>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A NEW WAY OF GATHERING MEDICAL DATA BY WEARING MEDICAL MONITORS.

AND ON CRONKITE NEWS, ONE OF THE VALLEY'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAKES A CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE OFFICERS ON CAMPUS.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

AN FDA VACCINE PANEL TODAY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND EMERGENCY-USE OTT OTT -- AUTHORIZATION OF MODERNA'S BOOSTER SHOT.

THE FDA APPROVAL FOR MODERNA FOLLOWS A SIMILAR GO-AHEAD FOR THE PFIZER BOOSTER.

THIS AFTER APPROVAL FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE FOR CHILDREN IS COMING.

THE PRESIDENT TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HE BELIEVES THE COUNTRY'S FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE CRITICAL WORK TO DO, BUT WE CAN'T LET UP NOW.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I'M CALLING ON MORE BUSINESSES TO STEP UP.

I'M CALLING ON MORE PARENTS TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED WHEN THEY AREL ELIGIBLE.

AND I'M ASKING EVERYONE TO PLEASE GET VACCINATED.

>>> ARIZONA REPORTED CLOSE TO 2400 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

SIX NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES WERE REPORTED.

AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE, WHICH IS NOT THE BEST.

WITH COVID PATIENTS OCCUPYING A THIRD OF ICU BEDS.

THERE IS ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM THE CDC WHICH PROJECTED THAT DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM COVID-19 WILL DECLINE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE CASE COUNT IS PROJECTED TO REMAIN THE SAME, BUT INCREASED VACCINATIONS ARE RESULTING IN MORE PEOPLE LIKELY TO SURVIVE, AND ABOUT A QUARTER OF COVID CASES ARE AMONG CHILDREN WHO ARE SHOWN TO BETTER HANDLE THE VIRUS.

>>> THERE IS A NEW TYPE OF WEARABLE DATA-GATHERING DEVICE THAT CAN TRACK IS SYMPTOMS 24/7.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM PHILIPP GUTRUF FROM THE U OF A'S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.

WELCOME.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.

IT SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING HERE.

WEARABLE DEVICES THAT MONITOR MEDICAL DATA?

TALK MORE ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE DEVICES THAT WE MADE IN MY LAB, THEY LOOK LIKE THIS.

I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE ON.

THE COOL THING ABOUT THE DEVICES IS THAT WE CAN TAYLOR THEM TO YOU.

WE CAN TAKE A 3-D SCAN, AND MAKE THE DEVICE, AND WE CAN POWER THE DEVICES REMOTELY.

SO THEY LOOK LIKE THIS, AND YOU SET THEM UP SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE YOU WORK OR SLEEP, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO EXTRA EXTRA -- EXTRA DATA FROM THE WEARER.

AND THIS ALLOWS US TO DIAGNOSE DISEASES, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL.

>> WHAT KIND OF DATA IS REPORTED?

WHAT KIND OF DATA AND SHOW US THAT PATCH AGAIN, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT -- IT WRAPS AROUND YOUR BODY, RIGHT?

>> IT DOES.

IT IS ALMOST INDETECTABLE.

YOU WOULDN'T KNOW I'M WEARING ONE, AND IT IS TAILORED TO MY ARM IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, AND 3-D PRINTED THE DEVICE ITSELF.

SO WE CAN DO A VARIETY OF THINGS FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE IMU'S THAT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT HOW MY ARMS AND LEGS MOVE, AND ALLOWS TO DETECT FRAILTY, AND BECAUSE THE DEVICE ITSELF HAS VERY LITTLE MASS TO IT, IT'S VERY THIN.

IT IS BASICALLY LIKE A PIECE OF FABRIC.

WE CAN TRACK YOUR SKIN TEMPERATURE, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO IF YOU ARE BREAKING A SWEAT WALKING UP THE STAIRS, WE CAN TELL.

>> INTERESTING.

>> SO THIS ALLOWS US TO INTEGRATE SENSORS THAT YOU WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO EMBED.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMART WATCH ON STEROIDS HERE?

>> PRETTY MUCH, YEAH.

WE HAVE THIS VERY CLOSE INTEGRATION WITH THE SKIN, RIGHT?

