To learn more about Easter Seals Bay Area, see our website at www.bayarea.easterseals.com .

Kevin: As each week of August approaches I am surprised to see that the summer is already winding down. Days are getting shorter and parents and students are preparing for a new school year while trying to squeeze that last drop of leisure out of the summer. Here at Easter Seals Bay Area’s Lily Learning Center, we are reflecting on our first year of operation in Dixon, CA.

By just about every measure, it’s been a tremendously successful first year!   And we’re eagerly preparing for the upcoming school year and the new adventures it will bring:

• the students currently enrolled at Lily are already practicing for our fall performing arts program; and
• the next wave of community outings and field trips are appearing on our calendar

We can’t wait to welcome new students with the new school year to share in the fun!

 But before we step into the school year, we decided to celebrate…and we did it right ~ carnival style!

The Lily Carnival not only celebrated the success of Easter Seals Bay Area’s first ever non-public school, but also the entire Disability Community in and around Solano County. The carnival was made possible and sponsored by Miceli Financial Partners and Epicentro Advertising and Marketing Services, headed up by Easter Seals Bay Area Board members Andrew Miceli and Maria Hernandez-Schabbing, respectively.  Many thanks to our friends at CVS/Pharmacy and the Dixon Lions Club, who sent a combined 26 volunteers to help out.

Carnival attendees were treated to free games, food (Thank you! Dreyer’s, ConAgra, and Jelly Belly!) and prizes along with information regarding available services in the area.  Networking among families and various disability services providers was among the key themes.  On hand were representatives from:

• Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center;
• Autism Community Team of Solano County;
• The Children’s Nurturing Project;
• North Bay Regional Center;
• Area 4 Board of the Developmental Disabilities Council, and
• Assembly Member Yamada’s office, all available to offer resources and information.

Working together as a community and sharing information and resources are essential for the success of kids and the community. With every new connection made another piece falls into the puzzle for families looking for solutions. Hopefully, these community bonds will continue to strengthen and create new connections as Easter Seals Bay Area continues to provide help, hope and answers to individuals and families affected by autism and other disabilities.

A child old enough to take on the responsibility of time management and unsupervised play learns through routine rituals and role-modeling.  At school, regularly scheduled class activities prompt students’ awareness of the passing hours. James, a child on the autism spectrum, prioritizes his social time subject to his own, unique style.  This style is often characterized as perseverative.  Because of the qualities of this kind of thinking, James may need more supervision to accept and accommodate into his routine a change in the environment.

In the Bay Area when a child’s developmental growth requires specialized learning tools and techniques, many families turn to Easter Seals Bay Area.  Services like the Lily Learning Center in Solano county;  Kaleidoscope After-School program in Alameda county; the Healthy Environments Child Development Center in San Francisco; and the Parent Empowerment Project offered in San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, and Solano counties offer the help and hope that many families need.

Easter Seals Bay Area’s mission is to ensure individuals affected by disabilities can live, learn, work, and play to their full potential.   You can shape your child’s learning and development early by accessing resources at Easter Seals Bay Area.

• A Regional Center in your area can refer you to specialized support programs.
• Enrollment in schools and programs with specialized curriculums treat your child as an individual.
• Play groups during therapy establish practical everyday application where you, your therapist, and caregivers benefit from sharing helpful treatments.
• Child-peers act as mentors and role-models to encourage inclusion and acceptance, while exchanging the tools and skills involved in making friends.
• Free open houses and events facilitate opportunities to meet experts and new friends.

Check out what we’re talking about at today’s Lily Carnival (4:00pm – 8:00pm) and Saturday’s Kaleidoscope Festival of Art and Sound (2:00pm – 6:00pm).  Both are free, family-friendly events celebrating awareness and appreciation for and by the disability community in the Bay Area.

Ramana: I have spent many years working with children with disabilities and with their parents and caregivers.  I’m passionate about helping families of children affected by disabilities to effectively manage the unique issues that they face.

Ramana Linnea Gasch

Parents of children who are affected by disabilities have a very different parenting experience than those whose children develop more typically.  There are higher levels of stress and various unanticipated hurdles that leave many parents looking for professional guidance.  Behavioral consultation and behavior therapy can help.

