Dougie's Team Blog

Hacking Autism 2nd Live Chat!

2011-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Join us tonight!

On Tuesday September 13, at 7PM there will be a LIVE Chat with the community and the members of the Hacking Autism advisory Board to discuss YOUR ideas! We want to know what you think and to collaborate with you on refining and selecting the best ideas!

Join the conversation HERE!

Hacking Autism Partners

HP • Autism Speaks • Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation • Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

Overview

Autism, one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the U.S., affects 1 in 110 children. Many of these people have difficulty communicating and expressing themselves. We believe technology can help. Technology is in no way a cure. In fact, we’re not out to cure autism. Our goal is to help people today, with the knowledge and skills we have.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!

Technology has always promised to make our lives better. Finally, it’s actually doing it. Touch technology is giving people with autism a way to communicate and express themselves like never before. It is giving people with autism a voice. Some, for the very first time.

By working together to create touch applications for people with autism, the HP Hackathon is unleashing software’s potential to adapt hardware and advance technology. It’s an invitation for the tech community to unite. It’s an open call for collaboration that will make a real difference in the lives of a growing community.

WHAT IS HACKATHON?

The Hackathon event will bring together Hacking Autism’s Advisory board, experts in Autism, technologist and people on the spectrum. This catalyst event takes the ideas submitted to the Hacking Autism website to a multidisciplinary group to actually create applications for people to use free of charge.

Advisory Board
Phil McKinney - HP
Chris Mertens - HP
David Canora - Disney
Jim St. Leger - Intel
Jennifer Leighton - Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children
Kate Grandbois - Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children
Peter Bell - Autism Speaks
Andy Shih - Autism Speaks
Simon Wallace - Autism Speaks
Shannon Kay - May Institute
John Robison - Autism Speaks

Hacking Autism LIVE Chat!

2011-08-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

Partners
HP • Austim Speaks • Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation • Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, we have decided to postpone the first live Hacking Autism web chat. We understand that there are many families along the east coast struggling with power outages, loss of internet and phone capability and some with damage to their homes. We hope our community came through the storm safe from harm. Therefore our 2 web chats will be:

-Sept 6th 7pm EDT
-Sept 13th 7pm EDT

You will be able to join HERE.

Overview

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!

WHAT IS HACKATHON?

Advisory Board
Phil McKinney – HP
Chris Mertens – HP
David Canora – Disney
Jim St. Leger – Intel
Jennifer Leighton – Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children
Kate Grandbois – Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children
Peter Bell – Autism Speaks
Andy Shih – Autism Speaks
Simon Wallace – Autism Speaks
Shannon Kay – May Institute
John Robison – Autism Speaks

Profile on a Grant Recipient - Chris Abel

2011-05-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

In 2003, Monadnock Developmental Services in New Hampshire was awarded a grant by the Flutie Foundation to help their clients pursue athletic endeavors as a way to gain social skills. With the Flutie grant money and MDS support, Mount Sunapee was willing to open their weekend competition program to include Chris Abel - a then 8-year-old boy with ASD. Chris has been a competitive snowboarder ever since. Chris' mom Amee checks in with an update on his snowboarding career:

Dear Flutie Foundation,

After the lovely profile you did of my son Chris Abel, I wanted to update you on his latest successes.

As you recall, it was a Flutie Foundation Grant through Monadnock Development Services that gave him the chance to begin snowboarding--and snowboarding has been a place where Chris has gained respect from his peers and made friends. This year, Chris is a

sophomore at Keene High School (in New Hampshire.) Additionally, he has spent the 2nd and 3rd school quarters as a Winter Term student at Mount Snow Academy, which has allowed him to train 4 days a week, compete on weekends, or travel around the country to compete, while still meeting his academic requirements. Chris has maintained straight "A"s this year, while competing in 8 USASA Southern Vermont Snowboard Series events and 6 USSA Revolution Tour events and the Burton Global Open Series US Open event.

His USASA results earned him an invitation to compete in Halfpipe at the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain in Colorado this past week. He finished 7th in the Halfpipe event for the Men’s Youth Division against a field of 66 of the country's top Youth Men!

Competing on Monday, April 4, the snowboarders faced aggressively cold conditions and gusting winds all through qualifiers with the sun warming things up for finals. The judges were impressed with the entire Youth Men division as competitors threw down, really stepping it up on amplitude, technicality and style. The competition format allowed two runs each for the 66 invited riders with the top 12 men progressing to the Finals. In the Finals, the riders again had two runs to impress the judges.

Danny Kass, a former USASA competitor who went on to take two silver Olympic medals, was at Copper Mountain to ride in the Monster Energy Drink’s Monster Mash (a pro/am event in its second year, running congruently with the USASA Nationals.) Kass is living proof that USASA shapes snowboardingʼs future stars. “The Nationals is where all the top competitive snowboarders started and learned the tools they would need to reach their highest achievements. I started my first nationals at age 12 and continued in it until I was 18,” said Kass. “It is exciting for me to ride and see the next generation of shredders on a long road to the X Games and hopefully the Olympics.”

Chris’ bid for National’s success was almost thwarted in the last 3 weeks due to equipment difficulties. Luckily, Mtn Riders board shop in West Dover, VT stepped in to sponsor Chris and worked with Lib-Tech’s local representative to get a new “Attack Banana” board under his feet in time for a busy competition schedule that included the US Open at Stratton Mountain, the Revolution Tour at Mount Snow and culminated in the trip to Colorado for USASA Nationals. Dropping regular into Copper Mountain’s 22-foot halfpipe, the Keene teen’s run was a Front 540, Back 360, Switch Back 360, Straight Air, Front 720, finishing with a Cab 540.

The USASA National Championships are representative of 35 USASA Regional Series throughout the United States. This season the USASA will organize more than 500 snowboard events hosted at more than 200 resorts nationwide. The 2011 National Championships is expected to attract more than 10,000 people to compete and watch the week of competition and daily festivities.

For more information:

Amee Abel - aabel98@hotmail.com

Photo courtesy of Jo-Ann Gerde

Nick's Story - Continued

2011-04-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last October we introduced you to Nick Stephen - a young man with autism who was the 2010 recipient of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Award. Nick is in his second semester at Bridgewater State University and took some time out of his busy schedule to send us an update of his progress as he navigates his way through his Freshman year as a student with ASD.

My first year at Bridgewater State University:

When I started first semester of my first year at BSU, I was a full-time student. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I had

Pre-calc Math, Human Geography, and US History. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I had Colloquium and Writing I. Things started to get pretty stressful later in the semester. Learning about the college campus and how different classes are was tough. I had never had to walk between buildings and never really bought meals to eat on my own. The campus is like a big city of students! Human Geography started to become really hard for me to understand. There was so much to learn in this one course and I was having trouble making sense out of it all. I worked hard but did not seem to be getting anywhere with it. I did like the lecture when we watched the movie Do the Right Thing. There was so much homework for each class and weekly quizzes, I felt like I was going to go crazy like Wild Bill from Stephen King’s The Green Mile. I decided, along with my academic advisor, that I should drop Human Geography so I could focus better on my other classes. I was able to do that without it affecting my grade point average. I had to run across campus to the registrar’s office before it closed on the last day you could drop courses.

By the time I was getting close to the final exams, I was starting to feel nervous. You see, I have really bad nervous issues with tests. It stresses me out, due to the time monitoring. Even though I have untimed tests and can take them in the Academic Achievement Center, I still have such a hard time. I failed my History final and I was very ticked off (I always got A’s in History and I really like the course). On my Math final I got a D, and boosted it up to a B with an oral exam between me and my math professor. I got a C in English for my working portfolio and told my English professor to keep it as an example. I got an A in my Colloquium class. Because I failed the History final, I failed the class and will have to repeat it. I had to wait on pins and needles to see if I was going to have enough credits to continue at BSU or start all over again at another school. My other three courses were what saved me.

