December 29, 2022| Newsletter| Kim Welch

“The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) provides support and assistance with the goal of building the capacity of individuals, families, schools, and communities to optimize the potential of people with autism and related disabilities.”

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Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays. I hope you are enjoying this time of year and getting to spend some extra time with your family and friends. Our offices will be closed from December 21- January 2, 2023 and will reopen on January 3, 2023. We will have people checking our [email protected] email and phone messages but will not be able to respond as quickly due to the holiday break.

We have several opportunities coming up in the new year. First, we hope to see some of you in Orlando at the 30th Annual CARD Conference January 13-15, 2023. We are back in person after 2 years of being virtual and are excited to celebrate 30 years of CARD services in Florida. Please see the article below for more information about the conference. It’s not too late to register!

We are launching our new Parents Place online series in the new year. There will be three different groups to meet the needs of parents of children of all ages. Our first two are in early January for parents of young adults and elementary age children. Please keep an eye on our social media accounts and website for upcoming sessions. Our Meet-Up Mondays online series for our adult clients will resume on January 9,2023. See the flier below for more information and the link to register.

The winter 6-week webinar series for the Autism Navigator Classroom Success for PreK through 2nd Grade will start February 1, 2023. Registration is open now and the information is below.

We have some informative articles in our Consultant Corner about IEPs and social stories. Thank you, Tisha Melton and Audra Burch, for sharing your knowledge with our clients, families, and professionals on this mailing list!

Finally, don’t miss the information in the Client Corner section. We are honored to highlight one of our adult clients, share her story and words of wisdom with you. We also included an article on how to address some of the nutritional challenges our clients and their families may face and strategies to address them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of the FSU CARD team for your dedication and hard work to serve our clients, families, and communities. We are so lucky to have added 4 autism consultants this year who add so much value to our already amazing team. We will continue to do our best to serve our clients, families, and communities in our 18 counties and always welcome input from our constituents on how we can best serve you.

In closing, I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyous holiday and happy new year. I’m looking forward to a very busy, productive, and prosperous new year.

Sincerely,

Register for the 30th Annual Statewide CARD Conference

It’s not too late to register for the 30th Annual Statewide CARD Conference January 13-15, 2023. We’re back in person at the Florida Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Join us to learn and celebrate 30 years of CARD services in Florida!

CARD Conference Information & Registration

Posting on Behalf of the FSU Multidisciplinary Center

Click Here for More Information

New Overdrive Library

FSU CARD is proud to present our brand-new Overdrive lending library.

We have curated a diverse collection of books about autism spectrum disorder and related topics, and to make it more convenient for all of our clients, have made them available online.

We encourage our clients to take a look at the collection.

Happy Reading!

Click Here to Browse our Collection

Click Here to Request Access to FSU CARD Digital Library

Autism Navigator Classroom Success for

PreK to 2nd Grade Winter Webinar Series

Register today for the 6-week winter series for educators.

Starts Wednesday, February 1st!

Join us for this free, 6-week webinar series from our colleagues at Autism Navigator. This series is for regular education and special education teachers, district-level personnel, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, early interventionists, psychologists, behavior specialists, social workers, paraprofessionals, college students, and anyone else interested in learning about students with autism.

Participants will learn about an evidence-based framework to prioritize goals using a lens of active engagement and a layer cake of teaching strategies to promote learning and positive behavior.

Click Here to Learn More & Register

Congratulations to our new PEPSA Partners!

Jacqueline Jenson is an Autism Resource Specialist in Escambia County
Cheryl Stinson and Rebecca Bertoch are educators from Riley Elementary School in Leon County.
Emily Cain, a second-year partner is an educator from Leon High School in Leon County.
Pam Maldonado and Juniper Bambach are educators from The Magnolia School in Leon County.
Madeline Storey and Sarah Moore are educators from Riversink Elementary School in Wakulla County.

