Showing posts with label Community/Outings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community/Outings. Show all posts

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ASD.. Street & Community Safety; ASD and Teaching Safety Instruction Part 1



https://www.youtube.com/user/AutismDayByDay/videos

This is an ABA approach to priming safety in the community as taught by Nick's team. We are having a very rough time with safety, so we created this tool. It's a 6 part short video maybe it will help you too. 
Donna

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Disney Faces More Heat As Autistic Kids Lawsuit Looks To Expand

Give em Hell! There had to be a better solution. There are always going to be people who abuse things, but pouring out the baby with the bath water is no solution. Find a better way Disney Parks and Resort…you can do it!

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Disney Faces More Heat As Autistic Kids Lawsuit Looks To Expand 


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Deadline.com EXCLUSIVE:  Walt Disney Parks and Resorts could be facing a lot more angry families of children with developmental disorders if the plaintiffs in the ongoing American With Disabilities Act lawsuit get their way. In fact, the discrimination suitover access at Disneyland and other theme parks filed back in April against the media giant could nearly triple. “After the initial Complaint was filed, undersigned counsel received an outpouring of phone calls and emails from victims and their families, similarly situated to the 26 existing Plaintiffs,” said lawyers Andy Dogali and Eugene Feldman in one of several filings today in federal court (read it here). “Most of the victims wanted to offer cheers of support and witness assistance; some were in search of counsel. Ultimately, the undersigned counsel agreed to represent many of them.”

The attorneys are requesting to amend the original complaint to add another 69 plaintiffs to the two dozen-plus already involved. Disney, of course, is opposed to this, and the whole matter of the addition likely will be decided during an October 6 hearing before Judge Manuel Real. Of the 69 potential new plaintiffs, 36 are disabled and 33 are “family members who bring individual tort and contract claims.” Presently 16 of the plaintiffs are “allegedly disabled,” according to the proposed order submitted today (read it here), and 10 are family members.
This all started in October when, in an effort to weed out scammers, Disney got rid of the long-standing Guest Assistance Card program and introduced the Disability Access Service at its parks and resorts in Florida and California. Unlike the front-of-the-line and staff-sensitive GAC, the new system proved disruptive and detrimental to the children in question say the plaintiffs. In their initial suit filed in the spring, the guardians of the children claimed they were now disrespected by Disney employees, stuck in long lines to which individuals with conditions like autism and other cognitive impairments were very unsuited – all of which led to “meltdown behaviors” and the children having to leave the park or sometimes being asked to leave. Citing trauma and suffering as well, the 57-count complaint sought damages, injunctive relief and declaratory relief for violations of the ADA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Disney rather bloodlessly rejected the claims in early July and asked for the case to be dismissed. Disney also denied the existence of the so-called “Magic List,” which supposedly grants selected very VIP persons no-wait, no-appointment-necessary ride passes among its privileges. The plaintiffs have suggested a version of the Magic List could provide the solution to their problem. At the end of July, Disney attempted to have the case moved to Florida federal court, where it undoubtedly feels the company will get a more sympathetic reception as one of the state’s largest employers. There has been no decision yet on that request.
Rhonda Trotter and Daniel Paluch of LA firm Kaye Scholer LLP are representing Disney in the case.
For all of Deadline’s headlines, follow us @Deadline on Twitter


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Drowning Leading Cause of Death for Children With Autism

As a mom who lives in California, where there is seemingly a pool in every backyard, a key reason we purchased our home was it did not have a pool. I don't have a statistic on wandering compared to non-wandering related drowning’s, either way it’s clear we have to tackle both. My son is a wanderer, actually he's a seeker. He intentionally finds ways to escape our house in search of things he wants, and he has ZERO safety awareness. By zero I mean Nick has the safety awareness of a two year old. The difference is when we see a 2 year old alone we all stop and help. When people see my son alone they just stare.
The good news is I know this about him and I've put systems in place to protect him. My neighbors who have looked up to find Nick in their houseUNINVITED, know it too. Their awareness creates a safety net.
If you have a pool I recommend a highly secured pool area, and I've asked my neighbors with pools to lock their gates.  
Articles like this are not new news to parents who have children with autism, it's just confirmation people are listening and getting the word out. 

Drowning Leading Cause of Death for Children With Autism
Researchers at the University of Sciences found that drowning is a major cause of death among children with autism.
Families with autistic children are most concerned about water safety. The study led by Varleisha Gibbs, occupational therapy professor at the University, found that autistic children get overstimulated in crowded areas and escape into unsafe environment.

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and forms of repetitive or restricted behavior. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 1 in 68 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is five times more common in boys and costs at least $17,000 more every year to care for a child with ASD.

"Among the plethora of concerns for families dealing with autism, includes addressing water safety practices as early as possible in a child's life," said Dr. Gibbs. "Although water safety is a concern for all parents, children with autism are especially at a higher risk for drowning because they may seek isolation by fleeing to unfamiliar territories."

According to the National Autism Association, accidental drowning led to 90 percent of the total U.S. deaths reported in children with autism of age 14 and younger in 2009-2011.  Also, 50 percent of the children with autism try to escape into safe environment which is nearly four times more than children without autism.

Some of the safety tips researchers suggest are: enrolling children in swimming and water safety lessons as early as possible, using video narratives to discuss water safety and if they respond well to visual cues then signs like STOP or DO NOT ENTER on the doors that open to outside must be used.

Following this will help parents to relax and enjoy the summer with their children who are diagnosed with autism.
"Swimming and aquatic therapy is actually a wonderful sport for children with autism because it can address many of their body's sensory and motor needs," said Dr. Gibbs. "By preparing and communicating with your child with autism, family, and friends, summer trips and activities can be much less stressful and more enjoyable."

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Keeping Our Kids Safe on the Streets




We Can't Master Street Safety!  

Teaching Nick street safety has been one of the hardest skills to teach yet!  His lack of understanding danger, his short attention span and how easily he is distracted or just in his head all combine to make teaching safety a nightmare for us. We've done all kinds of things to teach street safety; from playing Red Light Green Light and having his sister smash into him when he moved on a red light, to walking intersections over and over.  Now we are back to trying to reach via Video (since video's are Nicks favorite thing(. 

We made our own videos so he could hear and see things he is familiar with. I posted them online. Maybe they will work for you, or serve as a  guide to follow.   

Now we have expanded to other online resources...



If you have any tips on what has worked for your family, please post them in comments!

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Disney Parks Refutes Lawsuit Claiming Discrimination Against Autistic Kids

Disney Parks Refutes Lawsuit Claiming Discrimination Against Autistic Kids
By DOMINIC PATTEN | Tuesday April 8, 2014 @ 1:22pm PDTTags: Americans With Disabilities Act, Disney
http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/disney-parks-lawsuit-autism/


Walt Disney Parks and Resorts today denied allegations in a lawsuit filed by families of children with developmental disorders that the company has caused them suffering and violated the American With Disabilities Act. The 57-count complaint (read it here), filed last week, seeks damages, injunctive relief, and declaratory relief forviolations of the ADA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. ”Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests,” a Disney Parks and Resorts spokesperson said today. “We fully comply with all ADA requirements and believe that the legal claims are without merit.” The scathing legal action filed by 16 children and young adults with autism and other developmental disorders and their guardians and parents contends that Disney’s recently implemented Disability Access Service violates federal and state law and is completely unsuited to the needs of individuals with such special needs. Disney disagrees. “Our Disability Access Service is designed for guests who, due to certain disabilities, cannot tolerate extended wait times at attractions. In circumstances where the service might not meet guests needs, we work individually with guests to ensure we are able to accommodate them,” said the company in a statement.


