ASGA CELEBRATES
              PRIDE ALL JUNE!

A perspective shift is needed in our society to normalize acceptance and pride for autism. Check out this article by Forbes explaining why this mindset is crucial to the autism community. 

                           LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

IMPORTANT!! We need to make our voices heard in Washington, D.C.! Our U.S. Senators and Representatives are debating legislation that would provide increased funding to support individuals with disabilities.

The American Jobs Plan and the Administration’s proposed budget to Congress recommends that Congress, who controls the purse strings in the “balance of power,” provide $400 billion for expanded access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).

This investment in HCBS would also provide increased funding for better pay for Direct Support Professionals, who are undervalued and underpaid, but have tremendous responsibilities!

The Autism Society of Greater Akron, Autism Society of America, and our fellow 75 affiliates are working with the Administration and Congress to make this happen, but we cannot do it without you! LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION

The President released his budget request with more details on May 28. A budget outline from the Biden Administration was transmitted to Congress on April 9.

The Autism Society is pleased to report that there are increases for many of the programs that support people with autism and other disabilities. The following are some highlights that compare the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 to the previous fiscal year for disability programs. READ MORE

              NEW!! GRANDPARENTS: Strengthening Your Grandchild’s Gifts

July 26  |  7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  |  Zoom Discussion

Recognizing and nurturing your grandchild’s gifts and talents can open up a world of potential relationships and experiences that center around abilities, not disabilities. Join Joceyln Eskenazi from The Esken Group and other grandparents for this discussion.

ACCESSING THE JON PETERSON AND OHIO AUTISM SCHOLARSHIPS
Wednesday, July 7  |  7:00 pm - 8:30 pm  |  Zoom
Are you considering a specialized autism school for your child?  Hear Angela Cheadler from the Ohio Department of Education talk about the Jon Peterson and Ohio Autism Scholarship Funding. Learn who is eligible, services covered, how to apply, the role of the parent versus the school district, and get your questions answered. 

YARD SIGNS FOR SALE - Back by popular demand....GET YOUR AUTISM ACCEPTANCE YARD SIGNS! ONLY $10! Email info@autismakron.org for more information or to arrange a pickup! VIEW DESIGN HERE


TAKING THE STRUGGLE OUT OF MEALTIME RECAP - 
Thank you to Dr. Cara Cuddy, Director of the Pediatric Feeding Program at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, for explaining the sensory issues, chewing mechanics, and aversive behaviors that can lead to a feeding disorder in children with developmental disabilities.  Dr. Cuddy stressed the importance of patience when attempting to introduce new foods to the feeding program and to the rotation of foods that appear as triggers to the child.  Overcoming a feeding disorder takes the efforts of each family member, caregiver and teacher---consistency is key to retrain behaviors about food. WATCH HERE

                 TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHALLENGE STATS!

      SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 11 2022 at Lock 3 Park 

Thank you AGAIN to all the participants, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors that made this hybrid event so special! We will see you next year for our regularly scheduled IN-PERSON walk! 
VIEW EVENT POST PROGRAM HERE

View this year's Resource Fair and Family Fun Day pictures HERE!

If you wanted to participate in the challenge and were not able to, you can still help ASGA by donating to Step Into Autism!

FREE TENNIS CAMP - FEW SPOTS LEFT!! Adaptive and wheelchair tennis camp, Thursday July 8 from 2 - 3:30 PM at the Towpath Tennis Center. 

ALL ABILITIES CAMP - FREE all-abilities camp at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on
July 9 & 10, 2021. 

VIRTUAL PLAYS - Support the arts by watching one of these virtual one-act plays from the Center for Applied Drama and Autism.

COLLEGE FOR LIVING PROGRAM - Fall activities for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

About the Autism Society of Greater Akron

The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) is one of more than 80 affiliates nationwide that are part of the Autism Society of America, the nation’s largest and oldest grassroots autism organization. ASGA serves Summit, Stark, Wayne, Portage, and Medina counties. ASGA works locally to achieve its mission to improve the lives of all affected by autism.

ASGA is also a proud member of the Ohio Family Network (OFN), connecting people with disabilities and their families to local information and resources within their communities. We believe OFN provides opportunities to share ideas, find solutions to common challenges and inspire and strengthen each other.