KEYSTONE LOCK-IN

The 1st Annual Keystone Lock-In was held July 2011 and was a success! Children as well as adults had a wonderful time eating pizza, singing karaoke, styling hair, putting make-up on and polishing nails. They also enjoyed running and playing.

AUTSISM SPEAKS WALK

September 17th was the Autism Speaks Walk at UNF's Hodges Stadium. This walk was powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism spectrum. Those who participated helped to generate funds for autism research, as well as raise awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding. We had a great turn out of children, family, and staff from Keystone. A fun time was had by all!

ESDM TRAINING IN SEATTLE

Several of our clinicians and teachers attended training on the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) in Seattle, Washington from August 16-19. The ESDM was developed by Dr. Sally Rogers and Dr. Geraldine Dawson for people who work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ESDM is a developmental, behavioral and relationship-based intervention program that focuses on understanding patterns of growth and change. It is also used to prevent or minimize the disability associated with developmental differences through early detection, early intervention, and family support.

Those that participated include, Bethany Anderson, Dr. Katie Falwell, Lori-Ann Cochran, Nicole Theiler. In order to become ESDM certified, the participants must complete a multi-step process which they are in the midst of finalizing.

WHAT'S NEW

iPhone applications

It seems that every day there are more applications ("apps") created for the iPhone, iPodTouch, and iPad. Apps can range from games that test your memory, to games that test your ability to toss "angry birds" across the screen. We have found a couple of apps that can be beneficial for your child - not just filling time, but helping accomplish goals and assisting with communication.

Proloquo2Go

USA Today featured an article on May 27, 2009 by Greg Toppo that highlighted the app, Proloquo2Go and the benefit it brought to one family. The article is titled, "iPhone Applications Can Help the Autistic." In it Toppo introduces you to Leslie Clark, her husband, and their 7-year-old son, JW. JW has autism and had been unable to communicate with his parents, except for rudimentary sign language. That is until they were told about an app for the iPodTouch. Clark drove to her local Best Buy and picked up an iPodTouch, then downloaded the app. Total cost (at that time): about $500. A month later, JW wouldn't leave home without it. He is able to touch icons that voice basic comments or questions, such as, "I want Grandma's cookies" or "I'm angry - here's why." He uses his "talker" to communicate with everyone - including his service dog, Roscoe, who listens to voice commands through the tiny speakers. Co-developer Samuel Sennott, doctoral student at Penn State (at time of original publication), says that for a child with autism, the ability to whip out an iPhone and talk to friends brings "this very hard-to-quantify cool factor." JW's mom is not so much concerned with the cool factor, but with the fact that he is "actually communicating." She says, "it's nice to see what's going on in his head." Among the revelations: she now knows JW's favorite restaurant. "I get to spend at least every other day at the Chinese buffet." Proloquo2Go can be purchased at the iTunes store for $189.99.

iEarnedThat

Designed by a pediatrician and parent, iEarnedThat is a simple motivational tool you can install on your iPhone, iPad, or iPodTouch. An updated version of a star chart, iEarnedThat is a way to motivate your child to accomplish goals while working toward a reward. It is completely customizable. No goal is too big or too small. You and your child decide on the reward and how to earn it. For example, let's say your daughter wants to visit the zoo. With iEarnedThat, you can take a picture of the zoo and turn it into a puzzle. She has to clean her room in order to earn one puzzle piece. Once she earns all of the pieces (a number you decide on together), a full image of the zoo appears on the screen with music and applause. She has earned her trip to the zoo!

You can use this app to motivate your kids to do just about anything: reading, chores, being physically active, making healthy eating choices, and more. You can purchase iEarnedThat in the iTunes App Store for $1.99. You can enter as many children and goals as you want in the full version. A free version is also available, but only allows you to set one goal for one child. For more information, check out the iEarnedThat website

Autism Apps

You can also find many other apps at the App Store that are suitable for children, and parents of children, with autism. Go to the "Search" icon in the App store. Type in "autism apps" and you will find many tools to help in your daily life. Examples of these include, "Turn Taker", "ABA Flash Cards & Games", "ABA - Problem Solving", "FirstWords: Animals", and many more.

EVENTS

September 21st will be a very special day for several of our classes at The Keystone Academy. World-renowned artist, Mackenzie Thorpe will use his talents in a hands-on demonstration and drawing class. His goal is to inspire the children to their own greatness, while sharing personal stories of his struggle growing up with dyslexia. Later, he will participate in a meet-the-artist reception from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the River Place Tower Building, 1301 River Place Boulevard, Plaza Level (2nd floor). 10% of the proceeds from the sale of art during the show's debut will benefit The Keystone Academy.