IEP FAQs

By: Tisha Melton
What is an Individualized Education Program?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a plan written by the student’s IEP team outlining the educational program they have designed to meet the student’s specific educational needs. A student cannot receive special education services without an IEP. An IEP contains information about goals for the student, as well as any services that the school will provide to help ensure the student meets the goals.
Source: www.wrightslaw.com

How do I get an IEP for my child?
States are responsible for locating and identifying students with disabilities and must evaluate these students and provide special education services when needed. This may happen through a process called “Child Find”. Parents may contact their local “Child Find” system for children not yet enrolled in public school. For students already enrolled in public school, parents may request an evaluation at any time. Schools may identify children for evaluation through screening activities. Parents must give written consent before evaluations are conducted, and evaluations should occur within a reasonable amount of time (usually 60 days) after consent is given.
Source: https://www2.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html#process

Our school said that my child is in MTSS. What does that mean?
Many schools utilize a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to identify struggling students early and provide assistance to them. MTSS is a framework of behavioral and academic interventions with the following key components:
· Universal screening of all students early in the school year
· Tiers of interventions that can be amplified in response to levels of need
· Ongoing data collection and continual assessment
· Schoolwide approach to expectations and supports
· Parent involvement
Source: https://www.pbisrewards.com/blog/what-is-mtss/
For students requiring ongoing intensive support, the data collected during the MTSS process may assist with eligibility for special education. Some eligibilities, such as ASD, do not require MTSS data.

For more information, visit the Department of Education Parent Information Page at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/parent-info/

Our next quarterly newsletter will contain questions and answers about special education eligibilities and evaluations.

Communication Corner: What is a Social Story?

By: Audra Burch

Social stories (also called social narratives or teaching stories) are a visual and concrete way to teach a variety of actions, reactions, routines, etc. using pictures and narration to walk through specific situations. The term social story was coined by Carol Gray (https://carolgraysocialstories.com/). They can address social skills, executive functioning, and behavior management. These stories can be successful for individuals with a wide range of abilities. Social stories can teach what to expect, how you might react and what to do, how others might react, the possibilities are endless!

Social stories can be a drawn or printed book or even a video. Programs like PowerPoint, Word, and Publisher, as well as sites like Boardmaker and LessonPix, are helpful options. Here are some simple steps to create your own, followed by online resources to get you started!

Simple Steps to Creating a Social Story:
Choose a title that clearly addresses the topic.
Choose pictures or photos demonstrating what you’re trying to convey.
Try to choose images very similar to or actual photos of the people and places.
Use first person sentences, from the individual’s point of view.
When writing, talk about the issue at hand, possible triggers, and preferred or replacement behaviors or strategies.
Try to keep a positive tone in the sentences. Build confidence!

Be clear and direct, keeping sentences concise when possible, avoiding any figurative language or expressions.
End the story positively and with encouragement!

Informational Videos on Social Stories:
OCALI: https://www.ocali.org/project/social-narratives
Special Education Resource: https://youtu.be/PV8MBUxaDs0

Social Story Apps:
Social Story Creator and Library by Touch Autism
Story Creator by Innovative Mobile Apps
iCreate Social Skills Stories by I Get It
My Pictures Talk and iCommunicate by Grembe Inc.

Spotlight on our Autism-Friendly Businesses

By: Cathy Zenko

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to check out some of the businesses that have joined our Autism-Friendly Business Initiative. The businesses listed on our website have received specialized training and services from FSU CARD focused on the inclusion and comfort of patrons with autism and their families. If you are a business owner or know of a business that would be interested in learning more about this important mission, please check out the application on our website. We would love to add more businesses to the list, and hopefully, one of them could be yours.

o Jeri’s Midtown Café (Tallahassee)

o K Baker Photography (Pensacola)

o LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library (Tallahassee)

o National Flight Academy (Pensacola)

o North Florida Spine & Wellness (Tallahassee)

o Pensacola Yacht Club Satori Foundation (Pensacola)

o Verity Health Center (Tallahassee)

o Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry (Tallahassee)

o Cornerstone Software Consulting Services (Tallahassee)

o Obsessions Gift Shop (Tallahassee)

o Tallullah CBD + Juicebar (Tallahassee)

o Pensacola Museum of Art (Pensacola)

o Catalyst Fabric Solutions (Marianna)

o Tallahassee International Airport (Tallahassee)

o Milk & Honey Soft Serve and Coffee Shop (Marianna)

o Bay County Public Library (Panama City)

Click Here for More Information

Client Spotlight: Michelle Beecher

By: Crystal Grey-Hewett

This quarter we are proud to highlight Ms. Michelle Beecher. Michelle is a student at Gulf Coast State College, where she is currently studying architecture. She recently founded an Asian Heritage Club at Gulf Coast, stating “I decided to form an Asian Heritage Club in order to inform everyone about different Asian cultures and where they come from. Also, I want to break the stereotypes about how all Asian people look the same. The process of forming the Asian Heritage Club involved asking students if they wanted to join and finding club advisers that were interested in it.” Her current plans are to finish college and work toward the goal of finding a fulfilling job that she would enjoy. In her spare time, she enjoys puzzle games “to keep my brain sharp and ready to learn”.

