Welcome to the Autism in Connecticut blog!

Here you will find information on activities, programs and events around the state that might be of interest to anyone in Connecticut living with autism. You will find a calendar of events listing support groups, speakers, conferences and workshops. There will be links for programs and other activities that might be of interest to families, professionals, community members, friends or to other autism organizations. It is our belief that there is a need for one place to go where anyone can access information on what is happening around the state whether it is sponsored by our organization, by any other autism organization, or by any other disability organization or state agency. Families - this is the place to come to in order to find our what is happening; Organizations - this is the place to post your information in order to reach families around Connecticut. Send your information to autismblogger@sbcglobal.net.

Sponsored by the Autism Society of Connecticut

Looking for inclusive summer programs?

(new entries in green)
email new listings to autismblogger@sbcglobal.net
all listings must include phone, e-mail and/or webpage

Groton Parks and Recreation has a number of programs specifically designed for individuals with disabilities including Kayaking, Music, Theatre, Sports, etc. Check them out at www.grotonrec.com or call Eileen Cicchese, Therapeutic Recreational Specialist at 860-536-5691. They are low cost and some are free.

Moving to the Music starting June 27, 2006 at the Mystic Education Center, 9:30 - 10:30, ages 3-12. FREE. Just register at Groton Parks and Recreation.

Adaptive Recreation at Wallingford Parks and Recreation provides inclusive programming including rock climbing. Call 203-294-2120 for more information.

Exercise for Kids with Special Needs: Session 1: July 10-27, Session 2: July 31 - August 17. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PediaFlex, Glastonbury. Register by June 23. Call Matt Luginbuhl at 860-306-6423

Autism in Connecticut Community Calendar
(new entries in green)
email new listings to autismblogger@sbcglobal.net
all listings must include phone, e-mail and/or webpage

June 15, 22, 29, 2006: USE 101, Understanding Special Education for Beginners. The Birth to Three Local Interagency Coordinating Council of Lower Fairfield is pleased to offer the U.S.E. 101 Course specifically designed for parents transitioning from the Birth to Three system to preschool special education services. USE 101 will consist of three basic workshops. These workshops are offered at no cost to parents and professionals to learn more about special education. While parents are strongly encouraged to attend all three workshops, attendance at all 3 is not mandatory. The sessions will highlight some of the changes in the reauthorization of IDEA 2004, the IEP process and document with an emphasis on inclusion. Attendees will participate in a variety of skill-building activities and develop a file for maintaining their child's educational documents. There are a limited number of parent stipends to help with childcare costs that you arrange on your own. Please register by June 12, 2006, by calling Suzanne Ford at (203) 629-1880 ext 100 or by email: ford@arcgreenwich.org. Held on Thursdays: June 15 - 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., June 22 - 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., June 29 - 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Held at ARC Youth Division, 132 East Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob, CT 06807 - Above Poricelli's Food Mart. Funded by: The Lower Fairfield Interagency Coordinating Council.

Mon. June 19, 2006: Support Group Meeting with speaker discussing family dynamics with special needs children, 7:00 p.m. At the Sterling House Community Center, Main St., Stratford. Sponsored by the Stratford Region- Autism Society of Connecticut. Call Kim Wardlow at 203-416-2647.

NAMI-CT is also co-sponsoring a series of Candidate Education Trainings this month with the Keep the Promise Coalition, the Reaching Home Campaign, African-Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP), and FAVOR, Inc. This training is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to educate candidates for public office about mental health issues. The regionally based training schedule is as follows: For more information contact Cathleen Anderson-Baker at: Phone: 877-402-2299 x 5969or by E-mail: keepthepromise@clrp.org.
Tues. June 20, 2006: 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. at Laurel House - 1616 WashingtonBlvd., Stamford, CT;
Wed. June 21, 2006: 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Merritt Hall at CT Valley Hospital-Silver St., Middletown, CT
Thurs. June 22, 2006: 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Southeastern Mental Health Authority-401 W. Thames St. Building Norwich, CT (multi-purpose room)
Tues. June 27, 2006: 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Hartford Medical Society- 230 Scarborough St., Hartford, CT
Wed. June 28, 2006: 1:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. at The Drop-In Center- 95 Thomaston Ave., Waterbury, CT

Wed. June 21, 2006: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna's in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms with special needs children in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

Thurs. June 22, 2006: Support Group Meeting, 7:00 p.m. At the Shoreline UniUniversalist SocietySociety. Sponsored by the Shoreline Region - Autism Society of Connecticut.

Tues. June 27, 2006: Support Group Meeting, 7:00 p.m. At the Killingworth Public Library. Sponsored by the Killingworth/Haddam Region - Autism Society of Connecticut.

Sat. June 24, 2006, Sat. July 1, 2006, Sat, July 15, 2006, Sat. July 22, 2006: Summer Family Play Dates at the Valley Shore YMCA, Westbrook, CT. 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Ages 3 -7. Support and modeling in a safe, consistent social environment. First Session Sat. June 24 - July 22. Second Session July 29 - August 26. $10 Full Members, $15 Program Members. Contact Patti MacKenzie for more information 860-399-YMCA.

