We Are In Our New Home!

Happy Friday everyone!!! I'm here with all of my friends at Unicorn Children's Foundation in our new home! Update your address books:

21100 Ruth & Baron Coleman Blvd,Suite 250Boca Raton, Florida 33428

Unicorn Village Academy Featured on WPTV Newschannel 5

The students of Unicorn Village Academy were highlighted in yesterday's amazing piece on WPTV Newschannel 5. Watch as parent and Unicorn Village Academy's Administrative Assistant, Carol Nigro, expresses her joy and appreciation for this unique school as her son, Matthew, comes out of his shell.

Click here to watch the story.

Unicorn on WPTV Tonight!

Hey West Palm Beachers! Set your DVRs, because Unicorn Village Academy is going to be featured TONIGHT on WPTV NewsChannel 5 at 6pm! Tune in!

Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass Photos Now Online!

Presented by United Capital and Blue Martini Boca Raton.

Media Sponsor: Eye On South Florida

On August 22, 2013, we raised a glass for the awareness of Neurodiversity. These are children and young adults who think, learn and communicate differently. 

Click here to view all photos.

Did You Miss Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass?

If you missed Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass this past Thursday at Blue Martini Boca Raton, don't worry, because Eye On South Florida has highlights you can watch here!

Thank You!!

We would like to thank everyone who came out last night to Blue Martini Boca Raton for making Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass such a BIG success! We would especially like to thank our Event Chair, Nicole Flier, and our sponsors United Capital, Blue Martini, Boca Raton Florida and Eye On South Florida for all of their generous support! Thank you to Sunshine State Health Plan for being the ultimate VIP supporter! Last but certainly not least, thank you to Gregory's Fine Jewelry for the beautiful earrings and Wines for Humanity In Home Wine Tastings for the Wine Tasting Experience. Together, we all make a difference!

Pre-Registration for Blue Martini Ends at NOON!

Advance ticket sales for Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass TONIGHT at Blue Martini Boca Raton ends today at 12 noon! Once the pre-registration is over, you may purchase your tickets at the door for $35. Can't wait to see you all there!

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

Help us celebrate the opening of Unicorn Village Academy!

Join us at Blue Martini Boca Raton TOMORROW, August 22nd, to help us celebrate the opening of Unicorn Village Academy by raising a glass for the awareness of neurodiversity. 

Let's all say "Cheers" to a great year!

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

Time is Running Out!

Time is running out to secure your tickets in advance for Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass at Blue Martini Boca Raton for THIS Thursday, August 22nd! 

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

Lighting, seating, paint key in welcoming autistic students to new school | Education - WPBF Home

Unicorn Village Academy is a custom-designed school to fit every student's needs. Check out this great footage from WPBF 25 News of the school's president, Lori Cabrera, demonstrating the unique chairs.

Lighting, seating, paint key in welcoming autistic students to new school | Education - WPBF Home

Unicorn Village Academy Drum Circle

Check out the students of Unicorn Village Academy in a drum circle on their first day of school yesterday in music class!

Unicorn Village Academy on WPBF Channel 25

Here's the story on Unicorn Village Academy on WPBF Channel 25 in case you missed it!!!

http://m.wpbf.com/school-for-specialneeds-students-opens-in-boca-raton/-/17441378/21526602/-/nsv3r/-/index.html

First Day of School for Unicorn Village Academy

Dreams come true: Today is the first day of school for Unicorn Village Academy, preparing students with neurodiversity for life!!!! We couldn't have done this without the generous support of ALL of you. We did it!!!

Have a great time for a great cause!

Only less than a week left to purchase your tickets for Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass in advance! Have a great time for a great cause!

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

Casino Royale Tickets Now On Sale!

We are excited to announce that tickets are now available for purchase online for Casino Royale on November 9, 2013 at Ferretti Group Yacht Marina! 

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/casino/

Unicorn Children's Foundation is Moving!!

Unicorn Children's Foundation is moving today!!!! The nameless Unicorn is sadder than ever.

