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Welcome!
The Albany Chapter of the Autism Society of America serves people living with Autism in the greater Capital District and their families.
Our mission is to promote lifelong access and opportunities for people on the autism spectrum and their families so they can be fully participating, included members of their communities. We do this through advocacy, public awareness, education, compassionate support and research related to autism. Our primary focus is on public awareness, education and compassionate support.
We currently hold 3 monthly support group meetings (one in Albany, one in Saratoga, and an Adult Aspie Social Group). Times and locations are posted on our website in the Upcoming Events Section to the right of this column. Helping children, adults, families, educate the providers and providing support all along this path, are all in the forefront as we move ahead together.
SAVE THE DATE - ALBANY ASA'S 7TH ANNUAL WALK, 5K RUN AND FUN RUN - SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
We are already planning (and accepting registrations for!) our 7th Annual Walk and 5K Run. This year we are including a Fun Run, and lots of new activities, so come and join us!
Sunday, September 12, 2010 - Central Park, Schenectady
7am-Registration 5K Run
8am-5K Run
9am-Registration Walk
9:45am-Welcome and Opening Ceremonies
10am-Walk
11am-Refreshments and Awareness Information Available
So, let's get out our competitive energies--sponsor a team, sign up for your own fundraising page, get some sponsors, sponsor a Information Table or service for the day, come bring your family and friends and join the community for this fun day and help local families of children and adults on the autism spectrum!
Look here soon for sponsors logos - thank you all!
Register for our 7th Annual Walk & 5K Run for Autism Here
Thank you again for all of your support, help and as always, let us know if you would like to be more involved. We can always use help and this is a great, family fun event--it takes all of us together to make this work right! |
SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION & SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
The Chapter is again offering Camp Scholarships and the Camp Scholarship form is here. NOTE: Deadline has been extended until further notice.
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Camp Spectacular: Two-week long social day camp experience for children who have autism spectrum disorders including those with Asperger’s syndrome, high functioning autism, and PDD-NOS. Contact Chris Schelin (518) 437-5732 or e-mail to cschelin@cfdsny.org.
- Capital District Bicycle Camp: Contact Debbie Ebersold, STRIDE (518) 598-1279 or www.stride.org
- Camp Huntington: Camp Huntington is a co-ed, residential program for children and young adults with special learning and developmental needs. Your child will enjoy the fun-filled days of summer camp while learning practical social and life skills. Located in High Falls, NY. http://www.camphuntington.com.
- The College of Saint Rose – Summer Academy for Youth; Grades 6-10. 518-454-5144.
- Camp Ramapo: Camp Ramapo is consistent with Ramapo for Children’s overall mission: to serve children with a range of emotional and learning problems in a natural, outdoor environment. It provides educational and recreational experiences which promote social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. http://www.ramapoforchildren.org
- Camp Kaleidoscope: a non profit camp, dedicated to strengthening families through a holistic approach. We support the unique needs of families in the autism community so they may enjoy a memorable vacation and create positive memories, side by side, with their loved ones. www.cgcvt.org.
- Summit Camp & Travel: Summit Camp provides a summer camp experience for boys and girls, ages 7-17, who have issues of attention. These may include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and/or ADHD), Aspergers syndrome, verbal or non-verbal learning disabilities, and/or mild social or emotional concerns. Some of our campers may also have Tourrete's syndrome, O.C.D., and /or mild mood issues. Summit Travel works with older children, ages 15-19, who have similar issues. www.summitcamp.org
- Camp Lee Mar: Lee Mar's program has been designed in order to provide our campers with a dynamic program of activities tailored to age and ability. We provide a highly structured environment that keeps our campers both interested and invigorated, from sun up to sun down, June to August. www.leemar.com
- Camp Northwood: Since 1976, Camp Northwood & The Northwood Center have been providing quality programming to a coed population of 165 socially immature, learning challenged children in need of structure and individualized attention. It is our 2:1 camper/counselor ratio, non-competative recreational programming and intentional focus on social skill development that enables our students to experience acceptance in a thriving camp community. www.nwood.com
- Sportime Summer Camp: Schenectady, NY. SPORTIME summer camp features special events and activities, including visits and training by the New York Buzz professional tennis team. (Also have specific camps for children with ASD) www.SportimeNY.com
- SonShine Camp @ SonRise Lutheran Ministries Camp designed for children 8 and up who have developmental disabilities. www.sonriseministries.com
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**NEW!** Community Enrichment Scholarships & Safety Grants
New this year is The Community Enrichment Scholarship and the form is here. Also new this year is The Safety Grant and the form is here. We are happy to provide even more opportunities to help families of children on the spectrum in this area. |
ASA TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
The Albany ASA is pleased to announce a new funding source from our Chapter. We are interested in funding special projects that will expand supports and services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders across the life span who reside in the 12 counties that the Chapter serves (Albany, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties). Preference will be given to projects that are innovative and collaborative efforts among agencies, professionals, and individuals and have the potential to continue beyond the grant period.
