Southwest Network

Regional Events

January 22: Monday, The Core Deficits of Autism. Dr. Schwartz will present on this inability to dynamically appraise a situation, develop episodic memories, share experiences and produce flexible, creative solutions to problems. The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. 7-9 pm. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. RSVP to Eve Kessler at 203-761-0680.Dr. Schwartz, a well-respected speech and language pathologist with extensive experience working with children and teens on the autism spectrum, will introduce us to RDI, an approach to intervention for children on the spectrum, developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein. RDI confronts the core deficits of autism, the inability to establish a dynamic system of information processing. It is a developmental and systemic approach through which children develop relationships with other people by learning emotional referencing, social coordination, declarative language, flexible thinking, relational information processing, foresight and hindsight.

January 23, 2007: Tamale Tuesdays. 8 to 10 pm. SPED*NET, Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd., invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in New Canaan Public Schools to the Tequila Mockingbird restaurant on 6 Forest Street in New Canaan. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. SPED*NET is a monthly forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

January 29: Monday, Processing Broad band Communication. The complexity of how we communicate is embodied in broad band Communication. To successfully communicate, we must process multiple levels of incoming information simultaneously, a skill that is difficult for someone with an autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Schwartz will explain the need for specifically teaching how to process broad band communication. The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. 7-9 pm. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. RSVP to Eve Kessler at 203-761-0680.

Dr. Schwartz, a well-respected speech and language pathologist with extensive experience working with children and teens on the autism spectrum, will introduce us to RDI, an approach to intervention for children on the spectrum, developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein. RDI confronts the core deficits of autism, the inability to establish a dynamic system of information processing. It is a developmental and systemic approach through which children develop relationships with other people by learning emotional referencing, social coordination, declarative language, flexible thinking, relational information processing, foresight and hindsight.

January 30: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

January 31: Wednesday, Held at Coleytown Middle School cafeteria, 255 North Avenue in Westport, 7pm to 9pm. What Every Parent Should Know About Their Child’s Basic Rights in Special Education. Lawrence Berliner, attorney with the firm of Klebanoff & Alfano. Refreshments will be served. Please check the new Westport SEPTA website at http://www.westportsepta.org/events.htm for updates. All programs are subject to change. Westport SEPTA meetings are open to the public. Reservations are suggested: To make a reservation, please call Janis Fox, Westport SEPTA programming chair at (203) 222-8485 or email Westport SEPTA at info@westportsepta.org.

February 5: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com. 10am-12pm.

For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 1rst Monday of each month from 10am-12pm.

February 5: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Fairfield County Autism Support Group. Sponsored by the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center, for parents, friends, families, caregivers of children, teens and adults with autistic spectrum disorders including PDD.NOS and HFA. Stop in for a safe place to talk, brainstorm, laugh, vent and generate creative and productive ways to navigate the often murky waters of those whose lives are inextricably linked to the world of autism. Call Lois Rosenwald at the ASRC for more information. Held at Frenchtown Elementary School, 30 Frenchtown Road, Trumbull, CT 06611. Upcoming meetings are March 5, April 2, May 7, and June 4.

February 6: Taj Tuesdays. 8 to 10pm the YWCA STEPS of Darien invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in Darien Public Schools to the Coromandel Restaurant located in the Goodwives Shopping Plaza at 45 Old Kings Highway North in Darien. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. STEPS of Darien has a monthly lecture series/forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP the YWCA at 656-2535 or e-mail ywcastepsdarien@optonline.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

February 6: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamoms.html. Pizza Moms is a group of moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com.

February 12: Monday, Regulation, the Basis for Social Interaction. Relatedness is based upon a person’s ability to regulate and adjust within a social interaction. For children on the spectrum, adults instead of peers typically facilitate these regulations and adjustments. Consequently, many children on the spectrum look markedly better when interacting with adults. Dr. Schwartz will discuss the focus of RDI: to teach children on the spectrum to regulate within a dynamic system, thereby empowering them to be competent within any social interaction. The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. 7-9 pm. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. RSVP to Eve Kessler at 203-761-0680.

