Additional Resources

We at Barnum Financial Group's Center for Special Needs Planning hope to be a resource for families throughout Connecticut.  Below are some support groups, workshops, conventions and programs that may be of interest.  Be sure to check in periodically as we will be continually updating this page.

 

Support Groups

Autism Parents Club

Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm at Blue Luna, Route 7, Wilton, CT.

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.  Casual.  No need to RSVP, just come!  For more info contact Patti Sylvia at 203-761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.  Info on the meeting can be found at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.

Pizza Moms!

Meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien, CT (across from the firehouse)

Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with children with special needs.  Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders).  Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free.  Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper.  Everyone is welcome.  This group is an excellent place to network and talk.  For more information check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home.  If you would like to get on our email list please email: Nanette Jordan at nanette618@gmail.com.

Parent Workshops

Disorganized Kids:  Practical Strategies for Parents on Executive Function Skills - 3 part series

WHEN:         1st Series:    Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 9:30-11:30

                      2nd Series:  Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 9:30-11:30

                      3rd Series:   Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 9:30-11:30

WHERE:       Ridgefield Community Center

This program is an educational support group for parents to understand the process of helping children with executive dysfunction.  The program will provide practical information on executive functioning from identification to intervention.  Additional components of the program will include: definition, executive function skills, developmental tasks, assessment, evaluation, interventions and strategies.  The goal is to help parents build their children's executive function skills, along with self-management skills to compensate.  This 3 part series will be facilitated by Ruthann N. Short, MSW, LCSW.  Advance Registration Required at maverickmindllc@aol.com or (203) 431-3234.  Program Fee: $150.

Truths & Myths an Interactive Round-table on Special Education

WHEN:        Thursday October 22, 2009 from 10-Noon

Hosted by Maverick Minds' Ruthann N. Short, MSW, LCSW and facilitated by Special Education Lawyers, Anne Eason, Esq. and Nora Belanger, Esq., this program will address inclusion, services, assistive technology, evaluations, behavior, social and legal rights.  Register at maverickmindsllc@aol.com or (203) 431-3234.

The 10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Advocating for their Child with Autism

WHEN:        Monday October 26, 2009 at 7 pm

WHERE:     D'Esopo Resource Center, 109 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT

This workshop will be presented by Julie Swanson, Disability Specialist.  To register for this event please call Annie Cerpa at (860) 257-0188 before October 22, 2009.  Please leave your name, phone number and # of people attending.  For more information on Julie Swanson visit her website at www.yourspecialchild.com.

Understanding, Evaluating and Treating Learning Difficulties

WHEN:       Thursday October 29, 2009 at 7 pm

WHERE:    Christian Heritage School, Main Floor Library, 575 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT

Learn developmental-neuropsychological aspects of dyslexia, and disorders affecting math, written expression and nonverbal learning.  Find ways to support your child at home and at school.  The presenter is Tim Heitzman, PhD, Developmental Neuropsychologist at Fairfield University.  Registration is required.  Please call (203) 268-5010.

How to Use Neuropsychological Evaluations

WHEN:        Wednesday November 4, 2009 from 7-9 pm

WHERE:     Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT

Scott Bezsylko, Executive Director of Winston Prep Schools/ Norwalk & NY will speak to ways of using these evaluations to identify your child's needs and goals and what a school must do to meet those goals.  He will teach ways of articulating these goals, in writing for use in both a private and public school setting and will make suggestions as to how to monitor progress.  This forum is free and open to the public.  Questions can be directed to info@norwalkseeks.org or (203) 846-2501.

Parenting the Anxious Child

WHEN:       Thursday November 5, 2009 from 7-8 pm

WHERE:     Greenwich Hospital, Nobel Conference Room

Michael Crowley, PhD, Associate Research Scientist, Yale Child Study Center; Associate Director, Developmental Electrophysiology Laboratory.  How can parents recognize anxieties that affect their child's happiness and well being?  What can they do to help their child overcome them?  A clinically-trained child research scientist answers this important two-part question by describing various anxiety-caused behavior patterns and advising parents on ways to help their child within the context of both family and school environments.  Yale Child Study Center lecture.  Register online at www.greenhosp.org or call (203) 863-3627 or toll free (888) 357-2409.

Transition Planning 101

WHEN:       Monday November 9, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:45 pm

WHERE:    Westport Public Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT, Weeks Seminar Room 3rd Floor

It's never too early to begin thinking about preparing a student for the transition from public school to adult life.  Presented by Margaret (Muncie) Kardos, MS, OTR/L, ATP, this presentation will focus on the basic steps that should be considered for every student entering this next phase of his or her education.  Muncie Kardos is an educational consultant who has worked in the area of transition planning for over 10 years.  She has presented on this topic at both the state and national level.  Dinner is 6:30 to 7 pm, then the presentation begins at 7 pm.  Extensive handouts.  For more info, contact Eva Greenwald at (203) 554-4462 or evalgreenwald@sbcglobal.net.

Staying One Step Ahead of Your Special Needs Child: A Parenting Workshop

WHEN:      Thursday November 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm

WHERE:    JCC of Stamford, 1035 Newfield Avenue, Stamford

An empowering workshop for parents who want to know how to help their child succeed in school & life.  For additional information, contact Claire Friedlander at (203) 921-4161 or email cdfriedlan@aol.com.  No Charge.

Happy Parents = Happy Kids

WHEN:     Thursday December 3, 2009 at 7 pm

WHERE:   Total Learning & Therapy Center, 5893 Main Street, Trumbull, CT

An educational evening about parenting, relationships, and how a good partnership translates into happier and healthier kids, regardless of their abilities.  The presenters are Karen Allen, MA, Kristen Orakwue, LMFT and Virginia Williamson, MA of Marriage & Family Therapy of Trumbull.  Space is limited and registration is required.  Please call (203) 268-8852.

