Calendar Events
1. REACH for a Difference monthly family support
group presently meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the United Way of
Abilene facility located at 240 Cypress Street, Abilene, Texas, at 6:00 P. M.
REACH is an
organization dedicated to hosting an ongoing forum to address the issues of
individuals and families on autism spectrum.
We at REACH understand the difficulties and frustration that arise when
families are attempting to access provider services for their family members. Our present goals are to document the
desires, wishes, and needs of families on the spectrum and with that
information develop a road map to those resources offering services. Where resources are lacking, we at REACH hope
to be a part of the process to help present institutions and agencies formulate
and implement useful services that address those needs.
REACH members are
comprised of parents, professionals, and interested community members. We are presently inviting parents of those on
the spectrum to begin having conversations with us so that we may document more
specifically the needs of families and bind ourselves together for support and family
develop.
2. REHAB (West Texas Rehabilitation Center)
Family Support Group – Tuesday, May 15th. This group meets every 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 to
7:30 p.m. in the WTRC Boardroom, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, Texas. Parking provided
in back. This month’s program will be
“Why Your Child Behaves the He/She Does” presented by Melissa Richardson,
M.ED., an Applied Behavioral Analysis Specialist. Ms. Richardson has extensive experience and
education in the treatment of autistic children. We heartily recommend this
program to all parents wishing to learn how better teach and care for their
children. The better we are informed, the
more useful we will be to our neighbor and our family.
3. King David’s Kids – This a parents support
group that meets at Highland Church of Christ the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays every
month from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. You
may leave a message at 325 672 8837.
This telephone in manned from 4:00 p. m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays and
Thursdays. Please call for program
details. It is our understanding that child supervision is provided by
competent individuals during the program.
4. The Abilene Tennis for Autism program by
Casey Chapa will begin with a free session on April 16 from 5:30-6:15. A 10-
week program will follow ($100 for all 10 lessons). If they cannot pay that
amount, they can talk to me and I will work with them. However, if I'm losing
money by doing it, I won’t be able to continue it for very long, so I just ask
for people to be honest in what they can and cannot afford so that this program
can grow. Email me at casey.uspta@gmail.com.
Finding
Joy and Happiness~
Sara Collins,
President/CEO
What an amazing month! April was filled with many
activities and fund raising efforts geared toward autism and research. We began
the month at the Abilene Zoo where Walk Now for Autism Speaks was raising
awareness and funds for much needed research. REACH was there in efforts to
extend a hand to the community, providers, parents and families on the spectrum
by selling t-shirts, and with the help of many volunteers was able to provide
fun-filled activities such as blowing giant bubbles, hula- hooping and water
games. The most popular event was creating a masterpiece of footprints on
canvas with paints. Who knew that such an event could bring such joy and
happiness to those volunteers, spectators and participants? For those of you
that missed this opportunity, I’d like to share with you the process of
creating such a wonderful masterpiece. For those who visited the REACH booth
including children, adults and even pets, you were asked to have a seat and
allow REACH volunteers to paint your feet with any color you like and walk
along our canvas to allow us to capture the memory of all who participated in
such a wonderful cause. After you walked on our canvas, volunteers washed your
feet and sent you on your way to enjoy the zoo and many other booths that were
set up to offer their resources and education. I recently read an article that
caught my attention and reminded me of why this experience felt so special to
those who took part in creating this canvas. I’d like to share this article and
a few pictures from this awesome event.
By Joyce Meyer, Christian Post Guest
Columnist
April
28, 2012
When
Jesus washed His disciples' feet, He was doing more than wiping away some dirt.
It was a deliberate act that spoke volumes to everyone in the room―and it still
speaks to us today.
Shocking,
isn't it? I mean, quite a few gasps must have gone through the room. But Jesus
went right on doing what He was doing. Verse 5 says, "He poured water into
the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the
[servant's] towel with which He was girded." What's even more shocking is that Jesus
washed all of their feet―including Judas'.
Whose
Feet Are You Willing to Wash? A lot of
us are willing to wash some feet, but not others. Let me explain. At a recent conference in Texas, I had three
people join me on stage for a foot washing. One of them was a famous worship
leader. It wasn't really hard to wash his feet. After all, he's a cool guy and
most people would jump at the chance to spend time with him. And it's easy to
do things for people we want to impress, but here's the thing: God wants us to
treat everyone the same. The second
person in line was somebody I didn't know and might never see again. When it
comes to reaching out to people like that, we're much more likely to think,
well, why should I get involved? Surely they have friends or family who can
help them out. But we have to be very careful not to ignore the strangers God
puts in our path.
Now,
there's one more category of people I felt I had to address, and that's family.
