TACA Meeting a success

This afternoon's TACA support group meeting was the best support group meeting I have ever attended. The local chapter of Talk About Curing Autism met at Home State Bank, Crystal Lake, and there were about 32 parents there, plus the organizers and presenters.

The organizers, Linda Betzold and Sara DiFucci, opened the meeting with announcements about upcoming meetings, information resources for parents, respite offerings and an overnight camp for kids. Then the speakers were introduced. Sonja Hintz, a nurse, and Barry Smeltzer, a phyician's assistant, gave very interesting information about their work with patients diagnosed with autism, and then they answered questions which had been submitted before the meeting. In addition, they answered many questions from the audience.

The chapter operates a lending library, and it also gives parents a free copy of The Families of Autism Journey Guide. One of the local chapter's members says, "It's a 300+ page book that includes everything we wish we had been told when our kids were diagnosed."

Occasional fundraisers are organized so that the support group services are available to families without charge. A website may soon be available for donations to the local chapter; in the meantime, donations can be sent to Linda Betzold or to Sara DeFucci.

What made this support group so positive was the strong interaction between the speakers and the audience and their willing to address fully the questions and topics from the audience.

The speakers were from True Health Medical, 603 Diehl Road, Ste 135, Naperville, IL; phone (630) 995-4242

For information about TACA and the local chapter, contact Linda.Betzold@tacanow.org or Sara.DiFucci@tacanow.org

Also, visit www.tacanow.org/; it's loaded with information for parents. It contains tons of information on diet, biomedical treatments, special education law, dealing with insurance and more.

Future local meetings will be March 20 and April 17.

On February 27 TACA chapters in Wisconsin will hold a conference. Information at http://www.realhelpnowconference.org/

Information about a conference in Baltimore on Aptil 8-11 is available at http://www.defeatautismnow.com/

The AutismOne conference in Rosemont, Ill. will be May 24-30. Information at www.autismone.org/content/world-changes-may