Announcing our April Speakers BRIDGING THE DIVIDE: CONTROVERSIAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AUTISM |
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Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards didn’t get along when they first met. Meghan, a non-autistic mother of autistic twin boys, and Jules, an autistic parent of autistic children, struggled with their different perspectives, a tension that is frequently mirrored in the larger autistic community. Over time, the two resolved their differences, and wrote an amazing book, I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World. |
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Now they come to xMInds for a special online event Bridging Divides: Controversial Conversations About Autism on Wednesday, April 30 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Not a presentation, per se, but a podcast-like conversation between the two on resolving the differences between concerned parents and autistic adults. Meghan and Jules have strong opinions, and they will tackle tough topics like ABA, the intersection of race and autism, and why the language we use matters.
Join us for a fascinating dialogue on how to find common ground. |
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xMinds 2025 Summer Camp Guide IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO START PLANNING |
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Spring is around the corner, and summer is not far behind! To help you plan, we’ve put together the xMinds Summer 2025 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. We update our guide as we hear about more offerings and get more details from the listed camps.
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Our webpage is chock-full of wonderful, diverse opportunities, on a wide variety of topics, from emotional regulation to sailing skills, from equine training to musical theatre, and as always, surfing. The variety extends from Cooksville to Canada, so be sure to check it out.
The Parents' Place of Maryland also offers a sampling of Maryland summer programs for children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. |
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Last Indoor Meetup of the Season CONNECT WITH OTHER ELEMENTARY AND PRESCHOOL FAMILIES |
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Spring is just around the corner, but the mornings can still be too chilly to get the kids outside, so join us for one last day of inside family fun at our open gym meetup, Saturday, March 15, 10-11:30 a.m., at the Glen Haven Elementary School gymnasium, 10900 Inwood Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. Our free open gym meetups are geared toward families with autistic elementary and preschool students, and offer a fun way to get your kids moving on a rainy day. |
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We will have balls, mats, parachutes and other gym equipment, as well as organized children's activities. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents of autistic children. We will provide snacks, and will have volunteers on hand to answer any questions.
Everyone is welcome, including siblings! Registration is not required, so feel free to just show up. If you would like to receive event reminders and an email if we need to postpone due to inclement weather, sign up here.
We will resume outdoor playground meetups in April at the enclosed playground behind Ivymount School, 11614 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville, MD. Mark your calendars for the spring playground meetups (and don’t miss our special Sunday meetups in May and June):
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Saturday, April 19, 10–11:30 a.m.
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Sunday, May 18, 2-3:30 p.m.
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Looking Forward to Autism Acceptance Month XMINDS TO PARTICIPATE IN WIDE RANGE OF EVENTS |
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April is always an exciting time for xMinds, when we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. Formerly known as Autism Awareness Month, the change was made to push society beyond recognition to active inclusion. Check out the xMinds website for fun ways to participate in Autism Acceptance Month and spread the message of understanding and acceptance.
Mark your calendars for free family-friendly events to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month: |
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Saturday, April 5, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Shine Brighter Together at Wheaton Regional Park. 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 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Arc Montgomery County’s Respite Resource & Health Fair, Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg. xMinds will have a table there, too, and we look forward to meeting you.
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We also work with local businesses to get out the word about xMinds supports in the community. To kick off Autism Acceptance month, we will host a table at the Marriott International headquarters in Bethesda on April 1. xMinds reps will be there to help Marriott employees assemble sensory kits for autistic kids. Watch this space for more events in our community and contact us if your business or employer would be interested in spreading the word about our resources. |
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Join Team xMinds for Bike to the Beach 2025 ANNUAL BIKE RIDE HAS A NEW DATE — JUNE 20 |
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Team xMinds on a practice ride, July 2024 |
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Are you ready to dust off that 10-speed and get into your riding gear? This year’s Bike to the Beach will be held much earlier to avoid the hot late summer weather on Friday, June 20. The whole route runs from Union Station, DC to Dewey Beach, DE, but you can choose shorter legs of 25, 50, or 70 miles. |
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Bike to the Beach is xMinds’ biggest fundraiser, providing more than half of our annual budget – funds that go toward hosting speaker events, developing online resources, offering advocacy services, providing grants to teachers, and more.
And because of the earlier start date, we need to get training. Team xMinds holds a series of optional training rides throughout the spring. Our first training session is Sunday, April 6, 9:00 a.m., at Ken-Gar Palisades Park. Drop in and give it a whirl; no commitment required. If you have any questions, please email our Team Captain Patrick Quigley. Many of our cyclists find that training together offers a fun way to meet other xMinds families.
As a rider, you can invite friends and family to support you with a donation — but you’re not required to raise a particular amount. If you want to “bike to the beach," sign up here 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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New Monthly Series: Autistic Voices AN AUTISTIC CHILD SPEAKS THROUGH THE PAGES |
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This month, xMinds is unveiling a new monthly series where we center the voices of the true experts—autistic self-advocates. First off, we invite you to enjoy The Reason I Jump, a book by Naoki Higashida, a 13-year-old non-speaking autistic child, originally published in Japanese in 2007. The English translation hit the shelves in 2013 and a film adaptation was released in 2021.