AND WE USE SO LITTLE MATERIAL, SO THAT ALLOWS US TO AMP UP THE SENSITIVITY, AND PUT NEW ONES IN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN A RECENT PAPER, WE DEMONSTRATED THAT WE CAN SENSE YOUR MUSCLE EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO LOOK INTO HOW YOU ARE EXERCISING, AND WHAT IS THE INTENSITY.

WE HAVE CAPABILITIES TO EXTRACT SWEAT FROM THE SKIN AND LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION OVER SOMETIME.

SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE CAN INTEGRATE IN THESE WEARABLE SYSTEMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY NOT POSSIBLE.

>> WHAT KIND OF PATIENTS WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THIS?

>> YEAH, THE APPLICATIONS ARE QUITE INTERESTING.

SO WHAT WE ARE REALLY AIMING FOR IS AT-HOME DIAGNOSIS.

FRAILTY IS A DISEASE THAT IS VERY HARD TO DIAGNOSE.

TYPICALLY THERE ARE TESTS THAT NEED TO BE ADMINISTERED OVER MANY HOURS.

SO THE AIM HERE IS THAT -- IN THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, YOU TAKE A DEVICE LIKE THIS, YOU PUT IT ON THE PERSON.

THEY WALK AROUND WITH IT FOR A MONTH OR TWO, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO BREAK A SWEAT.

THE FRAILTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A DISTINCT COMPONENT OF DISEASE MANAGEMENT, RIGHT?

IF WE SEE CERTAIN PATTERNS, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ALERT THE USER, BE CAREFUL TODAY.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT DRUG TREATMENT -- HOW DRUGS INTERACT WITH THE BODY, IF THIS IS THE RIGHT MEDICATION OR WRONG MEDICATION FOR YOU, THAT COULD BE AN APPLICATION AS WELL.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

ANY TIME YOU WANT TO COLLECT DATA OVER LONGER PERIODS OF TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KEEP THEIR SMART WATCH TOPPED OFF, AND BECAUSE THE DEVICES ARE POWERED REMOTELY, THIS WILL GIVE YOU CONTINUOUS DAY -- DATA FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

OR IF THEY ARE A PERFORM ATHLETE, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO TRAIN BETTER, THIS IS THE APPLICATION FOR THEM.

>> ARE THESE AVAILABLE -- HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU IN YOUR RESEARCH?

WHERE DOES THIS STAND NOW?

>> YEAH, WE MAKE ENOUGH DEVICES TO DO CLINICAL TRIALS NOW.

WE'RE WORKING TO TRANSLATE THEM INTO REAL LIFE, SO A CONSUMER CAN HAVE THEM, OR HOSPITAL CHAINS CAN HAVE THEM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY.

THE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES THAT WE USED TO MAKE THESE DEVICES ARE BROADLY AVAILABLE.

SO WE USE 3-D PRINTING TO MAKE THE MATERIAL, AND FOR THE ELECTRONICS, WE USE FLEXIBLE SIR CUTS THAT YOU CAN MAKE ON A ROLE, SO WE CAN PRINT THEM LIKE A PIECE OF NEWSPAPER.

SO THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE.

>> SO 3-D-PRINTED-WEARABLE DEVICES THAT CAN MONITOR YOUR BODY AND SYSTEM, IT'S JUST AMAZING.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

BEST OF LUCK, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO TRY.

WHEN CAN THE PUBLIC GET INTO ALL OF THIS.

>> WE REALLY HOPE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU CAN GO TO THE STORE AND BUY ONE OF THOSE.

BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS GO.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A LOCAL PROGRAM THAT'S FOCUSED ON HELPING SMALL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

>>> THINK LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA SMALL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR IS A MENTOR-BASED PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN ARIZONA.

FOR MORE, WE SPOKE WITH CARMEN ATTIKOSSIE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WE RISE BUSINESS AND THE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.

A LOT OF TITLES AND THINGS GOING ON HERE, BUT THIS IS A PROGRAM WITH TO HELP ESPECIALLY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM WHERE WE MEET WITH BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO RUN SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO OUR FOLKS ARE ATTENDING OUR BI-WEEKLY CLASSES, AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN CLASS, THEY ALSO HAVE AN ASPECT CALLED PEER GROUPS.

