Resource Connection News for Adults

Transcription

1 Resource Connection News for Adults ISSUE 2 Spring 2017 Summits, Forums, Springing Up New Connections The weather is getting warmer and spring is just around the corner. I am excited to build from the success of the groups and activities of the winter quarter by adding several new offerings for spring. The biggest hit from last quarter were the Meet-Ups at Quinsigamond College, QCC, which will continue. Due to the popularity of the QCC Meet Ups, a new monthly Meet-Up will be held at the Hopedale Community House. We will be using 3 rooms which gives us plenty of space to spread out. We can have food, as many of you have suggested, also bowling alleys, a pool table, a TV, and a PS4 will be available. I want to thank all of you who took time online or during groups and activities to complete our activity survey and /or assisted in planning and scheduling the activities for the spring. Because of your interest and involvement I am looking forward to seeing more of you getting together this quarter to enjoy the fun and interesting social activities chosen with your input: Laser Tag, Paint Night, 5 Wits. (See Pg. 2 & Pg. 4 for details) Celebrations, Advocacy and Annual Walk! April is coming which means this is the busiest month of the year at the Center. Come and be involved! See information in this Newsletter regarding various types of events in April: Higher and Hire Summit, World Café Forum, Light It Up Blue, and Autism Spectrum Awareness and Acceptance Day at the State house. April 29, 2017 is the Center s Annual Walk. Come and take part in this fun annual event that raises money for us to do activities.

2 Required / Important / Critical /...and Don t Miss Out!!! Please register on our website, in order to participate in any of our Activities, Groups, workshops, Meet-Up, and Parent Support Meetings. Due to the Grant by the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation we are able to offer several costly activities free of charge this quarter. Several of these need a confirmation of a minimal number of participants signed up ahead of time or the event will need to be canceled. This applies to other events, especially Parent Meetings requiring staff to drive a distance from West Boylston. Also, some activities are open to a maximum number of participants. Due to this and several activities being highly preferred, a $10.00 deposit fee is being required to hold your slot for these types of activities. The $10.00 deposit will be returned upon attending the activity. Spring Activities as Voted by and Planned by Members Laser Tag - Members voted this the #1 activity of interest. Join the fun at Laser Craze in Westborough. Their website states they, Have the most state-of-the-art multi-level area in New England. Paint Night - Show us your creative side. Come to this all Center Teen and Adult event. This is led by an instructor who will provide direction to the group on a selected picture for this event. ($10.00 deposit is required to hold your slot which will be returned upon attending the activity). 5 Wits - Come immerse yourself in 2 live - action adventures. Meet at 10:45AM for 2000 Leagues Under the Sea. We will break for lunch and return for the spy adventure, Espionage. ($10.00 deposit is required to hold your slot which will be returned upon attending the activity). Relationships / Social Skills Training Series A new Relationships / Social Skills Group will be held from March 28 - May , Tuesdays from 4:00PM - 5:30PM. This is a structured skills training group which uses, The Relationship Series, by YAI, as its curriculum which is presented on DVD. This group will utilize interactive approaches such as group discussion and role plays for those who feel comfortable with the latter. This series addresses the various types and progression of relationships. The group in the spring will cover the following: 5 ways to tell if someone is your friend, making and developing friendships / boyfriend & girlfriend relationships / mature, respectful, and responsible sexual relationships. (8 slots available) Please contact Dianne Crossley directly if you are interested in participating in this class at or at dcrossley@hmea.org Dates for Relationships Group March April 4, 11, 18, May 2, 9, 16, 23,

