Serving the Office Product Needs of Select Businesses in Grant & Kittitas Counties April 2013

“Your Jerrol’s Business Journal” Home of the Rapid Response “Direct to Your Storage Shelf” Delivery System™

Our Iron Clad Guarantee:

Orders Placed by 4 pm any Business Day are Hand-Delivered

to Your Storage Shelf by 1 pm the Next Business Day

Help Us to Improve!.......If we fail to meet your expectations in any way please call me,

Rolf Williams, on my direct line at 509 899-0120 111 E University Way ● Ellensburg, WA 98926 ● Phone: (800) 858-2427 ● (509) 925-9851 ● Fax (509) 962-2131 ● www.Jerrols.com

April is Autism Awareness Month

In this special edition of the Jerrol’s Business Journal you will find several articles about Autism and how it has touched us at Jerrols . One of our core values is that everyone in our community has something to teach us and to contribute. We call this the Gerik clause, named after my son. This edition of the newsletter is one of our ways of living this value and sharing it with you. - Rolf

So, what can you do? By Corrie Ihrke

My husband just bought me an iPhone, my first smartphone ever. My life was complete before, but now I have a hard time functioning without it. But just imagine, for a moment, this wonderful new iPhone came without an operating system or any apps: no Safari app, no Facebook app, no iTunes app. All the information is there but there is no way to access or organize it. It’s very hard to find what you want, when you want it.

This is very similar to the mind of a little girl I know and love very much. Her name is Claire: she is my daughter, and she is autistic. Most of you probably have met (or know of) someone like her. My friend, Kevin Hall, once described it like this, “Autism is a mysterious neurological condition. It affects a person’s sensory perception in the mind, in a variety of degrees: it affects how information is gathered in their mind and categorized, it affects how they are able, or not [able] to communicate with others, [and] it leads to (often times) compulsive behavior. They live in their own universe.”

April is autism awareness month. So, what do I, as a parent of an autistic child who spends every waking moment facing this condition, need you to be aware of? 1) These children are amazing: hilarious, entertaining, hardworking, and have so much to teach us. 2) Their siblings grow up having compassion for anyone they meet with autistic tendencies and stop fighting with

each other (briefly) to celebrate each milestone accomplished by these amazing children. 3) Their parents are worn out, have been on heightened alert for as long as they can remember, and worry about

who will take care of the child when they no longer can.

So, what can you do? Be gracious and smile at us: getting out of the house is more of an effort than you can imagine. Be neighborly: when you see these children wandering the streets alone likely there is a phone number sewed into their clothes or engraved on a bracelet to call the parents who are frantically searching for them. And most of all, realize, that lost inside of that iPhone with no operating system, is a person not so different from yourself. - Corrie

Corrie, Kittitas County Delivery Driver, can be reached at Corrie@Jerrols.com, (509) 925-9851 or 800 858-2427

Claire and Corrie Share a Smile

Corrie Ihrke Your Kittitas County

Delivery Driver

Supporting Each Other Personal support from another parent, who has a child with similar needs, can be helpful in coping with the challenging experiences and feelings of having a child with special needs. Parent to Parent’s Supporting Parent volunteers are available to provide one-to-one support and information. Help! Parent to Parent relies on referrals from people like you to reach out to those that might need our services. All you need to do is pass on the information below or better yet get their permission to have P2P to call them and then pass that information on us. Kittitas County Parent to Parent contact Michelle Williams at rolftw@charter.net or (509) 929-7277 or www.kc-p2p.blogspot.com Grant/Adams County Parent to Parent contact Jennifer Newhouse at jnewhouse@mlchc.org or (509) 764-7424 or www.mlchc.org - Michelle Michelle Williams, Rolf’s Williams wife, and Jerrol’s long time bookkeeper and buyer of our gift and education / toy departments. She is also the coordinator of the Kittitas County Parent to Parent organization. She became involved with Parent to Parent after their son Gerik was diagnosed with classic autism. ______________________________________________

FREE Brownies

Ellensburg Chevrolet received a FREE box of Fairytale Brownies this month in our drawing from everyone who took our 2 minute monthly email survey sent to each client who ordered in March. Watch your inbox for your chance to win brownies and help us improve!

Referrals Red’s Fly Shop suggested the Canyon River Winery give us a try! They both received a FREE box of copy paper.

