Autism Society of Delaware Media/Press Releases
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Theda Ellis, Executive
Director
Autism Society
of Delaware
Ph: 302-472-2638
Em:
theda.ellis@delautism.org
Autism Society of Delaware to Award more than $250,000 in Local and National grants
WILMINGTON- August 1, 2007- The Autism Society of Delaware (ASD) board voted to award more than $250,000 in grants to local and national organizations to meet a variety of needs of individuals on the autism spectrum. The board’s goal is to create and enhance services in Delaware today, while also investing in the future through research and training.
$200,000 to POW&R, Productive Opportunities for Work and Recreation
POW&R is a new service for adults with autism spectrum disorders funded by the Autism Society. With the rates of autism growing rapidly, ASD has long been considering starting adult services and has been fundraising to do this for a number of years. In preparation, ASD first completed a national study on best practices for adults with autism; then reviewed a variety of models of service, and wrote a business plan. ASD anticipates underwriting POW&R for three years until it becomes self-sustaining, and will continue to support the service with additional services that adults with autism require but that may not be funded through state or Medicaid Waiver funds.
Starting with five individuals, POW&R will work with individuals and families to develop a plan of service that individuals control. It will use the concept of Circles of Support, meaning friends and family, to assist in obtaining employment and developing supports. POW&R will teach job skills and provide ongoing support on the job, as well as help constituents to have fun and develop recreation skills, learn to use public transportation, or learn other things that they choose. POW&R’s strength comes from working with individuals and families to create supports designed especially for each individual. As the service grows, POW&R anticipates addressing the needs of adults with Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and other related disorders. Services will begin for our first two adults on August 13, 2007. Contact Katina Demetriou at (302) 824-2252 for more information or visit the POW&R website at: http://www.delautism.org/powr.htm.
$25,000 to the Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
Every year the Organization for Autism Research conducts open grant competitions to select pilot studies for funding in autism research each year. These competitions promote research in the analysis, evaluation, or comparison of assessment or treatment models, focusing on aspects of early education, behavioral, or communication intervention and adult issues such as continuing education, employment, housing models and “later intervention.” The goal of this sponsored research is to promote studies that yield practical and clearly objective results that contribute to enhanced quality of life for people with autism and provide evidence-based information for use by parents, families, and service providers.
$10,000 to Autism Speaks
In following our tradition of research funding, ASD is awarding Autism Speaks $10,000 to be used toward funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism. Autism is now diagnosed in up to 1 in 150 children, up from 1 in 2,500 in 1995. The increase over the years has led to a larger number of families with children with autism than ever before, and an increasing number of families coping with their adult children.
$10,000 to the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism (NARPAA)
NARPAA is working to establish a web-based curriculum for direct service workers that will be affordable and available to agencies, programs and services across the country. The curricula provide basic information and knowledge about what autism is and how to work with adults with autism. This is unique because most university-based curricula address the needs of children. Now that the generations of the children are becoming adults, the critical need is to increase services for adults.
$5,000 to Practice without Pressure (PWP)
PWP works with children and adults in medical and other settings so that they will not have to be anesthetized or restrained in order to give blood, have dental work, or just have their hair cut. This award to Wilmington-based Practice without Pressure, supports their mission of helping children and adults with disabilities receive quality medical, dental and personal care with dignity and respect.
$15,000 for Recreation Center Architectural Study
The Autism Society of Delaware, along with other community groups, is looking into the feasibility of creating a community recreation center that addresses the needs of people with disabilities and their families. The vision is to develop a fitness and recreation center that every member of the family can use, with or without a disability, and the particular accommodations that individuals with disabilities will need to address physical and sensory needs. This study is looking at determining the needs of individuals to have a welcoming and accessible place to participate in fitness activities, swimming,
For more information, visit www.delautism.org or call 302-472-2638.
Joseph B. Keyes, Ph.D.
Applicant Services Unit
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
1052 S. Governor’s Ave.
Suite 101
Dover, DE 19904
July 27, 2007
Dear Dr. Keyes,
The Autism Society of Delaware (ASD) submits the following comments for DDDS consideration regarding the addition of Asperger’s Syndrome to the eligibility criteria for Division services.
