*The IAA post news regarding autism, the information posted is not supposed by the IAA. We ask that individual’s study for themselves before adopting any information.*
Lighthouse – The Autism Beacon E-Newsletter
After years of searching for a space to expand, Lighthouse Autism Center is pleased to announce a second location in Warsaw, IN located at 109 E Winona Ave in Warsaw, Indiana. Our Winona Lake center will feature beautifully remodeled spaces to promote natural and play-based learning. This expansion will provide additional services to over 25 families and create over 35 new jobs in the Warsaw area.
Indiana ACT for Families
This week, the Indiana ACT for Families coalition is delighted to feature Natasha Navas from Westfield, Indiana. She is a mother of a 6-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who was inspired to begin a career as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy after seeing her son’s dramatic improvement.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
We have been introducing our advocacy fellows over the past few weeks. Now, we are excited to announce the next phase of the Advocacy Leadership Network program. We need you!
National Autism Association
NAA’s programs provide tangible and meaningful resources directly to families, individuals, caregivers, clinicians, educators and first responders.
Psychology Today
‘If you had asked me at the time why I was making plans for autism testing, I wouldn’t have been able to give a truthful answer. I didn’t truly understand the reasons myself. Instead, I made up an excuse to tell people: “A correct diagnosis will help my bipolar disorder treatment.” Although true, it was not my driving motive.’
Autism Crisis Intervention Training Held For Law Enforcement in the Upstate
When experiencing a crisis, a person with autism may not react as expected. That’s the reason several law enforcement agencies attended a special intervention training in Spartanburg on Wednesday.
MetroHealth
A collaborative effort to improve the outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transitioning to adulthood has been awarded a total of $1 million over the next three years from the Cleveland Foundation. The grant will help to support the work of a three-year pilot in which The MetroHealth System, Autism Speaks and Milestones Autism Resources will partner to build a model of coordinated medical, behavioral and social transition planning that can be scaled and replicated in other locations, within Ohio and beyond.
CBS Indy News
More than five million adults in the U.S. have autism spectrum disorder, according to the CDC. It’s a life-long condition and for many adults will lead to on-going services and support. At the corner of 6th and Morton Street in Bloomington, you’ll find CIP or College Internship Program.
Lighthouse – The Autism Beacon
Lighthouse Autism Center is now offering autism evaluations for children 2-6 years old. Appointments are available at every Lighthouse location. Children with autism often show signs in infancy but may not be diagnosed until much later. Early signs of autism in babies or toddlers often go unrecognized, simply because parents or caregivers may not know what to look for. One of the most important things you can do for your child after birth is to learn the early signs of autism. Recognizing the initial signs of autism can lead to an earlier diagnosis which is needed for early autism intervention.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
The Arc of Indiana has launched a new program, the Advocacy Leadership Network, which will work to build a network of at least 200 people across the state to advocate for the issues important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and share their experience to make a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
Autism Beacon
Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members in providing life-altering treatment. For 2023, our theme is “Building a Strong Foundation.”
Special Needs Living June 2023 Issue
Join us this Summer for a variety of events. Check out our June issue to learn more about how you can get involved!
HANDS in Autism
Join us this Summer for a variety of events and online sessions! Get 50% off our Summer Intensive Training for School & Community Service Personnel. Use HANDS50 when registering to get this promotional offer! Don’t miss this special offer!
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Join us on Wednesday, May 17, 12:00 p.m. EST. for our next Talks with The Arc Trust webinar. We will be focusing on understanding income and resource limits to obtain or maintain government benefits, and how a special needs trust can help maintain benefits.
Register for this and future webinars at: Talks with The Arc Trust.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Don’t miss our next Ask The Arc Webinar, Waiver Transition & Redesign Update, taking place Thursday, May 11, 6:00 p.m. EST. Cathy Robinson, associate director, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, will share important information about upcoming changes to Indiana’s Medicaid Waiver program, including moving the Aged and Disabled Waiver from the Division of Aging to DDRS, for people under the age of 65.
Autism Science Month
Over the past decade, many studies have documented substantial impairments in the gastrointestinal (GI), immunological, and metabolic systems of individuals with autism. Although this is well known among researchers in the autism biomedical field, many other professionals have yet to acknowledge the high rate of these medical comorbidities.
Autism Parenting Magazine
A new study performed by the CDC has revealed that, in 2020, the overall ASD prevalence was 27.6 per 1,000 (one in 36) children aged 8 years and was 3.8 times as prevalent among boys as among girls. Not only were the latest statistics shocking in the sheer increase since the last study, they were also conducted in 2020 – a year when many services were shut down due to COVID-19.
A watershed moment…
It led us at Autism Parenting Magazine to dig deeper into the statistics and the demographics of the autism population.
Here is what we found:
31% are considered to have an intellectual disability.
25-35% children with autism are considered non verbal
38% have seizures
40% have anxiety
53% have sleep issues
49% are likely to engage in elopement (running away)
Are 4x more likely to suffer from Gastrointestinal issues
Are 40x more likely to die from preventable injuries
37% of caregivers use ABA
22% of caregivers have used CBD with their children
Most kids are diagnosed after the age of 4
Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed than girls
Only 14% of adults with autism have paid jobs in a community setting
27% of autistic adults live in a group home
73% of families with autistic children reported that they would be more likely to travel if they could access more information about travel accommodations and resources for families with special needs
Here we are talking about a very diverse subsection of needs and characteristics from mainstream ABA therapy right through to nutritional supplements and sensory friendly spaces.
