Autism Asperger ACT Inc

For more information on any of the activities below, please e-mail aspergersyndrome_act@assn.org.au or autismact@homemail.com.au or phone SHOUT on 62901984 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all activities held at SHOUT Meeting room, Building One, Pearce Centre, Collett Place, Pearce.

Specific special interest group meeting	Asperger Syndrome specific - Support Meetings: 2nd Thursday of each month, the meeting time is 7:30 pm for a 7:45 pm start. The Asperger Syndrome support group meetings are focused on group discussion, giving all the participants a chance to share what is happening for them and allowing the group's collective insight focus on helping people understand and deal with typical problems that come up.
monthly meetings	Autism Asperger ACT - General Meetings: 1st Wednesday of each month, the meeting time is 7:30 pm for 7:45 start, followed by coffee and conversation directly after the meeting. For more information see http://autism.anu.edu.au/meetings.htm
Specific special interest group meeting	RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month, the meeting time is 7:30 pm for a 7:45 pm start. For more information see http://autism.anu.edu.au/meetings.htm
	Games Sessions Meeting on the 3rd Sunday of each month. 12:00-1:30pm Games session (Children and siblings social activity). Parents are required to stay. We recommend your children have lunch beforehand, since they are often too busy to eat while playing. However, it's fine to bring a snack. 1:30-3:30pm Games session (Adolescent and adult social activity). This is an opportunity for adolescents, adults and parents to enjoy social activities such as board games, card games, etc. Bring a snack, tea and coffee provided. For more information please contact Steve Bittinger on 0411-245-570 or (02) 62428142 or steve.bittinge@gmail.com
Specific special interest group meeting	Siblings Club – Aimed at children in Year 1 – Year 6 Meeting on the 3rd Friday of the month. A club for siblings or family members (son, daughter niece nephew or grandchild) of those on the Autism Spectrum (Autism, Asperger’s, PDD NOS and Tourettes) 18 January 2008 - BBQ. Families welcome BYO BBQ (Black Mountain Pennisula) 15 February – Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and movie night 14 March – Paper Mache Creations ( early due to Easter) 18 April–Laser Zone (Belconnen) 16 May– Science with Janet (Aranda) 20 June– Board Game and Craft Night (Aranda) 18 July – Christmas in July (Aranda) For more information or bookings contact Bobbi 6253 3116

Adult Scrabble games

Adult Scrabble games are scheduled every Thursday from 10am - 1pm at the Civic Library. After the Scrabble game the group often plays badminton in the afternoon.

Contact Morgan Bittinger if you want to play, or have any questions: (02) 6241 2256 or 0421-759-106m.

Note (jul07): Although the Civic Library is now reopened, please contact Morgan by phone to get the latest update on where to meet.

Weekly Walks

Bryan Kilgallin leads weekly walks in reserves located in the Canberra region, either during the week or on weekends (as agreed by the people expressing interest in participating). Recent walks have included Mount Majura, Mount Ainslie, and Black Mountain.

For more details or to join one of these walks, contact: Bryan Kilgallin, (02) 6161-2176 or 0411-101-665