SO EACH BUSINESS OWNER IS PUT INTO A GROUP WITH OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS, AND THEY SPENDING SIX MONTHS GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER, AND BUILDING ON SOCIAL SKILLS THAT WE BELIEVE THEY NEED TO BE ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERS.

AND WE ALSO EQUIP OUR BUSINESSES WITH MENTORS.

SO WE HAVE SEASONED BLACK ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TWO TO THREE HOURS A MONTH TO MENTOR OUR FOLKS.

SO WE HAVE VARIOUS COMPONENTS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME IT IS COMPREHENSIVE, PRACTICAL SKILLS, NUTS AND BOLTS, AND BEYOND, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

WE EQUIPMENT OUR FOLKS WITH SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR BUSINESS.

SO THEY SPENDING A FEW MONTHS LEARNING ABOUT FINANCES.

WE WANT THEM TO BE EDUCATED ON WHAT OPTIONS THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF ACCESSING CAPITAL.

HOW TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THEY NEED WITH A BANKER.

WHAT BANKS ARE LOOKING FOR?

AND HOW TO BE AWARE OF PREDATORY LENDING.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THESE SMALL BUSINESSES?

>> WE HAVE FOLKS WHO COME IN AND NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS, OR NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A BUSINESS PLAN.

THAT CAN BE INTIMIDATING.

BUT WITH THE WE RISE PROGRAM, WE TRY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE BURDEN BY TEACHING OUR FOLKS HOW TO WRITE BUSINESS PLANS.

SO WE HAVE MODULES DESIGNED FOR EACH SECTION OF A PROGRAM.

FOLKS COME AND LEARN ABOUT A SECTION, FOR EXAMPLE, MARKET COMPETITION, OR BUSINESS ANALYSIS, AND THEN WE GIVE THEM ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO APPLY SOME OF THE LEARNINGS ON THEIR OWN, AND THEY ARE IN A GUIDED ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY HAVE MYSELF, MY CO-PARTNER, AND STRUCTURES WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP.

>> SOUNDS LIKE QUITE AN EDUCATION >> YES, ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION.

>> WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT MENTORSHIP AND THESE TYPES OF THINGS IN THE PAST, WAS THIS MODELED AFTER ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?

>> NO.

I -- I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, AND PRIOR TO STARTING THIS PROGRAM, I SPENT TWO YEARS WORKING FOR A COMPANY IN AFRICA, CALLED THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY, AND I WAS IN CHARGE OF BUILDING A PROGRAM WHERE I LEARNED WHAT SOME OF MY STUKT STUKT STUKT -- STUDENTS WERE LACKING IN ENTREPRENEURIAL KNOWLEDGE, SO THAT HELPED ME LEARN HOW TO HELP FOLKS DEVELOP A BUSINESS MODEL, OR THINK ABOUT PROTOTYPING BUSINESS EDUCATION.

SO IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN EDUCATOR THAT IS WILLING TO BREAK IT DOWN BIT BY BIT?

BITE SIZES, FOLKS ARE MORE PRONE TO SAY, I CAN DO THIS.

SO WITH MY TIME AT THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY, AND COMING ON BOARD, I REALIZE ED IT IS ABOUT THE STATEMENT.

WHERE YOU GO, YOU HAVE FOLKS WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT AT TIMES, AND AS THE EDUCATOR, IT IS UP TO YOU TO BREAK IT DOWN BIT BY BIT.

>> AND YOU HAVE EAGER STUDENTS, I WOULD IMAGINE?

>> YES.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, WHERE DO YOU GO?

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN VISIT LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA.

GO ON THE WEBSITE, AND THERE IS AN OPTION TO CLICK ON WE RISE.

>> VERY GOOD.

CARMEN ATTIKOSSIE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ON OCTOBER 24TH, THE SOUTHWEST AUTISM RESEARCH AND RESOURCE CENTER WILL HOLD ITS FIRST YES DAY FOR AUTISM AT TESTIMONY PE BEACH PARK.

DANIEL OPENDEN IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SARRC.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU IN STUDIO.

