Category Archives: Community Programs

Autism-friendly peformance of ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ presented by TDF

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Our spidey sense is tingling! The Theater Development Fund is once again sponsoring an autism-friendly, special performance of the NY Broadway show Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. This show was specifically chosen by families as the show their children wanted to see most. As with their past performances of The Lion King and Mary Poppins, the special performance will cut jarring sounds and strobe lights. Quiet areas with beanbag  chairs and coloring books will be available. In advance of the show, TDF will also post social stories on their site, listing out what attendees can expect at the show.

You can buy tickets for the April 27 show at the TDF site: https://secure2.tdf.org/event/step1.html

 

Join Us for a Wine Party Connecting the Autism Community

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Please join Different Roads for a wine party connecting the autism community.
There will be drinks, toys, free raffles, food and fun!

Location: At the home of Julie Azuma, President Different Roads to Learning
Union Square, Manhattan – NYC
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013
6-8:30 pm

Come for a relaxed night out and connect with your fellow teachers, therapists and parents.

For those of you who only get to see each other during team meetings and for parents who haven’t had a night out since the baby was born,  this is a great chance to connect and relax. It’s our way of thanking you and celebrating the roles you play in the autism community. Whether you work in Early Intervention, are a parent of a child with autism, work in a classroom or residential setting or are an advocate in the autism community, all are welcome.

It’s your turn to play and see the latest and greatest new products available. We’ll have:

  • 50 new, hot off the press products
  • Free Raffle with wonderful prizes to take home
  • Food and drinks
  • Friends and fun!

 

Space is limited so please RSVP as soon as possible to Abigail@difflearn.com.
A formal invitation with address details will be sent upon RSVP.

In order to present you with a great party, we need to know a few details so we can plan accordingly:

Please RSVP with the following:

Name:

Are you a parent, teacher, therapist?

How old are your children or students?

Work Setting (classroom, home, residential, etc.):

Discipline (ABA, SLP, OT, etc.):

Sandy Relief: Help Us Help Our Community Today

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As Superstorm Sandy fades from the front pages of the news, please remember that there are still thousands of families in dire need. In lieu of our usual Pick of the Week, Different Roads to Learning will be donating 10% of all online sales to New York Cares and the Carl V. Bini Fund, two wonderful organizations delivering relief supplies, coordinating volunteer services and providing much needed assistance to the most hard-hit residents of New York City. In parts of Staten Island, Breezy Point, the Rockaways and elsewhere, there is still no power and there is no end in sight. We can tell you firsthand how crucial these organizations have been to coordinating relief efforts and how tremendous the impact is on affected families. From today through Monday, November 19 at midnight EST, all orders placed on our site will be counted towards what, with your help, we hope to be a sizeable donation to these organizations.

If you’ve been putting off making a purchase, this is the week to do it. When we make our donation, we will include all of the names from people who have ordered in our card. We hope that you will join us in helping the affected members of our New York community.

In addition, if you know of a family or school in need, please forward us their information. We have a supply of new and gently used books, games and other materials for individuals on the spectrum that we would be happy to donate.

These are some photos taken by us and our friends who have been working and volunteering in Breezy Point and Staten Island. The help and assistance provided by relief organizations from food to literally helping people pump out and gut their homes is crucial. Please help us help these families by ordering today!

 

Prevalence of Autism now at 1 in 88 Children

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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has just issued a new report on the prevalence of autism in the United States.  The estimate now is that 1 in every 88 American children is diagnosed with autism (1 in 54 boys, 1 in 252 girls).  That’s up from the 1 in 110 number just a few years ago.

The CDC’s alarming new statistics reveal that there has been a 78% increase of autism diagnosis cases throughout the US, over a 6 year period (2002-2008), which can be considered a cautionary reminder to all of us how serious and vast this issue has become.

With Autism Awareness Month approaching, Different Roads to Learning is pledging to participate in Autism Speak’s Light It Up Blue campaign on Monday, April 2 to help raise public awareness. We hope you’ll join us.  Now more than ever, we need to be sure that proper attention, research, education, intervention and funding is focused on the children and families living with autism.

During the month of April, Different Roads to Learning will be hosting a wide variety of events including sales, giveaways, an Autism Awareness Ribbon Project, and more. Be sure to stay tuned to our Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages for up to date information on how we’ll be supporting our community and raising awareness this April.

If you would like to learn more about the recent statistics, you can visit:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/health/rate-of-autism-diagnoses-has-climbed-study-finds.html?hp

https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/autism-prevalence-rises-1-88

Autism Speaks’ 2012 Press Release on CDC Numbers.

 

Walks for Autism

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With Autism Awareness Month just around the corner, there are loads of walks to raise awareness and money. Here are just a few across the country. We encourage everyone to participate! Let us know about any others going on near you.

Organization for Autism Research (OAR)

Whether you are a runner, walker, donor or volunteer, your contribution makes you part of OAR’s Run for Autism team and helps create awareness for the cause.  When you raise money for OAR’s autism research, more than $.87 of every dollar you raise will directly fund research studies that help answer some of autism’s most pressing questions.

Run for Autism 2011 Events Schedule:

March 20, 2011- New York City Half Marathon 

April 16, 2011- Blue Ridge Marathon and Half Marathon 

May 14, 2011- Rite Aid Cleveland 5K presented by OAR  

May 15, 2011- Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Half Marathon & Marathon Relay 

May 15, 2011- Chloe K 5K Run Rock Ride  

May 15, 2011- Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K 

* If the race you are interested in isn’t on this list, you can still run and raise money for autism research through OAR’s iRun For Autism program.  You can sign up for one of OAR’s charity partner events or any other event of your choice through their Run America and Tri for Autism programs.