Before returning to campus for the spring 2011 semester I decided I wanted to go part-time so I could have a chance to concentrate on fewer classes and get better at being a college student.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have Writing II, Colloquium and Fundamentals of Music. I was reluctant to take the Music class even though I have played the piano for so many years but it fit into my schedule and it will fill a core requirement. It’s a tough class even for people with music backgrounds. Things are much more comfortable for me since I became a part-time student. I am going to take an Art course at Quincy College this summer and the credits can get transferred to BSU. Taking a class in the summer will keep me going with the flow so that I can little by little work my way back to being full-time and maybe living on campus in the future.

I also have two new friends. One is my mentor, Mike, who is a Junior. He lives on campus but he also lives in my hometown. I get together with him on Thursdays between classes. He’s a really nice person. Through Mike I met another upper classman named Bryan. The three of us have lunch together on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are even making plans to hang out a bit this summer. Who knows? Maybe we will be lifelong friends.

All in all I guess you can tell that I really like being in college. There are not as many bullies here and the professors are really helpful if I can let them know what I need to get through a course. In the fall, I am going to be taking the first course for my major, Earth Science. It is called Physical Geology and it has lab with it too. I am also taking a First Year Seminar requirement. I chose a course about American Science Fiction – one of my favorite subjects. If all goes well and I pass, I will be a sophomore for the spring semester of 2012. Not too bad for someone who no one thought would even graduate high school!

--Nicholas James Stephen

April 18, 2011

*Photo - Nick (Right) accepts his Doug Flutie, Jr. Award alongside Doug Flutie and Dougie, Jr. Photo credit - Derek Wilmot

A Deeper View

2011-04-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

As part of the 2011 Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative, the Flutie Foundation has partnered with A Deeper View, the makers of a special kind of web-based diagnostic software to help the specific needs of children with autism. To kick off this new partnership, A Deeper View is providing 40 bundled licenses with support for the forty 2011 recipients of the Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative. For others that wish to experience the A Deeper View software, contact ADV and tell them that you heard about their product from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism and they will donate a portion of the license fees to The Flutie Foundation.

I thought I was prepared to be a Mom. As a special education instructor for over 7 years, a 3rd generation teacher (Grandma, Mom and several cousins are all teachers) and the oldest of 5 siblings, I was a highly educated and trained professional. In fact, I would boast that I could be successful with any child. There was nothing I couldn't handle. Then came Ben.

Let me be very clear – Ben is a blessing. He is a delight in our life and my love for him knows no limits. He is also an extremely challenging child. Like many of you, we have already gone through a litany of diagnoses, several medications, one hospitalization and more therapies than I can count. I have read tons of books, spent hours on the internet, contacted “experts” and taken every ‘staff development training’ on behavior and autism offered. Until recently, everything I did was hit or miss. Improvement was sporadic at best. Life was a roller coaster and there were days I just wanted to get off! I had no way to measure success, relying only on my own, somewhat biased observation. Then I was introduced to A Deeper View.

I was introduced to ADV through my position as an RtI Coach. Michael Darden, owner of A Deeper View, did this wonderful presentation for all of the RtI coaches. He showed us how easy and portable it was to take data using his HP TouchSmart PC. I had never seen anything like it before. It was the perfect blend of function and form. I immediately saw huge possibilities for both my profession and my family. While this is an amazing tool that will greatly improve student achievement, I needed this for my child. I immediately contacted Michael to ask for help.

Michael has created a unique and versatile system. Like most solutions, it is both simple and elegant. After some brief training and a few “Go-To” meetings, I was ready. The first behavior we decide to tackle was our night time routine. I dreaded every night around 8:00, because that when “it” would start – the screaming, the yelling, the complaining, the back and forth. In my mind this seemed to last for HOURS, but when I started using ADV, I realized that even on the worst nights, it really only took about 20 minutes. I was not until I really analyzed what I was doing, how I was reinforcing (or in my case “not”) that I finally started to see improvement. In fact, we only had to spend about two weeks consistently before we saw lasting results. After another week or so, we didn't even need to take data. Our night time routines were quiet, calm and less than 15 minutes. Now whenever a new “behavior” appears, I simply put in a new target and starting getting to work. What I am amazed at his how quickly this method works. When you can clearly see the situation for what it truly is – the solution presents itself like magic.

I am a firm believer that the power to help our children lies with responding to what the data is depicting. Even though I know all about charts and such, I was in no mood to do this at home as well. ADV made collecting the data so easy, that I could spend my time doing more things that would help my son. I thought I was prepared to be a Mom. Now that I have the right tools, I am! I look forward to sharing more success stories with you.

Lisa Baker

Rolling Into Second Semester

2011-02-01T04:55:00.000-08:00

Back in October we brought you Nick's Story about a young man with autism navigating his way through his first semester of college. Today, Nick's mother Janice follows up with the results of his first semester of school and looking forward to the second semester.

Here I am again, in the lobby outside the bookstore at the East Campus of Bridgewater State University. Nick started classes today for the second semester. For a while there, we were not sure if he was going to qualify to come back or if he was going to have to start all over again – perhaps at Cape Cod Community College. In anticipation of that possibility, Nick enrolled in two classes there as well pending his final grades from BSU.

First semester was a chore and a huge learning process for all of us. To begin with, Nick was carrying a full course load. It took until halfway through the semester for us to figure out what was available for supports and the proper paperwork/channels to go through to get them in place. Nick had extended test times with his exams taken in the Academic Achievement Center, and he also had note takers. Toward the middle and end, he utilized the tutoring center as he prepared for final exams. He was given a reader for one of the exams. Nick also had a Grad Student mentor that he met with twice a week. I do have to say that the Disabilities Center and AAC were very helpful; however, these supports did not pan out to be all he needed. Nick has a specific language disorder related to his ASD called Semantic Pragmatic Language Disorder. In short, he is translating all day and sometimes he interprets things incorrectly. When left on his own to read, take a test, etc. you can actually see where he strayed and sometimes it can be really comical because he takes things so literally. That being said, modification of language is a must but however, it is not something that is considered a “reasonable accommodation”. Wonderful, cut off his feet and tell him to run.

Nick’s Calculus professor, who is not originally from this country, recognized this difficulty about halfway into the semester. She took it upon herself to verbally access Nick in addition to his written tests. That to me was such a blessing. Nick’s English professor took the time to go to the Disability Center and ask what he should do to help Nick pass the course. Such dedicated educators are few and far between when you are traveling the ASD road.

When the grades came in, Nick ended up with an A- , two C’s and unfortunately an F in History – a class which he has been a straight A student in the past. He was in contact with the History professor over the break and found out that he failed because he did not pass the midterm or the final. He has offered to speak with us in the next week or so. So, now Nick is on Academic Probation, which as I remember and still holds true, is not uncommon for first semester freshmen. We attended a seminar on Tuesday and rearranged his schedule to a more comfortable level. Nick is attending part time, seven credits, two days a week. He is taking the second half of Freshmen English and Music Fundamentals (with twelve years of piano lessons and five of drums, he should do well here). We also know that he will need to approach his professors personally to help him with accommodations and he will have the class syllabus posted on his wall at home so I can help him keep track of his assignments. He also learned to check his email more than once a day because this is the way the school keeps connected on all fronts.

Outside of the academics of last semester, Nick made some personal gains that my husband and I are so proud of. Nick always had a paraprofessional with him while he was in school. He brought his lunch every day for twelve years and would not buy so much as a carton of milk at school. Nick navigates the campus alone, attends his classes alone and ate in one of the cafeterias, buying his lunch, three days a week for the first semester. These are huge milestones!

He has also accepted the fact that it will take him more than four years to obtain a bachelors degree. As always, Nick is motivated and dedicated to succeed. He is an amazing young man.

So – here I sit, basking in the knowledge that my son is doing something extraordinary. It is such a wonderful feeling to be experiencing this with him.

