"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,
Summer is here and we hope you are staying cool and safe! With schools out, children are often home and looking for things to do to fill the time. Unfortunately, some children and adults may wander off or try and access items in the house that are dangerous. With the generous support of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, we have put together Safety Kits for our clients who are at risk of wandering outside of the house. Read the article below to find out how to request your Safety Kit.
Beating the heat often involves cooling off in a pool, ocean, or gulf. This newsletter is filled with information about water safety, swim lessons, and a new swim lesson voucher program. Summer can also be a time when families travel. Don’t miss the article on the new Florida SAFE Act (HB 341) allowing you to register your loved one with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide first responders advance notice in case of emergency. To compliment the SAFE Act article, keep reading to find tips for effectively communicating with first responders in the Consultant Corner section.
If you need ideas to help keep your loved one engaged during this time off, we have articles on helping prevent the “Summer Slide” and the benefits of crafting along with a nutrition article with creative ideas to help encourage your child or adult to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Finally, please keep an eye on our social media platforms and your inbox for upcoming training opportunities for our clients, families, and professionals.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our newsletter. We hope to see you at one of our online or in-person events, meetings, or trainings in the near future. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at: autsim@med.fsu.edu.
Sincerely,
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Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Bureau of Exceptional Education Student Services (BEESS) Parent Survey
Parents, you have one more day to share your feedback! Please take a moment to fill out the Parent Survey for ESE Students. The FDOE needs your feedback to continue to improve ESE students' experiences in the schools.
All responses need to be submitted by June 30, 2024.
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FSU CARD - Safety Kits
We have a limited number (150) of Safety Kits to give to our registered clients who have a tendency to wander away or have limited safety awareness. Each kit includes:
2 door alarms
2 cabinet safety locks
2 seat belt covers
2 "Water Watcher" lanyards (1 English, 1 Spanish)
1 FSU CARD magnet
Thank you to Leon County Sheriff's Office for donating the Autism Awareness Seat Belt Covers and your generous donation to help us create these kits! We LOVE our community partner's.
If possible, please pick up your kit at your regional CARD office. We have offices in Tallahassee, Panama City, and Pensacola. For those who do not live close to a regional office, we will do our best to connect you with your regional CARD consultant for pick up, or mail the kit to you.
Tallahassee Office:
2312 Killearn Center Blvd.
Bldg. A
Tallahassee, FL 32309.
Panama City Office:
FSU PC Campus,
4750 Collegiate Drive
Barron Bldg., Rm A303
Panama City, FL 32405
Pensacola Office:
One Pensacola Plaza
125 West Romana Street
Suite 222
Pensacola, FL 32502
Please email autism@med.fsu.edu or call 850-644-4367 if you have any questions.
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Water Safety TipsBy: Crystal Grey-Hewett
With so many of us hitting the beach and the pool this summer, it is important to be mindful of making sure that our family members have the skills they need to be safe and have fun. This article outlines the importance of swim lessons in young children, and gives tips on what to look for in an effective swim program.
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New Swimming Lessons Voucher By: Crystal Grey-Hewett
The state of Florida recently passed legislation creating a voucher program for swim lessons. This is aimed at enabling lower-income families the opportunity to access water safety instruction for their children.
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HB 341: Florida's New Law Could Bring Awareness to Drivers with DisabilitiesBy: Tish Melton
A new law will go into effect in Florida on October 1st, allowing vehicle owners to designate whether they or someone in their vehicle has certain disorders and/or disabilities, including autism. The Florida SAFE Act legislation is aimed at enhancing safety and communication between law enforcement officers and individuals with disabilities or disorders in the state of Florida. The acronym "SAFE" stands for "Supporting Autism with Family Empowerment" and the SAFE Act is indeed a supportive measure designed to promote an inclusive community, where all members feel safe and supported.
The primary goal of the Florida SAFE Act is to provide law enforcement agencies with critical information about individuals in their communities who may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disabilities. This information will allow officers to better understand and appropriately respond to situations involving individuals with disabilities, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or escalation should an individual in a designated SAFE vehicle respond in a manner that is unexpected during a traffic stop or emergency situation. You can read the legislation (House Bill 341) tied to the Florida SAFE Act here.
The Florida SAFE Act provides for the creation of a statewide registry where individual drivers and their families can voluntarily submit information about their disabilities, including specific behaviors or communication challenges that law enforcement officers should be aware of. If a driver successfully registers as part of the SAFE Act with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (FL DMV), a designation of “SAFE” will be included in the information provided to officers when they “run” a vehicle tag, ensuring that law enforcement and other first responders have “advance notice that a person with whom they are about to interact has a developmental disability, mental illness, or other special need, ensuring that the person receives the specific response and care he or she requires” (HB 341). The disabilities included in the legislation are autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, down syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, deafness, blindness and any other mentally or physically limiting disorder. This information will be tied to the motor vehicle registration and can be removed at any time. Visit flhsmv.gov after October 1st to get more information about how to register with the FL DMV. You can also update emergency contact information at this site, which may aid in communication in the event of an accident or other situation.
In addition to adding special designations to vehicle tags through the SAFE Act, individuals with certain disabilities can also add special designations to a Florida driver’s license or an identification card. This will allow first responders and other service providers to have important information about individuals during encounters, providing for more effective communication and support. If you or someone else would like to make a change to their license, please click the button below. A portion of the form must be filled out by a physician. Legislation providing for adding the special designation to driver’s licenses and identified cards was signed into Florida law in late 2020.
Sources:
https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2024-05-07/hb-341-a-new-law-in-florida-will-help-bring-awareness-to-drivers-with-disabilities
https://www.fox13news.com/news/mom-sheriff-get-state-to-add-special-disability-designation-on-drivers-licenses
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Crafting and HobbiesBy: Crystal Grey-Hewett
Crafting is for everyone, and has a research base to back up its effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety. This article outlines the health benefits of crafting and gives ideas about how to get started. Also, we'd love to see YOUR crafts. Send in pictures of current and past projects to autism@med.fsu.edu, and you might be featured in a future newsletter!
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Preventing the "Summer Slide" By: Crystal Grey-Hewett
The summer is a great time to take a breath and give everyone, including the kids, a break. It's also a great time to focus on reading for fun and enjoyment and focusing learning on things we use in everyday life.This article gives tips on how to use the summertime to focus on fun experiential learning and prevent the infamous "summer slide."
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411 Teen Radio Show on WFSU - Autism SeriesBy: Cathy Zenko
We are so grateful to Dr. Liz Holifield for inviting FSU CARD and FSU Autism Institute faculty and staff to do a 4-part series on autism starting in April 2024. The first 3 sessions are available to stream on: https://news.wfsu.org/show/411-teen-on-88-9-wfsu-fm. The final session will air in early August 2024.
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Welcome Baby Kylie!
Our FSU CARD Consultant, Debi Cassidy, welcomed her 2nd grandchild this spring. Kylie Ann was born February 16, 7lb 10oz and 21 inches. Just 4 months later she has doubled her weight and weighs in at 15 lb 5 oz. She will call Debi G-Moma.
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Welcome Baby Alice!
Our FSU CARD Consultant, Tish Melton, welcomed her 1st granchild this summer. Baby Alice entered the world on March 28th weighing in at 8 lb 7 oz and measuring 20 inches long.
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Tips for Interactions with First Responders
By: Audra Burch
When you’re in an emergency situation, first responders are there to help. However, we as people with autism and those of us who care for and support them, can partner with them for more successful interactions.
When you’re in an emergency situation, first responders are there to help.
However, we as autistics and those who care for autistics, can partner with them for more successful interactions. Consider:
- Telling the first responder that you or the individual has autism (if you’re comfortable).
- Having important information ready to provide such as:
- Name and general information
- If you or the individual has an ID tag, bracelet, or card
- Inform first responders if you have identification before reaching for it
- Sensory diferences
- Common stimming behaviors used
- Medications used
- If someone with autism is missing, include:
* Photo of the individual
* The individual’s likes and dislikes
* High interest topics or items
* Possible favorite places
- Consider using:
- Calming sensory and/or familiar items
- Communication boards or devices used to communicate
- TRY using an FSU CARD pre-made communication board (see below)
-TRY using a pre-made information sheet like this one from our friends at Autism Risk & Safety Management (click button below)
TIPS:
• Try to stay calm.
• Know that first responders are there to help.
• Provide information as needed.
• If lights or sounds are causing sensory meltdowns, kindly request they be turned down or off.
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Summer Institute RecapBy: Cathy Zenko
We had another outstanding Summer Training Institute on Autism held via Zoom on June 18-20, 2024. We started off with “Science Tuesday” with Drs. Jed Elison and Amy Esler from the University of Minnesota. They shared information about the latest neuroimaging research, lessons from the Somalian autism community in Minnesota, and hot topics and practical implications in autism research and clinical practices. On Wednesday, Dr. Cathy Pratt from Indiana University shared practical strategies and information about working with students on the spectrum who have co-existing mental health concerns. Finally, we finished the Institute with Pete Wharmby who is an author, former teacher, father, and autistic adult who was diagnosed as an adult. The insights he shared from his various perspectives as an autistic person, employee, father, and teacher captivated the audience and led to several ‘ah ha’ moments. To read more about the 3-day Summer Training Institute, please visit the website below.
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PEPSA Partner Recruitment By: Lerena Fleck
About PEPSA The 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.
Why become a PEPSA Partner?
- Amazing professional development experience.
- Classroom support from CARD.
- Registration fee and travel stipend to offset costs of attending the Annual CARD Conference.
- Stipend upon the completion of the program to assist the educator or school leader with expenses associated with the Partnership Program.
- Certificate of completion to those who successfully complete the program.
- Opportunities and support to present your work professionally.
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Click the Links Below to Request Assistance
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Baby Navigator WebsiteThe 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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Encouraging Children to Eat Fruits and Vegatables
We all know that fruits and vegetables are staples of a healthy and fulfilling diet. This article contains several great tips for making these foods more appealing, both from a visual and tactile standpoint, and taking a sensory-friendly approach to incorporating these foods into everyday meal planning.
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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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