Mon., June 26, 2006: Support Group – Waterbury, for parents and caregivers raising children with disabilities: 6:00 – 8:30 –p.m. Waterbury WARC, 1929 East Main Street, Waterbury. June workshop presentation “Get Creative About Respite” with Joy Liebeskind, CT Life-Span Respite Coalition, Statewide Coordinator, for more information, contact Alice Buttwell, alicemmbb@aol.com, 860-350-6025 or Linda Ladden, Linda.Ladden@sbcglobal.net, 203-809-9010.

Mon., June 26, 2006: Workshop: DMR Services/Supports for Children with MR/ID: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., sponsored by PEETA, reservations required, call AFCAMP at 860-842-7303 or PEETA at 203-627-4985.

Tues, June 27, 2006: Autism Parents Club: A group of parents (dads too!) of children on the autism spectrum. If you're part of "the club" you will laugh & cry with other parents who could relate to your situation, support each other, share stories & resources, vent & have fun. Open to parents from all over CT. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco's Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or

Tues., June 27, 2006: FAVAN (Farmington Valley Asperger's Network), monthly meeting: 7:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, Simsbury. This will be an open discussion memeting and all parents or other caregivers of children on the spectrum are invited to attend. No RSVP required. For more information call Shawn or Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or go to www.favan.org.

Tues. June 27, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Sun. July 2, 2006: Hartford Region, Autism Society of Connecticut 2nd Annual Picnic (Rescheduled from 5/21). At the Widems home in West Hartford. Call Beth Katten at 860-236-8374 for more information and directions.

Thurs. July 6, 2006: Ozreinu - Torah and Support for Parents of Special Needs Children, 7:30 p.m., The Emmanuel Synagogue, West Hartford. PLease R.S.V.P. to Judith Fox at 860-233-2774 or judyefox@emanuelsynagogue.org

Tues. July 11, 2006: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamoms.html. Pizza Moms is a group of moms with special needs children in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. This first Tuesday was July 4, so we are meeting tonight. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com.

Tues. July 11, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Wed. July 12 - Sat. July 15, 2006: Lighting the Way to Hope: Navigating to Success and Solutions the Autism Society of America's 37th Annual National Conference, Providence, Rhode Island. Information on registration and housing can be found at http://autism-society.org/.

Tues. July 18, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Wed. July 19, 2006: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna's in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms with special needs children in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

Tues. July 25, 2006: Support Group Meeting, 7:00 p.m. At the Sterling House Community Center, Main St., Stratford. Sponsored by the Stratford Region - Autism Society of Connecticut. Call Kim Wardlow at 203-416-2647.

Tues. July 25, 2006: Autism Parents Club: A group of parents (dads too!) of children on the autism spectrum. If you're part of "the club" you will laugh & cry with other parents who could relate to your situation, support each other, share stories & resources, vent & have fun. Open to parents from all over CT. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco's Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com

Tues. July 25, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Thur. July 27, 2006: Statewide Meeting, People First of CT, 7:00 p.m. First Church of Christ, Middletown. “People First of CT is a statewide self-advocacy organization that believes that all people should be treated as equals and be respected for what they can do. We advocate for ourselves and educate people about self-advocacy and People First of CT. We stand behind closing institutions and encourage people with disabilities to live more independent lives.”

Sat. July 29, 2006, Sat. Aug. 5, 2006, Sat. Aug. 12, 2006, Sat. Aug. 19, 2006, Sat. Aug 26, 2006: Summer Family Play Dates at the Valley Shore YMCA, Westbrook, CT. 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Ages 3 -7. Support and modeling in a safe, consistent social environment. First Session Sat. June 24 - July 22. Second Session July 29 - August 26. $10 Full Members, $15 Program Members. Contact Patti MacKenzie for more information 860-399-YMCA.

Tues. Aug 1, 2006: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com. Pizza Moms is a group of moms with special needs children in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms.

Tues. Aug 1, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Tues. Aug 8, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Tues. Aug 15, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Wed. August 16, 2006: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna's in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms with special needs children in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com

Tues. Aug 22, 2006: Tuesdays at the Park, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. A drop in time for young children with any developmental issues with their parents or caregivers. Location: Page Park, Bristol (Rte 229 near Rte 6). Universally accessible playscape available. For more information contact Lee McFadden at 860-589-0097 or look for a person in a red shirt at the park.

Tues. August 29, 2006: Autism Parents Club: A group of parents (dads too!) of children on the autism spectrum. If you're part of "the club" you will laugh & cry with other parents who could relate to your situation, support each other, share stories & resources, vent & have fun. Open to parents from all over CT. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco's Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

Sat. September 16, 2006: The Disability Advocacy Collaborative will host a Disability Convention at the CT Expo Center, Hartford, CT.

Sat. Oct. 28, 2006: - People First of CT state conference, Clarion Inn, Bristol 8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Cost: $25. “People First of CT is a statewide self-advocacy organization that believes that all people should be treated as equals and be respected for what they can do. We advocate for ourselves and educate people about self-advocacy and People First of CT. We stand behind closing institutions and encourage people with disabilities to live more independent lives.