ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Keystone Academy has a limited number of spaces available for fall enrollment. Please visit our main website for more information on our school and how to apply.

WELCOME MELISSA!

Melissa just moved back to sunny Florida from Stuttgart, Germany. She graduated with a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland University College-Europe. Melissa is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and received her certification for Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of North Florida. She is currently working on completing the remaining requirements for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to moving to Germany, Melissa worked with children diagnosed with developmental disabilities in both school and clinic settings. Melissa then completed her counseling internship at Stuttgart Social Work Service and the Stuttgart Education Center working with Service Members, family members, and children in the Stuttgart community. This included experience in crisis intervention, on-call services, family and individual counseling, and counseling those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse/neglect. While in Stuttgart, she also worked for Army Community Service as the Family Advocacy Program Educator in the community. Melissa's prior experience also includes working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of community-based, school, outpatient and inpatient settings.

AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

April is Autism Awareness Month! Did you know?

• 1 in 110 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder
• 1 in 70 boys is on the autism spectrum
• Autism prevalence rose 57% between 2002 and 2006
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Treatment approaches grounded in ABA are now considered to be at the forefront of therapeutic and educational interventions for children with autism. The large amount of scientific evidence supporting ABA treatments for children with autism have led a number of other independent bodies to endorse the effectiveness of ABA, including the U.S. Surgeon General, the New York State Department of Health, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For more information visit Autism Speaks.

TICKET TO RIDE

Join Keystone Staff on May 1st 2010 at the 8th annual Ticket to Ride event in Jacksonville. Proceeds from the event raise money for The Autism Society of America. For more information about the event visit Ticket to Ride.

WHEN:
Saturday, May 1st, 2010

WHERE:
Adamec Harley-Davidson
8909 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, Fla.

TIMES:
Check In & Registration Opens: 8:00am
Opening Ceremony: 10:00am

TIPS FOR THE SUMMER TRANSITION

Many children with developmental disabilities or diagnoses including interfering problem behaviors have a difficult time with transitions. This can be as simple as moving from one activity to another, or bigger transitions such as ending the school year and starting summer vacation. To make this transition to summer easier, parents should plan structured activities for their children. These activities can take many forms. For example:

• Develop an at-home schedule for the summer to include meals, bath and bedtime.
• Consider an extracurricular activity that offers a built in routine, such as swimming laps at the pool at the same time every day.
• Will the child attend extended school year? Some school districts offer structured summer programs for children who may lose skills after long breaks from school.

TIPS FOR AIR TRAVEL

Summertime is often the time of year when families choose to take vacations. These vacations often include air travel, which can often be a stressful and anxiety producing experience for parents with children. To make air travel easier, planning, preparation and practice are essential! Knowing your child and understanding their specific needs is also critical. Tips for traveling by air include:

• Visual preparedness before flight. Prepare your child ahead of time, at least a week in advance, with pictures of airplanes, the airport you will be going to, security officials and flight personnel. If possible show your child interior photos of an airplane with people sitting in their seats. The more visual preparation you can give your child, the less likely tantrums or behaviors will occur.
• Verbal preparedness before the flight. In addition to preparing your child visually, you also need to prepare them verbally. It will be helpful to explain things as much as possible, including procedures such as security checkpoints, waiting to board a flight, flight time, and boarding. Also be sure to explain the rules for flying and have your child repeat the rules back to you if possible.
• Plan activities ahead of time. On the day of the flight, make sure you have plenty of activities planned for your child to keep them occupied during the flight. For example bring items such as a game boy, toy cars and snacks in case your child gets hungry.
• Inform the airline of your child's special needs, so that staff can assist in making your experience as comfortable and stress free as possible. For example, Delta Airlines, in conjunction with Atlanta's Marcus Institute of Development and Learning is currently preparing recommendations for families traveling with children who have developmental disabilities.

KEYSTONE KIDS

This month Lori K. got a glimpse into the life of Alana and her son T.J. Thank you, Alana, for sitting down and sharing your experiences and insight with us!

Lori: How has your child changed since coming to Keystone? How has Keystone been able to help you and your family?
Alana: TJ has changed in the most noticeable way in his efforts towards verbal communication. It has been an amazing breakthrough; complete sentences and new words every day!
Lori: How long have you been with Keystone?
Alana:  Since February!
Lori: What is your child's favorite food?
Alana: "Cookie". I just asked him.
Lori: Describe your perfect day (without children and then with children) :)
Alana: Without children, my perfect day consists of sleeping in, sitting down to enjoy my coffee (instead of drinking it in the car), a nap maybe, and catching up with friends and family over a nice dinner, consisting of really good Mexican food.
A perfect day with TJ: we would ALL sleep until 8ish, well, perfect day? 9ish, go for a morning jog, lots of sunny beach time with friends and finish up with "make your own pizza night" at home.
Lori: What is the one thing you would want others to know about TJ?
Alana: TJ is the hardest working and happiest individual I have ever met. Period.
Lori: Where is your favorite place to go with TJ?
Alana: The beach- we can spend all day! He loves the ocean, shells, sand and the opportunity to meet new people (and their dogs).   I love the feeling we both get from so much space and freedom! I  think TJ is at his happiest when we can just run around with no boundaries and very few rules, I mean, who isn't?
Lori: What is your biggest challenge?
Alana: Personally knowing how very smart TJ is and hearing it from so many people, (and by people I mean doctors and therapists as well as family and friends- all opinions count!!) but still feeling like there is something we cannot break through or figure out in order to let his intelligence catch up to his age.  It's a challenge to feel so extremely proud of him but know he is capable of more at the same time.
Lori: What is your favorite color?
Alana: White.
Lori: What do you know NOW that you wish you would of known earlier?
Alana: Easy. I wish I would've always known the important role that our behavior, as parents, plays in any child's behavioral change.  It makes perfect sense now that his behavior is directly related to ours!  For so long I wanted a change in him and never understood that the change in his behavior would have such a significant connection with the changes in ours.  God Bless Parent Training.
Lori: Anything else you want the world to know, this is your chance!!!!
Alana: Sometimes when I feel like it is difficult to be patient and positive, I try to put myself in the shoes of my son, who has many more challenges than I do, I am so very proud of him; he inspires me.

KEYSTONE STAFF