Author: MontereyBayForum

Aptos psychologist: Easter Seals offers P.L.A.Y. autism therapy in Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

written by Dr. Cameron Jackson, Ph.D.. L.D. Licensed Psychologist 831 688-6002

Children with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS) have major social and communication difficulties.

Families need to be given the TOOLS how to have fun and be spontaneous with their children as they teach them. It is very hard on families to be social and engaging with ASDD children who seem to be in their own world, who seem to ignore their parents, who seem unaware of brothers and sisters.

The P.L.A.Y. project’s goal is to teach parents to PLAY in a fun way in developmentally appropriate ways. Not only the child – the whole family can benefit. Currently available in Monterey County, P.L.A.Y. is also available to Santa Cruz County parents. P.L.A.Y. is a vendor of San Andreas Regional Center which covers the four counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara. Pl.L.A.Y. is a regional center vendor for under 3 children. It is appropriate for children before attending school.

The following information comes from the Easter Seals site. There is a link to the site at the bottom.

“Easter Seals P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) program started in 2006. The mission of the project is to help young children (up to age 6) with autism spectrum disorders and their families obtain interventions that consist of 2-3 hours of intensive, individualized therapy per day, and are integrated with other therapies saving the parents time and money.

“The P.L.A.Y. Project is unique in that it provides training for the parents of children with autism so they can implement therapy at home. Easter Seals has home consultants, including specially trained occupational therapists and speech pathologists, to implement the P.L.A.Y. Project, enabling them to teach parents how to initiate therapy in the home setting. A child with autism needs 20-30 hours per week of therapy to learn and grow as quickly as possible. This project is highly cost effective for families and enables the child to receive a continuum of service throughout their day.

“The P.L.A.Y. Project was founded by Dr. Rick Solomon, who has diagnosed and treated children with autism for over 15 years. Dr. Solomon’s initial study of 70 children with autism demonstrated that 65% of the children in the P.L.A.Y. Project made good to excellent progress. Solomon’s study has been given tremendous credibility with its recent acceptance for publication in the Journal of Autism and receipt of a National Institute of Health grant.

Goals of the P.L.A.Y. Project include:

Improving parent/child relationships.
Improving behavior of the child reducing stress within the home.
Including siblings in coaching and training.
Creating strong families including improved spousal relationships
Improving child development so children are ready for school.
Improving systems for families so services are integrated, accessible, culturally-appropriate and of high quality.The P.L.A.Y. Project is partially funded by First 5 Monterey County, First 5 Fresno County and the Fansler Foundation.

“If you or someone you know would like information regarding the P.L.A.Y. Project, please contact Drea Martinez at 559-267-3952 in Fresno and Mark Wenzler at 831-684-2166 in Monterey.

“For more information about the P.L.A.Y. Project, you can also visit www.playproject.org.

Above comes from Easter Seals

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Aptos psychologist: In memory of those who died to keep our country safe…”In Flanders fieds the poppies blow..Between the crosses, row on row… www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

In Flanders field poppies blow
In Flanders field poppies blow
The Memorial Day Poppy

“In Flanders Field the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders Field.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies blow
In Flanders Field.

John McCrae, 1915.

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Aptos restautant Cafe Rio: 7th Wave playing at 8. What is the FISH special???? www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

The 7th Wave is playing at the Cafe Rio in Aptos. Aptos has few live music bands on the weekend so that is GREAT to hear. But what is the FISH special of the day? Ah, well, guess I will go and see since last time the food (mussels) were excellent. I hear they have some new Big Bite appetizers to try.

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Aptos cook: biscotti recipe secret? fresh, organic eggs, quality unsalted butter and mexican aniseed www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

Try this for biscotti: 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, 3/4 C organic flour, 1 1/2 C sugar, 1 TBSP organic baking powder!, 1/3 tsp salt, 3 large organic eggs, 1 C organic almonds, 1 TBSP real vanila.

Preparation: Position rack in middle of oven. Heat to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sift flour, baking powder and salto into one bowl. Mix sugar, melted butter separately and stir until well blended. Mix in almonds (toasted and chopped). Divide dough into two. Uising floured hands, shape into two loats, about 13 inches long by 2 1/2 wide.

