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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," OUR "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" CONTINUES WITH A CANDIDATE RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN ARIZONA'S 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL LOOK AT THE STATE'S WILDFIRE FORECAST, AND THE SOUTHWEST AUTISM AND RESOURCE CENTER IS ENROLLING KIDS IN COMMUNITY SCHOOL.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH OUR AZ VOTES "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION," AS WE HEAR FROM A CANDIDATE RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR ARIZONA'S 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

KAI NEWKIRK IS CO-CHAIR OF THE PROGRESSIVE COUNCIL, AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE IN THE CD4 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE BUT DID NOT ACCEPT ANY OF THE DATES OFFERED.

KAI NEWKIRK, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

TED: YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT AND RUNNING AGAINST A DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, WHY?

>> I THINK WE'RE IN A TIME OF CRISIS AND EMERGENCY FOR OUR COUNTRY.

WE'RE LIVING UNDER AN AUTHORITARIAN TYRANT.

MASKED GUNMAN SHOOTING DOWN PEOPLE IN THE STREETS.

COSTS OF LIVING ARE HARDER AND HARDER FOR MOST OF US TO AFFORD.

WE HAVE CRIMINAL WARS HAPPENING AND GENOCIDE ABROAD THAT OUR NATION IS COMPLICIT IN.

I'M RUNNING TO FLIP THE TABLES IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS A CORRUPT AND AUTHORITARIAN STATUS QUO, AND I THINK OUR INCUMBENT HAS NOT STOOD UP TO THAT, HAS NOT FOUGHT IT AND HAS BEEN COMPLICIT IN THAT, AND MOST DEMOCRATS DISAGREE WITH THAT AND DESERVE A CHOICE.

TED: HOW COULD HE HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE SOUNDS LIKE HE'S NOT AGGRESSIVE IN OPPOSING THE PRESIDENT.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> GREG STANTON VOTED AGAINST IMPEACHING TRUMP, AND I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

I'VE BEEN LEADING IN THE STREETS, ORGANIZING PROTESTS, PUSHING BACK IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE AGAIN, AND INCUMBENT JOINED -- I THINK THE FIRST TIME HE JOINED ARIZONANS IN THE STREETS WAS LAST JUNE AFTER AN EMERGENCY UNFOLDING FOR MANY MONTHS, AND IN TERMS OF I.C.E., HE VOTED FOR THE LAKEN RILEY ACT THAT GAVE MORE POWER TO I.C.E.

TO DETAIN AND DEPORT IMMIGRANTS.

JUST THE OTHER DAY, HE VOTED TO GIVE MORE POWER TO I.C.E.

AGAIN TO CARRY OUT SURVEILLANCE WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS.

>> BOTH DEMOCRATIC SENATORS VOTED FOR THE LAKEN RILEY ACT?

>> I THINK THEY WERE WRONG AS WELL.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES AGREES WITH ME, AS WELL AS YASSAMIN ANSARI AND ADELITA GRIJALVA, AND THEY VOTED AGAINST THIS BILL THAT STANTON JUST VOTED FOR.

SOMETIMES THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS IN OUR PARTY, BUT IT'S A DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WE HAVE DEBATES AND WE'RE GOING TO LEGISLATE THESE ISSUES AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS AGREE WITH ME.

TED: IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED AND CHARGED OF PROPERTY AND/OR VIOLENT CRIMES SHOULD BE DETAINED.

THAT IS WHAT THE ACT CALLS FOR.

SHOULD THEY NOT BE DETAINED?

>> MAKES IT MANDATORY DETENTION.

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED OR CHARGED, SO IT WAS A MAJOR STEP IN THE EROSION OF DUE PROCESS, WHICH NOW WE'VE SEEN GO TO THE EXTREMES OF CITIZENS AND GREEN CARD HOLDERS AND VETERANS BEING DETAINED, BEING DEPORTED, BEING ABUSED AND INJURED AND KILLED.

THIS IS THE FIRST FIGHT WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO GO AROUND THE DIRECTION OF VAST DEPORTATION OR UPHOLD THE STATUTE OF LIBERTY, UNACCEPTABLE.

TED: NOT MANDATORY DETAINING OF THE FOLKS, IS THAT WHAT DEMOCRATS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE LOOKING FOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO STAND UP TO THE ABUSES FROM I.C.E.

END AND THEM.

