News - Archive - March 31, 2009
Panama City Kiwanis donate to AUWDI New Parent Program

AUWDI was invited to attend the Panama City Kiwanis Meeting and Luncheon as special guests Dec. 31, 2008,at the St. Andrews Yacht Club. President Stan Peacock graciously presented Joyce Long and Elaine Pfneisel with a donation of $500 to help support our Parent Outreach Program that includes the production and distribution of our New Parent Packets to area parents, hospitals, doctors, and organizations.

AUWDI’s Parent Outreach Program offers accurate information and help to new parents whose babies are diagnosed with Down Syndrome. The program provides a call list of contacts to help parents deal with the many questions, flood of emotions, and fear that can seem overwhelming. Parents are given age-related materials like growth charts and a health check list and equally important stories of hope and courage to help light the path and ahead.

Thank you Coach Dan Chagnon for putting Acton Up With Downs in the running for the donation! Coach Dan started the Challenger’s Division Baseball Team that plays locally in the spring. Thanks Coach.

Many thanks to the Panama City Kiwanis for their support
Swoboda from Exceptional Behavior, LLC,
is Guest Speaker
Thank you Karen Swoboda from Exceptional Behavior, LLC, she spoke to our members at last month’s family support meeting. Karen, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, explained that Applied Behavior Analysis is a discipline devoted to the understanding and improvement of human behavior. It has been proven to be an effective comprehensive approach when teaching an array of skills to people with and without disabilities.

Parents presented scenarios and Mrs. Swoboda offered suggestions. One scenario was the consistency versus the sporadic.  A child enters a store knowing if he pitches a fit for candy at the register, he consistently gets it. To stop this behavior, the parent stops buying the candy and does not waver.  After a few times, the child stops asking and expecting the candy. Responding inconsistently or sporadically, yes one day and no the next, is confusing to a child and makes changing the behavior increasingly more difficult.

Exceptional Behavior, LLC offers an array of services, such as: Comprehensive Assessments, One-on-one direct instruction, In-home services, School Consultations, IEP Development/Behavior Intervention plans, Parent Support & Training, Respite Services.  For more information contact Exceptional Behavior, LLC at the office on 1137 Harrison Ave, #4, (850) 215-6441 or Cell: (850) 814-8941.
AUWDI President named Panama City Realtor Citizen of the Year for 2008

When Joyce Long, president-elect and founding member of Acton Up With Downs, Inc. (AUWDI), was named Panama City Realtor Citizen of the Year for 2008, she felt overwhelmed. 

Joyce said, “It was not just my own efforts but the hard work and support of many on behalf of AUWDI that led to my winning this award. Congratulations to everyone for all we've accomplished in such a short time. This award belongs to you.”

AUWDI owes its continued growth to hardworking volunteers and has been awarded 501(c)(3) status which will facilitate the group’s expanding role as a community partner. When it comes to giving and getting awards ... Joyce is more comfortable with giving!