Sharon's office is ready to go!

"I'll help you move those heavy boxes!"

Moving a big, heavy bookcase is hard work!

Looking for something exciting to do next Thursday night?

Join United Capital, Blue Martini Boca Raton, and Eye On South Florida at Blue Martini, Boca Raton Florida for a fun evening as part of Boca Festival Days 2013.

http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

Induced Labor Linked to Higher Autism Risk

Published: Aug 12, 2013

By Charles Bankhead, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

The odds of autism increased significantly in children whose mothers gave birth with induced or augmented labor, a study of more than 600,000 births showed.

Overall, the likelihood of autism increased by 23% in association with induced or augmented labor as compared with children whose mothers had unassisted labor, Simon G. Gregory, PhD, of Duke University, and colleagues reported inJAMA Pediatrics.

Induction only, augmentation only, or the combination all were associated with significantly increased odds of autism. The magnitude of increased risk was similar to that associated with fetal distress, meconium, prematurity, and maternal diabetes, they said.

"While these results are interesting, further investigation is needed to differentiate among potential explanations of the association including underlying pregnancy conditions requiring the eventual need to induce/augment, the events of labor and delivery associated with induction/augmentation, and the specific treatments and dosing used to induce/augment labor," the authors concluded.

Autism has a prevalence of about 1.1% among children in the U.S. Etiology remains unknown, but most studies have focused on genetic predisposition. Some of the same studies, however, have yielded discordant results suggesting a potential contribution of environmental factors toward dysregulation of developmental processes, the authors noted.

A recent study of twins provided evidence that environmental factors may influence susceptibility to autism during prenatal and early postnatal development. Within that time frame, one potential contributor is labor induction or augmentation.

To investigate the role of induced or assisted labor in autism, Gregory and colleagues analyzed data from the North Carolina Education Research Data Center, which maintains records on all children in North Carolina public schools, including a designation for autism.

The study included birth records of children born during 1990 to 1998 linked to educational data from the school years 1997-1998 and 2007-2008. Using designators employed by the North Carolina Detailed Birth Record, investigators separated births into four classifications: no labor induction or augmentation, labor induction only, augmentation only, or both induction and augmentation.

The final analysis included 625,042 live births, including 5,648 children with a designation for autism. Statistical analyses included a variety of covariates within the categories of events of labor and delivery, mode of delivery, maternal medical conditions, and birth outcome status.

Consistent with the known sex distribution of autism, boys accounted for three-fourths of the cases. Induced/augmented labor occurred more often in association with autism in both sexes. Children with autism also had higher rates of fetal distress or meconium.

The results showed a consistent pattern of increased odds for autism among children whose mothers had induced or augmented labor:

• Induced/augmented versus none: odds ratio 1.23 (95% CI 1.02-1.47)
• Induced only: OR 1.10 (95% CI 1.01-1.19)
• Augmented only: OR 1.15 (95% CI 1.07-1.24)
• Induction and augmentation: OR 1.27 (95% CI 1.05-1.52)

Compared with girls, boys exhibited increased odds of autism diagnosis (OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.86-3.24).

Other factors associated with increased odds of an autism diagnosis were fetal distress (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15-1.36), meconium (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.11-1.34), birth ≤34 weeks (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.11-1.41), and maternal diabetes (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.41).

Non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, older maternal age, higher maternal education, and first born in birth order also increased the odds of an autism diagnosis. Mode of delivery (vaginal versus cesarean) did not affect the odds.

Given the documented benefits of labor induction and augmentation and lack of understanding about the nature of the association with autism, the authors emphasized that the results "are not sufficient to suggest altering the standard of care regarding induction or augmentation; our results do suggest that additional research is warranted."

"We haven't established cause and effect," Gregory told MedPage Today. "We know that there are circumstances surrounding birth which have resulted in an elevated risk in autism, but we can't establish that it's the induction or augmentation process itself. It could be maternal health, it could be fetal health, or it could be the induction or augmentation process itself. We haven't made that link yet."

