Prevalence of Parent-reported Autism

The Help Group & Music for Autism present an interactive concert for individuals with autism and their families. Music for Autism offers professionally performed, enriching musical experiences in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. The one-hour interactive concert includes three segments – “concert time,” “conducting time” and “percussion time” – where concertgoers are invited to join the experience with their movement and provided instruments. 

The show on Sunday, March 3 at 1:00 pm, will feature The Lyris Quartet, a string quartet who have performed at the most prestigious chamber music venues in Los Angeles.  The performance is free and will take place at The Help Group Autism Center Theater, 13164 Burbank Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91401.

All Music for Autism concerts are fully subsidized for those with autism and their families, but RSVPs are required. Please RSVP under the “Concert Calendar” on www.musicforautism.org (preferred) or by calling 877.863.7473 x1.

ABOUT MUSIC FOR AUTISM

Music for Autism is raising public awareness and enriching lives through autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. The concerts, held in the United States and United Kingdom feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners and Grammy-nominated classical artists.

The Help Group is pleased to announce the launch of Paws and Pals for Kids with Autism, a volunteer-supported pet intervention program offered at its Sherman Oaks and Culver City Campuses. Volunteers from Therapy Dogs, Inc. and Autism Service Dogs of America visit The Help Group’s autism schools on a weekly basis with their specially trained and registered therapy and service dogs. 

Students attending The Help Group autism schools and camps last summer were the first to be greeted by volunteer Vicky Marsh and her dachshund Clyde. Volunteers like Vicky are placed in a variety of small group settings, including classrooms and day camps, where they have the opportunity to facilitate interaction between their pets and the students. Vicky shared, “It was such a rewarding experience spending time with the amazing children and staff. The kids are happy and enthusiastic and greeted Clyde and me with warm smiles and happy hearts. The Help Group is a special place.” 

“Animals can have a very positive impact and present an avenue for social interaction and communication,” said Dr. Barbara Firestone. “The Help Group is thrilled to offer this dynamic new program.”

Students show increased motivation in the presence of handler-and-dog teams, which can be a valuable tool for teachers to help students initiate conversation; share in reciprocal exchange, and social interaction with peers. Students from Village Glen School practiced reading and letter writing using the visiting dogs as the topic. Non-verbal students in Sunrise School are using their Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to communicate about the dogs in their classrooms. 

Although some children may find it difficult to relate to and communicate with their peers, relating to animals can be a natural, soothing and non-judgmental experience. “Handler-and-dog teams can encourage social interaction and boost our students’ self-esteem and confidence,” said Pamela Clark, Director of The Help Group Autism Schools. “Pet intervention programs can also lead to increased motivation and decreased anxiety in our students.” 

Paws and Pals teams have already integrated into classrooms to achieve these educational objectives and to help students develop skills that can ultimately be transferred to relationships with peers and teachers. 

A very special thanks to the remarkable Paws and Pals volunteers for sharing their pets with our students and to Lisa Manafian, Help Group Special Projects Coordinator, for her efforts in developing this program. Paws and Pals is off to a great start!

Note: This article appears in the Winter 2013 edition of HelpLine. Follow this link to download the newsletter.

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The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance is an innovative partnership between The Help Group and the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and is dedicated to enhancing and expanding clinical research in the education and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to contributing to the development, greater understanding and use of best practice models by researchers, educators and clinicians. 

Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson is the Director of The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance and Director of the UCLA PEERS®  Program (Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills), an outpatient clinic providing parent-assisted social skills training for adolescents and young adults with ASD and other social impairments. PEERS® classes focus on skills like having conversations, joining conversations, choosing appropriate friends, having get-togethers with friends, handling arguments and peer conflict, and handling teasing and bullying.

Previous research with PEERS®, conducted through The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance, examined improvement in social skills following a teacher-facilitated version of the program. In this study, middle and high school students at The Help Group’s Village Glen School were given daily instruction from teaching staff in the rules and steps of social behavior related to making and keeping friends. Research findings showed significant improvement in social skills for students receiving the program.

In a new study conducted by Dr. Laugeson, researchers are investigating the effectiveness of a virtual social coach mobile application for teens with ASD.  Using a parent-assisted version of the PEERS® program, parents and teens meet weekly in separate co-occurring groups for 90-minutes in the evening over a 14-week period. Parents are taught how to help their teens make and keep friends by acting as social coaches outside of the group. Teens are presented with social skills lessons and then practice the skills they just learned during socialization activities. Homework assignments are also given each week to make sure teens are practicing the skills they are learning.