One of the common behavioral services offered to families is “parent training”.  Parent training varies depending on the behaviorist providing it.  Getting information about what to do is important, and parents can benefit further in making the often difficult adaptations needed in their family life by accessing on-going therapy services.

For parents who have a child with a disability—particularly a developmental disability such as an Autism Spectrum Disorder—finding a therapist who understands their family’s unique dynamics, and their child’s symptoms and behavioral and developmental needs can be challenging in itself.
Here’s a brief checklist that can help in looking for a good therapist.

Look for:

• A therapist with whom you feel safe and comfortable;

• Who also challenges you to make changes that might temporarily bring you out of your comfort zone.  Sometimes the work done with a good therapist can be a little exhausting!

• Someone who is recommended by other parents in your community, or by other professionals with whom you may be working;

• A therapist who states clearly what conditions they are, and are not, competent to treat.  Unless they have at least one year of direct experience working with the disability that your family is experiencing (taking a class or a certification doesn’t count in this regard!), they should not make recommendations related to your child’s diagnosis or treatment, especially if they are making recommendations that may conflict with other services and recommendations which are working for your family or your child;

• A therapist who is knowledgeable about the experience of parents with disabilities, who accepts that this kind of parenting is more difficult, and who never blames you for your child’s behavior… but is willing to gently confront you about the way that you think or feel about your child;

• If, after a few sessions with a particular therapist, you feel calmer, happier, and more balanced and competent as a parent…you’ve probably found the right one!

Laura: Parents of children with autism want the following things, according to my facebook autism forum:

1. patience
2. sleep
3. a break
4. a friend for my child
5. understanding
6. a great babysitter
7. a vacation
8. free therapy for me and for my child

Recently, I started providing tips (see tip one and tip two) based on my experience as a mother of a 24 year old son with autism and from feedback from others like me!

Today:

TIP NUMBER THREE

You’ve got to get some sleep!

“Sleep? What’s that?” I often hear parents joke, but lack of sleep is no laughing matter. It’s nearly impossible to bear the strain of raising a child with a disability when you are sleep deprived, and it is VERY bad for your health. Whether your child’s sleeping patterns are keeping you up or whether you worry all night long (that was me), here are some strategies to help you get the rest you need:

• Avoid giving your child stimulants such as caffeine and sugar before bed.
• Establish a nighttime routine: give your child a bath, read a story, and put him or her to bed at the same time every night.
• Help your child relax before bed by reading a book, giving a gentle back  rub or turning on soft music. Avoid television, video games, and other stimulating activities just before bedtime.
• To prevent sensory distractions during the night, put heavy curtains on your child’s windows to block out the light, install thick carpeting, and make sure the door doesn’t creak.
• Ask your pediatrician about giving your child melatonin just before bedtime. This dietary supplement is often used as a sleep aid to help people get over jet lag. It may help normalize sleep-wake cycles in autistic children who have sleeping issues, and research done so far finds that it’s safe and effective.
• Try bright-light therapy. Exposing the child to periods of bright light in the morning may help regulate the body’s release of melatonin.

If you’ve tried all of the above and are still sleepless, consult with your child’s doctor. He might refer you to a sleep specialist. And if you are like me and worry keeps you awake all night, talk to your doctor. Be sure to explain your difficult parenting situation!

Last but not least, talk to Easter Seals. Easter Seals Bay Area’s training and education services help parents understand their child’s specific challenges, abilities, and needs.  Wouldn’t you worry less if you knew what to expect?

 The Safeway Parent Empowerment Project is an 8 week program offering free training and education to parents who are looking to improve on social, developmental, and behavioral outcomes while enhancing the family’s capacity to support a child’s learning and growth.

Classes are available to residents of four Bay Area counties: Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Solano.  A class member agrees to participate in the required class activities: videotape interactions with the child; attend two-hour weekly sessions; and complete personal assessments at the beginning, the conclusion, and six months following the series. Each class member must have a child with a diagnosis of autism under the age of eight.

 For enrollment and questions, please email thogan@esba.org or call 510.835.2131 x.103

Jennifer Cowherd: Summer is here, a time filled with long days that turn into long months when our students are out of school and looking for creative ways to fill the time. Summertime at Kaleidoscope is an opportunity providing us with the time to plan wonderful daylong trips into the community.

