SMD is a family of organizations that are working together to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Manitoba. They are also affliated with the Easter Seals Canada. If you check out the Easter Seals on the American side, they have a section specific to Autism!
Travel Assistance Program
Disability Travel Card Application
IMPORTANT NOTE: Airlines are not part of the Travel Assistance Program. Each airline must be contacted directly to ask about any potential reduced fare programs or options for people with disabilities. It’s also important to read through the terms and conditions outlined on the application form before applying.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Telehealth Mar 10 2010
questions? contact ASM MB at:
204-783-9563
204-223-9985
1-888-444-9563 {toll free}
programs@autismmanitoba.com
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Canadian Charter of Rights for Persons with Autism
Have you seen it? it is a purposed Canadian Charter of Rights for Persons with Autism from The Board of Directors of ASC.
It was inspired by a European Charter presented at the 4th Autism-Europe Conference in 1992 which was adopted as a written declaration by European Parliament in 1996!
Take a look at their website for more information regarding their proposal, and let them know what you think at:
Autism Society Canada
Box 22017, 1670 Heron Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 0C2
Tel: (613) 789-8943
Toll Free: 1-866-476-8440
info@autismsocietycanada.ca
www.autismsocietycanada.ca
Canadian Charter of Rights for Persons with Autism - English
Canadian Charter of Rights for Persons with Autism - French
It was inspired by a European Charter presented at the 4th Autism-Europe Conference in 1992 which was adopted as a written declaration by European Parliament in 1996!
Take a look at their website for more information regarding their proposal, and let them know what you think at:
Autism Society Canada
Box 22017, 1670 Heron Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 0C2
Tel: (613) 789-8943
Toll Free: 1-866-476-8440
info@autismsocietycanada.ca
www.autismsocietycanada.ca
Canadian Charter of Rights for Persons with Autism - English
Canadian Charter of Rights for Persons with Autism - French
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Keen Ridge Equine Center
With Animal therapy in mind, the Keen Ridge Equine Center is going to host a Stick Rodeo Fun Fair with proceeds going to the South Central ASD. So keep your calendar open for May 1 from 1-4, and we'll post more details soon!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Animal Therapy and Autism
There have been studies that have shown that being around animals have helped many people with different disabilities. Many animals because of their quiet natures, are able to extend themselves to comfort and soothe those around them. One thought is that because an animal has simple or basic feelings, they do not get stressed or upset over the small things. It has been said, that when an animal loves, they love with their whole heart and when an animal gets upset, it is only for a short time and then is easily forgotten.
Even just the movement of stroking or petting an animal can be therapeutic. Also, with the right animals, they seem to “know” that there is something “special” with a person with a disability, and the animal is found to be even more passive and willing to respond to the individual with more compassion.
If you would like to arrange a visit with the miniature donkey in the above picture, or the horses, goats and various other animals, contact us at southcentralasd@yahoo.ca and we'll help set you and your family up to visit this very unique farm!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Disorder Out of Chaos
Published in New York Times: February 9, 2010
By ROY RICHARD GRINKER
IF you ask my daughter, Isabel, what autism means to her, she won’t say that it is a condition marked by impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors. She will say that her autism makes her a good artist, helps her to relate to animals and gives her perfect pitch.
The stigma of autism is fading fast. One reason is that we now understand that autism is a spectrum with an enormous range. Some people with autism are nonverbal with profound cognitive disabilities, while others are accomplished professionals.
Many people with milder symptoms of autism have, for the past 20 years or so, received a diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder. Some autistic adults call themselves “Aspies” to celebrate their talents and differences. And many parents have embraced the label because they have found it less stigmatizing, and so it has eased their sense of loss.
This may soon change, however. The American Psychiatric Association, with its release this week of proposed revisions to its authoritative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is recommending that Asperger’s be dropped. If this revision is adopted, the condition will be folded into the category of “autism spectrum disorder,” which will no longer contain any categories for distinct subtypes of autism like Asperger’s and “pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified” (a category for children with some traits of autism but not enough to warrant a diagnosis).
The change is welcome, because careful study of people with Asperger’s has demonstrated that the diagnosis is misleading and invalid, and there are clear benefits to understanding autism as one condition that runs along a spectrum.
When the American Psychiatric Association first recognized Asperger’s disorder in 1994, it was thought to be a subtype of autism. As the diagnosis became more common, it broadened the public understanding of autism as a spectrum. It helped previously undiagnosed adults to understand their years of feeling unconnected to others, but without bestowing what was considered the stigma of autism. And it helped educators justify providing services for children who, in the past, might have been unappreciated or even bullied because of their differences, but received no help from teachers.
