PREVIOUS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TOPICS
	Friend 2 Friend Peer Awareness & Acceptance Program Roundtable Discussion  Tuesday, February 16, 2010 6:00pm - 8:00pm The Friend 2 Friend program, a peer awareness and acceptance program designed for elementary level classrooms, was discussed and materials including a video, a puppet show, and optional children's books to use in conjunction with the Friend 2 Friend program were presented. Some of the books that were reviewed included:  Since We're Friends, An Autism Picture Book by Celeste Shally and David Harrington, The AUTISM ACCEPTANCE book by Ellen Sobin, and My Best Friend Will by Jamie Lowell and Tara Tuchel.  The roundtable discussions were very effective in developing a comprehensive peer to peer friendship program that will be presented to local school districts in the next few months. Thank you to everyone who participated!
	The Talk About Autism Winter Carnival Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:00pm - 5:00pm The Talk About Autism team decided to start the new year off with an afternoon of fun for the whole family. Winter carnival activities included: carnival games two bounce houses large inflatable slide crafts toddler play area refreshments and more!
	Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Part 2 of our Best Practices in Education Planning & Supports presented by Amber Fitzgerald, Behavior Consultant and UC Davis Instructor Ms. Fitzgerald continued her discussion on visual supports in the classroom specific to schedules, work systems, and visual instructional strategies. She also introduced and discussed inclusion strategies. Participants learned about: 1) para educator strategies, 2) accommodations/modifications, 3) how to successfully support students in the classroom, and 4) planning for social skills instruction.
	Tuesday, September 15, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Two-Part Best Practices in Education Planning & Supports presented by Amber Fitzgerald, Behavior Consultant and UC Davis Instructor During this first session, Ms. Fitzgerald expanded on her previous presentation, Foundations in Education Planning, by providing an overview of physical structure and visual strategies within the classroom and the home environment. Participants learned to: 1) Understand and implement structure and visual supports at home and in the classroom, 2) Understand why these strategies are important and highly effective with students with Autism, 3) How to assess the environment and make necessary changes and additions to support the student with Autism.
	Tuesday, July 28, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. IEP Preparation & Special Education Law presented by Michael Rosenberg, Executive Director of Area Board 3 The Area Board provides free advocacy services for more than 1.6 million people including children receiving special education services and families and adults served by the regional center system. Michael Rosenberg is the Executive Director of Area Board 3 and has spent more than two decades assisting families in identifying and assuring appropriate services for children and adults by advocating and negotiating on their behalf. Using an informal Q & A style, Michael discussed key factors in preparing for an IEP meeting and explained our rights and responsibilities throughout the IEP process.
	Tuesday, June 16, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Personal Journeys to Biomedical Interventions including Dr. Dan Rossignol's presentation from the 2009 AutismOne Conference Local mothers talked about their family's personal journey to explore biomedical interventions for their children challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorder. Diane Aimufua, Melanie Metzger, Stephanie MacLean and Vicky Long shared their experiences pre and post attendance at the 2009 AutismOne Conference. The presentation also featured Dr. Dan Rossignol's recorded video presentation from the conference. Dr. Rossignol's presentation was intended to provide an easy-to-follow overview and summary of the biomedical interventions discussed at the conference, including diet, nutritional supplements, GI considerations, detoxification and more. Learn more about Dr. Rossignol at www.icdrc.org. This is the second in our two-part biomedical presentation series.
	Tuesday, May 19, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. BioMed 101: Steps Towards Autism Recovery. presented by Natalie Galante, RN, Development Spectrums Natalie Galante, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Developmental Spectrums (www.developmentalspectrums.com) in Pleasanton, CA, spoke about biomedical treatments for autism spectrum disorders. She talked about her experiences with interventions that parents can start themselves like the GF/CF/Soy-Free diet and supplements including vitamin B6 and B12, omega 3 fatty acids, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics and enzymes. She discussed lab tests that target other problems your child may have but your pediatrician hasn't identified, like systemic yeast infections, chronic viral infections, parasitic infections, heavy metal toxicity, altered hormones, and Lyme disease, and what do about them. This was a great primer and refresher course for families wanting to try the biomedical approach.
