Parents and IEP Workshop

Staff from Kenwood Academy and Amy Young from Lifelinks will be conducting a free workshop for parents about educating a special needs child. Topics covered:

• Parent participation in the IEP process
• MCAS and the special needs child
• A longer school day and a longer school year
• Home services
• Accepting or rejecting an IEP
• Out of district placements
• Helpful resources

This workshop will be on Thursday, October 6th at 6 PM at Kenwood Academy (920 Methuen St., Dracut, MA). To register for the workshop or to ask questions call 978-453-4900 or e-mail mail@kenwoodacademy.net.

Fall Festival

This Saturday, October 1st, the library will be holding its Fall Festival. Lots of activities are planned including stories for adults and kids, music, crafts, a "Food for Art" raffle and lots more. The featured children's performer is Elaine Kessler who performs at 10 AM. For a brochure about the Fall Festival see our home page.

Free Guardianship Workshop

The Family Support Center in Danvers is offering a free two part workshop for parents about the guardianship process in Massachusetts. The workshop is being presented by Attorney Annette M. Hines who is also the parent of a 15 year old special needs child. Ms. Hines has also received accolades from the Massachusetts House and Senate for her work on behalf of people with special needs.

The workshops are free but registration is required. To register contact Aymee Lucifora at 978-624-2381.
*Please make sure to register! Workshops will only be held if 10 or more people are registered.

Workshop Dates
Guardianship Overview
Thursday, October 20, 2011
6 PM - 8 PM

Guardianship Clinic
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location for Workshops:
Northeast Arc
6 Southside Rd.
Danvers, MA 01923

Wally the Green Monster

Wally the Green Monster will be visiting the Irish Cottage restaurant in Methuen on Saturday, October 8th from 9 AM - 12 PM. Stop by for the breakfast buffet and meet Wally. There will also be raffles and prizes. Bring your camera and your appetite. All proceeds will benefit Melmark New England, a nonprofit educational center serving children on the autism spectrum. Reservations strongly recommended. Make your reservation by calling 978-208-4347, extension 3.

ASD and Toilet Training

From a post from the "Autism Speaks" blog:

Around half of all children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) learn to use the toilet later than other children. In the Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P Toileting Tool Kit due out this fall, we talk about why your child might have trouble and provide tips for achieving success. Here are some important points:

Toileting Challenges with ASD:
* Physical: Talk with your doctor about medical reasons that may make toileting more difficult for your child. These can include constipation, and kidney, urinary tract, or bladder problems.
* Language: Language delay can make it difficult for a child to ask to use the toilet. Children may need other methods to communicate their needs.
* Fears: Your child may be afraid of sitting on the toilet or hearing it flush.
* Body cues: Some children with autism have difficulty sensing the “need to go” and may not realize that their clothes are wet or soiled.
* Dressing: Can your child easily pull up and down his or her pants? This may need to be addressed.
* Need for sameness: Your child may have developed a habitual way of toileting and, so, may resist doing so “your way.”
* Using different toilets: Your child may have difficulty toileting in new places—such as school vs. home.

Tips for Parents:
Sit for six: Set a goal for six toilet sits per day. Start out slow. First trips may only last 5 seconds. Encourage boys to sit to urinate until they regularly have bowel movements on the toilet.
Don’t ask, tell: Take your child to the toilet and tell them it is time to go. Don’t wait for them to tell you that they need to go.
Stick to a schedule: Take your child to the toilet at the same times each day. Track when they urinate or have bowel movements and use those times if possible. Otherwise plan toilet trips around your usual routine. And think ahead: Take your child to the toilet before he or she starts an activity that will be difficult to interrupt.
Communicate: Use the same simple words, signs, or pictures during each trip. Talk with other people who work with your child. Everyone on the team needs to use the same toileting communication plan.
Reward: Praise your child for trying. Give your child a favorite treat or reward right after going in the toilet. Be matter-of-fact when accidents happen.
Consider comfort: Your child needs to feel safe on the toilet, with feet supported for balance. Also address sensory difficulties your child may have with sounds, smells, lights, or textures in the bathroom.

These are just a few of the ideas we discuss in the forthcoming Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P Toileting Toolkit.

