Another GREAT Water Wednesday! Kuddos to Jennifer! and her family. We thank you for all you do for us and our kids. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Kristen, Good information. I work out in Ann Arbor/Ypsi. I'll have to stop by and see what its all about. Thanks.

Wow, another great Social Saturday. My kids were out cold. Cody passed out before we left the park and never woke up for dinner. Kyle and the girls followed suite. Sarah was nodding off at the table. I'll see everyone at the meeting Tues.

FYI--this looks promising! EMU is expanding their Autism Center. See http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/20234831/detail.html?taf=det

Awesome video, Doyle!! Watching the races was a blast. Watching Team Autism Awareness take first place in their race was the high point of the day!!

Hey Stacie, We are having our Parent Meeting tonight. I hope you can make it. I'll put the Social Saturday up on the site after the meeting.

I was wondering where the Social Saturday was going to be for July?

Mary- I looked a little online for you to see if I could find a specifically Autism Related support group for you in your area... I could not, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist:) I did find the link to the PAC meetings (Parent Advisory Committee) in your area and my guess is that you'd find many other parents of children with Autism there--they might even know of a few monthly support groups to steer you towards. The website is here: http://www.manistee-isd.k12.mi.us/SpecialEducation/PAC/tabid/215/Default.aspx And, this is the paragraph from that page if it sounds like something you'd be interested in attending... "Our Parent Advisory Committee is made up of parents of students with disabilities representing each local school district within Manistee Intermediate School District. This State mandated committee allows parents to have an active role in the Special Education process. The primary purpose of our committee is to involve parents in the development and review of the MISD Plan for delivery of Special Education programs and services. It is also our intention to serve as a support and informational group for parents with disabled children in Manistee County. Parents are nominated to this committee by their Local School District Board of Education and then appointed for a three year term by the MISD Board of Education. The PAC meetings are open to all interested individuals and are held at least four times a year. Meeting times are published on this site. All meetings are held at the MISD Education Center (772 East Parkdale Ave., Manistee, MI.). For more information regarding the committee or schedule of specific meetings, please call the Special Education Department at MISD, (231) 723-6205." Thanks for posting here:) Jennifer

OK I have heard the bills passed I see on here they passed, but the U of M (the only place I can find that does full evals.) does not accept Medicaid. Also are there any support groups in other regions? I am in Manistee County.

The "autism insurance bills", HB 4476 and 4183, were both passed by the full House this afternoon. It's on to the Senate (where they are going to have a harder time for sure).

Autism insurance reform continues to move forward in Michigan! HB 4476-(Angerer) and HB 4183-(Ball) passed successfully out of the House Committee on Health Policy and will now be voted on by the full House Wednesday, June 25, 2009! Call your Michigan state representatives and ask them to vote â??Yesâ?� on HB 4476 and HB 4183, the autism insurance reform bills!!!! You can use the link below to find your Rep!

I am not sure what I can or can't do in regards to coding, but here is the link for Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism: http://www.afaa-us.org/site/c.llIYIkNZJuE/b.5063863/k.BE3C/Home.htm

Thanks to everyone who came out for our first "Water Wednesday" tonight!!! It seems as though all of the kids had a really good time and we're looking forward to another fun day next week! Hope to see more of you there... Jennifer, Drew, and Katie

Doyle, please feel free to add my contact info under the IEP section. I know most aren't dealing with IEPs at this time of year, but I am always available to help out however I can.

Water Wednesdays sound like they're going to be great fun! Thanks so much for hosting this, Jennifer :)! We'll be at the first one next week. Also, I was wondering what was going to happen during the summer as far as meetings, thanks for the update on the location change, Paulette!