Dr. Schwartz, a well-respected speech and language pathologist with extensive experience working with children and teens on the autism spectrum, will introduce us to RDI, an approach to intervention for children on the spectrum, developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein. RDI confronts the core deficits of autism, the inability to establish a dynamic system of information processing. It is a developmental and systemic approach through which children develop relationships with other people by learning emotional referencing, social coordination, declarative language, flexible thinking, relational information processing, foresight and hindsight.

February 13: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com 7-9pm. For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10am-12pm.

February 20: Tamale Tuesdays. 8 to 10 pm. SPED*NET, Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd., invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in New Canaan Public Schools to the Tequila Mockingbird restaurant on 6 Forest Street in New Canaan. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. SPED*NET is a monthly forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

February 21: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

February 27: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

February 28: Wednesday, 10:00 am – 12 noon, Speaker Rae Suba. Sensory Integration. Held at the Waveny House in Waveny Park, New Canaan, CT. Sponsored by SPED*NET New Canaan. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. For directions to Waveny Park, check http://www.newcanaan.info/content/293/323/675/1531.aspx.

February 28: Wednesday, held at Coleytown Middle School cafeteria, 255 North Avenue in Westport. 7pm to 9pm. Emotional and Respite Resources for Families with Special Needs Children. Speakers will include Linda Snell, STAR; Freida Hecht, Circle of Friends; Tracy Flood, CLASP and Paula Nizzardo, the Kennedy Center. Refreshments will be served. Please check the new Westport SEPTA website at http://www.westportsepta.org/events.htm for updates. All programs are subject to change. Westport SEPTA meetings are open to the public. Reservations are suggested: To make a reservation, please call Janis Fox, Westport SEPTA programming chair at (203) 222-8485 or email Westport SEPTA at info@westportsepta.org.

March 1 - 4, 2007: Make your plans now to attend the 2007 COPAA Conference at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. Check www.copaa.org for more info.

March 5: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com. 10am-12pm.

For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 1rst Monday of each month from 10am-12pm.

March 5: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Fairfield County Autism Support Group. Sponsored by the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center, for parents, friends, families, caregivers of children, teens and adults with autistic spectrum disorders including PDD.NOS and HFA. Stop in for a safe place to talk, brainstorm, laugh, vent and generate creative and productive ways to navigate the often murky waters of those whose lives are inextricably linked to the world of autism. Call Lois Rosenwald at the ASRC for more information. Held at Frenchtown Elementary School, 30 Frenchtown Road, Trumbull, CT 06611. Upcoming meetings are April 2, May 7, and June 4.

March 6: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamoms.html. Pizza Moms is a group of moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com.

March 13: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com 7-9pm. For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10am-12pm.

March 20: Tamale Tuesdays. 8 to 10 pm. SPED*NET, Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd., invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in New Canaan Public Schools to the Tequila Mockingbird restaurant on 6 Forest Street in New Canaan. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. SPED*NET is a monthly forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

March 21: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

March 27: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

March 27: Tuesday, 6:30-8:30. Understanding the new IDEA regulations, including LRE. Speaker Terry DeFrancis from the CT State Department of Education. Sponsored by We Belong - Inclusion in Fairfield County (IFC). We Belong is a network of individuals from Fairfield County who are interested in Inclusive Education for students with disabilities! Check www.spednet.org/IFC.htm for more info, or contact Eva Greenwald at (203) 554-4462 , or evagreenwald@sbcglobal.net. Held at The Westport Library , located at: Westport Public Library, Arnold Bernhard Plaza, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.

March 28: Successful HS Inclusion. Breakfast conference. Speaker is Kathleen Whitbread, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, and Associate Director of the UConn Center on Disabilities. This seminar is designed to help parents and professionals design educational programs that enable students with disabilities to be successfully educated in their neighborhood high schools. The session will include resources and hands-on activities to enable participants to practice techniques and strategies for providing access to the general education curriculum for students of all abilities. 8 - 9 am, registration. 9 to 12 noon, presentation. $30 registration, includes a continental breakfast; $40 at the door. Held at the Norwalk Inn and Conference Center, 99 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851. Cosponsored by SPED*NET New Canaan, STAR, Lighting the Way… and The Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress, in cooperation with the New Canaan Public Schools, Department of Special Education, Darlene Pianka, Director. CEU’s will be available. For more information, please contact Anne Eason at eason55@aol.com.