Despite the study's large, diverse, modern population sample, the need for more research is clear, said Susan Hyman, MD, of the University of Rochester in New York.

"I would urge families to have open lines of communication with their healthcare provider so they can discuss indications for induction," Hyman told MedPage Today. "However, the literature regarding the improvements in neonatal morbidity and mortality cannot be forgotten."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends general developmental screening that includes autism-specific screening of children at 18 and 24 months and ongoing surveillance for all children, irrespective of labor induction or augmentation, she added.

The study was supported by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Autism/40952

Let's Celebrate!

Unicorn Children's Foundation is moving, Unicorn Village Academy is opening, and it's time to celebrate! Come out to Blue Martini Boca Raton next Thursday, August 22nd to join us in raising a glass for the awareness of Neurodiversity. Bring a friend, and let's have some fun!

http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

Back to School Tips for Families of Children with Special Needs

A new school year means a new grade, new teachers, new goals, and maybe even a new school! This list was created to help you and your child with special needs be as successful as you can be, and to help make the transition into a new school year a little easier.

http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/backtoschool/

Make a Difference for Children and Young Adults at Blue Martini

Make a Difference for Children and Young Adults at Blue Martini Boca Raton

http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

10 Days Until Unicorn Village Academy Opens Its Doors!

For more information visit http://unicornvillageacademy.org/

It is classroom setup day at Unicorn Village Academy. Teachers have arrived.

First Unicorn Village Academy staff meeting in the conference room.

Computer lab at Unicorn Village Academy. Thanks JA World for donating the computer workstations and chairs.

Conference room at Unicorn Children's Foundation and Unicorn Village Academy new location. Thanks JA World for the chair donation. Now, all we need is a conference table.

Unicorn Village Academy Featured in West Boca Forum

New high school for students with autism opens in West Boca. 

For larger images, visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/press/press-releases/westbocaforum8713/

11 Days!

11 Days until the first day of school for Unicorn Village Academy! Read more in this incredible article!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/west-boca/fl-brf-unicorn-0807-20130807,0,1611759.story

Sun Sentinel August 7, 2013

Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass was featured in today's calendar listings in the Sun Sentinel!

Purchase your tickets by going to http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/ 

12 Days!

12 more days until our dreams become a reality!

Visit http://unicornvillageacademy.org/

Unicorn in Atlantic Ave Magazine!

Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass was featured in the latest issue of Atlantic Ave Magazine! Pick up your copy today and join us on Thursday, August 22nd at Blue Martini Boca Raton! See you there!

http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini/

13 Days!

We are just 13 days away from opening the doors of Unicorn Village Academy to its first class of students!!

South Florida's Young Leaders in Philanthropy 2013

Simply The Best Magazine, Max Tucci, and Sarah Hassan invite you to honor South Florida's Young Leaders in Philanthropy 2013.

Honorees: 
BRONSEN BLOOM
JASON BRIAN
EVAN GOLDEN
MELKY JEAN
ADAM KAYCE
CHELSEA KROST
WILLIAM KRUEGEL
HALEY MOSS
KATE VOLMAN
JESSICA WADE PFEFFER

With a Special Appreciation Award Given by: Unicorn Children's Foundation

Suggested $25 Donation At The Door Benefitting Unicorn Children’s Foundation

Live Coverage by: Eye On South Florida

RSVP to 561-620-9377 or RSVP@UnicornChildrensFoundation.org

For more information, visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/ylinp/

Make a donation in a Young Leader in Philanthropy's honor: http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/ylinp/

Great resources on neurodiversity

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/jkp/

Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass with Eye on South Florida!

Raise Awareness, Raise a Glass is fast-approaching, and there is still time to secure your tickets in advance! Eye On South Florida will be there! Will you? 

Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/martini

Eye on South Florida Announced as Media Partner!

We are thrilled to have Eye On South Florida as our Media Partner! Keep an eye out for them at our upcoming events and "Like" them on Facebook for continuing coverage. Check out their fabulous video from Buddha Ball!

Read more here.