For more information about these events, please visit: https://www.firstgiving.com/OAR

 

Easter Seals Disability Services’ Walk With Me

April 2. 2011 (7:30am)- Grapevine Mills Mall, TX

The indoor walk will unite hundreds of Dallas/ Fort Worth area participants at Grapevine Mills Mall to raise funds for Easter Seals services, drive awareness of issues affecting the disability community, and change the lives of individuals and families living with disabilities.

For more information about this event, please visit: www.ntx.easterseals.com

 

Variety the Children’s Charity 5th Annual Autism Walk for Awareness, Resources, and Education

April 3, 2011- Plymouth Meeting, PA

Variety will hold its 5th annual Autism Walk in the Plymouth Meeting Mall on April 3rd to benefit Variety’s Autism Resource Center. Families, schools, companies, and individuals will join together to raise money for this resource center that provides immediate support to children and youth with autism in our community. This event also has the support of the Autism Society of America, who is proud to support Variety’s fifth annual walk for Autism.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit:

https://variety.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=465730

 

Caldwell College’s 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk for Autism

April 16, 2011- Caldwell, NJ

Calwell College hosts this annual event to help raise public awareness of autism.  In addition, this race will help raise funds for Caldwell College’s on-campus Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis.  This state-of-the-art facility allows Caldwell College to serve the needs of hundreds of individuals with autism and help them and their families to lead more satisfying and productive lives.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit:

https://www.caldwellcollege5krun.com/home.php

 

Northwestern Pennsylvania Autism Society’s 10th Walk

April 30, 2011- Presque Isle State Park, PA

ASA-NWPA is organizing this two-mile walk to increase awareness of autism, to support national research, and to fund projects and activities for individuals with autism in our community.  Everyone is invited to participate, including the children.  You may rollerblade and bring strollers or wagons.  They’ll have the jumping inflatables (weather permitting), face painting, theme basket auction and autism merchandise booth.  Snacks and drinks will be available.  Lunch (hot dog and chips) will be provided to 1,000 participants.

 

For more information or to register for this event, please visit: https://www.nwpa-asa.org/WalkInformation.asp

 

Walk Now for Autism Speaks

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a fun-filled, family friendly event and is Autism Speaks’ single most powerful force to fund vital research that will lead them to the answers we need. Thousands will be united by a single cause by joining Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Participants will not only raise funds, but become a part of a fun and supportive family focused community. Participants are also welcome to join their new “Grand Club” (walkers that raise $1,000 or more).

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=443494

 

Upcoming Walks for Autism Speaks:

2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Greater Hartford

East Hartford, CT- Sunday, June 5, 2011 

 

2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Treasure Coast
Port St. Lucie, FL – Saturday, April 2, 2011 

2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: West Texas
Abilene, TX – Saturday, April 2, 2011 

2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Broward County
Fort Lauderdale-Davie, FL – Saturday, April 9, 2011 

2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Cumberland Tri-State
Cumberland, MD – Saturday, April 9, 2011 

2011 Walk Now For Autism Speaks: Sonoma
Windsor, CA – Saturday, April 9, 2011 

To find a Walk for Autism Speaks in your neighborhood, please visit:
https://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/site/c.igIRL6PIJrH/b.4356939/k.BF85/Home.htm

Special Playdate

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Specialplaydate.com helps parents connect with others to arrange play dates in their local communities. The site enables users to find a playdate for loved ones with or without special needs to create opportunities for them to build social and communication skills while making friends. Check out their site to learn more!

Billions of Dollars Allocated for Community Living

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According to Disability Scoop, part of the Health Care Reform Act allocates substantial funding to help individuals with disabilities access care within their communities and not in institutions. The money is available to help people with disabilities who are living in institutions transition into the community with services and supports. Read the full article here and let us know what you think.

A Coffee Shop in a Middle School Helps Children with Autism Gain Skills and Raise Money

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Woodrow Wilson Middle School in New Jersey has set up a coffee shop that their special class for children with autism or multiple learning disabilities is charged with running every Friday morning. The program aims to instill social skills as well as business and life skills to prepare these young students for life outside of the classroom. In addition to providing a service to staff and imparting concrete skills in the children, the program has raised money for field trips and and special activities that have been affected by budget cuts. We’re so impressed with the teachers who put these creative and effective programs together! Read the full article on their program here in the NY Times.

 

Discoveries Program at the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art

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We just found out about this program and think it’s fantastic! Discoveries is a Sunday program offered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for adults and children with learning and/or developmental disabilities and their friends and family members.  Each Discoveries workshop focuses on a theme and includes a gallery tour followed by a related art activity. The program is free of charge but advance reservations are necessary. Here’s the upcoming schedule:

Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York
March 20
11 am – Ages 6-17
2 pm – Ages 18 and above

April 10
11 am – Ages 18 and above
2 pm – Ages 6-17

Rooms with a View: The Open Window in the 19th Century
May 1
11 am – Ages 18 and above
2 pm – Ages 6-17

May 15
11 am – Ages 6-17
2 pm – Ages 18 and above

Group Residences and Organizations:

The Museum offers customized programs for adult group residences and other agencies that serve adults with developmental disabilities.  For scheduling and fee information, call (212) 650-2010 or email access@metmuseum.org.

For anyone living in or visiting New York, the museum is an absolute  gem and a lovely place to spend a day roaming about. We’re thrilled about the Discoveries Program!