Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director Imagine a starry night in Los Angeles. Just the right temperature. And then you see something you probably never could’ve imagined would happen. An athlete from Iran hands the olypmic torch to an athlete from Israel. Then, furthering a climate of acceptance, the torch is passed to Cuba and from Cuba to the United States. The LA 2015, the Special Olympics World Games, brought this to life. And history also takes me back to the meeting I…
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David & Patti, Parents Earlier this month, we ran with our 12-year old son, Maxim Singer ran in the Unified Relay for the Special Olympics. We were even featured on ABC 7 – click here to see us in action! Maxim was born with Down Syndrome. While we were unsure how to manage this at first, his ability to love & make people laugh have made him an integral part in our community and we wouldn’t have it any other…
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By Tamra, Parent In December 2014, SB 468 was signed into law, creating a statewide Self-Determination Program that offers a voluntary alternative to the traditional way regional center provides services. This program offers the consumer and their families a way to control and tailor their services and supports independently. These services are controlled by the consumer, and paid for by the consumer using a pre-determined budget. It is a voluntary program. If you choose not to participate, you will receive…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist 10+ years I don’t normally write about or promote movies, but Pixar’s new Inside Out is a MUST SEE. I find it very honorable of these filmmakers to make a psychological movie for kids. Yes, it is also fascinating and entertaining for adults. But it’s ability to tell a story while also explaining the why and how the human brain and emotions work is truly a feat to behold. I think especially for children on the spectrum,…
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Casey, GAP Program Member “Dance like nobody’s watching, Love like you’ve never been hurt, Sing like nobody’s listening and Live like it’s heaven on earth” I really like this quote because it brings inspiration, happiness, joy, peace and a life that’s filled with gratitude and individualism, not only with my art, but to who I am as a person. Since I am very in touch with God and have a close relationship with him, I believe he shines through me,…
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Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director Art Linkletter reminds us that kids say the darndest things and we often find these very funny. While the general public finds this humorous and lighthearted, sometimes the kids many not understand the humor or the intentions of the general public. And as a result, sometimes when the kids are met with laughter, they may feel that the public is laughing at them, not with them. So how do we make sure we are laughing with…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist 10+ Years One of the things I have always loved about working with autism is the endless mystery it provides (that’s also one of the most frustrating things as well!). However, whether clinical or theoretical, autism provides a lot of thought provoking intrigue and brain-nourishing questions. This means things never get boring or mundane. There is always a new angle to consider and study.Recently, I have been listening to a book called “Busting Loose From the Money…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist 10+ Years This is a piece I wrote with a child with autism who preferred not to be mentioned. It’s 5 things we think your child with autism wish you knew, but maybe doesn’t tell you. We hope you enjoy! 1. They love you deeplyThey may not show it in the traditional ways, but your child understands on some level the importance and value of your relationship. They would be scared and helpless without you and they…
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Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director Dateline NBC, which usually only brings a story about murder, this month brought us a very sad story of families with young adults with autism in states with no services. It was a very sad piece to watch (Click here if you’d like to watch). The services that are available in states like New York are isolating and limited. For us in California, this Dateline special should invoked a gratitude practice. We are the only state…
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An acrostic is something kids usually do at some point in elementary school. We’ve all seen them. But when’s the last time you played with one? I recommend parents take the word AUTISM and make an acrostic. Do it by yourself or with your child. It might end up being revealing. It might be empowering. Or it might be plain silly. Either way, I think it’s a fun way to explore autism and the wide variety of attributes it can…
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