Any references within the site and the Virtual Village have not been pre-screened or qualified; the website owner and/or developer are not liable for direct or indirect circumstances resulting from the use of this site and/or any of its contents including resources listed herein.

You are invited to join and share ...

CREATIVE THERAPIST or FACILITATOR Database

SERVICE PROVIDER Database

FACILITATION and VENUE Database

This site allows you to set up small independent local groups, designed to suit you. They can be designed for any age, any size, and for any purpose. Although Asperger's Syndrome is the focus of this site, the same free network can be used for groups for your purpose. We would appreciate your feedback to us so that we can share your success and example with others.

The CEA Virtual Village

Traditionally, a village provided a space for people of a variety of skills to come together, to share and teach in a cooperative community spirit. Examples include the quilting circles and sharing the building of houses. Being "connected" to others in our community is important for health and wellbeing. Those who are lacking in social skills are particularly vulnerable in a modern world where the emphasis is on skill building rather than relationship building.

The CEA Virtual Village offers a place for people to come together and share their experience and skills -- not just to build skills but to use creative expressive activities to build relationships. There is an opportunity to enjoy a variety of activities -- the common element is the ability to use an activity to express genuine individuality, offer and value each other for the unique individuals we are and the unique contribution we have to make.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO JOIN THE CEA VIRTUAL VILLAGE

Clicking the above image will take you to the Yahoo Group CEA_Asperger . Once there, you can either "sign up" or "sign in".

This is easy, free, and private, and doesn't commit you to anything. As a member of the Yahoo group CEA_Asperger, you are invited to add your details to the database/s, chat with others, share photos, and ideas, and so on....

This really is as a village and its growth will be defined by its members.

Please take the time to enter your details. Good ideas are only useful when they're implemented. Looking forward to your participation.

LOCAL GROUP Database: If you would like to be part of an ongoing discussion of the value of recreational / creative / expressive activities or form a local group or be a point of contact, CLICK HERE

For Those With Asperger Traits and Their Families

	Would you like your children to participate in creative expressive activities?
	Would you like to form a local independent group for individuals with Autistic / Asperger traits to share creative expressive activities, perhaps include friends, family, or non-Asperger peers?
	Would you like to maintain a continuity of relationships and themes but change activities according to individual interest and need?
	Would you like to access qualified local professionals who can meet your needs and provide teaching or facilitation?
	Would you like a group that is small, close to home, responsive to member's needs, and easy to organize?
	Do you have an existing group that you would like to share experiences, activities, and cost?

Within the CEA Virtual Village, individuals are able to find a variety of resources to benefit from creative expressive activities. The most direct communication is through email that is open to all members, provides an opportunity to share needs and/or resources to all other members, and potentially begin to develop relationships that in turn can result in a CEA Group. All members may view and add a wide variety of links including product and service providers, articles specific to Asperger's Syndrome, parent advocacy and support organizations, publications, educational resources, and "special art" websites. In addition, several directories are available to add and view resources to help bring groups together -- Local Group Database, Creative Instructor / Therapist Database, Service Provider Database, and Facilitation and Venue Database. This information is not provided as an advertisement or endorsement, but rather as a shared resource to assist families, caregivers, and individuals with Asperger's to experience and enjoy the benefits of creative expressive activities. BACK TO TOP

CREATIVE INSTRUCTOR / THERAPIST Database: If you would like to be part of the Creative Expressive Activities network, please add your details to this database, CLICK HERE

For Those Who Have a Skill to Share and an Interest in Asperger’s Syndrome

	Are you an instructor or therapist who works with creative expressive activities?
	Are you available to teach small groups of three or four?
	Would you like to meet others in your community, to educate and share with them the unique contribution that you can make and benefits of your activity?
	Would you like to use the opportunity of building personal and professional relationships that have the potential to spread beyond these groups themselves?
	Are you willing to communicate a cost to be shared across a group of parents whose children can benefit from your experience?

Whether you are a teacher, a therapist, or a creative professional, you can use the CEA Virtual Village as a means to communicate your skills and expertise. The Virtual Village is an opportunity to meet with families and other professionals who have an interest in the therapeutic and innately therapeutic value of creative expressive activities. The CEA Virtual Village is a support and service network to build relationships that may provide short-term experiences within an ongoing structure or with ongoing themes. If you are qualified and experienced to teach or lead a group in a particular area, and are flexible enough to meet individual needs, you are invited to add your contact information to one of the directories listed in the Database section of the CEA Virtual Village. If you have a website available, please add it to one of the numbered folders in the Links section of the Village. BACK TO TOP

SERVICE PROVIDER Database: If you would like to be part of the Creative Expressive Activities network, please add your details to this database, CLICK HERE

For Those Who Have Products or Services to Benefit the Asperger Community

	Do you have a product or service presentation to share with a CEA Group?
	Are you able to donate musical instruments, artistic supplies, or other materials to a CEA Group?
	Is your product or service beneficial to a particular age group or geographic area?
	Do you have a calendar event in which a CEA Group may be interested in participating?

One of the primary goals within the CEA Virtual Village is to develop and establish a local resource guide with information to support geographic Asperger communities. Initially this will be a result of product and service vendors listing their websites in the folders provided in the Links section of the Village. As part of this effort, CEA invites product and service providers with new and emerging creative learning alternatives for individuals within the Asperger community to add their website in the Links section of the Village. Equally important are community associations and organizations that support Asperger talents and handiworks. While the CEA website displays works of art from within the Asperger community, organizations and businesses that promote and display the talents and handiworks of the Asperger community are also welcome to add their websites. BACK TO TOP

FACILITATION and VENUE Database: If you are community-minded and have a desire to help coordinate efforts in your local geographic area, you are invited to add your contact information to the Facilitator Directory in the Database section of the Village, CLICK HERE

For Those Who Have Coordination Skills or Meeting Space to Assist in the Facilitation of CEA Groups

Are you willing to be a point of contact for local parents who are interested in forming small groups?

Are you aware of specific libraries, community centers, or colleges with "free" meeting space available on a regular basis? Do you enjoy coordinating activities for small groups?

Are you able to build local community relationships that would benefit the CEA Virtual Village?

Can you investigate other community events and activities that would benefit from the CEA Virtual Village?

The virtual nature of this Village provides for geographic diversity. Creative Groups can support the special needs of individual communities as needed. They do not maintain a fixed structure but would benefit from individuals who are community-centered and who may be able to connect families and providers within available meeting places. Within the structure of the CEA Virtual Village, a variety of directories have been set up to either ad or view information specific to need and resources. While initial contacts can be made through emails that reach all members, specific Creative Groups can communicate directly with each other in the Chat area of the Village. In fact, a Creative Group may want to create their own name and then share information across similar groups. BACK TO TOP