Extraordinary Minds in MCPS Forum

The Partnership for Extraordinary Minds will hold Extraordinary Minds in MCPS: A Forum for Parents to Learn How Diploma-bound Students with Autism are Educated in Montgomery County Public Schools on March 29 from 6:30-9 p.m.

Administrators from MCPS will present information about educational services for diploma-bound students on the spectrum in MCPS. Following the introduction from 6:30 to 7:10, attendees can participate in one or more breakout sessions.

The breakout sessions are as follows:

7:10-8 p.m.: (choose from)

• Elementary School Services

• Secondary School Services

• Related Services: Speech and Occupational Therapy

• Transition Services

• Parent Vision for Autism Services in MCPS

8-8:50 p.m.: (choose from)

• Q&A Regarding Elementary School Services

• Q&A Regarding Secondary School Services

• Related Services: Speech and Occupational Therapy (repeat)

• Transition Services (repeat)

• Parent Vision for Autism Services in MCPS (continued)

This event is free. Registration is not required, but is helpful for planning purposes. Register online. (Registration is to attend the event; you do not need to register for specific sessions.) Call 301-444-5225 with questions.

The forum will take place at Julius West Middle School (651 Great Falls Road) in Rockville.

New Parent R.A.P.S. Support Group

The Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health has introduced its new support group, which will meet the third Sunday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Parent R.A.P.S. (Resources, Advocacy and Peer Support) will be a supportive community of parents and other primary caregivers who have transition-age youth and young adults (ages 14-26) with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.

The meeting is intended to be a safe place to discuss challenges, find support, explore your needs, and learn about resources.

To RSVP or for more information, contact executive director Celia Serkin at 301-879-5200 x27 or cserkin@mcfof.org.

The meetings will take place at the Colesville Professional Building (13321 New Hampshire Avenue, Terrace B) in Silver Spring.

Project Access College Fair

Howard Community College's Project Access will host a college fair on March 3 from noon to 3 p.m. for students with disabilities.

Students are invited to meet and talk to disability service providers and admissions representatives from a variety of two- and four-year colleges. Find the list of colleges on the event website.

The fair will take place in the Burrill Galleria, Science and Technology Building at Howard Community College. For more information, contact Linda Schnapp at 443-518-4625 or lschnapp@howardcc.edu.

Event Summary for the Week of February 27, 2012

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

Monday, February 27:

Parent Academy: Help! My Child is Disorganized!

Tuesday, February 28:

Webinar: Is Voting Important to You; If So, Why?

Saturday, March 3:

Project Access College Fair

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

Yoga for Special Needs Families

Sky House Yoga will offer two hour-long yoga workshops for kids on the autism spectrum and their caregivers on March 11 and April 15.

The workshops are called "Loving the Autistic Child: A Yoga & Breath Experience for Families with Autistic Children," and will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The workshop will provide children under the age of 12 and their caregivers the opportunity to connect to one another through yoga and play. Certified behavior analyst and yoga teacher Crystal Wissinger will lead participants in fun yoga postures, games, and songs, as well a yogic breathing exercises to calm the nervous system.

A donation from $25-$45 is suggested. Sky House is located at 903 Gist Avenue in Silver Spring.

Event Summary for the Week of February 20, 2012

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

Monday, February 20:

AutMont's Event of the Week! —>Fundraiser for Montgomery Cheetahs Special Hockey

Tuesday, February 21:

Webinar: Converting Sheltered Workshops to Employment Programs That Get People Real Jobs

Understanding SSI/Medicaid and SSDI/Medicare

Workshop: Writing Social Stories

Thursday, February 23:

Collaborative Problem Solving Model and Asperger Syndrome

Saturday, February 25:

Sensory Friendly Film: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Sunday, February 26:

Summer Opportunities Fair

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

Fundraiser for Montgomery Cheetahs Special Hockey

The Montgomery Cheetahs special hockey team will hold a fundraiser on February 20 at the Ledo's Pizza in Bethesda.

