Life Skills Gives Children With Autism Magical Day of Christmas

The annual Milk and Cookies with Santa event brought children with autism a special holiday celebration.

Tuesday night, Ladue-based Life Skills’ TouchPoint Autism Services hosted its annual Milk and Cookies with Santa, in an evening where children enjoyed music, food, and holiday activities at Sheraton Westport’s ballroom, which was decorated as a play land.  “For a few hours, all kids – no matter their ability – were able to experience the excitement of the holiday season without limitations,” according to a news release. Support dogs of all sizes and breeds were provided for the children, who played with them and posed for photos. Balloon artists, singers and joggles lit up the party for the children. Santa Claus also made an appearance at the event, handing each child a gift. Touchpoint autism services, which provides support to more than …

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Main Streaming Autistic Children: Part 2 of the Interview with Life Skill's Jeanne Marshall

Marshall goes into the emotional tug of this life changing affliction.

Part 2 of a two part interview with Jeanne Marshall, a lifetime Autism educator. Patch: Do you try and mainstream as many of your kids with Autism as is possible. Marshall: We would try and have as many of our kids in school but there has to be a very high level of support for them. Teachers don’t know how to support these students and there has to be some training along that path. We have a variety of staff who have worked 15 to 20 years to train the teachers, the parents and the grandparents. We call it natural support. We do training for teachers aids, bus drivers, EMS personnel, everybody. We do a lot of child specific consultation calls. We do inservice training for the teachers to try and get through each situation. Patch: What is …

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Jeanne Marshall: Speaks Out for The Care and Awareness of Autism, Part I

The vice president of Life Skills/TouchPoint Autism Services brings the awareness of Autism to life.

Autism impacts 1 in 88 children. In Missouri, it is more like 1 in 72. Boys are four times more likely to suffer from Autism than girls. In July 1, 2012 Life Skills, a social service agency serving Autistic needs throughout the state with some 1,300 employees merged with TouchPoint Autism Services. They work together on Corporate Square Drive in Creve Coeur. Both staffs work in consort to deal with this insideous affliction. The agency focuses its resources and attention on Jeanne Marshall, M.Ed, MA, BCBA, LBA, vice president of Life Skills/TouchPoint Autism Services is passionate about dealing with Autism. She has devoted a lifetime to professional care. Patch took some of her time for an in-depth interview: Ladue-Frontenac Patch: Jeanne …

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What's On my Mind

What's On My Mind: Life Skills

A new feature for the Ladue-Frontenac Patch

  You are reading a brand new feature on the Ladue-Frontenac Patch. Each week, Patch will feature the views of civic leaders in our midst who shape the community and make it a better place to live. We start our new endeavor with a look at Life Skills, one of the important social services in the area. What’s on My Mind? – Mark Darrell, Life Skills Board Member, General Counsel of The Laclede Group, Inc. and Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Laclede Gas Company In today’s tough economic times it is often hard to find time to volunteer in the community. We work longer hours than ever before and we’re expected to do more with less.  In spite of busy schedules, it’s important to take time to give back. I have worked hard over the …

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