The Music Effect: Preparing the Mind/Body for Learning

WHEN:     Thursday December 10, 2009 - Dinner at 6:30 pm, Presentation begins at 7 to 8:45 pm

WHERE:   Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT, Weeks Seminar Room, 3rd Floor

How does music impact the body?  What happens in the brain when in the presence of music?  These questions and more will be discussed by published author, music therapist, educator and concert artist Dorita (Dori) Berger, MA, MT-BC, LCAT of the Music Therapy Clinic in Norwalk, CT.  Interactive dialog will include some hands on activities and Q&A addressing various ways in which music can treat deficits often better than many other clinical interventions.  Come prepared to sing and clap and explore your own physiological and mental responses to music.  Extensive handouts.  For more information contact Eva Greenwald at (203) 554-4462 or evagreenwald@sbcglobal.net. 

Speech Therapy: Redefining Oral Motor/Oral Placement Therapy

WHEN:     Friday February 5, 2010 from 10 to noon

WHERE:  The Greens Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT

Lori Overland, M.S., CCC-SLP, a speech and language pathologist with more than 28 years of professional experience, specializes in the unique needs of infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-aged children with oral motor, feeding and speech disorders.  She will discuss the underlying sensory/motor skills that support feeding and speech, provide an overview of muscle-based therapy and the confusion that has led to a debate over the efficacy of these techniques and re-define oral motor and oral placement therapy in the context of the discussion.

Smart But Scattered

WHEN:     Monday March 8, 2010 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

WHERE:  Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT

Improving executive function skills for students with learning disabilities and AD/HD.  Peg Dawson, Ed.D., psychologist with the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders, Portsmouth, NH, will discuss practical strategies for developing and improving skills necessary for goal-directed and problem-solving behaviors.  Learn what executive skills are, how they matter and how we as parents and teachers can help our kids who are struggling become independent academic and social problem solvers.  Please RSVP at (203) 762-3950.  For additional information please contact (203) 563-9994 or info@spednetwilton.org.

Late, Lost & Unprepared

WHEN:     Tuesday April 6, 2010 from 10:30 to noon

WHERE:   Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT

Practical strategies for parents to help disorganized kids.  As a follow up to Dr. Peg Dawson's March presentation.  Ruthann Short, MSW, LCSW, will facilitate an educational workshop in how parents can assist children with executive function challenges in building skills and compensatory strategies.  Please RSVP at (203) 762-3950.  For additional information please contact (203) 563-9994 or info@spednetwilton.org.

The College Coaching Project: Supporting Students with Special Needs to Be Successful in College

WHEN:      Monday May 3, 2010 from 10 to noon

WHERE:   The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT

Lynda Geller, Ph.D., is the Director of the Institute for Cognitive Diversity at Bank Street College, NYC, which offers educational support for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, from childhood through the transition to adult life.  Many students who did well within the structure of high school find themselves unable to create their own structures to cope with the academic, social, emotional, self-management and career choice aspects of college living.  Coaching is a service uniquely suited to the need for flexible support in various areas of life, especially those associated with executive function tasks, and can help students create a structure in new and unfamiliar settings where expectations are different from those in high school.  Please RSVP at (203) 563-9994.

Sibling Workshops 

Sibshops

WHEN:    Saturday November 14, 2009 10 to noon 

               and Friday December 4, 2009 4 to 6 pm

WHERE:  48 Union Street, Stamford, CT

Sibshops is a social/recreational program for siblings of kids with special needs, ages 5 - 13 held by Breakthru Fitness and Abilis Youth.  During Sibshops we find creative ways to reduce the stress in our lives and talk informally about what it is like to be a sibling.  Fee:  $15.00.  You must register for this event by calling Monica at (203) 629-1880 ext. 336 or emailing her at smyth@abilis.us.

Statewide Annual Convention

CT Down Syndrome Annual Convention

WHEN:       Saturday November 7, 2009 from 8-4

WHERE:     Crown Plaza, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, CT

Keynote speaker is the Emmy Award winning writer for Sesame Street and author of "Welcom to Holland", Emily Perl Kingsley along with her son, Jason and friend Mitchell Levitz.  Vendor booths including "Specs4Us", Super Duper catalog, Usborne Books at Home, Discovery Toys, Woodbine House, and many more!  Non-profit booths with information about their organizations and CDSC affiliated booths including The Buddy Walk, The Holland Committee and CT DADS.  Workshops for birth to three, school aged, adults and self advocates!  Some workshops include a new/expecting parent round table & support, medical issues in children & infants by Dr. Robert Greenstein, an update on the PJ settlement and much more!

Scholarship Program for College Students

American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) Scholarship Program 2009-2010

DEADLINE:  October 15, 2009

AAHD created the AAHD Scholarship Program to support students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education.  Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in public health, health promotion, or disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research.  As 2009 is the first year of the scholarship program, funds are limited and we anticipate that scholarships will be competitive.  Scholarships will be limited to under $1,000.  For scholarship criteria, application requirements and to download an application please click here.

Think College!

Doors to colleges are opening for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in many different ways all over the country.  This website is designed to share what is currently going on, provide resources and strategies, let you know about training events, and give you ways to talk to others.

Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight Children's Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness.

Barnum Financial Group, An Office of MetLife

The following are some other products and services offered by Barnum Financial Group, An Office of MetLife.