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    Spot the Truck!
    Our 1st reported sighting of the Autism Ontario Tractor Trailer was submitted by Durham Chapter member, Kevin McDonald: Wanted to let you know I was driving home from the airport on Monday around noon and passed by the Autism Ontario truck on the 401 in Scarborough. Was very prominent and noticeable in the sunshine. The trailer was very clean too considering the weather lately.

    Thanks for sharing! Please feel free to send truck spottings to karyn@autismontario.com.

    Autism Matters
    Previous issues of Autism Matters and its predecessor, The Autism Newslink, can be viewed on our website. Here’s the link:
    http://www.autismontario.com/client/aso/ao.nsf/web/Autism+Matters

    Support Education Scholarships to Help Our Kids
    The Eleanor Ritchie and Jeanette Holden Scholarships were set up for the 30th anniversary (2003) of Autism Ontario. Each scholarship is worth $1000. As an organization, we committed to giving at least one scholarship in each category where possible. It was also agreed at that time, that all chapters would support the scholarships with whatever they could designate. (No minimum and no maximum.) Over the past 3 years, we have proudly supported 15 individuals for the Jeanette Holden Scholarship and 16 for the Eleanor Ritchie Scholarship.
    Each year, money has been received from chapters, individuals and corporations, but provincial has topped up the funds as well (to bring it to the nearest $1000 for each category). Individuals and corporations often donate to only one of the scholarships but many suggest an even split. Although the money comes primarily from Chapters, Autism Ontario is looking at other ways to find money to sustain these worthwhile scholarships.

    Please help us continue to support as these worthy individuals. Contact Jean Woolford at 416-246-9592 x223 or jean@autismontario.com for more information.

    Student Travel Bursary Program
    Autism Ontario is pleased to announce the Autism Ontario Student Travel Bursary Program to support attendance at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), which is being held in Seattle, Washington: May 3 - 5, 2007. Application deadline is February 15, 2007.
    Please visit the conference website at http://conferences.ucdavis.edu/imfar for more information.

    To Brighten Your Day…
    This comes from our Peel Chapter.
    This student is on the ASD spectrum and has been driving to and from school by bus for a number of years.

    I was at a friend's house yesterday and her child had an early release day so I was there for his arrival home. As it turns out last week the bus driver commented that she felt ***** could get off the bus and go to the door himself. She said he acted differently when mom was around. While I was there the mom was standing back from the window watching. The bus arrived, the door to bus opened, **** threw his backpack out of the bus, got off the bus, picked up his backpack, walked to the front door, rung the doorbell and then he was let in.

    You should have seen the HUGE, proud smile on the child's face. Amazing thing is if the bus driver hadn't suggested this the chance of it happening would probably be slim to none. Guess sometimes we forget as parents to raise the bar because we are so caught up in routine.

    Check out the latest special issue of Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities
    Volume 37, Number 1 / January, 2007
    Special Issue: Early Autism Phenotype
    http://www.springerlink.com/content/um8x33j01000/ 17 articles may be read on-line at this link in pdf or HTML format. The studies of numerous excellent Canadian researchers are published in this issue. A good way to get a quick overview of the studies, conclusions and the key issues raised is by reading the Editorial Preface, The Very Early Autism Phenotype, by Nurit Yirmiya and Sally Ozonoff.

    News from OPEN - Ontario Provincial Education Network
    Provincial Parent Board - Application Deadline Approaching, February 7, 2007
    One year ago, the Ontario government introduced a new Parent Involvement Policy to create a more welcoming environment for parents in the education system.
    Parent input was tremendously valuable in the development of the policy, and continues to be as we work with parents to implement programs that support parent involvement. We want to make sure that continues.

    That's why a newly created Provincial Parent Board will enable the government to work directly with parents from across Ontario to increase parent involvement. It will guide provincial efforts to involve parents and give them a strong and representative voice.

    The 20-member board will represent parents from across the province. As advisors to the minister, members will play a critical role in ensuring that effective parent involvement programs are successfully implemented across the province. In addition, the board will monitor the state of parent involvement in the school system and the effectiveness of parent involvement initiatives province wide.

    Applications are now being accepted for membership on the new Provincial Parent Board.
    Please note that the deadline for applications is February 16, 2007. The board is expected to begin its work this spring. Questions? mailto:openlist@edu.gov.on.ca

















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