February 2012
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Improve your child's social skills and develop...
Check out our new social skills group for 3rd - 5th graders and their parents. Click here to Apply!
January 2012
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A.S.K. and Mardan School Presents Child and Parent...
Now Taking Applications for February 2012 Group!
We are currently enrolling for a new group of social skills classes at Mardan School. Families with children in the 3rd-5th grades are encouraged to apply! (participants do not have to be affiliated with Mardan School)
Click for more info…
MEETING DATES:
Wednesdays, February 15th-May 9th
4:30-5:30 pm at Mardan School
1 Osborn...
New CA Booster Seat Law Starts 2012
As of 2012, California law requires that children be properly secured in the back seat in a proper child restraint system until they are at least eight years old.* Additionally, all children under age 16 must be properly secured in either a proper child restraint system or seat belt.
On a first offense, a child passenger violation will cost a minimum of $475 with penalty assessments. A...
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Does your teen need a boost in social skills?
Come join ASK’s PEERS group!
Our PEERS group motivates and teaches your teen how to make and keep friends. It will help your teen in organizing get-togethers and being a good host. It is also a great way for you, as a parent, to get involved and meet other parents facing the same problems.
Last Chance to RSVP for PEERS: The Art of Making Friends
Don’t miss out on this...
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Dr. Alexander Gantman Speaks At A.S.K.!
Join us on Thursday, January 12, 2012 for a FREE presentation on PEERS: The Art of Making Friends. Event is held at ASK Office in Newport Beach, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Meet Dr. Alexander Gantman (former Assistant Director of the UCLA PEERS Program) and Kimberly Orliczky (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and learn how ASK PEERS for TEENS can help you!
This presentation is open to all families who have...
December 2011
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A.S.K. Wishes You A Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Start 2012 off on the right foot… Dive into The Art of Making Friends!
Gain new strategies on how to handle bullies. ASK PEERS for Teens will teach teens how to respond to teasing by being more assertive. Learn simple comebacks that will make your teaser look “lame!”
Click to find out how!
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Festival of Human Abilities 2012: Aquarium of the... →
Celebrate the Creative Spirit of People with Disabilities
Join the Aquarium of the Pacific for its ninth annual Festival of Human Abilities, a celebration highlighting the creative talents and abilities of people with disabilities.
Wheelchair dance, live music, signing choirs, art demonstrations, accessible SCUBA diving demonstrations, storytelling, service dog demonstrations, and other...
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PEERS: The Art of Making Friends!
Have more questions about ASK PEERS for TEENS? Find out how this highly successful program will help you master the art of making friends!
ASK presents PEERS: The Art of Making Friends! (PEERS Information Night) on January 12, 2012, 6:30-8:30pm, featuring Dr. Alexander Gantman with Q&A session. This presentation is open to all families interested in PEERS and have not had the chance to...
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Happy Holiday Season! →
School is out! Enjoy time to spend with your family and loved ones to celebrate all your hard work and accomplishments.
ASK wishes your family a happy holiday season! Click here for fun and delicious recipes.
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Attention Teens: Having Trouble Making Friends?
Teens, are you having trouble fitting in? Don’t know what to say when you first meet someone? Not sure how to join a conversation?
Being a teen has its every day challenges, especially if you lack a friend to lean on. Whatever it is that’s keeping you from creating friendships, PEERS for Teens is a program that will teach you the fundamental skills of making and keeping friends....
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Let PEERS Help You Coach Your Teen!
Does it seem like you have tried it all and your teen is still having difficulty interacting with kids their age?
Being a parent can be challenging, especially when you don’t know how to help your teen. Whether it’s making or keeping friends, fitting in, or teasing, PEERS for Teens has a parent component that teaches you new ways to coach your teen. Through this 14 week program,...
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The Importance of Friendship
Finding a successful path through middle/high school can be hard. Teens face many obstacles, and sometimes it can be a bumpy road. One way that helps guide your teens through these difficult times is to have good friend(s) to lean on! Click to read the articles for useful tips on making friends.
