"The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) provides support and assistance with the goal of building the capacity of individuals, families, schools, and communities to optimize the potential of people with autism and related disabilities."
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Dear Friends,
The holidays are upon us, and from all of us at FSU CARD, we'd like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday season and wishes for a fruitful new year! While the holidays can be a very exciting time, it can also be difficult for children and adults on the autism spectrum. We have a couple of resources to help navigate this holiday season and all of the changes they bring in the Articles section below.
The 32nd Annual Statewide CARD Conference in Orlando Florida is just around the corner in January 2025. It is not too late to register! As we start off the new year, we have several training opportunities coming up for adults on the spectrum, educators, and caregivers. Please take a look at all of the articles in our Features section for more information.
Finally, the Client Corner section has all the links needed to request assistance from FSU CARD, information about Baby Navigator, and nutrition information.
If there is anything FSU CARD can do to help support your family, please let us know. You can reach us by emailing autism@med.fsu.edu or calling 850-644-4367.
Please note, the FSU CARD offices will be closed for the winter break starting Monday, December 23, 2024 and will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. Will will be checking our email and voicemail over the break, but most responses won't be until January.
Happy Holidays,
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32nd Annual Statewide CARD Conference REGISTER TODAY!
Registration is open for the 32nd Annual Statewide CARD Conference in Orlando, Florida on January 17-19, 2025. As always, sessions will focus on the most current information that benefits individuals with autism and their families. Scheduled speakers include former FSU CARD director Dr. Lindee Morgan and FSU CARD Consultant Crystal Grey-Hewett. Don't miss your chance to attend this amazing conference. Register TODAY!
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Autism Navigator for Classroom Success in PreK Through 2nd Grade Webinar Series- Starting January 2025
Mark your calendars for the 2nd Wednesday of every month starting January 8, 2025 for the start of the Autism Navigator Classroom Success in PreK Through 2nd Grade, 6-part webinar series. We hope to see you there!
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Supporting Your Child with a New Autism Diagnosis
Join CARD Consultants for a free webinar for parents with children who are newly diagnosed with autism, waiting for a diagnosis, or who have observed characteristics of autism in their child.
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Chase Money Skills Workshop
Sharing on behalf of Neuro Consulting Solutions. In collaboration with Chase Bank, Neuro Consulting Solutions is hosting FREE virtual financial literacy sessions that provide participants (16+) with knowledge on how to manage their personal finances, create a personal budget, and learn the tools to become financially independent! Session are on Thursdays from 6 - 7 pm EST from
January 23- February 27, 2025.
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Parents' Place: Social Communication Skills and Challenges-Achieving Success Together
Join CARD consultants for a two-part series for parents to learn how to build and support their child's social skills for improved interactions and stronger relationships.
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New Women and ASD Group for FSU CARD Clients
Join CARD consultants for bi-monthly meetings every other month to discuss topics of interest for women on the autism spectrum who are registered with FSU CARD.
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Congratulations to our Diana McLendon Excellence in Teaching Memorial Award Winners
We would like to congratulate all of the winners of the Diana McLendond Excellence in Teaching Memorial Award winners across the state of Florida. Each winner will be recognized during the first day of the 32nd Annual Statewide CARD Conference on Friday, January 17, 2025. Diana's daughter, Lauren will be there to congratulate each winner.
- FAU CARD: Jayna Smith, Palm Beach County
- FSU CARD: Elizabeth (Liz) Harvard, Okaloosa County
- UCF CARD: Mikinzie Wallace, Orange County
- UF-Gainesville CARD: Kathleen Jimenez, Hernando County
- UF-Jacsonville CARD: Paulya Fields, Duval County
- UM/NSU CARD: Darian Kessler, Miami-Dade County
- USF CARD: Jessica Cox, Charlotte County
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CARL THE COLLECTOR Event in TallahasseeBy: Dawn Merrix
On November 8th, FSU CARD attended the premiere of WFSU Public Media’s newest show, CARL THE COLLECTOR. Created by illustrator and author Zachariah O'Hora and a neurodiverse production team, this show introduces Carl, a lovable raccoon on the autism spectrum with a passion for collecting unique items. Through everyday adventures with his diverse group of friends, Carl navigates challenges and celebrates the beauty of neurodiversity. This free community event marking the launch of the first PBS KIDS show to feature central characters on the autism spectrum included a screening of new episodes, children’s activities, family resources, snacks, prizes, and a quiet room. Throughout the event, FSU CARD staff was available to answer questions and provide information about services and supports for individuals and families with autism related needs. Accessible in both English and Spanish, you can find more information about this animated series for children ages 4 to 8 years of age by visiting https://pbskids.org/videos.
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NextStep @ Endeavor Academy Training
In November, FSU CARD Director, Cathy Zenko, visited NextStep Endeavor and provided information on CARD services, a lesson on reading body language, and the role of therapy dogs. Best of all, she brought her beautiful goldendoodle, Ginger, who is herself a certified therapy dog! To see the pictures from this fun event and learn more about NextStep Endeavor's services, please visit their Facebook page.
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Minimizing Holiday Stress
The holiday season is a special time, but some changes may be difficult for autistic individuals and their families. This short article by Jason Hangauer, PhD, from the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, provides insight and strategies to make this time of year less stressful and more enjoyable!
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"Thoughts on Making Christmas or any Holiday Nicer for Your Autistic Family and Friends..."