Please remember: Toileting can be difficult for children with an ASD. One study found that they needed a year and a half of training, on average, to stay dry during the day and more than two years to become bowel trained. So don’t become discouraged. Be consistent. Build routines. Talk with your doctor. And look for the launch of the Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P Toileting Tool Kit. We’ll keep you posted here in the blog and on the ATN’s Tools You Can Use section of the Autism Speaks science pages.

The Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P Toileting Tool Kit is the product of on-going activities of the Autism Treatment Network, a funded program of Autism Speaks. It is supported by cooperative agreement UA3 MC 11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Maternal and Child Health Research Program (MCHB) to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the MCHB, HRSA, or HHS.

Kids on the Spectrum and Blood Work

Taking any child to have blood work done can be a difficult task for a parent. Taking a child on the spectrum can be an extremely daunting task and unfortunately, ASD kids can have lots of doctor appointments that require lab work. In an attempt to make the procedure less traumatic for families and professionals, Autism Speaks has developed a "Blood Work Tool Kit" for parents and practitioners.

Hewlett-Packard to Design ASD Apps

"Disability Scoop" is reporting that Hewlett-Packard will be designing free autism apps. HP is collaborating with Autism Speaks and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism on the project.

A Creative Way to Help Kids on the Spectrum

Often people on the autism spectrum are visual learners. Many times social stories include pictures and photos. A creative resource to use when working with people on the spectrum is comics. Makebeliefscomix.com, an online comic making website, includes a section about using and creating comics with specials needs kids, including children on the autism spectrum.

A Night for Families on the Spectrum at the Discovery Museum

The Discovery Museum is offering another night of fun for families on the Spectrum on Saturday, October 1st from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

FREE admission to both buildings!
Come join in all the fun at The Discovery Museums during this special
FREE evening for families with children on the autism spectrum
supported by the Autism Alliance of MetroWest. Please e-mail
Autism-Events@discoverymuseums.org or call 978-264-4200 ext. 28
for more information or to register for the event.

www.discoverymuseums.org
177 Main Street • Acton, MA 01720 • 978-264-4200

This event is funded by: the Foundation for Metro West, the Boston Bruins Foundation, Nypro, Morgan Stanley, and Not Your Average Joe's

Upcoming LifeLinks Workshops

Some upcoming workshops at LifeLinks:

On Wednesday, September 28 at 6:00PM, LifeLinks Family Support Center will be hosting Attorney Marisa Higgins of Fletcher Tilton law firm in Worcester, MA. Ms. Higgins will be conducting a workshop on Special Needs and Divorce.

Divorce is difficult for all families but even more so for families with a child with a disability. Attorney Higgins will discuss the different issues that need to be considered, such as custody, special needs trusts, child support, and more.

To attend this workshop, please RSVP to 978-349-3040.

Special Needs and Divorce Workshop

Wednesday, September 28

6:00PM

LifeLinks, 285 Mill Road, Chelmsford

Young Adult Progrms

The Young Adult Social Groups are starting again! The Family Support Center Young Adult Social Group is for teens and young adults ages 16-28(ish!) who want more social time with their peers and would like to improve their social skills.

The next Young Adult Social Group is on Friday, September 16 from 6:00-8:00PM at LifeLinks. We'll make snacks and play some games to get to know one another.

The October session, on Saturday, October 15 from 9:00AM-2:00PM will focus on young adult relationships. This program will be run by Paula Thompson, LICSW and will focus on sexuality, public and private relationships, and decision making.

An accompanying workshop for parents will be held on Wednesday, October 5 at 6:00PM. This session will focus on discussing sexuality, relationships, and how to have conversations about these topics with your child. The training will also allow for parents to ask questions and will provide a variety of resources. If your child is attending the Saturday workshop, we ask that you (the parent) please attend this training.

To RSVP for any of the aforementioned Young Adult Social Group events, please call Rachel at 978-349-3040.