- Janice Stephen

*Photo - Nick accepts his Doug Flutie, Jr. Award at the Flutie Foundation's annual golf tournament in June 2010. Each year the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation and Children Making Strides award the Doug Flutie, Jr. Award to a person who has shown great commitment and dedication to raising awareness of autism spectrum disorder, or has made a significant impact in the lives of individuals with autism. The award recipient can be a parent, teacher, advocate, individual with autism spectrum disorder or anyone else who has made a difference in the autism community. Photo Courtesy of Derek Wilmot

To Run or Not To Run

2010-12-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

On October 7th, Flutie Foundation Marathon Team Director Chris Chirco sent an email to all of Dougie's Marathon Team's past members inviting them to be a part of the 2011 team. See one former team member's amusing reply below:

Based on his chirpy invitation to join the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation’s Boston Marathon 2011 team, methinks our dear Christopher Chirco has never run a mile in his life, much less a marathon.

I think the e-mail should read a little something like this:

“It’s that time of year again! The sadists who organize Dougie's Marathon Team want to know if anyone who did it last year has recovered enough to take another crack at running their body into the ground.

Are you mad at your toenails? Want to punish ‘em and make them disappear? Watch your feet sprout blisters the size of an extra toe as you pound your feet mercilessly into the pavement in the name of training.

Ready to take this exciting opportunity to figure out which nasty, thick gel best fuels your overtaxed, dehydrated body but doesn’t make you bolt for the nearest filthy porta-potty? Better yet, learn how to slurp it out of a tin-foil package without dribbling it down your sweaty face.

Now’s your chance to commit to a running program created by Kenyans, for Kenyans. Run, leap, soar, and cry. Cry when your children ask you why you’re even doing this race when there isn’t a chance you’ll win it. Cry when the thermometer reads below freezing on the day of your long run. And cry, cry, cry as you watch your spiteful scale jump up a pound or two after spending a week putting more miles on your body than you did your car. (Kenyans apparently don’t carb load with Oreos.)

Run, don’t walk, to sign up for this internationally famous race - only to spend the better part of your spring cursing yourself.

Look forward to seeing you crawling up Heartbreak Hill!

Most Sincerely,

Chris Chirco.”

No thanks. Find some other schmuck to run this year.

And yet.

And yet I find myself considering running it again.

Of course there’s always the charity angle. If I ran for Dougie’s Team – which is realistically my only chance of stepping one blistered toe into Boston on race day since I surely don’t qualify for it – then I’ll be raising money for autism. Seeing as I have a son with autism it’s nearly a no-brainer. I could re-send the letter claiming how my training will be nothing compared to the struggles Jack faces every day. (I’m reluctant to admit that in my darkest, meanest hours of training last year autism looked pretty darn fun compared to running for 18 weeks straight. While I was lacing my sneakers over my screaming feet it was hard to ignore the image of all my children – Jack included – lingering over their Star Wars-shaped pancakes in their fuzzy pajamas. Frankly, his request for more syrup as I headed out the door seemed ungrateful.)

Raising money notwithstanding, the invitation to the Marathon has piqued my interest. Once again, I’m being offered a chance to participate in one of the most prestigious races in the world. And goodness knows I wouldn’t mind a second chance, a chance to do it better, faster, and with less visits to the porta-potty because of the pre-race Dairy Queen blizzard I mistakenly treated myself to last year.

Why, I’ll do it right this time! Better nutrition! No dairy! I’ll sprint cheerfully up the hills of Bedford and be sure to stretch afterwards. I’ll rest when I hear my body screeching in protest and push myself in moments of doubt. I will not complain to everyone at Saturday night’s party how I have to “run 18 miles before you even get out of bed tomorrow” as if I’m a member of the United States Army.

This time, in addition to autism, I’ll run it for myself.

Or not.

~Carrie Cariello

Member of Dougie's 2010 Marathon Team

Update on Carrie's decision - She did end up accepting the number only to have to change her mind due to a running-related injury just days later.

Nick's Story

2010-10-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Each year the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation and Children Making Strides award the Doug Flutie, Jr. Award to a person who has shown great commitment and dedication to raising awareness of autism spectrum disorder, or has made a significant impact in the lives of individuals with autism. The award recipient can be a parent, teacher, advocate, individual with autism spectrum disorder or anyone else who has made a difference in the autism community. In 2010, Nick Stephen was the recipient of this award. It was a difficult decision as we had many dedicated and deserving nominees. However, Nicholas stood out as a result of his accomplishments as a young adult with autism and the large number of nominations he received from various individuals in the community. Following is the story of Nick's journey as told by his mother, Janice.

My name is Janice Stephen, and my son Nick is the 2010 recipient of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Award. So where do I begin?

I am sitting here at Bridgewater State University, in front of the bookstore on a Tuesday, thinking about the long journey that got us here. You see, Nick is a freshman here. Something that no one but my husband and I, and the very few people who really know Nick, ever thought would happen. When the Flutie Foundation asked me to write an entry for the blog, I thought it was going to be an easy task. But it isn’t. The road has been filled with potholes and brick walls and glass ceilings as far as Nick’s life has been concerned. I’ll give this a try though or as Nick says “I’ll give it my best shot”.

Nick is by all accounts an anomaly in his own diagnosis of High Functioning Autism. As a matter of fact, he was not formally diagnosed with ASD until he was nine years old. His primary diagnosis at age four was Semantic Pragmatic Language Disorder. At the time, trying to find out what that meant was near impossible since the World Wide Web was pretty new. The only information we could find originated in Great Britain. As time went on we found out that this specific language disorder is one that is attached to autism so there you have it. I should tell you that Nick was born in November of 1991 so he will be 19 in a few weeks. Since I am spending so much time here on campus I am thinking that maybe I should spend some of it writing the blog that everyone has been pushing me to do for years. I drive Nick back and forth from home in Plymouth to the University five days a week for this semester. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I stay on campus instead of making the drive back home.

For this introduction entry I will tell you a bit more about Nick at this stage in his life. He graduated from Plymouth North High School in June of this year with straight A’s the whole senior year. He carried a college prep curriculum with supports from the Special Education Department. That in it of itself is quite an accomplishment. He has difficulty testing no matter what so his SAT’s were not the best nor were his scores on the state’s MCAS exams. However, Nick is the most determined person I have ever met. He applied for early acceptance at Bridgewater State and got his letter on December 4, 2009. He is currently an Earth Science/Astronomy major. Nick got here because of his grades and his attendance and his perseverance. He also got accepted to four other colleges but BSU was his first choice.

When he was nominated for the Flutie Award by the Director of Special Ed. at PNHS, SheldonDaly, he did not understand why he was even being considered and when we received notification that he actually was chosen, he was even more confused. Nick does not understand how significant this is. He thinks that everyone struggles and tries as hard as he does. It makes no sense to him that what he has done is not the norm for others with ASD or others without it for that matter. Nick sees himself as just like everyone else and has spent so much time having everyone know who he is that this award first embarrassed him to no end. When the local newspaper did a full-page spread about him complete with pictures and also included his college entrance essay (“Overcoming the Stigma of Autism Spectrum Disorder”) he walked around with sunglasses on trying to “escape the paparazzi”. Being his parents, my husband and I could not help but tell people about it and be proud enough to burst. We have had to back off on it though. One day he will be able to be more comfortable in the knowledge that he has done something that is going to inspire and push others to be and do the best they can at all times. Or at least to give it their “best shot”.

Obsessed

2010-09-20T04:43:00.000-07:00

Carrie Cariello, mom of 6-year-old Jack and member of the Flutie Foundation's 2010 Boston Marathon team, discusses her son's new obsession.

Our 6-year old son, Jack, has made the leap from memorizing people’s birthdays to collecting information about the cars people drive. Now, instead of asking when someone’s birthday is, he points his finger in their face and barks “What kind of car do you drive?” His query resembles the credit card commercial where the large ogres demand “What’s in your wallet?”

