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Where: Pima County Library Wheeler Taft Abbett Branch 7800 N. Schisler Dr.(corner of Silverbell and Coratro)

When: 3rd Sunday of each month 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (come for as long as you want)

Cost: FREE

Our support group meetings are held the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:00 PM. The Support Group Meeting is held from 6-7pm. During this time you can meet with the parent Mentors, Q&A, newly diagnosed parents are welcome, and we address education questions. Following that, from 7-8 PM, we present our main speaker.

All meetings are held in Florence Manning Hall on the first floor of the Children’s Clinic, Square & Compass Building, on the Tucson Medical Center Campus. The address is 2600 N. Wyatt Drive. There is a separate entrance on the West side of the building and there is plenty of free parking.

Please contact Wendy Swartz at President@AutismSocietyGreaterTucson.org if you need childcare that evening. We need 48 hours notice in order to accommodate your request.

This event will be held on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30pm. For children with Spectrum Disorders Only. Please contact Pump it up for more information, 520-888-9198. Address: 3248 North Freeway Industrial Loop , #108, Tucson, AZ 85705

Pump It Up is now offering special Pop-In Playtime sessions specifically for those kids with special needs only. Bring your child to bounce, jump and slide in our private arenas filled with gigantically fun inflatable’s. Come to bounce, laugh and have fun in a clean and safe environment where you can meet others or just play with your children. Pump It Up is an ideal location for support groups, play therapy and social events for individuals on the autism spectrum or other special needs, their family and friends, and the professionals who work with them. So feel free to bring your Occupational Therapists too.

These private play times are designed exclusively for children with special needs and their families — the music is turned off and the bounce arenas are less crowded, so children aren’t as likely to be over stimulated as in other similar environments that might be noisier. But besides avoiding over-stimulation, bouncing in this sort of environment also can provide therapeutic benefits for sensory challenges by creating a calming sensation called proprioceptive input.

For added bouncing benefit, children could wear firm-fitting clothing, especially if it has a stretchy quality, like dance clothing. The firm pressure along their skin provides calming information to the brain and keeps the brain organized as they play. It’s the perfect sensation for therapeutic benefit.

Cost is $9.00 (Includes tax) per child

• Parents may bring Casein free and Gluten free snacks for the final 30 minutes
• Pizza is $12.99 for a large, up to 3-topping
• 2-liters of Coke products are $1.99

Reservations are highly recommended, space is limited.  To reserve, please go to our web site www.pumpitupparty.com and click on “Book A Party”.  Here you need to look for “Public Events.

Wireless internet access throughout the facility

What: Northern Arizona Autism Society of America Monthly Meeting

When: third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Location: Northern Arizona University at the Institute for Human Development (Building 27-A)

Click here for a map of NAU. Please park in one of the metered spots in Parking Lot #13, which is free parking after 4:30 p.m.

Northern Arizona Autism Society of America is dedicated to increasing public awareness and providing support to family members and individuals with autism spectrum disorders within the Northern Arizona region.  Learn more.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Black Canyon Conference Center, 9440 North 25th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021

Sponsored by EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center

The day will be focused on Hope and Healing, utilizing a lecture format, discussion, and experiential exercises designed to deepen and expand the understanding of grief, specifically as it relates to loss by suicide.

Conference Objectives:

• To increase knowledge about the dynamics of grief after suicide
• To explore opportunities in the grieving process for personal growth, which can lead survivors out of a tunnel of despair, into a journey of hope and acceptance
• To provide a forum for survivors to learn new coping skills

Cost: Survivors – $10.00, Professionals – $15.00

Registration due by Monday, May 14th, 2012

Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is preferred; lunch will be based on availability.

For more information or questions, please contact Sandra McNally at 480-784-1514, ext. 1219 or Sandra.McNally@empact-spc.com

Campus of EdOptions 7-9 PM

2150 E Southern Ave, Tempe
Teens & Young Adults are encouraged to attend in order to socialize with multiplayer video games (no games rated M or above), air hockey, outdoor games and/or arts & crafts.

