Announcements:

Los Angeles Asperger Syndrome Parents’ Support Group

Announcements

1. The U.C.L.A. PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens in middle and high school who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends. During each group session teens are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialization activities. Parents attend separate sessions at the same time and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by helping to expand their teen’s social network and providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments. Enrollment is limited. Parent participation is required.

2. Another U.C.L.A PEERS program for young adults ages 18-22 (possibly older) is now starting for those with High Functioning Autism/ Asperger's Disorder or PDD-NOS. It is a free Social Skills Treatment program that is 14 weeks long and uses a caregiver-assisted model. More information is now available on their site http://www.semel.ucla.edu/socialskills. Those interested can contact Dr. Alexander Gantman directly at: agantman@mednet.ucla.edu or 310-206-7284.

3. The Help Group has a new After-School Social Skills Groups “Kids Like Me.” Click here to see the flyer. It’s a JPEG file, readable using most graphics programs. If you need a PDF file, click here. This program seems good for kids with AS.

Addressing the challenging traits found in children with autism through the art of ballet is UCP’s East of the Sun West of the Moon Ballet Workshop. The revised flier can be seen here.

4. Ventura County Group:

A new group for teens and young adults with Asperger Syndrome or high-functioning autism – the Asperger Support for Adolescents Plus – has been created in Ventura County. Contact Troy or Irene at vcasap@roadrunner.com for more information.

5. RDI:

In February of 2005 we had a Guest Speaker, Linda Andron-Ostrow, L.C.S.W. of FACT: Focus on All-Child Therapy talking about “The ABC’s of RDI™ (Relationship Development Intervention).” A lot about RDI can be found at http://www.connectionscenter.com/default.asp. The goal of the RDI Program is for each person on the autism spectrum (whether they are considered “low” functioning or “high” functioning) to be excited about expanding their world, rather than to be afraid of it. RDI focuses on what motivates people on the autistic spectrum to develop relationships. The RDI Program is a parent-based, clinical treatment program designed to address the core deficits of autism which impact social communication, relationship building, motivation, critical thinking, abstract language comprehension, problem-solving and executive functioning. Often called the “missing link” in treating persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders, RDI is a powerful step-by-step, growth model based on typical development and the most current research by world experts in autism. [This text is borrowed from http://www.autismnsw.com.au/rdi.asp.] Copies of the slides for this talk can be downloaded by clicking here.

6. Santa Clarita Group.

Santa Clarita Autism/Asperger’s Network (SCAAN).

A non-profit organization that offers support group meetings, newsletter, social and educational events.

Morning and evening meetings each month (except July and December). See calendar at www.scaan.org for details.

Contact: 661-297-8381 or scaaninc@gmail.com

7. Spectrum Program:

The “Spectrum Program” at New Roads School in Santa Monica may be right for your child with Asperger’s. Click here for more information.

This page revised by Jim Devine, on 26 October 2009. It was deliberately kept simple (no Java, etc.) so that anyone’s browser can read it – and also because I lack the skills to add bells and whistles.