ASA/Oakland County Chapter Services & Resources

Resource Guide

The Autism Society of America/Oakland County Chapter is proud to present this April 2009 update of our Resource Guide for Families of Children and Adults with Pervasive Developmental Disorders including Autism, PDD, NOS, and Asperger’s Syndrome. [NOTE: if you are a provider or a provider that needs to have your information updated please drop us an email chapterinfo@asaoakland.org]

This guide is provided free of charge as a courtesy by the ASA/OCC. It is intended to be a convenient resource to be used for informational purposes only. The inclusion of resources contained herein does not constitute an endorsement by the ASA/OCC, its Board or members. Parents and families are advised to engage in their own investigation before commencing a given treatment or therapy. [Download your copy here]

Educational Grant Program

Each year, ASA/OCC awards grants to teachers and therapists for persons with autism in all kinds of educational settings in Oakland County. In the past, grants have been given for a variety of requests including books, software, therapy equipment, conferences and community outings. Applications are reviewed by a committee of ASA/OCC board members.

Grants are awarded in the amounts of $500 to $1,000. The 2009 deadline has passed. Approximately $40,000 in grants were awarded, and educators will be notified by early January 2010. If you have questions about the status of your application, contact Sally McInnes at chapterinfo@asaoakland.org.

2009 Camp Grant Project

The Autism Society of America - Oakland County Chapter (ASA/OCC) is pleased to announce a grant for $20,000 to Judson Center and the JCC to support a Summer Inclusion Camp Training and Consultative Services Program. Judson Center and the JCC will work collaboratively to provide training and consultative services to various local Oakland County organizations such as YMCAs and Parks and Recreation Departments providing summer inclusion camps for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Furthering its goal of improving the availability of affordable summer camp activities in the compunity for families of children with ASD, ASA/OCC has made to additional grants in the amount of $4,000 each for the purpose of funding inclusion camp aides for 2009 summer programs. Recipients of these grants are the Birmingham YMCA, Waterford Township Parks and Recreation, Independence Township Parks and Recreation, Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA) and Huntington Woods Parks and Recreation.

2008 ASA-OCC Oakland County Library Project

Hundreds of books and DVDs were donated to Oakland County public libraries in April 2008. The goal of this project was to provide free up-to-date information in 13 different ASD related subject areas to the general public. These 80 titles, valued at almost $9,000, are available at either your local Oakland County library or through interlibrary loan. A c omplete listing of these new resources is available

Autism Awareness Kit Available

This kit guides ASD Awareness Training for all ages of students, school employees, businesses and the community. Each module contains directions and a script for the facilitator. There are many hands-on displays with explanation cards.

The kit offers a "Box Full of Hope" to families who have a child with ASD. It explains the many components of the disorder in simple terms. It also includes an advocacy folder filled with information about local intervention sources, agencies, support groups, etc. The kit is an intervention tool filled with generic examples that can be easily adapted for specific students.

Please also use the kit to introduce Child Care Centers, Preschools and community programs to socialization issues, sensory integration dysfunction and speech and language delays. Early Intervention is critical to the success of children with ASD.

To borrow the kit, you must complete Autism Awareness Form. For more information, please contact Lisa Kowalski at 248-726-7682 or lisakowalski@wowway.com.

Download the latest version of our newsletter. [Download your copy here [ & PART2 Here] *NOTE: Newsletter is large & in TWO parts

Transition, Adult Living and Employment

ASA – Oakland County Chapter shares in the profits for these books when you order them through the ASA-OCC website. [Download a copy]