Come to a TACA Meeting and/or Coffee Talk!

TACA Hawaii holds meetings and Coffee Talks throughout the year. Our meetings feature educational speakers on important topics for ASD families. Our Coffee Talks provide more intimate settings where families can informally network, share resources and speak with seasoned parents.

Here are the upcoming events for the TACA Hawaii Chapter:

TACA Hawaii Autism Learning Seminar

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Presented by members of the Hawaii Association of Behavior Analyst (Lauren Cox, M.Ed. BCaBA, Carla Schmidt, PhD, BCBA-D, Amanda N. Kelly, PhD, BCBA-D, Kristen Koba-Burdt, M.S. BCBA, Charlye Ramsey Ed.S, NCSP)

Location: Easter Seals
92-461 Makakilo Drive
Kapolei, HI 96707
Driving Directions

Registration begins at: 9:00 am; Each session begins at 9:30 am and finishes at noon.

Session 1 – Why ABA?
RSVP here for Session 1.

9:45-10:30am: ABCs of ABA
ABC’s of ABA: Behavior Analysts will describe some of the basics of Applied Behavior Analysis and how this science relates to you and your child. Attend this event to learn more about how to deal with challenging behaviors, why some of our children engage in these challenging behaviors and some helpful suggestions for appropriate steps to take when treating these challenging behaviors.

10:45-11:30am: Assessment Tools Assessment Tools: The second part of HABA’s presentation will cover a range of assessment tools, why assessments are necessary for developing a comprehensive program and what you as a parent can do with recommendations derived from an assessment on your child.

11:30 am: Meet and Greet with HABA board members Following each presentation, please stay around to meet and greet the behavior analysts of HABA and ask any questions that you may have from the talk.

Session 2 – College Resources for children with Special Needs

This session will provide a great way for parents to begin planning a transition to secondary education.
RSVP here for Session 2.

Presented by: Vanessa Ito is the Associate Director at the UH Manoa KOKUA Program and has been with the program since 2003. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the UH Manoa School of Social Work and is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Hawaii. In addition to other duties at KOKUA, Vanessa continues to serve as a Counselor as part of a dynamic, service-oriented team at KOKUA that provides disability access services to University of Hawaii at Manoa students with documented disabilities. These disabilities include singular or multiple health-related, learning, visual, hearing, mobility-related and other disabilities. She has also worked as a Mental Health Therapist in the Department of Education and as a Medical Social Worker at the Queens Medical Center Emergency Room. Vanessa and her husband live in Honolulu and have a young son with another on the way.

Samantha Siscon works at the Center on Disability Studies since 2011 as an Academic and Educational Specialist, working specifically as Logistics Coordinator for the Pacific Rim Conference on Disability and Diversity. Missing interactive work with students, she transferred positions and began work on a text to speech program and the Pacific Alliance programs. For the past year, these programs have put her within Oahu’s Leeward district’s schools; here, she worked closely with high school freshman to strengthen reading skills, as well as with high school juniors and seniors become interested in a STEM career, pursue post secondary education, and provide students with valuable tools that translate into everyday use after their secondary education has ended.

Price: Free
Child Care: Sorry, we are not able to provide child care or accommodate children at the event.

Autism Journey Seminar/Medical Scholarship Orientation

Saturday, March 15, 2014

This seminar will be presented by experienced TACA Hawaii moms on Diets, Medical Interventions, Surviving & Planning, Staying Organized and a Q & A. Come be inspired and get help and support starting to address medical needs of your child with autism and get your questions answered. Please note that this meeting will also be an orientation to the HAF/TACA Medical Scholarship for which attendance is required to apply. Those interested in applying must attend this orientation if they are interested in applying for this scholarship. We are pleased to announce that Hawaii Autism Foundation will once again support the Medical Scholarship. The deadline to apply is April 10, 2014.

Location: Easter Seals
92-461 Makakilo Drive
Kapolei, HI 96707
Driving Directions

Registration begins at: 1:30 pm; This seminar ends at 4:30 pm.

This AJS is free but requires an RSVP. This AJS is a parent/family member of a child with special needs only event.

Coffee Talk - Home School

Sunday, March 9, 2014

• 4:00 PM
• Coffee Talk
  3601 Waialae Ave
  Honolulu, HI 96816
• Driving Directions

Coffee Talk – Home school is a talk specifically for parents who are currently homeschooling or are interested in learning more from homeschooling moms. This talk will be hosted by Lisa Reeder.

RSVPs help our Coffee Talk hosts plan for the event. In the case there are no RSVPs, the host will not plan to hold the meeting. No notice will be sent in this case. If you need to cancel your RSVP, please use the same link to do so.  

Click here to RSVP online.

Childcare: None offered at this time.

Coffee Talk - Windward

Friday, March 21, 2014

• 7:00 PM
• Starbucks Kaneohe
  46-023 Kamehameha Highway (across from Windward Mall) Kanehoe, HI
• Driving Directions

Come chat with other parents of ASD children. Search for solutions and share resources. This coffee talk is hosted by Teresa Chao.

RSVPs help our Coffee Talk hosts plan for the event. In the case there are no RSVPs, the host will not plan to hold the meeting. No notice will be sent in this case. If you need to cancel your RSVP, please use the same link to do so.

Click here to RSVP online.

Childcare: None offered at this time.

TACA Hawaii Parent Support Line

Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is pleased to announce the extension of its services in Hawaii to now offer the TACA Hawaii parent support line. This program will allow families and caregivers to call TACA parent support staff for Hawaii specific information on resources and support as they navigate their own personal autism journey. The TACA Hawaii phone line will utilize current TACA resources along with Hawaii specific information in providing assistance to family members. Hawaii families will now be able to call locally for support and resources – furthering TACA’s mission to educate, empower and support families affected by autism. Our goal is to provide Hawaii families a quick and effective way to connect to resources and move forward in accessing services and support for their child affected by autism and family.

TACA Hawaii’s parent support line will begin taking calls on November 15, 2013. Messages left during time of high call volume or non-operating hours will be returned within 24 – 48 hours. Families can call TACA’s toll free line at 855-726-7810 to be directed to TACA Hawaii parent support line staff.

Easter Seals Hawaii presents Youth Services Recreation Club!

TBA

Location: Easter Seals
92-461 Makakilo Drive
Kapolei, HI 96707
Driving Directions

Time: 5:00 - 6:30 PM

Easter Seals Hawaii Youth Services (YTHS) in collaboration with Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) Hawaii has partnered up to provide family-centered support.

YTHS will facilitate “Recreation Club,” a pilot program aimed to provide fun-filled activities for children and teens while their parents and family members engage in TACA Coffee Talk. Coffee Talks provide more intimate settings where families can informally network, share resources and speak with seasoned parents.

Recreation club will be a pilot program for children and young adults ages 8 years old to 20 years old whose parents attend TACA’s Coffee Talk. This will provide a social opportunity for children on the autism spectrum while also allowing their parents to seek support, education and respite time.

This is a recreational program in which participants have a choice to participate in planned leisure activities such as movies, karaoke, dancing etc. This program supports Easter Seals Hawaii’s mission to provide exceptional, individualized, family-centered services to empower people with disabilities or special needs to achieve their goals and live independent fulfilling lives. Recreation Club and Coffee Talk together will allow both parents and their children affected by autism and other developmental delays the opportunity to engage socially with their peers.

RSVP to: Jennifer Norton jnorton@eastersealshawaii.org or call (808) 738-4558 x3221
Mail Application and check payable to:
Easter Seals Hawaii (memo: YTHS Recreation Club) Easter Seals Hawaii Jennifer Norton
92-461 Makakilo Drive
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707

Easter Seals’ Recreation Club does take place concurrent to TACA Hawaii Coffee Talks/Meetings at the Easter Seals Kapolei facility. Unfortunately, TACA Hawaii cannot accommodate any children on the premises during these meetings unless they are registered and confirmed to attend Easter Seals’ Recreation Club. Sorry, TACA does not offer child care at this time.

