Somali American Autism Foundation
Events
Previous Events:
Join us to learn how to effectively work with Somali families of children with Disabilities on:
Dates: June 9th 2011 Dates: June 30th 2011
Time: 9am to 10am OR Time: 9am to 10am
Location: 90 West Plato Location: 160 E. Kellogg - Room 7600
St. Paul, MN St. Paul, MN
Course Description
This course teaches best practices in working with Somali families of children with disability. The training will be based on presentation and then practice scenarios in which the trainees will learn on how to break down the barriers of language and culture. Trainers will share personal stories and will give concrete information on how to frame assessment questions to get accurate information.
Registration
Register by Ace Web by going to Ramsey County or contact Dawn Bacon at Ramsey County children's mental health. This workshop is for all public health nurses, county social workers and assessment/intake staff. There will be CEU - if needed.
How to Effectively Work with Somali Families of Children with Disabilities
Presenters:
Beth Fondell, coordinates training experiences for students who participate in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) graduate fellowship program and the Disability Policy and Services certificate program at University of Minnesota.
We Thank everyone that attened and learned from parents point of view and shared their take.
University of Minnesota - Office of Equity and Diversity;
Autism and the Somali Community: Perspectives on Disability and Culture by parents Hodan and Idil and Others;
March 24, from 6:30 - 9 p.m.
President's Room, Coffman Memorial Union (a child-friendly area will be available in an adjacent room) (East Bank)
Free and open to the public
Description:
"Autism and the Somali Community: Perspectives on Disability and Culture" is the fourth event in the IDEA Faculty Programming Fellows lecture series. Speakers include: Idil Abdull, parent and co-founder of the Somali American Autism Foundation; Ruth Elaine Hane, national advocate and author; Hodan Hassan, parent and founder of Choose to Immunize; Daud Hussein, Somali Family and Youth Services; James Levine, artist; Pat Pulice, director of Fraser Autism Services; Kathryn McGraw Schuchman, Fraser Child and Family Center; and Ahmed Yusuf, social worker at the University of Minnesota. Together, they will discuss the challenges faced as they seek to address autism in the Somali community. The event includes bilingual presentations, and is co-sponsored by the Somali Student Association and the Disabled Student Cultural Center. Reception to follow with catering of Halal food by Holy Land Restaurant.. This was great and met Ruth who has autism and gave us parents with young children that there is light at the end of the autism tunnel.
December 10th, 2010 - 5:30pm to 8pm at Anne Sullivan School in Minneapolis:
Somali Parents Resource Connection Workshop by Minneapolis Public School - ELL, Autism Program and SAAF. Thanks to Said Garaad, Donna Asher, Nancy Schaefer, Michele Berndt and Hassan Samantar. And thanks to all of the parents that attended. We know that as of today, autism has no cause and no cure but one sure thing is early intervention helps so we hope that parents that attended tonight will take their children for evaluations, services and resources. We also know that as parents we wait too long afraid of the stigma or labeling our kids but waiting and doing nothing is far worse. Fadlan sida ugu dhakhsaha badan ilmahaaga gee meelo laga caawiyo. Mahadsanid!
Oct 17th, 2010 - 7pm - KFAI Radio. Host Mukhtar interviewed Kelly Knight from Minnesota House of Representatives and Travis Reese who is in charge of MN House High School Page Program to tell Somali community opportunities available at Minnesota State Capitol. In order for our Autism community's needs and concerns to be understood and addressed, we need Somalis working behind the scenes and helping our legislators. We hope that many of our Somali American citizens that often volunteer for campaigns to take advantage of this and be part of the solution. If you would like to listen to this, please go to www.kfai.org and click the correct date and time.
Thanks so much to Mukhtar, Kelly, Travis, Abdirahman, Abdisalan, Xabiib and Hassan for helping put this show together.
