The Daily News Features The Help Group's Village Glen Graduation
In mid-June, students from The Help Group’s Village Glen School experienced the time-honored tradition of high school graduation. The Daily News captured this proud moment and the remarkable achievements of these graduating seniors, many of whom will be attending community colleges, vocational schools or four-year University’s. The Help Group’s Village Glen Schools in Culver City and Sherman Oaks are dedicated to helping children and adolescents with Asperger’s Disorder and non-verbal learning disabilities excel.
Gelson’s is making a difference for children with autism and their families. Once again, this year, Gelson’s is featuring The Help Group’s, There is Hope, There is Help, learn the early signs of autism campaign during National Autism Awareness month in April. Brochures with autism facts will be prominently displayed in each of the 18 Gelson’s store locations throughout Southern California.
In addition, store patrons can participate in Autism Awareness month by making a $3, $5 or $10 contribution at the register. Funds raised from the There Hope, There is Help campaign support The Help Group’s autism education and outreach programs.
The Help Group extends a very special thank you to Gelson’s for their outstanding support.
You can visit any one of the following Gelson’s locations to participate in the campaign: www.gelsons.com
SPECIAL RECEPTION MARKS NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH In recognition of National Autism Awareness month, The Help Group held a special reception at The Help Group Sherman Oaks campus on April 9th to honor individuals and organizations with a commitment to California's children and their families. The reception was generously sponsored by The California Wellness Foundation and attended by distinguished leaders, supporters and parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Reception Details...> Event Press Release...>
Child Abuse Prevention & Intervention Seminar Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
The Social World of Autism: Teaching Social Skills to Children and Adolescents with High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Disorder featuring Liz Laugeson, Psy.D. and Sara McCracken, Psy.D. Monday, March 3, 2008
Empathy and Systemizing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Relevance for Education featuring Simon Baron-Cohen, Ph.D January 14, 2008
The Help Group National Autism Foundationwas created to promote autism awareness, early identification, and intervention for children, adolescents and young adults with autism and to disseminate information regarding effective assessment, education and treatment methods. Details...
To help promote greater awareness and early identification and intervention, The Help Group National Autism Foundation launched its Autism Awareness Campaign public service announcements for television and radio in 2004. The Help Group's public service announcements feature parent and celebrity spokespersons, many of whom have a child with an autism spectrum disorder. The goal of the PSA campaign is to reach out to parents, families and the community at large with current facts about autism.
The incidence of autism spectrum disorders has reached epidemic proportions affecting one in every 150 children. It is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States. Early identification and intervention can be of great benefit to many children challenged by autism spectrum disorders.
In an effort to promote autism awareness in the City of Los Angeles, Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa is participating in The Help Group's public service announcement campaign. His PSA's in both English and Spanish.
Help Group Parent and Celebrity spokespersons include: Ed Asner, Dave Clark, Gary Cole, Magdelena del Olmo, Dr. Bruce Hensel, Joe Mantegna, Edward James Olmos, Joanne Palmer & John Schneider.
The campaign debuted at The Teddy Bear Ball on December 4, 2004 and began airing in early 2005. Gary Cole, John Schneider and Ed Asner are all parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and are committed to promoting awareness for the ever increasing number of families affected by this disorder. Read more about The Help Group Public Service Anouncements.
For further information call toll free 866.966.9222
The HELP GROUP’s 11th annual TEDDY BEAR BALL Honors The CW Network’s Dawn Ostroff and Shelley & Dr. Frank Litvack
38 Families Honored as "Autism Heroes" During Reception
On Sunday afternoon, October 28, 2007, more than 150 guests attended a special reception at The Help Group’s Sherman Oaks Campus to salute the 38 families featured in Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge, by Dr. Barbara Firestone, President & CEO of The Help Group and Vice Chair, California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. Full Story...>
Award Winning Documentarian and Frontier Filmworks' Producer Visit The Help Group
Award winning, and Oscar nominated film director, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson from Iceland’s Frontier Filmworks and executive producer Margrét Dagmar Ericsdóttir, visited The Help Group’s Sherman Oaks campus in June to interview Dr. Barbara Firestone, President & CEO, for the upcoming documentary, Lifting the Veils of Autism. This documentary takes an in-depth look at autism as an international epidemic and follows families from around the world as they first learn of their child’s diagnosis and begin to seek help. Lifting the Veils features leading experts in the areas of research, education, treatment, public policy and advocacy. It examines the social and economic impact of this growing public health issue, the cutting edge advances within the scientific community and the remarkable contributions of its adults who have learned to cope with the disorder. Through explorative dialogue with parents and prominent figures in the field, Lifting the Veils seeks to define autism, its causes and available treatments and provide a comprehensive overview of this multi-faceted disorder.
As President and CEO of The Help Group and Vice Chair of the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism,Dr. Firestone shared her insight into the changing landscape of autism and discussed The Help Group’s autism efforts through its day schools, public awareness initiatives, and professional and parent education programs. She outlined the legislative framework of California’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and the State’s commitment to identify gaps in services for individuals with autism and develop recommendations to close these gaps.