The study aims to test the effectiveness of adding a mobile application used as a supplementary social coaching tool in conjunction with the 14-week PEERS® intervention. The PEERS® Virtual Social Coach mobile application consists of a menu of lesson plans based on the PEERS® curriculum with embedded video demonstrations of what the skills should or should not look like, providing step-by-step instruction and video modeling of the targeted social skills. As part of the study, teen participants will receive an iPod iTouch mobile device with the PEERS® Virtual Social Coach application to keep even when the study is over.

For more information on the PEERS® Virtual Social Coach study, please contact the research team at (310) 267-3377 or peersclinic@ucla.edu. 

 THE HELP GROUP PRESENTS
” HOW TO PROTECT OUR KIDS IN THE CYBER WORLD” BY TRACY WEBB

SHERMAN OAKS, CA (January 23, 2012) – The Help Group Distinguished Lecturer Series will feature a special presentation by cyber-crime expert Tracy Webb – How to Protect Our Kids in the Cyber World: Strategies for Parents & Professionals – on Thursday, January 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m. In this informative and engaging presentation open to the community at large, Ms. Webb will provide tools to aid parents, educators and mental health professionals in helping children and teens take advantage of the benefits of today’s fast-growing technology while staying safe online.

Young people spend increasing amounts of time on the internet – instant messaging, texting, emailing, and posting images on social sites like Instagram and Facebook. It can be a challenge for parents and professionals to understand and monitor the ever-changing technology and ensure their children are protected from online predators.

Tracy Webb is a Senior Trial Attorney in charge of the Cyber Crime and Child Abuse Prosecution Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office. She is a career prosecutor who has spent the majority of her career prosecuting child abuse cases, including physical, sexual, exploitation and technologically facilitated crimes against children. Ms. Webb is an active member of the Federal Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force and co-chair of the Los Angeles County Cyber Crime Task Force.

The lecture will be held at The Help Group, 13164 Burbank Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91401. Tickets are $10 for general admission or $30 for professionals seeking continuing education credits.  Please visit www.thehelpgroup.org or call (818) 779-5212 to register. 

About The Help Group

Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children with special needs related to autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems.

www.facebook.com/thehelpgroup                                         www.twitter.com/thehelpgroup

The Help Group’s Kids Like Me programs are specially designed for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental challenges. Kids Like Me provides opportunities for children to have fun, connect with others, learn new skills, make friends and enjoy a sense of belonging. Registration is now open for a variety of winter after-school classes and activities, including social skills groups, the Miracle Project Theater Program, tennis, ballet, karate, chess masters and more. All programs are overseen by highly trained professionals and address specific age and ability levels.

Children on the spectrum can benefit from enjoyable activities that allow them to build their social and communication skills, engage in peer interaction and develop meaningful friendships. Although kids with autism are often hesitant about participating in sports or other new activities, current research has shown that modifying and adapting these activities to address their specific needs can result in more positive social experiences and improve their social skills over time. Improved social skills can in turn lead to higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and a newfound sense of belonging among peers and in their community.

Best of all, these programs allow kids with special needs to just be kids. Children and adolescents can try a new sport, make friends, learn to be a ballerina, put on a play for an audience and so much more in an environment that is supportive and non-judgmental. Every child deserves the opportunity to have fun and enjoy life, especially those who face challenges that many of their peers do not.

Social development and interaction is a vital piece of daily life for many children with autism. Far too often, these children find it difficult to make new friends or maintain the relationships they had when they were younger. The importance of teaching them to learn new skills and engage with peers cannot be stressed enough; it is an essential learning opportunity they can use to develop lasting relationships, improve self-confidence, and take steps toward a successful adult life.

Nicole Webb, MS, is the Program Director of The Help Group’s Kids Like Me and can be reached at nwebb@thehelpgroup.org or 818-778-7136.

Here are just a few of the families who will benefit from your generous support of our online holiday giving campaign:

Luisa is a survivor of domestic violence and currently raising three children, ages one, four and nine. Luisa’s middle child, Andres, attends The Help Group’s Stepping Stones Therapeutic Preschool Program. Always in search of a safe place to live, Luisa and her children have moved from shelter to shelter and from apartment to apartment due to lack of income. Andres arrives at school every morning wearing ill-fitting clothes – shoes too big to run around the playground, pants that drag on the ground and a stained jacket with a broken zipper.  Toward the end of the month when Luisa’s food stamps have run out, Stepping Stones provides Andres with a lunch so he has something to eat mid-day. Luisa attends every parenting class at Stepping Stones and is an active participant in Andres’ program, but she is struggling to pay her rent and put dinner on the table every day.

