Parents who are informed are able to make the best choices for their children.

This blog was created to be a source of information about events in the Western Washington State area for parents and educators of children with special needs and learning challenges.
If you have an event that is not listed here please e-mail us complete information.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

US Autism & Asperger Association 2011 World Conference

Autism Education & Treatment: A Road to Wellness

Oct. 27 - 30, 2011
Location: SeattleWA
Map

World leading autism experts will discuss new treatment regimes and effective therapies. After four days, you will leave the conference armed with tools of practical protocols, valuable hope, and new resources for support for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, patient, friend, student, or yourself.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Raw & Gluten-Free Holiday Menu Ideas

Time
Monday, November 7 · 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Location
Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E
Tacoma, WA

Created By
Special Families of Pierce County

More Info
Please join us for the November SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting! There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.Topic: Raw & Gluten-Free Holiday Menu IdeasSpeaker: Renee LaCoste, Raw Foods Chef & Gluten-Free SpecialistWhere: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center3005 112th St E., Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)Date: Monday, November 7thTime: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Sensory Jump Night

Nov 9th/ Dec 14th 5:30-7:00pm

We offer open jump sessions for children with special needs who benefit from a smaller more controlled private environment.
Siblings Welcome.
Limited attendance.
$7 PER CHILD, ADULTS/ GUARDIANS FREE

We are running this special event thru the end of December to see if we can get some friends to join us!

Cost is $7 per CHILD

Cost is $5.00 per sibling

Autism Group Jump - A Private Sensory Night

90 minutes in a supervised party arena

Children must be a minimum of 34"
A signed waiver and socks required to play

Held the 2nd Wednesday of each month

Reservations are suggested but not required

Wireless internet access throughout the facility

http://www.pumpitupparty.com/wa/tacoma/party-packages/-p4q100009q6335.htm

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME - Michelle Garcia Winner

Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME

Michelle Garcia Winner will address changes to DSM V for ASD and how understanding different levels of social learners leads to better treatment, plus she will present executive functioning and organizational strategies and other practical concepts for teaching and treating students with high-fuctioning autism (and Asperger's), ADHD, NLD and similar diagnosed and undiagnosed social-communicative challenges.

Perspective taking involves the synergy among the researched concepts of "Theory of Mind," gestalt processing and executive functioning. This workshop will explore how central the concepts and skills related to "perspective taking" (also referred to as "social communication") are to all social contact and interpretation, non-verbal or verbal, intentional and non-intentional. The workshop day examines research-based information but is practical and participants have said they leave with a better understanding of the specific social communication and academic needs of their students/children.



http://www.socialthinking.com/workshops/workshops/tacoma-workshops

Organized Thinking: Dealing with the Dreaded Homework Assignment

Friday, October 21, 2011

Organized Thinking: Dealing with the Dreaded Homework Assignment and Everything Else a Student Wants to Postpone!

This workshop focuses on executive functioning skills and related practical strategies to track and tackle homework and other deadline-based duties.

The vast majority of students with social cognitive deficits have immense difficulty developing organizational skills to manage the increasing complex expectations of life in upper elementary, middle, high school and into their adult years.

Organizational skills are a set of executive functioning skills that develop through experience and minimal prompting for neurotypical students. These same skills can be mammoth overwhelming tasks for even our most intellectually sharp students with social cognitive deficits. The impact of poor organizational skills is immense, affecting one’s outcome in school as well as at home and work. Weak organizational skills are poorly understood and often written off as pure laziness on the part of a “smart” student. Relatively little support is given to teach students to develop these critical skills that carry over into their future jobs and home-life as adults.


Continental Breakfast & Lunch Provided
Workshop LocationGreater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402

http://www.socialthinking.com/workshops/workshops/tacoma-workshops

US Autism & Asperger Association sixth annual conference in Seattle, Washington

On October 27-30, 2011, the US Autism & Asperger Association launches its sixth annual conference in Seattle, Washington.

World leading autism experts will discuss new treatment regimes and effective therapies. After four days, you will leave the conference armed with tools of practical protocols, valuable hope, and new resources for support for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, patient, friend, student, or yourself.


Unprecedented conference format
US Autism & Asperger Association’s unprecedented conference format, introduced last year, will feature panel workshops in non-concurrent sessions in addition to the keynote addresses. Some of the world’s most renowned autism and Asperger experts will present new interventions and new research in both education and medicine.



For additional information and group registration, call Pat at 1-866-208-0207.Pre-registration is highly recommended to ensure your space.

http://www.usautism.org/2011_usaaa_annual_conference_wa/2011_usaaa_conference_overview.htm

Gig Harbor Gluten Free - How to Let Go of Gluten and Get Your Life Back

GIG HARBOR GLUTEN FREE
OCTOBER 18th Meeting
6:30 - we start our meeting promptly

Harbor Place, Gig Harbor
1016 29th Street NorthwestGig Harbor, WA 98335-1641
Activity Room
Use side entrance by parking lot
SPEAKER:

“Coming Clean: How to Let Go of Gluten and
Get Your Life Back!”

By Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS
Do you feel like good health continues to slip out of your reach? Are your symptoms continuing to pile up, affecting the quality of your everyday life? Learn how you can get your life back by changing what you eat and by strengthening your inner defenses. Come to hear about tips on how to “clear the internal noise” of dysfunction and create harmony inside and outside, making you happy, healthy, and vital!
Dr. Deanna Minich, an expert in lifestyle medicine approaches to health, is the author of four books on wellness and nutrition. See her website (www.foodandspirit.com) for more information
Please join us and feel free to bring a friend!