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PEERS with Dr. Gantman starting January 2012 →
Is PEERS right for you? ASK PEERS for Teens is almost here!
Having good friendships is essential through difficult teen years.
Join PEERS for Teens today to develop the core skills for social success!
This 14 week evidence-based program is proven to help improve your teen’s SOCIAL SKILLS!! Sessions will be directed by Dr. Gantman and Kimberly Orliczky. They will provide the tools your...
November 2011
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Thanksgiving Fun →
Happy Thanksgiving!
ASK wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Click here to view fun crafts and delicious recipes!
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Friend for Andrea: Autistic Teen's Quest to Fit In
By Alicia Chang
updated 8/21/2009 8:17 AM ET
Thirteen-year-old Andrea Levy ticked off a mental list of rules to follow when her guest arrived:
- Greet her at the door.
- Introduce her to the family.
- Offer a cold drink.
Above all, make her feel welcome by letting her choose what to do.
“Do you want to make pizza now or do you want to make it later?” the lanky,...
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An Autistic Teen's Journey: Can Joey Make A...
People magazine covers the journey of 17-year old teenager as he learns how to make and keep friends with the help of the UCLA PEERS Program. Life began to change when he started the group and gained the essential friendship skills. Click to read the full article…
Interested in PEERS program? ASK offers PEERS for Teens in Orange County in January 2012! No need to beat the traffic to...
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November Workshops are Here...Register Now!
Thursday, November 10 at 7pm: ASK Families will be hosting a FREE seminar with Michael E. Jewell, Attorney-at-Law: Effective Advocacy for Special Needs Children. He will discuss IEPs, legal rights, educational tools and the guide you need to become an advocate for your child! RSVP today to make your voice heard! Click here to Register
Saturday, November 12, 8:00am - 1:00pm: Seize the...
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New Seminar on November 16: Positive Strategies...
Finding yourself in challenging siatution with your child? There is no doubt that there is added stress of parenting a child with special needs.
ASK offers a new seminar by Susan Grossi, licensed MFT, to help families build positive relationships. Meet Susan Grossi to explore ways to reduce daily life stressors and handle the many challenges brought on you, your spouse, and your family. ...
Meet the Special Needs Experts at ASK!
ASK has lots of events planned for November to help you plan for your child’s special needs programs.
Read our newsletter for more information on what’s happneing:
November 10: Effective Advocacy for Special Needs Children with Michael Jewell, Attorney-at-Law. Make your voice count!
November 12: Meet Dr. Alexander Gantman, PsyD. at Walk Now for Autism Speaks in Anaheim Angel...
October 2011
9 posts
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CFT: Soical Skill Training Program for Parents and...
Making new friends can be challenging.
ASK wants to help YOU and your CHILD gain the key to a successful school year!! Let us teach you the tools of developing quality friendships for your child.
Apply for the new group of CFT program for children age 6-12!!! Group meets on Tuesday nights starting January 2012.
This can be the year your child learns the social skills needed to establish and...
Need advice for problem sovling with your child!!...
Are you having trouble communicating with your child? Need some useful strategies to handle the stress of being a parent of a child with special needs?
ASK has the expert Susan Grossi, M.Ed., MA, MFT here to give you the Knowledge and Skills to develop a better family relationship!
The seminar is Wednesday Nov 16th 7-9pm at the ASK office it will be $25, It is small price to pay for expert...
ASK Families presents FREE seminar: Effective...
Are IEPs complicated and confusing? Want to know how to work with the school districts? Come meet Michael Jewell Attorney-at-Law at the FREE seminar — Effective Advocacy for Special Needs Children — on Thursday, November 10, 2011, 7pm.
Michael E. Jewell, Attorney-at-Law, is a Brigham Young University graduate and has been a practicing attorney for over fifteen years. He has...
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Now taking application for PEERS January 2012, led...
Having good friendships is essential through their difficult teen years. Join PEERS for Teens today to develop the core skills for social success !