Maria and Felipe are in their 70’s and in poor health, but have adopted their five grandchildren, all of whom have developmental delays and learning disabilities due to exposure to drugs and alcohol while their mother was pregnant.  Stepping Stones has served four of the five children, and the youngest is preparing to graduate in January.  Maria has been an active participant in the Stepping Stones program since 2008 by attending parent meetings and family therapy. The whole family lives in a one-bedroom apartment, and the children share two twin mattresses every night. Between medical bills from Maria’s recent illness and the grocery bills to feed this family of seven, there is no money this year for a Christmas tree or gifts for the children.

Rubina and her children have been clients of The Help Group’s Outpatient Services for the last two years. Rubina is a single mother to three children – two boys, one of whom has special needs, and a daughter – and is committed to providing a stable, nurturing home for her family. Rubina works part-time, relying on her parents to provide child care, but she does not have a car, so she spends more than $100 every month on bus fare to get to work, to attend appointments with her therapy team at The Help Group’s Van Nuys Campus and take her special needs child to the doctor. The whole family desperately needs new winter coats to keep them warm and dry while waiting for the bus, but Rubina can’t even afford second-hand coats on her limited income.

These are just a few of the thousands of families served by The Help Group throughout the year. Contributions to the online giving campaign will do so much to make the holidays brighter for these needy families. Donations will pay for presents for the children, groceries for the whole family, holiday decorations and special gifts like musical instruments and computers. The Help Group is grateful to its community of friends for their generous support of this holiday giving campaign. Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season.

*Names have been changed to protect the families’ privacy.

This month The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf launched its annual Holiday Campaign to support the children of The Help Group.

Beginning on November 5^th, for every purchase of a Holiday Blend Coffee bag or Winter Dream Tea tin, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will donate $1 to The Help Group.

On November 23^rd, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will launch its “Deck the Walls” promotion. Customers who visit their local The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store can purchase one or more $1 holiday stickers to decorate the walls of the store. One hundred percent of the holiday sticker purchases will benefit The Help Group.

“The Help Group is most grateful to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for its ongoing commitment to our efforts on behalf of children with special needs and their families. These holiday campaigns demonstrate the true spirit of the season and raise significant funds to benefit the children,” said Dr. Barbara Firestone, President & CEO of The Help Group.

Bridgeport Vocational Education Center (the Voc Ed Center) is a unique learning environment for young adults with special needs ages 18 to 22 where they can develop and master the critical skills necessary for a successful transition from school to adult independence. This one-of-a-kind program embeds core academics within community-based instruction and vocational education, which includes on-the-job training at several on-campus businesses, as well as at various community businesses.

Vice Principal Andi Ambartsumyan, who conceived the idea for this Thanksgiving event, stressed the importance of community service for the students. Led by Andi as well as Vice Principal Ngan Mork, the Voc Ed Center educational team and all 65 students planned and organized an outstanding event.

Guests were greeted by eager students and escorted to tables overflowing with Thanksgiving fare and all the trimmings. Food for the event was generously donated by Fresh & Easy and Active A/C and Heating.

Gemma Jimenez, field deputy for Senator Alex Padilla (20^th SD), member of the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders, said the Senator and his staff were thrilled to receive an invitation from the Bridgeport Voc Ed Center student who currently interns in the district office.

Special thanks to all the Voc Ed Center faculty, to parent Magdalena Beltrán-del Olmo, and to Father Vincent Schwahn, rector of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, for coordinating with community organizations to reach out to those in need.

Guest Maria expressed her thanks for the hospitality, “It is wonderful that you have provided such a delicious meal. Thank you for everything, and God bless everyone here.”

Pamela Clark, Director of The Help Group’s Autism Schools, summed up the event by observing, “Today’s Thanksgiving event was a beautiful experience not only for our guests, but also for the Voc Ed Center’s young adults, who participated in every aspect of making today such a success. We can’t wait to do this again!”

The conference was chaired by The Help Group President & CEO Dr. Barbara Firestone, and UCLA Semel Institute Director Peter C. Whybrow, MD and Chief of Medical Psychology/Neuropsychology, UCLA-Semel Institute, Robert M. Bilder, PhD. Keynote speakers included David Amaral, PhD; Richard Lavoie, MA, MEd; Eric Fombonne, MD; and presenters included Robert Accordino, MD, MSc; Bruce Baker, PhD; Jan Blacher, PhD; Stephanie Bodison, OTD, OTR/L; Jason Bolton, PsyD; Florence Clark, PhD; Pamela Clark, MA; Pamela Crooke, PhD; Diane M. Danis, MD, Shannon Des Roches Rosa; Amy Griffiths, PhD; Diane Haager, PhD; Stephen Hinshaw, PhD; Ted Hutman, PhD; Jane Kim, MS; Elizabeth Laugeson, PsyD; Pamela Lein, PhD; Philip Levin, PhD; Pat Levitt, MD; Sara McCracken, PsyD; David Miklowitz, PhD; Robert Suddath, MD; Jane Tavyev Asher, MD; Judy Van De Water; PhD; Louis Vismara, MD; and Janis White, EdD.

