When Chelsea received the call in June that she and Denise had won the Autism Society Media Excellence in Video, Print or News Award for Choosing To Be a GFF, she ran around breathless. Especially considering the other huge contributions to the field this past year, namely HBO's original movie Temple Grandin and Academy Award-winning director Gerardine Wurzburg's Wretches & Jabberers, this national honor is received with equal parts of ecstasy and humility.The 42nd Annual Autism Society Conference and Exposition held at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Center near Orlando was much the same experience. From dining next to W&J stars Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette to chatting with educators from as far away as Alaska, Good Friend's group of gals returned to Milwaukee both exhilarated and exhausted. Chelsea and Denise presented "From Process to Product: Creating a Culture of Acceptance in Middle School" with Learning Specialist Ann Akre on Thursday, delivered their acceptance speeches on Friday before a packed ballroom, and rounded out the expo on Saturday with help from volunteers Denise Budde and Dani Rossa.
Summer is half over already. Time to start planning for staff in-service and student character development opportunities. Remember that Chelsea and Denise will deliver Good Friend's autism awareness-acceptance-empathy® services (staff in-services, Peer Sensitivity Workshops for grades K-5, Individual Classroom Presentations for grades 6-8, and assemblies differentiated for grade levels between 2 and 8) within a 75-mile radius of Waukesha, Wis., without travel expenses. Mileage allowance applies beyond that service area.
If you think Good Friend's autism awareness / peer sensitivity DVDs will fit into an existing program at your school, you may purchase them online through our website ($52 each; volume discounts available - call 414-510-0385 for details) or mail a purchase order to Good Friend Inc., 808 Cavalier Dr., Waukesha WI 53186. Note that 2-disc DVD sets (one of each elementary and middle school films in English) are now available for $99, but aren't yet featured in our online store.
Feel free to email Chelsea or Denise for more information. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