What began in early spring as a cute preoccupation has exploded into a full-fledged obsession.

Driving Jack around all summer was like riding with a member of the census bureau. I’ve learned that Hondas and Toyotas are among the most popular vehicles in New Hampshire, with Acuras a distant third. Not to mention all of the models! This could keep Jack busy for decades. Our earnest, literal Jack, for whom memorizing the make, model, shape, size, color, and fuel source isn’t enough; he also wants to know what each car name means. Have you ever considered what a Prius is? Or how to explain the term Legacy to a 6-year old?

I’m learning a lot about people with Jack’s new interest. Responses to his question vary, but it often makes people uncomfortable to have a 6-year old glare at them and demand to know the make and model of their vehicle. Many squirm. Some snicker and look away while they pretend they didn’t hear him. Others make up cute names; “Why, my car? Oh, I call my car Shadow! Because it’s black!”

Since social cues are difficult for Jack to decipher, he doesn’t notice how his unblinking stare and pointed finger make his unsuspecting victim anxious. He wants answers and will go to great lengths to hear the car data.

If I think it’s getting out of hand I’ll step in to redirect Jack, and mouth “Autism” while I ruffle his soft brown crew cut with my fingers. But sometimes I sit back and watch them stammer. It’s like being on the sidelines observing a bizarre social experiment unfold. Most curious to me are the people who just can’t divulge this information - it baffles me every time. It’s a car, and he’s six. If you’re reluctant to admit you drive the latest in the Mercedes series, than make something up. Pretend you drive a dented grey Toyota Sienna where the goldfish crackers outnumber the children inside so we can all get on with our lives.

It’s very revealing, this car business. How did our college-age server at Olive Garden come to drive a Lexus? (“My mother’s car”, she mumbled out of the corner of her mouth with a self-conscious shrug.) Or how about the CEO of a major company in the area tooling around in a Neon? Cars seem to say a lot about their drivers.
However, the person most revealed with the car obsession is Jack himself. He’s finally cracking the venetian blinds into his fascinating brain and letting us take a peek. That can be the beauty of autism – it gives all of us a rare glimpse inside a mind as intricate and matchless as a snowflake.

I was getting frustrated when he would ask family and friends the same question about their car every time he saw them, even though he knew it. Honestly, I thought to myself, couldn’t he at least demonstrate one of his fascinating skills and blow people away with his car knowledge, the way he can spit people’s birthdays back to them? As a parent, is it so wrong to want to revel in the disbelief and awe for one teeny-tiny nanosecond? Why, maybe he is a genius! Maybe memorizing every Volvo, Nissan, and Cadillac will have a big payoff for Jack one day, maybe he’ll be the Temple Grandin of the auto industry and his movie will win an Emmy and he’ll stand up and ask the cameras to point to me and I’ll be wearing a couture gown that was designed just for me and hides the fact that I’ve birthed five children…..

Whoops, got off track there. Believe it or not, something even better than that scenario unfolded.

About halfway through the summer we realized Jack’s obsession is more than simply collecting information to categorize and store in his complicated brain. It provides him with the chance to interact with people -- often strangers -- about a subject he likes. “What kind of car do you drive” is the “Hello how are you, my name is Jack” of his world. It bridges a social gap that might otherwise seem as wide to him as the English Channel.
Watching our socially limited son create ways to make himself comfortable talking to people is a beautiful thing. Even more beautiful is watching as he gradually learns to turn their answers into a conversation; “Oh! A Toyota! I like Toyotas too! What color is yours?” On more than one occasion I’ve had to look away while my eyes filled with tears and my heart leaped with joy. Behavior we thought of as sometimes annoying, occasionally funny, and at best peculiar is something else entirely.

It’s progress.

As is so often the case with Jack and autism, it’s a learning curve for us as much as for him. We can’t always take his quirkiness at face value – we have to look inside, around, and beyond his mysterious behavior to see what drives it.

(No car pun intended.)

-Carrie Cariello

Turning 22

2010-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

By Marty Martini - Flutie Foundation Board Member & Parent of a young adult with autism

As a parent of a child with autism turning 22 years of age the experience can be frightening and overwhelming. Long gone are the days where you felt a sense of security because you knew your son or daughter was going to the same program he/she attended for the past several years. You felt comfortable talking to his/her teacher that you had known for years. You have memorized your son’s and daughter’s schedule and knew exactly when they had gym and speech therapy.

Now you are facing a whole new world. The adult service system is complex and understanding it is essential for effective transition planning. When students with disabilities graduate from school or turn 22 years of age, they move from an entitlement to a non-entitlement system. While school students receive services and supports mandated by federal and state law, as adults, they maybe eligible for services from adult agencies but there is no guarantee. It is essential that parents and students understand the adult service system before services need to be accessed. Choosing the right program for your child is critically important. The process of selecting a program is analogous to selecting a college for a typically developed child. It has to be the right “fit”!

Thankfully, my son Jesse got into a wonderful program that supports his skills and addresses his needs. The process however didn’t go without advocacy and exploration. The end result for mom, dad and child is very exciting. As Jesse reports “It’s nice being an adult”!

Marty Martini

Parent/ Flutie Foundation Board Member

Marty with Daughter Jackie & son Jess

Believe

2010-04-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

Dougie's 2010 Boston Marathon Team Member Carrie Cariello shares her experience of having a child with autism and what motivated her to join our team.

My journey to the Boston Marathon started long before I committed to run the best-known race in America. It began on a particularly low Saturday in November 2007. Our family had relocated to New Hampshire less than a year earlier, and although he had been officially diagnosed with Autism and was receiving services, life with our three-year old son Jack was still uncertain and tumultuous. While we’d adjusted to the diagnosis, we were still learning to accept the daily challenges of life with a child on the spectrum – alarms on the doors in case he escaped, a lock on the refrigerator to keep him from experimenting with eggs, tactics to diffuse the outbursts that put our household in a tailspin.

On this chilly gray afternoon I was paying for a haircut when I noticed a display of inexpensive necklaces at the front desk of the salon. They had little inscriptions like “dream” and “peace” inscribed in silver circles. I saw engraved with Believe and thought, why not? For $29, I could use a tangible reminder of my commitment to soldier on and believe in the unknown.
Something magical happened with this inexpensive piece of silver. During one of Jack’s legendary tantrums, I held the small circle up and asked him, “What does Mommy’s necklace say?” He focused on it just long enough for me to say, “Believe. It says believe, Jack, because I believe in you.” Over the course of the next year, he and I both turned to that exchange to calm ourselves if he started to spin out of control. Repeated probably a hundred times by now, our dialogue is unchanged: “What does Mommy’s necklace say?” He unfailingly answers, “Believe, because I believe in you.” I’m not sure which of us needs these words more.

Nearly three years have passed since I bought the necklace, and I wear it faithfully. I wear it if I know we’ll be a in a situation that’s challenging for Jack and I’ll need some strength to get us both through. During this time Jack has developed into a different boy entirely. He can hold a conversation, share a joke, and ask appropriate questions.

One snowy day this past December I was baking cookies when my friend Pam called and asked me to run Boston Marathon on her team for the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. I agreed, mostly because I wanted to get back to eating my macaroons without interruption, but also because it seemed boorish to turn the offer down when my own child was on the spectrum. Before I could say biscotti, Pam dropped off a crazy-looking training schedule and I was off and running. Literally.

My training was everything you would expect from trying to get a body that’s birthed five children to run 26.2 miles without collapsing or failing in some embarrassing way (think “runner’s trots”). It was exhilarating and frustrating, challenging and rewarding. It forced me to grow both emotionally and physically and served as a constant reminder of how hard Jack’s life must be sometimes.

Before I knew it, race day was upon me. Aside from some minor hip bursitis, I felt prepared to go the distance. I’d kept to the training schedule religiously and sailed through a 20-mile race in March. I thought I was ready.