YES, TO AUTISM DAY.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> THIS IS A YES DAY FOR AUTISM, AND IT'S ABOUT CELEBRATING ALL OF THE WAYS WE DO AND STILL WANT TO SAY YES TO PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> IT'S A FREE EVENT, RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> YES.

AND FOR YEARS WE WERE INVOLVED IN A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR RAISED WILL STAY IN ARIZONA FOR ARIZONA FAMILIES.

>> AS FAR AS AUTISM IS CONCERNED, AWARENESS OF AUTISM HAS THAT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

>> IT DEFINITELY HAS.

WE'RE NOW AT 1 IN 54 CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.

SO THERE IS A LOT MORE OUT THERE.

AND ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING ON IS SOMETHING CALLED FAKE AUTISM.

IT'S A NEW APP WE JUST RELEASED, AND IT'S FOR THOSE KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE SEVERE SYMPTOMS, BUT THEY DO HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT THEY OFTEN GO MISSED.

SO WE CAN PROVIDE YOU ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR SERVICES.

>> INTERESTING.

>> WE HAVE BETTER DETECTION METHODS, MORE AWARENESS, BUT IF YOU ADD IN EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE INCREASE IN AUTISM, AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, THAT EXPLAINS ABOUT 50% OF THE INCREASE.

THE OTHER 50%, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> ACCEPTANCE OF AUTISM, HAS THAT CHANGED?

>> I THINK SO.

AND I WOULD LIKE TOSY THAT SARRC HAS HAD A HAND IN THAT.

AT LEAST IN ARIZONA WE CAN BE VERY PROUD OF PHOENIX FOR BEING THE MOST AUTISM-FRIENDLY CITY.

>> SO BETWEEN AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE, CHALLENGES, WHAT CHALLENGES REMAIN?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

WE NEED MORE PEDIATRICIANS SCREENING BETTER.

A LOT OF TIMES THOUGH SCREENING IS MISSED.

THE OTHER CHALLENGE WE HAVE OUR ADULTS.

WE KNOW 50,000 CHILDREN EVERY YEAR WILL HAVE ADULTS WITH AUTISM.

>> AS FAR AS SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES, IS THAT CHANGING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, WITH EMPLOYERS, AND WE ARE WORKING TO HELP TRAIN POLICE OFFICERING TO HELP IDENTIFY PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING.

HAS IT CHANGED HOW -- IN THE WORLD OF AUTISM, THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT?

SGLFRMSZ YEAH, >> YEAH, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE FLIPPED OUR OWN TIRE -- ENTIRE MODEL, AND NOW WE'RE FLIPPING BACK.

AND AUTISM IS A SOCIAL DISORDER, SO THEY ARE ALREADY ON SOME LEVEL HAVING ISOLATION CHALLENGES, AND THE PANDEMIC IS GOING TO EVEN FURTHER ISOLATE YOU.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GET BACK TO YES DAY TO AUTISM.

RESOURCE FAIR?

YOU LEARN THINGS OUT THERE?

YOU DO THINGS OUT THERE?

>> YEAH, MY FAVORITE PART IS THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OTHER 30 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE'RE SHARING SOME OF THE REVENUE BACK WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

AND AS PART OF IT THEY GET A FREE BOOTH TO SHARE.

SO WE'LL HAVE OVER 40 BOOTHS THERE HELPING FAMILIES KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

>> AND YOU CAN PICK SOME PUMPKIN PUMPKINS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SPROUTS WILL HAVE THE PUMPKIN PATCH, WE'LL HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, AND IT SHOULD BE LIKE A BIG FALL FESTIVAL.

>> AND THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND FELLOWSHIP, THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, AND IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES WITH PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE ONE IN 54 KIDS -- >> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO SOMEBODY WITH AUTISM, SOME DAY YOU WILL.

SO YES DAY IS ALSO ABOUT HOW THE BROADER COMMUNITY CAN HELP.

>> OKAY.

TEMPE BEACH PARK, OCTOBER 24TH.

GOOD LUCK WITH THIS.

>> SHOULD BE A GREAT TIME.

>> DANIEL OPENDEN, THANK YOU, SIR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪ CAN >>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, A RESTAURANT HELPS REFUGEES GET A NEW START BY OFFERING A PLACE TO COOK AND SHARE THEIR CUISINE.

♪ ♪