I love that I get to review the Newsletter before everyone else, and I’m always blown away at how professional it looks, and at the same time it truly allows us to see the inner workings and thoughts of those in the program. It continues to make me proud of what goes on at SEEDs, and to see the actual growth that they speak about, as they DO think about how they act, engage, care, learn, and apply the things we are teaching there. Just the fact that the participants are absorbing and thinking about the very conceptual ideas and expressing these thoughts with us is so inspiring. They are the very “ideas” that are foreign to many on the spectrum, or may be difficult to understand just how to apply with others. It isn’t that someone with autism is without depth, or capacity to feel, as many people on the outside often think by what they see in action, but it is that many need more prompting, cues, role playing, mentorship, coaching, and hands on experience to help it make sense. Let’s face it, we all struggle with life, people, relationships, what is our purpose, how to get along with others, hitting the mute button of our mouths, instead of hitting the person (ok, hopefully most of us don’t struggle with that one) but the population that comes to SEEDs, for them, it isn’t enough that they are struggling with using their words, they also have to learn how to process and engage- given the precise real life moment, situation and person(s) they are around or dealing with.
What I love about SEEDs is the fact that EVERY moment is a teaching moment, and all of the staff/volunteers interject in that moment to offer supports, suggestions, and allow the participants a Do-Over to try it again, right then while it is fresh and in the moment. This Do-over is something we ALL would gain from. I‘ve actually been known to do that- after I might have said something or behaved in a manner that I wanted to correct. I just use my hands like I am a movie producer and mentally say “CUT, take 2” followed by a “let me try that again,” and it is empowering to offer up a way to correct my original flub! It shows the person I am with that I realized I didn’t handle that well, and lets me prove I care enough to correct myself.
Ok, back to the program and the Newsletter- this month the students hit it out of the stadium. Great job, and I hope you enjoy.
Mary Ann LaRoche
Executive Director / SEEDs for Autism
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Working together in the Media Lab, the participants at SEEDs for Autism produced this wonderful PSA to help promote our program.
Click on the image above to watch the video on YouTube
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Where there is love there is life.
Mahatma Gandhi
There are so many ways to express LOVE - through our words, our actions, by giving gifts or by just spending time with the people we care about. For Valentine's Day, we asked SEEDs participants to share their thoughts on how they show love for the people in their lives.
JEFF
I believe that this little bit of Scripture will sum up what love is to me:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 New International Version (NIV)
NATHAN B.
The best way to show someone you love them is to help them out when needed. Another way to show them that you love them is by saying that you love them. You can also support them whenever they may need it. That is the best way to show someone that you love them.
KERI
I love to hug someone that I love very much or tell them that I love them very much. It makes me feel special and good.
ANGEL
The best way to show love for someone is getting to know him/her, to hang out and work together.
FAITH
Since Valentine's Day is coming up, most of us are starting to plan ways to show our love to someone special. But what are the best ways to show we care for the person that is appropriate? Some people will buy roses, chocolates, or stuffed animals as gifts for their loved ones. I think those things are great gifts but there are other ways to show that we care. For example, my grandma, who is almost 80 years old, has taken care of me and my 4 sisters since we were little kids. Now that we are getting older, we are going our separate ways, getting more caught up in our own lives and not being there for her. We should be helping her out around the house, but we get busy at times and can’t be there for her. So just by being there for her or helping out around the house by doing the dishes or taking out the trash will help her out a lot and takes some of the stress away from her. Actions speak louder than words and means a whole lot more to the person who really needs it.
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Becoming an adult does not happen automatically when we reach the age of 18 - it means so much more than that! At SEEDs for Autism, we help participants transition into adulthood by learning the importance of responsibility, self-control, autonomy and maturity. We asked SEEDs participants to think about what it means to be an adult and share how they demonstrate these qualities.
JAKE M.
One characteristic of being an adult is loyalty. Being loyal means showing support for the people in your life. This could mean pitching in to support your family, or fulfilling your duties in marriage. Being loyal to your boss and company is also important. Being loyal to yourself is the hardest one, and the most important, because it means you are staying true to your values and convictions.
CHRIS M.