6 Feb (Wednesday)	7:30pm for 7:45pm start - 10:00pm Autism Asperger ACT monthly support meeting (all welcome) Gold coin donation Speaker : Sally Richards Topic: “Jack Mail” - Parent of a child with ASD speaking about her experiences of setting up a small business to ensure her child has some purposeful occupation after finishing school. For more information see http://autism.anu.edu.au/meetings.htm
14 Feb (Thursday)	7:30pm for 7:45pm start - 10:00pm Asperger Syndrome specific monthly support meeting (all welcome) Gold coin donation For more information see specific special interest group meeting for Asperger Syndrome
15 Feb (Friday)	Siblings Club – Aimed at children in Year 1 – Year 6 Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and movie night For more information or bookings contact Bobbi 6253 3116
17 Feb (Sunday)	12:00-1:30pm Games session (Children and siblings social activity). Parents are required to stay. We recommend your children have lunch beforehand, since they are often too busy to eat while playing. However, it's fine to bring a snack. For more information see games
17 Feb (Sunday)	1:30-3:30pm Games session (Adolescent and adult social activity). This is an opportunity for adolescents, adults and parents to enjoy social activities such as board games, card games, etc. Bring a snack, tea and coffee provided. For more information see games
5 Mar (Wednesday)	7:30pm for 7:45pm start - 10:00pm Autism Asperger ACT monthly support meeting (all welcome) Gold coin donation For more information see http://autism.anu.edu.au/meetings.htm
13 Mar (Thursday)	7:30pm for 7:45pm start - 10:00pm Asperger Syndrome specific monthly support meeting (all welcome) Gold coin donation For more information see specific special interest group meeting for Asperger Syndrome
14 Mar (Friday) Note: early due to Easter	Siblings Club – Aimed at children in Year 1 – Year 6 Paper Mache Creations For more information or bookings contact Bobbi 6253 3116
16 Mar (Sunday)	12:00-1:30pm Games session (Children and siblings social activity). Parents are required to stay. We recommend your children have lunch beforehand, since they are often too busy to eat while playing. However, it's fine to bring a snack. For more information see games
16 Mar (Sunday)	1:30-3:30pm Games session (Adolescent and adult social activity). This is an opportunity for adolescents, adults and parents to enjoy social activities such as board games, card games, etc. Bring a snack, tea and coffee provided. For more information see games
2 Apr (Wednesday)	7:30pm for 7:45pm start - 10:00pm Autism Asperger ACT monthly support meeting (all welcome) Gold coin donation For more information see http://autism.anu.edu.au/meetings.htm
10 Apr (Thursday)	7:30pm for 7:45pm start - 10:00pm Asperger Syndrome specific monthly support meeting (all welcome) Gold coin donation For more information see specific special interest group meeting for Asperger Syndrome
18 Apr (Friday)	Siblings Club – Aimed at children in Year 1 – Year 6 Laser Zone (Belconnen) For more information or bookings contact Bobbi 6253 3116
20 Apr (Sunday)	12:00-1:30pm Games session (Children and siblings social activity). Parents are required to stay. We recommend your children have lunch beforehand, since they are often too busy to eat while playing. However, it's fine to bring a snack. For more information see games
20 Apr (Sunday)	1:30-3:30pm Games session (Adolescent and adult social activity). This is an opportunity for adolescents, adults and parents to enjoy social activities such as board games, card games, etc. Bring a snack, tea and coffee provided. For more information see games

Autism Asperger ACT and Therapy ACT Community Workshops (posted 4Feb2008)

Building Stronger Advocay - 12Feb2008 for 6 weeks (flyer)
Transition from High School to College - 20 and 27Feb2008 (flyer)
Anger Management for Parents - 21Feb2008 (flyer)

CIT Skills for Carers courses (posted 4Feb2008)
KIDS AND ANXIETY
Our “Kids and Anxiety” courses continue to be in great demand, providing information and practical tools for parents who have a child affected by anxiety.

Sue Driscoll, an experienced psychologist, teacher and school counselor, facilitates these courses, with excellent feedback from parents who have attended.

Other practical courses for families include “When caring gets you down” focusing on the long journey of supporting a child with a disability, the new Behaviour Matters course on “What is normal behaviour” and also Caring for Kids First Aid, through Australian Red Cross.