September 24th from 9:00AM until 4:00PM is the 2nd Annual North Coast Surfers for Autism. Join this Florida non-profit for their popular and well run one-day surf clinic at Jacksonville Beach. Surfers are provided a safe environment where two to four highly skilled and trained surf instructors carefully guide them into waves. This event is FREE, and includes a catered lunch will be provided, at no cost. This is a very special day where children with ASD interact with typical peers and wow family members with their capabilities. Visit "Surfers for Autism" on Facebook for more information.

October 1st is the AMC movies "sensory friendly films" monthly movie showing. Sensory friendly films are a way for families affected by autism and other disabilities to enjoy films in a safe and accepting environment. During these special showings the lights in the theatre will stay on and the sound will be turned down. No previews will be shown and families are welcome to bring their own gluten free/ casein free snacks. Talking, singing, dancing and moving around are all allowed. September/October's movie will be Dolphin Tale and will be shown on October 1st at the Regency AMC movie theatre If you have any questions, feel free to contact the theatre at 1-888-AMC 4 FUN.

October 1st is Jacksonville's "Community Wellness Day". Dr. Jordan Cooper, the director of Cooper Chiropractic, has been selected as the host and coordinator of this event. It will be held at Chet's Creek Church from 12-3 p.m. Community Wellness Day is a national event focusing on educating the community on an array of information on health, safety, environmental and financial wellness. Local law enforcement will be on hand to provide important ID information for children, families and seniors. The local fire department will be providing fire prevention and safety information. There will also be information about car and bicycle safety, internet safety, identity fraud protection, financial literacy information, health screenings, drug/alcohol awareness information, senior services information, and much more. Admission to the event is FREE. There will also be food, fun & entertainment. The local HEAL Foundation is the beneficiary of this event. HEAL is dedicated to assisting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the greater Jacksonville area. For more information on how you can support and participate in Jacksonville's "COMMUNITY WELLNESS DAY", contact Dr. Jordan Cooper or his team at Cooper Chiropractic, at 904.619.8229 or email them at jcooperchiro@gmail.com.

FROM THE DESK OF MARLENA

KEYSTONE ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE

August 30th was our fall open house. The Academy was filled with staff eagerly waiting to meet the parents of our amazing students. Our new PTO Executive Board members held a brief meeting discussing the new and exciting events they are planning for this school year. This year's addition of two new classrooms made for a packed Academy that evening, but all who were present were enthusiastic about the growth Keystone has experienced over the last few years.

ACADEMY FIELD TRIPS

There were two amazing field trips on Thursday, September 8th. Our younger students visited a sanctuary with Koi ponds. The children were able to feed the fish, and enjoy the wildlife.

The older students visited Sally Corp. This amazing company provides custom designed and fabricated animatronics used in amusement parks, attractions, museums and retail clients worldwide.

INTERSESSION AT THE KEYSTONE ACADEMY

Week one of Intersession was a huge success! The kids had a great time with special guests and adventurous field trips, as well as many learning opportunities. On Monday the kids had a special visit from Barry the Magician. The kids made their own top hats to use during their own magic show. Ria Falkner, a local musician, came to share her talent and energy with the students on Tuesday. She sang and played an acoustic guitar. She also brought maracas, and other hand-held instruments, that the children were able to use and play during her performance. There were also two field trips scheduled for the end of the week. On Thursday we went to Pump It Up for a fun, energy-releasing time. Then on Friday we went to the Jacksonville Zoo, where the kids were able to learn about and see some pretty amazing animals.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - Andrew Scherbarth

The staff at Keystone work diligently to provide the most effective and up-to-date treatments available. What better way to recognize these efforts than to spotlight an individual's interests and activities. This month's employee spotlight will shine on...our newest Doctor to the Keystone team: Andrew Scherbarth.

How long have you been with Keystone?

I have enjoyed being here at Keystone since my start date in June 2011.

What is your title and what does that require of you?

My role at Keystone is as a Licensed Psychologist and Behavior Analyst. My job asks me to do many things that I love--working with kids, working with parents, figuring out how behaviors function, figuring out what's going on for a child, figuring out ways to help families grow and thrive, assessment, collaborating and coordinating with other professionals, etc.

What do you like about the job and what is the most challenging?

I like just about everything associated with my job--except paperwork. My favorite part is seeing kids progress so that they can reach their potential, whereas working through extinction bursts can be the most challenging. That said, I know we can't get to the good parts until we get through the challenging parts, so that makes the whole process worthwhile.

What is your favorite thing to do during your time off?

I like to be social, active, and to try new things. I know that's not just one thing. Then again, I'm not a one trick pony. I need variety.

