This newsletter from the Mid-Michigan Autism Association provides information on upcoming events, training opportunities, and resources for families dealing with autism. It also highlights a new program called "Special Education Workshop for Families with Exceptional Children" that will provide curriculum and support for families navigating the education system. The author reflects on wishing she had more knowledge about speech therapy and systems of support earlier to help her family.

1. Hindsight with a Vision (Dr. Mary Sharp, Trustee)
C O N T E N T S
Hindsight 1
Save the Dates 2
Resource Spotlight 2
Community News 3
Insight 3
Events 4
Training
Opportunities
5
About Us/Donate &
Special Thanks
6
A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 N E W S L E T T E R
C O L L A B O R A T I O N
E D U C A T I O N
I N F O R M A T I O N
R E L A T I O N S H I P S
S U P P O R T
“If I knew then what I know
now……”
Right.
Is there actually a way for parents
who are farther down the road to
communicate useful information
to families just starting ?
Or do we all have to learn our own
life lessons in our own time, our
own way?
Probably yes to both questions.
I remember years ago my dear
friend trying to tell me about
speech therapy, but my brain was
so overwhelmed and my body so
tired I could not take in or retain
any of the information. I had no
understandings of the basics so I
couldn’t build a more complex
understanding of the function of
speech therapy. There was no
trellis that the vine could grow on.
So every year for about 20 years
I’ve sat through the IEPs , curious
about what Nic’s speech teachers
and my husband are talking about,
never understanding any of it. It
didn’t help that I’ve never believed
speech therapy had much to offer
Nic. I am grateful to the many
talented individuals who have
given him time and attention, but I
believe most progress obtained
under this heading was due to the
power of their personalities and
the creative ways they sought to
engage him.
I also believe that a basic working
knowledge of the systems we have
been engaged with would have
reduced my anxiety about the
future and we could have made
better decisions that would have
reduced frustrations for all in-
volved. We could have at least put
the trellis in place so a vine could
grow if the conditions were just
right.
It would have been helpful to have
an image of what we were shoot-
ing for, in order to use the sup-
ports available through the schools
more effectively. Perhaps we could
have made summer a time for
growth rather than the chaotic
land-mine of melt downs we have
traversed.
So. My story is certainly not
unique. A number of individuals
and agencies around the region
have come together to develop:
Special Education Workshop for
Families with Exceptional
Children
SEW for FEC
(I know, too long, no grace…)
It starts in October.
We will run one curriculum the
first year and touch on a variety of
subjects such as best practices in
the schools, surviving the holidays,
special needs trusts.
We expect the next year to split
into two curriculum tracks, one
aimed at families with small chil-
dren, the other aimed at families
with kids entering transition out of
the school system.
Our intention is that this program-
ming will help families and profes-
sionals be more on the same page,
so we can all serve our children
more effectively.
As for speech therapy, I did learn
one great word. Do you know
what FRICATIVES are?
Great word fricative…say it out
loud three times.
Keep your eyes and ears open for
the flyer with details, coming out
soon!
How would you respond?
Introducing a new interactive question and answer segment to our newsletter. Send in a question (and
remain anonymous) and we will pose it to our readers for solutions! Send to:
info@midmichiganautism.org

2. P A G E 2
Get Connected
Stay Educated
Fight Isolation
Resource
Spotlight
Save the Date-Local Trainings & Workshops
Here are a few resources we have found beneficial.
Please email us your favorite resources so that we can share with your fellow families.
FREE resources to create visual
supports!
"Birdhouse for Autism helps organize the most important information about your child.
Use Birdhouse to keep a secure record of medications, supplements, therapies, and thera-
pists, as well as track your child's daily behaviors and activities so you can discover what's
working and what needs to be changed."
http://www.birdhousehq.com
Special Education Workshop: A Collaborative Program for
Families with Exceptional Children
Location: Heartwood, Mason
Time: 5:30
Details to Follow
2013
October 2: We’re Listening! A parent led discussion about lessons learned
November 6: START Universal Supports:
A parent education module for best practices presented by Maureen Ziegler
December 4: Surviving the Holidays: Coping with Chaos
2014
February 5: Community Resource Mapping – What has worked for you?
March 5: Summer is coming…Planning a successful summer schedule
April 2: IEPs: A Strength Based Collaboration for Positive Outcomes
May 7: Special Needs Trust: The future is just around the corner!
FREE!!
http://praacticalaac.org/praactical/5-free-resources-for-
making-communication-boards-visual-supports/

