xMinds Annual IEP Clinic This Weekend
FREE ADVOCACY HELP FROM THE EXPERTS |
|
|
Are you worried about your child’s next IEP meeting? Have specific questions about your services and accommodations but aren’t sure where to start? Don’t miss your chance to get answers to your most pressing questions at our annual IEP Clinic this Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 – 4 p.m., in-person at Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd E, Silver Spring, MD 20901. |
|
|
To attend, first register for this event. Your registration confirmation will include a link to the IEP Clinic SignUp Genius Form, where you can sign up for a free 25-minute individual private IEP consultation. To schedule an appointment, you MUST sign up for a specific time-slot through the IEP Clinic Signup Genius Form. Slots fill up quickly! But if you don’t get an appointment, come anyway. Each year we are able to pull many off the waitlist, but you have to show up to make it happen. |
|
|
The clinic will also feature special education attorney and advocate Frances Shefter. She will give a presentation from 2-3 p.m. followed by half an hour of Q&A. Arrive early before your consult or stay later and don’t miss another opportunity to ask questions from a true IEP expert. Throughout the session, some of our professional members, including local service providers and practitioners, will have tables filled with resources. Please stop by and chat with these experts and providers!
|
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
|
|
|
How to Nurture Supportive Sibling Relationships
SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS IMPORTANT EVENT - DECEMBER 11 |
|
|
Are you having trouble fostering supportive sibling relationships between your autistic child and their non-autistic sibling(s)? Do some kids in your family feel they’re being ignored as all the attention is paid elsewhere? Bring your questions to family dynamic experts Caron Starobin and Bari Turkheimer, who will be interviewed by Sarah Wayland in a virtual event Wednesday, December 11.
Bari and Caron, two licensed clinical social workers, will provide clear strategies to help siblings navigate these challenging feelings. Find out how to help develop healthy bonds with all your children, so they can create their own fulfilling relationships. |
|
|
Caron has been in private practice for over 24 years. She brings a unique therapeutic lens to her work, deeply informed by family systems thinking and relational life therapy. Caron's methodology helps family members gain awareness of the context in which problems emerge, and reduces friction by changing patterns of relating and communicating. See https://starobincounseling.com/ |
|
|
Bari has focused her clinical skills, knowledge, and training on providing mental health services to neurodivergent individuals, particularly autism. She has worked at the Ivymount School since 2019 as a Mental Health Provider and currently works as the Mental Health Specialist in the Aspire School Program, Academic & Applied Model, with elementary, middle, and high school aged students.
|
|
|
Sarah Wayland applies the neuroscience of behavior and practical lived experience while providing neurodiversity-affirmative support, education, and community for caregivers of neurodivergent children. See www.guidingexceptionalparents.com
|
|
|
Last Chance to Play Outside
ENJOY AUTUMN AT NOVEMBER 16 MEETUP |
|
|
Why not squeeze out the last ounce of good weather before heading indoors for the winter? Join xMinds at our last outdoor playground meetup of the year – we’ll start up again indoors in January. Watch this space for those dates. |
|
|
The meetup, hosted by the xMinds Preschool and Elementary Parent Outreach Committee, will be on Saturday, Nov 16 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the playground behind the Ivymount School, 11614 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville, MD 20854. Snacks will be provided and all families with young autistic kids and their siblings are welcome. As always, xMinds staff will be there to welcome you and answer any questions you might have.
Registration is not required but sign up here for reminders and notifications of rain dates. |
|
|
Who Won? MEET YOUR NEW BOE REPRESENTATIVES |
|
|
In addition to the state and national races we are all familiar with, Montgomery County voters chose our new Board of Education (BOE) representatives November 5. The BOE election results look like this at press time: At Large
Winner: Rita Montoya Montoya is a mom of 3rd and 5th grade students at an MCPS elementary school, and she is a past PTA president, attorney, and small business advisor, according to her website. District 2
Winner: Natalie Zimmerman Zimmerman has been teaching in MCPS since 2019. She has taught fourth grade at Summit Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg and second grade at Wheaton Woods Elementary School in Rockville. District 4
Winner: Laura Stewart Stewart is a mom of two and has been a community and PTA leader advocating for our children, schools, and communities for over a decade. |
|
|
Earlier this fall, xMinds and the Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM) sent a questionnaire to BOE candidates on subjects ranging from support for discrete autism-specific programs to budget prioritization to equity and access. Of the six candidates running, three responded – Lynne Harris (At Large), Rita Montoya (At Large) and Laura Stewart (District 4). Read their full, unedited responses on the xMinds website.
|
|
|
Purple Alert Goes Into Effect
MD BECOMES THIRD STATE TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM |
|
|
The Maryland state legislature took action earlier this year, establishing a Purple Alert Program. The program, which went into effect October 1, is set up to disseminate information to assist in locating a missing person who has a cognitive impairment or mental disorder. It is similar to a Silver Alert for elderly citizens or Amber Alerts for kidnapped children. |
|
|
In addition, the program requires the State Police to adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Purple Alert after consulting with relevant stakeholders representing citizens with disabilities.