Parent to Parent in Kittitas & Grant Counties Parent to Parent is often the life line that parents and grandparents have once their child is diagnosed with autism or any

other special need from developmental delays to mental health. It is a national and state wide network with chapters in both Grant and Kittitas County. Parent to Parent is a network of families supporting each other by sharing information and resources, offering systems navigation and most importantly sharing emotional support. Parents often feel alone and uncertain when they first hear their child has a disability. Through sharing our parenting stories and experiences we provide first hand knowledge of the joys and trials of raising children with disabilities. We share what we have learned along the way. We find comfort in knowing we are not alone in this journey. We take support when we need it and give a hand to those who follow. We are parent led and know that every child and parent is unique. Together we can find answers, find acceptance (in ourselves and others) and be advocates for our children. P2P Program Includes… -Parent Support Meetings -Systems Navigation -Information/Referral -Family Activities -Educational Workshops -Newsletter -Keeping connected through Email/FaceBook -Supporting Parents Our Goal The goal of Parent to Parent is to give families the skills and support they need to help their children with intellectual/developmental disabilities, behavioral/emotional challenges, and/or chronic health conditions to reach their full potential. Our Hope Our hope is for families to feel less isolated, more informed, and more confident about themselves and their choices for their child.

Annual Autism

Community

Roundtable

Thursday April 25th

Donation Based Spaghetti Feed 6 - 6:30 pm

Roundtable 6:30 - 8 pm

Ellensburg Odd Fellows Lodge

307 N Pine St - Ellensburg We at Jerrol’s and the Ellensburg Odd Fellows Lodge team up each year to host a community roundtable on Autism. It is a chance to come and learn from individuals, parents, grandparents and community professionals what Autism means right here in our community. You can ask questions, share your stories and learn first hand about what happens when you hear the AUTISM diagnosis. Plan to attend if you have any interest in learning more and please share the enclosed flyer / poster with others who might want to attend. Information is available online at Autism.Jerrols.com or (509) 899-0120 or Rolf@Jerrols.com

What Is Autism? What Is Autism? What is Autism Spectrum

Disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. With the May 2013 publication of the new DSM-5 diagnostic manual, these autism subtypes will be merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal

My Personal Autism Journey

This will be my seventeenth year of a journey that will last the rest of my life and

half way or more through another. It is a journey that started with the birth of my son Gerik. Gerik has what is known as Classic Autism. He is virtually unable to express his wants and needs verbally, but does understand the spoken word. He can feed himself, but has difficulty getting dressed and brushing his teeth. He does have a job with the support of a one-on-one aid. He does ride his trike all over the yard, loves to play games and watch videos on a computer or Ipad. Knows how to switch users on a pc and find his favorite videos. He can carry his plates to and from the table, get his own coffee and water, but has trouble drying off after a shower. He has never been able to tell someone he is sick, has a headache, is scared or lonely. He can show that he is mad or tired. He gives hugs, loves to wrestle and be tickled. He laughs all the time and is the most persistent person I know. When he wants something he never gives up until he gets it. And remember he does this with out speaking. I have discovered in the past couple of years that Gerik is my best friend. We spend every moment we can riding a snowmobile all over the woods, at least twice a week until we can’t find enough snow. This lasts from November through late spring. In the summer we go canoeing almost every evening. He just can’t get enough of it. Mom (Michelle) often comes with us, but I can always count on Gerik come freezing temperatures, snow heat or wind! Rolf can be reached at (509) 925-9851 or Rolf@Jerrols.com

before and during birth. They include advanced parental age at time of conception (both mom and dad), maternal illness during pregnancy and certain difficulties during birth, particularly those involving periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain. It is important to keep in mind that these factors, by themselves, do not cause autism. Rather, in combination with genetic risk factors, they appear to modestly increase risk. A growing body of research suggests that a woman can reduce her risk of having a child with autism by taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid and/or eating a diet rich in folic acid (at least 600 mcg a day) during the role of the immune system in autism. Autism Speaks is working to increase awareness and investigation of these and other issues, where further research has the potential to improve the lives of those who struggle with autism.

What Does It Mean to Be “On the Spectrum”? Each individual with autism is unique. Many of those on the autism spectrum have exceptional abilities in visual skills, music and academic skills. About 40 percent have average to above average intellectual abilities. Indeed, many persons on the spectrum take deserved pride in their distinctive abilities and “atypical” ways of viewing the world. Others with autism have significant disability and are unable to live independently. About 25 percent of individuals with ASD are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other means. Autism Speaks’ mission is to improve the lives of all those on the autism spectrum. For some, this means the development and delivery of more effective treatments that can address significant challenges in communication and physical health. For others, it means increasing acceptance, respect and support. months before and after conception. Increasingly, researchers are looking at the role of the immune system in autism. Autism Speaks is working to increase awareness and investigation of these and other issues, where further research has the potential to improve the lives of those who struggle with autism.

This article is printed from AutismSpeaks.com

The Autism Awareness ribbon The puzzle pattern of this ribbon reflects the mystery and complexity of autism.

The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of people and families living with autism.

The brightness of this ribbon signals hope—hope through research and increasing awareness in people like you.

disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art. Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. Autism Speaks continues to fund research on effective methods for earlier diagnosis, as early intervention with proven behavioral therapies can improve outcomes. Increasing autism awareness is a key aspect of this work and one in which our families and volunteers play an invaluable role.

