Grandparent Autism Network

a vital resource for autism...and each other!

Donate Today

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Orange County Grandparents and their families are invited to be our guests at Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Northwood High School in Irvine CA

We welcome pre-registered parents, their children with autism and their siblings to attend Northwood High School’s upcoming production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2:00 pm.

FAN has reserved seats in the mezzanine section for our guests.

Please arrive at 1:30 pm to check in at our table in front of the theater and to be seated. The performance starts at 2:00 pm and ends at approximately 5:30 pm. There will be a 15 minute intermission when you are welcome to pick up free refreshments at our table.

The modern, comfortable theatre is conveniently located directly in front of the parking lot. Northwood’s productions feature very talented casts, colorful costumes and an outstanding orchestra. Previous productions have been professional in every aspect. After the show, the actors come to greet our guests and will take photos with them if they are asked.

We look forward to sharing another great afternoon with you!

Northwood High School is located at:
4515 Portola Parkway
Irvine, CA 92620

Click HERE for directions.

Register

A Guide to Moving with Children Who Have Autism

Moving becomes a part of our lives at many different stages: When we move away from our parents, relocate for a job opportunity, or find somewhere new to retire. No matter your circumstances, it can be a stressful process. And if you’re moving with a child with autism, it’s especially important to help relieve moving stress for both you and your kid.

This guide provides helpful tools and tips to integrate a child into their new home.

For more information please visit their website.

Summer 2022 Newsletter

Travel and Activity Suggestions

Grandparents frequently travel and enjoy summer vacations together with their families. This issue is devoted to travel tips, autism and sensory friendly destinations and summer activities to enjoy at home with your grandchildren.

It is becoming easier to travel with children affected by autism. More staff members at venues are receiving autism training and more vacation destinations are becoming certified as “autism certified” organizations. In order to attain that status, at least 80% of the staff must receive 21 or more hours of autism training, pass a test and re-certify every 2 years. Many of the locations that have been certified are listed below.

Autism Friendly Destinations:

Questions to Ask before Making Reservations

State any specific needs your grandchild has to inquire what resources are available on site to meet those needs:

  • What accommodations exist for individuals with autism?
  • Are quieter areas or rooms available?
  • Can substitutions be made for food dietary restrictions?
  • Is there an accessibility pass available for site attractions?
  • Are there requirements or restrictions for rides?
  • Are sensory guides or maps available?

Getting There: Air Travel Tips

Before you travel by air, role play with your grandchild or visit a local airport together so they will know what to anticipate. Explain what they will experience during the security and pre-boarding protocols.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now has special accommodations for people with disabilities. Their website provides a video with additional information. You can print a TSA Notification Card online for your grandchild prior to travel.

At the gate, inform the attendant you are traveling with a child with autism and request your preference for pre-boarding or late boarding. Bring candy, gum or a chew toy to prevent ear popping discomfort, favorite digital tablets, books or toys and snacks.

Apply for an IAC Card

Some parks and attractions recognize the digital IBCCES Accessibility Card (IAC), a free resource for individuals with disabilities who need special accommodations at participating amusement parks. Learn more about it here.

You will find additional Summer Travel Tips on our GAN website

At Home Summer Activities

  • Plant vegetables or flowers in the garden.
  • Share recreational activities and encourage exercise. Try walking, hiking, camping, skating, golfing, bowling or riding bikes together.
  • Visit a local park, playground or museum.
  • Create water games. Run through sprinklers, fill balloons and toys with water. Create an obstacle course together around the sprinklers.
  • Watch a movie. Check your local theater to see if they offer sensory friendly shows or watch movies together at home with favorite snacks you prepare together.
  • Engage in sensory play. Fill a small plastic pool or large topless storage container with sand or water and place some small toys in it.
  • Make homemade ice cream. Here’s an easy recipe.
  • Prepare summer fresh fruit popsicles. These look as good as they taste
  • Read together. Visit a local library. Provide a selection of colorful magazines, books and graphic novels that explore cultures, people and animals from around the world or cater to your grandchild’s special interests.
  • Build with blocks or Lego sets. Create a design together.
  • Make music. Use rhythm instruments, drumsticks, pots, pans, wooden spoons and spatulas to play along with a favorite song. Dance together to the music.
  • Make art and crafts projects. Provide supplies and encourage drawing or doing needlework together.
  • Make an easy recipe of clay. Go here to view 5 recipes you can make with some ingredients you may already have in your kitchen pantry.