The very real social skills needs of people with AS have long been overlooked as quirks or idiosyncrasies rather than the obstacles to education, training, and employment that they pose. While we applaud the Division’s new efforts at inclusion, we have several questions and concerns regarding the language of the regulations.
A. Rather than including two categories for Autism and Asperger’s Disorders, the classification of Autism Spectrum Disorder would be more accurate. Physicians are often hesitant to give a diagnosis of autism, and Asperger’s Syndrome is still a new diagnosis. Many people are given a diagnosis of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified) or nonverbal learning disability who also demonstrate the social and communication deficits that would be the basis for a diagnosis of autism or Asperger’s, and so PDD-NOS is considered part of the spectrum. While autism spectrum disorder is a relatively new term, it is more inclusive of the people that DDDS is seeking to serve with this change in eligibility criteria. Better yet, we would encourage the division to apply the criteria of “functional limitations” so that it captures those who have significant deficits but do not have a diagnosis of autism or Asperger’s.
B. There is need to clarify who can make a diagnosis accepted for eligibility and the continuity of services from education to adult services. The educational system makes its own diagnoses for services rather than accepting medical diagnoses. It is unclear from the regulations whether those students who have received services through the educational system would be eligible to continue in adult services. It is ASD’s unequivocal position that students who rely on support services for educational success will continue to need support services to succeed in employment. We urge the Division to clarify those clinicians whose diagnoses will be acceptable for eligibility, and to specify that those who were served in the education system for an eligible diagnosis will continue to be served by DDDS so long as they meet the criteria for functional limitations.
C. The regulations do not specify what tools would be used to assess clients’ level and function and need; however, the ICAP is the tool currently in use. If this has not been normed or evaluated for use on people with autism spectrum disorders, then we strongly encourage the Division to work with the developer of the tool to adapt it to this newly eligible population, or to use an alternative form of assessment.
D. The requirement that the disability originate before age 22 may pose a problem to many with Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome has only recently been identified as a distinct disorder, and so there are many adults who have demonstrated Asperger’s behaviors and abilities for years, but who have not been diagnosed, or have only been diagnosed as adults, due to the relative obscurity and lack of understanding of AS. To apply this requirement across the board will shut out many otherwise eligible people based on their age rather than their diagnosis. We therefore respectfully request that the final regulation permit an exemption for those individuals who are not diagnosed with an eligible condition before age 22 if the diagnosing physician indicates that the patient or their family reported symptoms or behaviors which appeared before that age.
E. Finally, while the regulations do not explicitly exclude those individuals whose intelligence is average or even high, ASD is concerned that ability to succeed in academics or intellectual arenas may count against an individual in need of services for social skills deficits. Many people with Asperger’s succeed in such pursuits only to find that their lack of social skills results in actions which can prevent them from maintaining employment or even land them in the judicial system. When limitations and their consequences in these areas are the result of a developmental disability, the Division has a clear duty to serve these individuals.
ASD has advocated for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome for many years, and we greatly appreciate that the Division has taken steps toward inclusion. We trust that our suggestions, which are made based on the expertise gained from our years of advocacy, will merit strong consideration. We would be pleased to discuss this letter, regulation, or any matter concerning Asperger’s Syndrome or autism spectrum disorders with the Division.
Sincerely,
Theda Ellis
Executive Director
The Family Support Waiver
Presented by the Delaware Advocacy Coalition for the Family Support Waiver
Introduction to the Family Support Waiver (FSW)
The Family Support Waiver, widely available in states across the country including all of Delaware’s surrounding states, would allow adults with developmental disabilities and their families to select services that best meet their individual needs. They will be able to direct major day or vocational services, and to receive a small amount to purchase ancillary services such as additional respite care, adaptive equipment, or home modification. This kind of flexibility will enable more families to keep their adult children living at home longer, and out of state residential placements, saving state funds. To add incentive to Delaware to institute this program, the federal government has provided a mechanism to match Delaware’s expenditures for the Family Support Waiver dollar for dollar.
