Accomplishments & Goals
Autism Society of Boulder County is pleased to highlight our activities and accomplishments toward achieving the goals of our mission and vision.
The following is just a sampling (or click here for a printer-friendly version).
Information Services
Autism Society of Boulder County is pleased to highlight the activities and accomplishments of 2008. These following achievements met the goals of our Mission and Vision.
News:
• NEW: ASBC eNews has gone electronic via Constant Contact. ASBC Express newsletter is still highly regarded as a great informational resource in the area. Both are FREE.
Information:
• IEP support through the “Ask The Advocate” series in the ASBC Express newsletter, a Peak Parent & BVSD PAM (Parents As Mentors) trained volunteers are available to assistance with the IEP process.
Website:
• Look through the new pages of ASBC website. See NEW pages such as Community
Partners, sponsors and donors. The ASD Resource Directory has been updated and is available as a downloadable PDF.
Annual Conference:
• NEW: ASBC will bring Wrightslaw to Colorado September 2008. This conference will
provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to advocate effectively for children with disabilities. The program is not disability specific and Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care and service providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. Scholarships will be available
• NEW: Spanish translation will be available during Wrightslaw.
• NEW: ASBC has been awarded an “ARC” grant from the Broomfield Community
Foundation. The grant monies will be awarded to five Broomfield families to attend theupcoming Wrightslaw conference.
• NEW: ASBC collaborated with the following partners to grant five Broomfield families a scholarship from Broomfield Community Foundation: Imagine!, International Dyslexia Association-Rocky Mountain Branch, Mile High Down Syndrome Association, Peak Parent Center, Learning Disability Association and EMPOWER Colorado.
Free Support Services:
• Lecture series provided to parents and professionals to educate on timely subjects for theASD Community.
• Support group series that offers an informal opportunity for parents to gather and
discuss issues or treatments currently used with their ASD loved ones.
• NEW: ASBC collaborates with the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, GRASP, to begin a Northern Colorado GRASP Network to include Boulder and Broomfield County.
Respite Grant:
• “Give Me A Break” respite grant is awarded to four families a year in need of a break.The grant provides the family with an ASA Member status and allows the caregivers a break to aid in normalizing the family dynamic that is impacted by ASD.
Scholarships:
• ASBC makes available scholarships to ASD families attending ASBC sponsored
educational programs. ASBC Autism Collection:
• Housed at the City of Louisville Public Library.
Legislation:
• NEW: ASBC attended Autism Society of America’s “Day on the Hill 2008!” Washington, DC in March 2008.
• NEW: ASBC attends Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) meeting in
Washington, DC in March 2008.
• NEW: ASBC lobbied Colorado’s Senators and Congressman in Washington, DC in March 2008.
• NEW: ASBC supports Colorado’s Developmental Disabilities End the Waiting List
Campaign.
Autism Awareness
“Through My Eyes” Art Show
• Local hospitals host first ASD art show in 2007 throughout Boulder and Broomfield
Counties.
• The “Through My Eyes” art show went International during USAAA biomedical
conference, in August of 2007.
• NEW: “Through My Eyes” will be present during Wrightslaw Conference in September 2008.
Outreach Programs:
• Collaboration with Boulder Police on making materials for the “Safety First Program” more accessible to the cognitively impaired.
• NEW: “Autism and Law Enforcement Roll Call Briefing” training for Boulder and
Broomfield. Participants to date are: Boulder City and County Sheriff, Erie, Broomfield, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Nederland, Broomfield Detention Center, Louisville Fire and Boulder Rural Fire Departments. Requests continue for this outreach program.
• NEW: ASBC co-sponsored Dennis Debbaudt’s presentation at the Fire Safety Educators of the Rockies Conference in Breckenridge April 23-25, 2008.
• NEW: Dennis Debbaudt was a Special Guest Lecturer, April 21, 2008 presenting Autism Risk & Safety Workshop for families, educators, and care providers.
• NEW: ASBC sponsored Autism Recognition, Response and Risk Management for Law Enforcement presented by Dennis Debbaudt for all Boulder and Broomfield City and County police on April 22, 2008.
• NEW: ASBC sponsored Captain William Cannata of the Westwood Fire Department Westwood, MA for autism training for the firefighters of Boulder and Broomfield City and County on April 21, 2008. In January of 2006, Bill became the MA statewide coordinator of Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition (ALEC).
• NEW: “Autism Community Awareness” Award. April 2008, ASBC recognized a local
Boulder County family during National Autism Awareness Month for bringing about
autism awareness in the community.
• NEW: ASBC presents Autism 101 during Boulder Evening Optimist Club August 19,
2008.
Community Collaboration:
• NEW: ASBC co-sponsored with Healthy Learning Paths of Broomfield “Understanding Autism” in February 2008.
• SketchUp, an award-winning design software product by Google. Makers of SketchUp reached out to their local Autism Society of America (ASA) chapter, Boulder County to learn more about autism and why their product was attractive to ASD individuals.
• NEW: Google and ASBC exhibit SketchUp during Autism Society of America’s July 2008 Conference in Orlando, Florida.
• NEW: ASBC exhibits at Pharmaca’s annual Natural Kids celebration, August 15, 2008.
The Autism Society of Boulder County relies on donations and volunteers to continue our efforts to support the community. |
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