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go?

Someplace with a friend or loved one. It's nice to be in a beautiful, fun, or relaxing place but if you can't have someone you care about with you, then it's not really worthwhile.

Who or what influenced you to go into this field?

I did a project with preschoolers as an undergrad & I've felt moved to make sure kids can live a life that gives them a fair chance to grow...even if they have some kind of disadvantage. What really cemented the deal was after working in Behavior Analysis. I started to see the power of science, various forms of behavioral interventions, and how things can really change around to give children a fair chance in life.

Who is your inspirational role model?

I've been inspired by a variety of historical figures, family, and mentors. Among them are BF Skinner, Baumrind, Barkley, Patterson, Bandura, my parents and grandparents, my mentors at the University of North Texas in Psychology and Behavior Analysis, my mentors on internship and at Kennedy-Krieger... My life has been touched and inspired by each of them in different ways. I try to let them each know how grateful I am with daily actions.

MEET OUR NEW EMPLOYEES

Pam Lively, Director of Keystone Academy Pam comes to The Keystone Academy from the public school system where she taught in self-contained classrooms for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as Intellectual Disabilities. She holds a teaching certificate in the State of Florida. She is certified in Kindergarten through 12th grade Exceptional Student Education, Elementary Education (K-6), and has the Autism Endorsement. Pam has a Master's degree in Special Education, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA.) She is the proud mom of two children, an 11 year old son who is on the autism spectrum and a 5 year old daughter. Prior to her career in education, Pam worked in the dental insurance industry as an office manager and then as a regional representative. She later ran her own daycare business in order to take care of the needs of her family when her son was first diagnosed. At that time, she was also the coordinator of a program that provided a place for children to be safely and peacefully transferred between divorcing or separated parents. Pam has been a member of the Clay County Special Olympics Management Team for the past 5 years. She has a great love for learning and loves to teach children; believing that every child can learn.
Stephanie Backof-Holmes, Ph.D., Psychology Resident Dr. Stephanie Holmes is a psychology resident at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Bucknell University and received her M.S. and Ph.D. in School Psychology from Oklahoma State University. While in Oklahoma, Dr. Holmes worked as a Response to Intervention (RtI) Specialist for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and assisted school districts in implementing a data-based decision-making model for meeting students' academic and behavioral needs. Dr. Holmes completed her pre-doctoral internship at Florida State University's Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center. Dr. Holmes' professional experience and interests include psychological assessment with special emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, and Learning Disabilities, consultation with school districts, parent training, and behavioral therapy. Dr. Holmes is currently providing a range of services for families, including psychological assessment, behavioral treatment, and school consultation.
Dionne Griffin, COTA Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Dionne recently graduated with the first COTA class at Florida State College at Jacksonville and now sits on the Program Advisory Committee for the college. She received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Community Health from the University of North Florida. Dionne completed her internship with the Duval County School system, where she worked with students with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and Developmental Delays.
Vivian Aranda-Michel, Psy.D., Psychology Resident Dr. Vivian Aranda-Michel received her Masters of Arts and Psy.D in Clinical Psychology (APA- accredited Program) from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. Additionally. Dr. Aranda-Michel holds a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN), Pediatric Practitioner Program (PNP) from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ohio. Dr. Aranda-Michel completed her pre-doctoral APA accredited internship at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. In this setting her training involved neuropsychological evaluations, consultation and behavioral and cognitive treatment for pediatric in-patient populations and behavioral and cognitive treatment for child and adolescent outpatient populations. Dr. Aranda-Michel currently provides a range of services to families and children, including behavioral assessment and treatment, individual, family and group therapy, parent and teacher training, psychoeducational evaluations, and school consultation.

GROUP THERAPY

What is Group Therapy?

Group therapy may look different depending on a variety of factors, including the ages and developmental levels of the attendees, the presenting issues of clients, and purported purpose of the therapy program as developed by the therapist. In the most basic terms, group therapy is exactly as it sounds-a counselor working with several individuals on a therapeutic level. Many benefits arise as part of the group process, as groups allow for clients to identify with others who are similar to themselves, learn from others, help others, model and imitate appropriate behaviors, and to practice skills (e.g., social skills) in a natural environment.

What types of group therapy programs are offered at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics?

Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics offers an array of group therapy programs at this time. Currently, the following group therapies are available:

• Sibshop: 1st Monday of every month from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Sibshop is an opportunity for brothers and sisters of children with special needs to obtain peer support in a fun, relaxed and educational setting. Sibshop provides opportunities for brothers and sisters to discuss their joys and concerns and to learn that they are not alone in their experiences. Sibshop is open to any brother or sister of a child with special needs. The group is open and can be attended as often as you would like.
• Youngsters: Every Monday from 5:00-6:00: This group is for children between the approximate ages of 3 and 6 years old who exhibit developmental delays, Autism Spectrum symptoms, or related concerns. The Youngsters is a skill-based group which focuses on the social skills needed to exhibit appropriate play skills and peer interaction, use discrimination skills in a group setting, acknowledge and greet others, maintain appropriate distance from others, follow receptive instructions, exhibit turn taking and appropriate waiting, and answering and asking basic social questions with proper nonverbal communication. These skills are taught in a group setting using group instruction, games, activities, and play.   Each session builds off the previous session.
• In-Betweeners: Every Monday from 5:00 -6:00 pm: This group is for children between the approximate ages of 6 and 9 years old who exhibit developmental delays, Autism Spectrum symptoms, or related concerns. The focus of The In-Betweeners is on developing social skills which include, making friends, conversations, reading non-verbal clues, the difference between friends and acquaintances, mean teasing verses friendly teasing, topics encompassing bullying, and humor/jokes. During sessions, children are exposed to different topics or themes through an interactive process. Children are also taught new skills through games and activities that are socially facilitated. During sessions, children also learn coping/self regulation skills to assist in handling difficult social interactions. Typically, themes last six weeks and each session builds off the previous session.
• Super Stars: Every Thursday from 5:00-6:00:  This group is for elementary-aged children, geared mostly for children between the approximate ages of 7 and 9 who exhibit symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), or other related concerns. Super Stars focuses on the development of social skills, including making friends, engaging in conversation, play skills, etc. This group also focuses on emotion regulation and coping skills. During group therapy, children will participate in discussion about recent behavioral struggles and successes (as reported through ‘Hassle Logs’ and ‘Star Sheets’ brought from home) and will engage in problem-solving to help each other develop more appropriate strategies to handle difficult situations. Children will also be taught new skills through didactic lessons, role playing, and practice during sessions.
• Girls Group: Every Thursday night from 5:00-6:00: This group is for girls between the approximate ages of 6 to 9 years old. Girls Group is a skill-based group which provides treatment for girls who are experiencing difficulty with peer relations. Group members focus on improvement in the following skills: appropriate peer interactions, anxiety reduction in a group format, exhibiting appropriate boundaries, appropriate problem solving skills, and anger and stress management.
• Swift: Every Friday from 4:30-5:30 pm:  This group is for middle- to upper-adolescent males. Swift focuses on the development of social skills such as emotional recognition and empathy, nonverbal communication, initiating and sustaining conversations, initiating and sustaining activities with peers, problem solving, and self-awareness as it relates to interacting with others.  During each session, there are three general parts. First, participants discuss recent social or relational struggles and successes, and engage in problem-solving to develop appropriate strategies to handle difficult situations. Next, a lesson with a theme is introduced, explained, and then practiced in role plays or in vivo activities (off-site trips are occasionally a part of this process). Finally, participants discuss the application of the skills to generalize lessons to their daily lives.  Due to the age range of this group, traditional group therapy processes (e.g., catharsis, development of group cohesion, etc.) are often incorporated as well.

What if I want my child in group therapy, but none of the current groups match my needs?

The currently offered group programs have developed in response to client need and interest. If you feel that your child might benefit from participation in a group therapy program but don't see a group that matches his or her needs and characteristics, please obtain a 'Group Therapy Interest Survey' from the receptionist or from our website (www.keystonebehavioral.com) and return it completed to the clinic. As we collect completed interest forms, we will begin to develop natural groupings based on the needs and characteristics of interested parties, and will contact you as soon as an appropriate group becomes available.

What else do I need to know about group therapy at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics?

• All groups meet for an hour a week.
• Requirements for group attendance are variable by group. While some groups have open attendance (e.g., clients can come to as few or many sessions as they would like, as often as they like without the need to inform the clinic of intent, and clients may join or leave the group at different points of the group process), other groups have more stringent recommended attendance guidelines (e.g., the group program begins and ends at specific times of the year with a definite number of sessions predetermined for that period of time).
• Depending on the type of program, groups may have anywhere between three and ten clients in attendance at a time.
• All groups are led and co-led by the highly-qualified staff at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics, which includes psychologists, post-doctoral psychology residents, BCBAs, BCaBAs, and behavior therapists.

How do I get my child started in a group therapy program?

Please obtain a 'Group Therapy Interest Survey' from the receptionist or from our website (www.keystonebehavioral.com) and return it completed to the clinic. You may also speak with your child's current therapist at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics or email the clinic at Info@KeystoneBehavioral.com for more information.

KEYSTONE BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS STAFF