It’s no longer a secret that people with autism can have careers and meaningful social relationships. Witness the spate of recent movies, from HBO’s “Temple Grandin,” about a woman with autism who became an animal scientist famed for her designs of humane slaughterhouses, to “Mary and Max,” an animated feature about a friendship between a 44-year-old man with Asperger’s and an 8-year-old girl.
But a culturally meaningful distinction isn’t always a scientifically valid one. Almost everyone with Asperger’s also fits the profile of the more classic autistic disorder. Indeed, in the current diagnostic manual, a child who has good language acquisition and intelligence qualifies as autistic if, in addition to having restricted interests and problems with social interactions, he has just one of the following symptoms, which are common among children with Asperger’s: difficulty conversing, an inability to engage in make-believe play or repetitive or unusual use of language. Even the best available diagnostic instruments cannot clearly distinguish between Asperger’s and autistic disorder.
People who now have a diagnosis of Asperger’s can be just as socially impaired as those with autism. So Asperger’s should not be a synonym for “high functioning.” Likewise, people with autism who are described as “low functioning,” including those without language, can have the kinds of intelligence and hidden abilities that are associated with Asperger’s — in art, music and engineering, for example — and can communicate if given assistance.
Moreover, large epidemiological studies have demonstrated that mild symptoms of autism are common in the general population. In particular, scientists have found that family members of a child with autism often exhibit isolated autistic traits. With autism, as with many medical diagnoses — like hypertension and obesity — the boundary lines are drawn as much by culture as by nature. Dividing up the workings of the mind is not as neat and orderly as categorizing species.
The proposed new diagnostic criteria, by describing severity and functioning along a single continuum, would also capture the often unpredictable changes among children with autism. When Isabel was 3, she had all the symptoms of autistic disorder, but if she walked into a doctor’s office today as a new patient — a chatty, quirky high school senior — she would more likely be given a diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder. Narrow diagnostic categories do not help us understand the way a person will develop over time.
We no longer need Asperger’s disorder to reduce stigma. And my daughter does not need the term Asperger’s to bolster her self-esteem. Just last week, she introduced herself to a new teacher in her high school health class. “My name is Isabel,” she said, “and my strength is that I have autism.”
Roy Richard Grinker, a professor of anthropology at George Washington University, is the author of “Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism.”
By ROY RICHARD GRINKER
IF you ask my daughter, Isabel, what autism means to her, she won’t say that it is a condition marked by impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors. She will say that her autism makes her a good artist, helps her to relate to animals and gives her perfect pitch.
The stigma of autism is fading fast. One reason is that we now understand that autism is a spectrum with an enormous range. Some people with autism are nonverbal with profound cognitive disabilities, while others are accomplished professionals.
Many people with milder symptoms of autism have, for the past 20 years or so, received a diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder. Some autistic adults call themselves “Aspies” to celebrate their talents and differences. And many parents have embraced the label because they have found it less stigmatizing, and so it has eased their sense of loss.
This may soon change, however. The American Psychiatric Association, with its release this week of proposed revisions to its authoritative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is recommending that Asperger’s be dropped. If this revision is adopted, the condition will be folded into the category of “autism spectrum disorder,” which will no longer contain any categories for distinct subtypes of autism like Asperger’s and “pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified” (a category for children with some traits of autism but not enough to warrant a diagnosis).
The change is welcome, because careful study of people with Asperger’s has demonstrated that the diagnosis is misleading and invalid, and there are clear benefits to understanding autism as one condition that runs along a spectrum.
When the American Psychiatric Association first recognized Asperger’s disorder in 1994, it was thought to be a subtype of autism. As the diagnosis became more common, it broadened the public understanding of autism as a spectrum. It helped previously undiagnosed adults to understand their years of feeling unconnected to others, but without bestowing what was considered the stigma of autism. And it helped educators justify providing services for children who, in the past, might have been unappreciated or even bullied because of their differences, but received no help from teachers.
It’s no longer a secret that people with autism can have careers and meaningful social relationships. Witness the spate of recent movies, from HBO’s “Temple Grandin,” about a woman with autism who became an animal scientist famed for her designs of humane slaughterhouses, to “Mary and Max,” an animated feature about a friendship between a 44-year-old man with Asperger’s and an 8-year-old girl.