How Common Is Autism? Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 88 American children as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years. Careful research shows that this increase is only partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness. Studies also show that autism is four to five times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. By way of comparison, more children are diagnosed with autism each year than with juvenile diabetes, AIDS or cancer, combined.* ASD affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. Moreover, government autism statistics suggest that prevalence rates have increased 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. There is no established explanation for this continuing increase, although improved diagnosis and environmental influences are two reasons often considered.

What Causes Autism? Not long ago, the answer to this question would have been “we have no idea.” Research is now delivering the answers. First and foremost, we now know that there is no one cause of autism just as there is no one type of autism. Over the last five years, scientists have identified a number of rare gene changes, or mutations, associated with autism. A small number of these are sufficient to cause autism by themselves. Most cases of autism, however, appear to be caused by a combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early brain development. In the presence of a genetic predisposition to autism, a number of nongenetic, or “environmental,” stresses appear to further increase a child’s risk. The clearest evidence of these autism risk factors involves events

Richard Navarro Leaves the Jerrol’s Team

Richard, our Grant County Sales Representative has left our team to pursue a possible future in politics. For those of us who know Richard it seem like a perfect fit. Sarah Peters will be taking over for Richard. If you have not met her, give her a call at 800 858-2427 or email Sarah@Jerrols.com to arrange a meeting. She will be in Grant County weekly. Grant County clients will continue to receive their orders daily by the Jerrols Delivery Team which consists of Robin, Nic, Corrie and from time to time both Sarah and Rolf.

Sarah can be reached at Sarah@Jerrols.com or (509) 899-4004

Let the camping season begin!!!

This is the time of year that my family and I enjoy the most. Camping together is something we look forward to all winter long. We love going hiking, bike riding, fishing, eating all the goodies, and of course making a ton of memories. Every year we have to hit our usual spots; Taneum, Scooteney & French Cabin Creek, and it’s always fun to

check out some new ones too! The new one this year that has the boys very excited, dad included, is Steam Boat Rock on Banks Lake. They hear the fishing can be excellent…………….. And my boys love to fish. For my family camping is a time for us to slow down and spend some time together. I encourage you and your family to find that special thing that draws you together and “GO

MAKE SOME MEMORIES”!! - Jessica Jessica can be reached at Jessica@Jerrols.com, (509) 925-9851 or

800 858-2427

Time to apply Liquid Fence

Now that some of the tulip bulbs are up 3 - 5 inches I’ve noticed some of

the tops have been chewed off! I was waiting as long as possible before applying Liquid Fence because applying while windy, rainy or

snowy makes the product much less effective. However, now that the little freeloaders have discovered the bountiful buffet line, I need to get out there and set (spray) some boundaries and draw my line in the

sand!! This week after work the application process will commence!! (Let’s hope for a day that has no wind, rain or snow). -Sarah Sarah can be reached at

Sarah@Jerrols.com or

(509) 899-4004

Sarah Peters Your Kittitas County Sales Representative

Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate

FREE Copy Paper

To:_____________________________ Courtesy of: ____________________

Jerrol's Office Supply Co. has been an excellent supplier for my business. They have anything you’ll need to run your business – Printers and Printer Supplies, Paper, File Cabinets & Office Furniture, Break Room Supplies & Janitorial Products. Orders placed by 4 pm are delivered the very next business day by 1 pm via their “Rapid Response – DIRECT TO YOUR STORAGE SHELF – Delivery System™. They can

help you too. Use this coupon for a FREE Box of Copy Paper with a purchase of $50.00 or more. This special offer is for qualified first time clients who set up and order via an online account. It is limited to one per client. It can only be redeemed via an online office supply order

account and has no cash value.

Full Instructions on the Other Side 111 E. University Way ● Ellensburg, WA 98926 ● 800 858-2427 ● (509) 925-9851 ● Fax 509 962-2131 ● Order@Jerrols.com

A gap in the fence!

I’m in, Oh the buffet!

Uh Oh, I’m busted!!

Richard Navarro Politician??

Jerrol’s Office Supply Co. 111 E University Way

Ellensburg, WA 98926

800 858-2427 • (509) 925-9851

Order@Jerrols.com

The Jerrol’s Business Journal April 2013

Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate

To Redeem Your FREE Copy Paper Certificate 1.) Email Order@Jerrols.com with “online ordering account” as the subject line and your contact information in the body of the email. OR Call (509) 925-9851 or 800 858-2427 and ask for the business sales team 2.) We will set up your account in minutes and have you up and running 3.) A full 1407 page catalog will be delivered to you the next day 4.) Place your first order of $50.00 or more and we will bring you a FREE Box of Copy Paper

Not Valid for In Store Purchases

111 E. University Way ● Ellensburg, WA 98926 ● (509) 925-9851 ● Fax (509) 962-2131 ● Order@Jerrols.com

Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate - Referral Certificate

See the inside back cover to learn how you can pass this certificate on to a friend

And receive a FREE Box of Copy Paper

April is Autism

Awareness Month