Calgary’s Child Sharks and Minnows: Making swim lessons work for special needs children July-August 2009 Some children take to the water like fish, but for many special needs children, overcoming fears and sensory challenges is daunting. Dive right into tips for helping your little minnow get past the sharks. Adapted from The Autism Trail Guide (2007).
	Autism Asperger’s Digest Postcards from the Road Less Traveled: Yes, it IS your Problem July-August 2009 Parents and teachers have an obligation to work together, never more so than in these challenging times. We’re fond of saying that it takes a village to raise a child. When that village is burning, everyone joins the bucket brigade. No one steps back and says, “I’m not the fireman; it’s not my problem...”
	Children’s Voice Let's Make a Deal July-August 2009 Contracts and deals can be effective behavior management tools, in the home and in the classroom environment. When used effectively, deals and contracts can reduce behavioral problems, keep attention focused, and help teach one of life’s critical lessons: work = reward.

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Soapstone – now accepting applications for writing residencies

Those who have followed me for the last couple of years know of my great love for Soapstone, a women’s writing retreat in the coastal mountains of Oregon where I have twice been honored with a residency. During my first residency, my housemate was Brittney Corrigan-McElroy, and as they say in Casablanca, it was the beginning of beautiful friendship. Brittney was recently named Executive Director of Soapstone, which is part of why we look so darn happy in the photo on the left, at the annual work party last month.

I know by the stack of books and manuscripts on my desk that many of you are aspiring writers. I can loudly attest to what a period of solitude in the woods can do for your writing energies. 

The application period for Soapstone residencies is now open. Applications postmarked between July 1 and August 1, 2009 will be considered for residencies starting November 2009 to November 2010.

Learn more about Soapstone and download application forms from their web site: www.soapstone.org.

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Call for articles for next issue of  Healing, from editor Pat Sullivan:

The focus for the next issue will be autism. We would like to hear from parents, educators, clinicians or anyone else who has information to share with our readers. The limit is 1,200 words, and we will be requesting bios and a photo of authors whose articles we use.

For more information contact:

Pat Sullivan
Editor, Healing Magazine
4085 Independence Drive
Schnecksville, PA  18078
610.799.8340 | Fax 610.799.8001
patricia.sullivan@kidspeace.org
www.kidspeace.org

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Meet my readers: People in your neighborhood

Following are some groups and organizations who have contacted me recently. These groups are all actively involved in supporting families living with autism. I hope some of you can hook up with these People in Your Neighborhood:

OPEN DOORS TENNESSEE
Open Doors Tennessee is committed to providing inclusion opportunities, resources, accessibility information and new programs for families of individuals with disabilities. Programs include a social skills summer camp in July.

KOREAN REHABILITATION FUND
The Korea Rehabilitation Fund conducts research, PR, training and rehabilitation projects to provide support to such projects, promote international exchanges, share useful information among local organizations, and ultimately contribute to specialization of local rehabilitation services and extension of welfare services for the disabled person. KFR is marking its 20th anniversary this year by funding the translation and distribution of Ten Things Every Child Your Student Wishes You Knew to families in need.

REENA (Thornhill, Ontario)
Reena is a non-profit social service agency dedicated to integrating adults with developmental disabilities into the mainstream of society. Established in 1973 by parents of children with disabilities, Reena enables people with developmental disabilities to realize their full potential by forming lifelong partnership with individuals and their families within a framework of Jewish culture and values.

MACKAY AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP (Queensland, Australia)
Mackay Autism Support Group sends out a monthly newsletter and the Autism Queensland site offers education, therapy and support services.

AUTISM FAMILY ONLINE
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, well known in the autism community for her expertise in visual strategies,  is the publisher of Autism Family Online, a membership site for families and educators offering information and resources to help them meet the challenges of autism. The goal of the site is to present best practices, sound, high quality, state-of-the-art information related to education and other topics of interest to those who support individuals with autism. This multi-media site shares contributions from many authors to provide the readers with a variety of topics, viewpoints and philosophies.

VICTORIA SOCIETY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
VSCA, established in 1970, offers monthly meetings where members can get a chance to talk with other parents, hear the occasional guest speaker, and sign out books, DVD’s, OT equipment and educational materials from a lending library. A monthly newsletter offers updates on the latest happenings at VSCA and in the Victoria area. There is also a small pool of respite funding available to members. VSCA holds several workshops each year on autism-related topics as well as a range of social activities for children of all ages.

ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE (Florida)
College of Education, Exceptional Student Education

PACIFIC RIDING FOR DEVELOPING ABILITIES (Langley, BC)
PRDA, established in 1973, provides therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Close to half of current riders have a primary or secondary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

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Newsletter archive on my website

If you are new to our newsletter community, please visit the newsletter archive on my website and browse some popular past features here.

June 2009: For my dad, for all dads / On My Soapbox: Tragedy or Opportunity? / The Difference Between Heaven and Earth

May 2009: Ellen’s Archive: I Sound Like My Mother – I Hope! // Mixed feelings about Autism Awareness Month // Vietnamese translation of Ten Things // Hyperlexia literary journal debut issue

April 2009: Right on the Money// Encouraging playground interaction                                  

March 2009: On hiatus

February 2009: You Said It: Your favorite articles in 2008 // A Readers’ Favorite: Three Little Words

January 2009: On My Soapbox: The Less the Merrier for 2009 // Winners quit, quitters win

December 2008: On holiday – see you next year!

November 2008: Interview: Autism and the Holidays

October 2008: Childhood Obesity: is it abuse? // A-(scavenger) hunting we will go // Happily ever after, in real life

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Book excerpts on website

Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
from Chapter 8: Please Help Me with Social Interactions

Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew
In its entirety, Chapter 3: I Think Differently

1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 
from Chapter 2: The Limits of My World – Visual Strategies

The Autism Trail Guide: Postcards from the Road Less Traveled
from Postcards from the Homefront: I Sound Like My Mother – I Hope!