Pages

DIRECTORY NO LONGER UPDATED. NO EMAILS.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

A guest post by Joe Mohs of CARD

From time to time at the directory both Kim and myself have been asked to promote websites, services, etc.  We are about community. We are not about selling products or directly advertising. There are times when we are willing to have a guest post in order to just pass on information for those who might be interested. This is not meant as an endorsement . We prefer to look at it as if we are acting as a conduit.-Kathleen and Kim



Recovery at its Best: About the Center for Autism & Related Disorders, Inc. by Joe Mohs

No one could have predicted how devastating the increase of autism found in young children would become. Once considered a rare psychological disorder twenty years ago, affecting one in every 2,000 children under the age of five, this ratio has risen at a frightening pace, now standing at roughly one in 100 in the United States alone. Autism Spectrum Disorder has become nothing short of a worldwide epidemic.
But during these last twenty years, one organization, the Center for Autism & Related Disorders (CARD), has challenged, and triumphed over, on many occasions, this intimidating statistic since its founding. Starting as a small office clinic in Los Angeles and transforming into the largest and most dedicated provider of autism treatment has been only one of its many accomplishments. CARD has also proven itself, time and time again, as a positive role model amongst the entire field of psychology, refuting the once-popular belief that even the community’s leading authorities thought as fact; that autism is a life-long disorder and untreatable. Just recently, the results of a three-year study done at a CARD office based in Phoenix, backed by the Arizona Legislature, revealed further evidence supporting the possibility of recovery.
Inspired by working with children diagnosed in the autism spectrum, CARD founder and Executive Director Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh studied autism treatment under the supervision of the late Dr. Ivar Lovaas, pioneer of the highly effective behavioral approach, Applied Behavior Analysis, which demonstrated a near 50% rate in autism recovery as written in his world-renowned study released in 1987. Dr. Granpeesheh was highly motivated by the profound outcome that came through autism recovery as she witnessed through a number her young clients. Upon receiving her PhD in 1990, Dr. Granpeesheh found the necessity to establish an organization that would provide only the highest quality of treatment to children and families affected by ASD.
CARD is well known for offering multiple treatment programs not only to affected young children, but also to young adults. The CARD I program provides comprehensive curricula to children between the ages of 0 and 8 that are individualized to fit the needs of each child. The CARD II program provides exceptional quality services to older children and young adults from ages 9 to 21. In addition, Specialized Outpatient Services (SOS), assessment, and off-site parent/therapist training and workshop services are just a few of the many treatment options available from CARD.
With nineteen offices spanning across the continental U.S. and two international locations, CARD currently has the privilege of treating over 1,000 clients with a working staff of over 700. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary last year by spreading autism awareness through fundraising events held across its office locations, the world’s most influential autism treatment provider has deserved every ounce of its success. The remarkable results demonstrated from its clients after are solid proof of that. Children who could not respond to their parents or participate with their peers have been given the precious gift of a potentially successful and happy life.

Joe Mohs is a determined and creative individual whose life can be defined as a success story. Having recovered from severe autism at the age of four, Joe shares a special history with the famed Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, in which she personally treated Joe using ABA treatment at the UCLA where Joe recovered. Now, at 26, Joe holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Minnesota Duluth and is the founder and co-owner of Living Proof, an inspirational web organization dedicated to addressing that recovery from autism is possible, as well as any personal or family crisis. Joe has spoken publicly about his life before and after autism at a number of venues across his home state, Minnesota, and reunited with Dr. Granpeesheh in the summer of 2009 to catch up and receive advice about his future goals. Joe is currently writing a biographical book and adapting to his new home in sunny Tarzana, California, where Joe works as a Project Coordinator at an influential, nationwide ABA provider. His passions include music, art, history, film and video games.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Help Group and Music for Autism Add second show-January 30th!!


THE HELP GROUP AND MUSIC FOR AUTISM ADD SECOND SHOW

Free Concert to Bring the Magic of Music to Young People with Autism and their Families

The Help Group and Music for Autism are proud to present an autism-friendly interactive concert designed for young people with autism and their families.  The concert, featuring violinists Searmi Parks and Sarah Thornblade of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, will take place at The Help Group Autism Center Theater on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 3:00pm and is free of charge.