Supporting your child with Autism/ Aspergers
When: Thursdays April 3, 10
Time: 6.30 pm - 9.00 pm
Where: CIT Southside Campus - room to be advised
Facilitator: Sue Driscoll
To Register 6207 3628 or CarerSkills@cit.act.edu.au

For more information see Skills for Carers Feb 2008 newsletter

Working with Children with ASD – Masters in Clinical Psychology Student (posted 19Jan08)

I'm currently doing a Masters in Clinical Psychology and would like to do some work with autistic children. Could you please send my contact details to the parents in your group? If any of them would like to contact me, they can reach me on 6217 1175 or erica.boulter@homemail.com.au. I would be available on weekdays after work (after 5 pm) and on weekends. I currently help a 5 year old boy with language difficulties and would like to gain some more experience with children.

ASPIA Workshops with Tony Attwood
Friday 29 February - Saturday 1 March 2008
Burwood RSL Club
96 Shaftesbury Road, Burwood NSW 2143

The theme for the workshops is "Asperger's Syndrome Grows Up - Adolescence through to Adulthood". The Friday programme will cover issues relating to the teen years through to adulthood and the Saturday programme will focus entirely on long-term relationships and marriage.

Please refer to our flyer for details of the programme, venue, prices, registration, etc.

For more information please contact ASPIA INC
www.aspia.org.au/events.html
0408 817 828

Inclusive Learning Technologies® Conference 2008 12–15 May 2008 Surfer’s Paradise, QLD

For more information see http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/

Swim Fish Aquatics® - Specialist in disability swim teaching
Aim: To provide a comprehensive swimming program for people with disabilities aged 2–30 years of age.
Benefits:
• Warm water (33^○C)
• Easy access
• One on one lessons
• 30 minute lesson
Where: Rydges Capital Hill Hotel – Cnr Canberra Ave & National Circuit Forrest ACT
Cost: $20 Per lesson / $ 180 per term includes pool entry / spa
Term 4 Lessons: Commence on Monday October 15th & Finish on Friday 21st December 2007.

Contact: Jennifer Bruce, mobile: 0410 883 014, email: swimfish01@gmail.com for enrolment forms.

Noah’s Ark 'My Time’ - Supporting parents of children with disabilities or a chronic illness.
Noah’s Ark is pleased to introduce Canberra’s first ‘My Time’ support group. These sessions will be held every Tuesday from 12.15–2.15pm and are available to mums, dads, grandparents and anyone caring for a child under school age with a disability or chronic illness.

The focus of the group will be on giving the carers an opportunity to:
• socialize and share ideas with others who understand the rewards and intensity of the caring role
• meet others in similar circumstances
• have fun and share experiences
• find out about available community support
• get extra parenting information and skills development
• make time for themselves while children play (childcare available on the premises at no cost)

For more information please contact the group facilitator Margaret Senior on 6287 1117.

A4 Update 2007 (Nov), Issue 7

The link for the latest A4 (Autism Asperger Advocacy Australia) Update is: www.a4.org.au/news.htm

Oct 2007 issue - Spectrum Parenting Magazine

The link for the latest magazine is www.autisminfo.org.au/spectrumparenting.htm

Food Intolerance Network Newsletter Oct-Dec 2007

The Food Intolerance Network supports people worldwide using a low-chemical elimination diet free of additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE) for health, behaviour and learning problems.

The link for the latest magazine is www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/newsletters/FAILsaf54.html

Autism SA Newsletter
http://www.autismsa.org.au/newsletter/autiser_03.html

Working with Children with ASD – Masters in Clinical Psychology Student (posted 19Jan08)

I'm currently doing a Masters in Clinical Psychology and would like to do some work with autistic children. Could you please send my contact details to the parents in your group? If any of them would like to contact me, they can reach me on 6217 1175 or erica.boulter@homemail.com.au. I would be available on weekdays after work (after 5 pm) and on weekends. I currently help a 5 year old boy with language difficulties and would like to gain some more experience with children.

Calendar of Events

Autism Asperger ACT Inc conducts regular general meetings and specific special interest group meetings during the course of every month.

Weekly Events

2008 Autism Asperger ACT Meetings

Community Events - For Your Information

External Newsletters - For Your Information

Research Opportunities

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