Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc.

In her own words, ASSEW member and Board member Amy Mason tells what being involved in the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin has meant for her and her family:

“Autism was a scary word to me more than 12 years ago when my oldest son, Jake, was given the diagnosis. For help in making sense of the new path our lives would take, my husband and I turned to ASSEW. I remember how comforting it was to meet other parents dealing with the same issues as I and to be able to get access to information so easily through conferences, workshops, support groups, and reading material. Gradually, autism grew less intimidating and the ups and downs became just a part of our lives. I have made many good friends through ASSEW, cultivated lots of professional relationships and learned valuable information to guide me through Jake’s elementary years and now into his high school career and preparing for his transition into the “real” world. (more…)

This coming Saturday, February 14th, we will be hosting a workshop on traveling with a child who has autism.  The speakers are all parents, Lynn Brusnahan, Norah Louise Johnson, and me (Emily Levine).

Travel with children is often challenging, and adding into the mix children who love routine and crave predictability frequently compounds the challenges.  My mother in law, who travelled extensively with her 3 children when they were young, frequently remarks that travelling with small children is like being in a third world country.  My own experiences with my son range from the harrowing (losing him momentarily in Amsterdam airport in 1991), to embarrassing (more…)

Lisa Pugh is the 2009 Kennedy Foundation Public Policy Fellow. She will work on disability public policy for the House Committee on Education and Labor during the 111th Congress and is being sponsored by The Arc Wisconsin. She will live for one year with her family in Washington and return to her home in Madison, Wisconsin to share what she’s learned in January 2010.  She is keeping a blog documenting her experiences.