Student with Autism Bullied at School

The parent of a 10-year old boy taped his son at school after the boy was coming home exhibiting new behaviors.  Wanting to understand what, if anything, was happening at school, the boy's father wired his son to record.  The tape revealed the worst.  Read the full story.
What to do if you suspect your child is being bullied at school? 

• If your child has an IEP, call for a meeting of the IEP team to discuss what can be done to address the bullying.  (A parent  may request a review of the IEP, and to the extent that you are actually requesting a review of the IEP to address behaviors, you are requesting a review of the IEP.  In Arizona, a parent who requests a review of the IEP must do so in writing.  An e-mail constitutes a writing.  Send your e-mail to more than one person to ensure that it is received in the event one person denies having received it.  An IEP review must take place within 15 school days of the receipt of the request or at a mutually agreed upon time but not to exceed 30 school days.)  At the IEP meeting, be specific when stating why you suspect bullying.  Request to observe on various days and at different times of the school day. 
• If your child does not have an IEP, send notice to the school.  Document your suspicions.  Email a request to your child's teacher AND the school principal AND the school district superintendent.  (If a charter school, send the email to at least the child's teacher and the head of school.)  Request a meeting and the reason why.  It is critical to put the school on notice of potential bullying.  And you want to know what the school will do to confirm and to address bullying, whether isolated instances or a pervasive problem. 

Presentation on Empowerment Scholarships

Lori Kirsch-Goodwin & Hope Kirsch will be discussing empowerment scholarships at the Northwest Valley High-Functioning Autism (HFA) Parent Support Group on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6:30 PM to 8 PM at:
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV)

7007 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria (Corner of Happy Valley Rd. and 67th Avenue)
Building 300 (marked "Infants and Crawlers")
Parents of all special needs children are invited to this presentation. 
If you need any further info, e-mail nwvalleyhfa@gmail.com.

Upcoming Autism/Asperger's Conference

Please note the following conference that may be of interest:

Future Horizons Autism/Asperger's Conference in Tucson on Friday, May 4, 2012, at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort featuring , the noted scientist who has autism and the author of The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's, Eustacia Cutler, the mother of Temple Grandin who shares her views of autism through her personal experiences, and Rebecca Moyes, MEd, the author of A Thorn in My Pocket: Temple Grandin's Mother Tells the Family Story and Building Sensory Friendly Classrooms who shares practical strategies for teaching social skills and dealing with the behavioral challenges that impact students' success in the mainstream. Dr. Temple Grandin

For more information, to register, and/or to download a (PDF) conference brochure, please visit their website at:  

http://fhautism.com/Conferences/tabid/91/Default.aspx or call Future Horizons at 800-489-0727.

Great inspirational story

Read this feel-good story about children with autism.  http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/16/health/autism-milestones-irpt/index.html

World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2012

The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.  See what you can do.  Visit Light it up blue.