Autism Action Groups

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Autism Action Groups
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Our Organization

• Information Referral
• Workshops/Annual Conference
• For families and professionals
• Partnerships Training professionals to
  recognize and address autism
• Technical Assistance Consultation
• Family and Caregiver Training
• Transition and Adult Services
• Autism Action Groups
• Enhancing efficient and effective statewide
  services for people with autism
• Increasing resources and services for individuals
  throughout their lifespan

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History

• Fragmented services
• No statewide single entry to services
• Input from Board of Directors, Advisory Council,
  I R calls, Needs Survey
• Directive Establish local collaboration

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Family Concerns

• Increased stress on entire family
• Increase in aggressive behavior/legal problems
• Unaware of DD waiver/delay in accessing waiver
  services
• Difficulty accessing medical services
• Frustration navigating community services
• Isolation- family support/networking
• What about the adult children with elderly
  parents?
• Lack of trained service providers
• Childcare /Respite

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Community Needs

• Physicians are not aware of the DD waiver
• Local training requested schools, case
  managers, parents
• Lack of collaboration between agencies
• Increase in requests for behavior specialists
• Increase in number of individuals diagnosed

• Transition and Adult Services
• Parent support
• University curriculum
• Transportation
• Not enough providers
• Increase in FAPT referrals
• Funding

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Challenge
Go back to localities and implement activities
that will promote awareness of autism, and
create a system of support for individuals, and
their families
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Keep it Local
Local needs Local Participants Local Activities
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Autism Action Groups

• CVAAG Central Virginia Autism Action Group
• PAAG Piedmont Autism Action Group
• GRVAAG Greater Roanoke Valley Autism Action
  Group
• NRVAAG New River Valley Autism Action Group
• HOVAAG Heart of Virginia Autism Action Group
• SWVAAG Southwest Virginia Autism Action Group
• Others

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Mission Statement

• The Mission of the Autism Action Group is to
  provide leadership in the implementation of a
  regional system of services and resources to
  maximize the potential and quality of life for
  each individual with autism spectrum disorders,
  and their families, across the lifespan.

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Participants

• Individuals with autism
• Parents
• Commonwealth Autism Service
• Private Service Providers
• FAPT members
• Early Intervention
• Department of Health
• Local Public Schools
• Local Medical Professionals
• ..anyone interested in providing quality
  services to individuals with autism across the
  lifespan

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Action Group Activities

• Awareness flyer
• Resource Guide
• Training
• Local workshops and conference
• First Responder Autism Safety Awareness

• Parent Support Group
• Transition Council
• Support localities in creating strategies to
  resolve community needs
• Other activities as needed

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Supporting the Individual

• Community Awareness
• First Responders, Businesses, Families,
  Educators, etc.
• Agency Collaboration and Networking
• Public Awareness of Resources and Program
• Training and Consultation
• Parents, Providers, Schools, Public and Private
  Organizations
• Parent Networking and Support
• Better collaboration between school and
  caregivers
• Post-Secondary Transition Planning

Individual
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Regional Map
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Regions Served

• SWVAAG Southwest Virginia Region (all entities
  within Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Russell,
  Washington, Buchanan, Tazewell, Smyth, Grayson,
  Bland, Wythe and Carroll counties)
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• CVAAG Central Virginia Region of Virginia
  (including the counties of Amherst, Bedford,
  Appomattox and Campbell and including the Cities
  of Lynchburg and Bedford).
•  GRVAAG Greater Roanoke Valley (all entities
  within Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke and Franklin
  Counties, including the Cities of Salem, Roanoke
  and Rocky Mount)
• PAAG Piedmont Region (all entities Patrick,
  Henry, Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties and
  including the cities of Martinsville, Danville
  and South Boston)
•  
• NRVAAG New River Valley (all entities within
  Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and Floyd, including
  the Cities of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Pulaski
  and Radford)
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• HVAAG Farmville/Cumberland Region (all entities
  within Fluvanna, Buckingham, Goochland,
  Powhatan, Cumberland and Prince Edward Counties,
  including the city of Farmville)

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Other Autism Action Groups
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Contact information
Shirl Light Administrative Assistant slight_at_autis
mva.org

• Didi Zaryczny
• Action Groups Coordinator
• dzaryczny_at_autismva.org

Commonwealth Autism Service 540-587-8990 ext.
105 www.autismva.org