Self-Advocate Stephen Shore Speaks Out on Bullying
HEAR HIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE FIRSTHAND — MARCH 19 WEBINAR |
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Join xMinds and the Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM) on Tuesday, March 19, at 7:00 PM for What I've Learned About Bullying: Autistic Self-Advocate Stephen Shore Speaks Out. Dr. Shore will draw from his own experiences to share his insights into the pervasive issue of bullying. Over 60% of children with ASD, ages 6 to 15, have been bullied at some point in their lives, according to research by the Interactive Autism Network. Given the wide prevalence of this hurtful behavior, xMinds and AUSOM are co-sponsoring a four-session series this spring on bullying. Dr. Shore’s presentation will kick off the series. |
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Dr. Shore is an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. He has written several books, including “College for Students with Disabilities,” “Understanding Autism for Dummies,” “Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum,” and the autobiographical “Beyond the Wall.”
He serves on the board of Autism Speaks, and is one of the first two autistic board members in its history, looking to improve the potential of those on the autism spectrum. He previously headed the Asperger's Association of New England and was on the board of the Autism Society of America. |
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Long before all of that, he was simply Stephen, an awkward autistic kid, bullied by classmates. He will share his personal journey and his unique perspective as an autistic self-advocate and a special educator. The presentation will be offered over Zoom with simultaneous Spanish interpretation. Click here to register. |
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Bullying Prevention Series Continues |
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Our anti-bullying series, sponsored by xMinds and AUSOM, will continue throughout the spring. We're planning sessions for April, May, and June – dates to be announced soon. Expect to hear from self-advocates, educators, and mental health professionals. |
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Stay tuned for more details in the April issue of the xMindsWire and on xMinds' Facebook, Instagram, and X platforms! |
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Join Us for a Fun-Filled Morning!
OPEN GYM MEETUP THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 16
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Join us for some family fun at our Open Gym Meetup, Saturday, March 16, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, at the Glen Haven Elementary School gymnasium, 10900 Inwood Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. Our open gym meetups are geared toward families with autistic elementary and preschool students, and offer a great way to get your kids moving on a winter day. |
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Everyone is welcome, including siblings, and there’s no cost to attend! Registration is not required, but if you would like to sign up here in advance, we’ll send you an event reminder and will email you if we need to postpone due to inclement weather. Our January and February meetups were canceled due to snow, so we're hoping the weather will cooperate this month, and we’ll get to enjoy some time with friends! To get notifications for cancellations and postponements, please register HERE. |
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We will resume outdoor playground meetups in April at the enclosed playground behind Ivymount School, 11614 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville, MD. Please note that the first two playground meetups will be on Sundays, and then we will switch to Saturdays starting in June. Mark your calendars for the spring playground meetups:
- Sunday, April 21, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Sunday, May 19, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Saturday, June 15, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
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Urgent: Contact MCPS and Urge Them to Save Darnestown Elementary's Autism Program
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MCPS recently informed families at Darnestown Elementary Learning Center (ELC) that it plans to end the school's specialized focus on autism and convert it into a traditional learning center. Darnestown is currently the only MCPS elementary learning center dedicated specifically to serving autistic students. As such, the Darnestown ELC delivers instruction and services uniquely tailored to those students’ learning profiles. MCPS intends to transition current students at Darnestown to the traditional learning center environment. This will mean higher student-to-staff ratios and larger class sizes.
We are dismayed by Darnestown ELC’s closure, and perplexed as to why MCPS believes altering the Darnestown autism program is in the best interest of the students it currently serves. Leadership at Darnestown informed parents that the school would lose seven full-time paraeducator positions and the size and scope of its special education classes will increase. MCPS has not provided an official response as to the cause for this change, but we are concerned that it disproportionately impacts autistic students in our county.
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xMinds is encouraging families to contact MCPS, the Montgomery County Board of Education, and local community leaders to ask for their help in preserving the Darnestown ELC's focus on autistic students. It is imperative that the xMinds community bands together to ensure MCPS recognizes and understands the important role the Darnestown ELC plays in providing autistic students with a free appropriate public education! A template is available here.
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Check Out the xMinds Summer Camp Guide
START PLANNING FOR SUMMER 2024!
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Spring is around the corner, and summer is not far behind! If you're searching for summer plans for your child, check out the xMinds Summer 2024 Camp Guide. Our guide features an extensive list of camps and programs that autistic kids and teens have enjoyed in past years – including day and overnight programs.