March 28: Wednesday, held at Coleytown Middle School cafeteria, 255 North Avenue in Westport. 7pm to 9pm. If Your Child with Special Needs Wants to Go To College… There’s A College for Everyone! Panel discussion on transitioning kids from high school into college. Parents who have transitioned special needs children to college are welcome to volunteer for this panel. Deborah Slocum, guidance counselor at Westport’s Staples High School, will be one of the speakers. Refreshments will be served. Please check the new Westport SEPTA website at http://www.westportsepta.org/events.htm for updates. All programs are subject to change. Westport SEPTA meetings are open to the public. Reservations are suggested: To make a reservation, please call Janis Fox, Westport SEPTA programming chair at (203) 222-8485 or email Westport SEPTA at info@westportsepta.org.

March 30: Friday, How our Children Learn Best: Successfully Modifying Curricula for Students with Special Needs. Lynne Guilmette, M.Ed., behavioral consultant and clinical supervisor of Behavioral Development and Educational Services, Trumbull, CT, will discuss strategic components of adapting and modifying curricula, homework and exams. Participants will gain a better understanding of how effective curriculum modifications may lead to successful inclusion. The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. 10 am -12:30 pm. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. RSVP to Eve Kessler at 203-761-0680.

April 2: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com. 10am-12pm.

For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 1rst Monday of each month from 10am-12pm.

April 2: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Fairfield County Autism Support Group. Sponsored by the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center, for parents, friends, families, caregivers of children, teens and adults with autistic spectrum disorders including PDD.NOS and HFA. Stop in for a safe place to talk, brainstorm, laugh, vent and generate creative and productive ways to navigate the often murky waters of those whose lives are inextricably linked to the world of autism. Call Lois Rosenwald at the ASRC for more information. Held at Frenchtown Elementary School, 30 Frenchtown Road, Trumbull, CT 06611. Upcoming meetings are May 7, and June 4.

April 3: Taj Tuesdays. 8 to 10pm STEPS the YWCA of Darien invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in Darien Public Schools to the Coromandel Restaurant located in the Goodwives Shopping Plaza at 45 Old Kings Highway North in Darien. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. STEPS of Darien has a monthly lecture series/forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP the YWCA at 656-2535 or e-mail ywcastepsdarien@optonline.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

April 3: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamoms.html. Pizza Moms is a group of moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com.

April 5: Educational Options for Students with LD and AD/HD. CACLD’s 24th Annual Conference for Families, Professionals, and High School Students. Held at the Marriott Hotel, Trumbull, CT. Call CACLD at 203-838-5010 for information or check www.cacld.org.

April 10: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com 7-9pm. For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10am-12pm.

April 11: Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30. Inclusion Success Stories featuring a wonderful panel of parents, educators and administrators. Sponsored by We Belong - Inclusion in Fairfield County (IFC). We Belong is a network of individuals from Fairfield County who are interested in Inclusive Education for students with disabilities! Check www.spednet.org/IFC.htm for more info, or contact Eva Greenwald at (203) 554-4462 , or evagreenwald@sbcglobal.net. Held at The Westport Library , located at: Westport Public Library, Arnold Bernhard Plaza, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.

April 18: Wednesday, 9:30 – 11:30 am, WIRED differently ADHD Kids. An educational workshop for parents to understand children with Attention Deficit Disorder from a strength-based perspective focusing on management strategies, compensatory skills, educational accommodations and children’s potential. To register or for more information, please contact Ruthann Short, MSW, LCSW, Director of brainstorming, LLC, 383 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, 06877, telephone 203-431-3234.

