All are free unless otherwise noted.
Mon., Feb. 24, 2025: OPWDD Self-Direction Demystified: Learn the pros and cons of the Self-Direction service delivery model as it compares with traditional agency services. Cost: $25 (CDA lecture series, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan)
Tues., Feb. 25, 2025: BluePath Service Dogs Informational Webinar: Join BluePath’s webinar to explore the role of autism service dogs, the application process, and have your questions answered to help determine if an autism service dog could benefit your family. Zoom link.
Tues., Feb. 25, 2025: Learn all About Abilibee, an App to Help You Navigate Your Developmental Disability Journey From Early Intervention to Adulthood. (Abilibee and New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities)
Tues., Feb. 25, 2025: Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents: The presentation will discuss fostering vocabulary development at home. Participants will be able to explain the importance of vocabulary instruction for their children in the elementary grades and describe ways to incorporate instruction in the home. (FACE and NYSED OSE Partnership)
Wed., Feb. 26, 2025: The Relationship Between Emotional Regulation and Severe and Dangerous Behaviors: A large percentage of those with profound autism exhibit severe, intense, and dangerous behaviors. Finding the causes has been a priority for researchers. In collaboration with University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, National Council on Severe Autism and Autism Speaks, you have the opportunity to hear about emotional regulation, its role in these behaviors and what interventions are available.
Wed., Feb. 26, 2025: Student Involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for Families: This training is intended to promote and encourage student and family involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development process and Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings. (FACE and NYSED OSE Partnership)
Wed., Feb. 26, 2025, or Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 : Diploma and Credential Options for Students with Disabilities: Participants will learn about self-determination skills and its relation to students determining an individualized pathway to graduation from multiple options. Credit and diploma requirements, the appeal eligibility criteria for all students, and safety-net options for students with disabilities will be reviewed. (FACE, NYSED OSE Partnership, LHRPC and Mount Vernon City School District)
Mon., March, 3, 2025- Thurs., March 6, 2025: Employment and You! Resources and Strategies for Success: Hear from statewide experts on employment resources for people with disabilities including contacts and methods that can support and keeping a job. (Univ. of Rochester Medical Center and WIHD)
Tues., March 4, 2025: NYC FAIR’s Virtual Town Hall: What’s in the State budget? What’s not? Find out here. You can submit questions prior to the event.
Tues., March 4, 2025: EI (Early Intervention) to CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) for Families: This presentation will guide parents through the process of transitioning their child from Early Intervention to the Committee on Preschool Special Education. (FACE and. NYSED OSE Partnership)
Tues., March 4, 2025: General Info Session to Learn More about Supported Decision-Making: For those who want to learn more about supported decision-making (SDM), and the SDMNY facilitation process. Includes time for Q&A. (Supported Decision-Making NY [SDNY])
Sat., March 8, 2025: GiGi’s Educator Symposium: Join a team of experienced educators and therapists from across the GiGi’s Playhouse Network to learn how to teach individuals with Down syndrome the way they learn best.Wed.,
March 12, 2025: SibSpace Lecture Series: Supporting + Empowering Families to Manage Conflict and Prevent Crises: Families can learn how to foster understanding, build stronger connections, and handle difficult moments with confidence with their neurodiverse adults. Open to families, siblings, and professionals. (NY START)
Tues., March 18, 2025: Self-Direction for Individuals with OPWDD: Get a better understanding of self-direction including the process, things to think about regarding a broker, what can be included in a budget and what is a fiscal intermediary. (Rockland Community Services)
Wed., March 26, 2025: College Pathways for Students with Intellectual Disabilities: Information on college options for students with intellectual disability and highlight resources available for students and families on the Think College website, including the only national directory of these programs in the country. Cost: $25. (Think College)
Sat., April 5, 2025: Youth Abilities Fair: A Special Needs Resource Fair: Suffolk County. Includes a sensory room and magic show. Address: Middle Country Public Libraries, Eastwood Blvd., Centereach, N.Y. Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (In partnership with Middle Country SEPTA)
Photo: BluePath Service Dogs (Courtesy of BluePath)
The Netflix Emmy-winning reality series, Love on the Spectrum, which follows a group of individuals on the autism spectrum as they date and look for love, is getting ready for its third season. First, though, it needs participants.