The Family Support Waiver funds will meet critical unmet needs of individuals with disabilities in our state. It is unfortunate that many individuals with disabilities get very little support while they live with their family. Eventually that can lead to the breakdown of the family system, the dissolution of the “home care setting” and the person with the disability must then be placed into a state funded residential facility. It seems that you either get all or very little as a person with a disability in Delaware. The Family Support Waiver allows for individuals with disabilities to continue to live at home longer with services available that are not currently provided to any but those in full residential care. The end result is better care and quality of life for both the person and the families that support them, while also providing substantial savings for the State of Delaware over time.
In response to citizen demand for more flexible services, the Division of Developmental Disabilities requested partial funding of the waiver ($1,128,300) in their November OMB hearing. However the Governor has chosen not to include ANY funding for the waiver in the budget submitted in January. We cannot understand the logic of pulling away support for this initiative that makes so much sense from every angle.
How Service Delivery under FSW would work:
The waiver provides the mechanism for individuals and their families to choose their providers and direct the services they receive. Individuals and families may choose to hire their own staff instead of working with a community agency. Additionally, each family would receive an allocation of $2,500 to use for services called for in the Essential Lifestyle Plan, developed with their Support Coordinator. (The Coordinator is responsible for advising the individual and family, arranging services and providers, and serving as a job coach or other support when needed.)
Among the services the individual could choose include:
|
Ø Respite Care |
Ø Therapies |
|
Ø Personal Care |
Ø Day Habilitation |
|
Ø Extended Day Care |
Ø Prevocational Services |
|
Ø Assistive Technology |
Ø Supported Employment |
|
Ø Home Modifications |
Ø Transportation to day services |
|
Ø In extraordinary situations, support assistance stipends or emergency temporary living arrangements |
|
The maximum number of participants proposed to be served for year one is 1398, year two is 1580, and year three is 1785.
The
Human Factor: The FSW would benefit families by
Ø Promoting access to supports that allow adults to stay at home and out of fully funded state residential placements.
Ø Promoting cost-effective decisions that meet real needs while enhancing decision making
Ø Keeping families together longer allowing more productive and economically prosperous lives for all involved.
Financial Facts about the Family Support Waiver!
Ø The costs of residential care far outweigh the costs of home care.
Ø One individual’s stay in a group home costs an average of $35,000 (state dollars), and can rise to as much as $65,000 for someone with significant behaviors.
Ø Providing flexible, appropriate services in the community reduces the use residential placements, which in turn reduces the state’s costs.
Ø Over the years, that reduction in costs will add up to a substantial savings to the State of Delaware.
Ø 1,398 families will be eligible during the first year.
For more specific information and questions, please contact:
Tim Brooks @ (302) 831-4612, tbrooks@udel.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Theda Ellis, Executive Director
The Autism Society of Delaware
302-472-2638
AUTISM SOCIETY OF DELAWARE AWARDS STUDY GRANTS
TO LOCAL SPEECH THERAPISTS
WILMINGTON, January 9, 2007- The Autism Society of Delaware (ASD) recently awarded study grants to two speech therapists in Delaware. Kathy Everhart of Frankford and Marilyn Litchfield of Newark each attended the Hanen More Than Words workshop. Everhart and Litchfield are now Hanen certified speech/language pathologists. The Hanen Center’s (CA) main goal is to aid parents of children with severe communication issues (such as with autism) in learning how to help their children communicate in more appropriate and more significant ways.
The More Than Words program teaches the participants how to conduct workshops for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. These parent programs allow the families to continue speech therapy goals at home. According to Litchfield, “parents (of children with autism spectrum disorder) are thirsty for ways to help their children learn to communicate.” “By exposing parents to new strategies to help their children communicate and by providing guided coaching for implementing these strategies, parents will be able to help their children more effectively in” settings outside of school. Parents will also become more involved in their child’s early intervention plan and stronger members of their child’s education team.
During the parent training, the Hanen certified speech/language pathologists videotape three sessions in the home. Everhart stated that these tapings provide “invaluable information for the families and therapists as they try to tackle the day-to-day reality of living with communication delay.” These sessions provide practical ideas for real life situations.
The Autism Society of Delaware recognizes that parents of children with autism spectrum disorders are an important link in the learning process over the lifespan of their children. By sponsoring attendees for workshops such as the Hanen More Than Words program, ASD is committed to creating more educational opportunities for all those involved in the lives of people with autism.