By: Pete Wharmby
Pete Wharmby is an Autistic/ADHD bestselling author, speaker, trainer, and consultant who was one of our keynote speakers at the 2024 Summer Training Institute on Autism in June 2024. Pete just posted 6 thoughts from his perspective on how to make the holidays nicer for the autistic people in your life. Check out his post on LinkedIn below or follow him on his many social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X).
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TEACCH Tip #21 – Communicating Beyond Requests
This article from UNC TEACCH focuses on teaching social language and ways to foster that development. It has practical tips for working with emerging language learners, and help them take that next step up into communication that will help them in developing social relationships.
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Introducing our Partnership for Effective Programs for Students with Autism (PEPSA) Partners
The PEPSA Partnership Program is designed to provide training and technical assistance to educators, paraprofessionals, ESE administrators, or other school personnel (e.g., cafeteria staff, bus attendants, therapists, counselors, etc.) of school programs that aim to enhance the educational experience for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Each partner will be matched to a Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) professional who will mentor, provide support, resources, technical assistance, and training that is specific to the needs identified by the educator or school staff, to develop a plan for implementing innovative and effective practices within their school programs for students with ASD.
Debi Cassidy's PEPSA Partners
1st Year Partner: Stacey Styers is a Kindergarten CBS (Communication Behavioral Service) Autistic teacher at the Okaloosa County School District as a first-year teacher and a first year PEPSA partner. She graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northwest Florida State College in May 2024. Stacey holds teacher certifications from the Florida Department of Education in General Education (K-6), Exceptional Student Education (K-12) and is ESOL Endorsed. Prior to her teaching career, she worked as an Exceptional Student Education Paraprofessional for Okaloosa County Schools and has five years of experience teaching VPK.
2nd Year Partner: Janice Roberts is a dedicated educator in Okaloosa County with a passion for supporting students with autism. She holds a dual degree in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education from the University of West Florida. She also has an endorsement in autism spectrum disorders, reading and ESOL. Janice has spent 10 years teaching and empowering elementary students on the autism spectrum, with the last two years working with kindergarten students. She strives to create a nurturing, inclusive environment where each child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. In addition to classroom teaching, Janice also provides respite care for active-duty military families with special needs’ children. She actively collaborates with families to help support them and provide much needed. She has done this for the last six years.
Lerena Fleck's PEPSA Partners:
1st Year Partner: Joy Floyd is a Florida State University alumni with her BA in Elementary Education and is a first year PEPSA partner. She currently holds Reading and ESOL endorsements. Joy has worked in Franklin County Florida as a 1:1 aide, volleyball coach, substitute teacher, art teacher, paraprofessional, reading interventionist, and the past 9 years as a classroom teacher. Most of Joy’s teaching experience is in 4th grade and Prek inclusion classrooms. This year, she teaches Prek- ESE in a self-contained classroom setting. Joy is married with two school aged children, a dog, and parakeet. Since her oldest was born 9 years ago, she has spent many hours teaching herself ASL and learning about the deaf community and culture. She shares her passion by teaching ASL to her students whether they have a language/ speech need or not, and at summer youth programs.
2nd Year Partner: Faith Kirn has a degree in Speech/Language Pathology from Florida State University. After working as an SLP in a private practice, she entered the school system as a language resource teacher in a kindergarten classroom. She was then given the opportunity to go through the beginning teacher program and taught kindergarten for twenty years. She was a general education teacher, and each year had one or more students with varying disabilities. Following certification to teach English, Faith moved to Leon high school where she taught primarily underperforming students, some with 504 plans or IEPs. Looking for a change, Faith took the ESE certification test and moved to Gilchrist Elementary school teaching a K-5 VE class. This school year, her class was split into K-1 and 2-5 and she is teaching the younger students. She has incorporated strategies and curriculum she has learned about through her first year PEPSA partnership and loves how her paraprofessionals have whole-heartedly jumped on board and see the fruits of their labor as she moves into her second year PEPSA partnership.
Allison Leatzow's Partner:
1st Year Partner: Tiffani Jay, originally from Dothan, Alabama, moved to Florida in her twenties. She spent years working in restaurant and retail management, all while raising her first child, a son. Later, she met the love of her life, and they welcomed two more children. When her son was diagnosed with ADD and Autism, Tiffani felt inspired to become a teacher, especially after experiencing his journey through early development and speech delays. Driven by a desire to support and advocate for children with similar needs, she began working as a paraprofessional in a self-contained classroom. While working in this supportive role, she pursued her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. After graduating, Tiffani became an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) teacher at Riversink Elementary School in Wakulla County, where she’s currently in her first year of teaching and committed to creating a positive impact in her community.
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Click the Links Below to Request Assistance
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Baby Navigator Website
The Executive Director of FSU CARD and Director of the College of Medicine's Autism Institute, Dr. Amy Wetherby, launched the BabyNavigator.com website that walks parents through early childhood development and alerts them to early signs of autism. Please share this wonderful resource with anyone who is pregnant or has a baby 18 months old or younger.
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Nutrition, Cognition, and Affection: 10 Food Ideas that Support Your Child’s Brain Development
From the very beginning, what a child eats will affect their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth throughout their lifespan. This article on Psychologytoday.com by Dona Mathews, PhD, discusses how to establish healthy eating habits and help our family members establish a beneficial relationship with what they put into their bodies.
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Share with CARD
FSU CARD is continuously looking for clients who would like to share their art, writing pieces, or success stories in our quarterly newsletter. If you are interested in sharing for our next issue, please send a message and image electronically to FSU CARD (autism@med.fsu.edu). All art or writing pieces should be titled. Select submissions will be chosen for each edition of the newsletter; artists and authors will be notified if their article is chosen.
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