| HEAL! Foundation Newsletter |
September 15, 2008 |
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Reminder ~ Last Chance to Sign up for
Housecalls: The First Steps to HEALing
your Child with Autism on September 27th
HEAL is proud
to partner with Dr. Julie Buckley and Dr. Jerry Kartzinel to offer a seminar
for parents and caretakers whose children have been diagnosed with Autism. The
goal of this program is to help provide a "jump start" to those either beginning
or continuing their journey of helping someone with Autism. In addition to sage advice from parents of
children with Autism who have "been there - done that", attendees will
receive: an overview of beginning therapies
and biomedical intervention, where to go for what information, and recommended
first steps.
RSVP now to join renowned Defeat Autism Now! physicians Drs.
Buckley and Kartzinel on Saturday, September 27 from 9 A.M - 12:00 PM. in Ponte Vedra, Florida. The cost is $25 per person, and $40 per couple
and includes a TACA Journey Guide. Click here for more information or to RSVP.
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HEAL Presents School-Home Connections , October
25th 9-11 am
 School is back in session, and for the parent of a child on
the autism spectrum, the transition into a new school classroom can
bring great stress along with valid questions and concerns.. Communication between home and school
is not only desirable, it's crucial.
In an attempt to help parents and educators through this transition,
HEAL is offering a seminar entitled, "School-Home Connections; Strategies for Creating
Positive, Child-Centered Relationships", on Saturday October 25th from 9-11am
at the
TPC
Media Center
at Sawgrass, in Ponte Vedra. Tickets are
a $10 donation per person. The presentation offers the importance of strategies
and the roadblocks found creating positive home-school relationships. It will explore why this relationship is of
the utmost importance to the child, the family and the school as well as
pinpointing specific traits common to the child with Autism Spectrum
Disorder that make such a relationship critical to maximizing communication
skills and social behaviors. In
addition, common "roadblocks" that exist in our current hierarchy will be
outlined and preventative measures offered.
This presentation will be of great benefit to parents, care takers,
teachers, therapists and school administration.
Click here for more information.
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Rainbow Artists:
Art and Autism across the Spectrum this Fall at MOCA
 The Museum of Contemporary Art
Jacksonville will continue their Rainbow Artist series of by offering a six week
session on Saturdays this fall. The
series is for children ages 6-12 who are on the autism spectrum, and an accompanying family
member or caretaker. The classes are every other week
starting October 11th at 10:30 AM.
MOCA began the Rainbow Artist program
this summer through a partnership with HEAL by offering scholarships to summer
camp. "MOCA
art classes for children within the autism spectrum provide a welcoming place
with professional art educators. Our "Rainbow Artists" enjoy new opportunities
for expression and experience the joy of creativity. At MOCA, they are our
celebrated artists whose artwork we proudly present in the galleries of the
museum," according to Debbie Broder,
Director of the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary
Art.
Space is limited, and
applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
This program is $100 for members of MOCA, and $120 for non-members. Space is limited. Please click here for more information or to
apply.
Please click here for more information or to apply.
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Dog
Park Day with Project CHANCE
on September 20!
Saturday September 20, 11 am - 2 pm.
Bring your dogs and your family to a
fun fundraiser "Dog Park Day" to benefit Project CHANCE - Canines
Helping Anyone Needing Courage and Empowerment.
Lunch provided and a $20
donation is required.
Founder/Director BJ Szwedzinski has been
professionally training dogs for over 28 years, with an impressive resume
spanning the dog industry. Her spectrum of knowledge encompasses a wide array
of disciplines, as well as her expertise as a professional trainer and animal
behaviorist. Szwedzinski is also a credentialed special education teacher in
varying exceptionalities.
Project Chance was the recipient of a 2008 grant from
The HEAL Foundation to train two dogs for children on the autism spectrum. The service
dogs are trained to work with each child to meet their specific needs.
Click here for more information on the Dog Park Day.
Click here for recent First Coast News article about Project Chance.
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Jacksonville School for Children with Autism opens it doors for an Open
House
Thursday, August 28th, Jacksonville School
for Children with Autism (JSCA) opened its doors to welcome parents, teachers
and autism professionals to an Augmentative Technology Open House. Through a $3,000 HEAL Foundation
Grant; JSCA purchased cutting edge technology such as touch screen computers
and science based interactive software.
According to Michelle Dunham, JSCA Executive Director, JSCA
has experienced significant growth in student enrollment since opening the
school three years ago. JSCA accepts
all students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and as a result, needs to
accommodate a multitude of academic skill levels and communication needs.
At the event, HEAL was presented an plaque in recognition of
philanthropy, community involvement and dedication. "The HEAL Foundation will continue to support
new and innovative programs with a "Pay it Forward" focus in reaching out to
touch families affected by autism." said Leslie Weed, HEAL Founder.
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HEAL Grants continue to help families in Northeastern
Florida
This spring, HEAL awarded a grant to HEALing Hands, a
program created by Dr. Julie Buckley, and Dr. Jerry Kartzinel to assist
patients of Pediatric Partners of Ponte Vedra with the high costs of treating
autism. These funds are awarded on a
need basis after careful evaluation.
The Butler
family has two daughters on the autism spectrum and sent a thank you note
explaining the effect on their family.
"Due to your generosity Faith and Hope now have a chance of not being
institutionalized later in life. They
now have a chance to be much healthier children and free from the bondage and
torment of pain all the days of their lives.
They may even become cured or recovered, someday."
The HEAL Foundation is proud to announce that over
$320,000 has been granted since June of 2007. HEAL encourages the
submission of grants from individuals and organizations working to improve the
lives of families with autism in the Greater Jacksonville Area. The next round of grants will be awarded in
October 2008. Please submit your organization's grant by October 13th in
order to be considered. The next round
of HEAL grants will be awarded in spring 2008.
Click here for more information on receiving a grant from HEAL.
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Upcoming Events in Our Region
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Again, we would like to thank you for your continued interest and support. Please write to us at HEAL Foundation, 226-5 Solano Road, #211, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 32082 or at www.healautismnow.org.
Sincerely,
Leslie Weed and Julie Buckley MD
HEAL! Foundation CoFounders
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Disclaimer - HEAL provides general information regarding medical, research, treatment options, therapies and nutrition to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and HEAL does not independently verify any of it. Nothing in this newsletter or website / parent information should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your child's doctor regarding his or her individual needs.
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