For more information, you can contact the Autism Society of Delaware at (302) 472-2638 or delautism@delautism.org.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Letter to the Editor on Family Support Waiver
An article in the January 5 edition of the News Journal paper highlighted the story of Ashley, a nine-year old girl with a disability whose parents decided to “stunt” her growth so that they can take care of her as she grows up and grows old. This family wants to keep their child at home because they feel they can best care for her, but they fear that as they age they will be unable to lift, transfer, bathe or dress her; thus they made a draconian decision. Why? Because it is likely they will not have any help to take care of her in their home. While there are ethical concerns on both sides of this issue, Dr. Joel Frader, medical ethicist at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, captured the real issue: “As a society, we do a pretty rotten job of helping caregivers provide what’s necessary for these patients.”
This case isn’t taking place in Delaware, but it could be. Delaware offers reasonably good services to adults with disabilities who are eligible to live in group homes or other residential arrangements. They come with transportation, a day or work program, recreational opportunities, and various therapies. Living with parents or other caregivers is different—they come with a day program, period. There is no assistance for other services.
The federal government offers support to families who keep their adult children at home through Medicaid Waivers, which require a dollar for dollar match to draw down equal federal funding. These waivers, available in all our surrounding states, offer a great deal and a great service. First, they help keep families together. Most families want to continue to keep their child at home, but they need some help to do that. Disability may be part of life’s condition, but the financial and emotional price tag can be high. Marriages break up at rates up to 80%; many medical and therapeutic treatments are not covered by insurance; and for many, the day never comes when the person can be left alone. Care is unending. These are constant conditions that families face every day that tax their physical and emotional health.
Second, waivers have the potential to alleviate families’ burden by providing them with the opportunity and flexibility to seek out the supports they and their adult child really need instead of having to accept generic services. Under such a waiver, options range as widely as respite or personal care to a specialized therapy to a piece of technology that helps with independence. States that have implemented waiver programs often report that services cost less when families control how funds are spent.
It’s time to acknowledge the human cost of not having this waiver, which the case of Ashley so poignantly portrays. For just $2,000,000, we can draw down an equal amount of federal dollars. If Delaware would step up to this opportunity to help families provide individualized care to their adult child, we would be able to help 1,393 families to care for their adult (child) in their home and save money for the state over time. And maybe then, we won’t have to read about families having to make heart wrenching choices on the front page of our news paper.
This letter was written by the Advocacy Coalition for Family Support.
The Advocacy Coalition for Family Support was organized in the fall of 2006 to provide information and support for full funding for the waiver. Its members are the Autism Society of Delaware, The Arc of Delaware, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, the Parent Information Center of Delaware, and United Cerebral Palsy Association of Delaware. Together we represent more than 1,000 families of children and adults with disabilities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kim Siegel,
Development Director
Autism Society of Delaware
5572 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilmington, DE 19808
Ph: 302-472-2638
F: 302-472-2640
Em:
kim.siegel@delautism.org
AUTISM SOCIETY OF DELAWARE INVITES EVENT SPONSORS
FOR SPRING 2007 FUNDRAISER
WILMINGTON, DE- December 1, 2006: The Autism Society of Delaware (ASD) invites local businesses of all sizes to sponsor the first annual Walk the High Road for Autism, which will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Bellevue State Park. The Walk is ASD’s first fundraising initiative aimed at bringing the entire Delaware community together around a cause that has touched nearly everyone .Autism is a developmental disorder affecting social and communication skills which has an incidence of 1 in 166 births, according to the CDC; this is up from a 1995 number of 1 in 2,500.
The primary purpose of the walk is to raise funds to support the startup of ASD’s new service for adults, a support brokerage system to give families and adults with autism new autonomy in selecting the services they need to lead the most independent life possible. This initiative will go a long way in helping people on the autism spectrum become employed and independent, strengthening local communities while they live at home rather than in a taxpayer-funded state residence.