For grant request process information click here. For the application click here.
Please note that the deadline for submissions has been extended indefinately. Applications will be accepted as long as there is money left in our budget allotted for these grants. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 518 355-2191 or info@albanyautism.org.
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Albany ASA and Exceptional Parent Partners
The Albany ASA and Exceptional Parent have collaborated to offer subscribers a way to gather some awesome information and help the Chapter at the same time.
Exceptional Parent Magazine offers organizations the chance to raise money for the programs that are important to them. Exceptional Parent will donate $10 to the Albany Chapter for each subscription purchased.
We will be adding a link to this section to get started and sign-up online for your subscription. Now you can read some great articles and help our Chapter and local programs all at once! Thanks again for all you do!
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Albany ASA Library
Members can reserve a book online and then make arrangements to either pick the book up at our office on State Street in Schenectady, or have it sent in the mail.
We have gotten some new additions to our library/resource center and would love to share them with you!
In addition, if there are any books you would like to see the Chapter add to its library, please send the name of the book to Cindy Barkowski at library@albanyautism.org or call the office at 355-2191.
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SPECIAL NOTE: DAD'S GROUP
The Chapter would like to inform the public that if you are interested in a Dads Group, please contact Jim Swart at Parent to Parent at 381-4350x26 or jmswart1@verizon.net. So glad to know that Jim has offered to make this ever-important connection with Dads of children with special needs.
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OMRDD's Platform to Address Autism Crisis
click here to view OMRDD document
click to view OMRDD document
REMEMBER, WE WANT TO SHARE.....
The Albany Chapter is happy to share all our photos from our events with you. It is an opportunity to see the programs that your generous donations help to provide. If you would like to see our photos and share in the fun, please go to Albums and click on the event you are interested in. If you have photos that you are interested in sharing, and have permission to post them, please send them to us at info@albanyautism.org.
Have you moved lately or have a new e-mail address? If so, please make sure you remember to let us know. You don't want to miss all the information and we want to keep in touch with you. Please either e-mail to info@albanyautism.org or call Cindy at 355-2191 with your update. Make sure you stay connected to the Albany ASA!
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In Memory of Bernard Rimland
To honor the late Bernard Rimland the Autism Research
Institute (ARI) is selling puzzle pieces to fund research. Each puzzle piece costs one dollar, and can be purchased through the Albany ASA by calling 355-2191.
The Puzzle Pieces will also be available in the ARI’s booth at every DAN!, Mini-DAN! and other major conferences. This project will continue until One Million Dollars are raised!
The goal of this project is to provide funding for research into possible environmental triggers of autism and to develop and validate effective treaments for individuals with autism.
http://www.autism.com/families/stories/huggins.htm
Educational Law Update
The Regulations of the Commissioner of Education have been amended to conform to IDEA 2004 and the final federal regulations to implement IDEA 2004. The Commissioner's regulations, which were approved as an emergency action by the Board of Regents at their June 2007 meeting, are effective July 1, 2007.
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/announce7107.htm
Events Calendar
Everyone is welcome at our events. To find out about our next meetings and events of interest to the autism community, check the Events Calendar.
Ways You Can Help
Now you can raise money for the AlbanyChapter just by searching the Internet at GoodSearch.com.
You use GoodSearch.com like any other search engine — the site is powered by Yahoo! — but each time you do, money is generated for us. Here's how it works:
- Go to www.goodsearch.com
- Type "The Albany Chapter of the Autism Society of America" into the "I support" box and click on "verify"
- Search the Internet just like you would with any search engine
- Since GoodSearch shares its advertising revenue with charities and schools, every time you search the Internet at GoodSearch, you’ll be earning money for our chapter
The second way is by shopping on-line through iGive.com.
You could give up to 26% or more of each everyday purchase you make at no extra cost to you.
It doesn't cost a cent to join and once you're a member, every time you shop the Mall at iGive.com we can get a percentage of each purchase you make.
Just think of it ---- free money for the Albany Chapter of The Autism Society, your choice of over 600 nationally known online merchants like Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer, Home Depot, GAP, Best Buy, Lands' End, PETsMART, and you can even use e-Bay too! Your privacy is guaranteed, plus money-saving deals and specials every day!
We hope you can't resist!
Join www.iGive.com/Albanyasa now.
CDTA 2010 Holiday Schedule
Albany ASA would like to let you know that you can find a copy HERE of the 2010 CDTA Holiday Bus Schedule. We hope this helps those of you who need this important service in our area.
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