3. Community News
P A G E 3
The long-awaited Special Education Manual from Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service is
now online!
Find your copy here: http://mpas.org/resources/special-education-manual
In addition, MPAS needs your assistance in our efforts to design advocacy services that will
enable people with disabilities to live independent, productive lives as fully included members
of the community. Please take a moment and fill out their survey, it is your opportunity to
influence MPAS’ priorities: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLSL6DD
What Does the Future Hold?
Bambi VanWoert, Editor
The Future.
The daily challenges of maintaining a rigorous schedule of therapies, school meetings, medical appointments, speech
therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and the list goes on and on…...sometimes, the daily schedule gets in
the way of our vision for the future.
As parents and caregivers, we know the future is coming, but often it is met with fear and uncertainty.
However, research has shown that very specific efforts that involve early training and supports are what our children
need to be successful. And by success, I mean leading a quality life with a measure of independence.
The August 5, 2013 article in DisabilityScoop, Shaun Heasley reports (quoted in part):
“Researchers followed a group of high school students, some of whom received traditional special educa-
tion offerings while others were provided with specialized training and internships through a program
called :
‘Project SEARCH with Autism Supports‘
Of the young people who got the extra job training, 87 percent found work in competitive employment
situations after graduation compared to just 6 percent in the control group.”
We know that it can take months and even years longer for important skill sets to be developed. That is why we
must start envisioning a future now, don’t wait for it to happen.
Take notice
Take charge
The Future is in Your Hands!
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/08/05/with-training-jobs/18446/
The MIND Institute offers free webinars on their website:
Autism Distance Education Parent Training (ADEPT)
http://media.mindinstitute.org/education/ADEPT/
Module1Menu.html
ech·o·la·li·a
ekōˈlālēə
meaningless repetition of
another person's spoken
words, usually a symptom
WORD OF THE MONTH
How will the Affordable Healthcare Act Affect People
with Autism? Read here to find out more information:
http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/qa-how-aca
-will-affect-people-with-autism-85899496217
[Contributed by Min Lee]

4. EVENTS
P A G E 4
September 28, 2013– FUN FEST
September 14, 2013—NMS SOCCER
September 6, 2013-Jumpin Jaxx/MMAA night

5. P A G E 5
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Learning is a treasure that will follow its
owner everywhere. - Chinese Proverb

6. M A N Y T H A N K S T O M A R Y M E T Z G E R B R O O K S W H O M A D E A D O N A T I O N T O M M A A I N
H O N O R O F H E R N E I C E , M A D D Y M E T Z G E R W H O M A R R I E D O N J U N E 2 2 .
M A D D Y ’ S B R O T H E R J O E Y I S T H E A R T I S T W H O S E C A R D S A R E A V A I L A B L E O N O U R
W E B S T O R E , “ C O O L S T U F F ” .
A N D A H U G E T H A N K Y O U T O B O B K I L L B R I D G E O F W E L L S F A R G O A D V I S O R S F O R
A G R E E I N G T O H E L P S P O N S O R S H I R T S F O R O U R U P C O M I N G F U N D R A I S E R O N
S E P T 1 5 A T C A P I T A L C I T Y R I V E R R U N ! ! !
T H A N K Y O U S O M U C H !
Mid-Michigan Autism Association
PO Box 27462
Lansing, Michigan 48909
info@midmichiganautism.org
Special Thanks
P A G E 6
Mid-Michigan Autism Association is committed to :
~Uniting the local autism community; bringing together existing sup-
port groups and resources; creating opportunities for families affected
by all forms of autism
~Promoting quality education for families on the spectrum
~Collaborating with local organizations and non-profits.
~Addressing the unique emotional needs of families on the spectrum.
~Educational outreach to the community.
Lisa Grost, President
lisa@midmichiganautism.org
Mary Douglass, Vice-President
maryd@midmichiganautism.org
Mary Opsommer, Treasurer
mops@midmichiganautism.org
Kristan Buege-Miller, Trustee
kristan@midmichiganautism.org
Mary Sharp, Trustee
mary@midmichiganautism.org
Pat Miller, Trustee
pat@midmichiganautism.org
Dan Sills, Trustee
dans@midmichiganautism.org
Sharon K. Wilkes, Emeritus
sharon@midmichigautism.org
Bambi VanWoert, Editor
bambi@midmichiganautism.org
MMAA Board of Directors
Autism Driven, not Autism Specific
The board and volunteers of MMAA are thankful for the generous support of our community through
donations, participation in fundraisers and purchases from our gift shop:
http://www.midmichiganautism.org/cool_stuff.html