I was wrong. Although I did everything I could to prepare for this day, the Boston Marathon course owned me from the first mile. I was unused to bobbing and weaving through crowds of runners trying to find my own rhythm, and the Dairy Queen Blizzard I enjoyed the night before kept my stomach on high-alert.

Like most people who run the Boston, I was amazed and invigorated by the crowds. Over 500,000 people gathered for the race, and it seemed they were there just to cheer my name. I slapped high-fives with countless people and at Wellesley College ran past the loudest throng of screaming girls I’ve ever seen. Boston College was a blur of happy faces chanting and yelling encouragement; as I passed by our niece Jenny, she jumped in to run the rest of the race with me. I’d never been so happy to see someone in my life.

I hit one wall at mile 7 when my right hip started to tell me it was annoyed. I hit another wall at mile 15 when my left hip got jealous and started to make noise too. But I really, really hit the big wall at mile 22 when I heard bystanders shouting there were only four miles to go. It sounded like running to the Statue of Liberty and back.

Something special happened at this point. A spectator stepped in front of me, looked directly into my eyes and said, “I believe in you.”

This moment was a profound turning point at the end of a long journey. Turning away from Jenny so she didn’t see me dissolve, I had an instant to understand that in these four words, this unknown man was telling me everything I needed to know.

There are no accidents. It’s no accident I have a son named Jack who will forever interpret the world differently than most; it’s no accident I reached for a necklace that would reaffirm my faith in myself as a mother of a child with autism. And it was no accident that a stranger in a crowd of strangers spoke his mantra to me at a pivotal time in a hard-run race.

I’ve always believed in Jack. Now I believe in myself.

Carrie Cariello

Notes From A Marathon Runner

2010-04-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

I received this great email today from Melisa Thorne, one of Dougie's Boston Marathon Team members describing her experience. Enjoy.

Well,

I ran the Boston Marathon last Monday and live to talk about it. I finished the marathon in 4h 49m and I am very pleased about that. The weather was great, the vibe was amazing and the experience is one that I will look back on with pride. I truly loved every minute of it - all 289 minutes.

Some notable moments of the weekend were (in no particular order);
1) Having access to a house on race day and not having to use a pot-a-potty.
2) Standing next to Ali Vincent and Mark Kruger (Season 5: Biggest Loser Winners) at number pick up.
3) Running next to 2 Elvis's, Flash Gordon and the Hamburglar (and fry-guys).
4) My husband at mile 11.
5) Seeing a teen-age daughter cheering her mother on at mile 18.
6) The crowds at BC.
7) The MRC gang at mile 21.
8) The Marine who carried a Marine Corp flag for the entire 26.2 miles.
9) Meeting so many extraordinary people on the course.
10)Getting my finisher's medal and mylar blanket.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do this. But moreover, I am grateful.

I am grateful for my wonderful friends who came out to cheer me on.

I am amazed by the number of friends who cheered me on 'Virtually'. I am overwhelmed by your kindness and support. Your positive thoughts were certainly felt.

I am eternally grateful for my family. The last 4 months of accommodating my training schedule took a lot of coordination and patience on their part. Without their support, running would not have been possible. Marathon aside, I am nothing without my husband and kids.

Finally, I wanted to thank you for supporting my running the Boston Marathon and donating to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Because of you, I was able to raise nearly $3200.00 for this awesome charity.

Thanks so much for your support. I am truly grateful for it.
Sincerely,

Melisa Thorne

Why I Run...

2010-02-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

On April 19th, fifteen people will run the Boston Marathon in support of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. Each member of our team has their own, personal reasons for wanting to take on this challenge. Following is a very moving letter written by one of the members of Dougie's Marathon Team:

AUTISM.

So many thoughts, emotions, opinions and ideas surround this one word.

As a parent whose beautiful, perfect, two-year-old son received this diagnosis, I can tell you it’s complicated.

The parent. For you, life halts. Dreams die. You weep. You panic. You ask why. You mourn. You try to fight it. You convince yourself you will “recover” your child from this stranglehold…whatever it may be. It consumes you. Isolates you. Exhausts you. You miss the babyhood of your children who follow. They potty train themselves, learn to talk, dress and become care-givers before they can read. You struggle to remain a friend, a wife, a sister, a daughter when all you want to do is fix your child, be the mother you know you need to be. You quit your job. You read constantly, study alternative medicines. Your family can’t do the things other families do. Your child can’t handle it. You struggle through common daily activities. Your friends and family don’t know how to help. So you drift further away.

And the stress. You have anxiety, perhaps panic attacks. You lose patience and feel like the worst parent on the face of the earth. All you can do is try to find balance in your life, try to find a minute to take care of yourself. They all depend on you and you must stay healthy.

Doctors study your subgroup: parents of children with special needs, particularly autism. It is the highest stress-level group they can find. Your group also has the highest divorce rate. You join support groups. You spend thousands of dollars on various therapies and doctors, special diets and detoxification protocol. You spend on trainings to teach you to teach your child, on therapists and special schools. You may even sell your home or move in search of resources.

You question the cause. Was it something I did? All the mercury-laden fish I ate while pregnant? Was it the vaccinations and antibiotics? Was it silver fillings? Perhaps something in the environment: years of pesticides, artificial ingredients, canned goods, various toxins. Are autistic children more highly evolved people? So many theories. So few answers. You become a health-food junkie, an environmentalist, more spiritual.

In your house, you need to install a revolving door for the years of therapists and specialists that frequent it, sometimes daily. They watch your family eat, sleep, poop and play. They offer advice, criticism, theories and ideas. Many become close friends because they understand you and your family. But then they move on and a new one replaces them.

Sometimes it all works and your child is “quirky” but otherwise successful in school and life. What a relief. Sometimes, in spite of valiant efforts, it doesn’t.

Your child. He sees you mourn, cry, fight, and struggle. What’s wrong with him? He’s not sure, but clearly knows something is. He withstands hundreds of blood draws, doctors, vitamins and supplements. He eats special foods. He sits with you in hyperbaric chambers, infrared saunas, with spiritual healers and sensory therapists. He rides horses, takes swim lessons. He has special teachers. They try to play with him, make him talk, point to pictures, use his hands to make signs and go potty in the toilet. They want him to stop playing with his fingers, to look at them, to do what they ask. He watches as therapists use tickers to determine whether he knows the difference between red and blue. Has he truly mastered it? Does it really matter? Should we praise him, and what type of praise? Can he read? Count? People argue over what is best for him. Years of this go by.

He can’t wipe himself, bathe or dress himself. He doesn’t speak, play, or interact with peers. He yells and doesn’t sleep. He chews everything and steals stranger’s food. You have to bolt the doors and watch his every move because he isn’t safe when left alone. He develops seizures and self-injurious behaviors. He won’t be in GATE, or an all-star. He won’t earn a scholarship or maybe even a paycheck. He will never marry or live on his own. You can’t compare him to other children. And if you’re lucky, you will outlive him so you know he will be cared for always.

He knows he upsets you. Frustrates you. Makes you cry. Makes you mad. He can’t help it. He, too, doesn’t want it this way, but he just can’t help it. He has OCD. He pulls hair or begins to pinch and hit himself because it’s how he communicates. He clings to you and any shred of his self-confidence. And all you can do in the end is just love him.

This is what goes on in homes with children who have severe autism.

But there is something remarkable that comes out of all this. Your priorities and perspectives change. You see the world differently and it’s a blessing. You love to a degree you didn’t realize was possible, and it’s enough. You work harder and are stronger than you ever imagined. You see beauty in so-called imperfection. You don’t sweat the little things and find joy in simplicity. You know you can’t handle it all on your own and learn to ask for help or to let some things go. Your children are stronger, deeper, more loving, giving, tolerant and accepting. It’s what matters. Recovery from autism is no longer your goal. You realize it’s all OK as it is, and you just want him to know how truly remarkable he is and how much you love him. He makes you a better person. Child becomes teacher, or perhaps always was.