KIDS Dances

From an e-mail I received:

KIDS in Disability Sports, Inc.
PO Box 1397
Lowell, MA 01853
1-866-712-7799
www.kidsinc.us

KIDS DANCE SCHEDULE 2011/2012

September 9, 2011 – Back to School Dance

October 28, 2011 – Halloween Dance

December 9, 2011 – Holiday Dance

February 10, 2012 – Valentine Dance

March 16, 2012 – St. Patrick’s Day

May 4, 2012 – Luau Dance

NEW: Attendance Door Prize Raffle @ every dance. Raffle at 8:30 p.m. (Must be present to get prize if you win). For every dance you attend your name goes into the final drawing to be held at the May Dance for $100 cash prize. Attend all dances, 6 chances to win.

Dances are held at Lowell Lodge of Elks, Old Ferry Road, Lowell

$5.00 Entrance Fee per person

No drinks can be brought in.

Donation of snacks/baked goods appreciated.

Dance Rules

Dances begin at 7:00 p.m. and end promptly at 10:00 p.m. Admittance begins at 6:45. No one will be allowed to enter the hall or wait outside before this time. Everyone must check in at the front table upon entering and pay the admittance fee. Your hand will be stamped at this time to acknowledge you’ve paid.

Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No exceptions.

Attendees over the age of 18 must sign in at the front table and leave your name and the name and phone number of an emergency contact who can be reached during the dance. Please come prepared with this information.

Individuals responsible for picking up attendees over age of 18 must arrive by 9:30 and be present for the last half hour of the dance. Our volunteers are not responsible for anyone who remains after 10:00 p.m.

After you have entered the hall, you may leave only to use the restroom. There is no loitering in the main hallway or outside the front door. This is for the safety of all and courtesy of those who may be using the facility for another function.

Failure to abide by these rules may prevent you from being allowed to attend future dances, which will be at the discretion of K.I.D.S. Thank You for your cooperation.

Life Skills Program

LifeLinks is offering a life skills program for teens and tweens:

Daily Living Skills Program for Teens and Tweens!

A place where kids ages 11-16 kids can learn:

·        Safety/Home Alone

·        Clothing Care

·        Meal preparation *       

·        Nutrition

·        Grooming/Appearance

·        Manners

·        Social Skills

·        Being a Teen

* Food preparation will be part of each meeting to allow for more robust skill development

Participants must:

·        participate voluntarily and be able to follow directions

·        be able to transition in and out of the program without incident and in an appropriate manner.

·        refrain from use of profanity, inappropriate language, or illegal substances and remain in the room for the duration of the program

·        not be aggressive toward others or exhibit defiant behaviors

·        must be completely independent with restroom needs

·        not require 1:1 adult attention unless they attend with an aide

When/Where:

Mondays 4:00 – 5:30

Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 17, 24, Nov. 7, 14

LifeLinks, 285 Mill Road Chelmsford, MA

Program Facilitator Contact:

Nadine Briggs, Social Smart Kids

978-764-2758

nbriggs@socialsmartkids.com

If you are interested in this program, contact Amy and application materials will be sent to you:

Amy Young

Family Support Center Manager

285 Mill Road

Chelmsford, MA 01824

978-349-3039

Social Skills Workshop

LifeLinks is offering a social skills workshop for kids ages 7 - 11 years:

Social Opportunities for children ages 7-11

A place where kids can interact with peers and teenage helpers while working with a friendship tutor on:

·        Sportsmanship

·        Conversation Skills

·        Flexible Thinking

·        Managing Strong Feelings (anger/frustration/embarrassment)

·        Understanding Their Social Environment

·        Body Language

·        Managing Conflict and Disagreements

·        …and more, depending on the needs of participants.

Participation guidelines and requirements:

·                 Program participants are “fluent” in their use of language

·                 One-to-one adult attention is not necessary for safety

·                 Members can transition in and out of the program without incident

·                 Participants refrain from aggression toward others

·                 Program members are interested in socializing and role-playing

·                Participants can independently take care of rest room needs

When/Where:

Wednesdays  4:00 – 5:00 PM

Sept. 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26

LifeLinks, 285 Mill Road Chelmsford, MA

Parents are welcome to discuss details of the program with the facilitator:

Nadine Briggs, Social Smart Kids

978-764-2758

nbriggs@socialsmartkids.com