So I went ahead and washed my husband's feet too. I wanted to make the point
that if we're willing to serve in a ministry in church; we need to be just as
willing to serve our family behind closed doors. Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you" (see Luke 6:31). I believe we can turn things
around in our little corner of the world if we will simply take the first
steps.
What's
Good for God Is Good for You. In John
13, when Jesus had finished washing the disciples' feet, He said to them,
"Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash
each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to
you" (see John 13:14-15 NLT).
In
other words, He's saying, "Because I have been a servant, you should be
too." Our natural bent may be to
look after our own needs first, but the Bible shares an important secret with
us. In John 13:17, Jesus said, "If you know these things, blessed and
happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and
really do them]."
See,
what we so often fail to realize is if we would simply do what we can to meet
the needs of others, we will be blessed and happy. So today I'm challenging you
to step out of your comfort zone and get creative. Think of a few ways you can
help the different kinds of people God puts in your life.
I
can tell you from experience, you'll be a much happier person when you're
living to love and help others.
Walk Now for Autism Speaks
Masterpiece of Walking for Autism 2012
ACU Music Department Gives Back to the
Community
This last Saturday REACH in collaboration with
Abilene Christian University- Department of Music- Mu Phi Epsilon Honor
Sorority, met on the campus at the Williams Performing Arts Building where the
first collaborative program for children and families on the spectrum took
place. The program that was developed and created by Mu Phi Epsilon and is
called Music and Me. From 1-3pm, children, families and college students came
together to experience something very special. This group of college students
heard the cry from REACH for useful programs in our community that can provide
children on the spectrum the same types of experiences that all children are
entitled, and created a program that was very creative, exciting, and
therapeutic for all of those who attended. Music and Me started with an open
mic time for everyone to have the opportunity to express themselves through the
sound of an open mic. During this time we heard wonderful expressions by
children who sang; The Star Spangled Banner, The Circle of Life (The Lion King)
and some who just wanted to share words and sounds. Demonstrations were given
on many instruments including; percussion, flute, French horn, trumpet,
clarinet, strings, and piano. Instrument Petting Zoo was a time when children
were able to experience all these instruments and sounds themselves. Next, a
music lesson was given and a drum circle was formed where we made wonderful
music together. In the music lab students were taught composition on keyboards followed by a recital in the Music Hall where
we heard Jennifer Magill perform, (Poor Unfortunate Soul by Ursula from The
Little Mermaid) with Nathan Hamilton on piano, Patrick Cason - Marimba, Lindsay
Smith and Stephanie Bradley-French horn, Anne-Marie Houy-flute, and Whitney
Johnson- clarinet. Thank you so much Mu Phi Epsilon for hearing our voice and
rising to the occasion to provide this special group the opportunity to let
their voices be expressed through music. I believe some doors may have been
opened for some of these children in communication. I have provided some
pictures from this event for you all to see.
Music and Me
This is a therapeutic
program developed to meet the needs of students on the autism spectrum. This
program presented by members of Mu Phi Epsilon, a music service fraternity of
the Department of Music at Abilene Christian University in partnership with
REACH for a Difference. This program will be available twice a semester. The
program will be offered from1-3pm. The purpose of this program is to expose the
autism spectrum individuals and their families to the basic music forms,
various instruments, vocal techniques, piano skills, and other music related
areas. The students will be given a tour of the facility to let them experience
the band hall, the choral rehearsal hall, music practice rooms, and performance
areas.
Now is the time to have fun, fun,
fun with the great kids of Reach for a Difference.
Will you come play with us?
Parental Support Group
The REACH for a
Difference team wishes to invite family members that have loved ones on the
spectrum to have a conversation with us concerning REACH instituting a weekly
meeting to support the caretakers of those individuals found on the spectrum. This would be a time to process the various
difficulties that arises in families when they are attempting to manage their
lives. In doing so it would be a time
when others who have traveled similar roads could share their solutions and/or
the real possibility exists that a group working together may have more success
in the problem solving process. Of
course, arrangements would be made for the care of such children that
accompanies the parent(s). This program
is in just the planning stages, so come and be a part of our monthly meeting
and weigh in on this matter. Your
experience and involvement to this project is most important. REACH for a Difference is intended to be a
collaborative action group, so your voice will become a difference that makes a
difference. -- Shelby Weatheford, LMFT, LPC,
Chairman
A Conversation
While wondering
around having conversations, my primary style of management, with family
members on the spectrum and those individuals interested in providing services,
there appears to be several troubling disconnects between and among the various
groups wishing to address the issues confronting the autism spectrum individual
and their families. I have chosen to
describe the process that I am observing as a “disconnect” because it appears
that consumers and providers of services are not talking to each other at the
level of organization that results in a more integrated array of services.