The Ledo's Pizza at 10301 Westlake Drive in Bethesda will donate 20% of all dine-in sales between 5 p.m. and closing to the Cheetahs. If you want to order take out (phone number 301-469-6700), make sure to mention that your order is for the Cheetahs so the team can earn 20% from your order as well.

Come hang out with some incredible families and hockey players and support a great cause while you're doing it! My son plays on this team, and it has been amazing for him. We appreciate your support.

Event Summary for the Week of February 13, 2012

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

Monday, February 13:

MCCPTA Special Education Committee Meeting: Chair Networking

Tuesday, February 14:

Webinar: AASPIRE and Community Based Participatory Research

Wednesday, February 15:

Effective IEPs for Student with ASD

Utilizing Educational Technology for School Success: Digital Tools for Supporting Students with Learning Differences

Webinar: Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Autism and Related Disorders

Saturday, February 18:

Webinar: Wandering

Webinar: Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Restraints and Seclusion

Sunday, February 19:

Understanding Psychological Evaluations and the Testing Process

Up for Discussion on AutMont:

Registration now open for Sports Plus late winter swim programs and Fitness for Health's "B" Social Summer Mini Camp.

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

Understanding Psychological Evaluations & the Testing Process

For Our Kids, For Ourselves will present an interactive discussion with TLC senior psychologist Dr. Lisa Lenhart on Understanding Psychological Evaluations and the Testing Process for Learning Disabilities: A Guide for Parents and Teachers on February 19 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Dr. Lenhart will provide an overview of the evaluation process for identifying a learning disability by defining different kinds of evaluations, diagnoses, and the characteristics and behaviors of children with learning disabilities. Participants will gain an understanding of the strategies that can be helpful in addressing our children's difficulties, academic advocacy and eligibility for receiving support services, and navigating insurance codes and coverage.

The lecture will be held at Ohr Kodesh Congregation (8300 Meadowbrook Lane) in Chevy Chase. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register. Admission is $12 with RSVP or $15 at the door. To RSVP, email Jaime at adhdparentsforum@yahoo.com.

Online Autism Safety and Crisis Prevention Conference

Autism College will present a free online conference on autism safety and crisis prevention on February 15 and 18. Register online for the conference.

Sessions are as follows:

February 15, 9-10:30 p.m. Eastern: Dr. Joshua Feder will discuss "The Problem of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Autism and Related Disorders."

February 18, 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Eastern: Wendy Fournier of the National Autism Association will discuss Wandering.

February 18, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Eastern: Pat Amos will discuss Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Restraints and Seclusion.

Registration Open for "B" Social Summer Mini Camp

Fitness for Health has announced that registration is open for their "B" Social Summer Mini Camp.

The program integrates social cognitive thinking with motor activities.

There are three weeks available: August 6-10, August 13-17, and August 20-24.

The camp is intended for kids pre-K and older and costs $600 a week if registered by April 6. It is held in the first floor gym at Fitness for Health (11140 Rockville Pike) in Rockville.

For more information, call 301-231-7138 or email info@fitnessforhealth.org.

MCCPTA Special Education Committee Meeting: Chair Networking

The MCCPTA Special Education Committee will meet on February 13 at 7:30 p.m. to give PTA special education chairpeople an opportunity to network with each other.

(Editor's note: I totally had another image for "chair networking" that made me laugh a lot.)

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

For more information, email Jeanne Taylor at FRTJMT@aol.com.

Autism NOW Webinars on Employment and Voting

Autism NOW presents webinars every Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. Eastern. Following is the information for the end of February events:

February 21: Converting Sheltered Workshops to Employment Programs That Get People Real Jobs—Join this webinar to learn about the shift in employment from sheltered workshops to community-based jobs. Find resources available. Register online.

February 28: Is Voting Important to You, If So, Why? Nancy Ward of Project VOTE will discuss exercising your rights and allowing your voice to be heard. Register online.

Effective IEPs for Students with ASD

The Partnership for Extraordinary Minds will host their Extraordinary Parents' Night on the topic of Effective IEPs for Students with ASD on February 15 from 7-9 p.m.