This 14 week evidence-based program is proven to help improve your teen’s SOCIAL SKILLS!! Sessions will be directed by Dr. Gantman and Kimberly Orliczky. They will provide the tools your teen needs for establishing stronger social skills...
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ASK PEERS Training program starts January 2012!...
Finding a successful path through middle/high school can be hard. Teens face many obstacles, and sometimes it can be a bumpy road. One way that helps guide your teens through these difficult times is to have good friend(s) to lean on!
ASK is offering a new group of PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) in January 2011! This 14 week program is an evidence-based...
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Want to advance your child's social skills? ASK...
Have you notice that your child is struggling to make and maintain friendships? Is your child being subjected to bulling often? If you do not know exactly how to handle these stressful task, no worries… your not alone!
ASK wants to help you and your child gain social success! ASK is offering a Social Skills training program based on Children’s Friendship Training for children between...
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Free Seminar with Michael Jewell, Attorney-at-Law
ASK Families presents a great FREE seminar with attorney Michael Jewell, providing advocacy for special needs children. Stop by and meet Michael to learn how to get your voice heard on becoming a adovate for your child in special education programs!! Thursday, November 10: 7:00pm at ASK office
Click here to register
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PEERS for Teens with Dr. Alexander Gantman
ASK introduces a new group of PEERS led by Dr. Gantman, Psy.D, and Kimberly Orliczky, BCBA, in January 2012!
About PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills): a 14-week evidence-based friendship program, has been developed and researched to help adolescent in initiating and improving friendships, as well as building appropriate social and communication skills. This...
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ASK Welcomes Dr. Alexander Gantman, Psy.D.!
ASK is pleased to announce collaboration with Dr. Alexander Gantman to provide new services: social skills training, psychotherapy, and evaluations. Dr. Gantman has worked extensively with treatment program for Social Skills Training for Adolescents and Adults with ASD and with co-morbid ADHD, Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Together with Dr. Gantman’s expertise, ASK is looking forward...
September 2011
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Oral Hygiene Tips for Children with Autism...
There are many ways to help your child develop the skills he or she needs to take care of his or her mouth. Use this guide to start an oral health routine at home. In time, your child will learn how to independently complete each step in the routine.
Healthy Smiles for Autism was created by the National Museum of Dentistry to empower parents of children with autism spectrum disorder to...
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Great Success at Mardan's Open House!
Kimberly Orliczky, ASK Clinical Director, had a great time at Mardan’s Open House on September 20th. Families had the opportunity to tour the school grounds and ask questions.
Kimberly discussed the benefits and outcomes of the parent and child social skills group. In this program, children will learn life long skills in making and keeping friends. Through interactive parent sessions,...
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5-Minute Screen for Signs of Autism Works in...
April 28, 2011 — A simple checklist completed by parents can help doctors screen for signs of autism as early as the child’s first birthday, according to new research.
Screen for Autism: A Closer Look
The screen used is already published and is available online for free download. It is called the CSBS DP IT checklist (Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile...
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ASK/Mardan Child & Parent Social Skills Group
Mardan School and Autism Solutions for Kids presents a new after school program for Fall 2011!
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September 20: Mardan School Open House & Info...
Meet Kimberly Orliczky, BCBA, at Mardan’s School Open House on September 20!
ASK has collaborated with Mardan School of Irvine to provide NEW after school Child/Parent Social Skills Groups starting this fall. Kimberly Orliczky, ASK Clinical Director, will be present at the Open House to help answer your questions regarding the special 6-week program for children 2nd-4th grade (ages 7-10)...
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Best Chance at Success for Special Needs Children:...
This special 3 part series focus on helping and coaching parents to do the best they can. Parents report less stress in the home and more feelings of competence and happiness when interacting with their children. Call ASK Office at 949-221-0126 to enroll or register online!
Mary C Pratt, LCSW, received her Masters in Social Work from Cal State Long Beach, specializing in Children and...
Relax From the First Week of School with Something...
Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting Shark Lagoon nights on Friday nights for FREE (now through December)!
