Tweet on Twitter!

Enjoy our last November "Tweet on Twitter" post.  As always, join the conversation on Twitter with us @OntarioARC.

Push Girls, @pushgirls -- A reality show that follows the lives of four women as they take the Hollywood scene in wheelchairs.  The challenges the perceptions about life in a wheelchair and offers a candid view into the lives of each woman.  The show runs on Mondays, 10 p.m. on the Sundance Channel.

Hobart & William Smith Colleges, @hwscolleges -- We follow our friends @HWSColleges as they are home to one of the agency's College Experience programs.  But, they have so much interesting stuff going on -- like The Arts Experience festival coming up this spring.  Always something to do on campus!

RochesterHealth.com, @rochesterhealth -- Offering a wide array of health services, @rochesterhealth shares this information with Twitter followers.  A recent tweet let people know where to drop off supplies for Hurricane Sandy relief while another shared information about Whooping Cough. 

Tweet on Twitter -- a day early edition!

Here is your heads up to #FF a day earlier than usual -- Happy Early Bird!

 See who we are following and why!  And, if you haven't already...tweet with us @OntarioARC.

Autism Speaks, @autismspeaks -- One of the world's largest organizations leading autism research and advocacy, Autism Speaks has a great Twitter feed going.  Their tweets focus on sharing the stories of people and their families with an autism diagnosis and registration for their online webinars.

Greater Rochester Red Cross, @rocredcross -- One of our local Red Cross chapter, @RocRedCross share historical information and tips on how to prepare for disasters, which was undoubtedly helpful for people affected by Superstorm Sandy. 

The Arc of Monroe, @arcofmonroe -- Our brother (or sister) chapter serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in Monroe County.  See what's going on them on Twitter today!

A Special Santa

Please see the notice below from the Wilmorite folks who manage Eastview Mall.  This is the second year they have provided a special opportunity for kids on the spectrum or with ASD characteristics to visit with Santa Claus.

Thank you to Eastview Mall....

Once again this year, we will be offering our Special Santa program for families with children with special needs. Every Tuesday in December our Santa will have early hours beginning at 9:00am. Parents may bring children who require additional assistance, extra time or who need a quieter, less stressful environment in which to visit with Santa. For more information on this program please call the Mall Office at (585) 223-3693.

 

Tweet on Twitter, annual Thursday round up

Get a jump on #FF, aka Follow Friday!  Here are some of the people we are following on Twitter, today!

Debra Pierce Bellare, @snapshotsbysam -- Sam Maloney is an amazing photographer.  His pictures are beautiful and captivating.  His mom, Debra, share his pictures and videos with the public via Twitter and Facebook.  She also talks about Sam, advocating on his behalf and his experiences with photography and music therapy

R-word Campaign, @EndTheWord -- A partnership between the Special Olympics and Best Buddies, this Twitter account focuses on ending the use of the R-Word.  They retweet lots of discussions surrounding #Rword and have lots of great tweets that get you thinking.

ABILITY Magazine, @abilitymag -- Award winning magazine and one of the first newsstand publications focusing on health and disability.  They've featured lots of celebrities with disabilities or with a connection to a disability-related cause. 

And...of course...if you haven't already...tweet with us, @OntarioARC.

The DSM-V and an Autism Diagnosis...

The link below will take you to an update on field trials of the new criteria for an Autism diagnosis in the upcoming DSM-V.  There are still many questions unanswered, as the author of the article makes clear.  The Autism Speaks website has many other great links and is chock full of information. 
    

http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/dsm-5-field-trials-update

Special Needs Trusts on December 4

To help parents and family members plan for the future, Ontario ARC will host Special Needs Trusts: Your Options for the Future on December 4 at 6:30 p.m.  This presentation will cover how to secure the financial future for your loved with an intellectual and/or developmental disability without jeopardizing government benefits or inherited assets.  Led by Heidi J. Flatt, CPA -- Chief Operating Officer of NYSARC, Inc. -- this workshop is free.



You can register for Special Needs Trusts online by clicking the button above or by contacting our Training Department at (585) 394-7500, ext 2300 or training@ontarioarc.org.

Hope to see you there!

Tweet On Twitter, annual Thursday round up

Get a heads up on #FF -- the Twitter hashtag for Follow Friday, a customary Friday activity for people in the "Twitterverse". Stop by our blog on Thursdays to learn about some of the people and organizations we are following on Twitter. 

Special Olympics, @SpecialOlympics -- A fantastic organization that undoubtedly you've heard of.  They are great at addressing questions posed to them on Twitter and have lots of good information on their feed. 

Holly Robinson Peete, @hollyrpeete -- You remember her from "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper" and watched her on "Celebrity Apprentice."  She is a strong advocate for autism after her son was diagnosed at age 3.  Fun and informative, I think she's a great person to follow.  Also -- we have her book, My Brother Charlie in our Resource Library.

TIME Healthland, @TIMEHealthland -- Ontario ARC is a strong supporter of healthy lifestyle for our staff and participants.  TIME Magazine has taken the time to dedicate one whole Twitter account to all things health.  Great articles covering a variety of topics.

And, if you are on Twitter, don't forget to follow us at @OntarioARC.  Tweeting the latest agency news and sharing information!

Are you ready to wrap?

This could be you!  A happy, smiling gift wrapper!

The cold weather has arrived and that can only mean one thing...well, maybe more than one thing.  But for us at Ontario ARC, it means our annual Holiday Gift Wrapping Booth is almost here!  While I truly enjoy all of the events we host throughout the year, the gift wrap booth holds a special place in my heart.  Last year, we had more than 400 volunteers donate their time and wrap presents at Eastview Mall in two locations -- in center court near J.Crew and by Macy's. The proceeds go towards our Pet Connections program, which has done incredible things for the people we support.

In addition to spreading the usual holiday cheer, our volunteers wrap gifts, help organize packages and my personal favorite -- decorate gifts with ribbons and bows.  People of all ages give their time -- from high school and college students, businesses and organizations (great team building activity!), service organizations and families and friends of Ontario ARC.  Their energy is amazing and their commitment is astounding.  We are very lucky to have them!

You can become a part of this group by contacting Margaret Post at 585-919-2241.  We still have some shifts left and times are flexible.  Give her a buzz today!

SHOUT OUT to our friends at Eastview Mall and Macy's!  Their support of the Holiday Gift Wrapping Booth and Ontario ARC is appreciated by everyone here.

See you at the booth!

Did you know...

..that there are two interns working with clinical services and the Autism Center?

Ashley Hanvey, who is also one of our receptionists three days a week, has been logging hours working with Cheryl Cramer and the other clinicians on counseling, assessments and treatment plans.  In fact, when Cheryl was out on medical leave, Ashley took on the responsibility of working with several individuals on Cheryl's caseload...and she did a fine job.  Ashley attends Medaille College.

Caitlin Kelly works in the after school program and will be here for even more hours in January.  Caitlin is in the mental health counseling program at St. John Fisher.  She is gaining experience through Jenn Danker-Stiles' social skills group, as well as the other program elements.  Next semester, she will be working with individuals and groups outside the after school program.

The clinical service department and the autism center are working hand-in-hand to provide the best intern experience for students; this is a win-win situation that benefits the programs and the people we serve.

Thank you Ashley and Caitlin!