March 8, 2010
Fourth graders from Ridgeview Elementary School in Liberty take the stage in "No Such Thing As Normal," Monday night at the Liberty Community Center.
In the first performance its kind, Liberty fourth graders took to the stage in the production “No Such Thing As Normal,” a musical about autism on Monday at the Liberty Community Center. The play was produced by VSA arts of Missouri and funded in part by CVS Caremark, The Jellybean Conspiracy, Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City and the Missouri Arts Council.
Intended to be an entertaining lesson to peers about autism, the play is intertwined with information about the autism spectrum while the students tell the story of a not-so-typical school field trip to a history museum. Throughout the play, the main character searches for his friend Josh, who has autism. Click below to see photo gallery.
» READ MORE
March 8, 2010
By Jeanne Holverstott, M.S.
Q. I read that when Temple Grandin was a young girl, her mother hired a nanny to play turn-taking games with her to improve social skills. What sort of games do you recommend? Are there any that you don’t recommend?
A. After every holiday meal, my family would gather around the dining room table with a game purposefully selected by my mother for this occasion. I remember Taboo, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, Outburst. No matter the age of the player, the expectations were the same: follow the rules, win with humility, lose with grace, do your best, and never, ever complain. Games make up the fabric of a childhood and, perhaps, a lifetime, and appropriate game play opens doors to respect, friendship, and fun.
» READ MORE
March 5, 2010
By Toni Lapp
An estimated 1,000 people braved rain and sleet to participate in the Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City's walk at Unity Village in 2009. The walk will not be held this year.
After years of facing sleet, snow, freezing rains and other elements wrought by Mother Nature, the Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City will not be organizing a fundraising walk this year at Unity Village in April — Autism Awareness Month.
The event, which had been held since 2003, had drawn over a thousand participants in recent years despite wintry conditions that inevitably developed on walk day. A Unity Village staffer said they were all set to hold the walk this April and had talked with the Alliance about possibilities.
» READ MORE
March 1, 2010
| June 1, 2010 |
| 8:30 am | to | 4:00 pm |
JUNE 1. Jeri Kendle, Interim President/COO, Vocational, Academy Director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center will present workshop sponsored by Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training. From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira, Overland Park, Kan. Cost, $60. Click here for registration information.
December 27, 2009
MARCH 27. Bring an appetizer and join your friends for a fun-filled evening to benefit Autism Society of the Heartland. Lots of prizes will be awarded. $100/table of eight. 6 p.m., at St. Pius, 5500 Woodson, Mission. For more information, contact ASH president Marc Stimac, at markstimac@sbcglobal.net or call 913-390-4794.
December 25, 2009
| March 25, 2010 |
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
MARCH 25. Learn and share information with other parents about living with autism. Monthly meetings at Legacy Christian Church, 10150 Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS 66212. Childcare available with reservations. For questions regarding childcare, please contact childcare@asaheartland.org. To RSVP, click here.
December 20, 2009
| March 20, 2010 |
| 11:00 am | to | 1:00 pm |
MARCH 20. Take a break and share some good conversation with other mothers over the caffeine beverage of your choice. Hosted by the Autism Society of America-Heartland at Cupini’s Deli, 1809 Westport Rd, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
December 20, 2009
| March 20, 2010 |
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
MARCH 20. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” will be playing for audiences in a “sensory friendly” format at select AMC theaters. What does sensory friendly mean? Movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing.
For information about participating locations and showtimes, click here.
December 18, 2009
| March 18, 2010 |
| 11:30 am | to | 1:00 pm |
MARCH 18. Sponsored by the Autism Alliance of Greater KC, these informal luncheons are presided over by Phyllis Young, parent educator at the Center for Child Health and Development at KU Medical Center; and Mary Anne Hammond, community education coordinator for autism and related disorders at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Geared toward parents whose children have been newly diagnosed or who are new to the area. Offices of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, 4520 Main St., 11th floor, Kansas City, MO. Pizza and drinks provided, but must RSVP to Amy Van Vleck-Morrow at Amy@autismalliancekc.org or at 816-517-4237 at least two days in advance. Future luncheons planned on May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18.
December 8, 2009
| March 8, 2010 |
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
MARCH 8. Fourth Graders from Ridgeview Elementary School in Liberty will take the stage at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre to perform “No Such Thing As Normal!” a musical about autism. Admission is free! 7 p.m. 1600 S. Withers Rd, Liberty. The musical is intertwined with information about the Autism Spectrum while the students tell the story of a not-so-typical school field trip to a history museum.
This project is produced by VSA arts of Missouri and funded in part by CVS Caremark, The Jellybean Conspiracy, Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, contact: Kit Bardwell, VSA arts of Missouri, (816) 868-1789, vsamissouri@gmail.com.