The book largely consists of typical questions and answers that might surprise you. Here are some samples that spoke to us:
What’s the reason you jump? “By jumping up and down, it’s as if I’m shaking loose the ropes that are tying up my body. When I jump, I feel lighter, and I think the reason my body is drawn skyward is that the motion makes me want to change into a bird and fly off to some faraway place.” |
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Would you like to be “normal”? “For us, you see, having autism is normal—so we can’t know for sure what your “normal” is even like. But so long as we can learn to love ourselves, I’m not sure how much it matters whether we’re normal or autistic.”
Why do you memorize train timetables and calendars? “Because it’s fun! We get a real kick out of numbers, us people with autism. Numbers are fixed, unchanging things. The number 1, for example, is only ever, ever the number 1. That simplicity, that clearness, it’s so comforting to us.”
You may also want to check out a resource guide for implementing Naoki's lessons in your own family, school and community: Presume Competence. Everyone can take these lessons to heart. |
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xMinds Annual Strategic Planning Survey THANK YOU FOR HELPING SHAPE XMINDS' FUTURE |
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A huge thank you to the over 250 individuals who took the time to fill out our strategic planning survey. Your feedback is super valuable as we map out the next five years to better support autistic students right here in Montgomery County. Julie Dwyer won the $100 raffle prize we offered to respondents.
For those who indicated on the survey that you'd like to be contacted by xMinds, we're eager to connect with you. We'll be reaching out soon as we enter the next phase of our strategic planning.
We couldn't do it without you! |
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Lunchtime Reboot Wrap-up UNWIND WITH TEACHER, AUTHOR AND COACH |
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In these chaotic times, it’s especially important to take care of one’s self - and xMinds has you covered. On February 24, certified mindfulness teacher and parent coach Magüi Moreno was joined by over thirty participants to share simple and realistic self-care practices specifically designed for parents of autistic children. Thank you to all who participated; we hope you got to unwind. If you missed this one, don’t worry – Magüi plans to offer more sessions in the future. Stay tuned for those dates in the months ahead. In the slideshow (link below), scan the QR code for free audio tapes from Magüi that will help you start a self-care routine.
Video Recording in English | Slideshow in English |
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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:
Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington
edresourcesgroup.com
Contact: Stacy Ganz Kahn; (301) 636-0389; sgkeducational@gmail.com
Services: Educational Consulting and Advocacy; Academic Therapy (Tutoring); Executive Functioning and ADHD Coaching; College Consulting; Behavioral Intervention Support
Utilizing a coordination of care approach, Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington (ERG) provides a high level of expertise and a broad menu of educational services specifically tailored to meet the individual needs of our clients. Our experienced team of certified professionals can also help you navigate the complicated processes often associated with the world of learning differences.
Gabriele Nicolet Coaching www.gabrielenicolet.com / www.raisingorchidkids.com Contact: 202-306-0505; gabriele.nicolet@gmail.com
Providing holistic, developmental, attachment-based parent coaching and child development consultation serving DC, MD, VA as well as support/education classes for parents raising neurodivergent children (global, online).
MOCO Movement Center
5268-A Nicholson Lane, Kensington, MD 20895
301-770-5437; www.MOCOmc.com
Contact: Andrea Santman; info@MOCOmc.com
Services: Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Speech-language therapy; Behavioral therapy; Social skills therapy; Athletics/recreational support; Coaching
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.
Dr. Jamell White
Services primarily provided in offices located in Rockville and Bethesda; Community-based support and virtual sessions also offered.
Contact: Dr. Jamell White; drjamellwhite@gmail.com; 301-613-1766
Services: Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy; Behavioral support
Dr. Jamell White is a therapist specializing in working with children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other (neuro)developmental disabilities. She has over 20 years of experience providing individual and family therapy, social skills intervention, and care coordination and consultation for individuals and their families. Dr. White is also a PEERS Certified Provider. |
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Upcoming xMinds Events
XMINDS EVENTS, RESOURCES, & SERVICES ARE ALWAYS FREE
Saturday, March 15, 10-11:30 a.m.
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 and register here.
Wednesday, March 26, 7-7:45 p.m.
Let's Talk Transitions — Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents of autistic students in middle or high school. Register here.
Monday, March 31, 7-7:45 p.m.
Small Steps Together — Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of autistic elementary or preschool children. Register here.
Wednesday, April 2, 7-7:45 p.m.
Hablemos Educación Especial — Grupo de Discusión de Padres
El comité de xMinds sobre el alcance del idioma español está organizando un grupo de discusión en línea mensual en español para los padres de un estudiante autista del condado de Montgomery. Regístrese aquí.
Monday, April 7, 7-7:45 p.m.
People of the Global Majority — Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of autistic children who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Register here.
Wednesday, April 30, 7-8:30 p.m.
Bridging the Divide: Controversial Conversations About Autism
Autism advocates Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards host a candid discussion about issues that often divide the autism community. Register here.
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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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Please consider donating to xMinds. We offer all our resources to families and educators at no cost to ensure they are accessible to everyone who needs them. Your support is essential in helping us continue this work. Every contribution makes a difference!
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