Greetings Everyone and Happy Memorial Day for the US readers ~

The Behaviorist is still coming today, otherwise it is a kick back day with nice weather here in Los Angeles - to readh 80 today.

Nicholas is so enthralled with the kittens at our back porch. I picked up another book at Border's that has charts and lists galore to help him learn about owning a cat when he is older. He plans on having three when he is 21!

We were on the back porch Sat throwing beef treats on the steps for the kittens. Nicholas was going on and on about not scaring the cats and people were walking by the sidewalk visiting the neighbor. I told him the cats were fine and then he said well I have autism. With my disability I talk too much and that was the autism talking. It was such an interesting conversation with an 11 year old.

While searching around online this weekend I came across the site of an Autism Society Chapter. This is Kalamazoo, MI and they have childcare at their meetings with structured activities and learning. You do need to pre register at a toll-free phone number. The childcare is from 6:45 - 8:45. Their chapter is also active in the project lifesaver. http://www.asa-kal.org

It would be nice to see this type of availability at more chapters around the country. Maybe someday meetings will be on a weekend day instead of at night when it is difficult to include into your schedule and get childcare or respite. Hats off to Kalamazoo chapter and maybe other chapters will emulate their success.

This past week's People magazine, dated May 29, 2006 had a wonderful article on mentoring a boy on the spectrum. The girl is also in middle school, they are ages 15 and 13. Nice accompanying pictures. People magazine comes out on Tuesdays at the stores, so if you try today you might find a copy still at a register.

Here is the cover - it shows people losing half their weight.

Katie Davis, 13, breaks barriers with classmate Vincent Benito, an autistic eighth grader

http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,1195146,00.html

To obtain back issues check this link out, they also have a toll-free number to order 1-800-541-9000 and you can send email as well as getting bulk copies. A story this positive deserves to be sent out to everybody and for those whose children are not yet in middle school it is very encouraging.

https://secure.customersvc.com/wes/servlet/Show?WESPAGE=am/Services/faq.jsp&MSRSMAG=PE#back_issues

For those that have read the article you can contact the editor here to express your feedback on this article - editor@people.com

Please note that this coming Sunday, June 4th the Dateline episode will cover chelation. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/

You can sign up for Dateline emails so you will get a reminder on the episode and future segments. Scroll all the way to the bottom to see Stone Philips on the left to sign up for their newsletter.

This site is good for downloading missed shows - http://www.tvnow.org

Extended School Year -
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43383.asp

Special Education Assessment Plan -
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43392.asp

Year End Teacher and Therapist Gifts
Whether your child is in Special Education or General Education these sites have great ideas for gifts to give the professionals at the end of the school year.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43400.asp

Please visit http://AutismSpectrumDisorders.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Autism Spectrum Disorders. To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Autism Spectrum Disorders located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=369

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Bonnie Sayers, Autism Spectrum Disorders Editor
http://AutismSpectrumDisorders.bellaonline.com

One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com


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