Florida was the first state to implement a Purple Alert system, starting in July 2022. Since then, the state has issued 447 Purple Alerts, resulting in the discovery of 438 missing people. Mississippi established a similar measure in July. If your loved one goes missing, call 911 right away. The dispatcher will take critical information and decide whether to issue a Purple Alert. In July, xMinds joined the Maryland Autism Coalition to put out a flyer on elopement and water safety. See all our resources here. |
|
|
November is National Gratitude Month
GIVE THANKS FOR SMALL WINS |
|
|
Living with an autistic child can be taxing and let's be honest, talk of gratitude can sometimes be annoying. But as we approach Thanksgiving, let’s try to celebrate small wins. Maybe your child said “I love you” for the first time; perhaps she started a conversation with a neighbor without prompts, or sat down for a meal in a new restaurant. What are some things you can be thankful for? |
|
|
At the same time, we can teach our kids to practice gratitude. Even if kids on the spectrum have trouble understanding some emotions, they may be able to understand how showing appreciation makes other people feel, the Child Mind Institute says. And practicing gratitude can have real health benefits, such as reduced depression, less anxiety, a stronger heart, and better sleep. According to an article in UCLA Health, “you’ll get the biggest health benefits of gratitude when it becomes habitual and part of your thought process. But even allotting some time each day or week to prioritize gratitude can be beneficial.” |
|
|
LISS Selection November 30
DON'T MISS THIS IMPORTANT DEADLINE |
|
|
While you’re busy with end-of-year festivities and planning for the holidays, make sure to keep track of deadlines for services funding. The Developmental Disabilities Administration's (DDA) Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) Program serves families supporting individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities who are not receiving any support services from the DDA. For Round 2 of the FY 2025 Random Selection, the online access link will close on November 30. Selection will take place December 15. For more information, see the LISS page.
|
|
|
xMinds is Hiring!
LOOKING FOR A FANTASTIC PROGRAM ASSISTANT |
|
|
Do you have some extra time on your hands and would like to support programs for the autism community? Perhaps you know someone with strong organizational skills who would like to enter the nonprofit field. xMinds is hiring a program assistant who will support the Executive Director and other team members by managing administrative tasks, coordinating events, and ensuring smooth daily operations. This role requires flexibility, effective communication, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities. Learn more here. |
|
|
Parents Speak Up LISTENING SESSION CALLS FOR MCPS ACTION |
|
|
As its first event of the new school year, xMinds hosted a virtual listening session to learn about recent changes to MCPS autism services. We had 150 attendees at this important discussion, along with several MCPS officials. Parents shared their heart-wrenching stories about how special education is being delivered to their child this school year. The session was not recorded, but we have sent MCPS officials all of the submitted testimony. Thank you to everyone who attended and especially those who shared their experiences. |
|
|
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:
Feig Mediation Group, LLC
10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20817
301-785-8972; www.feigmediationgroup.com
Contact: Erik Feig; erik@feigmediationgroup.com
Services: Parent/family mediation
Feig Mediation Group provides mediation for parents and adult family members in neurodiverse families who are dealing with important decisions but aren't on the same page - yet.
We help parents have solutions-oriented dialogue so that they can shift from trying to win when they disagree to creating solutions together. Issues we mediate include:
-
Managing Logistics and Task Sharing
-
Medical Decisions and Evaluations
-
School and Educational Decisions
-
Financial Planning and Budgeting
-
Managing Supports, Therapies, and Services
-
Addressing Clutter and Sharing Space
-
Parenting Roles and Decision Making
-
Divorce & Integrating Blended Families
-
Staying in Step!
Guiding Exceptional Parents, LLC
4711 Sheridan St., Riverdale Park, MD 20737
301-768-8503,www.guidingexceptionalparents.com
Contact: Sarah Wayland, wayland@guidingexceptionalparents.com
Services: Social Skills Therapy; Behavioral Therapy; Educational Consulting; Behavioral Support; Coaching
In addition to co-authoring the book, "Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else,” Sarah Wayland, Ph.D., is a parenting coach, certified RDI consultant, and a special needs care navigator at Guiding Exceptional Parents, LLC. Her work as a parenting coach involves working closely with families to figure out which parenting strategies are best suited to their family - taking the profiles of both the caregivers and the child into account.