April 17: Tamale Tuesdays. 8 to 10 pm. SPED*NET, Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd., invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in New Canaan Public Schools to the Tequila Mockingbird restaurant on 6 Forest Street in New Canaan. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. SPED*NET is a monthly forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

April 18: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

April 24: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

April 25: Wednesday Held at Coleytown Middle School cafeteria, 255 North Avenue in Westport. 7pm to 9pm. Psychotherapeutic Resources for Families with Special Needs” Speakers will be Michaenel Coh, a Connecticut licensed special education psychologist and Judy Grossman, a family psychologist specializing in special needs. Both have practices in Westport. Refreshments will be served. Please check the new Westport SEPTA website at http://www.westportsepta.org/events.htm for updates. All programs are subject to change. Westport SEPTA meetings are open to the public. Reservations are suggested: To make a reservation, please call Janis Fox, Westport SEPTA programming chair at (203) 222-8485 or email Westport SEPTA at info@westportsepta.org.

April 27: Friday, Mock IEP. Drama unfolds in this interactive event, as we re-enact an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting for a student with special needs. Tips for successful meetings. Co-sponsored with SPED*NET New Canaan. The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. 10 am - noon. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. RSVP to Eve Kessler at 203-761-0680.

April 28: Saturday. ASCONN’S 17th Annual State-Wide Conference on Autism. Check www.autismsocietyofct.org for more info. Keynote speaker are Paula Kluth and Lianne Holliday-Willey. Held at the Hartford Convention Center. Only $75 for full day, including breakfast and lunch. CEUs provided.

About Paula Kluth:
Dr. Kluth is an independent education consultant and independent scholar. She is also an adjunct instructor at National-Louis University in Chicago, Illinois. Her professional and research interests center on differentiating instruction and on supporting students with autism and significant disabilities in inclusive classrooms. She has a M.Ed. in Educational Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin. She is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher, consulting teacher, and inclusion facilitator. She is the author of “You’re Going to Love This Kid”: Educating Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms (2003, Brookes Publishing) and the lead editor of Access to Academics: Critical Approaches to Inclusive Curriculum, Instruction, and Policy (with Doug Biklen & Diana Straut, 2003, Erlbaum Publishing). Dr. Kluth’s work is dedicated to promoting inclusive schooling and exploring positive ways of supporting students with autism and other disabilities. Most of her work involves collaborating with schools to create environments, lessons, and experiences that are inclusive, respectful, and accessible for all learners.
About Lianne Holliday-Willey
Ms. Holliday-Willey is an adult with Asperger’s who came to her diagnosis later in life as her daughter was diagased. Author of the book “Pretending to be Normal” she often says “we can learn to pretend to be normal, we just don’t get the point of it the way you all do.” An engaging and inspiring speaker about her life with an ASD, she is also funny and charming.

May 1: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamoms.html. Pizza Moms is a group of moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com.

May 7: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com. 10am-12pm.

For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 1rst Monday of each month from 10am-12pm.

May 7: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Fairfield County Autism Support Group. Sponsored by the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center, for parents, friends, families, caregivers of children, teens and adults with autistic spectrum disorders including PDD.NOS and HFA. Stop in for a safe place to talk, brainstorm, laugh, vent and generate creative and productive ways to navigate the often murky waters of those whose lives are inextricably linked to the world of autism. Call Lois Rosenwald at the ASRC for more information. Held at Frenchtown Elementary School, 30 Frenchtown Road, Trumbull, CT 06611. Next meeting is June 4.

May 8: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com 7-9pm. For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10am-12pm.

May 11: Friday, The Scoop: Transitioning Between Schools in Wilton. What do you and your child need to know? A panel of parents will share their insights about moving through the Wilton school system successfully. The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. 10 am - noon. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. RSVP to Eve Kessler at 203-761-0680.

