Portland State Magazine Spring 2012

Reinmuch, who is now a graduate assistant in the autism center as she pursues a master's degree in special education, remembers seeing ads for $20,000 sensory rooms for kids with autism. What proved more effective for her son were some of the deceptively simple strategies the center teaches, such as using pictures of food to help her son communicate what he wanted co eat. Each word was a triumph. Alumnus and major donor Fariborz Maseeh '80, MS '84 is also the con– cerned parent of a child with autism. Frustrated with having co drive from location co location for services for his son, he created the Kids Institute for Development & Advancement (www. kida.com ). Located in Orange County, ic is one of California's largest centers for autism and a place for families needing education and coral treatment under the same roof for their autistic children. Reinmuth wishes there had been more parent resources when she was first trying co figure out how co help her son. Instead, she jokes, she "got a Ph.D. from the University of Google." That could change for Portland area residents. In June, Young and Falco plan co apply for an Institute of Education Sciences grant to further develop parent training and create a process for parents and educacors to collaborate on using the materials, Young says. The center also is looking for funds co develop the PSU Autism Training and Research Center Parent Education Unit, which would provide an array of training materials and workshops on evidence– based strategies parents can use at home. Services would be free. "It will make a huge positive impact on local families," Young says. For information about supporting the center, contact Aaron Pearlman at 503-725-8020 or pearLmana@pdx.edu . ■ Su Yim, a graduate assistant in the PSU Office ofUniversity Communications, wiLL be graduating in June with a master's in social work. SPRING 2012 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 9