Safeway and Easter Seals working together

Posted by Beth Finke on November 4th, 2009

An article in Reuters last week touts Safeway Inc. for the generous grants it gives to Easter Seals to empower children and adults with autism and other disabilities.

Safeway executives unveiled the 2009 Safeway Foundation’s Empowerment Grant award winners during Easter Seals’ annual convention in Washington, D.C., granting $1 million to expand programs across the country that measurably improve …Read More » »

A terrific Capitol Hill Day!

Posted by Bob Glowacki on October 22nd, 2009

What a terrific Capitol Hill Day we had in Washington D.C.!

We started the day off with a tour of the White …Read More » »

Putting “special interests” to work

Posted by Patricia Wright on October 15th, 2009

A story in Wired Magazine explains how the news of his son’s autism diagnosis inspired Danish entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne to start Specialisterne (Danish for “Specialists”), an I.T. firm that hires mostly people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

One characteristic we often hear about people with autism is an intense interest in a particular subject. Colloquially in the field …Read More » »

“The Story” on Disability Employment Awareness Month

Posted by Beth Finke on October 13th, 2009

It’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, and An NPR show called The Story contacted me last week to record an interview. If you’ve never heard The Story, here’s a description of the show from their Web site:

At a time when “celebrity rules” and the only “ordinary” people we see are faces in the crowd, The Story reminds listeners that their …Read More » »

Is clumsiness a sign of autism?

Posted by Beth Finke on September 29th, 2009

Patricia Wright’s post about surfing star Clay Marzo Included a quote from an Outside Magazine article that really caught my eye.

While many children with Asperger’s are marked by their lack of coordination — “motor clumsiness” is a very common trait — Clay moves in the water with an uncommon grace.

I’m reluctant to admit this, being the Easter Seals …Read More » »

In memory of Roger McCarville

Posted by Beth Finke on September 18th, 2009

Easter Seals is mourning the death of Roger McCarville, who died of pneumonia on September 7. You might recognize Roger’s name — Matt McAlear published a post here about Roger McCarville’s A Wider World show …Read More » »

School fights family over autism assistance dog

Posted by Beth Finke on September 17th, 2009

The Associated Press reports that an Illinois family wants their 6-year-old son, who has autism, to be able to bring his dog along to school this year. The family said the dog would help with the transition to a new place and would also help keep him safe from traffic and other dangers. Service dogs are allowed in the …Read More » »

Star surfer champions his autism

Posted by Patricia Wright on September 16th, 2009

Want to learn more about autism? Spend time with someone who has autism!Surfing star Clay Marzo is doing his part by educating his fellow surfers. Clay was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome a few years ago, and he has been informing the surfing community about disability ever since. Marzo’s participation in surfing contests gives his fellow surfers the …Read More » »

Temple Grandin: A Breath of Fresh Air

Posted by Beth Finke on September 3rd, 2009

Imagine my happy surprise to switch on the radio Tuesday morning and hear Terry Gross interviewing Temple Grandin on NPR’s Fresh Air. Turns out the show was a re-broadcast. It’s “Animal Week” on Fresh Air, and their January 5, 2009 interview with Grandin was one of their best animal-related stories this year, so they decided to air it …Read More » »

A Wider World for kids with autism

Posted by Matt McAlear on September 2nd, 2009

Earlier this year Easter Seals Bay Area was contacted by the PBS show A Wider World. Roger McCarville, the show’s host, had heard about Easter Seals …Read More » »