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We update our guide as we hear about more offerings and get more details from the listed camps. Among the newest additions is the Surfers Healing program, which teaches autistic children how to surf, which recently released its summer 2024 dates for Ocean City, MD, and Virginia Beach, VA. Be sure to check our camp guide throughout the spring for updates! |
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Join Team xMinds for Bike to the Beach!
BIKERS AND NON-BIKERS NEEDED
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xMinds is excited to announce that we will be participating in the 2024 Bike to the Beach fundraiser on Friday, August 2. xMinds relies on this event to provide more than half our annual budget — money that goes toward hosting speaker events, developing online resources, offering volunteer advocacy services, providing educator grants, and more!
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Here’s how you can support this critical xMinds fundraiser, whether or not you bike:
If you want to “bike to the beach," sign up here to join Team xMinds and ride with us on August 2. You can invite friends and family to support you with a donation — but you’re not required to raise a particular amount. To help you prepare, join other team members for our optional training rides throughout the spring. Our first training ride is Sunday, April 14, 9:00 AM, at Ken-Gar Palisades Park. Drop in and give it a whirl; no commitment required. Many of our cyclists find training together offers a fun way to meet other xMinds families. Find out the details here.
If you want to raise funds without biking, register as a virtual bike rider with Team xMinds, and encourage your family and friends to support you in your fundraising efforts.
If you want to make a donation, please show your support for xMinds by donating here. Your contributions mean a lot to us and help fund all of xMinds’ important work to improve education for autistic children in Montgomery County.
Find out more about this fundraiser on the xMinds website, where we spell out all the details about this fun and important event.
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Team xMinds on the road during the 2023 ride . . . and at the finish line. |
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Get Ready for Autism Acceptance Month in April
TEAM UP WITH YOUR SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE THIS APRIL!
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xMinds is thrilled to be participating in Autism Acceptance Month this April! We are working toward a society that accepts autistic individuals as they are and views differences as part of what makes each of us unique in a neurodiverse society. Check out the xMinds website for four fun ways that schools can participate in Autism Acceptance Month and spread the message of understanding and inclusion. Start planning now to get Autism Acceptance Month on your school’s calendar!
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We're also proud to report that xMinds is participating in "Autism Acceptance Day with the Legislature," on Tuesday, April 2, at the Maryland State House in Annapolis. Spearheaded by The Arc Maryland, the day will include formal proclamations from the General Assembly floor followed by a luncheon and a dance party at Saint Anne's Parish House and Hall.
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Mark your calendars for two free family-friendly events to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month:
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Saturday, April 6, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Shine Brighter Together, at Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, MD. Activities will include sensory-friendly story times, exercise demos, arts and crafts, performances, and more. Various agencies throughout Montgomery County will be on hand to provide information about local resources. Stop by the xMinds table to meet our staff and volunteers. |
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Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Autism in the Park, at Laura’s Place Playground, in the North area of Blandair Regional Park in Columbia, MD. Enjoy opportunities to visit with first responders, elected representatives, learn about the autism community, enjoy interactive play, entertainers, face painting, and food trucks. |
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Enjoy a Good Laugh With xMinds!
GIVE A HOOT COMEDY CLUB HOSTS XMINDS BENEFIT ON MAY 3 & 4
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Enjoy a night out while supporting xMinds! Gaithersburg’s Give A Hoot Comedy Club will donate part of the proceeds from its shows on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, to xMinds.
Shows start at 8:00 PM both evenings, with doors opening at 7:00 PM. Comedian Quincy Carr, aka the Quality Comedy King, will be the night’s headliner.
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Quincy is an on-air personality, actor, and philanthropist who’s raised over $24,000 for local area nonprofits while entertaining audiences across the country and around the world with his wit and charisma. He's also the host of "The Quality Comedy Series," a monthly live standup comedy show known for clean humor that's "all fun and no filth."
Give A Hoot is located in La Mexicana Restaurant at 16143 Shady Grove Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Come early and enjoy dinner and drinks before the show — fajitas, tacos, margaritas, and more. Invite your friends for a fun evening out, with the added bonus of helping xMinds!
Only 80 seats are available each evening, so get your tickets early. Give a Hoot often sells out. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, if available. Purchase tickets here!
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Educators: Apply for a “Winter Wish List” Grant!
XMINDS OFFERS FUNDING FOR CLASSROOM MATERIALS
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Do you know a MoCo educator who needs help purchasing classroom materials for their autistic students? Through our Winter Wish List initiative, xMinds is awarding grants of up to $100 to help MoCo educators stock their classrooms with items that support autistic students, including hands-on manipulatives, flexible seating, and noise-canceling headphones. |
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We’re also offering grants of up to $250 for trainings on how best to teach and connect with autistic learners. Apply today for a Winter Wish List grant! |
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Wanna Work for xMinds?