Janet Price and Jennifer Engel-Fisher of the Weinfeld Education Group will present on the topic. Participants should come away with an understanding of the laws governing 504s and IEPs, the steps involved in navigating the special education system, the parts of an IEP, and what an effective and appropriate IEP should look like (including how to write measurable effective goals).

This meeting is free and registration is not required. There will be question and answer time as well. The meeting will take place at the Rockville Memorial Library (21 Maryland Avenue) in Rockville. Call 301-444-5225 with questions.

Michelle Garcia Winner Social Thinking Workshop

Michelle Garcia Winner will present social thinking workshops on March 26 & 27 in Baltimore.

Winner will present the latest strategies for teaching and treating students with high-functioning autism, Asperger's, ADHD, NLD, and similar challenges.

The March 26 workshop is called "Implementing Social Thinking Concepts and Vocabulary into our School and Home Day: A Day to Develop Team Creativity." The March 27 workshop is called "Informal Dynamic Social Thinking Assessment and Core Treatment Strategies for Use at Home and School."

Cost for the workshops vary based on what days you will attend and what your professional/parent status is. Find information on the online registration page.

The workshops will take place at the Baltimore Marriott Hunt Valley (245 Shawan Road) in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Diamonds in the Rough: Special Needs Learning Sampler

The Weinfeld Education Group will hold their third annual Diamonds in the Rough: DC-Area Special Needs Learning Sampler on March 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The conference will offer information on dealing with difficult behaviors, partnering with advocates or attorneys, finding financial resources, and understanding evaluations. Vendors will offer information on their services, including therapy, tutoring, specialized education programs, and more.

The cost of the conference is as follows:

By February 29: single attendee $25; two attendees $45

After February 29: single attendee $45; two attendees $85

At the door: $45 per person

Optional box lunch: $9.50

Register online for the conference, which will take place at the University of Maryland at Shady Grove (9630 Gudelsky Drive) in Rockville.

Sports Plus Late Winter Swim Programs

Sports Plus' 2012 late winter swim programs are beginning February 25th in Gaithersburg and Bethesda. Please find information and registration information at www.playsportsplus.org.

Event Summary for the Week of February 6, 2012

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

Monday, February 6:

BounceU Sensory Bounce

Tuesday, February 7:

Webinar: Let's Talk About Sex: Disability, Relationships, and Sexuality

Understanding SSI/Medicaid and SSDI/Medicare

Thursday, February 9:

SSI for Students: How to Get SSI and Medical Assistance, Go to Work...And Live to Tell About It

Autism Society Parent Support Group

Sunday, February 12:

Music for Autism

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

Webinar: AASPIRE and Community Based Participatory Research

Autism NOW will present a webinar on February 14 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern about AASPIRE and Community Based Participatory Research.

Christina Nicolaidis will present this webinar, which will teach about how AASPIRE encourages the inclusion of adults on the autism spectrum in research matters that directly affect them.

Register online for this webinar.

Autism NOW Webinar about Sexuality

Autism NOW will present a webinar on February 7 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern called "Let's Talk About Sex: Disability, Relationships, and Sexuality."

Stacey Milbern will focus on how adult allies can talk with youth with disabilities about sex, relationships, safety and more. Learn a few tips and strategies that may benefit you in your discussions with your child.

Register online for the webinar.

MCTrans Presentation: SSI for Students

MCTransitions will hold a joint meeting with Transition Times on February 9 from 6:45-9:15 p.m.

The meeting will feature a webinar presentation by Michael Dalto, Work Incentives Project Director for the Maryland Department of Disabilities.

The webinar is titled "SSI (Supplemental Security Income) for Students: How to Get SSI and Medical Assistance, Go to Work...And Live to Tell About It."

The meeting will be held at The Arc of Montgomery County (11600 Nebel Street) in Rockville.

For reservations, questions, or to request information about participating from home, please contact Reda Sheinberg at 301-385-5889 or Reda.Sheinberg@MCTransitions.org.

Autism Society Parent Support Meeting

The Autism Society Montgomery County will hold its next parent support group meeting on February 9 from 7:30-9 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the Twinbrook Community Recreation Center (12920 Twinbrook Parkway) in Rockville.

For more information, call Liz at 301-924-2211.