child’s classroom students to wear during April. They’re quick, easy and materials can be found at a store like Michael’s or Joann’s Fabrics. 

Wear Autism Awareness merchandise during April: t-shirts, wrist bands, pins, bracelets. Catch an inquiring glace from strangers and start up a conversation. Just a few brief facts offered with kindness go a long way in building bridges with others in your community.

Send Autism Awareness e-cards and e-ribbons to friends and family.

Be thankful for the awareness, information, programs and services that exist here in the U.S. Last year The Amity Foundation co-sponsored an autism training session for teachers in Nanjing, China to commemorate World Autism Day. The head of Amity’s Social Service Centre pointed out that special education for children with autism had only just started in China. As of last year, only about 20 institutions in all of Jiangsu Province (2006 population: 74.3 million) were involved in efforts to treat and educate these children.

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Understanding Asperger Syndrome: A Professor’s Guide

OAR, the Organization for Autism Research, is a trusted source of information on spectrum topics in our community. As the only autism organization devoted solely to applied research, their funded studies, newsletter and excellent resource guides tackle some of the tough issues faced by parents, professionals and individuals with autism or Asperger’s. 

New to the OAR line-up is a DVD geared to educating professors, teaching assistants and others about what it means to be a college student on the spectrum. The 12-minute video provides an “insider’s view” of college life from the AS perspective and addresses reasonable accommodations professionals can make in the college classroom to help AS students succeed. Students can provide the video to professors as a DVD ($5 each) or share a link to a free download via the Internet. For more information, visit OAR’s website, www.researchautism.org.

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Extra Help: Choosing a Tutor

A coach, a guide, a mentor, a private teacher. Tutors can be just the ticket for helping your child or adult with ASD when learning or situational challenges overwhelm his ability to succeed. When the time comes to hire a tutor, a little advance thinking can go a long way in finding a good match.

Talk with your child first. Explain what a tutor does and why you think a tutor is needed. Let your child be part of the process.

Do you want an academic tutor – someone to help your child with a specific subject, like math? Or a “process” tutor, someone to teach your child the underpinnings to successful learning, like time management skills, problem solving, chunking tasks, other executive thinking skills, etc.

What personal qualities in a tutor will be a good match for your child? Aside from subject expertise, patience, good teaching skills and an understanding of ASD, think about qualities like innate curiosity of different learning styles and a willingness to tailor instruction to the unique thinking patterns inherent in ASD. Humor, friendliness, and a “can do” attitude go far in forming a good connection.

Ask for recommendations from your child’s teacher or other parents or a local autism support group. Check out tutoring options through junior colleges and universities, through retired teachers or private tutoring companies.

Discuss any sensory needs or behavior issues ahead of time. Set clear goals and ask for a written plan from the tutor. Ask for references and do check credentials.

Match tutoring sessions to the time of day your child is ready to learn; after school is common but not necessarily the best time for sessions. Consider shorter sessions a few times a week.

Keep lines of communication open. Observe the tutor with your child and discuss concerns in a sensitive, supportive way. It’s a learning process for everyone. That said, don’t hesitate to make a change if the tutor and your child don’t click.

Chew with Glee!

Chewing gum is a great way to self soothe orally, or that quick pick-me-up when sensory systems start to fade. Glee Gum is an all natural chewing gum, made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle, and free of gluten, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners (including aspartame) and preservatives. Comes in six mouth watering flavors: cinnamon, peppermint, tangerine, bubblegum, spearmint and triple berry. 

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