Scott Smith, PA Answers Parents' Questions

On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, attendees at NAA-NY Metro's monthly educational meeting were given a unique opportunity to get answers to specific questions about their own children. Scott Smith, PA, of Full Potential Wellness Center (Edison, NJ), spent over two hours going around the room, answering questions posed to him by the dozens of parents in attendance. Not only were parents given the chance to ask a question about their own child, we also had the opportunity to hear answers about other children that might have relevance to our children. Scott's ability to comprehensively answer questions on a variety of topics - everything from GFCF diet, to mitochondrial issues, to PANDAS - was impressive. He provided strong scientific support for each answer in a way that parents could easily understand and asked followup questions that allowed even more relevant information to each parent.

After several years in practice with Drs. Bradstreet and Rossignol in Florida treating children on the autism spectrum, Scott Smith recently moved north to Edison, NJ and the Full Potential Wellness Center, where he is affiliated with Dr. James Neubrander.

(pictured: NAA-NY Metro President Kim Mack Rosenberg, Scott Smith, PA and Peggy Becker, NAA-NY Metro Vice President/Treasurer)

Our Second Annual Bowlathon on March 21st Was A Success!!

What a great time everyone had at the Bowlathon on March 21st! It is so great to be able to bring your ASD child to an event where you don't have to worry about anything - we all fit right in - what a warm, accepting, supportive and wonderful bunch of people - all there raising money for a great cause. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! We raised, after expenses, $51,000 and we are thankful and honored to have received donations from so many! That is enough to keep our Summer Program going and to continue and expand our Helping Hand grants, as well as help support all our other activities. A huge shout out to our sponsors: Platinum Plus Level: Transperfect, Watch Me Grow - A Children's Sensory Gym & Speech-Language Center; Platinum Level:
Lindamood Bell; Gold Level: Elmy's Special Services, Michael S Licitra, CPA CFP, P.C., S.N.A.C.K., Special Needs Family Planning at AXA; Silver Level: Devlin McNiff Real Estate, Glow Gluten Free Cookie, Hopewell Pharmacy, Houston Enzymes, Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy, Special Playdate, Udi's, Zico Pure Coconut Water.

Westchester Parent Roundtable on "Wows and Not So Wows on the ASD Journey"

On Monday evening March 21, 2010 approximately 20 parents came together at the Washington Engine Fire Company. The topic for the evening was “Wows and Not so Wows on the ASD Journey”. Parents were greeted by the two NAA NY Metro Westchester sub-chapter’s leaders, Lisa Rudley and Tricia Zarro. Lisa and Tricia asked parents to add topics and questions on the “Topic Board.” Various topics discussed included: detoxification protocols, supplementation, sibling relationships, lyme disease testing and treatment, diet options, neurofeedback, homeopathy, vision therapy, listening therapies and social skill classes. The evening was facilitated in such a way that a parent asked a question or brought up a treatment option. Discussion then proceeded by each attendee sharing their experiences and information about that topic.

Parents shared information and made contacts that will provide them guidance as they travel along their individual ASD treatment journey. The sentiment of the evening could be summed up by one of the facilitators:

“We are each traveling this journey without a road map or GPS. The only way that we can navigate our way through, is to look to each other to share experiences, offer help and give the support that is needed so that our children can reach their full potential.”

Monthly Support Group Meeting

Moderator: Lauren Tobing-Puente
Location: Watch Me Grow 361 East 19th Street (between First and Second Avenues)

Lauren Tobing-Puente, Ph.D has generously volunteered her time to moderate our support group. She is a licensed psychologist and has extensive experience working with children with ASD and their families. Dr. Tobing-Puente is currently the Clinical Coordinator at the Rebecca School and also maintains a private practice in NYC where she provides Floortime, play therapy, consultation, services, and evaluations. Since space is limited for the support group sessions, Please RSVP to: NAAvigators@naanyc.org You will receive a confirmation email. We send out a monthly reminder. Please remember to RSVP each month. Meetings generally take place on the first Thursday of each month, from 7:15pm to 8:45 pm at Watch Me Grow. While we make every effort to adhere to this schedule, please understand that there may be times when the moderator needs to reschedule a meeting. If this occurs, we will post any changes to our website and notify directly (by email) those who have already sent us an RSVP for that meeting. If you would like more information, please visit our website at: www.naanyc.org For information on Dr. Tobing-Puente's services, please visit her website

The MERIT Approach: Integrating ABA with Developmental Models for Treatment of Children on the Autistic Spectrum

