Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc.

Autism Spectrum Disorders don’t affect only the individual, they affect the entire family.

Parents are stressed by trying to do all they can for their child with autism, PDD-NOS, or Asperger Syndrome, and after the diagnosis, there is a “grieving” process that most parents go through, when they find out that the life they’d envisioned for themselves and their child will definitely change. In addition, every person copes in a different way, and men and women very often have different means of managing and reacting.

Then there are siblings. Brothers and sisters may feel pushed aside or have their own issues that need to be addressed. The stakes are high. At a time when families need to communicate well and work together; they can find that they feel pulled apart instead.

To help families figure out how to work together and stay connected, our December Parenting Series workshop features Stephen Levine, PhD. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re going through a rough patch with your child with PDD-NOS, Autism, or Asperger Syndrome or if your child has just been diagnosed, it can help just to meet someone else who knows what you’re going through. And often, parents can be the best source of information and ideas for each other.

Join us at the next “Morning Coffee” Parent Support Group meeting, where you can meet other parents of children “on the spectrum.” Parents of children of all ages, adults included, are welcome. The next meeting is on Thursday, December 3rd, at 9:30a.m. Our office is located at 9733 W. St. Martins Road in Franklin. That’s on Highway 100 just south of Loomis.

Chances are, you’ve heard about gluten-free/casein-free diet to treat your child’s autism. You’ve probably wondered just what are gluten and casein, how do they potentially affect your child, and how do you eliminate them from what your child eats and still provide a balanced diet?

Stephanie Mauck, M.Ed will present how to implement the gluten/casein-free diet and why your child may be a responder (some reports have indicated that 80% of kids on the spectrum respond in a positive way).

Stephanie will share the background of the diet and provide a 90 day trial plan to see if it may help your child. Recipes, food lists as well as other resources will be shared.

Samples will also be served - there are many tasty GF/CF foods available to make or purchase.

Read the rest of this entry »

One message that Kari Dunn Buron taught at our fall conference was this:
When students can’t read - we TEACH
When students can’t do math - we TEACH
When students can’t get along with others - we PUNISH
When students are lacking in any skills, we need to support and teach, not punish.

Rep. Sandy Pasch has begun circulating a bill that would regulate the use of seclusion and restraint in Wisconsin’s schools, and promote the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). If you agree, please consider asking your representative to co-sponsor the PBIS Seclusion and Restraint Bill of 2009 being offered by Rep. Pasch.  Read the rest of this entry »

Join us Saturday, October 17th, for “No More Meltdowns!” in the D-Wing Library of Nicolet High School in Glendale from 9:30-11:30a.m. Special Education Teacher Christine Slawson and Occupational Therapist Angela Schubert have based their presentation (with permission) on the work of nationally-known expert Jed Baker. They’ll give practical and useful information, advice, and tips on how to handle challenging behavior in your child. This is FREE, but please call or email (info@assew.org) the office at (414) 427-9345 so we know how many people to expect. Sorry, no childcare is available.

Jed Baker's book - we'll have copies for sale at workshop

Kari Dunn Buron, MS, will be presenting at our Fall Conference this year. She bases “When My Autism Gets Too BIG! Addressing Social Anxiety and Emotional Regulation in Students on the Autism Spectrum” on several decades of experience working with students on the autism spectrum. Kari Dunn Buron is the author of several books, including “When My Worries Get Too Big” and “A 5 Is Against the Law!” and an award-winning textbook for teachers learning about students with autism.

The conference will be held Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at the Waukesha County Technical College Education Center in Pewaukee. $85 for members, $100 for Non-members. Deadline for registration is Friday, October 2nd. Email info@assew.org or call 414-427-9345 for a brochure/registration form.

If you are the parent or caregiver of someone with autism or other special needs, consider joining us at our Caregiver Retreat at the Blue Lotus Farm & Retreat Center on Wednesday, October 21st, 9:00 - 3:00. The retreat will give caregivers a day of respite, where we will learn and practice techniques for relieving stress - all in a lovely natural setting. The cost is only $15, including lunch. The deadline to respond is October 7th, so download and print a Caregiver Retreat Brochure to register and join us for this blissful event!

Dylan’s Run 2009 on Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront was the biggest yet! Over 2600 participants - it was like a sea of blue shirts on the lakefront this year -  and 200 volunteers that we couldn’t do without!

Dylan’s Run supports our mission, our operating expenses, and autism research and all participants got free admittance to Indian Summer Festival.

We especially appreciate our sponsors, Gordon Flesch, ADX Creative, ActivStyle, and Indian Summer Festival.

Picture by Bill Flaws, runningintheusa.com

Visit the Dylans Run website to see pictures taken at the event!

This summer the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin collaborated again with the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin to host 2 weeks of bike camps for individuals with disabilities.  Over 60 individuals learned to ride bikes this summer thanks to this program. See TV coverage of our Milwaukee camp here.

We would like to thank CVS Caremark for their grant in support of this program.

We had awesome volunteers, parents and campers who all worked together for success - over 85% of our campers were independently riding at the end of the 5 day program.  Congratulations to you all!

Member Rosalie Valenti Tocco this year took on the volunteer job of Autism Ball Chairperson. We are very grateful to her for her many hours of enthusiastic and cheerful hard work to make this year’s Ball a big fundraising success, despite the current economic climate. Rosalie feels that she is simply passing on to others the assistance she has received from the ASSEW members, staff and volunteers before her. In her words:

“ASSEW has given me the gifts of community, acceptance and knowledge. I serve on the Board of Directors to show my gratitude for these gifts that have made a real difference in the quality of my son’s life and my family’s life. I am so thankful for the years of hard work of the founding mothers of our society. They fought to improve the quality of life for their children during a time when knowledge and acceptance were scarce. ASSEW first captured my heart; my mind quickly followed suit. Read the rest of this entry »