The television production company behind the show, Northern Pictures, which calls the program a documentary, has put out an invitation for single people living in the U.S. who are on the autism spectrum and are interested in dating to apply.
If you or someone you know might be interested in speaking with them, send an email with a brief description of yourself and a photo to: production@northernpictures.com.au.
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As the U.S. House and Senate wrestle with separate bills to land on a plan that seemingly will gut Medicaid funding, families and advocates nationwide are holding their collective breaths — and gearing up to fight.
The Arc New York has sent out a statement saying it will be initiating and mobilizing an aggressive federal advocacy campaign to oppose any cuts to Medicaid funding by this new administration. “The people we support and their families rely on Medicaid funding for critical services and cuts of any kind will be potentially devastating. This is a real threat and we plan to FIGHT back!” it reads.
MeHere are some suggested first steps:
Additionally, The Arc US has created a series of webinars to help educate advocates and providers on the current federal landscape and how we can effectively move our fight forward.
In the latest webinar, you’ll learn about the growing concern about potential cuts to Medicaid, including what you can do to help protect Medicaid. Along with the webinar, The Arc has provided tools, resources, and strategies to help you advocate effectively. You can view the webinar, download the session slides, and access other resources here.
Stay tuned for more.
Every February, Black History Month honors and reflects on the stories and contributions of Black Americans. Also every February, it’s given a theme by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).
This year’s theme is African Americans and Labor. Its purpose, says ASALH, is to encourage “broad reflections on intersections between Black people’s work and their workplaces in all their iterations and key moments, themes, and events.”
ASALH also notes that 2025 marks the 100-year anniversary of the creation of Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, the first Black union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor.
RELATED NEWS: The Labor Crisis Putting People With Disabilities at Risk
The New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) began its observation of the month with a statement from Acting Commissioner Willow Baer:
“Whether it’s people we support, their family members, or people we employ, we cannot understate the contributions that Black communities add to our system and people’s lives. In fact, 40% of frontline staff working at service providers across New York State self-identify as Black, according to the most recent National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Survey.”
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Black history of course also includes disabled history.
The ARC has a stellar list of Black disabled leaders in history, including Lois Curtis, a disability rights advocate with cognitive and developmental disabilities who spent nearly 20 years in institutions at different points in her life.
“The landmark Supreme Court ruling on her case, Olmstead v. L.C., that institutionalizing people with disabilities was discriminatory, was a monumental and watershed moment in the Independent Living Movement,” The Arc writes.
Johnnie Lacy helped found the Berkeley Center for Independent Living in 1981, which the center says is the first independent living center in the country organized and operated by persons with disabilities.
If you’re looking for housing for an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), you know demand far outweighs supply. You’ve also likely hit dead ends and/or don’t know where to go for help.
In New York, one place to turn is to the newly redesigned New York Housing Resource Center website from the non-profit New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation (NY Alliance). This thorough, easy-to-follow resource offers important housing-related topics for people with I/DD with a focus on non-certified housing.
Short, easy-to-follow videos and podcasts cover topics ranging from Housing Types and Funding to Living in Your Own Place, which includes interviews on being a good neighbor, and how to deal with general repairs and maintenance.
The Boost will start off your non-certified housing journey with one of the first questions people have when searching for a home for a loved one: The difference between certified and non-certified housing. You can access short video explainers on the site, but here’s a summary:
If you’re interested in staying on top of NYHRC news, sign up for its newsletter. You’ll find the link to do so at the bottom of the homepage.
Here are some housing opportunities shared with NYHRC. The organization does not put them on its website. The below are currently available.
Note: If you have an affordable housing opportunity to share please send the information to Carol Napierski, vp, Program Development and Grant Management, New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation (NY Alliance) and a co-director of the Housing Resource Center, at cnapierski@nyalliance.org and it will be added to their list.
Rochester – Eastman Reserve:
The Eastman Reserve, located in Rochester, N.Y., has immediate availability for a 2-bedroom unit designed specifically for individuals with visual or hearing impairments. Applications can be submitted online at www.eastmanreserve.com.
For questions contact (585) 340-6731.
