THIS FRIDAY: PARTY TIME with Dan Zanes and Friends at the Independence Middle School

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Please read the following update about NAA-NEO's upcoming fundraising event and TERRIFIC CONCERT WITH GRAMMY-WINNING DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS taking place THIS FRIDAY at 6:30 PM at the Independence Middle School Auditorium. Please pass this info on to those who may be interested in attending this event.

In addition to the content of the following html email I would like to higlihght that there may be a small number of tickets donated at the last minute. If you would like us to call you if and when these tickets become available, please send me your phone number asap.

Thank you!

Pattison

National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio (NAA-NEO) Helping Hand Program Manager P. O. Box 221195 Beachwood, OH 44122 E-mail: apattison@... Phone (216)544-1231 Web: www.autismnortheastohio.org

Get ready...for this Friday...

IT'S PARTY TIME WITH DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS!

This e-mail is sent to you to provide you with some important updates that may be helpful to you when planning your evening out with the kids this coming Friday.

DOORS OPEN AT 5:30 PM

Many fun activities and food will be available before the concert!

Don't miss meeting Snickers the Clown!

CLIMB, JUMP AND SLIDE BEFORE THE SHOW

....THEN WIN THE BOUNCER IN THE RAFFLE AND

TAKE IT HOME!!

There will be a medium size inflatable bouncer with slide available for the kids to play on before the concert, courtesy of www.bouncelandfun.com. Children are invited to play on the inflatable (non-commercial, fits about 4 children at one time) preferably before dinner.

No child will be permitted to use the bouncer unless we have a waiver to release NAA-NEO from any liability arising from any damage or injury while playing on the bouncer, signed by a parent/caregiver. Each child must be supervised by an adult caregiver/parent at all times.

Please advise your typical children ahead a time that there may be other kids present at the concert who have autism or other special needs and for whom waiting in lines can be extremely difficult at times. Therefore we decided that children with special needs will be permitted on the bouncer without a long wait.

It would be awsome if we could get your support with the above issue through explaining to your typical children about the particular difficulty with waiting that many children with autism have. Please tell your typical child that children with autism really can't help their urge to jump, run, or bounce when it surges. They are not trying to be rude and they are not trying to cut lines on purpose or be unfair to your child. They are trying hard to fit in and learn new skills. They truly want your friendship and need your support.

There will be more information available about autism at the venue, written in a child-friendly language. Please feel free to seek this information out at the Autism Awareness Booth. Thank you for your consideration and support!

THE RAFFLE

Raffle tickets will be available to purchase between 5:30 and 6:30 pm and a little beyond that. Raffle prizes include such fantastic prizes as the above described inflatable bouncer with slide (valued at $500.00), waterpark passes, gift certificates, gift packages, and signed Dan Zanes CDs with other DZ merchandise, just to mention a few.

Raffle ticket prices:

$3 for 1 ticket

$5 for 2 tickets

$10 for 5 tickets

Prizes will be drawn in between Dan Zanes tunes right on stage!

FOOD/CONCESSIONS

We have received several inquiries about dinner options and decided to offer pizza for those looking for a convenient way to provide dinner right at the venue so that families won't have to miss any part of the pre-concert FUN such as the raffle and other entertainment.

Pizza, cereal bars, bottled water and a variety of other soft drinks as well as candy will be available at affordable prices from 5:30 PM on.

SENSORY ROOM FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

There will be a quiet space, a so called "sensory room", exclusively made available for children with special needs. This room will be a calming, quiet getaway for those needing a break from the loud music and all the action. Please look for signs to direct you to this room.

There will be a speech-language pathologist as well as a number of tutors/therapists available with autism background and training to support children with special needs. However, none of these therapists can be expected to provide full supervision for a child in the sensory room. Parents and caregivers are responsible for the supervision and safety of their children at all times.

No child will be permitted to use the senunsory room unless we have a waiver to release NAA-NEO from any liability arising from any damage or injury while in the sensory room, signed by a parent/caregiver.

AUTISM AWARENESS BOOTH

Did You Know? April is Autism Awareness Month!