There are certain things in life that I have to do that I don’t like, including being a grownup in a lot of situations. Most of the time, I want to get angry and react poorly, but now I’m starting to realize being angry can make the situation worse. So, how should I act better in a situation like someone making loud noises when they’re upset or something?
If there’s a situation that I don’t like, I’d rather let someone know that I need a break for a while and then I’ll find a quiet place to relax. After a few minutes, I would go back to what I’m doing once the situation has calmed down.
SYDNEY K.
When I was a child I never did things right away when someone would ask me to do them. Now as an adult I actually try to do them right away but it is still a work in progress. Other qualities of being an adult that I have been working on is advocating for myself. I used to be a really shy person but as I got older my sister started helping me learn how to advocate for myself. Being an adult doesn’t always mean that you have to be perfect all the time. Adults can have fun and still be a work in progress.
JUSTIN M.
I am an adult when I look out for others.
DEVONT'E
There are many characteristics that make up being an adult, such as maturity, responsibility, patience, compromising, and thinking before you speak just to name a few. A person who exhibits these qualities are considered adults because they make up the basic structure of what a person needs to be self-sufficient. For example, having responsibility allows a person to know when and why they need to clean up after not only themselves, but also after those who are not adults yet, and thus unable to do it themselves. Having patience allows one to put their own needs on hold for the needs of others. Being able to compromise means that they’re able to outright give up their own needs for the sake of others. Thinking before you speak allows them to act calmly and make rational decisions.
The way that I demonstrate adulthood is by thinking before I speak. Whenever I’m angry or upset about something, I always stop myself before saying something and think about whether it’s a good idea or not. If it’s something that would be rude or insensitive then I either don’t say anything at all or find a way to say what I want to in a more polite manner.
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What I love about my family is that they do a lot of good stuff all around the house, in or out of town and go out and try a lot of new things. One of my favorite things from my family is to go to Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida to take a lot of pictures and videos to share my memories that will last a lifetime and also going out to eat new food at new restaurants across the nation.
The second nicest thing from my family is to save some money to buy some collectible Disney items that I wanted, such as toys, movies, statues, books and many more to collect.
The third nicest thing about my family is to spend time with each other around the town like eating dinner together, watching movies in theatres, or cleaning up the house to keep things organized.
But the best way I show love to my family is by being a well behaved son while my parents are being so nice and always take care of me. What I love most about my brother David is to go out shopping at the mall, to look for my new clothes and for him to take good care of me when I get sick.
Family is the nicest thing.
Matthew demonstrates focus, skill and precision working in the Wood Department at SEEDs for Autism.
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A TAX CREDIT TO HELP SEEDS FOR AUTISM GROW!
Your tax donation gives our participants direction for a brighter future. The beauty is, your gift comes with a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your Arizona income tax return!
- A tax credit can reduce what you owe in state taxes by $800 (married couples) or $400 (single filers).
- Even a teen with a part-time job, by filing a simple form is able to redirect their taxes.
- Tax payers may combine several tax credits each year: Working Poor, Private School and Public School, and Arizona Foster Care.
What was formerly known as the Working Poor Credit is now officially known as the Credit for Donations made to Qualifying Charitable Organizations. Approved charities’ names are listed on the Department of Revenue’s website.
How do I file for the credit? A line is included with your state tax form that you or your accountant will complete. Donations need to be made by April 15th.
Please visit our website to make your donation today!
seedsforautism.org/donate
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Writing poetry encourages creativity and self-expression. Poetry stirs the imagination and helps us grow emotionally and intellectually as we examine our thoughts and feelings in a symbolic way. For Valentine’s Day, the participants at SEEDs for Autism explore what LOVE means to them by describing this powerful and complex emotion through the window of their own senses.
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We appreciate all of those who have already sent in their 2019 tax credit donations. This month our list is still being processed so we know we may have missed a few of you, but know we will make sure to include you in our next newsletter. Thank you again to all of you who select SEEDs, and know there is still time until April 15th 2020 to designate your tax credit from 2019.
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Contact us at admin@seedsforautism.org if you would like to hold your very own trunk show where you can invite your friends to purchase SEEDs products, have refreshments, and meet some of the artists. |
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