From the Desk of Holly Reimann ...

Dear Friend,

Within the scope of practice of speech-language pathology, I recognize the range of needs families have for therapeutic services. Not only is it important to incorporate different theories and methods, but it is equally important to seek out the parents’ wealth of knowledge while incorporating them into the therapeutic learning process for the child as much as possible. Parents are the true experts on their children. They deserve the recognition and consultation of their knowledge more than it is ever said. Thank you to every parent for all that you do. Thank you for making time for therapeutic services. Thank you for educating yourselves to the best of your ability. And thank you to my clients for letting me be a part of your family’s life.

Best,
Holly Reimann, MA CCC-SLP
Speech-language Pathologist

In addition to having April as National Autism Awareness month, the United Nations recognized the need for world awareness. This is the first year the UN officially stated April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. Autism is only the third disability the UN recognizes for awareness days in addition to Aids and Diabetes.

Autism is in the mix of the busy world of childhood vaccines, celebrity fund-raising and genetic research. The cauldron of medicine, media, politics and the law. What are we to think? Passions about autism are higher than ever, and for good reason. Autism spectrum disorders affect 1 in 150 kids from all walks of life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a tenfold jump in the past decade. As the numbers grow, public awareness increases and the fervor surrounding each new development intensifies. Last month, after the federal government said vaccines aggravated an underlying disorder that led to autism-like symptoms in 9-year-old Hannah Poling, the longstanding controversy over the role of childhood vaccines flared on network newscasts, the Internet and talk radio. The culture of autism is hitting prime time, too. HBO aired "Autism: The Musical," a documentary about five children with autism who perform in their own show. A week later, Sundance Channel will broadcast "Autism Every Day," a film laying out the challenges faced by families. Couple weeks after that, Jon Stewart will host an autism fund-raiser at New York's Beacon Theater, to be aired live on Comedy Central.

Despite its high profile, autism is one of the most complicated neurological disorders known. Some of the people on the spectrum attend college, and others never speak an intelligible word. Its complexity, is what has fueled the ongoing vaccine debate and caused divisions within the autism community. BUT now more than ever, it is important to remain united in our efforts to find the causes, cures, and best treatments to help the individuals with autism and related disabilites.

Newsweek 3/24/08

Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Marlene J. Cohen, Ed.D., BCBA & Donna L. Sloan, M.A., BCBA, is a book that can be helpful across settings with the wide range of ideas they provide, which we can use to support the children with autism be successful in everything they do. Most of us use visual supports in our daily lives, including a shopping list, calendar, or roadmap. Visual supports are beneficial to people with autism because they help make abstract concepts concrete and capitalize on the user's inherent visual learning strengths. To purchase this book, please visit our partner store A.D.D. Warehouse.

April Cost   Time Event 1-30     ongoing Build-A-Bear fundraiser, nationwide 1-30     ongoing Celebrities Against Autism 9-30     ongoing TJ Maxx fundraiser, stores nationwide 2     11am-12:30pm Autism Rally, Columbus 3   $30   7:30-3 Autism Forum ’08, N. Canton 5   $40   9am & 1pm Teaching in Natural Envrmt, Fairborn 8   $20   6-9pm Chili Cook Off Benefit, Cleveland 9      9 - 10:30am & 7 - 8:30pm Vocation, Highland Heights 10      2-3pm Teaching Literacy, Internet 10      6-9pm Resource Fair, Warrensville Hts. 11   $120   8am-3:30pm Bridging the Gap, Kirtland Hills 12   $12   11am & 1pm Mug Painting, Shaker Hts 12   $150   8pm Rock 'til It Stops Benefit, Cleveland 14   $5   6-9pm Including Samuel Documentary, Warrensville Hts. 14      7-9pm Services & Supports, Lyndhurst 15      2-3:30pm No IEP in College, phone 15      6-9pm Imperfect Kids & Lives, ACH-Considine 16   $12   8am-4:15pm Problems & Solutions, Cleveland 19      10am-1pm Children's Fair, Hudson 23      9am-3pm Facilitated IEP, Independence 23      9am-12pm Employment, Kent 24      9am-3pm Information Fair, Cleveland 25   $35   8am-5:30pm ADHD/Asp. Conf., Cuy.Falls 26   $25   10am-12pm ABA Potty Training, N.Olmsted 26   $100   7pm Rock the Puzzle, House of Blues, Cleveland 27   $30   1:30-4pm Behavior Plans, Westlake 30   $5   5-8pm Bounce for Autism, Medina May Cost   Time Event 5      4:30-7:30pm Technology:GraphicOrgnz,ValleyView 6       6:30-8:30pm ASA:Clev Monthly Meeting, Breksville 8       7:30am-3:30pm Insider’s Perspective, Beachwood 13      4:30-7:30pm Technology:NoteTaking,ValleyView 17      7am-4pm Goodyear Fishing Derby, Akron 18      All Day OAR - Run For Autism (please see below) 18   $30   1:30-4pm Tools for Communication, Westlake 18      2-3:30pm Understanding ASD, Twinsburg 20      6:30-8:30pm Alternative Therapies, ACH:Considine 21   $23   All Day Cedar Point Family Day 29   $12   6-8pm Methodologies 101,ACH:Considine Featured Event: May 18, 2008 Everybody knows that Cleveland Rocks! Why not start another tradition! RUN FOR AUTISM - Cleveland style. You and your friends are invited to SIGN UP NOW before it's too late for the 10K charity race scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 18. It's not a race. . . It's about going the distance. So, Get up . . . Get out . . . walk, run or jog for a cause and raise money for autism research. You can make a difference!            HURRY SIGN UP NOW! Registration closes May 1st - Go to run@researchautism.org or call 866-366-9710. June Cost   Time Event 16      8:00am-4:45pm Milestones' Autism/Asperger's Conference

For registration & event details contact me!

Walk Now for Autism
Cleveland 2008

Sunday, September 28th, 2008 Progressive Field

Join Holly Reimann, MA CCC-SLP & Autism Speaks as we tackle autism! Experience the power of thousands united by a single cause by donating to Walk Now for Autism.

As part of our contribution, we will commit to donating $25 for each new client that starts speech-language therapy services between May 1, 2008 and September 28, 2008.

Walk Now for Autism offers everyone a fun-filled experience with entertainment, refreshments, an autism community resource fair, and much, much more. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Thank you in advance for your kind donation. Best, Holly Reimann, MA CCC-SLP Speech-language Pathologist