IN MY VIEW, THIS AGENCY, FOUNDED IN 2003 AFTER 9/11 TO TAKE A COUNTERTERRORISM APPROACH TO THE CIVIL MATTER OF IMMIGRATION, HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE A DISASTER.

A THREAT NOT ONLY TO THE LIVES, NOT ONLY TO OUR RIGHTS BUT THE LIVES AMERICAN CITIZENS AS WELL AS IMMIGRANTS.

NEEDS TO BE DISBANDED.

WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE IT TO PUT HUMANITY AT CENTER THE.

TED: YOU THINK DEMOCRATS IN THE DISTRICT WOULD GO ALONG WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

A GENERAL ELECTION, DO YOU THINK THE GENERAL POPULATION -- THIS IS CD1, THIS IS A MODERATE BUT LEFT LEANING DISTRICT, THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS REGISTERED IN THE DISTRICT, YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO FLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE ARE HORRIFIED BY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

TRUMP VOTERS SAID I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THIS.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT DISORDER AT THE BORDER, BUT NEVER WANTED THIS AUTHORITARIAN AND VIOLENT INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT.

WE'VE GOT POLLING THAT SHOWS US THAT'S WHY TRUMP HAS BACKED OFF, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STANDING UP AND ORGANIZING IN MINNEAPOLIS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SEEN THE BACKLASH.

NOBODY WANTED TO SEE MOTHERS DRAGGED AWAY FROM CHILDREN CRYING AND SCREAMING.

WE TRUST UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN, TO CARE FOR OUR ELDERS, TO GROW AND SERVE OUR FOOD, TO BUILD OUR HOMES, AND YET SOMEHOW NOT TO HAVE THE FULL RIGHTS, BE PROTECTED IN THIS COUNTRY AND BE EQUAL CITIZENS.

IT'S WRONG AND NEEDS TO CHANGE AND MOST DEMOCRATS AND AMERICANS ARE WITH ME.

TED: YOU MENTIONED STANTON COMPLICIT WITH THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT TOO DEEPLY, WHAT SHOULD UNITED STATES HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE HAMAS ATTACKS ON OCTOBER 7?

>> SHOULD HAVE STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE HARMED AND TRIED TO GET THE HOSTAGES OUT, BUT NEVER GIVEN MILITARY AID TO A NATION THAT'S GOING TO CARRY OUT WAR CRIMES UPON WAR CRIMES AND NOW CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

CRIMES WERE NOT JUSTIFICATION FOR MORE OF THEM, AND WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, THE SAME ONE THAT MOST DEMOCRATS AND AMERICANS LAUDED WHEN THEY INDICTED PUTIN FOR WAR CRIMES, WHEN THEY INDICTED HAMAS LEADERS AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU FOR WAR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

STANTON DIDN'T VOTE TO SANCTION THE WAR CRIMINALS, HE VOTED TO SANCTION THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

THAT'S WRONG, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE SENDING MONEY TO GET BOMBS THAT ARE CRUSHING AND KILLING CHILDREN.

TED: HE ALSO SUPPORTS A CEASE-FIRE AND HAS SUPPORTED A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

>> YEAH, WELL, I WAS PART OF THE DELEGATION TO HIS OFFICE IN A MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN AND JEWISH CONSTITUENTS.

MONTHS LATER HE CAME OUT WITH A WEAK AND CONDITIONAL CEASE-FIRE, TIME AND TIME AGAIN HE VOTED FOR UNCONDITIONAL MILITARY AID, THEY VIOLATE OUR LAWS INCLUDING THE LEAHY LAW, VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW, AS WELL AS ENDANGERING AMERICANS.

13 AMERICAN SOLDERS HAVE DIED IN THE WAR IN IRAN NOW.

WE WOULD NOT BE IN THE WAR IF NOT NETANYAHU AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT PUSHING US TO BE IN THAT.

HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY COMPLICIT IN A GENOCIDE AND WAR CRIMES AND DEMOCRATIC VOTERS HAVE HAD IT WITH THAT.

TED: I NEED TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

I DID NOT SAY THAT, YOU SAID THAT HE WAS ACTIVELY COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE.

YOU MENTIONED YOU WERE PROTESTING A CERTAIN SPOT.

YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF PROTESTS AND YOU'VE BEEN ARRESTED UP TO 30 TIMES, IS THAT TRUE?

>> OVER 25 TIMES.

TED: IS THAT A POINT OF PRIDE FOR YOU?