Endicott – Endicott Square:
Endicott Square in Endicott, N.Y., has affordable apartments for Central and Southern Tier New York. It currently has two vacancies that offer accessibility features. They are both 1 bedroom apartments; one (1) is mobility accessible and one (1) has sight and hearing accommodations.
Contact Tammy in the leasing office at 607-757-2549, email tkistner@housingvisions.org, or fill out an application online.
Moreau – Sisson Reserve:
PathStone Management Corporation has an immediate availability of a 3-bedroom townhome apartment at Sisson Reserve Apartments Phase II in the Town of Moreau, N.Y., specifically designed for individuals with physical impairments. This affordable housing development caters to low-income families and individuals with disabilities or special needs. They offer spacious 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units.
To apply, visit www.sissonreserveapts.org. Questions, contact (518) 480-4416.
Lockport – Lockport Canal Homes:
Lockport Canal Homes in Lockport N.Y. (Western New York) has affordable housing apartments. It currently has a vacancy in an accessible 3-bedroom apartment with hearing/vision accessibility features.
Either fill out the application at this link, call Kim in the leasing office at 716-280-3613.
A fraction of students eligible for pre-employment transition services receive them, the Super Bowl gets inclusive, Trump trumpets autism falsehoods, and more developmental disability news for week the ending Feb. 7, 2025.
Hundreds of thousands of students are entitled to training and help finding jobs. They don’t get it (Hechingerreport.org)
More than a decade ago, reports Hechinger, Congress earmarked funding for pre-employment transition services to help students with disabilities explore and train for careers and send them on a pathway to independence after high school. But in 2023 only about 295,000 students in the whole country received some form of the services out of an estimated 3.1 million who were eligible, the news site found. In New Jersey last year, that number was just 1,370 students out of more than 80,000 eligible. In New York, about 5% of eligible students got services.
To learn about pre-ETS in New York, visit NYS Education Dept. Adult Career & Continuing Ed and the New York State Ed Department on pre-ETS.
If your child isn’t receiving services or if you have questions about what they’re getting, ask to meet with your school’s Committee on Special Education.
OPWDD Announces $850 Million Dollar Investment in New York’s Developmental Disability Service Providers Well, kind of. The 2024-25 budget provided State resources to update provider reimbursement rates and this money, which OPWDD just released, along with an investment of additional resources, “will enable provider agencies to offer higher wages for direct care staff [and will] support other essential costs associated with delivering these vital services.” (OPWDD)
Families left in dark about impact of alternate assessment track on students with disabilities Factors including under-resourcing and a failure to equip parents to make fully informed decisions have led schools to place students who take alternate assessments in non-inclusive, low-rigor settings. (Chalkbeat.org)
Mystery Donor Funds $10 Million Campaign Against Hochul Home Care Plan This report says it’s unclear who’s bankrolling the Alliance to Protect Home Care spending. (Nyfocus.com)
Commentary: CDPAP changes are needed to get runaway costs under control (Times Union)
Home Care Advocates, users demand alternatives as NY pushes CDPAP transition (CBS6albany.com)
Disabled passengers fear for their safety on the MTA’s paratransit program The private brokers that dispatch for-hire vehicles to pick up people enrolled in the program have been the cause of numerous complaints. (Gothamist)
Adults living with developmental disabilities in New Jersey require more support | Opinion (Northjersey.com)
WA Legislature weighs paying parents who care for children with disabilities The state provides funding, but parents don’t qualify until their kids turn 18. Meanwhile, a worker shortage makes finding caregivers impossible for many. (Washingtonstatestandard.com)
California Might Kick 400,000 Kids Off Medicaid (governing.com)
Minnesotans with disabilities say state’s proposed budget cuts would ‘bring us backward’ Advocates and providers push back against Gov. Walz’ proposed disability service changes. (StarTribune.com)
Eagles Autism Foundation brings inclusive activities to Super Bowl Experience (6abc.com)
Super Bowl-Bound Eagles Team Up With Rutgers Scientists to Direct Autism Research (Rutgers.edu)
Trump says ‘something really wrong’ with autism rates ahead of RFK Jr. vote Trump has repeatedly drawn a false connection between vaccines and autism rates. (Thehill.com)
Autism Takes Center Stage As RFK Jr. Nomination For HHS Secretary Advances (Disability Scoop)
Opinion: How to respond to loved ones lured by RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine stance (Washington Post)
