Embrace Autism Now

Please join me today as I welcome author Carolyn Betts! Carolyn is the mother of a 40 year old son who is autistic. She has utilized the gifts that were brought into her life as the result of being a parent to a person who showed her the beauty and scope of not being like everyone else. Her book, A Special Kind of Normal, recounts her journey over the last 25 years and offers advise on coping, advocacy and inspiration. Carolyn also gives inspirational and life transitioning conferences. Please call in with any questions or comments at 646-716-9663. You can visit her website here http://carolynbetts.com/

Please join me today and find out how a 19 year old autistic young man named Gomey Ben-Elkana was forcibly taken from his home and family and put into a psychiatric hospital where he has had all of his rights stripped away. Yael will be on the show to tell the story and ask for your support in finding a way to bring him back home. If you don't think this could happen to you...think again...this is happening all over the world every day. We will be providing contact information for the agencies and people involved in this case for anyone who wants to let them know that this type of violation against human rights will not be tolerated. I encourage you to call in with any questions or comments at 646-716-9663. A young man's life and freedoms hang in the balance...we need a public outcry in order to help him...please show your support!

Please join me today as we hear the story of 11 year old Zakhqurey Price. He is facing felony charges in Fort Smith, Arkansas from two staff members at Beard Elementary who were allegedly injured while trying to restrain him during a meltdown. Zakh is autistic and has been through some very traumatic experiences over the past 3 years, including the passing away of his little sister. His grandmother, Carole Reynolds, will be here to tell us his story and how she and his family are fighting to keep him from being institutionalized as well as fighting the charges from the school district. If you are in any way able to offer advice or help for this family, please call in or let us know via the chatroom. They need legal assistance and advocacy for Zakh right away! His iep meeting is on Jan. 11th and his court date is Jan. 12th.

New York Times best-selling author and aspergian extrodinaire, John Elder Robison, will be on the show today! Mr. Robison captured our attention with "Look Me In The Eye" and now has a new book coming out. We'll discuss his latest work and also his contributions to the autism community through his speaking engagements and board assignments. Please call in with any questions or comments at 646-716-9664

Join me in welcoming Jenelle Maluenda, the outreach coordinator for a wonderful program called KEEN L.A. KEEN is a national, nonprofit volunteer-led organization that provides one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities at no cost to their families and caregivers. The facility is in danger of closing and really needs your support, so please donate if you can and please tell others of this great program that could really use some help. We will also be having parents of clients who use the KEEN center call in to tell us about their experience there and what their family has gained by having KEEN available to them. Please call in with any questions at 646-716-9663. For more information about KEEN L.A. please go to http://www.keenlosangeles.org

Author and mother, Patty Corrigan Myers, joins us today to talk about her book "Autism Is A Blessing" and how her family's view of autism has helped her son Charlie. Please call in with any questions or comments at 646-716-9663

Mother and daughter, Eileen and Kim Miller, will be on the show today sharing the story of their journey to communicate with eachother through Kim's art work. Kim's determination to be heard in some way brought forth an amazing talent, but more importantly, a way for her family to be included in her thoughts and feelings. Eileen and Kim have put together a book chronicling their special life together with Kim of course providing the illustrations. Please call in with any questions as we will also be talking about specific issues Eileen and Kim had to deal with in regards to schools and iep's. You can learn more about the book and view videos by going to their website at www.thegirlwhospokewithpictures.com

The very enthusiastic (and easy on the eyes :D ) founder of AutismFitness.com, Eric Chessen, will be on the show today explaining how his exercise program started and how to get your family working towards better health, coordination and self-confidence! This program is specifically designed to help common problem areas for children on the spectrum. For more information, go to www.AutismFitness.com. Call in with any questions at 646-716-9663

4 very socially responsible young men will be on the show today. Zak Kukoff, Zach Flyer, Tyler Feldman and Max Sauberman from Autism Ambassadors will be talking with me about how they are working hard to make school a much more socially accepting place for autistic children & teens. Find out how this ambitious group of guys started out and how they can help schools in your area. Call in with any questions at 646-716-9663. Learn more about them at www.autismambassadors.org

Back to school! Kim McVean, O.T.R./L, aka The Sensory Nanny, will be on the show today giving helpful tips and advise for making classroom time easier on kids and teachers alike! Learn about tools you can send your children to school with and how to get teachers to go along with simple changes. If you or your child/children have sensory needs and are heading back to school, you won't want to miss this show! Call in with any specific questions you might have at 646-716-9663. For more information, go to www.sensorynanny.com