The 176-page complaint also alleges that, at the same time Disney moved to the DAS system last October, the Parks and Resorts division created a secret ”Magic List” program that could actually help solve a lot of their concerns. “The Magic List is a secret list of persons to whom Disney will automatically extend, without the stigma of a ‘Disability’ card, and without amandatory photograph, and without the newly-ingrained disrespect of Disney employees, five immediate-entry, no-appointment ride passes,” says the April 3 filing in federal court. “The Magic List does not perfectly accommodate the special needs of all persons with cognitive impairments, but it is considerably better than the recklessly inadequate DAS card,” it adds. “Disney is withholding the existence of the ‘Magic List’ from the broader community of families in which someone has a cognitive impairment. By doing so, Disney continues to deter families from visiting the Parks or making plans to do so.” While Disney has a Make-A-Wish Foundation program that provides front-of-the-line access among other privileges, the “Magic List” the plaintiffs allege seems to be something very different. A WDPR spokesperson denied to Deadline any knowledge of the so-called Magic List

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First No Shoes at the Airport and Now No Pass's at Disneyland!

Rumor has it some families where getting disability passes saying their child had autism and then SELLING cuts in line to park guests making it possible for anyone with $ to get on the rides fast! What the heck! The consequence, no more disability passes for guests with autism. Instead we will get a pass to come back to a ride at a certain time. I don’t know about your kid, but for me taking my son right up to the desired item, and then taking him away, is going to present a whole new series of challenges!! Our families have so many challenges and this seemingly tiny thing in the big picture of life with autism may not seem like much, at least for my family, its a HUGH deal. 

Why, does it matter. One one had it was the one day I could count on for my typical teen daughter to appreciate her brother, and even think maybe it’s not so bad keeping him around and it was a day I could be sure to keep him calm enough to have a great time without meltdowns, which is the secret sauce to a good family day. The actions of a few bad apples sets in motion decisions that hurt us all.  We will ever get, that we’re all connected?

Let's move on to those we are working to help. Below is a response from Autism Society Los Angeles, complete with links at the bottom for you to send a message and try to improve the situation.  Let’s get this corrected! Respond to the links below...it only takes 2 minutes!!!!!

THIS IN FROM ASLA
Many of you have heard about the change in the way that Disneyland will handle guests with disabilities.

At the Autism Society of Los Angeles, we have received emails and calls from many of you about your concerns about this new policy. Please know that our organization, which works directly in the community, were not consulted on these new procedures and we share your concerns. 
  
ASLA issued the attached press release this week and were subsequently contacted by Disneyland representatives to hear our views.  

ASLA Press Release

Disney is definitely going ahead with the change but they are willing to speak with us if the program does not accommodate some in our community.  
  
Judy Mark our Government Relations Co Chair has been approached by a news organization to ask us to monitor the situation for their reporters and to write an Op-Ed on how the new system is working.  

So this is where we need your help...

The change goes into effect on 10/09/13 and we are hoping that some of you would be willing to take your child with a disability to Disneyland on that day or the few following days into the weekend and report to Judy on how your visit went.  
  
We plan to have one or more people from ASLA go to Disneyland as well, particularly on theSaturday October 12th.  Judy or another ASLA representatives will be at the Guest Relations and the kiosks. speaking to families about how the new system is affecting their day at the park.
  
Please contact Judy Mark by e mail at judymark@earthlink.net if you are willing and able to be a participant in this new system.
  
She will be sure to connect with you before you arrive and while you are in the park. Please feel free to pass this email on to other families who may be interested.
  
We know that this issue is not the most important challenge that our community faces and our organization faces.  Honestly, we wish that we could get 30,000 people to sign a petition fighting the severe budget cuts to our developmental disability system, but we understand personally how important Disneyland is to many children and adults with autism and other disabilities.  For many of you, it is the one place that our whole family can truly enjoy together.  
   

ASLA is committed to representing the families' concerns to Disney so please keep us posted if you are able to assist.  In the meantime,
ASLA will also be collecting comments, concerns and stories. Please direct them Caroline Wilson at execdirector@autismla.org  
  
We want to hear from you and will be taking you comments to Disney.
  
You can also sign petitions on:

Change.org - Disney Petition

MoveOn.org Petition
  
 They are hearing us and we think we have a chance to make this better.  


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