I am hoping this little dip into the autism world will inspire others to understand, accept and want to help those affected. Today, very few people haven’t been touched in some way by autism. It is a growing population and it lasts a child’s lifetime. There are organizations focused on cause and prevention, on interventions, on offering services and activities to families living with autism. All are equally important. It doesn’t matter to whom you donate or why. Just get involved. Even an understanding glance to a struggling parent or an informative talk with your own children about acceptance, tolerance and the importance of being a friend to special needs kids is priceless.

I have chosen to run for my son, Genaro. For all he has gone through and all we have learned. I am running to make a statement about autism. I am running for all those who live with autism today and those who will be diagnosed tomorrow. And I am running for myself. Please show your support.

Liz G.

Thank you!

2009-06-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 10th Annual Doug Flutie, Jr. Celebrity Golf Classic and pre-tournament party! The new venue for the pre-tournament party, the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston, was a big hit! And a big shout out to Mother Nature for suspending the insessant rain that we've been having just long enough to get the tournament in on Tuesday.

We are so grateful to all of the sponsors of this annual event. Especially Presenting Sponsor Sun Life, Pre-Tournament Party Sponsor Sports Illustrated & GOLF Magazine, The Hard Rock Cafe in Boston, Pinehills Golf Club & The Liberty Hotel. And a GIANT thank you to all of our volunteers! You all worked so hard and it was greatly appreciated!

Check out the Boston Magazine coverage from the event here.

See you all next year!

The Staff at the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism

Urgent Message from the Flutie Foundation and AFAM!

2009-05-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Rally Tuesday at the State House!

The Senate released its proposed budget for FY2010 on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. Given the challenging economic times we are facing here in the Commonwealth, AFAM was pleased with the appropriation for the Division of Autism and the Children's Autism Medicaid Waiver. However, there were extensive budget cuts made to programs which benefit children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and their families, including Family Support, Turning 22, Employment Services and Day Habilitation programs. These cuts are devastating.

Proposed amendments to restore funding for these programs will be filed by Friday, May 15th and considered by the full senate next week. Families are urged to act on Alerts that will be sent out by the Arc of Massachusetts. Timing is critical and your voices need to be heard in the Senate!

There will be a rally protesting these proposed cuts in front of the State House in Boston on Tuesday, May 19th at 11:00 a.m. Everyone who comes is encouraged to wear red. Featured performers and speakers will include Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary!

Given the current economic climate, AFAM supports all avenues to increase revenue in order to preserve critical services.

Thank you Dougie's Marathon Team!

2009-04-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

The staff at the Flutie Foundation would like to thank Jenn Gamberdella and Jim McDermott for their participation in the Boston Marathon as part of Dougie's Marathon Team! While training for this grueling run, they each found the time to raise funds for the Foundation and brought in a total of over $8,000! Thank you both!

And thank you to Tom Carey who generously allows our team to meet at his home in Hopkinton each year. Tom is an incredibly selfless and generous guy and owner of Jaime Oil in Ashland, MA.

For anyone who hasn't ever been to Hopkinton for the start of the Marathon, I recommend making the trip out there at least once in your life. There is amazing energy in the town the morning of the race with tens of thousands of people mulling around and preparing for the experience. I must have heard 5 different languages just walking down Main St. to get a coffee!

Me and my daughter made our way over to the start line to watch the Impaired athletes and Women's Elite runners start and the excitement in the crowd as the gun went off each time was incredible. Dick & Rick Hoyt are truely two of the most remarkable people you will ever hear about. For those of you who are not familiar with them, here's a little excerpt from an article by David Tereshchuk:

"Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America. It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk."

Each year when I go to Hopkinton to watch the start of the Marathon, I am sure to be there to see the Hoyts take off with the rest of the "impaired" participants. It's incredibly uplifting to watch. For anyone looking for a little inspiration, please visit their website and learn about this incredible father/son team.

Well, thank you again to Jenn & Jim for all of your efforts! The Foundation will be applying to the BAA to once again be an official charity of the Boston Marathon for 2010. Here's hoping that we are selected! It's always a great experience!

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism

Flutie Foundation Partners with Find A Cure Panel

2009-04-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to share your opinions in vital research!

As a valued friend of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, you can make a difference! By joining Find A Cure Panel for parents and caregivers of people with Autism, you will be empowered to share your opinions in vital research.

What's more, for each survey you complete a minimum donation of $25 is made directly to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation on your behalf. Registering is fast, free, and your privacy is completely protected.

Visit this link to sign up now, and thank you for your continued support!

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.

Autism Awareness Day at the State House - SIGN THE PETITION!

2009-04-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

We need your help!

Deep cuts in Family Support Funds, Autism Division Funds and the DESE/DMR program are proposed in the State budget for the coming year. These are the funds that provide critical services to families like respite and flexible funding for supports in your homes, and fund the Autism Support Centers and the programs they run. Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) will be presenting a petition to key legislators on Autism Awareness Day, April 28th, asking them to restore these funds to the levels at which they were funded in last year's budget before the cuts began. Add your name to the petition even if you cannot come to the State House that morning. Just email (lisa@flutiefoundation.org) a list back to us with the names of your family members (those with ASD, siblings, parents, grandparents) who will be impacted by these cuts, and the city or town where they live, and we'll add their names to the petition. If you'd like, email a photo of your family member and we'll copy it and include it with the petition so that our legislators can see the faces of the folks who will feel the impact of these budget cuts.

Help us send a powerful message on Autism Awareness Day that we need to restore these funds for critical services. Thank you!

Eastern Bank Flutie 5K, Cigna Falmouth Road Race and Other Stuff

2009-04-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like we can officially say that the Eastern Bank Flutie 5K will be on October 4th at MetroWest Medical Center again this year. Thank you so much to Eastern Bank and MWMC for your continued support! More information on this event will be posted on our website as it becomes available, so check back often.

We are also very excited to announce that the generous folks over at the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race have donated 15 numbers to our Foundation for this year's race on August 9th! If you are interested in being a part of Dougie's CIGNA Falmouth Road Race Team, please email me at cchirco@flutiefoundation.org. Each member of Dougie's team will have to raise a minimum of $750 for the Foundation in exchange for the number. These numbers will go fast and we'll offer them on a first come, first serve basis so contact me soon!

If you haven't done so already, become a fan of the Flutie Foundation's Facebook page! As a fan of our Facebook page, you will be eligible for certain fan-only offers for our events.

Speaking of our upcoming events (that may or may not include special prices to our Facebook fans, wink wink) our Golf Classic is just over two months away on June 22nd & 23rd! We're very excited about our new Pre-Tournament Party venue - the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston! This year tickets to the party have been reduced to $75 from $150 and include food and select drinks! Also, there are still various sponsorships available, including the new "Golf 2-Some" sponsorship which includes golf for two people at the Golf Classic at Pinehills, 4 tickets to the Pre-Tournament Party as well as many other perks. For more information about the different golf sponsorships available, please visit the Golf Classic page on our website.

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation

Summer Water Sports Program Registration Form Now Available

2009-03-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Flutie Foundation is proud to once again partner with AccesSportAmerica to provide a summer water sports program for individuals with autism. The sessions will take place at Reservoir Lake at Mass Hospital School in Canton, MA and are available in 2-hour sessions Monday - Thursday and on Saturdays from June through the beginning of August.

For more information about the program, or to download a copy of the registration form, please visit our website.

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.

Great website for information regarding each state's stand regarding autism insurance

2009-03-11T07:07:00.001-07:00

This link was sent to me by last year's winner of our Doug Flutie, Jr. Award - Heidi Bowden. If you were wondering where your state stands in regard to insurance coverage for autism, check it out.

If you live in Massachusetts and would like to get involved in the effort to get insurance coverage for autism locally, check out AFAM's site and join them in the fight!