But a culturally meaningful distinction isn’t always a scientifically valid one. Almost everyone with Asperger’s also fits the profile of the more classic autistic disorder. Indeed, in the current diagnostic manual, a child who has good language acquisition and intelligence qualifies as autistic if, in addition to having restricted interests and problems with social interactions, he has just one of the following symptoms, which are common among children with Asperger’s: difficulty conversing, an inability to engage in make-believe play or repetitive or unusual use of language. Even the best available diagnostic instruments cannot clearly distinguish between Asperger’s and autistic disorder.
People who now have a diagnosis of Asperger’s can be just as socially impaired as those with autism. So Asperger’s should not be a synonym for “high functioning.” Likewise, people with autism who are described as “low functioning,” including those without language, can have the kinds of intelligence and hidden abilities that are associated with Asperger’s — in art, music and engineering, for example — and can communicate if given assistance.
Moreover, large epidemiological studies have demonstrated that mild symptoms of autism are common in the general population. In particular, scientists have found that family members of a child with autism often exhibit isolated autistic traits. With autism, as with many medical diagnoses — like hypertension and obesity — the boundary lines are drawn as much by culture as by nature. Dividing up the workings of the mind is not as neat and orderly as categorizing species.
The proposed new diagnostic criteria, by describing severity and functioning along a single continuum, would also capture the often unpredictable changes among children with autism. When Isabel was 3, she had all the symptoms of autistic disorder, but if she walked into a doctor’s office today as a new patient — a chatty, quirky high school senior — she would more likely be given a diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder. Narrow diagnostic categories do not help us understand the way a person will develop over time.
We no longer need Asperger’s disorder to reduce stigma. And my daughter does not need the term Asperger’s to bolster her self-esteem. Just last week, she introduced herself to a new teacher in her high school health class. “My name is Isabel,” she said, “and my strength is that I have autism.”
Roy Richard Grinker, a professor of anthropology at George Washington University, is the author of “Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism.”
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Southern Shopper Article
South Central ASD family support group is up and running
By Donald McLeod for Southern ShopperOnline
The South Central ASD family support group is now up and running. You are invited to join them the first Tuesday evening of each month. They meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Boundary Trails Health Centre meeting room and welcome you to attend and share the challenges and triumphs of living with Autism Spectrum Disorders. You can also check out their blog for updates and for the location and time of tele-health sessions. The blog site is at southcentralasd.blogspot.com. Their email address is southcentralasd@yahoo.ca. You may also contact Dianne at 822-4587 or Celeste at 331-3357.
The mission is to support, improve and enhance the lives of ASD children and their families in the Pembina Valley and surrounding areas. the goals are to prioritize information sharing, education and proactively support each other. Educating and involving our communities in the lives of people living with ASD is also one of the groups goals. You are invited to be a part of making families living with ASD thrive in our communities.
Cases of ASD increased dramatically in the 1990s and early 2000. One in every 91 people are born with some type of ASD. You can read more about this on the blog. Autism Spectrum Disorders are a neurological developmental disorder. Autism forms the core difficulties with communication, learning and behavior problems. Asperger Syndrome is closest to autism in signs and likely causes. Unlike classic autism, Asperger Syndrome people have no significant delay in language development.
Pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified PDD-NOS diagnosed when criteria not met for a more specific disorder such as Autism or Aspergers. Some sources include Rett Syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder which share several signs with autism but may have unrelated causes. Some sources combine ASD with these two conditions into pervasive developmental disorders.
To view other articles in The Southern Shopper, click here.
By Donald McLeod for Southern ShopperOnline
The South Central ASD family support group is now up and running. You are invited to join them the first Tuesday evening of each month. They meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Boundary Trails Health Centre meeting room and welcome you to attend and share the challenges and triumphs of living with Autism Spectrum Disorders. You can also check out their blog for updates and for the location and time of tele-health sessions. The blog site is at southcentralasd.blogspot.com. Their email address is southcentralasd@yahoo.ca. You may also contact Dianne at 822-4587 or Celeste at 331-3357.
The mission is to support, improve and enhance the lives of ASD children and their families in the Pembina Valley and surrounding areas. the goals are to prioritize information sharing, education and proactively support each other. Educating and involving our communities in the lives of people living with ASD is also one of the groups goals. You are invited to be a part of making families living with ASD thrive in our communities.
Cases of ASD increased dramatically in the 1990s and early 2000. One in every 91 people are born with some type of ASD. You can read more about this on the blog. Autism Spectrum Disorders are a neurological developmental disorder. Autism forms the core difficulties with communication, learning and behavior problems. Asperger Syndrome is closest to autism in signs and likely causes. Unlike classic autism, Asperger Syndrome people have no significant delay in language development.
Pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified PDD-NOS diagnosed when criteria not met for a more specific disorder such as Autism or Aspergers. Some sources include Rett Syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder which share several signs with autism but may have unrelated causes. Some sources combine ASD with these two conditions into pervasive developmental disorders.
To view other articles in The Southern Shopper, click here.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Autism Portage Support Group
The Autism Portage Support Group will be held on Monday, February 22nd, at the Tupper Street Family Resouce Centre, 20 Tupper Street N.
This session will feature a presentation by Brent Epp, Consultant in the Student Services Unit of Manitoba Education, who will answer questions about the role of parents and educators in the transition planning process. Everyone is welcome to attend!
For additional information about transition planning from school to community, you can download Manitoba Education's publication, Bridging to Adulthood A Protocol for Transitioning Students with Exceptional Needs from School to Community at the Manitoba Education website.
NOTE that Brent is travelling from Winnipeg, so if the weather or roads are poor, please check the Autism Portage website in case of cancellation.
This session will feature a presentation by Brent Epp, Consultant in the Student Services Unit of Manitoba Education, who will answer questions about the role of parents and educators in the transition planning process. Everyone is welcome to attend!
For additional information about transition planning from school to community, you can download Manitoba Education's publication, Bridging to Adulthood A Protocol for Transitioning Students with Exceptional Needs from School to Community at the Manitoba Education website.
NOTE that Brent is travelling from Winnipeg, so if the weather or roads are poor, please check the Autism Portage website in case of cancellation.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Carol Gray - Social Stories™
Don't forget...she is coming to Winnipeg April 22nd and April 23rd, 2010. The conference will take place at the new Viscount Gort Conference Centre at 1670 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.For more information on Social Stories™ go to Carol's website {click on title} or go to the Autism Society Manitoba to register.
For more information on the seminar, see our earlier post here
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Telehealth Feb 10 2010
questions? contact ASM MB at:
204-783-9563
204-223-9985
programs@autismmanitoba.com
Feb 2 2010 meeting
Hello Everyone!
Just a reminder that our monthly meeting is tonight, February 2 at 7:30. It will be in the board room instead of the meeting room. Follow the signs! Darlene Sawatzky will be there to answer questions for one hour.
Just some guidlines: Please keep questions of a general nature so they can be answered to benefit ALL who attend. She will also give a short "inservice" on respite, how hours are determined, etc. If you have personal questions specifically regarding your family please refer back to your CSW, but if the question can be generalized, please feel free to ask! Remember our meeting goal is to share information. If you feel more comfortable making your questions annonymous, please email them to me and I will give them to Darlene printed without names.
Darlene will be leaving around 8:30, at which time we will be having a general hour of getting to know each other. Our hope is for families to make personal connections and make new friends with others who live the same way we all do :)
For our March meeting we are looking for a few parents willing to share their stories. We have had some feedback that parents would like to hear other stories. It is a great way to get to know each other and hear the different struggles and triumphs we all go through. If there are a lot of parents willing to share we will try to do three half hour sessions per meeting, to allow some time for other things to be explored as well.
Lastly, if anyone has any materials they would like to contribute to our lending library please bring them tonight. Make sure your name and phone number is in/ on the material lent. All materials will be returned at the next meeting. Hope to see everyone there! It's been great getting to know everyone!
Just a reminder that our monthly meeting is tonight, February 2 at 7:30. It will be in the board room instead of the meeting room. Follow the signs! Darlene Sawatzky will be there to answer questions for one hour.
Just some guidlines: Please keep questions of a general nature so they can be answered to benefit ALL who attend. She will also give a short "inservice" on respite, how hours are determined, etc. If you have personal questions specifically regarding your family please refer back to your CSW, but if the question can be generalized, please feel free to ask! Remember our meeting goal is to share information. If you feel more comfortable making your questions annonymous, please email them to me and I will give them to Darlene printed without names.
Darlene will be leaving around 8:30, at which time we will be having a general hour of getting to know each other. Our hope is for families to make personal connections and make new friends with others who live the same way we all do :)
For our March meeting we are looking for a few parents willing to share their stories. We have had some feedback that parents would like to hear other stories. It is a great way to get to know each other and hear the different struggles and triumphs we all go through. If there are a lot of parents willing to share we will try to do three half hour sessions per meeting, to allow some time for other things to be explored as well.
Lastly, if anyone has any materials they would like to contribute to our lending library please bring them tonight. Make sure your name and phone number is in/ on the material lent. All materials will be returned at the next meeting. Hope to see everyone there! It's been great getting to know everyone!
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