May 16: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

May 17: Thursday, 6:30 to 8:30. Gala Celebration featuring an Update on the PJ Case Settlement with Attorney David Shaw and presenting awards to local heroes who promote excellence in the promotion of inclusion.Sponsored by We Belong - Inclusion in Fairfield County (IFC). We Belong is a network of individuals from Fairfield County who are interested in Inclusive Education for students with disabilities! Check www.spednet.org/IFC.htm for more info, or contact Eva Greenwald at (203) 554-4462 , or evagreenwald@sbcglobal.net. Held at The Westport Library , located at: Westport Public Library, Arnold Bernhard Plaza, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.

May 29: Tamale Tuesdays. 8 to 10 pm. SPED*NET, Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd., invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in New Canaan Public Schools to the Tequila Mockingbird restaurant on 6 Forest Street in New Canaan. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. SPED*NET is a monthly forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

May 29: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

May 30: Wednesday. Held at Coleytown Middle School cafeteria, 255 North Avenue in Westport. 7pm to 9pm. Social Skills and Your Special Needs Child. Speaker is Lynn Guilmette. Refreshments will be served. Please check the new Westport SEPTA website at http://www.westportsepta.org/events.htm for updates. All programs are subject to change. Westport SEPTA meetings are open to the public. Reservations are suggested: To make a reservation, please call Janis Fox, Westport SEPTA programming chair at (203) 222-8485 or email Westport SEPTA at info@westportsepta.org.

June 4: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com. 10am-12pm.

For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 1rst Monday of each month from 10am-12pm.

June 4: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Fairfield County Autism Support Group. Sponsored by the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center, for parents, friends, families, caregivers of children, teens and adults with autistic spectrum disorders including PDD.NOS and HFA. Stop in for a safe place to talk, brainstorm, laugh, vent and generate creative and productive ways to navigate the often murky waters of those whose lives are inextricably linked to the world of autism. Call Lois Rosenwald at the ASRC for more information. Held at Frenchtown Elementary School, 30 Frenchtown Road, Trumbull, CT 06611.

June 5: Tamale Tuesdays. 8 to 10 pm. SPED*NET, Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd., invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in New Canaan Public Schools to the Tequila Mockingbird restaurant on 6 Forest Street in New Canaan. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. SPED*NET is a monthly forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP Judi Anders at 801-0794 or email her at judianders@sbcglobal.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

June 5: Taj Tuesdays. 8 to 10pm the YWCA STEPS of Darien invites all parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in Darien Public Schools to the Coromandel Restaurant located in the Goodwives Shopping Plaza at 45 Old Kings Highway North in Darien. Please join us to share strategies on negotiating the special education maze. STEPS of Darien has a monthly lecture series/forum for discussing ideas and developing strategies for special education and §504 issues. Please RSVP the YWCA at 656-2535 or e-mail ywcastepsdarien@optonline.net. Drinks and appetizers can be ordered.

June 5: Pizza Moms tonight in Darien! Post Corner Pizza in Darien. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamoms.html. Pizza Moms is a group of moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. We get together informally and have pizza, salad and beer in Darien. Everyone is welcome. This is a place where moms can talk with other moms who are having similar experiences. If you are interested in coming please email Nanette Jordan at: nanette618@yahoo.com.

June 12: Wilton Parent Advocacy Team (WPAT): For Wilton Parents Only! Forum for parents of children with special needs in Wilton who advocate to improve the programs within the schools and community. Meetings will be held at The Greens at Cannondale. R.S.V.P. to wiltonspedgroup@aol.com 7-9pm. For the 2006-2007 school year, evening meetings take place at the Greens - the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm. Monthly morning meetings take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10am-12pm.

June 20: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

June 26: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

July 18: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

July 31: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.

August 15: Pizza Moms Greenwich! Held at Bella Nonna’s in Cos Cob, 371 East Putnam Avenue. Check http://www.geocities.com/nanette618/pizzamomsg.html for more info. Pizza Moms is a support group for moms who have children with special needs in the Fairfield County Area. We meet the third Wednesday evening of every month at 7:00 pm. We get together informally for food, drink, and networking. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in coming please contact Phillippa Orszulak at 203-531-6471, or angelmanmom@aol.com.

August 28: Autism Parents Club: 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. Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, Francesco’s Restaurant, Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com.