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PART-TIME COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
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Do you have excellent writing skills? Do you enjoy diving into a topic and then sharing it with the public? Are you committed to improving the lives of autistic kids? xMinds is looking for a part-time communications specialist to help us keep our community up to date with information and resources. If you're interested or know someone who would be a great candidate, see the full job description. |
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xMinds Welcomes Two New Board Members
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xMinds is happy to welcome our two newest members of the board: Kim Hiller and Julie Suh. |
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Kim Hiller, M.Ed., has over 25 years of experience in the special education field, including her time as an inclusion and resource teacher for MCPS. She also worked at The Diener School for 16 years in various roles, including serving as an advocate for families during the IEP process for public school placement. After retiring from Diener in 2023, Kim joined Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington as the director of student placement, where she works closely with students, parents, therapists, and schools to find the best school setting for neurodiverse children. |
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Julie Suh holds J.D. and Tax LL.M. degrees and has worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, specializing in immigration law. She is currently at home with her two sons, realizing that advocating on behalf of and supporting her younger autistic son requires perseverance, energy, and time. Julie has benefitted in the past from the valuable resources and events that xMinds has provided and is excited to help in the effort to maximize educational outcomes for autistic students. |
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For more information about the xMinds board, click here.
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Bingo Night Was a Win! EVENT SPONSORED BY XMINDS & AUTISM SOCIETY OF MARYLAND |
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Thank you to everyone who made Bingo Night such a huge success last month! Bingo players of all ages had fun vying for prizes — everything from restaurant gift cards to magnetic building block sets. Huge thanks to our co-sponsor Autism Society of Maryland and our host We Achieve Inc. A special shout out to our raffle prize donors Alchemy Hair Salon and BottleGo, an independent beer, wine, and spirit shop. Congratulations to all our lucky winners!
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Did You Miss xMinds' "Primers on MCPS Placements for Autistic Students"? |
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Over the course of three recent webinars, MCPS staff explained the full array of its services that support students on the autism spectrum. Now you can watch the webinars on demand and download the presentation slides. Recordings are available in English and Spanish.
You’ll find separate webinars on preschool placements, elementary school placements, and middle/high school placements. Armed with this information, parents can become more effective and knowledgeable advocates for their children’s educational needs. One important update: The week after these presentations MCPS announced a plan to end their autism-specific services at Darnestown Elementary Learning Center and to convert the center to a traditional learning center serving a broader scope of special education students. Please see the article above for more details.
For more information on school placements, check out the xMinds Guide to MCPS Special Education Placements for Autistic Students. You’ll find information about the programs where autistic students are most commonly placed, including details about the type of students each program is geared toward, the learning environment, the staffing ratio, the location(s), and more. You’ll also find an interactive map where you can search for locations of specific programs and schools. It isn’t easy to find this information on the MCPS website; this guide is a convenient way to see all the MCPS offerings in one place. |
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Now on YouTube: Info on Free Special Education Advocacy Assistance for Black Students |
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Last week, xMinds' People of the Global Majority discussion group welcomed guest speaker Marcy 'Rachamim' Jackson, founding coordinator of SEE US: Special Education Excellence for Underserved Students. Marcy spoke about disparities in special education advocacy based on income and race. SEE US, which is administered by the Weinfeld Education Group, provides free advocacy expertise to local Black special needs students. Marcy filled us in on all the eligibility details and told us how families can schedule an intake. You can watch the full presentation on the xMinds YouTube channel. For additional free advocacy options, click here.
People of the Global Majority is a free virtual discussion group geared toward MoCo parents/guardians of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) autistic students. The group is hosted by the xMinds BIPOC Outreach Committee and typically meets the first Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. The next session is Monday, May 6. (The group will not meet in April due to MCPS spring break.) To register, click here.
