Event Summary for the Week of February 28, 2011

Check out the AutMont Calendar to see all of the activities for this week as well as those coming up!

Tuesday, March 1:

Fostering Cooperation in Children with Special Needs (1 of 3)

Wednesday, March 2:

Seminar: Camps and Recreation

Can We Talk? Speaking up for Your Children to Help Them Succeed (in English and Spanish)

Saturday, March 5:

College Fair for Students with Disabilities

Sunday, March 6:

AutMont Pick of the Week: Diamonds in the Rough: Special Learning Needs Sampler

Up for Discussion on AutMont:

Research Study Needs Participants: Early Cognitive and Language Development in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism

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Do you know of another event? Leave details in the comments!

Sensory Friendly Movie: Mars Needs Moms

Enjoy a screening of Mars Needs Moms in a sensory friendly environment on March 12 at 10 a.m.

AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society have teamed up to provide a mellower setting for families affected by autism and other disabilities. The movie auditorium will have its lights brought up and the sound turned down, families can bring in their own GFCF snacks, and no previews or ads will be shown before the movies. Audience members are also welcome to get up and move or vocalize. (Unless the safety of the audience is questioned.)

Tickets cost between $4 and $6 depending on the theater. The AMC Rio Cinemas 18 in Gaithersburg (9811 Washingtonian Blvd.) is one of the theaters that participates.

Straight Talk About Bullying in the Young Child

The Ivymount School will hold a workshop called Straight Talk About Bullying in the Young Child on March 10 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Amy Egan and Amy Freedman will lead the discussion intended to teach participants to explore factors that contribute to bullying, strategies to prevent bullying, and strategies to encourage peer relationships in the classroom.

This three-hour workshop costs $60 and will take place at Ivymount School (11614 Seven Locks Road) in Rockville. Register online.

Research Study: Development in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism

Researchers at the University of Maryland and the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children's National Medical Center are conducting a study on Early Cognitive and Language Development in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism.

They are looking for participants in their research study on infants who have autism in their families, looking to identify early predictors for whether a child is at higher risk of developing autism.

The studies take place at the University of Maryland's College Park campus and will involve three visits during the child's first year. If you are interested in participating, please read the information on the study's website and follow the instructions under the heading "How Do I Sign Up?"

For more information, call Tess Wood at the Infant Studies Lab at 301-405-4233 or email AutismSiblingStudy@umd.edu.

Fostering Cooperation in Children with Special Needs

PEP will hold a 3-session class on Fostering Cooperation in Children with Special Needs starting this week.

The class is intended for parents of children ages 3-13 with ADHD, ASD, LDs, sensory processing challenges and other neurodevelopmental issues. This class will help participants learn to diagnose the causes of misbehavior and deal with them more calmly, effectively and consistently; to boost their child's confidence and sense of positive power and contribution; and to increase harmony in their family.

The course will take place from 7:30-9:30 on March 1, 8 and 15 at the PEP Office (10100 Connecticut Avenue) in Kensington. The cost of the course is $81/person; $139/couple for nonmembers and $70/person; $129/couple for PEP members.

You must register and pay in advance for this three-week course (course #504), which starts March 1 (tomorrow!). Find the registration form online.

Event Summary for the Week of February 21, 2011

Check out the AutMont Calendar to see all of the activities for this week as well as those coming up!

Tuesday, February 22:

Webinar: Family-Centered Transition Planning for Students with ASDs

Lecture: Loving Children with Differences

Wednesday, February 23:

Parent Academy: Let's Get Organized!

Thursday, February 24:

Webinar: Supporting a Seamless Transition to Adulthood

SEAC Meeting

Saturday, February 26:

Adaptive Technology Session: Technology Support Services in Higher Education

Free Screening of Autism: The Musical

Sunday, February 27:

Summer Opportunities Fair for Children with Special Needs

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Do you know of another event? Leave details in the comments!

Information Nights at Montgomery College

Disability Support Services at Montgomery College will hold its annual information night for students with disabilities interested in attending Montgomery College.

The information night will take place on March 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. and is intended for potential students, their parents, teachers, and counselors. It will be held in Room 136 of the Technology Center on the Rockville Campus of Montgomery College.

Furthermore, the College Access Program at Montgomery College will hold its annual information night on April 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the same location. At this information night, the public can meet the faculty and staff and learn about CAP from students with learning disabilities who have completed the program and are currently enrolled in freshman and sophomore classes. CAP is a comprehensive program for students with learning disabilities who have the potential to succeed in college, but need to improve their reading, writing and/or study skills.

College Fair for Students with Disabilities

Project Access will host a College Fair Especially for Students with Disabilities on March 5 from noon to 3 p.m.

The fair will take place in the Burrill Galleria, Science and Technology Building, Howard Community College. There will be workshops on topics such as federal legislation, college disability programs, academic programs, and financial aid. Two-year, four-year, and career schools will be in attendance.

There is no charge for attending the fair. For more information, please call 443-518-4625.

