Magnificent lake and mountain views await you.

Cristine Lefkowitz | 702.595.8505
cristine@lefkowitzteam.com

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Secluded country road leads to this incredibly majestic custom home.

Cristine Lefkowitz | 702.595.8505
cristine@lefkowitzteam.com

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Beautiful custom, single story home with inviting porte-cochere

Florence Shapiro | 702.378.3879
Ivan Sher | 702.400.2400
info @shapiroandsher .com

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Incredible custom masterpiece with panoramic golf course views in unique cul de sac setting.

Florence Shapiro | 702.378.3879
Ivan Sher | 702.400.2400
info @shapiroandsher .com

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Warm & inviting home featuring a serene interior courtyard and a richness of tasteful upgrades.

Florence Shapiro | 702.378.3879
Ivan Sher | 702.400.2400
info @shapiroandsher .com

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Large backyard with infinity edge pool, overlooking incredible Strip, golf course and mountain views.

Florence Shapiro | 702.378.3879
Ivan Sher | 702.400.2400
info @shapiroandsher .com

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University

Established in February 2012, the Dave Rice Foundation already has made an impact on autism awareness in the Vegas Valley. Last year, the first benefit raised an incredible $100,000 for the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at UNLV. As a result, the center began providing diagnoses for families dealing with autism, a neurological disorder that affects an individual’s development throughout his or her life.

This year, An Evening with Dave Rice, took place May 3, at Hard Rock Hotel. Donors had the opportunity to hang out with Rice and other UNLV basketball legends, as well as Vegas business leaders, personalities and dignitaries. (As of publication, we were unable to confirm how much the foundation raised on this evening, but we’re pretty sure it was an immense success.) “The response from the community has been overwhelming,” says Mindy. “We started out intending to do something small, but thanks to the generosity and time put in by our committee board, the event turned out huge.”

There is another reason why the community has rallied around the foundation and its cause. It’s because there is a serious need for education and diagnostic services in the Valley—and around the country. The Rices know this firsthand.

Long journey

Their youngest son, Dylan, was 2 years old when they noticed something was wrong. His speech was slow to develop, but doctors insisted the parents shouldn’t be concerned. Still, a mother’s instinct is usually correct. In Utah, after three frustrating years—constant doctor visits, long nights researching the problem—Dylan finally received a diagnosis: autism. By then, he’d already turned 5. Getting that far was the easy part. The real campaign was just beginning. And when the doctor told the Rices that there was nothing to be done about the diagnosis, that their son would never be normal and they should start a trust fund, the pain of that nonstrategy was palpable and is still evident in their faces today. Luckily, after that trying experience in Utah, Rice returned to UNLV, his and Mindy’s alma mater. With his new platform as head coach, the Rices decided it was time to launch a foundation. They did it to help families struggling to acquire information about autism.

“If only the doctors could have given me anything back then,” says Mindy, describing the emotionally devastating process. “A name, or a number, or a simple pamphlet. We needed a starting point in our journey through autism.”

Arriving in Las Vegas, they quickly connected with others on the issue. Rice’s assistant coach, Heath Schroyer, and UNLV Senior Associate Athletic Director D.J. Allen have children affected by autism, too. The three families were impressed with the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, especially by its director, Shannon Crozier. They spent enough time there to see the difference the center was making.

But the Rices also noticed the center was desperately in need of resources.

Center will hold

The foundation’s $100,000 contribution last July allowed the CASD to begin offering testing for children and adults as part of its community services program. With that money, the center also expanded its workshops for parents, health care providers and teaching professionals. The workshops explain how a diagnosis impacts families and offer techniques for addressing ASD-related problems at home or in the classroom.

According to Crozier, limited resources are available for autism testing in Nevada. It’s not just the testing that gets expensive, but also therapy for diagnosed kids. The CASD provides services based on a sliding scale based on income. UNLV professors and graduate students administer the skills tests required to diagnose ASD-related disabilities.

