August 2021 Newsletter

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

“Transition Assessment: What, When and How” Presented by: Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS, Director of Transition Services; NESCA Assistant Director
Age-appropriate transition assessments are important for helping students identify their strengths, interests, and skills as well as the knowledge and services that will be needed to reach their goals for life after high school. Participants in this webinar will learn important basics about transition assessment—When? Why? What?—as well as how assessment results inform IEP transition planning.

Monday, August 16, 2021 

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET

"I Can't Think When I'm Stressed!" Understanding the Relationship between Anxiety and Executive Function, and How to Help Presented by: Angela Currie, Ph.D., Pediatric

Neuropsychologist, NESCA
While it is important to teach the executive function, task management, daily living, and other skills that will help these students to become independent, these interventions are sometimes ineffective because we forget to understand and address the underlying stress and anxiety that they may be facing. This webinar will discuss how self-regulation challenges interfere with learning and daily living, focusing on the dynamic relationship between anxiety and executive functioning. We will also discuss methods for supporting the development of these skills.

Thursday, August 12th 
Webinar:  Introduction to Sexuality Considerations for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Cost: $35
Requirements: Open to parents and caregivers of individuals with ASD
Location:  Virtual
This introductory webinar will discuss how the features and associated features of an Asperger/autism profile can impact sexuality. An overview of challenges and interventions will be explored through multiple profile lenses (e.g. social, communication, special interests, sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional).

Tuesday, August 17th 
Webinar:  Introduction to Post-Secondary Transition Planning
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Cost: $35
Requirements: Open to high school students with ASD/an Asperger profile and their parents/caregivers
Location:  Virtual
This webinar will provide an overview of an ASD-specific transition planning process. Teens and parents will receive an orientation about how to work collaboratively toward the shared goal of a successful transition from high school to adulthood. Teen participants will learn how to share the "case manager" role with their parents, increasing their skills and knowledge, toward a goal of independence in their post-secondary life.

Family Apple Picking Weekend

We will have two back to back days of New England's BEST Apple Picking at Honey Pot Farm. On Saturday September 18th we will host a a party for our Little Folks ages 3-5. Each child guest will receive a 1/4 peck apple picking bag, cider donut, a cup of cider, and a small pumpkin. Our party will include private hayride, fun sensory play time in the moon-bounce, and visit with the animals. On September 19th we will host a party for our Getting older kids ages 6-12. Each guest will receive a 1/2 peck apple picking bag, caramel apple, a cup of cider, and small pumpkin. Party includes private hayride and moon-bounce. Registration opens September 1. Space is limited

Glee Club

The Autism Alliance is back with one of our most popular programs, our Virtual Glee Club for individuals 18+ with autism. Glee club is facilitated by our favorite music teacher, Mr. William Lynch, and co-lead by Sophie McLaughlin, expressive movement therapist. The group meets monthly. The program is a mixture of singing songs, and movement. Registration is free. Click on the link for time and dates. 

Autism Alliance EXCLUSIVE

NEW Virtual After School Club featuring the Southwick Zoo

All are welcome to join us for our very FIRST Autism Alliance Afterschool Club. We will send you the link for the program and be ready to learn some really fun facts about the animals that live at the Southwick Zoo. For more details click on the link below.

Teen Digital Music ages 12-16

This FREE program will meet VIRTUALLY starting in September 2021 through December 2021. We will assess the program in 2022 to see if we will begin meeting again in-person or remain virtual. Participants will create their own music and collaborate on group projects using digital music applications such as Sound Slice, Incredibox and Soundtrap/Garageband. Music based experiences will include but not be limited to songwriting, improvisation and song sharing. This group will be facilitated by Tony Varga, who holds a doctorate in music education and is also a board certified music therapist. Group will meet on zoom 2x a month on Thursdays from 6:15pm -7:00pm. Click on the link to apply.

Free to Be Me Group Respite: ages 5-11

This program runs from September 2021 through June 2022, with monthly sessions for children ages 5-11 with autism. The program is in Hudson on Saturday evenings. The respite is provided in small groups or with one-to-one support by special education teachers and specialists, with support from Autism Alliance staff. Sessions are limited to 10 children. Click on link to apply.

In case you missed one, or want to check back in, our Healthy Heroes Emails  are published weekly for up-to-date resources and information. You can find these archived on our website along with our current and past monthly newsletters. 

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