Thank you to our Full Court Charity Challenge Participants!

2009-03-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

What a great time this past Saturday! We hosted our 10th Annual Full Court Charity Challenge at Basketball City in Boston. 10 years already!??! This annual event benefits both our Foundation and the LADDERS clinic in Lexington, MA. Even in these trying economic times, our supporters came out in full force and helped us to raise well over $130,000! Since the inception of this incredible event, we have raised over $1.5 million dollars through corporate sponsorships, an amazing raffle, a silent auction and general donations given by some very generous individuals.

Congratulations to our two champions - BT&E (Corporate Division) and Donohue's Bar & Grill (Open Division). Drew Gellert (Corporate) & Chris Nowinski (Open) were our MVP's.

Thank you to all of our tremendous volunteers, many of whom came to us from The Junior League of Boston. Also, a BIG "thank you" to Bob Forlenza who created this event 10 years ago and does most of the planning for this great day. Basketball City once again did a great job pulling everything together and running a fantastic tournament. Oh, and we can't forget the food. Lunch and dinner were once again provided by Carmine's Catering out of Medfield, MA. If you need something catered and you want some incredible food, give Carmine a call and you won't be disappointed. Their number is 508-277-6428.

Photos from this event will be posted shortly, so check out website for updates.

Arc of East Middlesex "Journey to Independence" Program Offering Scholarships

2009-03-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

The Arc of East Middlesex received a $18,562.00 grant from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism during our 2008 grant cycle. The majority of the funds will be used to provide scholarships (approximately 45 slots) to families of teens and young adults with autism to attend their Journey to Independence Program.

They are also now offering "Buy one weekend get one weekend free scholarships" while funds are available. Using a Real World House in Andover, the program offers instruction in practical skills such as planning, leisure, safety and communication skills.

For scholarship information and program availability, please contact Nancy Desmond Nastasi at 781-942-4888, ext. 5036 or via email at ndesmond@theemarc.org

The Arc of East Middlesex
20 Gould Street
Reading, MA 01867-2927

Donate and Merchandise Pages Active Again

2009-03-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the folks at Boston Interactive who whipped up a new Donate page and a new Merchandise page for our website. Everything looks great and is working fine, so please feel free to check them out!

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.

Cast Your Vote for This Year's Doug Flutie, Jr. Award!

2009-02-26T05:04:00.000-08:00

Each year as part of our annual conference, the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation and Children Making Strides award the Doug Flutie, Jr. Award to a person who has shown great commitment and dedication to raising awareness of autism spectrum disorder, or has made a significant impact in the lives of individuals with autism. The award recipient can be a parent, teacher, advocate, individual with autism spectrum disorder or anyone else who has made a difference in the autism community. For the second year in a row, we are asking the local autism community to vote on who they think is deserving of this award!

To qualify for the award, the recipient must be from the New England area and be available to accept the award at our annual conference on Tuesday April 7th, 2009 at The Sheraton Four Points in Norwood, MA.

Please send your nomination for this year's Doug Flutie, Jr. Award to info@dougflutiejrfoundation.org along with a brief description of who the person is and why you think they should be nominated. Be sure to include both your contact information and the nominee's contact information including email address and phone number.

Nominees will be accepted through Friday, March 6th and the winner will be announced on Friday, March 13th.

Auction Item Ideas

2009-02-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

We're in the process of organizing two of our major annual events - our 10th Annual Full Court Charity Challenge (on March 7th) and our 10th Annual Doug Flutie, Jr. Celebrity Golf Classic (on June 22nd & 23rd). Part of each of these events is a silent auction where, in the past, we've been heavy on autographed sports memorabilia. While those items are very nice and typically do very well at the auctions, we've noticed that people are leaning more toward "experience" items lately, like weekend stays in the mountains and dinner and a play-type items.

We are reaching out to our supporters to ask if you have any sort of items that you would be willing to donate for one of these events to please contact us. If you have a place up north or a timeshare that you could offer for a weekend or a week, or if you are a business and could offer a gift certificate for a service (for example - house cleaning services). Anything like those are great, unique items that people enjoy because they really feel like they are getting something for their contribution.

If you have something interesting that you think that we could use for one of our upcoming auctions, please email me at cchirco@flutiefoundation.org.

Thanks!
Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism

Massachusetts Autism Insurance Reform Bill!

2009-02-11T08:01:00.001-08:00

I meant to get this up last week, but I was out of commission with a nasty illness. Anyway, an AUTISM INSURANCE REFORM Bill was introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature. The bill, House Docket 984 "An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism" (ARICA), is sponsored by Representative Barbara A. L'Italien and State Senator Frederick E. Berry. It would require private healthcare policies to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. ARICA would cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other medically necessary, evidence-based treatments prescribed by an insured's treating physician or psychologist. AFAM (Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts) and its member organizations are aggressively working to ensure passage of this crucial legislation.

For more information about the Bill including the full version, go to http://www.flutiefoundation.org/Programs-AFAM.asp. If you scroll down a bit, you'll see the summary of the Bill and at the bottom of the page there is a link to a pdf of the full version.

Contact your legislators and let them know that you support this Bill!!!

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism

Photos from Flutie Bowl posted!

2009-02-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Our photographer from Flutie Bowl, Derek Wilmot took some great shots at the 6th Annual Flutie Bowl! To see them, visit the Flutie Bowl page on our website.

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming

Donate & Merchandise pages on our website

2009-01-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

If you've visited our Donate or Merchandise pages in the last couple of days, you might have noticed that currently you cannot donate or purchase merchandise online. Our good friends at Boston Interactive are in the process of building new and improved pages for us that should be up shortly. In the meantime, if you would like to purchase Flutie Foundation merchandise or would like to make a donation to our Foundation, please give our office a call at 1-866-3AUTISM. Feel free to send us an email or give us a call with any other questions as well.

Thank you!
Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation

Flutie Bowl etc...

2009-01-21T09:32:00.000-08:00

Happy belated New Year!

As we have finally dug out from the week leading up to our 6th Annual Flutie Bowl event which took place on Monday night, January 12th, at Lucky Strike Lanes in Boston, I had a chance to reflect on how truly lucky we are to have such wonderful supporters! This year’s bowling event could have very easily been a disaster in our current economic climate, however the event was sold out and everyone in attendance seemed to have had a great time! At the end of the night the Foundation had raised close to $50,000! Thank you to Lucky Strike for donating the venue and the food for the event! You guys are great! Thank you to all of our lane and product sponsors as well. Our success wouldn't be possible without your support.

These events can not be successful without the help of an incredible crew of volunteers. At Flutie Bowl, they kept the event running very smoothly leaving the Foundation’s staff free to interact with sponsors and supporters. A very special thank you to the volunteers from the Junior League of Boston! Also, thank you to John Breen and Jen Lofberg who help out at just about every Flutie Foundation event and are always willing to do whatever is asked of them. Every charity should have a dedicated group of volunteers like ours, and for that, we are grateful!

Now we’ll start focusing on our next event – the 10th Annual Full Court Charity Challenge on March 7th at Basketball City in Boston, Mass. I can’t believe we’re in the 10th year of this event already! It seems like only yesterday the teams were lacing up the sneakers for the 1st Annual Full Court Charity Challenge. Since 1999, the basketball tournament has brought in over 1 million dollars to the Foundation with the help of great corporate sponsors like Tudor Investment Corporation and the countless other companies who have purchased team sponsorships over the years. Hopefully we’ll be seeing a lot of familiar faces back at the Tournament this year!

Chris Chirco
Director of Programming
Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation

Hi Everyone!