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4 MARCH March 1, 2017 Southbridge Bank 200 Charlton Rd. Sturbridge March 8, 2017 Housing Workshop Section 8 Housing Cathy Boyle from Autism Housing Pathways Milford DDS Office 194 West St., #9 Milford 6:15-8:30 PM March 9, 2017 Meet - Up at QCC (Quinsigamond Community College) 670 W Boylston St. Worcester RM239 Harrington Learning Center Egan Conference Room 6:00-7:30 PM March 10, 2017 Laser Tag Laser Craze West Meadow Plaza 166 Milk St. Westborough 4:30PM - 7: 00PM (Food and arcade games available at your own cost) (See pg. 2) March 22, 2017 Paint Night All Center Teen & Adult Family Event Turner Hall 60 Branch St. Clinton MA 6:30PM - 9:30PM (See pg. 2) March 23, :00PM - 7:30PM March 24, 2017 Meet-Up at Hopedale Community House Light Dinner Served 43 Hope St. Hopedale 5:30PM - 7:30PM March 27, 2017 Leominster Library Friends Room 30 West St., Leominster March Relationship Skills Grp. Tuesdays through May Sterling St. West Boylston 4:30PM - 6:00PM (See pg. 2) March 29, 2017 (NEW LOCATION) Kennedy Donovan Center 171 Main St. Milford 6:15-8:30 PM March 30, :00PM - 7:30PM APRIL April 5, Sterling St. West Boylston 7:00PM - 9:00PM April 7, 2017 Light It Up Blue UMass Medical Center 5:30PM - 8:00PM (See pg. 7) April 10, 2017 CENTER CLOSED Autism Awareness Day At the Statehouse 10:00AM (See Pg. 7) April 11, 2017 CENTER CLOSED Autism Summit 8:30AM - 3:15PM (See pg. 5) April 12, 2017 Employment Workshop Sarah Loizeaux from Workforce Central Southbridge Bank 200 Charlton Rd., Sturbridge April 13, :00PM - 7:30PM April 17, 2017 CENTER CLOSED Patriots Day April 19, 2017 DDS World Café Central Mass Forum Shaping Our Future 9:30AM - 3:00PM (See pg. 6) April 21, 2017 Meet-Up at Hopedale Community House Light Dinner Served 43 Hope St. Hopedale 5:30PM - 7:30PM April 24, 2017 Parent Support Group Leominster Library Friends Room April 26, 2017 Parent Support Group Kennedy Donovan Center, Milford 6:15PM - 8:30PM April 27, :00PM - 7:30Pm April 29, 2017 Annual 5k Walk + Run For Autism Acceptance (See Pg. 3) May May 3, Sterling St. West Boylston 7:00PM - 9:00PM May 7, Wits 202 Patriot Place Foxboro 10:45AM (See pg. 2) May 10, 2017 Parents Support Grp. (New Location) Seven Hills Family Support Center 208 Charlton Rd. Sturbridge May 11, :00PM - 7:30PM May 20, 2017 Meet-Up at Hopedale Community House Light Dinner Served 43 Hope St. Hopedale 3:30PM - 5:30PM Parent Support Group Leominster Library Friends Room May 24, 2017 Parent Support Group Kennedy Donovan 171 Main St., Milford 6:15PM - 8:30PM May 29, 2017 Center Closed CENTER CLOSED

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7 SAVE THE DATE Join us for AFAM s Annual Autism Spectrum Awareness and Acceptance Day at the State House Monday, April 10, 2017 Great Hall And Grand Staircase The State House Boston, Massachusetts 9:00am 11am Questions Contact: Judy Zacek , extension 6102 or visit: Come, join other families and make an impact! SAVE THE DATE! Friday, April 7, 2017 Autism Awareness & Acceptance Celebration UMass Medical School Worcester, MA First Floor Lobby 5:30-8:00 p.m. Family Activities and Provider Fair, Drumming Circle, Refreshments, and more For more information contact: Child and adolescent psychiatry UMass Medical School childresearch@umassmed.edu or Autism Resource Central

8 Coming In June - MASSive Comic Con at the DCU Center Do you like Captain America, Superman, and other comic crusaders? Then come with us to the Massive Comic Con at the Worcester DCU Center on June 25, We will be meeting at the DCU Center at 11:00AM. Go to - guests/ to see what special guests will be there. Come Geek and Nerd out with other like minded people. Space is limited to 8 people. Tickets need to be ordered prior to selling out. This event is now up on our web site for registration. A $10.00 deposit is required to hold your space which will be returned upon attending activity. Dianne Crossley, LICSW dcrossley@hmea.org Adult Services Specialist 71 Sterling St West Boylston, MA ph Fax