Disappointed and frustrated

It's a crying shame when the people  you elect to office won't stand up for your rights. Our local representative Jill Vogel is standing idly by as the state shuts down a much needed resource. The CDC (Child Development Center) has been serving the Winchester area for 50 years.  Shouldn't that mean something?

Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have said they only address federal issues.

No help there, either.

I've spoken with Beverly Sherwoods assistant, and that's about it. It seems we are left to our own devices. We need to come together as a community and make our voices heard!

I'm thinking Rally.

Who's with me?

The closing Child Development Center and helpful info.

With the impending closure of Winchesters Child Development Center, families in our area have been mortified at the prospect of having to travel a ridiculous distance to get an evaluation for their children.

Theres hope for us yet!

Contact Logisticare <--- click it
or call them at 866-386-8331

Logisticare will either transport you to and from an appointment or reimburse you for gas expenses based on mileage (the shortest route per Bing Maps). This is done through Medicaid. In our instance, my child has the EDCD Waiver and has Medicaid thru the waiver.

I'm happy to help point you in the right direction. Just post here, on www.nsvar.org or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/nsvar

All I ask for in return is a smile...

Aspergers is a gift

The picture you see in this post is a brain scan of Temple Grandin nerve cluster as compared to a neurotypical brain. Notice how Temples scan shows much more brain accessed.

Amazing, isn't it?

It almost seems like the next step in evolution. I have always maintained that my son may have a difficult childhood... But he will have an easy adult life! He's already wildly intelligent.

We should all be so lucky

Its a labor of love...

I have spent most of the morning building and modifying www.nsvar.org , connecting this blog with NSVARs website, Google+, Facebook and Twitter pages, editing the NSVAR Calendar and adding events... the list goes on and on!

I'm trying to figure out how to automatically add Facebook page events to a Google Calendar. Anyone out there have any idea?

Check us out everywhere...

www.facebook.com/nsvar
www.twitter.com/nsvar
www.nsvar.org

Are you a business or resource provider for families with #autism? Contact me. I'd love to help promote your services in the interest of helping families!

Environmental Modification?

My son is on the waiting list for the DD Waiver. One of the services of the waiver is Environmental Modification. The problem is this: 1) I live directly across the street from a freight train line. 2) the waiver wait list is 5 to 7 years. 3) fences are expensive!

Needless to say, I'm petrified. Every time a door opens in my home, my ears perk up like a vigilant guard dog. My doors have chains mounted near the top... signs saying STOP! ASK FIRST and a dead bolt even I have trouble with.

My son has Aspergers and his IQ is 137. He can figure it out.

I know a fence wouldn't solve the issue... but a few more seconds to allow me to get to him / allow the train to pass would make me feel a whole lot better.

Any thoughts?

NSVAR is growing!

www.NSVAR.org has been updated to include links to a licensing search for Virginia service providers, NSVAR in the News page, updated provider links and more! The site even has a mobile phone/tablet format!  The calendar has been updated to include the Saturday in the Park, duck pin bowling and Ladies Night events.

If you want to be on our email list, contact us through the webpage, Facebook, G+ or Twitter!

WHAG NEWS spot from Thursday evening

Child Development Clinic to Close in May

I'm going to scream until someone hears me...

I was on WHAG NEWS Thursday. I talked about how difficult it would be for families to travel so far for the services the Child Development Center in Winchester provided. One voice isn't enough. We all need to be heard... Together. Loudly.

Calling Bob Hicks! Save the CDC in Winchester!

Bob Hicks is state level director of health dept, his is the final decision on closure. We need to contact this man on an hourly basis and let him know how important the Child Development Center is to us!

SAVE THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN WINCHESTER!!!

More people to contact... call everyone, have everyone you know call... call often!

Delegate Beverly Sherwood
3223 Valley Pike
Winchester, VA 22602

(540) 667-8947

Congressman Frank Wolf
110 N. Cameron St.
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 667-0990 or
(800) 850-3463 in state

Senator Tim Kaine
B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4024

Senator Mark Warner
475 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2023
Fax: 202-224-6295

SAVE THE WINCHESTER CDC!!!!!!!

Posted by Essential Pieces on Facebook:

I was devastated to hear yesterday that, effective July 1, the Child Development Clinic in Winchester, a long-time friend of Essential Pieces and MANY of our families, will no longer be seeing clients, and that they will be closing their doors later this summer because the Department of Health will no longer fund their program. If you also feel saddened by this news, and would like to do something to help advocate for our friends at the CDC, please contact Jill Vogel. As it currently stands, any child in our area who needs an evaluation will now have to go to the Harrisonburg/JMU clinic (imagine your child on his or her worst day, having to drive well over an hour one way, and then having to sit through an evaluation!!). Additionally, don't forget that the CDC also facilitates the DD Waiver application process for our kids! WE NEED THE CDC IN OUR COMMUNITY! Please, if ever the time to advocate, now is the time. This is a PRECIOUS community service provider for the Northern Shenandoah Valley, and I cannot fathom not having them in our neighborhood.
Please spread the word.....and contact Jill Vogel!!!!!
Tell her what the CDC means to you!

Jill Vogel can be contacted several ways:

Email:  district27@senate.virginia.gov

 Winchester Office
117 E. Piccadilly Street, Suite 100B
Winchester, VA 22601
540-662-4551

Warrenton Office
45 North Hill Drive, Suite 100
Warrenton, VA 20186 

Richmond Office
Senate of Virginia
General Assembly Building, Room 309
Richmond, VA 23218
804-698-7527

It ain't over yet!

Don't forget! Autism Awareness Month is still in full swing! I'm sure that, for most of you, it's all year long... it is for my family!

Attendants, anyone?

I'm hoping to find available attendants and post them on the site. I know from personal experience, a good attendant is hard to find! Have someone you recommend? Please let me know!

Thanks for coming to NSVAR.ORG!!! NSVAR is a free resource for families with autistic children and adults in the Shenandoah Valley. Our goal is to provide resources and support for newly diagnosed families. Please feel free to use the CONTACT US form on the site if you are a service provider and would like to be added to NSVAR. If you have had a good experience with a service provider, please let us know!