A controversial autism therapy is gaining prominence, but some say it hurts neurodiverse people Another look at ABS. (Salon.com)
Don’t Forget Americans With Severe Autism This reader letter likely will resonate with some parents: “I don’t begrudge Bill Gates’s musings that he would have been put on the autism spectrum … yet I’d like to bring into focus a sharper picture of the disorder amid the current trend of self-diagnosis.” (Wall Street Journal)
Disabilities Beat: If federal funding stops, what’s at stake for disabled people? A look at the freeze that wasn’t but might be tried again. (wrvo.org)
Disability doesn’t exist in medical training: study Disability is left out of standard American medical coursework, according to a new study in the Journal of Internal Medicine. (Bloom Blog)
‘Kick in the teeth’: Disabled federal workers fear for their jobs after Trump remarks As divers searched the Potomac River for bodies after last the tragic air collision on Jan. 29, President Trump blamed the FAA’s diversity policies and hiring of disabled Americans. (USAToday.com)
A researcher said the evidence on special ed inclusion is flawed. Readers weighed in Hechinger Report reported on a study that concludes school inclusion actually doesn’t work so well. Afterwards, many readers and leaders in the educational field took issue with the findings. I found their comments interesting! (Hechingerreport.org)
Proms Expected To Draw Those With IDD From Around The Globe The events are being held Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at 800 churches across 50 states and more than 60 countries as part of “Night to Shine,” an annual series of proms put on by the Tim Tebow Foundation. (Disability Scoop)
Fri., Feb. 7, 2025 and Sat., Feb. 8, 2025: National Black Parenting Conference: Brings together parents and experts to address critical topics that affect the black community.
Tues., Feb. 11, 2025: Hear Our Voices Relationship Skills Group: Self-Advocates at the Community Support Network (CSN): Hear our Voices is open to anyone in New York State with a developmental disability regardless of having attended prior meetings. (CSN at Westchester Institute for Human Development)
Tues., Feb. 11, 2025: Educational Records Organizer: Parents, guardians and advocates of children who receive 504, CPSE and CSE special education services will learn how to organize educational records into a record-keeping binder. Part of monthly Virtual Lunchtime Discussion and Learn programs. (Adler Center For Special Needs – Mid-Island Y JCC)
Tues., Feb. 11, 2025: Transition to College for Students with an IEP or 504 Plan Learn the differences that can be expected as students move from high school to any 2- or 4-year college setting, including process to access academic accommodations, disability documentation requirements, the changing role of parents, and tips on what students can do now to gain the necessary skills needed for a successful college experience. Students are encouraged to attend. (Rockland Transition Consortium)
Tues., Feb. 11, 2025: Family Forum: Preparing for Your Child’s Annual Review (WIHD Community Support Network)
Wed., Feb. 12, 2025: Westchester Family Support Services (FSS) Advisory Committee Open Meeting: Important aspects of FSS — non-Medicaid services for families with a loved one with IDD living at home with them – and the role of families have been recently clarified through the FSS Statewide Committee. This meeting will update returning members and welcome new ones. Details: 6:45 p.m.; Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Wed., Feb. 19, 2025: Disability Conversations: “Hear Our Voices” Self Advocacy Group Meeting: The Hear Our Voices self-advocacy meetings meet monthly on a Wednesday and are open to anyone in New York State with a developmental disability regardless of having attended prior meetings. (CSN at Westchester Institute for Human Development)
Wed., Feb. 19, 2025: Preparing for Living in the Community Using Self-Direction Budget: Registration opens Feb. 3. (SOYAN)
Wed., Feb. 26, 2025: The Relationship Between Emotional Regulation and Severe and Dangerous Behaviors: A large percentage of those with profound autism exhibit severe, intense, and dangerous behaviors. Finding the causes has been a priority for researchers. In collaboration with University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, National Council on Severe Autism and Autism Speaks, you have the opportunity to hear about emotional regulation, its role in these behaviors and what interventions are available.
Mon., March, 3, 2025- Thurs., March 6, 2025: Employment and You! Resources and Strategies for Success: Hear from statewide experts on employment resources for people with disabilities including contacts and methods that can support and keeping a job. (Univ. of Rochester Medical Center and WIHD)
Sat., March 8, 2025: GiGi’s Educator Symposium: Join a team of experienced educators and therapists from across the GiGi’s Playhouse Network to learn how to teach individuals with Down syndrome the way they learn best.