Cash sponsorship levels range from $100 to $10,000 with benefits corresponding to the size of the donation. In addition to the tangible benefit of a tax-deductible donation, many sponsorship levels come with significant public recognition: inclusion on posters, brochures, shirts, press releases, and for the Presenting Sponsor, inclusion on the Walk billboard over I-95 throughout Autism Awareness Month in April. These incentives will mean significant exposure for sponsors throughout New Castle County and to hundreds of people on the day of the Walk. To learn more about sponsoring or participating in Walk the High Road for Autism, visit www.delautism.org/walk or call 302-472-2638.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Theda Ellis,
Executive Director
Autism Society of Delaware
5572 Kirkwood Highway
Wilmington, DE 19808
Ph: 302-472-2638
F: 302-472-2640
Em:
theda.ellis@delautism.org
AUTISM SOCIETY OF DELAWARE REPORTS NEW INITIATIVES
TO EXAMINE AND ADVANCE SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM
WILMINGTON, December 1, 2006: To raise awareness of the need for support services of a growing population of adults with autism, the Autism Society of Delaware (ASD) announces two new advocacy initiatives.
At the urging of ASD, the House of Representatives established the Autism Adults Service Needs Task Force in 2006. The task force includes representatives from ASD, several state service agencies, legislators, and parents of adults with autism. They will meet monthly to study existing services and providers, gaps in services, and issues particular to adults with high functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome who are not eligible for current services. A report with recommendations for improvements is due to the House in May 2007.
ASD is also working with a coalition of disabilities service organizations to advocate for state funding of the Family Support Waiver, a Medicaid waiver which would allow adults with disabilities and their families to spend funds allotted for services in ways which they believe will lead to the best outcomes rather than the state sending funds directly to whatever services are available. This level of flexibility and independence will enable people to live at home with family longer and reduce the time spent in residential facilities. Because those facilities carry a far higher price tag for taxpayers, investing in the Family Support Waiver now will significantly reduce the State’s expenses in future years. The coalition will also support funding for a Medicaid buy-in program to enable many people with disabilities to work and pay sliding-scale premiums for Medicaid rather than restricting work hours for fear of losing much-needed benefits.
ASD welcomes inquiries from those who would like to know more about these and other ASD projects. The progress of these advocacy efforts will be posted on the ASD website at www.delautism.org and phone calls can be made to 302-472-2638.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Autism Society of Delaware
Ph: (302) 472-2638
Em: delautism@delautism.org
November 2006
The Autism Society of Delaware and its membership are infuriated, dismayed, and disappointed at the findings of Tom Wagner’s audit of the Christina District’s misuse of Special Education funds. We request and insist that a full reconciliation of special education funding be conducted and presented to our membership and the taxpayers of New Castle County.
It is critically important that Christina administrators and elected officials responsible for oversight maintain the public trust. In this case, that trust has clearly been broken.
Sincerely,
Artie Kempner
President
Autism Society of Delaware
CONTACT: Ms. Heidi Mizell
Ph: 302-472-2638 ext. 205
Em: heidi.mizell@delautism.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILMINGTON- September 22, 2006: Starting in October, the Autism Society of Delaware (ASD) will sponsor a social group called “Friday Night Out” for people who have social skills deficits and who have completed high school or further education. Friday Night Out will meet on the third Friday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 at Neurology Associates at 774 Christiana Road, Newark, DE 19714. The group will encourage participants to develop friendly relationships in an environment that recognizes the challenges of social skills and provides facilitation. Because social skills deficits can make it difficult for people who are otherwise competent to succeed in employment and other pursuits, participating in Friday Night Out can have real benefits beyond that of an enjoyable evening. The cost of each session is $30 for three months and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please call Heidi Mizell at 472-2638 x205.
Letter to the Editor: July 2006
One of the great challenges to society today is how to address the growing number of people with disabilities who will live long, and hopefully, fruitful lives. The day of the institution is over, so where will they live? What will they do? The answer to one of those questions is that they will live with Mom and Dad as long as they possibly can, sometimes into the extreme old age of their parents. In Delaware today, we know that more than 1000 adults with disabilities live with their parents.
While families typically want their adult children to live with them, it’s with the understanding that there is a physical, emotional, and financial cost to that. Imagine that your child is 35 years old and you still cannot leave him alone to run to the store. Imagine that you must be home when he returns from his day program at 3 p.m. or whenever the program is closed. Imagine that you are helping with morning showers and evening bedtime routines into your 60’s and 70’s.