Technology Support Services in Higher Education

Wheaton Library will host a Saturday Adaptive Technology Session presentation and panel discussion on Technology Support Services in Higher Education on February 26 from 1-3 p.m.

The session will provide answers to what role adaptive technology services provide for disability support services/academic support centers in colleges and universities. This session is for high school students, their parents, high school counselors, and special education teachers and therapists.

Wheaton Library is located at 11701 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. For more information, contact Francie Gilman at 240-777-0959.

Autism NOW Transition Webinars

Autism NOW will present two transition-themed webinars this week—the first on February 22 and the second on February 24.

February 22, 2-3 p.m. EST—Family-Centered Transition Planning for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Presenters Alan Kurtz and Janine Collins from the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Services, University of Maine, will discuss transition planning models. Register online.

February 24, 2-3 p.m. EST—Supporting a Seamless Transition to Adulthood: Presenters Drs. John Butterworth and Alberto Migliore from the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, Boston, will discuss the elements of an effective transition model and provide information on supports and post-school outcomes for people with ASDs. Register online.

February 2011 SEAC Meeting

This month's meeting of MCPS' Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will be February 24 from 7 to 9 p.m.

These meetings, usually held on the 4th Thursday of the month, include a period of public comments, Department of Special Education updates, and a speaker or discussion.

This month's topics include:

•New Guidlines for identifying students with a Specifice Learning Disability

•MCPS included funds of more than $5 million to support the loss of the portion of ARRA dollars that were used for staffing. MCPS wants to explain this shift from federal to local dollars.

• Edison recommendation

Meetings are held at the Carver Educational Services Center (850 Hungerford Drive, Room 127) in Rockville. All are welcome.

Anyone wishing to give public comments must bring five copies of your testimony and contact one of the co-chairs prior to the meeting. Co-chairs are Joan Sabaka (valntine20@aol.com), Anne Turner (adturn88@verizon.net), and Laura Swerdlin (lauraswerdlin@verizon.net).

Upcoming meetings will take place on March 24, April 28, May 26, June 23, and July 28.

Event Summary for the Week of February 14, 2011

Check out the AutMont Calendar to see all of the activities for this week as well as those coming up!

Tuesday, February 15:

Next Steps Transition Workshop: Special Topics Night

Extraordinary Parents Night

Wednesday, February 16:

Transition Times Meeting

Lecture: Growing Up Online (DC)

Thursday, February 17:

Visual and Behavioral Strategies in the Home for Children

Parent Academy: Special Education: Parents as Advocates and the Family-School Partnership

Self-Advocacy Skills for Students: What, Why and How

Parent Academy: Breaking the Bullying Cycle

Up for Discussion on AutMont:

10-Session Class: Helping Your Challenging Child: A Caregiver Training Program (PG County)

Registration open for Sports Plus Late Winter Swim Programs

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Class: Helping Your Challenging Child

The Special Education Citizen's Advisory Committee of Prince George's County Public Schools and the Arc of Prince George's County will present a 10-session class on Helping Your Challenging Child: A Caregiver Training Program.

Dan Shapiro, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, will lead the classes, which will take place on 10 Thursday sessions from March 3 to May 12 (except April 21) from 7-8:30 p.m.

The class is intended for parents and caregivers of preschool and elementary aged children with challenging behaviors. At each interactive session, Dr. Shapiro will provide proactive strategies for working with children with difficult temperaments and developmental differences. His hour-long presentation will be followed by 30 minutes of informal parent discussion.

Session topics include: know your child, time-in, motivation through positive attention for compliance, learning from experience, motivation through rewards, time-out and ignoring, empathy, problem solving, and ability, accommodations and interventions.

The cost for all ten sessions is $50. They will take place at the Arc of Prince George's County (1401 McCormick Drive) in Largo. For more information or to register, please contact Sarah Wayland at sarah.wayland@gmail.com or 301-927-7407.

Extraordinary Parents Night

The Partnership for Extraordinary Minds will hold its monthly Extraordinary Parents Night on February 15 from 7-9 p.m.

This month's meeting will focus on the concerns parents would like addressed by administrators at the annual Placements Forum, which explains the services and placements in public education for diploma-bound students on the autism spectrum in Montgomery County.

The meeting will be held in the Rockville Library Meeting Room (21 Maryland Avenue) in Rockville.

Sports Plus Late Winter Swim Programs Open for Registration

Registrations are open for Sports Plus' late winter swim programs. Sports Plus is a non-profit organization that offers co-ed sports and swimming programs for children with mild to moderate autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, and other developmental disabilities.

Find registration information by going to Sports Plus' website at www.playsportsplus.org and scrolling down until you see the classes that begin on February 26. Swim classes are available for kids ages 5-17 and young adults ages 17-25.

For more information, contact Sports Plus at 301-452-3781 or sportsplus@comcast.net.

Lecture: Loving Children with Differences

Ivymount School will hold a lecture about Loving Children with Differences: Experiences from Clinical Practice and Fatherhood on February 22 from 7-9 p.m.

