As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and a Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), these designations have provided Pat with the knowledge and expertise to address the unique circumstances and requirements of planning for families that have dependents with special needs, the core focus of his practice. Special Needs Planning addresses these key areas of planning: protecting & maximizing government benefits, creating the correct estate planning framework and analyzing funding strategies to provide for lifetime care & quality of life in the most tax-efficient manner possible. To view our upcoming Spring 2019 Workshops click here.
As a nonprofit organization, we depend solely on the support of our members. Please click on the donate now image above to see the different ways you can support ASCEND Group.
Thank you to ASCEND Board Member Rich Fry for raising $1,325.00 through Facebook! In lieu of birthday gifts this year Rich asked his friends and family to donate to the ASCEND Group. If you or someone you know would like to set up donations to ASCEND Group through Facebook, here are the steps:
Fundraisers for Nonprofits To create a fundraiser for a charitable organization, click here or follow these steps:
Click Fundraisers in the left menu of your News Feed.
Click Raise Money.
Select Nonprofit/Charity.
Select ASCEND Group, choose a cover photo and fill in the fundraiser details.
Interested in volunteering? We welcome ASCEND members and non-members to sign up to volunteer on one of our committees. It's a great way to meet other people in our community and to give back! Please click here to sign up to volunteer.
Research Studies
In the interest of promoting autism awareness, we feel it is important to help spread the word about autism spectrum research studies that are being conducted in our area. For the first time, we are giving individuals and organizations the opportunity to advertise their research studies in future ASCEND e-newsletters and on our website, for a nominal fee without first becoming ASCEND members. Use this Research Study Form to submit your study.
The Family Experiences with Wandering Study The purpose of the Family Experiences with Wandering (“FEW”) study is to improve the medical community’s understanding of why wandering behavior occurs and how to prevent it. Compensation for your time.
Transportation Survey We are looking for people who are 18 years and older with developmental disabilities to complete a survey asking questions about transportation.
autismMatch is an online registry that can quickly and easily connect interested individuals and families with research opportunities to advance scientists' understanding of ASD and related disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety, 22q deletion syndrome, and others.
Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) In an attempt to learn about patterns of brain development in children, we are studying the differences in brain patterns between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Infants between 3-6 months of age with an older sibling who is diagnosed with an ASD are invited to participate.
Research on Autism and Developmental Disorders (ROADD) This study will observe young children to learn more about the biological underpinnings of ASD. Children ages 3-5 with or without a diagnosis of ASD may be eligible to participate.
Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) This ground-breaking study is looking at possible environmental and genetic links to autism. Mothers who have a biological child with ASD or who less than 28 weeks pregnant and who live in the tristate area are being invited to participate in this study. JAKE App Study With the use of new mobile app technology, this study aims to develop a mobile app-based system to monitor clinical outcomes in children and adults with ASD vs. typically developing children and adults. Children and adults ages 6 and older with or without ASD may take part.
Autism and Employment Webinar with Barbara Bissonnette
Interviewing Webinar: Tues., 2/19 from 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM (session runs for one hour followed by a 15-minute Q&A)
Job Interviewing: Communicate Your Skills and Get Hired!
Do you wish that someone would explain the unspoken rules about what to say during an interview? Are you confused about the difference between marketing your skills and lying? Nervous about what to expect? This webinar is for you! You will learn: how employers evaluate candidates; how to prepare strong responses to anticipated questions; tips for avoiding common mistakes; the correct way to follow up; and the pros and cons of disclosing during an interview.
Fees: ASCEND Family and Organizational Members: Free (a code will be emailed to you) ASCEND Individual Members: $10.00 (a code will be emailed to you) Non-members: $20 Register before 2/19/2019 and receive an Individual Level Membership!
Chips, Chocolate & Chat Adult Social Group A group of adult self-advocates who with the help of a facilitator, discuss topics chosen by the group. Topics that have been addressed include dating, co-workers, break-ups, meet-ups, interviewing for jobs, etc. In the past, we have had a few guest speakers who have addressed the group as well. Attendees: Adults on the autism spectrum, ages 18+ Sun., 2/10from 4-5 PM Ruttenberg Autism Center 1740 Walton Road, 1st Floor, Blue Bell, PA 19422
Let's do lunch at HoneyGrow for Adults (18+) We will be gathering together for lunch and socializing at Honeygrow in Bala Cynwyd. Everyone will pay for their own food and drinks. We will arrange to have a table or tables for our group. More details about how to find us will be shared before the MeetUp. When: Sat., 2/23, 12 Noon RSVP on our MeetUp site: it's free!