 When designing for a summer activity, we are mindful of the following:

• Plan ahead
• Ask fearlessly 
• Say yes to mess
• Remain active

Careful planning is a must due to the particular needs and challenges for our participants. Have we considered dietary needs- do we need approval to bring lunch where we will be? Does everyone coming have access to the activities- are the paths wheelchair accessible? Will this location be crowded, noisy, or confined? We think about what we can bring to help our students adapt.  Asking questions in advance help us find the right activity and location for each child’s needs. Many places in the area are beginning to have certain days/hours that consider individuals affected by disabilities; movie theaters may play a movie at reduced volume and more lighting – a thoughtful change in environment for patrons overwhelmed by certain sensory experiences.

Never be afraid to ask a location for special accommodations or even reduced rates for your adventure. Many managers want their stores and activities to be inclusive. They are often willing to work with you to create an experience you can enjoy. At home, summer is a great time to get out those science or arts and crafts projects that you are hesitant to do inside. Children  enjoy playing with items you can find around the house; shaving cream and sand are fun and creative ways to play outside while incorporating a new hands on experience.

Finally, keep the kids active. We take them to the pool, on long walks, and to the park to play organized sports. Parents share that after arriving home, eating dinner, and getting the kids ready for well deserved sleep, an active child leaves mom and dad some time to unwind and relax!

In the office, I can see staff perking up over new found hobbies, and the new families we are serving in our programs. Staff conversations are filled with excitment as we plan our calendars around our social events and services.

Cookie’s Corner’s schedule is busy too. The next few months staff bloggers are weighing in about the who-what-where-why and how of Easter Seals Bay Area in your county. From our Community Relations Manager Jen Reeve blogging about volunteer engagement, to Clinical Supervisor Michelle Ficcaglia’s description of training in the Early Start Denver Model,  you have access to a full range of topics.

Finally, don’t forget to mark your calendars for Disability Awareness Night and the San Jose Giants in July, and the Lily Carnival in Solano County in August!” (RSVP is required - email thogan@esba.org for free tickets.)

Kurt Klein: I have a lofty goal of raising $10K!! I know I can do it. But I’ll be seeking help from all my friends and family. So whether it’s a $20.00 or $500.00 donation, every dollar will help make an impact for Bay Area families in need.
Donate today to Kurt Klein’s fundraising page.

Be still, my heart!  It’s pounding as I enter Livermore’s Campo di Bocce..  I’m about to socially ‘mix’ with some of my top, life-long, professional, sports heroes, and I’m in serious need of calming my inner 13-year-old self.

"The Catch"

“Excuse me.”  Standing alongside one of the courts, I’m bumped by another spectator, who politely apologizes.  It’s Dwight Clark.  Yes, that Dwight Clark!  “No worries…Dwight!”

Everyone’s on a first-name basis at this gathering of A-list celebrity athletes who lend their names, time, and varied bocce talents to raising dollars and awareness in support of a handful of local charitable causes.

I’m here because the Madden family members are long-standing supporters of Easter Seals Bay Area’s Kaleidoscope After-School Program.  They understand the program’s impact in the lives of the individuals with disabilities and families it serves.  They’re BIG fans of ours. 

“How’s that van working out for you guys?”   I’m standing with John Madden, who’s taking a break between matches.  He’s referring to an 8-passenger van that was purchased for Kaleidoscope from proceeds raised at last year’s tournament.  The van’s an important part of the Community Integration portion of the program.  “It’s swell, John.”  Swell?  Did I really say ‘swell’?!?

Steve Mariucci is trying to get the attention of one of the refs, “Yo Ben…Mooch has a question,” I generously help facilitate the exchange, as the former NFL coach nods his appreciation.  Boy, are his eyes blue!

“Hey Bryant! Congratulations on the new position.”  Bryant Young, former SF 49er great, was recently added to the coaching staff of San Jose State’s football program.  He dwarfs my high-powered colleagues in the photo I’m encouraged to take.

These were just a few of the interactions I was fortunate to have with real superstars of the professional sports scene who are among the best ever in their respective sports. 

Easter Seals Bay Area is also counted among the best ever in providing help and answers that inspire hope for people with disabilities and their families.  Won’t you join us?

Michael Pelfini, Ed. D.
President and CEO
Easter Seals Bay Area