New Family Research Opportunity: SPARK

Stanford University is conducting a new online research study that will be the nation’s largest study ever  conducted. All ages are encouraged to enroll. Joining SPARK is simple – registration is online and participants provide a DNA sample via a saliva collection kit in the comfort of their own homes. Learn more online and encourage your family to enroll in the study here. Help to ensure a better future for all individuals and families affected by autism.

Stanford SPARK Study Flyer 

STAY-AT-HOME CLEANING

Now is the perfect time to sort through cupboards, drawers and closets. Most of us have collectibles and other worthwhile items that our children do not want. Donations to the Grandparent Autism Network are tax-deductible. Create more space for all the fabulous things that you love AND benefit grandparents and their families affected by autism.

All donated items are sold through our e-Bay for Charity store, raising money to support our programs, services and websites. We welcome donated goods such as:

  • New unwanted gifts
  • Collectibles, Home Accessories, Craft Items
  • New Clothing, Shoes and Handbags
  • Fine, Vintage and Costume Jewelry
  • Mobile Phones, Tablets and Laptops

You can mail or drop off donations for GAN at the store located at 23785 El Toro Road, #103, Lake Forest, CA. Contact us at info@ganinfo.org for possible pickup options in Orange County, CA and for tax-donation forms.

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Tax ID# 20-5230144

GAN’s Volunteer Care Notebook Project

GAN collaborates with the Regional Center of Orange County’s Comfort Connection in providing the Care Notebook Project for families that have children with all disabilities.  Volunteers work one-on-one, helping parents to organize medical, school, therapy, and other information into binders to enable them to be better prepared for emergencies, insurance claims, annual Independent Education Plan (IEP) meetings, doctors appointments, service provider evaluations, etc.

Give a Care Notebook:  A Gift that Keeps Giving!

Families that have special needs children are typically overwhelmed with school, medical and therapy reports that need to be easily accessible when when requested for Independent Education Planning sessions, progress evaluations and for filing insurance claims. Giving your family a Care Notebook, may be the best gift they will receive for years to come. It helps them to organize the huge amount of paperwork they have and relieves a lot of stress. It is easy to find the components at any office supply store and should cost approximately $25. Here’s how you can make one:

Care Notebook Contents

  • A plain 3-ring binder with 2 inch rings. To personalize the binder, select one with a clear pocket on the front where you can insert a picture of your grandchild.
  • A notebook 3-hole punch, a small stapler, colored small “post it” note pads, a highlighter pen and paper clips
  • A 3-hole vinyl business card holder
  • A vinyl pen/supply pocket holder with zipper
  • Notebook index dividers with 10 sections

Suggested Categories for Index Tabs

  • Emergency Information
  • Medical Records
  • Education Reports
  • Therapies
  • Insurance Claims
  • Local Service Agencies
  • Autism Resources
  • Activities
  • Child Care/Respite Help, If applicable
  • Extra Blank Tabs can be filled in by Parents

Assembling the Notebook

Place the 3 ring hole punch at the front of the notebook and add the additional vinyl pockets for supplies and business cards. Put the stapler, “post it” notes, pens, clips, etc. in the supply pocket.

Label the dividers with the appropriate categories and place them behind the vinyl pockets in the notebook.

Offer to Help Organize and File the Records

If possible, offer to help sort and file the paperwork in the notebook with the most recent reports on the top. Set aside, but do not discard duplicates, or any of the paperwork. Label them so that your children can decide what to do with the extra copies.

You may want to purchase additional binders. Some families have a binder for every year, but the current academic year is typically the main focus for schools, physicians and therapists to review. If you are mailing the Care Notebook, consider using a USPS flat rate box.

How to Support Parents

You can provide emotional support for the parents of your grandchild with autism. Most families find that facing this challenge together, with acceptance and optimism, brings the family closer. Many parents of kids with autism say that getting verbal approval and support from their own parents means a lot.

Offer emotional support and a listening ear without judgment. Be available when your son or daughter needs to vent or wants to share a success. Knowing they can come to you without being judged or receiving advice can be a relief and reinforcing. Always compliment and reinforce them.