We have several TVs, but game systems and extra controllers are always welcome – be sure to label them with your name!

Fee for all teens and young adults is $5.00 – cash preferred (even if they attend the parent meeting). Snacks & drinks provided. No charge for parents, guests and professionals.

When: Last Monday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Montessori Children’s Garden, 15383 North Reems Road, Surprise, AZ 85374

Description: Open to all providers regardless of agency affiliation. Please call 623-444-2453 or email leahruss@gmail.com for more information.

When: Typically held on the last Tuesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Coco’s Restaurant at Paradise Valley Mall – 4514 East Cactus Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Description: Autism Society Greater Phoenix will be providing light refreshments during the meetings. Parents may order their own dinners from the restaurant if they so choose, but there is no requirement to do so. The general public is always invited to attend and there is no admission charge. For information about the meetings or directions, please contact our parent mentors.

Pump It Up has partnered with Autism Speaks and is proud to offer Sensory Jump Time, a program open to all children on the autism spectrum and their families.

Children attending will have the opportunity to make new friends, jump, slide and play sensory-friend games within a controlled, safe and supportive atmosphere. The variety of our giant inflatables provide a great environment to work on coordination, balance and motor skills, all while having a great time!

Join us the last Wednesday of every month between 5:00-7:00 pm for Sensory Jump Time. Advanced registration is encouraged as this program is not open to the general public in order to provide a safe environment for the children.

Cost is $7 per child. Parents and caregivers are free! Space is limited.

Date: June 7, 2012

What: Children’s Action Alliance and Kids Health Link will answer calls from Univision viewers on June 7 to connect them with affordable health care. Kids Health Link, with funding from First Things First, helps families in Maricopa County find affordable health care through AHCCCS and other community resources. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has provided generous funding for this event. CAA is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteers between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, to answer calls at Univision’s Phoenix office. If you are able to help, please contact Matt Jewett, CAA’s Director of Health Policy, at mjewett@azchildren.org.

What: Looking for members who are interested in supporting autistic individuals who are seeking to advocate for themselves. We welcome anyone who is on the autism spectrum, or who lives or works with individuals on the spectrum or related disorders, who would like to help us speak up for what autistic people need and present to the world what autistic individuals are capable of doing and contributing to society. We need and welcome individuals with any type of disability who have fought for their rights and the respect they deserve who can guide us along that same path. Click here to learn more.

Where: Disability Empowerment Center, 5025 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032

When: 2nd Friday of every month, 6:30-8:00 PM

Contact Sue Golubock for more information.

Bring a Brown Bag Lunch & Please Join Us!

Guest Presenters:

Raymond G. Romanczyk, PhD, BCBA-D
SUNY Distinguished Service Professor
Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, SUNY Health Sciences Center, Syracuse

Laura B. Turner, MS
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Psychology
State University of New York at Binghamton

Significant changes will be made to diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders with the release of DSM-V. This presentation will provide an update on DSM-V criteria and release as well as a comparison to current criteria. Each time there has been a version change to DSM, significant impact has been seen for consumers, service providers, and researchers. Preparation for DSM-IV is essential, and many basic practices will require significant change. The presentation will highlight some of these, including the increased importance of diagnostic/assessment strategy, co-morbid disorders, and treatment planning. Several illustrations concerning co-morbid disorders will be provided.

When:
Monday, June 8, 2012

Time:
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Where:
SARRC Main Campus
2225 N. 16th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85006

Cost:
$15 per person

June 11^th – 15^th, 2012

9:00am-noon

ASU Tempe Campus

This camp is for ASU incoming freshman with disabilities who would like to gain knowledge and independence in the use of assistive technology prior to the start of the fall semester.

Each student participating in the program will go through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) intake and registration process.  Included in this process is an assistive technology evaluation to determine current skill sets, academic challenges, and knowledge of assistive technology.  Individual goals and objectives will be written for the students so they can track their progress and have an attainable end result.