AGAIN, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT VOTERS, DEMOCRATIC VOTERS NOW, AND CONGRESSIONAL -- THIS PARTICULAR DISTRICT, THAT THEY WANT TO SEE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN -- THOSE ARRESTS WERE NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, THEY ARE A BADGE OF HONOR NOT A MARK OF SHAME.

DR.

KING WAS ARRESTED 29 TIMES IN ACTS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, DOLORES HUERTA, 25 TIMES AS WELL.

FOR ME THE QUESTION TO SOMEONE LIKE STANTON OR ANYBODY HAS AN ISSUE IS WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE CRISES AND THE INJUSTICE HAPPENING IN YOUR COUNTRY?

THIS IS A TOOL USED TO WIN SUFFRAGE, TO END JIM CROW OR DACA FOR DREAMERS.

I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRATS WE TALKED TO ON THEIR DOORS WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO FIGHT AND STAND UP TO TRUMP'S AUTHORITARIANISM, AND I HAVE A RECORD TO STANDING UP TO INJUSTICE, AND PUTTING FREEDOM AND SAFETY ON THE LINE.

TED: DO YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF COMPROMISE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WORD COMPROMISE?

IF YOU WERE TO GO TO CONGRESS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET YOUR WAY IN A LOT OF WAYS, AND YOU HAVE TO WORK -- DO YOU WORK WELL WITH OTHER PEOPLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: AND CAN YOU COMPROMISE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I LOVE THE NONVIOLENT TRADITION I'M ROOTED IN IS FIERCE AND STANDING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE AND SAYING NO, I WILL RISK SAFETY AND FREEDOM, POTENTIALLY MY LIFE.

BUT HAS AN OPEN HAND TO SAY WE'RE SEEKING NOT TO DESTROY ANYONE, WE DON'T HATE ANYONE, WE HATE THE SIN, NOT THE SINNER AND SEEK RECONCILIATION.

I'VE WORKED WITH REPUBLICANS IN MANY CAMPAIGNS I'M PART OF.

WORKED WITH PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE WITH ME ON ISSUES.

I LOVE THAT, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND FIND OUR COMMON GROUND AS HUMAN BEINGS AND PEOPLE THAT SHARE INTERESTS.

YOU MIGHT BE REPUBLICAN, VOTED FOR TRUMP, BUT UTILITY RATES ARE GOING UP.

I WANT TO BAN GROCERY PRICE GOUGING, YOU ARE GETTING SCREWED OVER FIGHTING WITH HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY WHEN YOU ARE SICK.

WE HAVE COMMON GROUND TO BUILD.

I WANT TO BRING COSTS DOWN AND FIGHT FOR ALL WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE.

TED: LAST QUESTION, YOU SAY HE'S COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE, NOT STANDING UP TO I.C.E., NOT STANDING UP TO TRUMP, NOT STANDING UP TO ANYTHING, NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH HERE.

WILL YOU SUPPORT HIM, CONGRESSMAN STANTON IF HE WINS?

>> I'VE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

WE NEED AN ANTIFASCIST COALITION, IF HE WINS THE MAJORITY, I'LL BACK HIM.

IT'S A SOLID BLUE STATE, WHOEVER WINS THE PRIMARY WILL WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I WOULD HOPE HE WOULD SAY THE SAME TO SUPPORT ME AS WELL.

TED: KAI NEWKIRK, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 4, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

OUR NEXT "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" IS TUESDAY JUNE 9th, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR PRIMARY IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1.

ALL EPISODES OF "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" ARE LIVESTREAMED ON YouTube AT AZPBS NOW AND VIEWED AS WELL ON AZPBS.ORG.

.

TED: ARIZONA'S HISTORICALLY HOT TEMPERATURES IN MARCH ALONG WITH CONTINUES DROUGHT CONDITIONS COULD MEAN A DIFFICULT FIRE SEASON IN STATE.

WE WELCOME JOHN TRUETT, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

TED: I ASK WHAT WILDFIRE IS EXPECTED, BUT I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT MARCH HAD US IN A PANIC REALLY BECAUSE OF THE 100 DEGREES THAT WE HAD.

WE WERE LOOKING AT EARLY ACTIVE FIRE SEASON.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WE HAD EVEN BELOW, IT'S HELPED US OUT.

I THINK WE'RE DODGING A BULLET RIGHT NOW WITH THAT WEATHER THAT'S IN HERE RIGHT NOW.