Keep any information about the child and family confidential. Parents prefer to share information about their child, the diagnosis and needs as they choose, rather than having you or others talking about any issues the child or family is having.

There are many controversial and expensive treatments available for treating autism but choosing treatments is up to the parents. They should not have to defend their decisions or whether or not to select an intervention. That being said, you should not feel responsible for financially sponsoring therapies that are not evidence based and proven effective. Currently, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the only medically endorsed treatment that is especially effective when started at a young age.

Ask how you can be helpful. Parenting a child with autism can be exhausting. Any offers, no matter how small, will be truly appreciated. You might sponsor babysitting, meals, special programs and services, family outings or sleepovers at your home.

Provide support for your autistic grandchild’s siblings. They too often lack the attention they need. Sometimes grandparents find it easier focusing on the siblings and that provides additional respite time for parents, as well.
Focus on staying connected and committed to each other. This gives everyone in your family a sense of belonging. Families say positive things can come out of difficult experiences. For example, some find difficult experiences help them to learn patience, compassion, acceptance and respect for other.

  • Send them care packages with items you know they will enjoy.
  • Post photographs or pictures of local places prior to their visit to you so they can anticipate your outings together.
  • Put your picture on the calendar on the date you will be reunited. The child can then anticipate when you will be together again.
  • Educate yourself and your extended family about autism. Attend seminars, read books, call or email your family to get frequent updates on your grandchild’s progress.

Focus on staying connected and committed to each other. This gives everyone in your family a sense of belonging.

Grandparent Tips for Staying in Touch with Grandkids

You can make a deep and life changing impact on your grandchildren by being supportive to their parents and them whether you live nearby or far away. Support, affirmation and love will help to get your family through the challenges of raising a child with autism.

Research shows that early, frequent and loving involvement of family members is one of the best ways to help children with ASD.  Grandparents can give their families respect, acceptance, love and happy memories. Here are some suggestions about how you can regularly stay in touch, communicate and play an important role in your grandchildren’s lives.

  1. Learn as much as possible about autism. Information about how children with autism see the world, how they communicate and act, will help you to understand and connect with your grandchild. Autism Speaks is a great site with answers to questions you may have and it provides lots of family resources.
  2. If you go online together, it’s important to remember that children with autism may need more time to process information. Be kind and flexible because they may find it difficult to adapt to this format of being together. You may need to use gestures or other ways to communicate besides words. Use positive reinforcement. Praise good behavior – and do not take things personally if their responses are blunt.
  3. There are many free online video chat services available such as Zoom, FaceTime, Skype and Google Hangout. Set up a regular scheduled timeline that works best for everyone to chat online.
  4. Ask the parents about your grandchild’s specific interests, favorite activities and the best means of communicating with them. Search for materials about those interests that you can share when you talk together.

Here are some activities you might share:

  • Cook a quick (30 minutes or less) favorite family recipe together. NOTE: Send a parent a list of ingredients in advance so the child has everything ready for your visit.
  • Color or paint together using the same paint sets or coloring books you have sent to them, in advance.
  • Work together on craft sets you have provided. Origami, felt work, ornaments and greeting cards are some projects you can share. Needlework like crochet, knitting, cross stitch and needlepoint starter kits are also available to send to them.
  • Music lessons. If you play an instrument, help your grandchild to develop an appreciation for music. There are beginner’s music books for piano, guitar, violin, clarinet and saxophone.
  • Read a favorite book to your grandchild online or record your reading and send it to them. Find picture books for younger children and, if possible, send your grandchild the same book so they can follow along with you as you read to them.
  • If video contact is not possible, engage with email or phone calls on a regular basis. Send greeting cards, letters or care packages and always enclose your picture or a picture of you and your grandchild sitting together reading, talking, eating, laughing.

While these suggestions are ways you might more easily engage with your grandchild with autism, they may also be effective to stay in touch with your typical grandchildren. They, too, need your loving support!

Contact Us

Grandparent Autism Network
360 E. First Street #202
Tustin, CA 92780-3211
Tel: 714.573.1500
E: info@ganinfo.org

Support GAN

GAN

About GAN

Our Mission: To promote awareness and understanding of autism and to enhance the resources essential to community responsiveness.

GAN is a registered 501(c)(3): Tax ID# 20-5230144