Space is limited so start your DRC intake and registration process soon.  Contact Cindy Jepsen for questions: cindy.jepsen@asu.edu 480-965-1232.

The following technology will be available for student learning:  JAWS, MAGic, Kurzweil 3000, Kurzweil 1000, Inspiration, StyleWriter, LiveScribe Smart Pen, Dragon Naturally Speaking

This training offers an overview of the FRIEND Program, an inclusive social skills program for preschool-12^th grade students which provides increased awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and how to create learning opportunities for individuals with ASDs to engage appropriately with typical peers in the natural setting at school during lunch and recess. Participants will develop an understanding of ASD learning challenges that may impact social interactions with peers. A discussion of how to implement the lunch and playground program will be reviewed. Innovative materials will be shared to include the FRIEND Program manual, children’s book Wings of Epoh, DVDs, an educator activity guide, informational tips useful for peer sensitivity training to promote awareness of ASD and social differences, and appropriate strategies for facilitating social interactions for school age students.

Learning Objectives:
· Participants will be able to discuss the justification of a social skills program for students with ASD during lunch and recess.
· Participants will learn the step-by-step process to implement the FRIEND Program.
When:
Friday, June 15, 2012

Time:
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where:
SARRC Vocational & Life Skills Academy
2225 N. 16th Street, Phx, AZ 85006

Cost:
$50 per attendee

Arizona Autism Coalition Parent Members: You are eligible for a 20% discount on all SARRC trainings using a discount code provided by the Coalition.  If you have a discount code, click the Discount? link above (to the left of the Get Tickets button) to enter your code and apply the discount.  For more information about the Coalition and this discount program, please visit their website at www.azautism.org or contact them via email at jessica@azautism.org.

Payment can be made online via credit or debit card or you can register online and choose “Other Payment Options” to pay with check, or purchase order.  If you select “Other Payment Options” you will be contacted to complete payment prior to the day of the event.

Contact & Registration:
Sheri Dollin at (480) 603-3284
or email training@autismcenter.org

Family to Family is a free, 12-week course for families, partners and friends of individuals with serious mental illness taught by trained NAMI family members and caregivers of individuals living with mental illness. The course examines the emotional responses families have to the trauma of mental illness; many family members describe their experience in the program as life-changing.

Starts Saturday, June 16, 2012, 10 am to 12:30 pm

Mary’s Mission Clinic

736 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa, AZ 85201

Registration required. Contact 602-759-8177

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment each month.

Because these are Sensory Friendly Films, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing. For tickets to these events, please visit the theater the day of the show. We’ll see you at the show!

Sensory Friendly Film Valley Locations:

AMC Desert Ridge 18
21001 North Tatum
Phoenix, AZ 85050

AMC Arizona Center24
565 North 3rd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 307-5371

AMC Deer Valley 30
3033 West Agua Fria Freeway
Phoenix, AZ 85027
(623) 434-0300

AMC Mesa Grand 24
1645 South Stapley Drive
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 503-1680

When: Third Tuesday of every other month from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

Where: 2140 S. 141st St., Gilbert, AZ 85295 (behind the ball fields next to South Valley Junior High School, west of Lindsay Road)

Description: We would like to have a general idea of how many people are planning on coming, so we know how many chairs and goodies to have ready, so please contact Katie at 480-782-8960 or wridetribe@cox.net if you plan to come or need directions.

Payment can be made online via credit or debit card or you can register online and choose “Other Payment Options” to pay with check, or purchase order.  If you select “Other Payment Options” you will be contacted to complete payment prior to the day of the event.

Contact & Registration:
Sheri S. Dollin, M.Ed. (480) 603.3284
or email training@autismcenter.org

Date: Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 at 9:00am to 1:00pm (MT)

Location: SARRC Vocational & Life Skills Academy

Register

What: The Arizona Autism Coalition and Arizona Association for Behavior Analysis (AZ ABA) will be co-hosting the 2nd Annual BCBA Conference

When: November 3, 2012

Where: Disability Empowerment Center.