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Guest speaker Marcy 'Rachamim' Jackson informed us about SEE US, which provides free advocacy assistance to Black students. |
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Book Spotlight: Celebrating Women's History Month
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The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca (click here to hear it read aloud). With vibrant pictures and rhyming verse, this book details Temple Grandin's story, recounting how she used her powerful visual mind to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements in cattle farming. |
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Professional Member Spotlight
As a benefit to both our families and professional members, xMinds publishes information about our professional members here in the xMindsWire as well as on our website. Inclusion does not constitute our endorsement. This month, xMinds would like to highlight the following new and renewing professional members:
JMS Education Consulting
www.jmseduconsulting.com
Contact: Joanna Salzman; joanna@jmseduconsulting.com; 240-994-0330
Services: Educational consulting; Educational testing; Grades K–12; Transition ages (18–21); Ages 21+
At JMS Education Consulting, we believe families and schools must work together to meet the needs of all children. Together, we will define what success meets for your child and help them to achieve it. This includes the IEP and 504 process. I also conduct educational assessments, do observations and share strategies, write and edit IEPs, and participate in all types of meetings. I want to work collaboratively with schools so we can meet the needs of your child, together. If you feel your child needs a different placement or services, I can also assist with this.
Lisa Kays, PLLC
1800 R Street NW #C8, Washington, DC 20009
www.lisakays.com
Contact: Lisa Kays; lisa@lisakays.com; 202-489-6882
Services: Psychological counseling; Ages 21+
Lisa Kays provides psychotherapy to adult individuals, couples, and groups, as well as improvisation classes and training to a diverse number of groups and for a variety of purposes. Her practice offers interpersonal process groups, as well as themed groups, one of which is a support and therapy group for grownups of neurodiverse kids.
MOCO Movement Center
5268-A Nicholson Lane, Kensington, MD 20895
www.MOCOmc.com
Contact: Andrea Santman; info@MOCOmc.com; 301-770-5437
Services: Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Speech-language therapy; Behavioral therapy; Social skills therapy; Athletics/recreational support; Coaching
MOCO Movement Center is a fully inclusive pediatric therapy practice and athletic movement center. We offer movement classes for children of all ages and abilities and provide therapy services to support their function. MOCO's proprietary method, Applied Functional Therapy, takes evidence-based physical, occupational and speech therapy out of the clinic and integrates it into real-life activities to help your child achieve better functional outcomes.
MOCO Movement Center is committed to excellence and puts our patients and families first! That means staying on the cutting-edge of medical research and education, truly understanding your child’s goals, and adapting therapy to meet their specific needs. Showing families how to interact and grow in a real-world environment is our way of showing you that MOCO’s commitment does not end at our doors.
Shefter Law, PA 110 N Washington St, Suite 350, Rockville, MD 20850 shefterlaw.com
Contact: Frances Shefter; frances@shefterlaw.com; 301-605-7303
Services: Special education law; Educational consulting
Shefter Law, PA is a law firm dedicated to helping families have a Stress-Free IEP experience. Parents of children with special needs have a ton of demands on their time and energy. Learning the complexities of how to get your child’s school to meet his or her unique needs is just one more thing you do not need on your plate. As a former special education teacher, Frances Shefter is uniquely able to mix education and the law to help take the stress out of the IEP or 504 process. She aims to empower families with the knowledge and resources needed to help bring peace and harmony to their home.
SpeechKids, LLC/Raising Orchids
DC, MD, and VA
www.speechkids.com; www.raisingorchidkids.com
Contact: Gabriele Nicolet; info@speechkids.com; 202-306-0505
Services: Speech-language therapy; Educational consulting; Coaching
SpeechKids provides holistic, developmental, attachment-based pediatric speech therapy serving DC, MD, and VA. Raising Orchids is the parent education division of SpeechKids that offers parent education and parent support groups for parents of neurodiverse children (global, online), along with a monthly subscription service that past participants can opt into. |
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Upcoming xMinds Events
xMinds events, resources, & services are always FREE
Saturday, March 16, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Elementary and Preschool Open Gym Meetup
Meet other elementary and preschool families with autistic children. Join us for indoor play at Glen Haven Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD. See the details here.
Monday, March 18, 7:00 – 7:45 PM
Small Steps Together
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic elementary or preschool child. Register here.
Tuesday, March 19, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
What I've Learned About Bullying: Autistic Self-Advocate Stephen Shore Speaks Out
Online presentation by Stephen Shore, autistic self-advocate and professor of special education. Register here.
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 – 7:45 PM
Let's Talk Transitions
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic child in middle or high school. Register here.
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Wednesday, April 3, 7:00 – 7:45 PM
Hablemos Educación Especial
Online discussion group for Spanish-speaking MoCo parents/guardians of autistic students. Register here.
Community Calendar
Our community calendar is FULL of great offerings not only from xMinds, but from professional service providers located in Montgomery County. Check out the programs and events posted on our Events Calendar.
Note: Our Events Calendar shows events on their start date, but some community programs require you to apply before the start date, so please look ahead!
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