Families need help to meet these responsibilities. They help the State of Delaware by providing a home and care for their adult children instead of requesting a group home or other placement. It’s time for Delaware to help families. We have this opportunity to do this by funding a Family Support (Medicaid) Waiver. The waiver would allow Delaware to obtain federal dollars to match State dollars, but we have to be willing to put up to $4 million in State dollars to get an equal match. There is a request into the legislature to fund this. Unfortunately, despite public hearings and very strong support of this waiver by families, our governor is not accepting her responsibility to support this waiver even though she agreed to do so five years ago. The excuse is that “it’s too expensive.”
Too expensive? Consider the cost of providing a group home to the more than 1,000 adults with disabilities who live with their families. Consider the costs of lost tax revenue because someone has to be home at 3 pm. Consider the increasing medical costs of parents who are strained to provide intense care to their adult children. The cost of the waiver pales, particularly when you consider that money is available for golf courses and old court buildings.
Funding the Family Support Waiver will do many things. First, it comes with some new service delivery mechanisms that give families more control over how dollars are actually spent. The experience of states that use these mechanisms is that families are more conservative and spend less than the state to get what they really want and need. Secondly, the waiver would give families a little bit of discretionary money ($3,800) to use as they need. One family might have an aid come in to help with the morning routine. Another family might use the money to update or maintain a wheelchair. A third might pay for therapies they can’t otherwise afford.
It’s time in Delaware to invest in people and families. The waiver would help maintain families and offer a higher quality of life for their adult children with disabilities; allow moms to return to the workplace full time, and in the long run, it will save money. We call on Governor Minner and the state legislature to put their priorities in order and fund this waiver.
Sincerely,
Theda M. Ellis
Executive Director
Autism Society of Delaware
6/21/2006
Woodbrook Homeowners Association Board
c/o Neil Himelein
Community Legal Aid Society
100 West 10th Street, Suite 801
Wilmington, DE 19801
To Whom It May Concern:
I’m writing this letter on behalf of John & Jane Doe, who live in your neighborhood along with their young son, Steve. The Ireland family needs to build a fence because Steve “darts”—he runs without warning. Luke is not unusual; many young children run when the opportunity presents, and all children need a safe place to play. However, Luke is not typical. He has autism.
Autism is a lifelong neurological disorder causing Steve to interact with the world in a very different way than a typical child. He does not have expressive or receptive language; so he cannot tell you what he wants or needs, and he cannot understand what you are saying to him. Thus, “don’t run into the street” which might work on a typical child after the 79th time, may never work for Steve. Similarly, children with autism often have no sense of danger. Running can provide a sensory thrill that far overrides any other thought, such as “look for cars.” Even if it didn’t, people with autism do not process information like others do. They do not read their environment, nor do they know or understand danger.
Autism also comes with motor skills issues. Children must be able to run and play to develop; keeping him strapped in a stroller while he is outside will harm his ability to develop as well.
This family has many challenges ahead to help their son grow into a healthy, happy, productive adult. Right now, they have a very basic need for their son—he must be safe. The fence is an accommodation under the Fair Housing Law and neighborhood associations are required to allow accommodations for disability. It’s not a choice – it’s the law. Even if the law weren’t on their side, ethical behavior is. Do members of your neighborhood really want to risk a child’s life and safety because they don’t want to look at a fence? I think the answer to that question must certainly be a resounding NO!
Sincerely,
Theda M. Ellis, MBA, M.Ed.
Executive Direct
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June 21, 2006
To: Captain Elizabeth E. Shamany
Director, Delaware State Police Training Academy
P.O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903-0430
Dear Captain Shamany:
As family members and friends of people with autism, the members of the Autism Society of Delaware constantly think about the safety of our loved ones. The unusual behaviors and reactions of a person with autism to new or changed environments place them at risk when interacting with law enforcement officers who don’t or can’t recognize the signs of this disability. For the safety of our children and even more important, our adults, we believe thorough coverage of autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s Syndrome, must be part of the standard police training in handling persons with disabilities.
