Dan Swearingen | December 26, 2009

We have had a great year at Autistry Studios but we would like to take this opportunity to ask for your additional help before we launch into a new year.

This week we would especially appreciate any donations you could make of either cash or tools and materials.

United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay has generously agreed to be our fiscal sponsor while Autistry Studios’ 501 (C) (3) paperwork continues to wend its way through the IRS and State offices. All checks or money orders should be made payable to UCPNB/Autistry Studios and sent to

[Update, we received our own 501(c)(3) status in February 2010.]

Autistry Studios
137 Granada Dr
Corte Madera, CA 94925.

Additionally, Janet Lawson and Dan Swearingen will match all cash donations made between now and December 31, 2009 up to a combined total of $5,000.

Because we are space limited, if you have any tools and/or materials you wish to donate please call us or email in advance since we need to prioritize tool and material donations to only things we can make good use of fairly immediately.

Gift cards also work great as donations: Borders, Amazon, cards redeemable at hardware or grocery stores would be appreciated.

The value of your cash donation or the fair market value of any tool or material donation will be tax deductible as a charitable donation on your 2009 tax return. We will report back to you on how all your donations were used to help us provide services to our growing student body.

🙂

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Janet Lawson, MFT | December 25, 2009

The Fall 2009 workshops came to a close with great progress on projects, lots of lessons learned, and many new friends made. We are looking forward to working with everyone in the next series which begins with our new Tuesday Build Stuff Workshop on January 12th. We have spoken to most of you but do email us to confirm your place in The 2010 Workshops: info@AutistryStudios.com.

Friday Build Stuff and College Support with Dan
Phoebe finished the decorative columns for Ramses II and will be able to put the finishing touches to this scene in the next couple of sessions. Corey completed his Harvey Milk diorama. It is fabulous! Breton’s Elf World is nearing completion – just a few more details before it is ready for display. Kris has embarked upon a wonderfully complex model tank project that will take him well into the next workshop series – lots of detail and a good narrative for the diorama. We are planning to enter all these projects in the Marin County Fair this summer – so watch for news!

Saturday Filmmaking with Nate
All three film projects are very, very close to finished. Andrew is missing only a couple cut-aways and the end credits on the Rush Limbaugh Show. Devon is the closest with her behind the scenes look at Steven at work. Steven just needs to do some sound effects on the voice tracks and his latest installment in the adventures of Bupim will be ready to screen. All three were ambitious projects and we are looking forward to sharing them on the site and on YouTube.

Sunday Build Stuff with Dan
Joseph has created the foundation for his Geo-Trak layout – the tunnel is marked out, the river bed is dug out and the tracks are layed out. Ryan’s trains are running on the track! All the switches work on this wonderful model switch yard. We’ve all enjoyed driving the trains – now, the work begins on modeling the terrain. Paul’s halo helmet is beginning to take shape. He has learned to use a new tool – the hot wire cutter. Ian’s dojo is coming along as he cuts and pastes each wooden slat into place.

Check out the photos:

Friday Build Stuff and College Support with Dan
Saturday Filmmaking with Nate
Sunday Build Stuff with Dan

Wishing you all a great holiday! Janet, Dan, Nate and AJ

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Dan Swearingen | December 9, 2009

Doug Lipinski is the dad of one of our first students and he has been doing parent group meetings for several years here in Marin.

This meeting is for Moms and Dads but Doug also runs a regular Dads meeting. Please contact Doug at his email below if you have any questions.

From Doug:
Come and discuss strategies for getting over any holiday bumps, offer your winning strategies and build camaraderie with other parents who share similar life circumstances.

Since December is a busy month please call Doug at 415-785-4319 or respond to lipinski@sbcglobal.net if you plan to attend.

Parents of Children and Adolescents with Autism
Parent Support Group
Thursday Dec. 17th 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
30 North San Pedro Road Conference Room
San Rafael, CA 94903

Refreshments Provided.
Free and Open to the Public

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Dan Swearingen | December 4, 2009

Ben X is a 2007 film from Belgium about an extreme Aspie teenager who is relentlessly bullied in and around his high school. Ben’s solace is his role playing game persona (“BenX”) and his online relationship with a healer character “Scarlite.”

Bad Things happen to him. Ben is driven past his limits and it is unclear until near the end how it will come out. I will not spoil the story for you in case you wish to see it.

If you are ASD or have an ASD person in your life, Ben X is heart breaking but a very good movie. If you want someone to see what it is like to be ASD this is perhaps the best film portrayal I have ever seen.

Dutch language with English subtitles. Available at Netflix (streaming or DVD) and Amazon.

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