Symptoms vary from mild to severe (Dustin Hoffman’s Rain Man movie character being very severe) and can appear before age 3. ASD-diagnosed kids might have difficulty with language and social skills. They can behave unusually—obsession, aggression, tantrums, self-injuries. But the longer children go without treatment, the worse their conditions might become. Fortunately, early diagnosis and treatment of ASD increases the chance of improved behavior and academic performance.

“The sooner parents understand ASD,” says Crozier, “the better they can determine what strategies to put in place for their child.”

Playing the game

When you play a game, whatever the game may be, at some point in time, you either win or lose. As UNLV’s basketball coach, Rice knows this. However, he and his family look at their battle against autism as a game that won’t end for a long time.

“It really is a journey,” he says. “A struggle. A fight. From our perspective, it’s about our determination to make a difference.”

Rice is all too aware that UNLV hired him to win games. Period. At the same time, he realizes that if winning is his only goal in life, it will be a shallow existence. With the foundation, he and others have an opportunity to make a positive contribution. He acknowledges that his work on the foundation provides balance.

“It’s something important to us either way, whether we win or lose on the court,” he says. “We’re a family affected by autism on the spectrum, so we understand the same struggles and adversities other families go through.”

Rice also believes it’s important to show that ASD can affect anyone and that it can be treated, which is why awareness plays a central role in the foundation’s mission. There should be no shame attached to a diagnosis.

“As a man and a father, I know it can be hard to come to grips with the fact that your sons and daughters might have some sort of special need,” says Rice. “It’s important to try to remove the stigma. It’s important for me to stand up and say, ‘I’m a basketball coach at UNLV, and I have a son on the autism spectrum. We’re dealing with it.’”

The Rices are dealing with it. Their fourth-grader is the happiest kid in the world. He’s in the mainstream in school. He’s making great progress, thanks to the special services he gets in school. He’s leading a perfectly normal life.

Sense of community

Aside from his coaching job, another reason Rice was eager to return to Las Vegas was the sense of community that is fostered here. “I’ve always stressed that Las Vegas is a wonderful place to live, because people genuinely care,” he says. “Whatever the need might be, this is a community that steps up and says, ‘We will help others, whether it’s through our time or resources.’”

If the foundation can help better educate families, make it possible for a quicker and more correct diagnosis, and allow for earlier intervention, then it’s worth it. Indeed, Mindy often wishes she could take Dylan back to see the doctor who told them her son would never lead a normal life. She says, “I want to tell him, ‘Look at my son now.’”

Parents whose children are ASD-diagnosed shouldn’t feel like there’s no hope, like there’s no help or treatment available. “There’s no choice but to keep fighting and to win,” says Mindy.

“There’s no other option. ASD impacts so many children and adults. It is an epidemic. The good news is that the community is starting to see the need for awareness and there are a lot of terrific organizations working on the goal of early diagnosis and treatment.”

It’s spring break. Dylan is ready to go to karate with his older brother, a freshman at Bishop Gorman. The two have been patiently waiting for this interview to wrap up. Like any kids on vacation, they’re antsy that another no-school day is burning up.

“Ready to go, guys?” says Mindy. They are, indeed.

And like any other family in Las Vegas, the Rices are out the door and on their way.

AUTISM FACTS

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) include autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, or PDD-NOS.

ASD impairs three core areas: social interaction, communication, and repetitive, stereotyped and restricted behaviors. The exact causes of autism have not been identified. Autism may result from a combination of several “causes” both biological and environmental.

Autism is a brain disorder present from birth that affects the way the brain uses information.

Autism is one of the four most common developmental disabilities and is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.

Autism occurs in one out of 88 children—one in 54 are boys—in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control estimations. Autism occurs throughout the world among all races, nationalities and social classes; it usually appears in the first three years of life. Autism is treatable. Studies show that all people who have autism can improve significantly with proper instruction. Many individuals with autism eventually become more responsive to others as they learn to understand the world around them.