	Tuesday, April 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Autism Awareness Event April is Autism Awareness Month! Join us in our efforts to help others understand and embrace Autism in our community. Bring a friend, neighbor, teacher, grandparent, aunt, uncle or any other that you would like to help better understand the gifts and challenges of Autism. The evening will include an Autism Awareness slide show featuring local families, awareness items to share, wine, appetizers, desserts, and plenty of time for socializing! We appreciate your advance registrations. The first two online registrations will receive a FREE copy of "The Friendship Puzzle - Helping Kids Learn About Accepting and Including Kids with Autism."
	State & Federal Impact on Special Education Budget presented by Patti Stevens and Ronna Wolcott, Rescue Union School District Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Patti Stevens, Director of Special Education and Student Services, and Ronna Wolcott, Assistant Superintendent, presented the current state of Rescue Union School District's General and Special Education Budget. Ms. Stevens and Ms. Wolcott will outlined the current sources of special education funding and the impact that California's state budget and the Federal stimulus package will have on district special education funding. Ms. Stevens provided an overview of current district programs and collaborative county services and discussed program changes and enhancements planned and being considered for the current and future school years.
	FOUNDATIONS IN EDUCATION PLANNING presented by Amber Fitzgerald, MA Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Amber Fitzgerald, UC Davis Co-Instructor for Best Practices in Autism Spectrum Disorders, provides a framework for effective educational planning for children with special needs. Ms. Fitzgerald will discuss the essential elements needed to drive educational planning meetings and create opportunities for meaningful and effective team communication. This foundation presentation will lay the groundwork for more detailed future discussions of best practice strategies. Valuable forms, resources, strategies, and tools will be introduced throughout this training. Participants will gain a solid foundation intended to help examine the educational program of a child with special needs. Copies of this presentation are available but subject to copying charges. Email talkaboutautism@lakehillschurch.org to arrange copies.
	Tuesday, January 20, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sensory Integration - What it Means and How it Affects My Child presented by Amy Ashton, OTR/L Occupational Therapist, Registered and Licensed Amy is currently an Occupational Therapist for El Dorado County Office of Education. She has over seven years experience working with children from birth to adulthood, who are challenged by sensory integration dysfunction. Join us as she explains how this can affect our children's ability to receive, process, and respond to sensory input at home, in the classroom, and beyond. Participants will leave with an understanding of sensory integration and successful strategies for helping our children improve their self regulating skills in order to function in daily life, school and home. Download Sensory Integration (powerpoint pptx file)
	November 18, 2008 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Role of Enzymes in Autism Spectrum Disorder presented by Dr. Devin Houston, PhD Biochemist and CEO of Houston Enzymes Dr. Devin Houston from Houston Enzymes helped us explore why enzyme products may be an alternative to restrictive diets, how enzymes address digestive-related issues specific to those on the autism spectrum, signs that may determine who can benefit from enzyme use, and more! Learn more online at http://www.houston-enzymes.com. Download Dr. Houston's Presentation
	October 21, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Planning Team Meeting Join us as we plan future session topics, fundraising, support programs and more! We are looking for volunteers to be a part of our planning team as Talk About Autism! grows and evolves into 2009. Parents, grandparents, educators, therapists, and more can bring a unique perspective to this group and help us meet the needs of the children and families in our community. Please join us as we plan more great Talk About Autism sessions!
	September 23 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Family Dynamics - exploring the unique challenges of Moms, Dads, and Siblings! Autism changes the dynamics of your entire family - from parents to siblings to grandparents and beyond. Dreams, relationships, priorities, finances, life ... they are all changed when you have a child affected by Autism. Join us on Tuesday, September 23 as we explore these dynamics together and learn how we can support each other on this journey. Featuring the AutismOne video presentation from Bill Davis, a single father of a 14-year old boy with autism and author of Breaking Autism's Barriers: A Father's Story.
	August 19 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Nutritional Healing featuring the AutismOne Video Presentation - Nurishing Hope by Julie Matthews, Certified Nutrition Consultant Ms. Matthews has been a Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) Practitioner for five years, currently presents at the national DAN! conferences, and has written a book on diet and nutrition for autism Nourishing Hope: The Essentials of Nutrition and Dietary Intervention for Autism.
	July 22 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Jenny McCarthy Keynote Presentations Video featuring Evan's healing plan and special spegments on Teach2Talk and Play Therapy