Transfer onto baking sheet. Buush with egg white that is beaten until foamy. Bake about 30 minutes. Cool on sheet placed on a rack about 25 minutes. Maintain oven temperature. Using a serrated knife, cut logs on diagonal into 1/2 inch wide slices. Arrange on same baking sheet.

Put back into oven at 350 for second bake: Bake 12 minutes. Turn over. Bake until just beginning to color – about 8 more minutes. Transfer to rack to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Tell us how it worked for you!

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pre-birth decision: cord blood banking for your newborn? www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

Cons to cord blood banking (saving the umbilical cord of new borns)
“Although money shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to saving a child’s life, one of the biggest arguments against private cord blood banking is that it is just too expensive for many families. In addition to a large initial processing and banking fee, you then have to pay an annual storage fee. First-year fees can range from $595 to $1,835, depending on which private bank you choose. Annual storage fees are usually about $95.

That American Academy of Pediatrics sums up most of the cons against private cord banking nicely in their subject review of cord blood banking, in which they state that ‘Families may be vulnerable to emotional marketing at the time of birth of a child and may look to their physicians for advice. No accurate estimates exist of the likelihood of children to need their own stored cells. The range of available estimates is from 1:1000 to 1:200,000. Empirical evidence that children will need their own cord blood for future use is lacking. There also is no evidence of the safety or effectiveness of autologous cord blood transplantation for the treatment of malignant neoplasms. For these reasons, it is difficult to recommend that parents store their children’s cord blood for future use.’
Also keep in mind that the AAP again, in a 2007 policy statement on cord blood banking titled Cord Blood Banking for Potential Future Transplantation, stated that ‘private storage of cord blood as “biological insurance” should be discouraged.’

“Also, if your child does get one of the conditions that an umbilical cord transplant is supposed to cure or treat, if you don’t store your child’s cord blood, that doesn’t mean that no treatments will be available to him. In addition to more traditional treatments and bone marrow transplants, you may be able to find a cord blood match in a public cord blood bank, from which most cord blood transplants are currently being done.

Where it Stands
In addition to non-profit cord blood banks and for-profit cord blood banks, like Viacord and Cord Blood Registry, parents are increasingly having more options for [link u rl=http://pediatrics.about.com/od/birthandpregnancy/ht/109_cord_dntn.htm]donating their baby’s cord blood[/link] or if they later need a cord blood transplant. The Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005 will work to create a ‘National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Network to prepare, store, and distribute human umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of patients and to support peer-reviewed research using such cells.’ The Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005 has been introduced in both the House and Senate, although it has not yet passed. Still, money has already been set aside to fund an Institute of Medicine report on how best to implement the national network, so hopefully it will be set up quickly one the legislation passes.
Public or free cord blood banks are already available as part of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Network in 12 major cities if you are interested in donating your baby’s umbilical cord blood so that it is available to any child that needs a transplant. The AAP strongly encourages parents to donate their baby’s cord blood to a public cord blood bank.

And of course, if you think the cost is acceptable and you would feel comforted or reassured if your baby’s umbilical cord blood is available if needed, then you can always choose to go with a private cord blood bank.

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Aptos psychologist: free screeenings for SOCIAL & COMMUNICATION delays in children 6-36 months old, go www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

Free screenings for possible SOCIAL & COMMUNICATION delays in children ages 6 – 36 months. By appointment with licensed clinical psychologist on Fridays and Saturdays, 1-4 pm. Office located in Santa Cruz. Call 831 688-6002 and leave name and telephone number. Or write P.O. Box 1972, Aptos, CA 95001-1972. For information about autistic spectrum disorders and other childhood dificulties visit and discuss your questions on Monterey Bay Forum, www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

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Aptos Cafe Rio music: Beach Cowboys play 70’s rock and roll 8 pm Fri. 5-22 for more www.freedomOK.net/wordpress

On Friday the Beach Cowboys play at 8 pm at the Cafe Rio in Aptos. On Friday something called the Seventh Wave plays. Will the music be low enough so I can talk to someone next to me?! That is my standard. I want to talk to whoever I went out with and not be overpowered by electronic gizmos. Of the two choices, I’m going to try the Beach Cowboys. And the fresh fish special.

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