Weekly Update September 6, 2017

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Weekly Update

A couple of weeks ago, while walking at a track with my son Ed, I bumped into one of our families. I hadn't seen them in some time, their child on the spectrum is now on the cusp of adulthood, and her brother, once a Sibshopper, is now pursuing his doctorate. This got me to thinking, so much has changed in 20 years! Children who were toddlers when their family first connected with the Center are now young adults. And those who were teens are adults like Ed.

We've grown too, as time passed we went from providing a few activities each year, mostly holiday parties, to offering monthly activities. As our kids grew we added activities for teens & young adults, and recently for adults with ASD only.

From a staff of two part time employees we've grown to a staff of eight full time employees. Services expanded from information and referral to assistance with service navigation, education, sensory assessments, IEP clinics, specialized camps, stipends for social inclusion, short term consultation for adults on the spectrum and waiver support.

All of this happened because our families supported us and our fundraising efforts. In our 20th year we saw a shortfall in our fundraising, but we are hoping to recover from that through additional opportunities for giving and grants. One such initiative is the 20 for 20 challenge.

There are two ways to participate. One is through creating a fundraising page and asking 20 people to donate 20 dollars each. Those who participate and successfully raise $400.00 will receive two tickets to our Gala in October. The other is a simple request for a $20 donation, perhaps in honor If everyone of our families donated $20 we'd raise $64,000.00 more than covering the shortfall and allowing us to continue to offer the services you've benefited from and enjoyed, allowing us to be there for the family who receives a diagnosis today.

Lots going on right now with school starting up again but just want to remind you all we've activities this month you won't want to miss. Cid has been out for 2 weeks between running camp and then the start of school and her bus driving duties ! She assures me she will have at least the September events up today. Sibshop resumes, there is apple picking, Family Fun & Fitness and we resume our Teen & Under the Pink Umbrella social groups, scroll down for all the details!

Hope that all are experiencing a successful return to school, of course everyone is still in the honeymoon phase, so remember we've IEP clinics for the inevitable. For some kids new schools, new routines, like changing classes can be a challenge and if it is your child's first year with a locker, that may be the straw that breaks their back. Here's great tutorial on how to open a locker.

Have a great week

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO

HMEA's AUTISM RESOURCE CENTRAL's

20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

AND AWARDS CEREMONY

GUIDI NG STARS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

6 TO 1 1 PM

AT CYPRIAN KEYES GOLF CLUB

284 EAST TEMPLE STREET

BOYLSTON , MASSACHUSETTS

$ 75 PER PERSON

6 PM- 7 PM COCKTAIL HOUR

7 PM-8 PM AWARDS

8 PM-9 PM DINNER

9 PM- 1 1 PM SILENT AUCTION /

DANCING

2 1 + ONLY * COCKTAIL ATTIRE

RSVP b y October 6 , 2017

RESEARCH STUDIES

Research Study: The Aviation Study

The Aviation study is a clinical trial of an experimental drug called R05285119, which is being developed as a possible treatment to improve social behavior and communication in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder is a group of brain development disorders that causes persistent difficulties in social communication and social interaction. Currently, there are no medications available to treat these core symptoms of ASD such as social behavior and communication deficits. R05285119 works by blocking a brain receptor of a hormone (the vasopressin receptor) that is associated with control of socialization, stress, anxiety, affection and aggression.

Participants are aged 5-17 with a diagnosis of ASD. Participation lasts for up to 39 weeks and for 24 of those weeks, participants will take daily doses of either the investigational study drug or a placebo (a look-alike) that contains no medicine. Participants and their parent or guardian will visit a study clinic around once every 6 weeks (about 7 times in total).

For more information please contact CANDI at 774-455-4100 or [email protected]

Docket # H00012137

SAVE THE DATE

This event is FULL but we do have a wait list. Please call 508-298-1610 or email [email protected] to be put on the wait list

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

As part of our mission we try to keep you informed of relevant meetings, hearings, recreational opportunities in our community.

Check out the Bulletin Board this week for information about upcoming activities in the community.

The Bulletin Board is a place to have events that would be of interest to the families of HMEA's Autism Resource Central posted. Sped PAC meetings with speakers, recreational opportunities, classes and more.

To have an event considered for posting please send information to [email protected] .