Take the whole family to get up close and personal with the ocean’s ulimate predators and even get the chance to touch some of these fascinating creatures! Shark Lagoon will be open until 9 p.m. and snacks are available for purchase. Check website for dates and more information.
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September 22: Celebrate Literature Month with...
ASK presents a new interactive workshop on September 22, 2011 to provide parents with an understanding of the underlying issues affecting reading development.
Parents will gain a deeper understanding of how their children learn to read and begin to recognize specific reading challenges. Participants will be provided with strategies for daily reading and spelling practice, as well as referrals for...
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Develop evidence-based skills to achieve social...
ASK introduces Social Skills Group for age 6-12 to meet weekly from 9/27– 12/20. This unique program includes a child session to learn effective friendship skills and a parent session to receive parent education. Call 949-221-0126 for more information or apply online.
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UCLA Today - Friendless Kids Master the Art of...
Kenny was the kid other kids loved to hate. The nine-year-old taunted, tattled, threw punches — whatever it took to get what he wanted. Yet deep down, what Kenny (not his real name) really wanted was friends, and he didn’t have a clue about how to make them. But that was before he met “Dr. Bob” — psychologist Robert Myatt of UCLA’s Children’s Friendship Program — and learned the ABCs of social...
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PEERS for Teens! Ages 13-18
ASK introduces PEERS for ages 13-18 to meet weekly from 9/27/11– 1/10/12. This 14 week unique program includes a teeanger meeting group to learn effective friendship skills and a parent session to receive coaching strategies to assist their teens in making friends . Call 949-221-0126 for more information or apply online.
August 2011
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Fun Activities for the weekend
August 27: 10am: Sensory Friendly Film – Spy Kids 4 – All the Time in the World
AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the “Sensory Friendly Films” program. Click for locations…
August 27: 10am...
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Medscape: High-Functioning Autistic Teens Benefit...
Marlene Busko from London, UK reports that high-functioning teens with autism exhibited significant improvement in social functioning following the PEERS 14-week treatment intervention.
The program is based on overcoming core deficits in friendship skills in teens with autism which includes parent participation as social coaches. Parents and teens participate in separate, concurrent, 90-minute...
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USA Today: Class Helps Autistic Teens Refine...
Article link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-08-21-autism-socialize_N.htm (8/21/2009)
USA Today covers the story of a 13-year old girl named Andrea who was diagnosed with autism as a child. Andrea learns, through the UCLA PEERS Program how to make and keep friends. The article also covers the story of a thirteen year old boy with a more severe case of autism named Elias.
Source: USA...
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Get Ready for Back to School!
Read our latest newsletter Get Ready for Back to School!
to prep for the new school year! Topics include:
Preparing for the First Day of School
Back to School Parenting Tools
Other helpful idea!
Planning activities for the weekend?
Aug 20: Lakeshore Learning’s Free Saturday Workshops, 11am- 3pm
Flower for My Teacher - kids create a flower for their new teacher.
Aug 20-21: Free Train Rides at Fairview Park, 10am-3pm
Aug 20-21: Ho’olaule’a Tiki Beach Festival at Belmont Shore, Long Beach
Sunrise to Sunset – Enjoy traditional island festivities including tiki carving, kids’ zone, fire and dance show, and island food!
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10 Things You Can Do Instead of Punishment →
Every child tests their limits every day, in small ways and large. Some of those trials are positive, “Can I climb that tree” or “Can I fit those blocks into the basket, or stack them high?”. But all children also test their world and parents, teachers, friends, in ways that create conflict and get their caregivers attention!
1.Identify Needs. What is the underlying...
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Looking for Social Skills Group for Kids age 6-12?
Kimberly Orliczky, MA, BCBA, a certified social skills trainer, presents social skills group in fall 2011. Ms. Orliczky’s training and experience include ABA intervention, behavior management and assessment, social skills training, parent effective training, UCLA Children’s Friendship Training for elementary school children, and PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational...
Free Concert in the Park →
When: August 2nd, 5:30 pm Where: Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, CA