Ongoing: Brain Injury Association of NYS Support Groups: A variety of times for survivors and caregivers.
Be sure to visit links for more information and, where applicable, to register. If you’d like to share your event or activity on The Boost, please contact us here. It would be great to have more activities around the state.
Fri., Feb. 7, 2025: Sensory Story Time: At the Katonah Village Library: This inclusive literacy program is designed for neurodivergent children (ages 4 to 9 years) as well as any child who may have difficulty with large groups.
Sat., Feb. 15, 2025: Sensory-friendly screening of Paddington in Peru: At Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville.
Fri., Feb. 21, 2025: Rom-Com Movie Night: In Nyack, N.Y. For youth with disabilities ages 14-24. To register, contact Emily Rocks at erocks@bridgesrc.org, 845-624-1366 ext. 107. (Bridges)
Sat., March 1, 2025: Music for Autism Virtual Concert: The concerts feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners, Grammy-nominated classical artists, and Pulitzer Prize winners. To ensure equal access for all, every Music for Autism concert is fully subsidized. (Music for Autism)
Fri., March 7, 2025: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Pound Ridge Library Sensory Room & Book Reading: Join this library in Westchester County as it opens its new Sensory Room and the newly refurbished Children’s Room. Featuring a special story time highligting the library’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
Thurs., April 3 – Wed., April 9, 2025: 17th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival New York: Info to come.
Thurs., April 24, 2025: Select Human Services Prom 2025: Select Human Services is hosting its first-ever prom at the Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford for 18 years old and under. Cost: $115 (Select Human Services)
Year-Round:
We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym: There are two New York We Rock the Spectrum franchises, one in New Rochelle (Westchester County), the other Staten Island, with locations in Brooklyn and Long Island in the works.
AMC Sensory-friendly films: There are 10 AMC movie theaters around New York State offering sensory-friendly screenings. Go to the link to find the ones near you.
The Boost’s Guide to the Best Museums for People with Developmental Disabilities Added: Jackie Robinson Museum in Manhattan!
The Boost’s 2024 Westchester County Recreation Resource List (Children and Adults)
I Love NY’s Accessible Places and Programs
Image credit: Freepix.com
An unusual method to raise pay for paraprofessionals, RFK Jr., scares the hell out of the autism community, and more developmental disability news for the week ending Jan. 31, 2025.
Special ed formal disputes see notable increases The majority of the special ed legal actions in 2022-23 — 65.6% — came from New York, which historically has had high rates of due process complaints. (k12dive.com)
How will Trump’s orders on K-12 education, gender and DEI square with NY’s policy? Some NY officials are concerned with Trump’s push into schools “where decisions are generally made at the local and state levels.” At stake: Federal aid and grants, which “are relied upon by many districts to improve education for students with disabilities and students from poverty.” (lohud.com)
Disabilities Beat: CDPAP users timid about transition to PPL for personal care The podcast hears from consumers who are concerned with the speed and transparency of the transition. (WXXI.org)
Commentary: Another problem with New York’s CDPAP overhaul: the transition plan The state seems to be ignoring its own success in helping people renew Medicaid coverage after the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave New York one of the best recertification rates in the country. (Times Union)
Anderson Center for Autism worker pleas guilty in abuse case Caregiver was caught on a whistleblower video. (news10.com)
Opinion: Direct Support Professionals are the Backbone of Care for People with Disabilities (Healthcarebusinesstoday.com)
First-of-Its-Kind Children’s Specialty Hospital for Children With Complex Disabilities Open Under the Center for Discovery (governor.ny.org)
Planned transformation of former Willowbrook State School highlights commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, change (SIlive.com)
NYC teachers union pushes unusual method to win $10,000 raise for paraprofessionals: legislation (Chalkbeat.org)
The ‘fraud’ fueling NYC special education spending All but one of the 20 cases cited by the state education department raised “fraud concerns” involved students attending yeshivas. (Gothamist)
Paperwork to prove disabilities such as autism a burden to some college students. Virginia lawmakers seek to ease the process. The Democrat who sponsored the bill said people applying to state colleges were having to repeatedly prove their disability in order to receive accommodations. (whro.org)
