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

Speech Issues and Autism

Quite often children on the Spectrum have issues with speech and language. A recent article posted on the MSN health web site lists 10 questions to ask your child's speech therapist.

IEP Guide

Autism Speaks has created an online guide to understanding the IEP process for parents. Although the guide was created by attorneys at Goodwin Proctor, it is written in layperson's terms.

A Night for Families on the Spectrum at the Discovery Museum

This e-mail was forwarded to me:

Come join in all the fun at The Discovery Museums during a special free evening for families with children on the autism spectrum on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 5:30-8:30 pm supported by Autism Alliance of MetroWest, funded by the Foundation for MetroWest, the Boston Bruins Foundation, Morgan Stanley and Nypro, with refreshments provided by Not Your Average Joe's.

Please e-mail Autism-Events@discoverymuseums.org or call 978-264-4200 ext. 28 for more information or to register for the event.

Help spread the word by either forwarding this e-mail to your family and friends or posting the attached flyer at a local school or organization that supports families with children on the autism spectrum.

Thank you for your support of The Discovery Museums!