Free event but RSVP required via meetup.com (free) and SEARCH for ASCENDGroup Event.
Highlight on ASCEND Professional Member:
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and a Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), these designations have provided Pat with the knowledge and expertise to address the unique circumstances and requirements of planning for families that have dependents with special needs, the core focus of his practice. Special Needs Planning addresses these key areas of planning: protecting & maximizing government benefits, creating the correct estate planning framework and analyzing funding strategies to provide for lifetime care & quality of life in the most tax-efficient manner possible.
To view our upcoming Spring 2019 Workshops click here.
Led by Laura K. Evak M.A., CCC/SLP, Speech Language Pathologist at Communiverse, this presentation will help you understand the definition and components of Executive Function (EF), increase your awareness of how EF impacts different aspects of daily living, socializing and learning, identify some indicators of EF difficulties, and a brief introduction to at least two strategies to aid in improving EF.
Tuesday 2/26 from 6:30-8:00 PM
Peer Support Groups... now every Tuesday!
Date: Tuesday, 2/5
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Independent Living: Cooking Class - Mini Assorted Pizzas
Date: Tuesday,2/12 Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Self-Esteem: "I Love Me" Valentine's Day Heart Art Project
Date: Tuesday, 2/19 Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Social Skills: BINGO
Date: Tuesday, 2/26 Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Coping Skills: How to Deal with Unpleasant Situations (Hand Project)
Pizza Served
Please RSVP to Pam Frebowitz at [email protected] or call 215-681-0172
All groups are open to the community! Family Support Groups are free however there is a $5 feefor peer support groups if you are not receiving waiver services from Kaleidoscope.
Coatesville Location- Family/Caregiver Support Group: Planning for Children and Adults with Special Needs
Randi Hope Steen, Esq., of Law Offices of Randy Hope Steen, Ltd.will discuss the importance of planning for children and adults with special needs, from appropriate Wills, Special Needs Trusts, the differences between Powers of Attorney and Guardianship, the choices we have to make as our children turn 18 and become emancipated, the importance of SSI, MA and why this is the gateway to the adult service world!
Thursday, 2/21 from 6:30-8:00 PM Refreshments and coffee served
Our complimentary workshops are focused on empowering and educating families who have dependents with special needs giving them clear, actionable information that can be used to understand and build a responsible financial lifestyle. Our small and interactive seminars will be led by popular financial speaker, Pat Bergmaier, and will provide a comfortable setting in which attendees can learn how to take control of their present and future financial planning. As a follow-up, individual meetings may be scheduled to focus on your personal financial situation without distraction.
-A Workshop for those supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are approaching adolescence-
As children approach and enter the teenage years, they must deal with physical growth spurts, mindboggling hormone releases, and ever-changing and challenging social relationships. Children begin to care about being "cool," and classmates may no longer be as tolerant of "differences". For pre-adolescent children with ASD, these already complicated physical and social changes are compounded by the typical ASD difficulties of reading social cues and understanding the behaviors of others. Consequently, children with ASD approaching adolescence have greater transition needs than most typically developing pre-teens.
Fick Educational Services will be forming new social skills groups for the New Year! If your child struggles to make friends and could use some practice with team work or coping skills, consider a social skills group at FES. We form groups based on need and age and will tailor activities to suit the child's needs. Call us at 610-457-2199 for more information.
Mike Fogel's Art of Friendship
Social-Coping Skills Groupsare currently enrolling girls and boys between 4-18 years old in: Paoli, Haverford, Plymouth Meeting and Center City Philadelphia.
Social skills groups SHOULD NOT be one-size-fits-all. Different kids have different challenges! AoF differentiates Social-Coping Skills into the following skill areas to meet the needs of your client or student.
Girls' groups, boys' groups, and co-ed groups are offered for ages 4-18 years old. Contact the Art of Friendship admissions coordinator, Debbie DeBenedictis, at 610-649-1080, ext 1.