Oct 5th, 2010 - 10am to 11:30am at Brookdale Service Center:
Somali Culture Workshop (Autism and Mental Health in Somalia) prepared by Mohamed, Nancy, Jerry and Anne (This was a repeat because more social workers and nurses wanted to attend) Thanks so much Hennepin county for such great interest and turn out. We hope you learned something new which would enable you to help Somali autism families in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate.
September 14th, 2010 - 10am to 11:30am at Brookdale Service Center:
Somali Culture Workshop (Autism and Mental Health in Somalia) prepared by Mohamed Jibrel, Nancy Hurley, Jerry Mellum and Anne West.
August 3rd 2010: A Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee on children's health held a hearing on whether there is a link between autism and the environment chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Barbara Boxer. Autism and Somali children in Minnesota were among some of the discussed topics. For more information click on below link.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/294878 Somali autism parents thank Senator Amy Klobuchar and her staff.
Wednesday - April 14, 2010 at 7pm to 9pm:
Somali American Autism Foundation along with Minneapolis, Burnsville, Eagan and Savage school districts, Pacer, Courage Center, Fraser, Hennepin County and others will be joined at Autism Society of Minnesota for one of their skillshop series. If you are a professional and would like to attend, please contact call 612-703-3302 to register. If you are a parent and would like to attend, please contact call 952-220-4553 to register.
Location is Autism Soc of MN at 2380 Wycliff Street, Suite 102, St. Paul, MN 55114.
Thanks and we hope to see you there!
To Everyone that attended and gave presentations; Thank you so much!
Special thanks to Dr. Abdirashid Shire of Mayo Clinic and Wiilwaal from Bartamaha.com and KFAI Radio
Thanks to the parents that shared their stories and experiences.
March 9, 2010 6pm to 8pm:
Somali parents and Advocates testified at the Minnesota Joint Senate/House Autism Task Force about how the Somali community is dealing with the high rate of autism in their children. Services they receive from education, health and various therapies. We thank Hassan from Pacer. Abdihakin, Hodan, Abdiqadir and Istahil were the parents that testified. Thanks very much!
January 30, 2010 1:30pm to 3:30pm:
Dr. Anne Edwards, President of MN American Academy of Pediatrics and Dr. Michael Reff, Director of University of Minnesota Autism Clinic appeared on Minneapolis Television Network (MTN) - Somali section. They explained autism, early signs and symptoms, early education, early intervention, medical diagnoses verses education identification and the relationship between parents and medical providers. They both told us that parents are the experts of their children and their best advocates. Thanks so much for such important and necessary statements. Thanks to Istahil who shared her experience with Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Also, thanks to host Abdirahman and producer Siyad who have always been so helpful in telling autism and Somali children's story.
January 19, 2010 7:30pm to 8:30pm:
KFAI radio 90.3 Minneapolis and 106.7 St. Paul interviewed Kathryn and Paul from Minnesota Autism Center to raise awareness about autism in the Somali community and the importance of medical diagnoses. Please contact Paul who is a psychologist at MAC to schedule an appointment to get your child evaluated. Education evaluation alone is not enough. You need medical diagnoses for your child to receive more and better services. Thanks to the parents that shared their stores which were Hodan and Istahil. Also, our big thanks to Wiilwaal for always telling our community's needs and concerns. Thanks Abdisalan.
January 9, 2010 1pm to 3pm:
Somali Television of Rochester interviewed Kathryn, Paul and Lindsay from Minnesota Autism Center. They explained Applied Behavior Analysis and how it helps children with Autism. ABA teaches children communication, self care skills, gross and fine motor skills as well as play and social skills. They also stated the importance of early intensive home therapy for autistic children. We thank them all for their help in our community. We also thank host Kaafi and producer Abbas.
October 3, 2009 1pm to 2pm:
Somali Television of Minnesota interviewed Executive Director of Confederation of Somali Community of Minnesota, Dr. Saeed Fahia to explain the stigma of Autism in U.S as well the stigma of mental health in Somalia. ECSE Autism Specialist Donna Asher explained services offered by Minneapolis school district and how parents can get started. Epidemiologist Judy Punkyo from Minnesota Department of Health explained what has been done so far and what the next steps are within the health department. Multicultural Parent Advocate Hassan Samantar from Pacer explained Individualized Education Plan and the role of parents in their child's education. Psychiatrist, Dr. Jama from Virginia explained Autism and available treatments for children. Research Scientist and Medical doctor in Somalia and in the U.S, Dr. Dalmar explained autism from research point of view and if autism existed in Somalia. Thank you all very much!
