On March 23, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Sacramento Congregation of Community of Christ (sacramentocofchrist.org), in collaboration with A Touch of Understanding, Inc. (touchofunderstanding.org), will host an Autism Seminar at the church at 4044 Pasadena Ave. Admission is free.

Guest speaker Glen Elliott, M.D., Ph.D. is a world-renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist with a longstanding interest in improving the diagnosis and treatment of severe psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.  He has worked with individuals with autism and their families since 1984.  He will be speaking about the changing views of autism and related disorders over the past 30 years with a particular focus on the ongoing search for a better understanding of what causes this potentially devastating disorder and what progress has been made in treating it.

Also participating will be autistic members of A Touch of Understanding, Inc. (ATOU) as well as caretakers.

ATOU is a non-profit organization operating in the Sacramento area that provides character-building disability-awareness programs to school age youth. Autism is the fastest growing diagnosis among disabilities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that currently, 1 in 88 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Among boys, the rate is 1 in 54.

“Given these statistics, many of you will have friends or neighbors impacted by Autism. Please invite them to attend, or forward this announcement to them. We hope that this seminar may provide them with information and resources that can help them cope with the challenges raised by this trying disorder,” according to organizers.

The friendly staff at Angel’s Nest Child Development Center use a curriculum that encourages children to learn through hands-on activities. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Sally King

For Angel’s Nest Child Development Center located at 475 Florin Road, that is exactly what happened.

Just as Riverside Christian Nursery School announced they were closing their doors, leaving their director, Roberta Woodall without a job and kids without a nursery school, Angel’s Nest, which had been open for a short while and just around the corner from Riverside, was looking for a director and kids to fill the school.

In September 2006, Woodall happily accepted the position, and many of the Riverside parents transferred their children to Angel’s Nest.

Angel’s Nest, open to children from the ages of two to five years, currently has 60 children enrolled, some part-time. The philosophy behind the school is play-based structure. Woodall, with more than 20 years experience in early childhood development, uses an emergent curriculum that is based on learning through hands-on activities and experiences.

Woodall encourages parents to come by and meet the staff. She said this allows the parents to get a sense of the environment at the center.

Angel’s Nest has seven teachers. They work collaboratively and each teacher is assigned a main activity said Woodall. She gave an example of one teacher whose main activity is teaching Spanish. Another teacher runs the ‘Kiddy Transition Night’, which is an informational evening for parents on how to transition their child from preschool to kindergarten successfully.

Tenaya Woods is Woodall’s assistant. She also came to Angel’s Nest from Riverside Christian. Both Woods and Woodall agree that they were grateful the children who attended Riverside had a place like Angel’s Nest to move to at the time.

Angel’s Nest uses the ‘Desired Results Professional Development’ program, which is part of the state’s curriculum, to measure and follow up on the successes of the children.

“This program helps them to form critical thinking skills,” Woodall said.

Tracey Dinh said she loves Angel’s Nest. Two of her three children used to attend Angel’s Nest and have moved on to grade school. Now her youngest is there.

“I moved here from Los Angeles three years ago and started looking for a preschool,” Dinh said. “I was so happy to find this school. They are so welcoming.”

Dinh explained her son has high functioning autism and when she mentioned this to other preschools, they gave her a cold shoulder. She said Angel’s Nest was the only school that welcomed her to check out their facilities to make sure it was a good fit.

Dinh said her son did great at Angel’s Nest. He made many friends. Dinh said she found the teachers to be very nurturing.

Christina Martinez has a son who has been attending Angel’s Nest for three years.

“When I initially checked into Angel’s Nest it felt very friendly, like a close-knit family,” Martinez said. “I find the emergent program of the child leading the learning exciting.”

Martinez said she has watched her son grow from being mentored by the older children to being the mentor and blossoming into a leader.

Woodall and Woods are on the same page in their love of working with children and their love for the Angel’s Nest Center. They are so happy that quality child development education continues to be available for local children.

Sometimes when a door closes, it can be a good thing.

Angel’s Nest is located at 475 Florin Road in Sacramento. For more information, call (916) 428-4651 or visit www.angelsnestcdc.com.

SACRAMENTO – Local residents are invited to hear four experts speak about living with developmental disabilities. UCP of Greater Sacramento’s Helping Hands includes free admission and refreshments and will take place 6 p.m.–8 p.m., Oct. 28, at the Maidu Center, 1550 Maidu Drive, Roseville. For reservations, contact Samantha Garcia at sgarcia@ucpsacto.org or (916) 283-8317.

Speakers include Dr. Dennis Hart, a pediatrician specializing in developmental disabilities; Dr. Cynthia Zierhut, a licensed psychologist with UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute; Dr. Jared Thomas, parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder; and Rick Schoenstein, a successful professional with a developmental disability.

“Almost everyone knows someone with a developmental disability, and it’s important for everyone to understand that people with developmental disabilities can live life without limits when empowered with the right tools,” said Doug Bergman, president and CEO, UCP of Greater Sacramento. “This event will open people’s eyes to the capabilities and strength of all people.”

Each month, 2,600 children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families are empowered to live life without limits at UCP of Greater Sacramento. UCP is the leading provider of comprehensive services to children, adults and families with developmental disabilities in Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Shasta, Sutter and Yolo counties. Programs include Saddle Pals therapeutic horseback riding, UCP’s Autism Center for Excellence at Sacramento State, adult day programs, independent living services, transportation and in-home respite care for families. For more information, visit www.ucpsacto.org.