News Round Up

• Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY: More help for autism in the Finger Lakes region
• The News Star, Monroe, LA:  Darius Rucker to give special performance at ACMs on Sunday
• NYSARC, Inc., Delmar, NY: The Arc of Schuyler Executive Director to retire

The Autism Center at Ontario ARC official grand opening festivities during April 14 -16

One in every 110 children will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  When I first saw the number, I thought I had misread the information.  But after thinking about it, I realized how many people I know that have relatives with the diagnosis.  The community we live in has a need for services and supports for people with autism -- and, Ontario ARC is responding.

On April 16, the agency will hold the grand opening of The Autism Center at Ontario ARC -- a regional clearinghouse for information, sharing, referral and services.  The official ribbon cutting is at 1 p.m. with special guests, including: Congressman Tom Reed, State Senator Mike Nozzolio, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, and Assemblyman Sean Hanna.

We hope that you'll join us on April 16 for our big day.  But, don't forget -- the festivities are ongoing during April 14 - 16.   We'll be hosting a variety of signature presentations relating to autism spectrum disorders.  Take a look at our invitation.  If you have any questions, please contact the center at theautismcenter@ontarioarc.org or leave a comment here.

As always, thank you for your support!

Community Experience helps Compassionate Care Inc.

The Community Experience delivered flowers for Compassionate Care Inc. Compassionate Care Inc. is a Hospice location in Canandaigua that cares for terminally ill patients. The Community Experience picked up 120 bouquets of flowers on March 2nd at Stella's on 332. We then delivered them to 4 different schools in the Marcus Whitman School District. FLCC College Experience also helped deliver 150 bouquets of flowers to Midlakes High School. Shelly Jensen, Habilitation Supervisor delivered 160 to the main facility. Prior to the delivery Abbey Day Hab. CLC sold the bouquets at $8.00 each. Thank you to all those who participated in this volunteer opportunity.

Learning to ride Public Transportation

The closer individuals get to graduation and plan for work in the community, the question
that comes up is "how will I get there?" Riding the public transportation, CATS, is something that we work on, here at program. The individuals learn how to ride the bus and the necessary steps it takes to get to and from different locations around the county.

By the time graduation approaches, most individuals can ride the bus by themselves and will be able to navigate around the county. The individuals have a sense of ful-fillment once they have mastered riding the CATS bus. This confidence boost will continue on in other aspects of their lives.

FLCC College Experience active in volunteering

This month FLCC sponsored a United Way event called "The Taste of the Finger Lakes". Joe Nairn, Executive Assistant to the President, put us right to work putting together the pledge forms for the faculty and staff here at the college. We then began hanging the United Way posters around the college and distributing table tent fliers throughout the lounges and cafeteria areas. We then also worked the day of the event by collecting admission and stamping hands. We really enjoyed working the event and seeing new and old friends.