Newsletter
Project F.O.C.U.S. Newsletter | March - April
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas Located in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders CEB 115 702-895-5836
CONTACT US:
March-April
word from the director
Heading to WASHINGTON, D.C.!!!! Clayton Rhodes and I have the wonderful opportunity to attend the 2019 AUCD Policy Forum and the 2019 Disability Policy Seminar in April. Through Think College and AUCD, Clayton and I were 1 of 5 pairs from around the country chosen as scholarship winners to attend these wonderful events. We will have the incredible opportunity to learn about how we can be more involved in policy legislation and how to advocate for inclusive postsecondary education! As a scholarship recipient, we are tasked with hosting a policymaker meeting at Project FOCUS, hosting a Think College Public Policy Affinity group, delivering short testimony concerning Project FOCUS, and Draft and submit an op/ed piece or letter to the editor of your local paper about Project FOCUS. To wrap up our time in D.C. we will be meeting with our state representatives. We will be sharing an important message about inclusive postsecondary education with Nevada state leaders. We are pumped for the opportunity and can’t wait to share our experience with you all. Be on the look out for news from our trip! Best, Ryan
Name/Year at UNLV: Eric Clash, sophomore What's your favorite thing about being a college student?: I enjoy walking around campus and being at different places and hanging out with different people. What is your favorite movie?: Lord of the Rings Trilogy Interesting Facts: Eric is an ATech alimni. He earned his diploma from the Advanced Technologies Academy for Web Design in 2017. His favorite roller coaster of all time is Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point. My least favorite roller coaster is Green Lantern - First Flight at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Meet the Team
When it comes to someone with outspoken opinions, Eric is known throughout Project FOCUS as a guy with plenty to say about a wide variety of topics. Passionate about politics, punk music, and computer games, this self-described "roller-coaster enthusiast" has a wide variety of interests and pastimes. This makes him a very interesting conversationalist, which many people are able to attest to through their favorite moments they've shared with him. His best friend Kyle mentions how their friendship has grown since they first became friends in eighth grade. "When we were 18, we went to California Adventure in Disneyland, and he convinced me to go on my first real-deal roller coaster. Thanks to that, and thanks to him, I was able to get over my fear of roller coasters." Our director Ryan shares how his favorite memory of Eric isn't a single memory, but an ability to watch him grow. "Eric has really skyrocketed in confidence since I first met him. It's been pretty cool watching him grow so much in such a short amount of time." Beca, his educational coach, can't speak highly enough of their little side-bar conversations. "He has such an intelligent, witty sense of humor. I'm always laughing about something new with him."
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT - ERIC CLASH
My favorite part of working at FOCUS has been seeing the transformations our students go through as they progress through the program. When students first start out at UNLV, they are used to life as a high school student. They are surprised when they do not have to ask permission to do things like use the restroom or eat their lunch. Around the second semester is when I see students become so confident in their newfound independence. They make plans to go to lunch with their friends, attend UNLV events on campus, join clubs, and really experience life as college students! My experience at FOCUS has really highlighted how much I enjoy working with young adults. Professionally, I would love to continue to work in postsecondary programs for students with cognitive disabilities and ideally be able to incorporate more ABA into programs as I continue towards my BCBA certification.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT - RORY CARMER
Hello! My name is Rory Carmer, I am 24 years old, a Las Vegas native and one of Project FOCUS's Educational Coaches. I am currently a graduate student studying Special Education with a dual emphasis in Intellectual Disability and Autism. I am also accruing supervised experience hours in hopes of obtaining my BCBA certification. I began working with FOCUS in the summer of 2017 as a camp counselor and fell in love with the program. After the camp was over I began working as an Educational Coach. Not to sound too cheesy, but my experience as an Ed Coach these past two years has been life changing. I majored in Special Education thinking I was going to teach students in a high school classroom; now I want to stay in postsecondary programs for as long as possible!
FEATSONV.ORG
F.E.A.T. Of Southern Nevada
Community Partners
What is F.E.A.T.? Families for Effective Autism Treatment, Inc. (FEAT) is a non-profit organization of parents and professionals, designed to help families with children who have received the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), or Asperger’s Syndrome. FEAT offers a support network where families can meet each other and discuss issues surrounding autism and treatment options.
F.E.A.T. mission Our mission is to provide information on treatment resources for families with children diagnosed with autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and related disorders. We provide support, encouragement, and guidance to parents and create an opportunity for them to benefit from contact with other parents with similar needs and concerns.
FOCUS will be attending the Pulsing Stars show at UNLV on Friday, April 12th. Where: Black Box Theater in HFA When: April 12th at 7:30pm Come out and support UNLV Music!
A-Games - April 13
Upcoming Events
Project FOCUS and the UNLV Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders will be supporting Families for Effective Autism Treatment (F.E.A.T.) at the A-Games on April 13th. Please consider attending this wonderful event and supporting this amazing organization with us!
April is Autism Awareness Month! Come out and support Project FOCUS at one of these great events happening this april!
Pulsing Stars Show - April 12th
Aviators Game - May 9th
Bake Sale - April 17
Project FOCUS is holding a bake sale on April 17th! Please come out and support us! All proceeds goes to Project FOCUS! We will be at UNLV on the free speech area from 11:00AM-2:00PM.
