Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 3/27/2006

Question
Excuse me miss,
What a rude email. You are a professional?  A professional would not have answered my question in that sort of manner.  I thought you were an online resource person who could field questions regarding Autism.  For your information, you are one of about 30 resources I have contacted to receive this information.  Certainly, I would not only use you as a resource.  Furthermore, perhaps you should look into this because I am told that it is mandated by the state that every Autistic child have a Program Book.  I am trying to further my education and help children by providing them with what is needed.  As far as you, I hope you speak to your families that you work with in a more decent manner that what you just emailed me.  If not, you are doing them a huge injustice.  Forget my question, I will look elsewhere.
Melissa
P.S. I have contacted another person that is afiliated with your website and ironically, they have provided me with critial and important information.  
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Followup To
Question -
Hello,
I am an MSW intern at Juniata River Center in Huntingdon, PA.  Our affiliate is Northwestern Human Services.  I work in the Therapeutic Foster Care Program and I would like to develop a program book for our Autistic kids, as per the state guidelines.  Are you able to send me the section requirements for the book so I can put a template together?  I am generally familiar with the style of intervention.  Thank you for your time.
Melissa Leskowsky
Answer -
Hi Melissa,

Forgive me, but don't you think that you should research this more thoroughly? For one thing, I have never done anything like this, and for another, I would hope you want more resources than one.

I am here to support parents in the day to day struggle to care for their children, not to do someone else's job for them.

Do your own homework.  Your clients will benefit and so will you.

Best wishes,
Catherine

Answer
I apologize if my reply felt rude to you.

No, I am a parent, not a professional.  

The term "program book" may be particular to how your state handles the IEP process.  I have never heard of one so I really don't know what you need.

If you mean resources as in web sites, then what I would give you would be no more than what I can search up on the Internet. Here's the list I give to parents:

http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/resources.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/asperger.htm

http://www.autism.org/temple/meds.html

http://www.autism.org/

http://www.autismasperger.net/intro.htm

http://www.mentalhealth.com/

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/95/23/13982#B14  About movement in infancy.

I do wish you well.
Catherine