Everywhere I go I
find wonderful people working away, each in their own arena, doing their part
and what they do best. I have been
amazed to observe, in our local schools systems, for example, the amount of
planning, policy making, and loving dedication of our teachers and their
support staff. This observation includes
even those in food and transportation services. I am impressed to hear of the amount of
expertise that is assembled from many different specialists during an ARD
session. I am enthralled and almost
overwhelmed with joy to see and know of the level of proficiency, involvement
and commitment the State of Texas through Region 14 has invested in our
families on the spectrum. One could take
a tour of West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene Texas, as we have
experienced, and be awestruck with their devoted and committed personnel and
program parameters. One only has to
wonder around for just a short time until they run in to the awesome and
needful programs of Betty Hardwick Center, a community MHMR center, and their Early
Childhood Intervention Program (ECI), to be thoroughly impressed. Hop over to Disability Resources, a
non-profit program for developmentally disabled individuals, and observe their
wonderful living facilities and supportive educational programs. Next, a visit to the Alliance for Women and
Children, one of the oldest women’s organizations in Abilene and the Big Country,
one is captivated with their after school care program and their efforts to
reach out to the teen population of our neighborhoods. We observe over at West Central Texas Counsel
of Governments their efforts to develop grants for the training of community
members, embedded in our churches and many other local organizations, to
acquire the skills to effectively include our disabled population, such as
those on the autism spectrum, to participate in their unique activities. Let us
not forget the efforts of April Hampton, Director of Rainbow Bible School and
President of the Childcare Director’s Network, who is collaborating with Region
14 ESC and Workforce Solutions of West central Texas to provide and enhance
specialized management training for the area childcare center directors. With these kinds of commitment the resulting
outcome would allow more of our disabled children the kind of auxiliary care
needed while their parents are striving in the market place so as to meet their
family’s basic needs. On and on I could
continue this list of other wonderfully dedicated providers and useful programs
committed to service of their God and his people.
Let us not forget
the largest and most committed company of providers, those being our parents
and the extended family along with their neighbors. Through the ages, and presently, this
assembly continues to be the major force to safeguard and equip our children,
found on the spectrum, to negotiate the pathways of life. It is the home environment, where the rubber
meets the road, that the real struggles are played out, over and over. As is true for many individuals on the
spectrum, progress is often ever so slow and tedious, literally draining all
the surplus energy from the family crucible.
Because of the severe drain on the family’s emotional, intellectual, and
physical resources, families disintegrate at the rate as high as 90 percent,
only to reform and organize at a different level. Reorganization often times leaves the new
resulting family system even further exhausted of resources. Never-the-less, this primary family of origin
caretaker remains the primary provider of services.
It is between and
among all the groups listed above that disconnect occurs; between parent and
parent, between professional provider and professional provider, and parent and
professional provider. While we are all
working away doing our thing, there appears to be disconnect in the sense that
we are all talking and nobody is listening.
We talk and teach, all good stuff we know, but is anyone listening? The neuro-linguistic axiom fits here; “The
meaning of the communication is seen in the response that it (the
communication) elicits”. Explained
simply, when we send out a message we are able to determine whether the message
was understood as we intended by carefully observing the response. If we are having educational meetings and few
are attending, then our message “we are having a meeting” is not getting
through. What is the solution?
I think a possible
solution to narrowing the gap of this disconnect would be regular conversations
between and among the leadership of all of the providers at the policy making
level. If this were possible the disconnect would still exist between the
primary caregivers of those on the spectrum and the provider of formal treatment
services. REACH for a Difference is presently leading the vanguard to organize
the voices of parents found on the spectrum. We believe these parents and
primary caregivers have something important to say to providers and parents
certainly need the support and services from professional providers. We here at
REACH do not perceive this process as one of confrontation but one of
conversation, ongoing and developmental. We see this as a three step process.
First, the providers at the policy making level begin and maintain
conversations defined to teach each other the limits of service each has to
offer and then to conceptualize best avenues of action for closing the gaps of
services and areas of conversational disconnect. The second needful process is
to poll our primary caretakers on the autism spectrum to determine the most
accurate and real wants and desires that are useful. These are the individuals
that are out in the work-a-day business of the real world. They are the experts
of what works for them and their families and what does not work. They have
much to teach us and it is necessary to have a full understanding of that
information coming from that corner to truly close the disconnect gap that we
are observing. It is in this third stage of conversational development where
providers and consumers of autism spectrum services are resolved, where both
parties have an open and respectful conversation platform. REACH for a
Difference will be working consistently to generate conversations and influence
movement towards mutual exchange of information. Information is to be defined
as a difference that makes a difference, otherwise conversational exchanges
result in just noise, undistinguishable from all other idle chatter. --Shelby Weatherford, L. MFT, LPC
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