If you have products or services that can help the autism community address any of these challenges, please get in touch today to find out how we can help you reach our audience.
All the best.
Mark Blakey
Indiana ACT for Families
Indiana is a national leader in autism care, providing life-changing access to diagnostic and therapeutic care for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). But families and providers are getting concerned that the Holcomb administration may soon cut Medicaid funding for ABA therapy – the most scientifically validated therapy for people with autism – as part of their plan to reduce Medicaid expenditures.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Last week three of The Arc of Indiana’s priority bills passed unanimously out of committee. These bills now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee as each require state funding to implement. To learn more about these bills and what this means for our community, check out our E-Newsletter.
Autism Research Institute
With Autism Awareness Month approaching, ARI’s staff is busy working on a number of initiatives. These include sponsoring our annual, three-day in-person think tank, releasing an online program to help parents and professionals understand and support self-harming behaviors, and premiering ARI’s National Autism History Museum.
My Autism Ally
To celebrate Reading across America and Dr. Seuss’s birthday, we are once again partnering with Purdue Fort Wayne School of Education to host a sensory friendly Dr. Seuss Party and you are invited to be part of the fun! The focus of the event is to celebrate reading, have fun with crafts and games and get valuable information about resources in our community. This event is FREE . Join us on Sunday, March 19th at the Walb Student Union Classic Ballroom on the PFW campus- 2101 East Coliseum Boulevard Fort Wayne, IN 46805 .
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Our Talks with The Arc Trust webinar series takes place at noon on the third Wednesday of each month. Click here to register for our March 15th webinar where Sara discuss third party special needs trusts – trusts funded by someone other than the person who will be the beneficiary of the trust, like The Arc Master Trust I.
Indiana ACT for Families
The Indiana ACT for Families coalition added four new member organizations this month – Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, Rise Autism, Harsha Autism Center and Journeys Autism Center – bolstering efforts to raise awareness of the need for more public health funding for autism services for Hoosier families who rely on Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy.
My Autism Ally
My Autism Ally is happy to host another training with Gordon Homes, Financial Planner from Mass Mutual via Zoom on Thursday, February 23rd from 6:30-8pm and we will be addressing Special Needs Trusts. Gordon’s presentations are always very informative and well worth your time. The presentation will last about 45 minutes with plenty of time afterwards for questions.
HANDS in Autism
Dates for our 2023 virtual and/or on-site trainings are coming soon. But you do not have to wait – add your name to the waitlist for any/all trainings and be the first know!
HANDS in Autism
Start off 2023 with our virtual Small Groups designed for teenagers and young adults! This spring, we will discuss two main topics – Building a Stronger Body and Building a Happy & Healthy Mind.
Autism Society of Indiana
For many people, the New Year brings with it a renewed sense of opportunity. It is a time when many people are setting new goals for personal growth. Setting goals is also a significant part of any good treatment program that is based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Begin the new year with a new career! The Arc of Indiana is seeking a senior director of engagement to join The Arc Advocacy Network team! Interested, please reply! Know someone who would be great for this position, please share!
ARI Newsletter
Last month, we announced our 2022 ARI Autism Research Grant recipients. We thank our volunteers and Scientific Advisory Panel members for their dedicated support throughout the review and approval process. We look forward to exciting findings in the year to come.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Carol-Anne and Don Hossler have always worked to help their son, Johnathon, achieve. When they were told by his teachers that they could never expect him to be able to work they took it upon themselves to keep him engaged in his community and build job skills by crafting a volunteer job for him. Each week, Johnathon picked up canned goods from his neighbors and delivered them to Monroe Community Kitchen. The program came to be known as “Handin-Hand.”
My Autism Ally
This group is for caregivers of those on the autism spectrum such as parents, grandparents, adult siblings or foster parents. The Allen County Autism Support Group is the longest continuously running autism support group in Northeast Indiana and is open to anyone who wants help with local resources, or advice from other autism parents who have “been there and done that”. Regardless of age, diagnosis or functioning level of your loved one on the spectrum, this group can help.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
The Arc of Indiana and Self-Advocates of Indiana congratulates all of our 2022 Impact Award recipients. It was wonderful to celebrate good people doing good thinks to make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
The Arc of Indiana & Self-Advocates of Indiana Virtual Conference & Impact Awards Celebration is just around the corner! Self-advocates, family members, and DSPs can attend at no cost, but registration is required. An email with your access links will be sent prior to the conference.
The Arc of Indiana E-Newsletter
Its getting closer! Register for our free virtual conference, taking place November 30, by Friday, November 18! While there is no cost to attend for self-advocates, family members, and DSPs, you do need to register and select the events you want to attend virtually. Zoom links will be sent to you closer to the conference date.
Autism Beacon
Lighthouse Autism Center is thrilled to announce that our building renovation at our South Bend center is now complete and ready for additional learners! The expansion of our clinic provides additional services to over 21 families and creates over 27 new jobs.
Autism Society of Indiana
“Autism is not a rubber stamp, blotting out one’s individual identity as if canceling a passport. Autistics, like the rest of the human race, deserve a culture where flourishing is possible.” Kate Gladstone, a member of the Autism Society of America’s Council of AutisticAdvisors, shares a personal account of systematic bullying and provides tips on how we can create a more accepting world for Autistic people.