We have started the application and registration process for summer 2019! As a reminder, Camp Pegasus provides a structured and successful day camp experience with an intensive social skills training component. Our camp is designed to support campers with social skill challenges- click below for more information. We welcome your referrals and would love to collaborate with YOU!
Research has shown that individuals with ASD can not only perform proficiently in the workplace, they can do so independently if the job matches their personal strengths and capabilities and specific job tasks are taught to mastery. The goal of this group is to not only develop participant proficiency in technology use, but to also teach key "soft-skills" such as; job searching, understanding workplace norms, routines and etiquette, social communication at work and workplace problem-solving skills.
Openings for Children ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, & 13-15.Children will be grouped by age, language abilities, and social skills goals.
Lego®-Based Therapy, or Lego®-Club as it called by group members, is an evidenced based treatment where children develop skills through collaboration on group projects through the use of Lego®. Group members collaborate on building sets, free style projects, and creating and producing short stop-action films. Children with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, and other social challenges are welcome!
An unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs. The amazing night includes dinner, dancing, karaoke, limo rides, photo booths and so much more! The King of Prussia, PA event is seeking donations to help us give our honored guests and their families a night to remember!
Note that the organizers are seeking volunteers and donors, in addition to participants. Note that prom guests must be 14 or older. Training videos are online, for "General/Buddies," "Food Service" and for the "Parent Lounge."
Hope Community Church in King of Prussia, PA is again proud to be an official host church for Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs ages 14 and up, that will take place at more than 500 churches around the world simultaneously on February 8, 2019. Event highlights include a red carpet entrance, friendly paparazzi welcome, limo rides, hair & make up stations, shoe shine stations, dinner, karaoke, photo booth and of course, dancing!! Extra special treats for parents and caregivers too! For more information, contact Melanie Lyren at [email protected] or call 610-265-4981 ext. 812.
This event is held at BounceU for children ages 4-11 with autism and their families. All you have to do is sign up and show up!
Make sure you sign up quickly! Only the first 100 children will be admitted. When you sign up it is important to include how many children will be attending the event as well as how many adults will be attending.
Don't forget to bring your own socks! When: Sat., 2/16 from 8:30 AM -10:45 AM For questions about signing up contact Penni Morton: [email protected] Please check out our website: kampforkids.org
February 9: The Kid Who Would Be King February 12: Miss Bala February 23: The Lego Movie 2 February 26: Fighting With My Family
AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing Check asaphilly.org for updates. Movies and times are subject to change.
AMC Neshaminy 24, Bensalem, Pa 19020 215-396-8050 AMC Philadelphia (Franklin) Mills 14, Phila, Pa 19154 215-612-2740 AMC Marple 10, Springfield, Pa 610-328-5439
"Building Bridges: Best Practices Across the Lifespan" Conference
Foundations Behavioral Health in partnership with Ruttenberg Autism Center and PCOM will assemble the region's leading researchers and clinicians to present best practices in autism across four key age ranges: early childhood, school age, transition planning, and adulthood. The Director of the PA Bureau of Autism Services, Nina Wall, and Philadelphia City Councilman At-Large Derek Green, Esq., will kick off our conference, leading into a pivotal keynote presentation by renowned researcher and clinician Dr. Giacomo Vivanti,who will share some of the most exciting best practices in autism from research-to-practice.
When: 4/10/2019 at 11 AM To reserve tickets, please email the following information to [email protected]
Your name and address
Your organization (if applicable)
Total number of tickets needed
Total number of individuals on the spectrum (and ages if individual is under 21)
Total number of attendees over 21
Any special seating needs (such as wheelchair seating) This information is required for the grant that we have received to provide these tickets free of charge to you and to reserve your seats. Tickets will be mailed out early in the new year.
*This play is tailored to an adult audience and has numerous incidences of adult language throughout.
Research Studies
The Family Experiences with Wandering Study The purpose of the Family Experiences with Wandering ("FEW") study is to improve the medical community's understanding of why wandering behavior occurs and how to prevent it. Compensation for your time.
Transportation Study We are looking for people who are 18 years and older with developmental disabilities to complete a survey asking questions about transportation.
Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) Infants between 3-6 months of age with an older sibling who is diagnosed with an ASD are invited to participate.
Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation EARLI Mothers who have a biological child with ASD or who less than 28 weeks pregnant and who live in the tristate area are being invited to participate in this study.
Jake App Study Children and adults ages 6 and older with or without ASD may take part.
Think Different. It's more than just the slogan that Steve Jobs used to sell computers. It was his corporate philosophy - and it's no accident that some of the biggest technological advancements in the past 20 years came from Apple. Embracing, and more importantly supporting, people's cognitive differences creates a culture where innovation thrives and group think dies.
Fortune 400 companies are beginning to embrace and set up programs to help neurodiverse individuals succeed. It is time for the nonprofit industry to follow suit.
Meet Terry, a resident with intellectual disabilities who is thriving thanks to the L'Arche community in Atlanta, Georgia. L'Arche USA is a non-profit organization that provides homes and workplaces for people with and without disabilities to work together and form relationships.
A group of 30 adults met in downtown San Francisco to discuss their difficulties in finding jobs and staying employed. They were joined that November Saturday by Ranga Jayaraman, a former chief information officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. They strategized how to help each other get jobs in the tech industry, and Mr. Jayaraman offered to introduce them to his contacts. Here's the twist: This was a local meeting of adults with autism, as well as family members and advocates.
Our group, known as Aascend-an acronym for Autism, Asperger Spectrum Coalition for Education, Networking and Development-is one of several autism mutual-support groups that have arisen across the U.S. I've been part of Aascend since 2011, as a family member of an adult with autism.
People usually only talk about the autism spectrum when they suspect there's a problem. We hardly ever look at the spectrum in a positive light. It's seen as a thing to cure, like a disease, not as just a part of who we are, like a birthmark.
I found out I might be on the spectrum around fifth grade. I don't even remember the exact time I found out because it was so inconsequential to me at the time. I was just walking with my mom, and our protective Corgi dog named Faye, when she told me.
When Sarah Ford, 14 years old, was struggling with depression, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts last spring, her pediatrician in Springfield, Mo., was able to call in help from afar. Through a live videoconference link with Mercy Virtual, a telemedicine center three hours away, a child-psychiatry expert evaluated Sarah, prescribed a medication and set follow-up appointments.
With a rising number of teens and adolescents suffering from depression and anxiety, and too few professionals to help, remote video consults are helping pediatricians fill the gap in some communities. In recent years, more health providers have been turning to telemedicine for adult mental-health services, offering remote, real-time video and audio appointments with a psychiatrist or counselor for patients who don't have easy access to care. School systems, universities and health-care providers are now testing out such programs for children and teens.
The Trump administration is planning to rethink existing regulations that radically altered the transition from school to work for people with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Education is expected to issue a proposal this month changing how the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is implemented.
The 2014 law requires that individuals with disabilities age 24 and younger pursue competitive integrated employment before they can work in jobs paying less than minimum wage. Those already working for what's known as subminimum wage can continue to do so, but must receive regular career counseling and information about training opportunities.
Technology can be a powerful tool to assist students with special needs or any sort of learning challenge. In particular the Chrome web browser allows users to install a wide variety of web extensions that provide tools that can help all learners, regardless of ability level.
In this blog post we will take a look at over 30 Chrome web extensions that can assist students in five main categories:
Text to Speech
Readability
Reading Comprehension
Focus
Navigation
Some of the tools fit into more than one topic, but each is only listed once. Certainly this list does not cover all of the useful web extensions available for struggling learners, but it is a great place to begin. In addition to the list of extension, I have also linked in the videoand help guide from a webinar I did a while back on "Google Tools for Special Needs".
Legal Disclaimer: ASCEND maintains the Professional Services Resource Directory and e-newsletter as a service to families and professionals as a reference tool. ASCEND does not endorse or claim to have personal knowledge of the abilities of those listed. The resources listed on this page are not intended as a recommendation, referral, or endorsement of any resource or as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any organization, product or professional. Users are urged to use independent judgment when considering any resource associated with diagnosis or treatment of autism, or the provision of services related to autism.
ASCEND Group Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We do not endorse any specific professional or therapeutic treatment. We are not meant to be a replacement for medical or legal advice. Our mission is to raise public awareness about Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, to advocate for improved education and services, and to provide support and information to the Asperger and autism community. This web site is for informational purposes only. Any link or mention on our web site should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation. If you have questions about Autism or Asperger Syndrome, please consult with a qualified medical professional.