Speaker: Jenifer Clark
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Time:6:00 pm: Social Hour/Networking
6:30 pm: Lecture Location: Rebecca School, 40 East 30 Street, 5th Floor
event directions

Jenifer Clark received her master's in psychology from NYU and is completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at CUNY. She has worked as an ABA consultant and therapist since 1992. She specializes in working with children with autism and has taught atypical development at Hunter College. Currently she is the director of Boost!, an afterschool program for children with autism focussing on socialization and leisure skills for children on the spectrum, incorporating typically developing children as peers and social models. Ms. Clark is also the co-founder and therapist for SibFun, a support group for siblings of children with special needs. She consults at special needs and typical schools, and continues to consult with children and families.

Ms. Clark's presentation will focus on her hybrid approach to treatment entitled MERIT, which utilizes traditional ABA therapy and incorporates other more developmentally based approaches to address emotional and mental development. Refreshments will be served.

There is no fee for the event.
If you have any topics you would like to see at future educational events or feedback on any previous events, please email your comments to mraisbecknaa@gmail.com

LENS Neurofeedback and ILS (Integrated Listening System)

Speaker: Kelly Montross
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: 39 West 14th Street Suite 307/308, New York

Come learn about Low Energy Neurofeedback. It has many of the same positive benefits of standard neurofeedback without some of the negatives. The main goal of both forms of neurofeedback is to build new neurons or pathways in the brain which is what is referred to as neuroplasticity. LENS neurofeedback uses radio waves at a much smaller frequency than the traditional form. This can alleviate a whole range of unwanted symptoms such as headaches, tics, sleep disturbances, anxiety and behavioral problems. Many parents with children on the spectrum have reported very positive results.

LENS neurofeedback does not require the patient to do anything, so children are able to sit passively and even watch a video during their session. This is especially good for children with attention disorder issues. Another plus is that LENS only needs to be done once a week as opposed to traditional neurofeedback that usually requires several sessions per week for longer durations.

Kelly will also talk about using Integrated Listening System alongside LENS, which she feels compliment each other. ILS sound and movement programs may improve learning, attention and processing abilities.

So whether you are a newcomer to neurofeedback or have tried the standard form and would like to find out more about LENS and ILS ....then Kelly's event is for you.

For more information, including directions to our events, please visit our website at www.naanyc.org

Neurofeedback Approach to Train the Brain Non-Invasively in ASD and other Disabilities

Speakers: Drs. Mary Jo Sabo and Mala Datta
Monday, April 11, 2011
Time: 7:00 - 9:30 pm
Location: Washington Engine Fire Company, Across from Bldg. #150, 130 White Plains Rd / Rte 119, Tarrytown, NY 10591

Dr. Mary Jo Sabo and Dr. Mala Datta will discuss the history of neurofeedback and assisting children and adults with autism, ADD, ADHD, LD, SPD and other challenges. They will provide ways in which neurofeedback improves on focus, language and mood. Drs. Sabo and Datta will also discuss the uses of neurofeedback with seizures.

Dr. Mary Jo Sabo of Biofeedback Consultants Inc. is a Neurotherapist, Educator, Lecturer with a strong emphasis in the Wellness Health Care field. Dr. Mary Jo Sabo has been in the field of biofeedback/neurofeedback for over 20 years. She was instrumental in bringing Neurofeedback into the public schools of Yonkers, New York and has consulted with many private schools in assisting them to utilize neurofeedback for students. Dr. Sabo has been instrumental in teaching other professionals how to successfully integrate neurofeedback into their private practices. Her work has appeared in the media, both on television (CNN, Good Morning America, Westchester and Manhattan Cable) and in newspapers, magazines and books. She teaches Neurofeedback for an Internationally accredited program (BCIA) and has lectured extensively on Applied Psychophysiology. Dr. Sabo has a private practice in Rockland County, Suffern, NY and is well known in the field of Biofeedback/Neurofeedback. She works with all age groups and most diagnoses.

Biofeedback Consultants Inc. (www.therippleeffect.org) has on staff Dr. Mala Datta, a psychologist and certified Neurotherapist who specializes in Psychological and Educational testing and individual and family counseling. Dr. Datta teaches college courses at Dominican College in Orangeburgh, New York. She also teaches for the internationally accredited Neurofeedback program (BCIA). She will be presenting information on Neurofeedback with Dr. Sabo at this lecture.

For more information about the Westchester meetings including directions, please visit our website or contact Tricia Zarro (914) 261-2509 or Lisa Rudley (917) 414-9190