Saturday, February 28 – 9:00 – 12:00 – ASD HOPE Parent Chat – If you haven’t attended one yet, I highly recommend it. Also…share this information with any newly-diagnosed parents you know. In an informal small group setting, you will have the opportunity to ask questions of other parents and professionals, related but not limited to Medical Assistance; treatment options; support groups; family issues; local physicians; Intermediate Unit services; Early Intervention services for toddlers and preschoolers; recommended books and internet resources; and more. At the meeting, we will distribute and discuss a booklet compiled by ASD HOPE parents who "wished we had this information when our child was first diagnosed." Mothers and fathers are encouraged to attend, as well as professionals who work in the field of autism. Please note that families and professionals who have been living and working with autism for many years have also found this to be a very beneficial program and a great opportunity to network and meet new people. Location: Calvary United Methodist Church in Harrisburg (visit www.calvaryunitedmethodist.org for directions) Please RSVP by either emailing us at ASDHOPE1@yahoo.com or by calling 717-732-8400, extension 8120. Childcare will be provided for this event. There is a limit of 10 childcare slots per program so please RSVP early if you wish to utilize childcare. When responding, please specify if you need childcare along with the names and ages of the children.

Tuesday, March 12 - 6:30 – 8:00 pm – ASD HOPE Empowerment Workshop – GFCF diet. Consider taking the grandparents along! This presentation is sponsored by ASD HOPE and will be presented by Kathleen Haigh and Brenda Dunkelberger, two Moms who have successfully implemented and maintained the diet with their children. Both of their children have experienced dramatic improvements since beginning the diet several years ago. They will cover how and why the diet works and tips for getting started. The meeting is open to parents, caregivers and professionals, as well as anyone who would like to know more about the GF/CF diet. Copies of Karen Seroussi's book Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and PPD: A Mother's Story of Research and Recovery will also be available for purchase. Location: Calvary United Methodist Church in Harrisburg (www.calvaryunitedmethodist.org for directions). Please RSVP by either emailing us at ASDHOPE1@yahoo.com or by calling 717-732-8400, extension 8120. Childcare will be provided for this event. There is a limit of 10 childcare slots per program so please RSVP early if you wish to utilize childcare. When responding, please specify if you need childcare along with the names and ages of the children.

Tuesday, March 24 – Our regular GFCF support group meeting will include a visit to the cooking school so we can taste some of the GFCF mixes and kits available. RSVP is an absolute must for this meeting!

Monday, April 6 – 6:00-8:00 – Gluten-Free Baking Class at Giant Cooking School – Pizza crust, pie crust, cookies, yellow cake, and more. $25.00. Register early by calling 724-1166.

Tuesday, April 21 – 6:30 PM - ASD HOPE is sponsoring a presentation from the Pfeiffer Treatment Center. The Director of Clinical Operations and one of their nurses will explain the treatment options available. Learn how diet and supplements can dramatically help your child and reduce or eliminate the symptoms associated with autism, ADD, ADHD. Slate Hill Mennonite Church, 1352 Slate Hill Road, Camp Hill, PA.

Tuesday, May 5 – 6:30 PM – Auditory Integration Therapy (AIT) - Come learn about the different Auditory Integration Therapies available to treat the symptoms Autism, ADD and ADHD. This is being presented by the Clinical Director of Therabilities Nancy Mallis, OTR/L and Certified Tomatis Consultant. Although several AIT therapies will be explained, the main focus will be on Tomatis. This is a program of sound stimulation, audio-vocal work, and counseling to train and develop listening and listening-related skills. AIT has been shown to improve the following areas: Postural Functions, Auditory Processing, Expressive and Receptive Language, Language-Based Academics, Organizational Abilities, Communication and Social Skills. Hear from local moms whose children have been through these therapies and shown great improvements.

Tuesday, June 16 (note the unusual date) – GFCF picnic. Stay tuned for more details!

Food Allergy Support Group for Parents of Children with Food Allergies – First Wednesday of each month – 7 PM – 8 PM; Hershey Medical Center – Anteroom – ground floor by the North elevators, located next to the hospital auditorium. For more information, contact foodallergysupport@hms.psu.edu; Annette Zampelli, CRNP or Dr. Tracy Fausnight – 531-1786

***NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, March 24, 2009 – Camp Hill Giant 6:30 PM***
Cooking School visit – RSVP required.