Welcome to ASPEN

The Road to Independence for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: High School and Beyond
March 22, 2009

Please mark your calendars, you won't want to miss our spring conference on Sunday, March 22nd at the Hilton Woodbridge!

Keynote Presentation

Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome, presented by Ann Palmer

Panel Discussion

Choosing the Right College, presented by parents and college students

Afternoon Workshop Sessions

Conference attendees will choose two of the following five afternoon workshops.

• What About Driving?, presented by Allison Devor
• Time Management for Dummies: Take Control of Time Before It Takes Control of You!, presented by Vincent Varrassi
• Asperger's Plus: Comorbid Conditions, presented by Dr. Sherie Novotny
• Vocational Options and Planning, presented by Lauren Klein and Peggy Himsl
• For Fathers Only, presented by Carl Newman

About Our Speakers

• Ann Palmer is the Director of Advocacy and Chapter Support for the Autism Society of North Carolina. Previously, she was the Parent Support Coordinator for Division TEACCH where she developed a volunteer parent mentor program that served five TEACCH Centers and provided support to more than 800 families in North Carolina. She has published two books: Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome: A Parent's Guide to Student Success and Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum: Unexpected Lessons We've Learned, the Autism Society of America's 2007 Literary Work of the Year, which she co-authored with Maureen Morrell. Ann's son Eric has autism and is 25 years old.
• Allison Devor, MS, OT/L received her Master's degree from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 2000 and her undergraduate degree at Trenton State College in 1996. She has been a staff and senior occupational therapist in the Center for Head Injuries of the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute for the past seven years. Allison is also a certified driving instructor in the Outpatient Rehabilitation service of the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.
• Vincent Varrassi, MA has an M.A. in Learning Disabilities and an M.A.T. in Social Studies Education, and was the Campus Director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities from 1999 through 2008 after 27 years of working in public education. He is an Educational Consultant and LDT-C with a private practice in NJ and Delaware that specializes in assisting students with disabilities such ADHD, Asperger Syndrome and Learning Disabilities succeed in high school and make a successful transition to college and career.
• Lauren Klein, MS received her MS degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and is employed by Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest in East Orange, New Jersey as the Coordinator of Rehabilitation Services. She has presented throughout the State of New Jersey on the effectiveness of vocational evaluations in career and transition planning. Lauren is the recipient of the 2008 International Association of Jewish Vocational Services Ron Coun Award which recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of Jewish Commual service. She also received the 2008 New Jersey Rehabilitation Association Meritorious Service Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of Rehabilitation and to enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities.
• Peggy Himsl, MA received her MA in Rehabilitation Counseling from Seton Hall University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. She has been employed by Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest in East Orange since 1976 where she is currently Associate Director of Rehabilitation Services. Peggy is Past President of the New Jersey Rehabilitation Association and of the Northeast Rehabilitation Association. She is a recipient of the NJRA Practitioner of the Year Award and the NERA President's Award.
• Carl Newman has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University. Currently the President of the Ada Budrick Early Learning and Childcare Center in Boonton, NJ, he considers his most important title to be "Father" to his three daughters and son, Charlie, who has an autism spectrum disorder and is the subject of his workshop.

How to Register

Please print and complete both sides of the registration form, available here in PDF format.

For More Details

Download our Spring Conference catalog available here in PDF format.

Location Information

Hilton Woodbridge, 120 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, NJ

For hotel accommodations, please call 1-800-HILTONS as soon as possible in order to receive the best available rate at the Hilton Woodbridge.

Submitted by Vincent Varrassi

On Friday, November 14th our President, Lori Shery received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from ASAH, a professional organization of private schools and agencies in New Jersey providing specialized services to over 11,000 infants, children and young adults with disabilities. Lori was recognized on behalf of her tireless efforts on behalf of children, adults and families with Asperger Syndrome.

In her speech accepting the award, Lori commented,

"I would like to thank ASAH for this wonderful honor... when my son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 9 in 1996, I didn't know of one other parent whose child had this disability...

There were no support groups, and there was only one book written on the subject at that time (and it) painted a very bleak picture for the future of our loved ones... I work with a dedicated group of parent volunteers who give generously of their time and their hearts to provide support, information and advocacy so that today's children and young adults on the Autism spectrum have a better future."

In thanking the membership of ASAH, Lori remarked,

"in the 12 years since ASPEN's inception, i have had the opportunity to meet and work with hundreds of professionals like you who view their work not just as a job, but as a mission... on behalf of ASPEN and the families we serve, thank you, thank you, thank you for making a such tremendous difference in so many lives."

And thank you Lori for all you have done for the rest of us, the families and friends of the Asperger community in New Jersey. Congratulations on a well deserved award.

The State of New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force is asking about the type of services you or your adult family member with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger's Syndrome) need. This new state task force can't help us unless it gets very specific facts about our adults' needs.

Make sure the Task Force's recommendations accurately reflect the services you want:

• Is it housing assistance?
• Employment assistance?
• Education or training?

New Jersey can't help unless it knows the extent of the problem and the type of services we need. This is your opportunity to speak directly to a state-level task force that will listen. Please take this important online survey now. It should only take 10-15 minutes.

Please do it now before you forget. Every NJ Asperger's family will thank you!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=x33lcx4bxbMZ6Bwm55ApOQ_3d_3d

Please feel free to forward this request to your distribution lists. Our goal is to capture data from as many ASD individuals over the age of 14 as possible.

Thanks for your help!

The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is now accepting applications for the Fall 2009 Schwallie Family Scholarship Competition to support qualified individuals with autism or Asperger Syndrome in the United States pursuing post-secondary education.

OAR will present a total of 5 awards of $3,000 each a cross three categories:

1. Four-year undergraduate college or university;
2. Two-year undergraduate college, and;
3. Trade, technical or vocational school.

These will be one-time awards for any recipient.

Please visit the ResearchAutism.org website for more details.
http://www.researchautism.org/news/otherevents/scholarship.asp

Your online purchases are also gifts to ASPEN.

By traveling to Amazon.com via the link below, Amazon will donate up to 20% of your total sale to ASPEN.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/aspaspsynedun-20

Thank you for your support!

Beautiful ASPEN donation cards

Acknowledge a special event by making a donation to ASPEN. Send one in honor of a birth, a graduation, a birthday, an anniversary, or in memory of someone special and a beautiful card will be sent to the person or family to let them know of your generosity and concern. In addition to supporting and promoting ASPEN, you will be promoting awareness of Asperger Syndrome.

Minimum donation is $10 per card. Please contact Ann Hiller at 1-732-446-7610, 6 Danielle Drive, Manalapan, NJ 07726, or by email at ann0912@aol.com.

You can order cards one at a time and have them sent out directly by our Secretary, Ann Hiller, or purchase several at $10 each to keep on hand and then send out yourself when the occasions arise.

Congratulations to Mr. James Bayley, resource room teacher in the Emerson public School District and recipient of ASPEN's 2nd Annual Inspiration in Education Award.

Nominated by parent and ASPEN member Lisa Corcoran, Mr. Bayley was honored at our 23rd Semi-Annual Conference held on October 24th. We are thrilled to recognize educators who have gone above and beyond in creating environments where our children are able to thrive.

Thank you, Jim Bayley!