Kim West, LCSW-C, also known as the "Sleep Lady", is a licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Annapolis. She is also the coordinator of the new behavioral sleep service at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. Ms. West provides behavioral sleep consultations to help parents create and maintain healthy sleep habits for their children.

Ms. West has contacted our chapter and made a request for assistance.  This request arises from the fact that she has received several inquiries from parents of autistic children who are experiencing sleep-related problems. As you may be aware, there is little research or literature written on behavioral sleep problems in children with autism.

In an effort to provide the best service she can, Ms. West would like to hear from parents of children with autism and obtain information about the kinds of sleep-related problems you have experienced and any creative solutions you have found helpful. Your information will help her better understand the differences and similarities of sleep-related problems in children with and without autism and how to best help the parents she works with in addressing these problems.

Please send your information to her by e-mail at: kim@sleeplady.com or by mail to:  Kim West, 528 College Parkway, Suite G, Annapolis, MD 21401.

For more information about her work, you can visit her website at www.sleeplady.com.  If you are interested, Ms. West is available for individual consultations at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.  For more information, call (410) 578-5323.

We have formed an e-group for fathers who have children with autism. The group is an extension of the ASA conference presentation, "For Dad's Only."  We hope this will be a valuable asset to the autism community, and offer ideas, support, and information to all the dads out there.

To subscribe, go to: AutDads-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To post a message: AutDads@yahoogroups.com

Thanks to Cheryl Kelley, Autism Society of Delaware, for setting this up.  She says she will not be monitoring the site, only administrating it.