Lifting the Veils of Autism is the creation of executive producer, Margrét Dagmar Ericsdóttir, the mother of a child with autism. Her vision was to “map the world of autism” by visiting schools, hospitals, universities, and institutions and filming individuals, their families and organizations around the globe. To date, Ericsdóttir’s production through Frontier Filmworks has documented autism in Denmark, the United States, Britain, Iceland and Sweden, and if further funding allows, this documentary project will extend its reach to Cuba, Tanzania and India and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007.
Dr. Barbara Firestone and Margrét Dagmar Ericsdóttir
Jón Karl Helgason, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, Margrét Dagmar Ericsdóttir
The Help Group Summit 2007 Features More Than 20 Leading Experts in Autism, Learning Disabilities & ADHD
UCLA SEMEL INSTITUTE Hosts Reception to Launch THE HELP GROUP - UCLA AUTISM RESEARCH ALLIANCE
On Monday, September 10, 2007, the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior held a special reception to mark the launch of The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance. This spirited occasion was hosted by Dr. Peter C. Whybrow, director of the Semel Institute, and Dr. James McCracken, director, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at UCLA. The Alliance is an innovative partnership dedicated to enhancing and expanding clinical research, education, and treatment into ASD education and treatment and to contributing to the development, greater understanding and use of best practice models by educators and clinicians.
Details... >
Dr. Barbara Firestone, Dr. James McCracken, Dr. Philip Levin, Director, The Help Group – UCLA Neuropsychology Program, Dr. Liz Laugeson, Dr. Paul Satz
Dr. Peter Whybrow and The Help Group Board of Directors: Judd Swarzman, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Dr. Peter Whybrow, Gary H. Carmona, Susan Berk, Joy Monkarsh, Susan Berk, Dr. David Firestone
Dr. Barbara Firestone, Dr. Peter Whybrow
Dr. Dan Geschwind, Associate Professor of Neurology, UCLA, Dr. Robert Bilder, Tom Kom, Senior VP, The Help Group Susan Berman, COO, The Help Group
Dr. Lou Vismara, Policy Consultant for CA Senator Don Perata, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Dr. Peter Whybrow
The HELP GROUP's 30th annual SPRING LUNCHEON, TEDDY BEAR PICNIC honored AMY BRENNEMAN & BRAD SILBERLING and PAM CLARK & NANCY ROSENFELT
Spring Luncheon celebrates three decades of commitment to children with Autism, Learning Disabilities and other special needs
Captivating musical performances by more than 60 children with special needs along with celebrity guests created an unforgettable experience at The Teddy Bear Picnic, The Help Group’s 30th Annual Spring Luncheon, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 12. The Help Group saluted Amy Brennenman and husband, acclaimed writer, director and producer, Brad Silberling with the "Help Humanitarian Award" for their commitment to many philanthropic causes. At this gathering, The Help Group presented its ‘Professional Excellence Award’ to two outstanding professionals, Pamela Clark, Director of The Help Group's Autism Schools, and Nancy Rosenfelt, Director of Summit View Schools for children with learning differences.
The Help group celebrates six years of collaboration with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® in reaching out to parents, families and the community with the importance of autism early identification and intervention. The Help Group’s There is Hope, There is Help 2007 autism awareness campaign, will be featured in the Coffee Bean’s more than 200 retail stores throughout California and in other western states during National Autism Awareness month in April.
This campaign is designed to acquaint families with the early signs of autism that may be evident within the first two years of life. Early Identification is of paramount importance since research has shown that many children with an autism spectrum disorder can make substantial progress in all areas of development when intensive intervention is started before five years of age.
The Help Group is very grateful to its Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf colleagues Sunny Sassoon, CEO and Melvin Elias, COO and Sr. Vice President of Operations, who also serve on The Help Group’s Circle of Friends Board. Special thanks to Tami Clark, Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Alliances and the entire staff for their ongoing support of The Help Group’s autism outreach programs. To find a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf location near you, please visit www.coffeebean.com
The Help Group invites you to join our experts and be a part of the Support Network for parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
The Help Group's ASD Parent Support Network is pleased to offer ongoing parent support groups with meetings on a monthly basis. The support groups are designed for parents and families of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
These support groups are offered at no cost to families and are held at The Help Group's campuses in Sherman Oaks and Culver City. Each group is facilitated by a team of experts, including parent of a child with ASD and members of The Help Group's educational and therapeutic staff.
Participants other than parents are welcome to attend the meetings if they feel they would be helpful. For more information about The Help Group's ASD Parent Support Network, please contact Dr. Gargi Dasgupta at (818) 779-5201.
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The Help group celebrates six years of collaboration with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® in reaching out to parents, families and the community with the importance of autism early identification and intervention. The Help Group’s There is Hope, There is Help 2007 autism awareness campaign, will be featured in the Coffee Bean’s more than 200 retail stores throughout California and in other western states during National Autism Awareness month in April.