June 12, 2009 8am - 2pm:
Autism in Somali Children Forum sponsored by Minnesota department of education, Minnesota department of health, American Academy of Pediatrics, Fraser, Pacer, Celaberate the Spectrum Center, Somali American Autism Foundation and others. Building partnerships to improve care by working together with medical, education, therapy and service providers as well as families. Somali parents are grateful and thank everyone that attended this forum.
April 19, 2009 3pm to 5pm:
Minnesota Health Dept will explain their report to Somali community and Somali parents in Brian Coyle as well as what the next steps are. SAAF thanks everyone that attended this meeting.
April 3rd, 2009:
Commissioner of MDH Dr. Magnan and Somali autism parent Idil Abdull appeared on Minnesota's Almanac News regarding the MDH report that came out on March 2009. We thank Dr. Magnan, Governor Pawlenty and everyone in their staff for taking such bold and positive step towards autism. Thanks very much!
March 31, 2009. (April 3rd Dr. Magnan and Idil explained this report on Almanac show on tpt station)
Dr. Sanne Magnan, Commissioner of Minnesota Health Department; THANK YOU, MAHADSANID!
All Somali parents that have children with autism are thanking you! We are glad that you validated our concerns and told us "what we were seeing with our eyes was true" MDH's report was a good first step in trying to solve this mysterious disorder of autism. We also would like to thank Judy Punkyo, the epidemiologist that was the lead in this report. Somali Parents would also like to thank Anne Harrington, Saeed Fahia, Abdullahi Egal, Hassan Samantar, and Khadra Isse. (khayr Allah ha idin siiyo)
Below is the link to Almanac Show on 4/3/2009 - Dr. Magnan commissioner Minn Dept of Health
and Idil Abdull
Minnesota Video Vault | Almanac | Autism in Somali Community
June 12, 2009 8am - 2pm:
Autism in Somali Children Forum sponsored by Minnesota department of education, Minnesota department of health, American Academy of Pediatrics, Fraser, Pacer, Celaberate the Spectrum Center, Somali American Autism Foundation and others. Building partnerships to improve care by working together with medical, education, therapy and service providers as well as families. Somali parents are grateful and thank everyone that attended this forum.
April 19, 2009 3pm to 5pm:
Minnesota Health Dept will explain their report to Somali community and Somali parents in Brian Coyle as well as what the next steps are. SAAF thanks everyone that attended this meeting.
April 3rd, 2009:
Commissioner of MDH Dr. Magnan and Somali autism parent Idil Abdull appeared on Minnesota's Almanac News regarding the MDH report that came out on March 2009. We thank Dr. Magnan, Governor Pawlenty and everyone in their staff for taking such bold and positive step towards autism. Thanks very much!
March 31, 2009. (April 3rd Dr. Magnan and Idil explained this report on Almanac show on tpt station)
Dr. Sanne Magnan, Commissioner of Minnesota Health Department; THANK YOU, MAHADSANID!
All Somali parents that have children with autism are thanking you! We are glad that you validated our concerns and told us "what we were seeing with our eyes was true" MDH's report was a good first step in trying to solve this mysterious disorder of autism. We also would like to thank Judy Punkyo, the epidemiologist that was the lead in this report. Somali Parents would also like to thank Anne Harrington, Saeed Fahia, Abdullahi Egal, Hassan Samantar, and Khadra Isse. (khayr Allah ha idin siiyo)
Below is the link to Almanac Show on 4/3/2009 - Dr. Magnan commissioner Minn Dept of Health
and Idil Abdull
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Minnesota Video Vault | Almanac | Autism in Somali Community |
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