Autism community fears RFK Jr. would set back decades of progress (NBCnews.com)
Opinion — Autism families: Keep RFK Jr. away from our kids (NY Daily News)
SCOTUS to hear school disability discrimination case The case will determining whether students filing disability discrimination claims must prove that officials acted with discriminatory intent through “bad faith or gross misjudgment.” (k12dive.com)
Struck out This essay from a woman with autism recounts the terrors of gym class: “I knew we weren’t just playing. Our games were the symbolic staging of something bigger and incredibly important: our place in our group.” (Disabilitydebrief.org)
The Cruel Kids’ Table A birds-eye view of inauguration parties for young MAGA-ites, where the word “retarded” was used gleefully and repeatedly. (New York Magazine)
This Plans To Be the First Autism Certified Airline—Here’s What That Means for Neurodivergent Travelers The airline? Dubai-based Emirates. (Afar.com)
Is assisted dying a ‘clear and present danger’ to people with disabilities? A new documentary at the yearly film festival in Park City says his research “left him with a sense that disabled or chronically ill people who request assisted dying are often reacting to a lack of support or believe that the world does not want them.” (Theguardian.com)
Inclusive design trend begins to emerge This article is a little bit heavy on the throat-clearing, but it does offer some interesting design tips. (High Point News)
Tues., Feb. 4, 2025, or Wed., Feb. 5, 2025: What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP) For Families of School-Age Students: Participants will gain a foundational understanding of the entire IEP process. (FACE Center, NYSED OSE Partnership)
Thurs., Feb. 6, 2025: Voices of Experience: Family Stories and Essential Resources for Transitioning Students with Disabilities: Families of students with disabilities and other stakeholders, including professionals from education and vocational rehabilitation, hear directly from others who have navigated the transition from high school to adult life. (NTACT:C and the RAISE Center)
Fri., Feb. 7, 2025 and Sat., Feb. 8, 2025: National Black Parenting Conference: Brings together parents and experts to address critical topics that affect the black community.
Tues., Feb. 11, 2025: Hear Our Voices Relationship Skills Group: Self-Advocates at the Community Support Network (CSN): Hear our Voices is open to anyone in New York State with a developmental disability regardless of having attended prior meetings. (CSN at Westchester Institute for Human Development)
Tues., Feb. 11, 2025: Transition to College for Students with an IEP or 504 Plan Learn the differences that can be expected as students move from high school to any 2- or 4-year college setting, including process to access academic accommodations, disability documentation requirements, the changing role of parents, and tips on what students can do now to gain the necessary skills needed for a successful college experience. Students are encouraged to attend. (Rockland Transition Consortium)
Wed., Feb. 12, 2025: Westchester Family Support Services (FSS) Advisory Committee Open Meeting: Important aspects of FSS — non-Medicaid services for families with a loved one with IDD living at home with them – and the role of families have been recently clarified through the FSS Statewide Committee. This meeting will update returning members and welcome new ones. Details: 6:45 p.m.; Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Wed., Feb. 19, 2025: Disability Conversations: “Hear Our Voices” Self Advocacy Group Meeting: The Hear Our Voices self-advocacy meetings meet monthly on a Wednesday and are open to anyone in New York State with a developmental disability regardless of having attended prior meetings. (CSN at Westchester Institute for Human Development)
Wed., Feb. 26, 2025: The Relationship Between Emotional Regulation and Severe and Dangerous Behaviors: A large percentage of those with profound autism exhibit severe, intense, and dangerous behaviors. Finding the causes has been a priority for researchers. In collaboration with University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, National Council on Severe Autism and Autism Speaks, you have the opportunity to hear about emotional regulation, its role in these behaviors and what interventions are available.
Sat., March 8, 2025: GiGi’s Educator Symposium: Join a team of experienced educators and therapists from across the GiGi’s Playhouse Network to learn how to teach individuals with Down syndrome the way they learn best.
Ongoing: Brain Injury Association of NYS Support Groups: A variety of times for survivors and caregivers.
Image: Check out the Hear Our Voices! self-advocacy group. (Credit: stock photo)