From: Albany ARC
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009
Where: 1319 West Broad Street

Albany Advocacy Resource Center Judevine Center for Autism host parent training to educate families dealing with autism.

ALBANY, Ga – The Albany Advocacy Resource Center (Albany ARC) Judevine Center for Autism, one of the first local organizations dedicated to treating individuals with autism, is on a mission to help our community members know what it is like to live with autism. Albany ARC Judevine Center for Autism is one of only a handful of providers that work with individuals of all ages and all points of severity on the autism spectrum. Albany ARC hopes to raise awareness and assist families waiting to receive help for their child with autism.September 21-24, Albany ARC Judevine Center for Autism will be hosting a Judevine Parent Training Workshop. Judevine seeks to help those who don’t understand autism learn about its challenges and celebrate the success that can happen each day as families receive treatment at Albany ARC Judevine Center for Autism. No one automatically knows how to parent a child with autism. In fact, what usually works with “typical” children doesn’t work with children with autism spectrum disorders. Parent training is not just about teaching skills to a child, but teaching the parents how to best understand their child and the nature of his or her disability. Judevine parent training teaches strategies that parents can use to become more effective in parenting their child with an autism spectrum disorder. Perhaps most importantly, Parent Training teaches a new “thinking set” through which effective strategies can be applied.The purpose is to increase public awareness about autism and support families dealing with autism everyday, 365 days a year. What is Autism?
Autism is a complex developmental disability, a multifaceted communication and sensory impairment that impedes the processing of information that affects both adults and children. The incidence of autism is the most rapidly growing of all developmental disabilities. Autism is more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, cystic fibrosis, cancer and AIDS. According to recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control, one in 150 children born today will be diagnosed with autism. This is an increase from the reported one in 2,500 children thought to have autism ten years ago. There are currently 9,664 people between the ages of 6-22 living with autism in Georgia, a state which has inexplicably seen a 291% increase in autism diagnosis within the ages of 6-22 in the past 10 years. The Judevine Center for Autism has worked with many families in the past year and hundreds since the founding of the Albany ARC Judevine Center for Autism 10 years ago. There is no known cause for Autism...and no cure. But children with autism can be helped through early diagnosis and intervention, therapy, and consistent application by parents of specific techniques to help their children learn. Research during the past two decades has shown that as many as 47% of children can live full, satisfying lives if intensive behavior therapy is begun in early childhood. In 2008, Albany ARC Judevine Center for Autism’s world-renowned Parent Training Programs provided hope to more than 52 autistic children and their parents. Through the three-week intensive training program and the in-home program, the Judevine Center for Autism helps families learn to communicate with their children in a way that is unique to them. The program merges classroom instruction with guided observation, as well as one-on-one sessions for parents with their child and with their coaches. Judevine reaches people at all points on the autism spectrum…and work with individuals of all ages. Autism is no respecter of persons…and neither is Judevine. Judevine Parent Training OfferedEvent: Judevine Autism Workshop
Where: Albany ARC Training Center, 1319 West Broad Avenue, Albany ARC
When: September 21, 22, 23, 24 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Who: Parents with children diagnosed with Autism, Apergers Sundrome, Autistic Characteristics, or PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder)To attend the workshop you must register as limited spaces are available. Childcare will be provided. To register please contact Sonia Prescott at 229-888-6852 ext. 350.About Albany ARC
Albany Advocacy Resource Center is the leading non-profit provider of services in Southwest Georgia for individuals with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and other special needs. For nearly 46 years, Albany ARC has offered help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through therapy, training, education and support services, Albany ARC creates life-changing solutions to help people with disabilities live, learn, work and play. For more information, visit www.AlbanyARC.org.###