OUR OVERNIGHT LOWS AREN'T WARM ENOUGH TO CARRY FIRE OVERNIGHT, WE'RE HOLDING OUR OWN RIGHT NOW.

TED: OKAY, THE FIRE SEASON, WHEN DOES IT USUALLY START?

>> YOU KNOW, WE START GETTING FIRES THAT CARRY OVERNIGHT, IT'S USUALLY MID-APRIL, AROUND THAT RANGE.

TED: AND STARTED EARLIER THIS GO-AROUND?

>> WE HAD SMALL INITIAL ATTACK FIRES EARLY ON.

IT STARTED US BUSY, CONSISTENT WITH THE SMALLER FIRES.

>> AND LASTS UNTIL, WHAT, THE HEIST THE MONSOON?

>> UNTIL WE GET THE MONSOONS IN, AND MONSOONS HAVE BEEN SO INCONSISTENT THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE CAN'T COUNT ON A SEASON ENDING EVENT.

TED: INTERESTING, SUPER EL NINO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THIS SHOW, IS THAT SOMETHING -- IT'S PROMISING, IS IT NOT?

>> VERY PROMISING.

IN THE FIRE SERVICE WE'RE CLOSE WITH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, AND WE RELY ON THEIR INTEL, AND ALL THE MODELS ARE LOOKING AT AND ALL AGREEANCE ARE LOOKING AT WE'LL HAVE A WET MONSOON SEASON.

TED: WET MONSOON SEASON AND ACTIVE MONSOON, DOESN'T THAT ALSO MEAN LIGHTNING STRIKES?

>> THE FIRST PART OF IT, YES, THE LAST SURGE, WE HAD A LOT OF LIGHTNING, ISOLATED POCKETS OF MOISTURE, THAT WAS A CONCERN FOR US, BUT FORTUNATELY NONE OF THOSE STRIKES TOOK OFF.

>> THE IMPACT OF URBAN SPRAWL, WHETHER IT'S PHOENIX, FLAGSTAFF, TUCSON, WHAT IS THAT DOING AS FAR AS FIGHTING WILDFIRES IS CONCERNED?

>> PUT A DRAW ON THE RESOURCES.

NOW YOU'RE PUTTING A LOT OF IGNITION SOURCES THROUGH THE WHERE THERE NEVER WERE BEFORE.

WE HAVE URBAN SPRAWL OUTSIDE OF PROTECTED DISTRICTS.

IT FALLS ON THE STATE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE NONE OF THE DISTRICTS WILL BE ABLE TO ABSORB THE URBAN SPRAWLS.

GOING TO BE OUT THERE, A PROBLEM FOR THE HOME OWNERS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET INSURANCE OUT THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY TOUGH FOR THAT KIND OF PROTECTION.

TED: INTERESTING, VERY GOOD POINT.

I REMEMBER DRIVING YEARS AGO DRIVING UP THE BEE LINE AND FURTHER UP.

BARK BEETLE INFESTATION WAS HORRENDOUS, I'M ASSUMING IT'S NOT MUCH BETTER, WHAT'S IT MEAN FOR WILDFIRES?

>> MAKES ALL THE PONDEROSA STAND RIGHT NOW.

ONCE THAT FALSE OFF, MAYBE LIGHTEN IT UP.

WHEREVER YOU SEE THE DROUGHT PATTERN, THAT'S WHERE THE BUG KILL IS HAPPENING.

TED: AS FAR AS WILDFIRES THIS SEASON, ARE YOU EXPECTING MORE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, THE GRASSLAND, LOWER AREAS?

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE THE DESERTS GET HIT BUT THE HIGH COUNTRY IS OKAY, AND VICE VERSA?

>> EVERYTHING IS IN PLAY WITH -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUG KILL, THE DROUGHT, EVERYTHING IS IN PLAY RIGHT NOW.

TED: WHAT KIND OF PREVENTION IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

>> STAGE 1 RESTRICTIONS, PROBABLY STAGE 2 IN A FEW WEEKS.

PUBLIC EDUCATION IS VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

PUBLIC COOPERATION IS VERY HELPFUL.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF BIG FIRES RIGHT NOW.

TED: FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL, YOU GOT ENOUGH?

>> NO.

TED: YOU EVER HAVE ENOUGH?

>> NO.

TED: YOU HAVE LESS THAN YOU USED TO HAVE?

