This week, on Thursday,  HMEA is holding the official ribbon cutting for the new Autism and Family Support Center. This event will be attended by Legislators, business people and disability advocates, as well as senior management at HMEA.  Our Center has been a major support for families in Central Massachusetts challenged by autism for over 20 years.  For all those years we've shared space and expertise with another HMEA Family Support Program Intensive Flexible Family Supports ( IFFS) a program funded by DDS for families who are experiencing severe challenges. Referrals to the program are made by service coordinators and over the years many of our families have benefited from the intensive case management IFFS staff provides.  Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change, Central Region, has also been supported by HMEA for the past several years, and many of our families have participated in the MFOFC Leadership Series, becoming strong advocates for change.  With the opening of HMEA ABA Center, HMEA continues it's commitment to making Central Massachusetts the best place for families who are challenged with autism spectrum disorder to live. Increasing the capacity for ABA services, through the ABA Center, will give individuals the best evidenced based treatment to meet the challenges autism brings, and alleviate some of the long waits families experience for treatment.  

  We've a couple of special days coming up to celebrate our new center as well . We've an open house scheduled for November 12th.  We are inviting ABA providers and other professionals to visit in the morning while we are out in the community at the Friends and Family Movie  scheduled at West Boylston Cinema at 10AM.  So if you are looking for an activity to do on that no school day, we've got you covered!  After the  seeing Hotel Transylvania 3  grab some lunch and then come visit the center for a tour and a treat, we'll have desserts and drinks! 

On November 19th we'll celebrate with little ones at the Parent's & Tot's group with a special session with children's musician Lindsay Newton Dodd. Come and enjoy an hour of music & motion and snacks, meet other parents of kids your child's age and start building YOUR village. This group meets monthly with our mistress of fun Cid Deleo and is a great way to connect with others. Siblings are welcome too! Register on our website. 

 Also HMEA ABA, our sister program is having a second open house at the new facility on November 9th if you'd like to check it out. We've an indoor Sensory Gym, thanks to Sensibility Gym, a kitchen   where teens can learn activities of daily living, and by spring an outdoor playground will be part of the center. The ABA Center is located right here at 712 Plantation Street scroll down for the details. 

We'll close the month with a free 1 day conference for parents on November 29th  at the new Center. If you are the parent of a newly diagnosed child this day will be well spent, giving you information on Accessing Public Supports, Sensory Issues in Disability and Special Education Law. We'll provide a light breakfast, lunch and child care. What do you have to lose? The conference is open to any parent of a child with a developmental disability  so here is a chance to share with other parents you may know who need this critical information. Call the Center to register !

     I continue to spend a few hours a week at the Center, thanks to the support of friends and family and hope to be in attendance on November 12th to see you at the open house. 

Have a great week.