There will be posters, banners, brochures and fliers available to families, describing autism in a child-friendly language. Please feel free to seek out the Autism Awareness Booth also to sign up for a play-date with a child with autism.

Thank you for your consideration and support!

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS

Please check out the materials displayed by our sponsors about the products and services they offer to the community. We are very grateful for their support!

CASH ONLY

Please remeber that we can only take cash at the venue for raffle tickets and food/concessions as well as for merchandise. Please click here for a map for the closest ATM near the venue located just a little over a mile away at Dollar Bank - 6563 Brecksville Rd, Cleveland, OH 44131.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE

Tickets are still available to purchase at the door without the service charge - cash only! So feel free to pass on information about the concert to those potentionally interested in attending.

Thank you for your support and we are looking forward to seeing you at the show!

Your Friends at the National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio (NAA-NEO)

www.autismnortheastohio.org

DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

3/27 Friday 5:30 PM

Dan Zanes and Friends

Dance Party

Independence Middle School Auditorium

6111 Archwood, Independence, OH 44131

Tickets

Available at the door on 3/27 at 5:30 PM

$32 adults, $16 children under 12.

No charge for infants/younger than 1 year old.

For further assistance please contact Pattison at (216)544-1231 or e-mail apattison@...

We Thank Our Sponsors

Holly Reimann, MA CCC-SLP

Speech-language Pathologist, Owner Peak Potential Therapy

www.Skoda-Minotti.com

Dan Zanes and Friends' Parties are always FUN...but this one is also making a difference in the lives of children with autism

This show will be a special performance because it benefits children with autism and their families in Northeast Ohio. Proceeds from the concert will go to the National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio Chapter's (NAA-NEO) 2009 Helping Hand Program, providing area families with grants that help pay for a variety of autism treatments and therapies, typically not covered by a health insurance plans or other third parties.

So far, over 40 families have already been awarded a grant in 2009, however, another 60 are waiting to be funded. We at NAA-NEO hope to raise enough money to give a grant to every child and family who asked for help so that they also can receive assistance with paying for supports and services such as speech, occupational, behavioral or music therapies; tuition, camp costs, and respite care;

medical care such as doctors visits and neurological care, medical testing, medications and supplements, special toys and equipment and others.

Everyone who purchased a ticket to the Dan Zanes and Friends concert for Friday is also helping this great cause! We would like to thank for your support on behalf of children with autism and families!

About the National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio (NAA-NEO)

NAA-NEO is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization formed in December 2006, a local chapter to the already well established national organization called the National Autism Association (NAA). NAA-NEO's mission is to help individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families access necessary treatments for autism in Northeast Ohio.

For more information please visit our website:

www.autismnortheastohio.org

Inquiries and tax-deductible donations

Inquiries and tax-deductible donations can be placed online or may be sent to the National Autism Association of Northeast Ohio (NAA-NEO) at P.O. Box 221195, Beachwood, Ohio 44122 or via email to dpattison@....

What is autism?

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition which affects as many as 1 in every 150 children born in the United States. This disorder affects boys more often than girls and it causes significant problems with social skills, behavior, and communication. Autism can affect any child, in any family, and it knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries.

Parents of children with autism can experience significant stressors due to the physical, psychological and financial demands of raising a child with autism.

In the Cleveland area, parents are challenged to fund necessary interventions which can cost as much as $70,000 per year for one child. Insurance companies often do not pay for these interventions and some children are unable to access needed services due to a lack of financial resources.

Dan Zanes in the Local and National Media

Exclusive Interview with Dan Zanes by Cool Cleveland's Mulready

WCPN Around Noon Show featuring Dan Zanes on 3/27/09

Look for Dan Zanes under Hot Picks!

In-studio Interview with Dan Zanes

Friday 3/27/09 at 11:00 AM

AutismOne Radio

Featuring the show and NAA-NEO President Don Pattison on 3/25 at 11 AM

Media Sponsor

This message was sent from National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio. It was sent from: NAA-NEO, P. O. Box 221195, Beachwood, OH 44122.