Lance Clawson, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and parent of a child with special needs will speak.

Doors will open at 6:30 for networking and refreshments. The lecture will take place at the Ivymount School (11614 Seven Locks Road) in Rockville. Please RSVP online or by calling 301-469-0223.

John Elder Robison at Ivymount

Ivymount School will host John Elder Robison on April 5 from 7-9 p.m. as he discusses his new book, Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers.

Robison is also the author of Look Me in the Eye. This lecture is free, but a suggested donation of $10 will support the Model Asperger Program.

Doors will open at 6:30 for networking and refreshments. The lecture will take place at the Ivymount School (11614 Seven Locks Road) in Rockville. Please RSVP online or by calling 301-469-0223.

MCTrans Meeting: Parent Exchange Night

MCTransitions' March meeting will take place on the 10th from 7:30-9 p.m. This meeting will be a Parent Exchange Night.

Be prepared to share tips with other families on what you have done to help your young adult in any area, or bring your own questions for others to answer.

Please RSVP through the MCTransitions contact page. The meeting will take place at the Arc of Montgomery County (11600 Nebel Street) in Rockville.

Self-Advocacy Skills for Students

The Gifted with Learning Differences Educational Network will hold its monthly educational and support meeting on February 17 from 6:30-9 p.m. The meeting topic will be "Self-Advocacy Skills for Students: What, Why and How."

The meeting begins with a networking session from 6:30-7:30. Bring your own dinner and meet other attendees during this time. Beginning at 7:30, Barbara Siegel and Joan Wittan will present on self-advocacy.

The meeting will take place at Walter Johnson High School (6400 Rock Spring Drive) in Bethesda. For more information, contact Joan Wittan at jomada@verizon.net.

Event Summary for the Week of February 7, 2011

Check out the AutMont Calendar to see all of the activities for this week as well as those coming up!

Monday, February 7:

MCCPTA Special Education Committee Meeting: Sensory Integration

Tuesday, February 8:

Information Session for Ivymount/GMU ABA Certificate Program

Navigating the Financial World of the Special Needs Family

Wednesday, February 9:

Pizza Fundraiser for SEEC

LDAMC Parent Connection Support Meeting

PEP Class: Homework: How to Make Things Work Without Getting Worked Up

Thursday, February 10:

Wrightslaw Conference

Information Session for Little Leaves Preschool & Early Intervention Center

Parent Academy: Special Education: Parents as Advocates and the Family-School Partnership

Parent Academy: Breaking the Bullying Cycle

MCASA Parent Support Group

MCTransitions Meeting: All About DORS

Friday, February 11:

Ask MCPS: Coffee and Conversation

Saturday, February 12:

Sensory Friendly Movie: Gnomeo & Juliet

Yoga Workshop for Young Adults with Asperger's

Sunday, February 13:

Autism/Sensory Friendly Performance of Mirandy and Brother Wind at Adventure Theatre

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Do you know of another event? Leave details in the comments!

Autism/Sensory Friendly Performance of Mirandy and Brother Wind

Adventure Theatre, in partnership with the African Continuum Theatre Company, will present an ASL Interpreted and Autism/Sensory Friendly performance of Mirandy and Brother Wind on February 13 at 2 p.m.

Tickets for this performance, which will be slightly adjusted, are $15 each. You can buy tickets online.

For more information, contact Adventure Theatre at 301-634-2270. The theater is located in Glen Echo Park (7300 MacArthur Boulevard) in Glen Echo.

PEP Homework Class

PEP, the Parent Encouragement Program, will hold a course on Homework: How to Make Things Work Without Getting Worked Up on February 9 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

The class is intended for parents of elementary and middle school children and will be presented by Doreen Engel, MA.

Learn how to support your children emotionally in the homework process, including teaching them to organize themselves, helping them to find their best working style, allowing them to make mistakes, and most important, staying positive. Also, learn how to know when it's time to speak to your child's teacher about problem areas.

Pre-registration is required for this class and costs $30 for nonmembers and $25 for members.

The meeting will take place at the PEP Office (10100 Connecticut Avenue) in Kensington.

MCCPTA Special Education Committee Meeting: Sensory Integration

The public is welcome to attend the MCCPTA Special Education Committee Meeting February 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Discussion will center around sensory integration and a video will be shown. For more information, contact Jeanne Taylor, FRTJMT@aol.com.

The meeting will take place in the Carver Educational Services Center cafeteria (850 Hungerford Road) in Rockville.

Free Screening of Autism: The Musical

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington will hold a free showing of Autism: The Musical on February 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The movie follows several Los Angeles children with autism over the course of a few months as they put together a stage production.

The screening is free and includes a post-movie discussion led by Eva Cowen. The event will take place at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington (6125 Montrose Road) in Rockville.

For more information, contact Michele Duchin at 240-283-6234 or learnwithus@pjll.org.

A Mom Talks with the Director of Special Education

Because it is so horrifyingly and hilariously spot on for so many people: