P.O. Box 23731, Chattanooga, TN  37422
(423) 296-0092
http://www.gownow.to/featchattanooga/

Volume III, Issue 3
April 2001

*opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FEAT-Chattanooga

Upcoming Meetings

Special Meeting:
Friday, April 6, 2001@ 7 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Andrew Zimmerman


April 10, 2001
Guest Speaker: Teresa Bruns
                     Occupational Therapist
Topic: Occupational & Sensory Integration

May 8, 2001
Guest Speaker:  Kristen Buonomo
                       Autism Consultant
          TN State Department of Education
Topic: TRIAD Program - the new state  
adopted educational program for autistic
children

April is Autism Awareness Month

Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, pediatric neurologist 
 from  Johns Hopkins University (Kennedy Krieger
 Institute)  will speak about Autism and the latest
 research at   7 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2001 in
 Room 140 of the Massoud Building, T.C. Thompson
 Children's Hospital.  Please plan to attend and
 encourage your child's teachers, service provider
 and physicians to attend also.

Have you seen our Autism Awareness Month  
  Billboards around town?  They are located on   
 Dayton Boulevard, Hixson Pike, Lee Highway, &
 Broad Street.  Thanks to Eller Media for donating
 the space for these billboards.

Outback Steakhouse Luncheon
Saturday - April 28, 2001

The  3rd  Annual  Outback  Steakhouse Luncheon will be held from 12 noon to 2 p.m.,
on Saturday, April 28, 2001. Thanks to Outback Steakhouse, Hamilton Place, for opening their doors for FEAT again this year and for donating all costs associated with the luncheon. The event is FEAT's main fund - raiser of the year.  Funds raised enable FEAT to promote autism awareness in our community, produce information packets for families and mailings to professionals, to provide speakers at our meetings and support to our members without charging any fees.

TICKETS : Each ticket to the luncheon buffet costs $10. For every five tickets you sell and pay for prior to the April 10 meeting, you get one ticket free. (Money must be paid by April 10 to qualify for this incentive).  Last year we ran out of tickets, so purchase yours as soon as possible.

PLACEMATS: Please return your child's colored placemats at the April 10 meeting.

Please submit any sponsor information as soon as possible.  If you would like a sponsor proposal, please call the FEAT number and leave a message or email featchatt@aol.com

PHOTOS: Please bring a picture of your child to the April 10th meeting if you would like a picture of your child to be on the information board during the luncheon. Put your name on the back of the photo so that we can return it to you.

Please call 296-0092 or
email featchatt@aol.com if you have
any questions.

Autism Awareness Pins

 FEAT Chattanooga has purchased 100 cloisonne
lapel pins (replica of the Autism Awareness Ribbons) from CycleUSA.  CycleUSA stands for Cycle to Understand and Solve Autism.   Beginning on April 27th, 2001, John Keating, the father of a son who has autism embarked on a bicycle journey that begins in New York City and ends in San Diego.  The journey will take approximately 3 months to complete and will be marked with many stops along the way in various cities to raise research dollars and promote autism awareness.  You can track John's progress at http://www.cycleusa.net/

 The lapel pins are available to FEAT members and their families for $5  (half price)  or $10 for the
general public.  They will be available at the April 6 and April 10 FEAT meetings. If you cannot attend either meeting, contact FEAT at 296-0092 or
email featchatt@aol.com if you are interested in
purchasing a pin.

Mailings to Professionals

 FEAT-Chattanooga recently sent out over 600 mailings to medical and educational professionals and 350 mailings to childcare providers in the Chattanooga community and surrounding areas regarding Autism Awareness Month, our annual Outback Luncheon and Dr. Zimmerman's upcoming lecture.  Also included in the mailings were a copy of the FEAT brochure and an order form for Welcome Packets.  If you know of any professional who may be interested in receiving a Welcome Packet, please call the FEAT number at
296-0092 or email featchatt@aol.com

Montel Williams Show and Autism

On Thursday April 12, 2001, The Montel Williams Show will spend an hour discussing several issues regarding autism.  The show features the Gallaghers from Brick Township, NJ, Aidan and Shelley Reynolds from Baton Rouge, LA, and Didi Conn, who played Frenchy in the movie Grease.  This is the first time that Mrs. Conn has gone public with her child's autism. Several people from the audience will be interviewed such as political officials from Brick Township, Sandy Levine, a behavioral therapist, and Dr. Jerrold Kartzinel.

The show should be pretty comprehensive regarding autism awareness and cover just about every topic that there is from clusters of autism, genetic research,  ABA,  vaccines,  diet,  the increase throughout the country, the Congressional Autism Caucus, the Open Your Eyes project, congressional hearings to the cost of raising individuals with autism and how that figure impacts the general public. It covers just about everything you could imagine for the simple purpose of making the general public aware of autism spectrum disorders.  The show airs on April 12th so check your local listings.  Or to find your local station and time for the Montel Williams show go to:  http://www.montelshow.com/

_NLOCKING A_TISM'S
THE POWER OF ONE!
CONFERENCE AND RALLY
WASHINGTON D.C. APRIL 25-27, 2001

The only thing missing is "U"
Go to their website:
http://www.unlockingautism.org/
and register today!

Congressman Zach Wamp

 On Thursday, April 12, 2001, Congressman Zach Wamp will be addressing topics related to autism including the Congressional Autism Caucus at 7 p.m. at Westview Elementary School.  Westview Elem. is located at the intersection of East Brainerd Road & Ooltewah/Ringgold Road in East Brainerd.