Welcome to the Fall 2017 edition of Pathways

As fall arrives here in Maine, MAIER welcomes you back with another year of training opportunities for educators and professionals, family events, and new online resources. Be sure to check out our all new Professional Development Workshops for 2017-18, read about the SCERTS training being offered next spring,  and learn more about new Maine Autism Leader Team training in the coming year.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of assistance. Contact us by email or phone (207-581-2352)

Best regards,
Deborah L. Rooks-Ellis, Ph.D. Director, Maine Autism Institute for Education and Research

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Maine Autism Institute for Education and Research 2017-18 Professional Development Series is already being planned! With all new topics for 2017-18, these workshops feature national and local experts in the field of autism. Don’t miss out on September’s workshops: “An OT’s Guide to Sensory Processing” and “An Educator’s Guide to Sensory Processing”! Register today!

Registration is now open, and sessions are still offered at the low cost of $30/person per workshop. Open to educators, professionals, families, caregivers, and interested others. Read more about our upcoming PD offerings

Special 2-day PD offering for May 3rd & 4th, 2018! $100
“Implementing the SCERTS Assessment Process to Guide Program Development for Children with ASD”
This two-day training will be presented by Amy Laurent, Ph.D., OTR/L, coauthor of the SCERTS model and a national trainer. This training will lead to a thorough understanding of the SCERTS model and provide participants with the knowledge and skills to implement the model in their classrooms. FMI see PD calendar listing.

Did you know MAIER’s 2016-17 PD series was available to view online? FMI see our 2016-17 PD series.

Welcome our new Maine Autism Leader Teams (MALT) for 2017! Six new teams from school districts and agencies across the state will receive advanced training in evidence-based practices for working with individuals with autism.  MAIER will host six training sessions, and offer ongoing mentoring and coaching sessions to participating teams over the course of the coming year.  Read about MALT 2017-18 

Roadmap to Maine Autism Services now available! MAIER has developed a new brochure to guide parents and caregivers to services and supports when they are questioning their child’s development. Contact MAIER for copies to place in your school, agency, or office. Learn more.

 

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Family Focus

Happy Fall to all our MAIER families and friends. It has been busy year for the MAIER Family Partnership (MFP) as we continue working on our Places and Spaces Project, attend community events, and partner with local organizations and non-profits for family events. Be sure to visit our MFP pages on our website as we are updating our information and resources regularly, and bookmark our Community Calendar to assure you learn about upcoming events!

Recently I received an email from a Mom whose daughter was entering adolescence, heralding in a new set of developmental changes and challenges for peer relationships and social inclusion. While teens with ASD face a new set of expectations and “social rules” to learn, peers also need help to better understand their classmates with autism and learn to interact in ways that support friendships and inclusion. In my search for resources to assist this Mom, I found several excellent resources to address adolescent issues, including two promoting understanding and acceptance by peers. Check out the Family Resource section of this issue for a focus on resources related to raising adolescents and young adults on the spectrum.

Many thanks to those who have supported the MFP through donations of time, talent, and financial gifts. Visit MAIER’s Donation page to read about recent gifts or to make a donation to support our outreach to Maine families.

Wishing you all a happy and safe fall season!

Donna Doherty, MAIER Family Partnership Director

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Loads of fun at MAIER Family Partnership “Outdoor Adventure Day”

The MAIER Family Partnership and the Auburn/Lewiston YMCA partnered for a day of outdoor fun for families at the AL YMCA’s Outdoor Education and Learning Center on Sunday June 25^th 2017. [Read more]

“Places and Spaces” pages are now live!

Check out MAIER’s newest online resource for families, a space dedicated to helping families explore new options for recreation and fun. Developed with the help of MAIER Family Partnership parents and friends, Places and Spaces offers Directory listings of Maine places to visit, a tip sheet for supporting children with autism as they venture out to new places, and additional valuable resources. Help us build our directory listings by submitting your favorite places and events for families impacted by ASD, using our online submission forms. If every family that receives this newsletter submits one place we can have over 300 listings! Go to Places and Spaces

Rockland Autism Awareness Fair

Read about the amazing work of one Maine family to raise autism awareness in their community and help support local programs and organizations dedicated to ASD. [Read more]

Sesame Street Introduces Julia!

Have you heard about Sesame Street’s new Muppet, Julia? Introduced last year, Julia, a four-year-old muppet, is part of a larger project,  “See Amazing in all Children.” Read more about this initiative, and check out the educational and fun resources available from the Sesame Street website.

Family Resources

The focus for this issue is on resources to support teens with ASD and their peers during a developmental stage that can be both exciting and puzzling to teens and to those around them. Go to Family Resources