the echo vol 10 issue 4

Calendar of Events:

Dec 1, 9:00 am, Newly

Diagnosed Workshop at

PFC Resource Center,

Room 414

The next HFA Support

Group will meet on

January 9, 2012.

The next Parent

Education Meeting will

be held on January 9,

2012.

Dec 13, 11:30 am, ALC

Support Group at Capt.

Jerry’s on Raeford Rd.

Dec 21, 9:30 am,

ABC Support Group at

PFC Resource Center,

Room 414

Board of Directors

Meeting will not be held

in December.

Dec 22, 9:30 am,

Preschool Support

Group, PFC Resource

Center, Room 414

Heidi Choice

Editor

December 2011 Volume 10, Issue 4

Board of Directors:

The Echo

Chris Leacock, President

Anna Finch, Vice President

Lydia Short, Secretary

Gwen Scott, Treasurer

Warren Aronson

Cynthia Billops

Dr. Debra Gillum

Brandy Mello

Staff:

Director of Programs and

Outreach:

Heidi Choice

Program and Outreach

Assistant:

Mary Potter

The Board of Directors and Staff

of the

Autism Society of Cumberland County

wish you and your family

Peace, Joy, and Happiness

during the

Holiday Season and the New Year.

December 2011

The Echo

Support Groups:

ASCC Monthly Support

Groups provide an opportu-

nity to share, learn, and

connect with others.

Parents, caregivers, guardi-

ans, and professionals are

welcome to participate in all

of our support groups.

The Autism Breakfast Club

(ABC) Support Group will

meet Wednesday, Dec 21 at

9:30 am at the PFC

Resource Center, Room

414. Focus: Families of chil-

dren with ASD up to age 12.

The Autism Lunch Club (ALC)

Support Group will meet

Tuesday, Dec 13 at 11:30

am at Capt Jerry’s on

Raeford Road. Focus: Fami-

lies of adolescents and

adults with ASD.

The Preschool Support

Group will meet on Thurs-

day, Dec 22 at 9:30 am at

the PFC Resource Center,

Room 414. Focus: Families

of young children with ASD

ages 1-5 years.

The Stedman Support Group

will meet on Monday, Dec 5

and Dec 19 at 6:00 pm at

the Stedman Recreation

Center. Focus: Families of

children, adolescents, and

adults with ASD. For more

information, please call

JoAnn Bass (910) 705-

5360.

Become a member of the Autism Society of

Cumberland County and help us sustain our

programs. Your $10 annual membership fee will

ensure your voting privileges in matters discussed

during Parent Education nights, priority selection

for scholarships, as well as the continuity of all

programs offered by the ASCC. You will also

receive a free 8”x 4” “Autism Awareness” car

magnet as displayed in the picture box. Please mail your $10 membership fee to the

ASCC, 351 Wagoner Drive, Suite 410, Fayetteville, NC 28303 today. Thank you!

Questions? Please call (910) 826-3004.

~Membership Drive~

~Vera Bradley Autism Awareness Bingo~

Thank you to all who helped make our 4th Vera Bradley Autism Awareness Bingo a

great success. We are grateful for all our volunteers who are very much appreciated!

Thank you also to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for allowing us to hold our event in their

Parish Hall once again. The following sponsors generously supported our event and

we sincerely appreciate their support:

Gold Level Sponsors

The Pilgrim Gift & Antiques

Dr. and Mrs. John C. Pollard

Mr. & Mrs. Ron and Liz Gillum

Bronze Level Sponsors

Ms. Enedelia Rhode

Ms. Heather Alford

Mr. & Mrs. Tony Mello

Ms. Martha Wright

Ms. Shanna Thurman

Dr. Francisco Japzon

Mr. Alan Sugar

Silver Level Sponsors

Dr. & Mrs. Donald Gaylord

Mr. & Mrs. Hank Finch

Ms. Gwendolyn Scott

Mr. & Mrs. Randolph Choice

CMSGT James Robert

Mr. & Mrs. Neil Kennedy

Ms. Monique Leacock

Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Francis

December 2011

The Echo

Wednesday night homework assignments include “Use vocabulary in a sentence.” S. picked the word “WILL”

and writes: “This is willy hard.” :)