As an RDI™ consultant, Dr. Wayland works with parents to show them how to teach their children the essential skills that make relationships work. She teaches them how to identify problems, and through a highly customized program that takes both their profile and their child’s profile into account, they learn how to teach the missing skills. She also works with teens and adults to help them learn the skills necessary for making and maintaining meaningful relationships.
Her Special Needs Navigation Services are designed to help parents learn how to access resources and knowledge so they can confidently and effectively help their children. She knows how to effectively navigate clinical care and educational systems, how to evaluate reports, and how to help prioritize.
Brian K. Gruber, P.C., Law Office
6110 Executive Blvd., Ste. 220, Rockville, MD 20852
301-657-3777; www.bkgpc.com
Contact: Brian K. Gruber, Esq., brian.gruber@bkgpc.com
Services: Special education law including consultation, representation at IEP meetings, conflict resolution, mediation, and due process hearings; educational consulting; financial and trust management
The Law Office of Brian K. Gruber, P.C. represents students and their parents in matters related to special education, access to appropriate accommodations under section 504, and students who are facing long-term suspension or expulsion. By developing and maintaining strong relationships with public school agencies in Maryland and DC, our office is often able to help achieve a positive outcome for our clients without the need for litigation. Our staff of attorneys have handled hundreds of due process hearings and mediations across Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Martinez Advocacy
10605 Concord St., Ste. 102, Kensington, MD 20895
202-255-7842; www.martinezadvocacy.com
Contact: Monica Martinez; mmartinez@martinezadvocacy.com
Services: Special Education Advocacy
Monica Martinez is a special education advocate working with families in Montgomery County, MD. Through her seven-plus years of involvement in Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds), Monica developed an in-depth understanding of how Montgomery County Public Schools educates students on the autism spectrum and how to navigate the district’s special education system. Monica’s areas of expertise are services and accommodations for students on the autism spectrum, as well as those with ADHD and/or co-occurring mental health issues. Monica also works to help parents and guardians understand the educational rights of their children. Monica has attended Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training and completed the yearlong Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 2.0 through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).
My Pace Learning and Behavioral Health
White Saddle Drive, Germantown MD 20874
301-978-1287; https://mypacelearning.clientsecure.me/#services Contact: Monica Reaves LCSW-C;Monica@mypacelearningbh.com Services: Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy; Behavioral therapy; Behavioral support; special education grades K-5; special education Grades 9-12; special education Pre-K; General education Grades 9-12; Transition ages (18–21); Ages 21+
A neuro-affirming mental health practice dedicated to supporting the neurodiverse community treating children, teens, and adults. As a therapist, I have a background in both mental health and special education with a focus on supporting the individual as a whole within the systems they interact with. Hablo español para apoyar a las familias de habla-hispana con servicios de terapia.
Reach Every Voice
11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 110, Rockville, MD 20852
240-630-1785; http://www.reacheveryvoice.org
Contact: Lisa Mihalich Quinn; lisa@reacheveryvoice.org
Services: Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Services; Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) provider; Communication/educational consultant; Academic tutoring/coaching
Reach Every Voice is a multi-faceted practice created and staffed by experienced teachers. REV provides communication instruction to nonspeaking or unreliably speaking individuals, hosts in-person group programs that build communication practice and provide opportunities for socialization, offers online courses for non speakers, and provides consultation, training, and coaching for families and schools working to improve their communication practices. |
|
|
Upcoming xMinds Events
XMINDS EVENTS, RESOURCES, & SERVICES ARE ALWAYS FREE
Saturday, November 9, 1–4:00 p.m.
Annual IEP Clinic
In-person event offering free IEP consults with a professional advocate, a presentation about how to prep for an IEP meeting, and local resource tables. Register here.
Saturday, November 16, 10–11:30 a.m.
Elementary and Preschool Playground Meetup
Meet other elementary and preschool families with autistic children. Register here.
Wednesday, November 20, 7–7:45 p.m.
Let's Talk Transitions -- Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents of an autistic student in middle or high school. Register here.
Monday, November 25, 7–7:45 p.m.
Small Steps Together
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic elementary or preschool child. Register here.
Monday, December 2, 7–7:45 p.m.
People of the Global Majority Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of autistic children who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Register here.
Wednesday, December 4, 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.
|
|
Wednesday, December 11
Nurturing Sibling Relationships with Caron Starobin, Bari Turkheimer (interviewed by Sarah Wayland) Discover ways to support siblings as they navigate complex emotions and build strong, positive relationships. 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! |
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
.png)
.png)
