ASA National President and CEO Lee Grossman Releases Statement On Recent Vaccine-Autism Case

On March 6, 2008, the major news networks reported on a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program case in which liability was conceded based on circumstances surrounding Dr. and Mrs. Poling's 9-year-old daughter's autism. [Read the Rest Here]

California Reports: 2007 New Autism Cases Sets Records
The author is Rick Rollens, co-founder of the UC David MIND Institute.

In 1971 California added full syndrome autism to it's list of eligible  conditions that could qualify for admittance into California's eligibility  based developmental services system. During the next 22 years, from  1971-1993, the system grew to serve some 4000 persons with full  syndrome autism.... Read the rest here...

The Elephant in the Playroom

It's our great pleasure to announce that two of our very own Santa Barbara autism parents, Derrik Eichelberger and Patti Gaultney, are among the 41 authors nationwide whose essays are included in The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows of Raising Kids with Special Needs.

Derrik's essay, “The Big Moment,” describes the victory their family celebrated when Jared graduated from elementary school after 7 years of inclusive education. Patti's story, “I've Got That Autistic Kid,” chronicles the early battles, and later triumphs, as their family struggled to access both the free and appropriate public education and community involvement to which Wes was and is entitled.

Sunny Santa Barbara, CA, is home to Special Needs Project too. They are working with ASASB on an event to honor our local author-parent-heroes.

And that's not all. We hope to sell at least 200 copies of Elephant in the Playroom for a very particular reason: a large share of ALL sales of the book during April AND May goes directly to ASASB. Help us meet the goal...and every book sold entitles you to attend the May book signing with Derrik and Patti!

...Just in case you needed another reason to visit Santa Barbara, "the Riviera of the Pacific," well, this is it. We'll keep you posted on the date.

  Visit the Special Needs Project

Dr. Scott Bellini
Presents...
Building Social Relationships

Who Should Attend:

The success of social skill interventions is dependent upon the cooperation and contribution of multiple individuals. As such, material will be presented in a manner that is both meaningful and understandable to both parents (and other family members) and professionals (including, teachers, para-professionals, counselors, social workers, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, case managers, physicians, and many more.

Get PDF Flyer

ASASB RAFFLE

And the winners are...

Grand Prize Winner: Earl Lynch
Early Bird ($500 restaurant gift certificates): David Schmidt
Second Prize (ipod nano): Jill Crang
Third Prize ($100 cash): Celia Blanchet
Fourth Prize ($100 cash): Gloria Stewart

Families Cheer as Autism Bill Passes

Dec. 7, 2006 - In a move that could have far-reaching implications for children with autism and their beleaguered families, the Combating Autism Act passed unanimously tonight in the Senate... [MORE]

Autism World Loses A Giant: Bernard Rimland

Dr. Rimland’s forty years of work on behalf of autistic children began with a single child: his own son, Mark Rimland, born in 1956. In the most recent version of the DAN! treatment manual, Dr. Rimland wrote, “Mark was a screaming, implacable infant who resisted being cuddled and struggled against being picked up. He also struggled against being put down. Our pediatrician, Dr. Black, who had been in practice for 35 years, had never seen nor heard of a child like Mark. Neither Dr. Black nor I, who at that time was three years beyond my Ph.D. in psychology, had ever seen or heard the word ‘autism.’”
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April 21, 2006
CONGRATULATIONS JENN!!! 2006 Boston Marathon Finisher ASASB offers our heartiest congratulations to Jenn Gamberdella on completing her second Boston Marathon.  We are particularly gratified that Jenn chose to use this opportunity to raise both awareness for autism and funds for our local chapter.  Jenn's aggressive and tireless efforts resulted in pledges exceeding $11,000!  Thank you, Jenn, from the bottom of our hearts -- for Genaro, and for all our beautiful kids

The time of year is upon us again for the Boston Marathon 2006.  I will once again be participating and raising money in honor of my beautiful nephew, Genaro Thomas Gamberdella. http://www.firstgiving.com/forgenar