2008 Archives
MAFCU Volunteers Make a Difference
On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, eight employees from Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (MAFCU), a community-based credit union, volunteered their time at six of our residential homes. MAFCU routinely gives back to nonprofits in the community by fundraising and volunteering their time to local causes. The MAFCU volunteers spent the entire day weeding, cutting back trees and giving the yards of our community-based residences for children and adults with autism a makeover. We wish to extend our sincerest thanks to Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union for caring about the individuals supporting at CSAAC and making this possible!
CSAAC in the News
Ian Paregol, Executive Director of CSAAC, was interviewed by J.C. Hayward on her program 9 News Now at Noon on Tuesday, April 2, 2008 which is the first annual World Autism Awareness Day. Click here to watch the video.
Art for Autism in April
On Tuesday, April 1, CSAAC kicked off April as National Autism Awareness Month with an Art Show at Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge in Rockville. Artwork from children and adults with autism at CSAAC as well as by artists from O'Neill Studios was featured. Click here to view event photos.
IEI Preschool
Started its First Day on March 25th
CSAAC's IEI Preschool started its first day on March 25th with much laughter and bubbles. In line with CSAAC's mission, “to enable individuals with autism to achieve their highest potential and contribute as confident individuals to their community”, the IEI preschool - CSAAC's new pilot program - provides a much needed service to young children by helping them to learn in a fun, structured, and peer-inclusive classroom. Children will receive instruction in one-to-one and group settings, based on program created by our psychologists. Parents may gain some insights as well by watching their toddlers through a one way mirror into the classroom. The children's laughter and smiles attest to the hard work that the Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program team and the CSAAC team have done to help bring this dream to fruition.
At a glance:
Schedule: Tuesday - Friday, 8:30 - 12:30.
Teacher: Stacey Shober, special education teacher.
Psychologists: Christine Caselles, Ph.D. and Larissa Reynolds, Ph.D.
Classroom instructional therapist: Jessica Lee.
Classroom ratio: 1:1 (up to 2:1).
CSAAC Basketball Season in Full Swing!
The 2007-2008 basketball season opened with an exciting game against Community Support Services (CSS) on November 5, 2007, and is still going strong. There are two teams and the members include Hans, Xavier, Eddie, Matthew D., Brian, Matthew E., Paul, Reed, Delmon, Jason, Gary, Omer and Tim. They have been playing hard and looking forward to the playoffs and championship game on March 31. Games are held Monday evenings at CSS located at 9075 Comprint Court in Gaithersburg at 7 p.m. “They work as a team and are very competitive,” says Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator, Tamekia Ford. “They are really enjoying themselves.” Their team spirit will be celebrated at an awards banquet on April 7th at CSS. Families are encouraged to attend. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. Please contact Tamekia Ford at 240-912-2260 for more details.
Expansion of The Jane Salzano Center for Autism in full
swing
If you have been to CSAAC’s headquarters at the Jane
Salzano Center for Autism lately, you’ve seen construction
crews have dug in deep and begun work for the completion of
Phases II and III of the Center. Thanks to support from the
State of Maryland and the Montgomery County Government,
CSAAC will be one of the few autism service providers in the
Country with a world-class facility, which will include: a
training center for adults with autism, an Autism Training
Institute for autism professionals serving CSAAC and other
parts of the autism community at large, space for recreation
and multipurpose rooms, and an autism resource library, to
name a few features.
Click here to view photographs of our expanding center under
construction
Gazette
Featured Employer
CSAAC was a Featured Employer in the March 5, 2008 issue of The Gazette Newspapers. Click here to view the article.
After-school Program Activities
On Tuesday, January 8th, students from CSAAC’s Therapeutic Integration After-School Program in Howard County were visited by “Eric Energy” a Baltimore/DC area provider of educational and interactive shows for children. Eric entertained and engaged the students with a fantastic science show. The students were able to participate in activities pertaining to wind, weather, light and sound. They had a fabulous time learning exciting science facts with their friends and made a new friend, “Eric Energy”. The following week, the After-School Program took a trip to the Piney Orchard Skating Rink in Odenton to go ice-skating. The students had varying levels of skating experience, but all got out on the ice to give it a try. The rink provided walkers to assist with learning. Everyone had a great time!