TACA is not a licensed childcare provider and this service is not provided by TACA. TACA will be held free and harmless from and against any and all losses, threatened loss, penalties, damages, settlements, costs, charges, professional fees, or other expenses or liabilities of every kind and character arising out of or relating to any and all claims, liens, demands, obligations, actions, proceedings or causes of action of every kind and character in connection with attendees agreement with Easter Seals.

IT’S COMING!
Our BIGGEST fundraising campaign of the year starts Tuesday, April 1, 2014 and we need YOU!

Show your love for the programs and services TACA provides by helping us reach our fundraising goal! 95% of TACA services are provided at little or no cost and more families than ever need support and treatment!

How can YOU help? Share your family’s story by creating your own fundraising page on TACA’s website. Personalize your page and send the link to your family and friends asking for donations in honor of your family or child! Creating your page is a fast and easy way to fundraise! You can also join one of our Chapter Teams or donate directly to the campaign! Click here to learn more.

Whether your family raises $5, $50, $500 or more, TACA appreciates your support! Sign up now! The campaign runs April 1 – June 30, 2014!

Save the Date!

Sunday, April 6, 2014

TACA Hawaii 4th Annual Picnic at the Plaza!
This is a family event that will host a resource fair, stew competition, entertainment, games, and much more!

Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Waimalu Plaza Shopping Center

We are pleased to announce the Picnic at the Plaza – a benefit for Talk About Curing Autism, Hawaii Chapter. The “Picnic” on Sunday, April 6, 2014 will feature a Country Stew Cook-Off for “amateurs only.” The Cook-Off will challenge non-professional chefs to create from their own home kitchens the best stew on the island.

ENJOY A FAMILY FRIENDLY DAY FEATURING: ·Games for the kids!
·Delicious Stew from “The Alley Restaurant” at Aiea Bowl
·The Country Stew Cook-Off IV – Pounding out the Stew
·Cooking Demonstration by Grant Kawasaki from Hawaiian Grown Kitchen
·Kendamas Challenge
·Live Entertainment
·Silent Auction
·An Autism Resource Center 

Join as at our event website: www.picnicattheplaza.org
To learn more about our amazing sponsors, visit http://hawaii.tacanow.org/2014/picnicattheplaza/

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Join TACA Hawaii in the Hawaii Visitor Industry Charity Walk

Kona Marathon

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Have you ever raced along a breathtaking coastline and through black volcanic lava fields? Well now’s your chance! Go tropical with us and take that well deserved Hawaiian vacation!

www.konamarathon.com/

Be a Part of TACA!
Give Back to Your Community!
Become a TACA Parent Mentor!

Are you a parent or primary care giver of a child (or adult) with autism? Do you have at least 2 years of experience implementing biomed? Do you know about your local resources? Would you like to give back to your community and become a volunteer TACA Parent Mentor?

We would love to hear from you. If you meet these requirements and you are interested in volunteering, sign up on our website here:
www.tacanow.org/about-taca/parent-mentor-program/

Thank you!
Moira Giammatteo
Program Manager Scholarships, Mentors
and Parent Support

Join TACA of Hawaii on Facebook!

TACA of Hawaii is on Facebook! Connect with your old and new TACA friends alike, online!

TACA en Espanol

How TACA Helps Hawaii Families

TACA does not charge admission to the meetings, nor does it assess annual membership fees for families it supports. Meetings feature:

• Free TACA Autism Journey Guides (over 750 pages of collective knowledge gathered from experienced paraprofessionals and parents) are offered to all parents who are attending their first Chapter meeting.
• Speakers on topics ranging from traditional therapies, integrated medical treatments, education, and legal support.
• TACA's Parent Mentors - one-on-one access to experienced families who have successfully navigated the challenges of finding appropriate treatments and educational opportunities for their children, and who receive additional education from TACA's Foundation Office.