Senior Girl Scout Natalie Pope, for her Gold Award project, has developed, along with graphic designer Sam Gardner, a Kentucky autism awareness specialty license plate. In order for this plate to be produced, she must collect 900 paid applications. Each plate costs $28.00, which goes to the DMV. Donations of up to $10.00 per plate may be made, which will go into a special fund for community autism awareness activities. To view the plate and download an application, please go to www.kyautismawareness.com. There are a few errors on this site (which will be corrected soon), including Natalie's email address, which should be natalie@kyautismawareness.com . Please email her if you have questions, or if you'd like to have your organization's website added to her links page. This is a great project which would dramatically increase awareness of the scope of autism in our state. Please support Natalie and children with autism by ordering yours today!

FEAT has begun a small line of clothing and merchandise with FEAT butterfly and "I Love Someone with Autism" logos. Clothing ranges from basic white crew T's to sweatshirts, to nicer mens & ladies shirts and fleece jackets. Other items available are car magnets and FEAT butterfly logo jewelry (necklaces, earrings and bracelets). For more info, please contact Jodie Steele at 239-7705, 541-1801 or jodiechris@bellsouth.net

FEAT is attempting to help its parents find qualified and caring individuals interested in becoming respite workers. Job listings have been posted at U of L and Spalding with an emphasis placed at schools in the education, social work, healthcare and psychology areas. If you are a parent in need of assistance in finding respite workers, or are interested in learning more about becoming a respite worker, please call or e-mail Jodie Steele at 239-7705, 541-1801 or jodiechris@bellsouth.net

FEAT meetings are the second Thursday of each month at Highland Presbyterian Church at 1011 Cherokee Road. They are geared to parents, grandparents, and caretakers of those affected by autism, and you do not need to be a FEAT member to attend. The meeting room is the in the building behind the church. You will need to go up stairs to enter that building and then another tall flight of stairs and down the hallway to the meeting room. There will be signs directing you to the room. The calendar is varied with speakers and open forum, meaning parents can discuss any topic. For more info, please call 609-2901. More>>

FEAT has collaborated with music therapist Patricia Guobis to begin music therapy groups, starting in January 2008. The groups would meet every other week at various times in 40 minute sessions and the cost would be around $20 per session per child. If you are interested, please call Patricia at 456-2682 or Jodie Steele at 239-7705

"Getting Our FEAT Wet," the swimming lesson program that FEAT started last fall in collaboration with All About Kids is a wonderful success. The program offers one on one swimming lesson instruction in 30 minute sessions on Friday evenings. An ABA therapist is in the pool, offering assistance to the children and the instructors as needed. The pool is 3-4 feet in depth and reserved for our exclusive use. The price of the lessons is $165 plus a $25 once per year All About Kids registration fee. The next set of 9 lessons will begin on March 21st. If there are openings and you would like to place your child on the waiting list, please contact Jodie Steele at 239.7705 or 541.1801 or jodiechris@bellsouth.net

For registration click on the link on the homepage. To volunteer call Jodie Steele at 541-1801. Golf Scramble held at Cardinal Club in Simpsonville at 1pm on Monday June 30th.

Friday, July 11th at 10AM at Village 8, Movie: "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" Tuesday, July 15th at 11:00AM til 12:30PM: Play Session at Pump It Up (2700 Stanley Gault Pkwy--244-1016) Limit of 25 (Max age 13) Monday, July 21st at 2PM: Bowling at AMF RoseBowl (2217 Goldsmith Lane--451-5717 FYI--It's chilly in the bowling alley) Limit of 25 (all ages welcome) Friday, July 25th at 10AM at Village 8, Movie TBA. There will be a limit of 150 seats. Tuesday, July 29th 12:30PM til 2PM: Play session at Pump It Up. Limit of 25 (Max age 13) To sign up, phone or email Jodie Steele at 239-7705 or 541-1801 or jodiechris@bellsouth.net

FEAT Board Member and tennis instructor Jody Resmondo Garner has graciously offered to have tennis lessons at the club she teaches. They will begin this Saturday, July 12th at 10AM at Standard Country Club at 8208 Standard Club Lane, not far from Norton Elementary. Provided there is enough interest, these lessons will be offered on Saturdays at 10AM for the balance of the summer. The lessons will be group oriented and teach the basics. The only things your child(ren) will need are a hat, sunblock, and tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are preferred to running shoes if possible. If you have a racquet, feel free to bring it, but the instructors have plenty of sample racquets to use. The lessons will last an hour and a responsible adult will need to remain with each child/teen. Siblings are welcome to participate. The cost per lesson is $10 per child, and there is a MINIMUM of 5 children per lesson. The instructors will be using stickers and candy as rewards during the lessons, so please let me and them know if your child has any dietary restrictions. If you would like to sign up for this, please contact Jodie Steele at 239-7705, 541-1801 or jodiechris@bellsouth.net