ACS News and Information
24 APRIL 2014
Bldg 203 DSN 4403777; CIV 08821750-3777 Hours: M-F 0800-1700 Closed on American Holidays
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ACS NEWS AND INFORMATION
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April was Autism Awareness Month. The following article was written by ACS Chief, Kari Sharpe about a local family who wisely sought early intervention to provide the best for their son to begin paving the way to a successful future. When Randy Calderon's mother, Erica, learned her son had been diagnosed with autism, she envisioned a bleak future. She knew little about autism, other than stereotypes generated in Hollywood. "I thought he would be like 'Rain Man,'" Calderon explained. She imagined Randy would live with her forever, wear diapers, and never get to experience any of the great things about life, like falling in love. The Calderons' experience with autism began after Randy turned 18 months old. Until then, he was developing right on target with peers his age. Shortly after that milestone, however, Randy's development not only stopped, but began to decline. By the time he was two years old, she knew there was something seriously wrong. After a number of physical screenings and evaluations, Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, or EDIS, became involved with Randy and started the process of evaluating him and providing therapeutic services in the home. Erica describes this time as extraordinarily difficult for Randy, herself, and the rest of the family. "Socially, it was a nightmare," she said. The family always had to travel in two vehicles, because at any moment, Randy could become upset and start having tantrums that would require his mother or father to take him home immediately. Erica's other children "hated him" and asked, "can we get rid of him?" Hopelessness began to overtake the family, and they wished for a diagnosis that would provide them understanding and direction in obtaining help. Finally, on July 6, 2006, the same day that Erica found out her mother was terminally ill, a psychologist delivered the news that she was most afraid of -- Randy had severe autism. The family traveled to the U.S. to be with her mother, take time to grieve, and finally began to digest the diagnosis that Randy had received. When Erica returned home, she knew it was time to start looking to the future. If you speak to Erica, you will undoubtedly find that you are talking to a mother who is dedicated to finding the best for her children. When it came to finding help for Randy after he received his diagnosis, she certainly demonstrated this attribute. It can be confusing navigating through all of the rights and entitlements for which we or our loved ones are entitled, but Erica made it her personal mission to get Randy into the Department of Defense Dependents Schools Preschool Services for Children with Disabilities, or PSCD. "If he didn't get the help he needed, it would have been terrible and too late. I was not going to let that happen," she said. Erica recognized the importance of ensuring he had a head start and received intervention services as early as possible. When Randy began PSCD, the development began to happen almost overnight. The school used picture stories for everything and started to teach Randy sign language. This allowed Randy to finally find ways to communicate with the outside world. He "took off" once he began receiving these services. Erica recalls that he was potty trained in two days. Now, five years later, Randy is what Erica describes as "pretty normal." He has some diet issues and only likes to eat certain foods, but is above average academically. He has transitional issues, and is always watching the clock, obsessed with time. However, those around him -- his classmates, teachers, family, friends -- have all come to see these as simple nuances of who Randy is.
Your credit report is an account of your personal financial history. It includes a record of all the loans and credit accounts you've had for the last seven years, including every late payment and any legal judgments or outstanding accounts. Whenever you apply for a loan or credit card, and often when you apply for an apartment or job, someone will check your credit to see if you have a history of paying your bills on time. It's important to check your credit report regularly for accuracy. It's also one of the best things you can do to prevent identity theft, because any fraudulent charges or accounts will appear on your report. The agencies that keep credit reports, called credit bureaus, evaluate your overall creditworthiness with one number, generally referred to as a credit score or FICO score. A good credit record can impress a potential employer or lender. A bad credit record can make you look irresponsible and untrustworthy and can prevent you from getting that loan, a job, apartment, even a security clearance or can cause you to lose your clearance. Everyone has their own credit report and score, there is no such thing as a joint report or score. Any credit card with your name on it is reflected on your credit score. With joint cards and accounts, debt incurred by either party in a marriage belongs to both parties. Bankruptcy is included as part of your credit record for ten years, as are other legal judgments against you. When you apply for a job that pays more than $75,000 annually or for a loan or life insurance policy of more than $150,000, there's no time restriction on your record; the employer, lender or insurer can get a report on your credit history for your entire life. So a bad credit record can keep you from getting a loan, an apartment, or a job for a long time. Thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, every American is entitled to a free credit report once a year from each of the three main credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The reports are free but there is a cost to obtain the score. When you get your reports, look them over carefully. If there's anything you don't understand, contact the credit bureau for an explanation. The Financial Counselor at ACS can provide assistance and can access your credit report for you that will include your credit score at no cost. Stop by ACS or call Patricia Pearce at DSN 440-3526/CIV 08821-750-3526 or email: patricia.c.pearce2.civ@mail.mil for more information or to make an appointment to access your report and score. Keeping your financial health in good standing will make your life so much easier.
Check out these community volunteer opportunities. Girls Scouts needs volunteers! Whether it’s assisting with bweekly meeting, helping out with special events, or lending a hand selling cookies- there’s a place for you! Please contact Nicole Hall, 0151-56227180. Army Community Service is looking for Army Family Team Building Instructors, childcare will be provided for training and teaching purposes. Please contact Meghan McAndrew, DSN: 4403376/3777 or CIV: 08821-750-3376/3777. Army Community Service is looking for Emergency Placement families. Please contact Aimee Edwards-Hunter for more information and qualifications, DSN: 440-3483/3777 or CIV: 08821750-3483/3777. The Chapel is looking for watch care volunteers during the week and on weekends. Please contact Chaplain Tripp for more information, DSN: 440-2540 or CIV: 08821-750-2540. As a spouse, have you ever helped to sponsor an incoming spouse or new family? Did you know that you can now apply as an official volunteer under the Spouse Sponsor volunteer job description in VMIS and earn community volunteer hours for your efforts? Contact Patty Pearce at DSN 440-3526/3777 or CIV 08821-7503526/3777. The Relocation Program is also looking for a volunteer to assist with updating and refreshing the Merchants Guide. This will require some knowledge of the area, a bit of the German language, and basic computer skills. Please contact Patty Pearce at DSN 440-3526/3777 or CIV 08821-750-3526/3777. Check out more volunteer opportunities by registering with www.myarmyonesource.com.
For local information, contact the AER office in ACS, bldg. 203 on Artillery Kaserne, DSN 440-3526/CIV 08821750-3526 or email: patricia.c.pearce2.civ@mail.mil or any of the Key Unit Personnel: SSG Berry, George C. Marshall Center, DSN 440-2241 SGT Wait, USAG Bavaria Garmisch, DSN 440-3801 SGT Jackson, NATO School, CIV 08822-9481-1107
Please, join us for weekly Brown Bag lunch educational series:
Infant & Child Brain Development Sexual Behavior and Development in Children - What is normal? Parent Button Pushers – Handling your toddler or preschooler Love & Logic Sampler - Parenting pre-teens & teens Internet Safety for Teens & Preventing Teen Dating Violence
Wednesdays in April April 2 – 30, 2014 12:00pm-1:15 pm ACS, room 6
For more information, please contact ACS Family Advocacy/ New Parent Support Program at 08821.750.3777