When asked what tips for success she would give to other adults on the spectrum, she says “My tip that I would give to other college students/adults with autism spectrum is to find enjoyment in what you do and find balance in your life”.

Thank you, Michelle, for letting us tell everyone about you and your accomplishments, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.

How do I Request Assistance from FSU CARD?

Visit the FAQs Section on our website or

click on the buttons below.

Intake/Referrals

Request Technical Assistance

Public Awareness Request

Training Request Form

Annual Update Form

Baby Navigator Website

The Executive Director of FSU CARD and Director of the College of Medicine’s Autism Institute, Dr. Amy Wetherby, launched a new website, BabyNavigator.com, that walks parents through early childhood development and alerts them to early signs of autism.

Click on the button below for more information.

Click Here for Baby Navigator Website

Nutrition for your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD

By: Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN from eatright.org

There are many challenges associated with ensuring that people with autism receive healthy nutrition. This article outlines some of those challenges and provides strategies to address them.

Click Here for Tips on Nutrition for Children with ASD

Share with CARD

FSU CARD is continuously looking for clients who would like to share their art, writing pieces, or success stories in our quarterly newsletter. If you are interested in sharing for our next issue, please send a message and image electronically to FSU CARD ([email protected]). All art or writing pieces should be titled. Select submissions will be chosen for each edition of the newsletter; artists and authors will be notified if their article is chosen.

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Last modified: January 4, 2023

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Newsletter: Winter 2022

Register for the 30th Annual Statewide CARD Conference

Posting on Behalf of the FSU Multidisciplinary Center

New Overdrive Library

Autism Navigator Classroom Success for

PreK to 2nd Grade Winter Webinar Series

Congratulations to our new PEPSA Partners!

IEP FAQs

Communication Corner: What is a Social Story?

By: Audra Burch

Spotlight on our Autism-Friendly Businesses

By: Cathy Zenko

Client Spotlight: Michelle Beecher

How do I Request Assistance from FSU CARD?

Visit the FAQs Section on our website or

click on the buttons below.

Baby Navigator Website

Nutrition for your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD

By: Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN from eatright.org

Share with CARD

WEBINAR: About Autism in Toddlers

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

Meet-up Mondays, Discussion and Strategies for Adult CARD Clients – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

Meet-up Mondays, Discussion and Strategies for Adult CARD Clients – (ONLINE)

PEPSA Training – Cracking the Behavior Code: A Book Study Series – (ONLINE)

Meet-up Mondays, Discussion and Strategies for Adult CARD Clients – (ONLINE)

FSU CARD: Tallahassee

Serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Taylor, & Wakulla counties

FSU CARD: Panama City

Serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Walton, & Washington counties

FSU CARD: Pensacola

Serving Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, & Walton counties

Additional CARD Centers

FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

Newsletter: Winter 2022

Register for the 30th Annual Statewide CARD Conference

Posting on Behalf of the FSU Multidisciplinary Center

New Overdrive Library

Autism Navigator Classroom Success for

PreK to 2nd Grade Winter Webinar Series

Congratulations to our new PEPSA Partners!

IEP FAQs

Communication Corner: What is a Social Story?

By: Audra Burch

Spotlight on our Autism-Friendly Businesses

By: Cathy Zenko

Client Spotlight: Michelle Beecher

How do I Request Assistance from FSU CARD?

Visit the FAQs Section on our website or

click on the buttons below.

Baby Navigator Website

Nutrition for your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD

By: Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN from eatright.org

Share with CARD

Event Calendar

FSU CARD: Tallahassee

Serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Taylor, & Wakulla counties

FSU CARD: Panama City

Serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Walton, & Washington counties

FSU CARD: Pensacola

Serving Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, & Walton counties

Additional CARD Centers

FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities