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Weekly Update January 22, 2020
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   I was updating the calendar on the website this morning and I was stunned to see that January is half gone. It may be that the three day weekend put me into a fog or I may be simply getting old and time seems to speed up as you age.  We've been thinking a lot about the fact that I am going to have to retire at some point. Our families are too  important to us for me to simply decide some day that I'm done and give a 2 week notice. 

I'm very excited to announce a reorganization at the Center.

My role will be changing, as will Kris's role. I will be Director of Community and Family Affairs, while Kris will become a Co Director and be the Director of Operations for the Center.
Neither of us is going anywhere for now, but after last summer it is obvious that my long standing joke about my retirement plan being me taken out of the Center in a body bag was very scarily close to happening!

However over 3 years ago we began planning for succession with HMEA so that the Center and it's Mission would continue after I leave. After investing 22 years of my life I don't want  to have the center have a difficult transition when I do step down. I've seen this happen in other Centers .  When I was asked to name a possible successor the obvious choice was Kris, given her excellent case management skills, her knowledge of the community, resources and ability to help families. Not to mention her ability to keep the Center vibrant when I was absent for so much of the past 2 years. She has earned this.

Kris will assume responsibility for the day to day functioning of the Center, staff supervision and we will share duties as well, such as working with our advisors, strategic planning, budget management,and more.

Kris & I have worked as a team for more than 13 years and so this only formalizes the working style we already have, relieves me of some duties so that I can do all that I wanted to do once I had a chance. 

There are many aspects of what I have been doing for 20 years that I need to teach others, contacts I have made, that I need to connect others to and with this reorganization there is new energy and ideas that can only make us better and stronger.

Please join me in congratulating Kris. 

Sue 


2020 Autism Super Hero 5K Walk & Run
Registration is now open 
Register your Team Today ! 

  
For Families of Children 

Floortime® for Parents
   

 HMEA's Autism Resource Central, in collaboration with The Astra Foundation, is pleased to provide DIR® /Floortime for Parents, starting in March and running through April.
DIR® is an abbreviation for Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-based. DIR® is a model, a framework, for thinking about a child's complete development, from infancy into whole joyful personhood. While DIR® can be a helpful way to think about any child's development, it is particularly useful in working with children with developmental delays. In this course, we'll discuss the basic principles of DIR®, and learn about Floortime, a strategic, emotion-driven way of playing and interacting with a child that helps a child initiate and respond at higher and higher developmental levels. We'll also discuss the importance of understanding each child's unique sensory profile and how to incorporate this knowledge into Floortime sessions. Participants who attend at our site in Worcester will be provided with a copy of The Child with Special Needs as part of their registration fee. Those who register for live streaming of the course may purchase the text at Amazon. Due to popular demand, this course will include the opportunity for parents to have 1:1 consultation with their child with instructor Sarah Measures on two separate dates as the program progresses. The Course will take place at the Autism Resource Central on Wednesday Evenings. Course Dates are as follows: Wednesdays from 7 PM -9PM : Mar 11, Mar 18, Mar 25, Apr 1, Apr 22, Apr 29 with two individualized mentoring sessions with your child on Mar 14 and Apr 18th (family times to be selected). To register visit our website.
  
FOR FAMILIES NEW TO THE WORLD OF AUTISM
 

     
  

FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN, TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS


 

     
It's back ! Once again we are partnering with Adaptive Exercise LLC to provide an eight week group exercise program this winter. Our Instructor, David Crowley, is a special educator and personal trainer. Adaptive Exercise was formed in accordance with the American Council on Exercise using Applied Behavior Analysis based strategies. Programming is individualized and developed based on assessments, to ensure client success, and establish positive exercise experiences. And it is fun!
David provides the adaptive movement utilizing positive behavioral support , encouraging and helping each individual to reach their personal best. Classes will take place on Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00 PM beginning on January 27th, run through February on the 3rd, 10th, and 24th, and March 2nd, 9th 16th and 23 rd
There will be no class Monday of the February Vacation. Classes will take place at the Center, 712 Plantation Street in Worcester. Fee $20.00/pp. In case of snow we will reschedule in April. This class is suitable for all ages young children to adults.



 
IEP Clinics With Advocate Gayle Greene M.Ed.

1 Hour IEP Clinics Now Available with Live Streaming from Home Meet with our Advocate, Gayle Greene from you home on your phone or computer to discuss your child's IEP, concerns and needs and how best to advocate for changes with your school. Please send a copy of your child's IEP to Center before your scheduled meeting. Available Dates :Feb 4, 11 & 25Th Times 10 & 11AM, 1, 2, 5 & 6 PM 
Call 508-835-4278 to book your time slot and an e-mail will be sent with instructions how to connect .

SENSORY CLINICS With Mary Loughlin OTR/L

Clinic will provide consultation to families in the area of Sensory Processing Dysfunction. Child and Parent will meet with Mary for four (4) 1 hour sessions across 4 weeks. A Sensory Profile Assessment will be done which will identify any sensory specific needs their child may or may not have. Parents will be provided with resources including websites, DIY sensory equipment, sensory play and activities. Parents will be given an individual "sensory diet" for their child. Session 1 Feb 5th & 12th at the Center Feb 26th Live Stream Final report Session 2 March 4th & 11th at Center March 26th Live Stream for final report 3PM - 4PM - 5PM

FOR FAMILIES OF ADULTS ON THE SPECTRUM

                       

       

  
 Calendar of Events
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 Register for Events on our website registration page or by calling the Center at 
 508-298-1610
 Fees for Events are as stated  

JANUARY

January 22, 2020
Parents of Teens Support Group & Teen Social Group
Workshop: Safety & The IEP
A Safer Me
Carrie Noseworthy
7-9 PM

January 23, 2020
Hip Hop Dance Class 
5:30 - 6:15 PM 
for ages 8-12
$15.00/per dancer for six week series 

Autism 101  
Accessing Public Supports
Deb Henderson Support Broker
7-9 PM


January 27 2020
Adaptive Exercise Resumes
6-7 PM 
See above

January 29, 2020
Parents of Girls Support Group & Girl's Social Group
6:30-8:30 PM

January 30, 2020
Hip Hop Dance Class 
5:30 - 6:15 PM 
for ages 8-12
$15.00/per dancer for six week series 

Autism 101
Special Education Law
Gayle Greene M.Ed.
7-9 PM

FEBRUARY 

February 5, 2020
Parents of Adults
Support Group
Workshop : SSI/SSDI &
Able Accounts
Christopher Sharry Esq.
7-9 PM

February 8, 2020
Sibshop
Lutheran Zion Church
60 Main Street, Oxford MA
For Siblings ages 7 and older
$10.00/pp $15.00 cap
10AM- 1:30 PM

February 9, 2020
Parents & Tots
10:30-12 PM

February 12, 2020
Parents of School Aged Kids &
Tweens Support
Kids hang out runs concurrently
6:30-8 PM * Note change in time 

VACATION FAMILY FUN

February 17, 2020
CENTER CLOSED

February 18, 2020
Pizza & Bowling
Mohegan Bowladrome
51 Thompson Rd Webster MA
10 :30AM Bowling 11:30 AM Pizza
$3.00/pp

February 19, 2020
Parents of Teens Support Group
& Teen Socialization Group
TEEN VACATION FUN
( All teens & Young Adults welcome )
Games Night & Pizza at Recess
216 West Boylston St W.Boylston
Fee: $7.00pp
6:30 PM

February 21, 2019
Fitchburg Art Museum
Discover Ancient Egypt
185 Elm Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
10 AM

February 22, 2020
Swim & Pizza Party
Whitins Community Center
60 Main St Whitinsville MA
12:15 PM Swim - Pizza at 2 PM

February 26, 2019
Parents of Girls Support
Group & Girls Socialization
Group
6:30 -8:30 PM
 
 
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. It has recently been updated and there are several exciting events for families across the spectrum and of all ages. 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  Sloring@hmea.org .


Sincerely, 
                                                                                                                   
 
Sue Loring - Director Of Community  and Family Affairs
HMEA's Autism Resource Central 
508-298-1605                                                                                   
 








Kris Cariglia - Director of Center Operations
HMEA's Autism Resource Central 
508-298-1606
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