Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 9, 2013, 10am-noon, at YAI, 460 West 34 Street, corner of 10th Ave, 11th Floor
Topic: Tuesday, April 9th – Nora Rubovitz of Autism Speaks will speak on their grant opportunities and other resources available to families.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Luis Nieves of Lower East Side Family Union announced that they have only 1 vacancy for Non-Medicaid Service Coordination. Chinese or Spanish. Call 212-260-0040 x208 (Luis) or x222 Kaleena
2. Roberta Ahouse of Metro DDRO announced that the Manhattan site should be moving to 25 Beaver St. in June.
3. Samantha Schwendeman of Sprout distributed their March calendar and said that their next Manhattan Free Weekend will be after 7/1. Queens Free Weekends are still available for ages 21+. Call 212-222-9575.
4. Jay Kleinman of Lifespire announced that there is now a waiting list for their behavior management program. Call 718-454-6940.
5. Ann Scully of Kennedy Child Study Center announced that there is availability in their Manhattan Saturday Respite Program and Holiday Respite Program. Call 212-988-9500 x262.
6. Jeannine Schmelzkopf of Hawthorne Foundation announced that there is a wait list for their behavior management program. Call 646-675-5957.
7. Michelle Lang of YAI LINK shared the YAI vacancy memo and announced:
- a. One last Health Education Workshop in Brooklyn. Call 212-273-6182 for information.
- b. Private pay Ballet/ Yoga classes in Manhattan for children. Sliding scale available for children on the autism spectrum. Call 212-273-6182.
- a. YAI’s International Conference will be held in May. Call 212-273-6472 for more information.
- b. Free Adult Yoga Series for young adults on the autism spectrum held in Manhattan this Spring. Call 212-273-6182 for more information.
- c. Autism Parent Support Group Series. Groups in English, Chinese and Mandarin available. Call 212-273-6182.
- d. There will be a Spanish Orientation to the DD Service System held at YAI’s Main Office on Tuesday, April 9th. Please have families call 212-273-6182 to register
Pat Liu of GHO announced that they have availability of Reimbursement funds for Manhattan. Please call 718-307-6563.
• Sandy Garcia of AllCare announced MSC openings in Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. Spanish available. Call 877-391-0977.
• Mark Ampah of Catholic Guardian Society announced availability in their overnight respite program. Call 212-567-2847.
Jennifer Shaoul of YAI announced a collaboration with the the Seaver Autism & Treatment Center at Mount Sinai on a research initiative using Family Peer Advocates to support families of children on the autism spectrum. Subjects should be: between the ages of 5 and 12, reside in Manhattan or the Bronx, be of Latino or African American descent. Please have families call Sarah Soffes at 212-241-2993 if they’d like to participate.
PRESENTATION
Jennifer Shaoul reviewed the current budget crisis and the advocacy that is currently in progress to eliminate the proposed 6% cut to services. She reviewed the InterAgency Council’s position paper. If someone would like a copy, e-mail IAC or e-mail Jennifer at Jennifer.shaoul@yai.org. Amy Bittinger was unable to attend the meeting because she was advocating in Albany.
IDEAS FOR FUTURE PRESENTATIONS
- • Have both Independent Living Centers serving Manhattan present on what they offer (CIDNY and HILC)
- • Camp – How to fund it and how to choose – Gary S. or Autism Speaks
- • Clara Berg – Tell her story and encourage us on how to help other families tell their stories.