>> WE'RE HOLDING OUR OWN, BUT WITH THE DROUGHT, THE URBAN SPRAWL, THE POPULATION IS OUTPACING RESOURCE STATUS.

TED: I IMAGINE THE DROUGHT COVERS THE WEST.

OTHER STATES HAVE PROBLEMS, TOO.

USUALLY YOU COOPERATE.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS GO-AROUND?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY TAXING TO DO THAT.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BROKE FIRES LAST WEEK.

WE SENT EQUIPMENT OUT THERE BUT COULDN'T SEND AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED.

NEW MEXICO HAD AN OUTBREAK OF FIRES.

VERY, VERY LIMITED ON RESOURCES WE COULD SEND THERE.

DEEP SOUTH, FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, ALL THEM HAD FIRES WE SUPPORTED, BUT WE CAN'T SEND AS MUCH EQUIPMENT AS WE'D LIKE TO.

TED: YEAH, THE FIRE COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES, THAT'S STILL THERE?

>> STILL HUGE, YEAH.

TED: IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> YEAH.

TED: DID I READ ABOUT CAMERAS, A.I.-POWERED CAMERAS INSTALLED ALMOST AS LOOKOUTS?

>> YEAH, WE'VE GOT A.I.

CAMERAS OUT, AND THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX, HELP US DETECT SMOKE EARLY, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SMOKES, HOW VIOLENT IS THAT SMOKE?

THAT'S HOW WE CAN TELL WHAT THE FIRE BEHAVIOR UNDERNEATH THAT IS, AND GIVES US OUR RESPONSE AND RESPONSE FOR RESOURCES OUT THERE QUICKER.

TED: LAST QUESTION, AND WE'RE RUNG OUT OF TIME.

IF YOU CAN.

COMPARE FIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS UP NORTH AND DOWN HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S WIDESPREAD.

IT'S ARIZONA STATE.

EVERYTHING IS EQUAL, EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE MESSAGING AND THE EDUCATION.

TED: IF YOU LIVE UP THERE, KEEP THE TREES AWAY, AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN, SAME THING DOWN HERE, HUH?

>> EXACTLY.

THE HARDENING OF THE STRUCTURES, THE FIRE SAFE ZONE IS THE SAME, AND EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARED FROM THE STRUCTURES TO HELP US GET IN THERE AND DEFEND THAT STRUCTURE.

TED: YEAH, JOHN TRUETT, ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, BEST OF LUCK.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

.

TED: THE SOUTHWEST AUTISM RESEARCH AND RESOURCE CENTER, KNOWN AS SARCC, TO EMPHASIZE KINDERGARTEN READINESS BY FOSTERING A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

JOINING US IS SARCC'S PRESIDENT AND CEO.

GOOD DEFINITION?

IS THAT PRETTY MUCH WHAT SARCC IS.

THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> A COMBINATION OF A HIGH QUALITY AND INTENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM AND A HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL FOR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING KIDS, AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM WHERE KIDS ARE GETTING INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT AMONG THEIR PEERS WITHOUT AUTISM.

TED: FASCINATING, TALK ABOUT WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM AND WITHOUT AUTISM?

>> START WITH KIDS WITH AUTISM.

IT IS A SOCIAL DISORDER, NEVER MADE MUCH SENSE TO US TO TAKE KIDS WITH A SOCIAL DISORDER AND PUT THEM AROUND OTHER KIDS WITH A SOCIAL DISORDER, NOBODY IS TALKING AND INTERACTING.

WE WANT THEM AROUND SOCIAL EXPERTS, KIDS THAT HAVE LOTS OF LANGUAGE, LOTS OF COMMUNICATION, LOTS OF GOOD SOCIAL SKILLS AND GET THE BENEFIT OF KIDS WITH AUTISM INTERACTING WITH THOSE KIDS.

THE TYPICALLY DEVELOPING KIDS HAVE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS AS WELL.

THIS IS FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A PRESCHOOL STARTING THIS FALL.

YOU HAVE ONE TEACHER FOR EVERY THREE TO FOUR KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FIND THAT IN ANY OTHER PRESCHOOL.

YOU FIND A REALLY LOW TUITION RATE.

OUR SCHOOL GOES FROM 8:00 A.M.

TO 5:00 P.M., MOST SCHOOLS ARE 9:00 TO 1:00 P.M., AND OUR TUITION IS ABOUT $900 A MONTH IF YOU GO EVERY SINGLE DAY FIVE DAYS A WEEK, FROM 8:00 A.M.

TO 5:00 P.M.

AND YOU GET LANGUAGE ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT, IF YOU TALK TO ANY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERT, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, IF WE'RE GETTING LIMITED VERBAL KIDS TO TALK, YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING AROUND KIDS WHO TALK.

TED: NOBODY UNDERSTANDS, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDHOOD, I THINK THEY SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK IT HELPS THEM IN WAYS THEY DON'T REALIZE, AND MAY NOT REALIZE UNTIL THEY BECOME ADULTS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AT SARCC, WE ARE AS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING BEHAVIORS AND SKILLS OF EVERYONE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES WHICH THEY LIVE.

THAT'S WHY PHOENIX IS THE MOST AUTISM FRIENDLY CITY IN THE WORLD, AND STARTS IN THE PRESCHOOL WHERE THE TYPICAL KIDS LEARN ALONGSIDE KIDS WITH AUTISM.

TED: WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE?

>> YOUNGEST KIDS ARE 15 MONTHS OF AGE AND ALL THE WAY UP TO 5, 5 1/2 BEFORE KIDS GO INTO PRE-K.

TED: I SEE IT DESCRIBED AS PLAY-BASED CURRICULUM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WE'RE USING PLAY AS THE MOTIVATOR FOR TEACHING ALL SKILLS.

FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM, USING PLAY TO MOTIVATE KIDS TO TALK, TO COMMUNICATE, FOR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING KIDS, USING PLAY TO MOTIVATE THEM TO WANT TO INTERACT WITH KIDS WITH AUTISM AND USE ALL SORTS OF ACADEMIC SKILLS, PREPARING ALL KIDS FOR KINDERGARTEN.

TED: ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO -- THE FAMILY WANTS TO GET THEM INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHAT KIND OF REQUIREMENTS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THE KIDS WITH AUTISM HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS WITH AUTISM.

WE CAN HELP WITH THAT.

THE TYPICALLY DEVELOPED KIDS, WE HAVE TO VERIFY THEY DON'T HAVE AUTISM.

WE NEED TO BE SURE THEY ARE THE APPROPRIATE MODELS OF OUR KIDS WITH AUTISM.

TED: THE SCHOOL YEAR IS HOW LONG?

>> AUTISM DOESN'T TAKE OFF ON HOLIDAY BREAKS.

WE FINISH THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE, TAKE A TWO-WEEK BREAK AND START UP AFTER THE 4th OF JULY.

WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF SCHOOLS WITH TIME OFF, WE'RE ALMOST ALWAYS IN SESSION.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL.

HAVE YOU SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE PLACE, DON'T YOU?

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE FOUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS NOW IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, 18th STREET AND VAN BUREN, WE'RE IN TEMPE AT THE ST.

JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WARNER AND RURAL.

SCOTTSDALE AT 54th AND OSBORNE, AND OUR NEWEST CAMPUS IN EAST MESA AT POWER AND McKELIPS AND PURCHASED OUR SIXTH CAMPUS IN TUCSON OPENING NEXT JANUARY.

TED: WOW, YOU MENTIONED THE PHOENIX AREA AND ARIZONA REALLY IS ALMOST GROUND ZERO NOW AS FAR AS AUTISM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, EDUCATION, HOW DO WE GET THERE?

>> HOW DID WE GET THERE?

AT SARCC, I THINK HAS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.

WE HAVE GREAT UNIVERSITIES DOING GREAT RESEARCH.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS DOING MEANINGFUL WORK, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WORKED HARD TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AROUND PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND THAT'S THE BIG DRAW.

YOU CAN'T DO THIS ON YOUR OWN.

HAVING A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, STARTING WITH TYPICAL KIDS IN PRESCHOOL ALLOWS YOU TO BUILD THIS FOR EVERYBODY.

TED: THE PRESCHOOLS HAVE BEEN AROUND HOW LONG?

>> FIRST ONE OPENED IN 2006.

TED: WHERE DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE SCHOOL, SOMEONE WATCHING SAYS THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US?

>> AUTISM CENTER, ONE WORD.ORG, AND RIGHT AT THE TOP, THERE'S A BUTTON THAT SAYS REQUEST SERVICES, HIT THE BUTTON, FILL OUT A COUPLE QUESTIONS, SOMEBODY FROM THE TEAM WILL CALL YOU OR CALL 602-810 -- >> DANIEL, FROM SARCC, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.