David Ono, co-anchor of ABC 7 Eyewitness News and multi-award winning reporter, emceed the Summit luncheon. In welcoming the sold-out crowd, he said. “ABC is proud to once again be the media sponsor for this fantastic event that brings together so many researchers, clinicians, educators and parents all dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults affected by autism, learning disabilities and ADHD.”

Dr. Firestone presented The Help Group’s 2012 Champion for Children Award to Senator Carol Liu, California State Senate, 21st District and member of the Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders. “Senator Liu is an ardent advocate on behalf of individuals with autism,” said Dr. Firestone. “We are immensely grateful for her many efforts and dedication to the children of California.”

To cap off the luncheon proceedings, The Help Group’s Children’s Choir performed a wonderful musical tribute to Sen. Liu, First 5 California and ABC 7 and everyone gathered.

Harry Winston, Inc. Launches the

Harry Winston Hope Collection™ Bracelet

100% of Retail Sales Price of the Limited Edition Bracelet to Benefit Leading U.S. Charities

The Help Group Selected as the Beverly Hills Charity

Beverly Hills, CA - Harry Winston, Inc., the American fine diamond jeweler and watchmaker, is pleased to announce that it has selected The Help Group to be a recipient of the new Harry Winston Hope Collection™ bracelet which was developed to support leading charitable organizations throughout the United States.  

Launching fall 2012, the limited edition bracelet features a sleek white gold and engraved mother-of-pearl design set with a delicate Winston diamond at the center.  Retailing for $2,500, the bracelet will be sold exclusively at Harry Winston retail salons with 200 bracelets available throughout the U.S.  Harry Winston, Inc. will donate 100% of the retail sales price* from each bracelet to seven organizations across the U.S. chosen for their philanthropic leadership and support of local communities where Winston salons are based.

“Two years ago we renewed Harry Winston’s commitment to giving back by launching a new charitable program, dedicated to inspiring hope in the lives of others around the world.  We are proud to begin the next chapter of this commitment through the launch of The Harry Winston Hope Collection bracelet.  This collection represents a full pledge on our part to provide long standing support to organizations that are meaningful to our local communities, and like our founder, reflects our belief that hope is the key to building brilliant futures.” – Frédéric de Narp, President and CEO of Harry Winston, Inc.

The Help Group was chosen for its innovative and comprehensive programs that serve children with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs.  It provides a lifeline of help, hope and opportunity that creates brighter futures for the children.  Support from Harry Winston will establish The Harry Winston Media Studio, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to enable pupils with ASD to interact, explore, and experiment with formal projects and topics using multi-media.

“The Harry Winston Hope Collection bracelet combines beautiful design and philanthropy that will surely touch the lives of many in very direct and meaningful ways. The Help Group is most grateful to Harry Winston for its spirit of giving and its commitment to children with special needs.”

–Dr. Barbara Firestone, President & CEO, The Help Group

About The Help Group

Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children with special needs related to autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems.

The Help Group’s nine specialized day schools offer pre-K through high school programs for more than 1,500 students. Its broad range of mental health and therapy services, child abuse and residential programs extends its reach to more than 6,000 children and their families each year. With more than 950 staff members, The Help Group’s state-of-the-art schools and programs are located on seven campuses in the Los Angeles area.

The Help Group is widely regarded for its high standards of excellence, unique scope and breadth of services. Through its public awareness, professional training and parent education programs and efforts at the state and national levels, The Help Group touches the lives of children with special needs across the country and in other parts of the world.

At the heart of its efforts is the commitment to helping young people fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives. 

About Harry Winston’s Charitable Program

The first official charitable product from Harry Winston, the initiative represents the next step in Harry Winston’s longstanding commitment to supporting local communities, a tradition that began with the company’s founder Mr. Harry Winston.  From 1949 – 1953, Harry Winston organized an exhibition known as “The Court of Jewels,” which toured key cities across America raising money for local charitable causes.  At the heart of the exhibition was the Hope Diamond, a 45.52 carat deep blue diamond, considered to be one of the rarest and most famous diamonds in the world.  In 1958, Mr. Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. as a gift to the world. 