The Autism Society of Delaware respectfully requests that in revising its regulations, the Council on Police Training expressly state that recognizing autism spectrum disorders and how situations where they are present should be addressed will be part of the training provided under Section 16.16. Topics covered should include:
v recognizing an autism spectrum disorder
v communication issues presented by autism spectrum disorders
v behavioral components of autism
v how a person on the spectrum might experience their disorder, and
v that a person on the spectrum may not be able to foresee, control, or understand their actions or the resulting consequences
The staff and board of the Autism Society of Delaware will be happy to assist with the development of this training; as advocates and family members, we have plenty of information and experiences to share. On behalf of our families, thank you for your consideration of our request.
Sincerely,
Theda Ellis
Executive Director
For Immediate Release
April 2006
Contact:
Theda Ellis, Director
Autism Society of Delaware
302-472-2638
To celebrate April as National Autism Awareness Month, the Autism Society of Delaware will honor their outstanding volunteers at the Cruise for a Cause. A night of “for fun only” games will be held April 7 at Bellevue Hall.
The Autism Society of Delaware is proud to honor:
Mary Kelleher – Kelleher volunteers in the ASD offices on a weekly basis. She insures that new parents have received much needed information, which is a vital function of the Society. She takes on many other jobs including data input, large mailings, and staffing special events. Kelleher has greatly added to the productivity of the office.
Wilmington Police Officers – Adapted Bike Camp is a program that teaches children who have autism how to ride a bicycle. Bike Camp is an intensive five-day program requiring the volunteers to run alongside a bicycle for many hours each day – even after a night shift. While experiencing behavioral outbursts and unfamiliar situations, these officers remained positive and energetic. All were thrilled when the kids gave up their training wheels. For “above and beyond” effort, the Autism Society of Delaware honors Sgt. Gregory Ciotti, M/Cpl. John Burns, M/Cpl. Kevin Conner, Col. Michael Groark, Cpl. Frey Lynch, M/Cpl. Jimmy Ogden and M/Cpl. Kurt Crawford.
Kathie Cherry – Cherry is the Kent County Liaison for the Delaware Autism Society and an ASD Board Member for seven years. As the primary communication link in Kent County, Cherry has performed a wide variety of job functions including selling cookbooks and awareness pins; arranging Smart Cookie Day; and organizing April Autism Awareness activities. Cherry, a wife and mother of three, has also served as the President of the Charlton (Delaware Autism Program) Parent Advisory Committee for many years.
Pyramid Educational Consultants – Pyramid offers consulting services and products for educators and parents of children with autism and related disabilities. They also provide a wide range of employment opportunities to students with autism, ranging from data input to office work and packaging. In 2005, Pyramid hired a Brennan School (Delaware Autism Program) graduate to work full-time in the warehouse. Along with providing those critical work experiences, Pyramid supervises, trains and supports to insure their success in the workplace. ASD salutes Pyramid for their unique contribution to the autism community.
To join the Autism Society of Delaware on their Cruise for a Cause, contact their offices at 302-472-2638. Tickets are $35 per person and include hors d’oeurves and reggae music by the Christiana River Steel Band. The festivities begin at 7pm
1/4/2006
Congressman Michael Castle
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Castle,
The Autism Society of Delaware was disappointed in your first vote. Our conversations with your office indicated that you understand the impact of these cuts; thus, we urge you to change your vote. Please oppose the Budget Reconciliation Conference Report when the full House meets in January 2006 and votes on the amended report, which recently passed the Senate. This report cuts Medicaid and SSI as a means of deficit reduction. It is bad policy and will hurt vulnerable people with disabilities.
Medicaid is the nation’s largest program that serves millions of people with disabilities and is their only lifeline to vital health care and critical long term supports. It serves 15% of all Delawareans, and provides 35% of our children with health care. Still, we have many children and families with no health care at all. Medicaid needs to be expanded.
Cutting SSI by delaying back payments will also cause serious financial suffering for those individuals who have little or no money to survive. Adding onerous work requirements on TANF recipients with disabilities will cause many to be removed from the program with no safety net to catch them.
There are other ways to reduce our national deficit than to reduce programs that serve people with disabilities. We all share the responsibility of supporting government services. While services must be efficient and effective, cutting those programs will have a greater cost in the long run due to the long term costs of decreasing basic health care. This is not the time to cut taxes; this is the times Americans must step up to pay our debt and to ensure that basic needs of all our citizens are met.
Sincerely,
Theda M.
Ellis
Executive Director