~Something to Smile About~

A study by researchers at UC Davis has found that pregnant women with a particular gene variation are more

likely to produce autoantibodies to the brains of their developing fetuses and that the children of these mothers

are at greater risk of later being diagnosed with autism. The finding is the first to demonstrate a genetic

mechanism at play in the development of the neurodevelopmental disorder among some children -- offering the

possibility of a genetic test for some women at risk for having a child with autism, said Judy Van de Water, an

immunologist and the study's co-principal investigator. "Association of a MET genetic variant with autism-

associated maternal autoantibodies to fetal brain proteins and cytokine expression," is published online October

20 in the journal Translational Psychiatry, a Nature publication. "Our study gives strong support for the idea that,

in at least some cases, autism results from maternal immunity gone overboard," said Judy Van de Water, a

professor of internal medicine and a researcher affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute. "This is the first time

that a genetic factor known to be important in autism and its effects have been demonstrated." To read more,

please visit www.sciencedaily.com (NASET, Vol 7, Issue 39, October 28, 2011).

~Did You Know~

~Rhythm and Rhyme Sensory Story Time~

The Cumberland County Public Library’s Hope Mills Branch will offer a Rhythm and Rhyme

Sensory Story Time for exceptional children and their families on Saturday, December 17,

10:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. For more information about this new event, please call Vicki Sheeler

at 425-8455, ext. 225.

~Farewell~

Effective December 30, 2011, Ms. Mary Potter will leave her position as the part-time Program and Outreach

Assistant with the ASCC. We are immensely grateful for the superb service Mary has shared with us in the past

21 months and wish her well in her future endeavors. Mary was an avid supporter of the ASCC before she

became a paid staff and plans to continue these efforts in the future. She has expressed a desire to write a

small letter to our friends. Please enjoy her note below:

Dear ASCC Friends,

As has already been announced above, I am leaving my position as ASCC Program and Outreach Assistant as of

Friday, December 30, 2011. This change is bittersweet for me because while I am excited about focusing on my

graduate school studies, I have loved my time working for the ASCC and getting to know so many families.

Thank you for letting me serve the community in this position, and thank you for allowing me to learn with you

and from you. The ASCC, its Board of Directors, its staff, and all of its families are a wonderful support system

for me and my family, and for this I will be forever grateful. My daughter, CJ, and I look forward to seeing you all

at upcoming meetings, workshops, and other ASCC events.

With thanks, Mary Potter

351 Wagoner Drive, Suite 410

Fayetteville, NC 28303

Tel: 910-826-3004/3005

Fax: 910-868-5881

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.autismcc.org

“Supporting Individuals Within The Autism Spectrum”

Winner of the Autism Society of

North Carolina affiliate of the Year

Award—1996, 2002, & 2003

Make checks payable to:




Name:

Address:

Amount of Contribution:

Please remember the ASCC with your tax-deductible charitable contribution.

~Donations~

December 2011

Return Service Requested

The Autism Society of Cumberland County

is an affiliate of the Autism Society of

North Carolina.

Mission Statement:


is committed to providing support and

promoting opportunities which enhance

the lives of individuals within the autism

spectrum and their families.

Vision Statement:


strives to create a community where

people within the autism spectrum and

their families receive respect, services,

and supports based on individual

differences, needs, and preferences.

Disclaimer:


does not take any position regarding

studies of ASD, nor endorse any particular

form of treatment, intervention, or

therapy. This newsletter allows us to pass

along current information in the field of

ASD to our families and organization

members.

Funded In Part By:

~Membership~




Name: ________________________________

__ Parent/Caregiver __ Professional

__ Sibling __ Individual with ASD

Address: _______________________________

_______________________________

Telephone: _____________________________

Email: _________________________________

Annual Membership Categories:

__ Local ASCC Membership only: $10.00

(Make your check payable to: Autism Society of

Cumberland County

OR

__ Combined State & Local Membership: $45.00

(Make your check payable to: Autism Society of NC)

__ Yes, I would like $10 to be returned to

the ASCC for local membership fees.

)

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the echo vol 10 issue 4

Documents

preschool support group

stedman support group

hfa support group

echo support groups

pfc resource center

ascc monthly support

autism awareness car

stedman recreation center