To RSVP, please visit http://www.musicforautism.org/rsvp.php?city=losangeles or call 877-863-7473 x1.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Miracle Project is coming to The Help Group


The Miracle Project is coming to The Help Group in Sherman Oaks, CA

Children can now become part of the acclaimed Theater & Film Arts Program for children with autism and their typically developing siblings and peers. The Miracle Project provides a loving, accepting nurturing environment which celebrates and honors the unique and often unrecognized talents of these young people by guiding them through creative workshops and artistic programs.

Now enrolling for February 17 through June 2 for ages 7-12 & 13+

For more information please contact: nwebb@thehelpgroup.org or 818-779-5188

.


  

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Blog Carnival: Go read some of our bloggers at S-O-S!

Danette at Help! S-O-S for Parents has put out S-O-S Best of the Best, Edition 2: Social & Play Skills, with several of our bloggers represented (including me). Help make the Best of the Best a success and go by and read and offer comments! :-)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

In L.A.? Wonderful concert opportunity from "The Help Group" and "Music for Autism"


The Help Group and Music for Autism are proud to present the first of a series of four autism-friendly interactive concerts designed for young people with autism and their families.  The first concert, featuring violinists Searmi Parks and Sarah Thornblade of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, will take place at The Help Group Autism Center Theater on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 1:00pm and is free of charge.

Music for Autism offers professionally performed, enriching musical experiences in an environment where individual differences are celebrated.  All shows include “concert time”, “conducting time” and “percussion time” with provided instruments.  Concertgoers will be free to leave their seats, to dance and explore the space.
Reservations are required-which you can place here  Or call 877-863-7473 ext. 1

Monday, January 10, 2011

Happy Monday

Happy Monday everyone.  I hope that all of you who came back over the holiday break last week are feeling back in the swing of things today.  For those of you  just going back today-I hope the transition is smooth and easy.  I'll be sharing the favorite blogs and blogposts people have sent me later this week.  If there are any you would like included-please post it in the comment thread. I wish all of you a wonderful week.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

A Growing Community: Would you Follow?




Have you noticed the counts on the different sections? How they grow each week? We have over 500 blogs listed now!

Kathleen and I try hard to visit as many blogs as we can, but I know that we don't get to read every post by every one. Hah, with 500 bloggers, that would take some doing!

Some of our bloggers are beginners, just starting out, looking for community. I hope you'll take the time to go visit and say hi and follow them.

Just a reminder that most of the sections show the latest 25 updated blogs. That's what I work off of when I make my rounds, but that still gives me over a 100 blogs a day to try to read, and I can't keep up with all of that. This strikes me as a good thing, even while it saddens me to not have enough time to visit and say hi to everyone. And my spring semester will be a bit full, as I have six composition classes and an American Literature class to teach, so at last count, I'll have about 175 students writing dozens of papers of varying length, so my time to read blogs will be curtailed sharply. I'll do my best to continue to read as many as I can, but if I've been a regular reader and all of a sudden disappear for a bit, you'll know why. If I've never been by your blog and commented, I apologize (and if you're on the directory but not fond of me and I know that's how you feel, I'm respecting that and not commenting).

Today,  I'd like to ask if you would take the time to try to visit some of the blogs you've never been to and just say "hi, I'm glad you're in our community."

We don't need to leave long, drawn-out comments to show others we care and they are heard; sometimes it's enough to just say hi and that you enjoyed the post. I know it makes my day to read comments, and I bet it makes your days, as well. And I know when a post doesn't draw any comments I'm left wondering if I did something wrong. Bet that happens for y'all, too

I hope this new year is a good year for all of us, that we see this community grow by leaps and bounds and that we focus on what unites us rather than what divides us. When our emphasis is on positive support, we can let the differences alone.

We're all doing the best we can with the information we have. We may think we know better (and in some cases we may be armed with better information), but we know how well bludgeoning others who believe differently works for creating community: it doesn't.

Help us grow this community into a beacon of light so that families new to the diagnosis will find a welcome, positive group to be a part of.

Thanks,

KWombles

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Are You At the Edge?

Dr. Tracy Ochester has a post on her blog (thanks to Barbara at http://www.therextras.com) dealing with recognizing when someone's having a mental health emergency.


I hope you'll take a moment to go read it, bookmark it, and share it.


Happy New Years to all our bloggers and their families.


Our lives are often complicated and messy. We're busy, and we're working hard to do our best to help our children and families. Don't forget to take the time to take care of yourself. It's the most important thing we can do for our families and ourselves.

Followers

Button!

Autism Blogs Directory

Related Sites

General Science-Related Blogs