For more information on the Dave Rice Foundation, visit DaveRiceFoundation.org. For more information on the UNLV Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, visit ASDCenter.org or call 702-895-5836. 

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And, if somehow you managed to miss all of that, surely you’ve caught him on Channel 3. Sisolak’s held a Clark County commissioner’s seat since 2009, and was the vice-chair in 2011 and 2012; now, as of this year, he chairs the commission.

You even may have bumped into him, out and about, and had yourselves a heart-to-heart.

Sisolak has got to be one of the most approachable politicians in Nevada, so it wasn’t too difficult for diamondcake to get up close to ask him the question that’s on everyone’s mind: Will he be running for governor in 2014?

You grew up in blue-collar Milwaukee; how does that affect your role as a commissioner?

I think I can relate with how people feel. I came from a hardworking middle class family. My mom could make three dinners out of a chicken. (She) taught me the value of a dollar and how to work. My dad gave me advice before he passed away: When you look at yourself in the mirror, if you stop liking what you see, you’ve got to change something. I try to live by that.

How did you get into politics?

I had a direct marketing company; we sold stuff on the phone. That’s how I got involved. I went to the Legislature and lobbied for some tougher laws related to telemarketing. That introduced me to a lot of politicians. At the time, I was a nonpartisan. I became friends with people in both parties. Some people say I’m the most conservative Democrat they’ve ever seen, or the most liberal Republican. I am who I am. I registered as a Democrat because of my belief in education.

As you get deeper into politics, how do you feel about it?

Politics is something I enjoy. I think that I can contribute something. But it’s not something that defines me. My upbringing and my life define me. My family and my friends define me. I’ve learned a lot. Sometimes delivering tough messages or bad news is hard, but people deserve the truth. I’m not going to sugarcoat things. When I recognize what I feel is a weakness in our system or an abuse, I’ve pointed that out.

What else have you learned?

I can be dealing with the MGM, and Jim Murren will call me about the arena they’re going to build for $300 million dollars. It’s exciting and it’s going to help create jobs. An hour later, I’m dealing with two neighbors arguing about a tree that’s overhanging the brick wall. I think the thing is realizing that that issue or the next issue you’re going to face is the most important issue, because it’s important to those two people, whoever the people are.

You settle disputes every day. What’s fair?

When you face an issue, you have to try to view it from everybody’s point of view. If I’m sitting with two businesses, or a business and the county, or two neighbors, and we have a meeting and you both walk away a little unhappy with me, I probably did a pretty good job.

What’s your biggest challenge right now?

The biggest challenge we’re facing is the University Medical Center. We have a great asset in UMC. It’s our only level-one trauma unit. We can’t afford to shut it down. At the same time, it’s running at an 87 million dollar deficit and I don’t know how we fix that. So, we’re going to have to make some really hard decisions.

You’ve done a lot already. What are you particularly proud of?

I opened the USO lounge at McCarran Airport, which I’m really very proud of. When I saw servicemen willing to give their lives sleeping on the floor, it broke my heart. Then I got the pleasure of meeting one of the volunteers. She would bake cookies at home and give these men and women hugs. They’re scared because they’re being deployed, and they got that love. That’s a great thing.

So I encourage people to get involved, whether it’s through a charitable organization, your church or politics; whatever it is, get out in the community. We have to be more of a community.

Will you be running for governor of Nevada?

(Laughs) You’re the fifth one to ask today. For right now, I really enjoy what I do but I’m not ruling it out. We did some polling early on and it was really good. We’ll see how the polling goes after the (legislative) session. Then I’ll sit down with my daughters and friends and family; after that, my political advisers.

Whatever I decide to do, I think we need to have some really hard discussions about what direction this state is going in. I think it’s going to take some political courage for folks to step up and make some hard decisions. If and when that happens, I’m looking forward to it.

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