July 2011

Networking News

UPDATES from the Autism Society of Alabama

Please see our calendar for a full listing of events.

Conferences

• The Networking Group Leader: Engaging Your Community Workshop will be held at Drury Inn & Suites in Birmingham on July 22-23.  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.
• The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at UCDavis has developed a free, online training series called ADEPT—Autism Distance Education Parent Training Interactive Learning.  ADEPT is a 10-lesson interactive, self-paced, online learning module that gives parents the tools and training to more effectively teach their child with autism using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques.
• The Kaleidoscope Center (Whitney Meade, PhD) is hosting a 2-day professional development opportunity July 12-13 at the Marriott Hotel in Troy - please share this information with educators, service providers and professionals.
• The Alabama Department of Education Mega-Conference will be held July 18-21 in Mobile.
• The Alabama Association for Persons in Supported Employment Conference will be held July 27-29 in Montgomery.
• "An Insider's Perspective on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome: Bridging the Gap Between Understanding and Intervention" workshop will be held in Birmingham on August 16th.
• Out-of-State Conferences:
• TRIAD Families First Program at Vanderbilt is offering a free monthly workshop series.
  • That 2011 Autism Society of America Conference will be July 6-9 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
  • The Emory Autism Center in Atlanta is hosting the Annual School Inclusion Conference July 21-22.

Advocacy

• The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 has been introduced to the legislature.  AutismVotes has put together information on how you can help make sure that this vital legislation is enacted before the original legislation expires September 30.

Grants

• Click here to see a listing of the location of library books sent to various locations around the state.  Every public county library system was given a set of books from the ASA and may be available for checkout.  Additional books are being shipped to select libraries this month!

Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (AIACC)

• The next AIACC meeting will be held August 3rd from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Montgomery at the Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) Center.  These meetings are open to the public.  Contact Caroline Gomez for more information ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

ASA Outreach

• Welcome to new group leaders Tina & John Brasher of St. Clair County, Donna Jennings & Jared Hood of Chilton County, Lisa Riley of Tuscaloosa, Sherri Killough & Gerri Taylor of Montgomery/Prattville, and Amy Hand & Chris Willis of Florence.  We hope to be adding Bobbi Wallen of DeKalb County and Karla Battles of Troy soon!  Thank you for your commitment to your communities and families affected by ASD!

Fundraisers

• The 14th Annual FROG Affair will be held on October 7 at Workplay in Birmingham.  More details to come.

• A group of investigators at The George Washington University are conducting a survey study on the response of individuals with ASD to various medications with the long-term goal of better matching medications to individuals based on their respective genetics or biological makeup.  Click for more information, to view the Patient or Parent-Guardian Survey or the Clinician Survey.
• Vanderbilt is conducting a study on children with autism and epilepsy or suspected epilepsy.
• The UAB Brain Imaging Research Lab is conducting a study and seeking participants ages 10 - 17 years with high-functioning autism and adults with autism
• Complete the IAN Elopement and Wandering Questionnaire to help researchers begin to document and understand elopement behavior in ASD.  This project is funded by the Autism Research Institute, Autism Speaks, and the Global Autism Collaboration.

Announcements

• ASA's Fall Family Camp is coming soon!  Camp FROG will be held at Camp ASCCA on September 16-18th.  Applications available soon!
• See some Summer Travel Tips for Families Living with Autism (from Autism Society of America).
• "Ask a Special Ed Attorney!" James Gallini of The Gallini Group has partnered with The Alabama Autism & Asperger's Statewide Info & Support Network to create the group "Ask a Special Ed Attorney." Join this group to ask questions regarding your child's school system and IEP meetings or sign up for a training module on the IDEA and IEPs. Join today.
• The ASA has added a new website section for Training Modules and Resources containing links for various modules for parents and professionals.

Website: www.autism-alabama.org

Facebook: “Jerry ASA” or “Autism Society of Alabama”

Twitter: AutismSocietyAL

Upcoming Events Page: www.autism-alabama.org/events.html

Tell Us About Your Community!

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to have information about your area included in the next monthly update (include "My Community" in the subject line).

Have something happening in your local area that you would like posted in the quarterly newsletter?  Send your announcements to Jennifer Robertson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .