The Bloomington-Normal Young Professionals Kiwanis Club will be hosting a garage sale fundraiser for ASMC's Autism Camp on Saturday, April 6th from 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM at 1717 RT Dunn Drive, Suite E (near Dairy Queen, The Great Escape, Razor's Edge, etc.).

The garage sale itself will be a 'name your price' garage sale - no listed prices. The goal is to sell each and every item.

Donations will gladly be accepted anytime before the 6th. For more information, contact Craig Luchtefeld: c.luchtefeld@autismmclean.org or 309-319-6006. All donations are tax deductible.  All unsold donations will be given to Home Sweet Home, Mission Mart, ReStore, etc.

So, come out and donate and/or be a buyer. The money is all going for a good cause!

• Who: ASMC youngsters - ages 10+
• What: Dinner and pottery painting
• Where:
  • Dinner: Kentucky Fried Chicken (501 N. Prospect, Bloomington, IL)
  • Pottery: Artful Designs (502 N. Prospect, Suite 24, Bloomington, IL)
• When: Friday, March 22
  • Dinner and Pottery: 5:30p - 7:30p
  • Pottery only: 6:30p - 7:30p
• Cost: $20/person
• RSVP: Marlee Goldsworthy

Please indicate if your child will have dinner and paint pottery or just paint pottery.

ASMC has had an extraordinary opportunity this year, thanks to a partnership with the Multicultural Leadership Program: An MCLP project team has been working since fall 2012 to help ASMC plan a new autism employment mentoring program. This new mentoring program, "Bridges to Work", is focused on helping adults on the autism spectrum work on employment networking and job preparedness skills.

The team conducted a small 6-week program pilot, with three adult mentees with autism and three adult volunteer mentors, who worked one-on-one through a series of activities planned by the MCLP team — including how to prepare for job interviews, mock interview experiences, resume writing, and job shadowing opportunities. The Autism Society of McLean County has been working for several years now on employment awareness through its Diversity’s Missing Piece steering committee. Together with our MCLP project team, we are hoping to build “Bridges to Work” into an ongoing ASMC program.

You’re invited:

MCLP project team will present a summary of their project on Saturday, March 9th at Heartland Community College Astroth Auditorium. Five MCLP community project teams will present throughout the morning from 8:00 to 10:45 am. The ASMC team presentation is last, so they will begin approximately 10:00. ASMC members are invited and encouraged to attend.

Final Community Project Presentations:

• Sat., March 9, 8:00-10:45 am  (ASMC team presents at 10:00 am)
• Heartland Community College, Astroth Auditorium (#10 on map)

Learn More:

• Check out our MCLP-ASMC team interview on WJBC
• Visit bn-mclp.org to learn more about the Multicultural Leadership Program.

MCLP Class of 2013 Graduation:

Consider supporting our ASMC-MCLP project team by registering to attend the MCLP Class of 2013 Graduation Celebration Dinner on April 13. Tickets must be purchased in advance by March 28.

The Starplex hosts a sensory friendly movie monthly for children who might be overstimulated attending a typical movie experience. Starplex turns the lights up and the sound down so the movie is more enjoyable for children that can not handle or do not enjoy all that stimulation. Children are free to walk around and vocalize during the movie.

Special screenings will happen the 2nd Saturday of each month.

• March 9 - Escape from Planet Earth
• April 13 - The Croods
• May 11 - Wreck-It Ralph
• June 8 - Epic
• July 13 - Monsters University
• August 10 - Turbo

One free child admission with adult ticket purchase. Seating is limited - first come, first serve.

Please check out the Starplex site for more information.

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, and to celebrate, thousands of people are coming together to Light It Up Blue. Join Autism Speaks to Light It Up Blue and help shine a light on autism!

Autism awareness is more important than ever – 1 in 88 American children are on the autism spectrum – a 78% increase in only six years. This increase can only be partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness.

Please join our efforts and support Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue.

Visit http://www.LightItUpBlue.org for more information.

The Cafe provides ongoing support, trainings and discussions on the many areas of autism that families are challenged with. Come join other family members to share your knowledge and problem solve.

• What: October topic is "Visuals"
• Where: 706 Oglesby Ave., Normal, IL, 61761, in the conference room between TAP and Skill Sprouts
• When: Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 6:00p - 8:00p
• RSVP: Jacquie at 309-824-4555 so that we can ensure proper coverage.

Childcare provided by ISU SCEC

Trainings and discussion will be facilitated by Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

The Autism Society of McLean County (ASMC) is looking for art created by children with autism to be auctioned at Blueline in April to raise money for awareness, programs and activities. Canvasses, paper, paint, and brushes will be supplied. Bring your child for some painting fun or you are welcome to drop donations off at The Autism Place (TAP) anytime before March 16th. If donating art, please include your child/adults first name and age.

All proceeds from the auctioned art will benefit community activities and programs sponsored by the Autism Society of McLean County. Thank You!

Where: The Autism Place, 706 Oglesby, Normal, IL, 61761

When: March 16th, 2013 11:00a to 5:00p

• Who: ASMC 10 through  Early 20s Young Adults
• What: February Teen Event
• Where: The Autism Place, 706 Oglesby, Normal, IL, 61761
• When: Friday, February 15, 6:00-9:00 pm
• RSVP: mcgolds@ilstu.edu

You are invited to a free workshop: Seven Steps to Securing the Future For Your Child With Special Needs sponsored by Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization

This free workshop is suitable for all families with a child or relative with special needs. Every family with a child with special needs must do some legal and financial planning to help ensure that their child lives a fulfilling life in their community, even after we parents are gone. The stakes are enormous. If the child inherits more than the allowed assets, that one glitch could cause the child to lose their health insurance and other benefits. This free, informative workshop will explain the planning process that is designed to include your entire family's needs in coordination with those unique needs of your child with a disability.

• Who:
  • Steve Newbold, Attorney, NewboldLaw, Special Needs Legal Services
  • www.newboldlaw.com
  • snewbold@newboldlaw.com or (309) 826-1658
• Where: Calvary United Methodist Church, Rooms L2-L4, 1700 North Towanda Avenue, Normal, IL (corner of Towanda Avenue and Raab Rd)
• When: Thursday, Feb 21, 2013, 6:30p - 8:00p

There is no fee to attend this workshop however reservation is recommended.

Reserve your spot at snewbold@newboldlaw.com.

• Who: ASMC Teens (13-19 years of age), up to 10 teens can attend
• What: ISU basketball game
• Where: ISU Redbird Arena, Ticket Office
• When: Saturday, January 26, 6:30p
• Cost: $5/person

Please RSVP with Jill Enchelmayer.
 
Parents: The maximum is 10 teens, so let me know asap if your teen will be attending so he/she can be guaranteed a spot.

You will be able to drop your teen off with the SSID group and pick them up when the game is finished (the games usually last 2 hours).
 
*Helpful tip: When attending loud events, try sound reducing earphones. It may highly increase enjoyment of the game by not having to worry about when there will be a loud noise. These earphones can be purchased at any hardware type store for under $20.