Inspired by Mr. Winston’s generosity, in November 2010, Harry Winston, Inc. launched a new philanthropic platform, The Harry Winston Brilliant Futures™ Charitable Program.  Within this program, the company remains dedicated to supporting leading organizations around the globe that strive to remove barriers for disadvantaged youth to obtain a quality education and the skills necessary to be successful in life;  provide access to cultural and artistic enrichment;  and enable healthy futures. 

A Groundbreaking Celebration took place on Thursday, October 11^th at 3:00 p.m. at the Culver City Campus in recognition of the Culver City Council including Mayor, Andrew Weissman, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Cooper and Council Members Jim B. Clarke, Micheal O’Leary and Meghan Sahli-Wells for their vital support of this expansion to serve the ever-growing numbers of children with autism spectrum disorders.  

See photos from the event.

• California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism Convenes its Second Public Hearing in Sacramento
• The Science and Fiction of Autism
• The Implication of the Autism Epidemic
• Understanding Asperger’s Disorder in Young Children
• Virtual Reality & Computer Games: New Tools for Addressing Childhood Disorders
• Leading Experts Convene for Summit 2006
• Setting Measurable & Attainable IEP Goals for Children with ADHD & Reading Disabilities
• The Help Group Autism Awareness Day
• ASD Parent Support Network
• The Help Group – UCLA Semel Institute on Asperger’s Disorder: Summer 2007

• Championing Change in California – New Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders is Established
• Can Social Robots Help Autism? Exploring Socially Assistive Robotics for ASD Intervention
• The Music’s Got It: Opening a Doorway to Emotion Understanding in Autism
• What is Translational Research & Why Is It Important in the Treatment of Autism?
• The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance Launches Three New Studies
• The Origins of a Math Disability
• Building Social Competence in Children with Asperger’s Disorder
• Understanding Anxiety Disorders in Elementary School Children with ASD
• Surviving Homework – a Guide for Teens with ADHD and their Parents
• Summit 2009 to Convene Leading Experts

• Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism Charts Course for the Future
• The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance Announces Seven Funded Research Studies
• The Four Rules of ADHD Treatment
• Screening for Autism: A Guide to Prepare for Your Child’s Diagnostic Assessment
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Medical and Neurological Management
• Screening for a Learning Disability: Tips to Identifying Milestones of Development and Preparing for Your Child’s Early Diagnostic Assessment
• The Science of Making Friends: New Peers Program Teaches Teens Critical Social Skills for Friendship Survival
• The Help Group’s Annual Summit Convenes Leading Experts in Autism, Learning Disabilities & ADHD
• The Help Group Shares its Expertise with Autism Educators in Taiwan
• ASD Parent Support Network

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• Neurobiological Factors and Learning Disabilities | Jack Fletcher, PhD
• Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders Holds Public Hearing at State Capitol | Barbara Firestone, PhD
• Is “Recovery” from Autism Possible? Defining Positive Outcomes for Children Diagnosed with ASD | Deborah Fein, PhD and Molly Helt, MA
• Nature vs. Nurture in the Co-Occurrence of Psychiatric Disorders in ADHD | Sandra K. Loo, PhD
• Identifying the Root Causes of Homework Non-Compliance Among Students with ADHD | Philip Levin, PhD
• Decoding Social Skills for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders | Elizabeth Laugeson, PsyD

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• The Transporters: Teaching Children with Autism to Recognize Emotions | Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, et al.
• The Importance of Multiple-Component Remediation for Children and Adolescents with Reading Disabilities | Maureen W. Lovett, PhD, et al.
• Bully Proofing Strategies for Teens with ASD | Elizabeth Laugeson, PsyD
• The Science And Art of Medication Use in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), A Pediatrician’s Approach | Ricki G. Robinson, MD, MPH
• ADHD as a Disorder of Executive Function: Implications for Understanding Academic Functioning and Improving Assessment of ADHD | Marcos DiPinto, PhD
• Memory Strategies for Students with Test Anxieties | Philip Levin, PhD

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• CDC Estimates 1 in 88 Children is Affected by Autism
• Autism Insurance Reform:A Major Victory for Children & Families
• Extended Time Improves Reading Comprehension Test Scores for Adolescents with ADHD | Thomas E. Brown, PhD
• Conversational Skills: Art or Science? Improving Social Communication for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders | Elizabeth Laugeson, PsyD
• Current Limitations in the Assessment of Reading Comprehension and Recommendations for Improvement | Philip Levin, PhD
• Anxiety in Children | Susanna Chang, PhD
• Senate Select Committee on Autism: 2012 Excellence in Employment Awards Reception
• So, Your Brother has Autism…Now What? | Jan Blacher, PhD

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