2008-08-11T05:47:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, I can't believe that it's going by so quickly. Dougie just finished summer school, so we are packing up our RV and heading down to our house in Florida for a few weeks (before football season starts and Doug has to go back to work as a college football analyst for ESPN/ABC). Dougie does very well when we travel down to Florida, he enjoys riding in the RV (we drive because that eliminates the stress of flying for all of us) and we go to our own house so Dougie is very familiar with it and very comfortable there (which eliminates the stress of staying at different hotels). Our house is fairly close to Disney World so we are able to make day trips to the different parks. Dougie handles the crowds great and enjoys the lower key rides, his favorite rides are the Buzz Light Year ride and the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom, but we only go to the parks a day here or there, a week straight would be to much for him (and us, haha!).

We spend a lot of time just hanging out at the house relaxing and swimming in the pool. Dougie has become quite the good swimmer this year. Our pool in Florida is salt water and only 6' deep (in the deep end) so now that Dougie is about 5'7" he can swim into the deep end and push his feet off the bottom and the salt water helps him to float better and because of this he has learned that if he kicks his feet and uses his arms he can swim back and forth across the pool. It's awesome, he just started doing this this summer, so now when we are home in our house in MA and he swims in the pool there (which is deeper and not salt water) he has the confidence and knowledge to kick his feet and use his arms, so now he swims great there too!! We are very proud of Dougie!!

I want to thank everyone who joined us for the Harley Ride and party at the Hard Rock Cafe on August 3rd. Everyone at Pitching in for Kids and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation did a great job planning such a fun event, the Flutie Brothers Band played at the Hard Rock and we all had a great time!! Thanks also to Pitching in for Kids for being so generous to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation, we really appreciate your kindness!!!

Thanks again for your continued support and generosity! Don't forget the Eastern Bank Flutie 5K Road Race on September 14th! Hope to see you there!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Laurie Flutie

NEWS FROM THE FOUNDATION

2008-08-01T04:04:00.000-07:00

We are sad to announce that Melisa MacDonald (formerly Joyal) will be leaving us in early August after close to 5 years of employment here at the Foundation. Melisa has been a tremendous asset to the Foundation and very committed to her work. All of us here will truly miss her, however, we want to wish her the best of luck in her new career as a guidance counselor at Kennedy Middle School in Natick.

On another note, most of you have heard by now about Michael Savage’s absurd remarks on his nationally syndicated talk show claiming autism is a “fraud” and that in “99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out”. Many people in the autism community have responded to his comments by writing very thoughtful and well written letters.

The Flutie Foundation also responded to Mr. Savage’s comments with the following statement:

"Mr. Savage’s remarks are inappropriate and show no respect for all families affected by autism. He obviously lacks the necessary education to understand the disorder and likely has not spent quality time around children and families struggling to cope with autism.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but Mr. Savage should have done a better job of educating himself before expressing his views on the radio.

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism remains committed to providing support for financially disadvantaged families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism through educational services and equipment."

The Boston Herald printed this Statement on Saturday, July 26th. Here is the link to the article.

Thank you to everyone who has been a loyal supporter of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism over the past ten years. We are here to help families get the services, education and resources they need and are grateful to those who have contributed their time, money and encouragement to our organization.

Sincerely,
Lisa Borges
Executive Director

Checking in!

2008-07-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! It’s been a while since I have been able to post here! It all started over a month ago when Dougie got ill with the flu. It was the second time that month that he had fallen ill. He had strep throat earlier in the month that knocked him down and out for about a week and a half. It is difficult when any child gets sick, but what upsets us so much when Dougie gets sick is the fact that he is nonverbal and he can't tell us that he feels sick or tell us what's wrong with him, so it can definitely be very challenging, but we manage to figure it out and get him on the road to recovery.

As any parent of a child with autism knows, new challenges arise all the time. We have discovered that plane travel with Dougie has become one of them. He actually doesn't mind flying, it doesn't bother him at all, but it is hard to explain to Dougie that the man sitting in the seat in front of him doesn't want his headphones suddenly ripped off his head with no warning at all or the lady behind him doesn't want to share her peanuts as Dougie helps himself, again with no warning at all. He also feels that the seat belt rule should not apply to him and now that Dougie is bigger and stronger it is much harder to make him sit down when he doesn't want to. It is kind of funny, but I get really stressed out because I feel that not all people will be understanding, although we haven't had anyone complain so far. We decided to look into other means of travel, we ended up purchasing a small RV and we now drive to our vacation destinations. It has worked out quite well, Dougie loves it and he can be as loud as he wants and grab what he wants and none of us are stressed out, he even keeps his seat belt on. Neither Doug nor I have ever camped or had an RV before, but we are becoming quite good at empty and filling all of our tanks and I even know how to put in the antifreeze and winterize the RV. It is a whole new experience for all of us, but it has been a wonderful way to spend time with our family. Speaking of family, our daughter Alexa turned 20 in March, so Doug and I feel officially old now that she isn't a teenager anymore. I don't know where the time goes!

I also wanted to thank everyone who joined us for our annual conference back in March and congratulate Heidi Bowden again on receiving the 2008 Doug Flutie, Jr. Award for her dedication to those afflicted with autism as well as other disabilities. Heidi exemplifies what the Doug Flutie, Jr. award is all about through her dedication to the Annual Maine Autism Resource Fair, her Girl scout Troop for "girls with varying abilities" and most importantly as a mother to a child with autism, her daughter Addie. She is truly an inspiration to all of us and we are proud to honor her. I only wish I could have been there to present this award to her in person, but as you know sometimes our mom duties take priority over everything else.

Doug and I also wanted to thank everyone who participated at the 9th Annual Doug Flutie, Jr. Celebrity Golf Classic on June 23rd & 24th. We are amazed by the continued support of our major sponsors like Sun Life Financial, Sports Illustrated, Continental Airlines, The Hyatt Regency in Boston, Pinehills Golf Club, TJX, Carey Transportation, Hewlett Packard as well as the folks who purchase foursomes – you all are incredible! We feel terrible that we had to cancel the golf due to the thunderstorms, but really enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with all of our supporters as we all ate Sal's Pizza and Ben & Jerry's and waited out the storm that decided to not stop. I guess we had been lucky to have great weather the first 8 years of the event. Hopefully we’ll be able to start a new streak of consecutive good-weather years with the 10th Annual golf event in 2009!

Have a great 4th of July everyone! - Laurie Flutie

Welcome to our new website and thank you for years of support!

2008-02-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

We started The Doug Flutie Jr. foundation for Autism 10 years ago in honor of our son Dougie, who has Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), a low functioning form of autism. Our goal is to help financially disadvantaged families care for their children with autism, as well as fund research and raise awareness, but we also want people to know that they are not alone, this has happened to us too and we are here for them. The foundation is so important to us because we feel that this is Dougie’s calling and the foundation will be his legacy, he was put here to help others deal with autism, which has helped us (as a family) deal, understand and make peace with Dougie’s autism.

Dougie is now 16 years old; he is about 5ft 5in tall and growing like a weed. He was diagnosed with CDD when he was 3. He is non-verbal and requires one on one attention, but he has made tremendous progress over the years and we are so proud of all of his accomplishments.

Dougie goes to school full time (5 days a week all year round). He works hard at school and has a lot of therapy, but he loves all the attention. He also has home based tutoring 3 days a week (after school) and on Saturday afternoons (which he also loves). He loves to go to his horseback riding therapy every week at Ironstone Farm and during the summer he attends water sports camp at Access Sport America where he enjoys windsurfing as well as other water sports. He also just enjoys hanging out with family, whether it's swimming with his big sister Alexa, playing with his 3 dogs, playing ball with dad or just lounging and watching a movie with mom. Dougie loves life and is the happiest person I know, he always has a smile on his face and because he is happy, it makes all of us happy!!

We will continue to do all that we can to help Dougie’s foundation give to others afflicted with autism. Dougie is our inspiration and truly a blessing to our whole family, but the foundation has given back to us as well. It has given us the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful, caring and giving people. We wouldn't be able to help Dougie help others without your generous support, so we want to say THANK YOU for all that you do for us!!!

Thanks again for all of your support! Laurie Flutie