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Spectrum Events

Spectrum Events: Connecting, Educating, and Celebrating Diversity

Recurring

Multi-Session Support Group for Adults

Virtual

A closed support group has the same group members (up to 12) for a set number of sessions (8). Closed support groups are ideal for adults who are looking for deeper connections and more extensive peer support from group members. For the best support group experience, closed group members should plan on attending all 8 meetings in the series. This group offers a safe environment where Autistic men can talk with like-minded people, share issues and concerns, and celebrate successes. Common topics include: disclosure, self-advocacy, and relationships.

Dates
January 9
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27

$100
Recurring

Touchpoints Training: The How of Child and Family Engagement (JAN2025)

Virtual

Touchpoints: The How of Child and Family Engagement is an intensive training program that introduces the Touchpoints Approach, which is an evidence-based approach to building strong family-child relationships from before birth through age 5. Participants who implement Touchpoints in their practice partner with families to lay the vital foundation for children’s early learning and healthy development.

Course format: This course consists 28 training hours including six monthly one-hour virtual reflective practice sessions. Attendance is required at all live sessions, each of which is 4 hours long. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of attendance. This course is approved for 20.25 Continuing Education Credits for physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists. Learn more.

Session Dates and Times: This course will take place on the following days @ 9 am – 1 pm ET / 6 – 10 am PT

Tues 01/14/2025
Thurs 01/16/2025
Tues 01/21/2025
Thurs 01/23/2025
Tues 01/28/2025
Thurs 01/30/2025
What you will learn:

Strategies for building partnerships with parents that promote family strengths
A framework to understand why children’s behavior can sometimes be challenging and confusing
Techniques for talking with families about child development concerns
How to actively listen to families and collaboratively solve problems related to child development or a child-family relationship
Number of participants: Minimum of 10 Maximum of 20

$895
Recurring

Online “Closed” Support Group for Women (40-60)

This “closed” support group is designed for Autistic women (40-60) looking to build an ongoing connection with a small community of other women. This “closed” support group also gives women an opportunity to voice their concerns and frustrations and lets them acknowledge hard-won and unexpected victories. Common topics of discussion are:

Masking/camouflaging
Sensory sensitivities/overloads
Relationships
Self-care
Empathy
8 sessions. Advanced registration is required.

$100
Recurring

Multi-Session Support Group for Adults

Virtual

A closed support group has the same group members (up to 12) for a set number of sessions (8). Closed support groups are ideal for adults who are looking for deeper connections and more extensive peer support from group members. For the best support group experience, closed group members should plan on attending all 8 meetings in the series. This group offers a safe environment where adults on the spectrum can talk with like-minded people, share issues and concerns, and celebrate successes. Common topics include: disclosure, self-advocacy, and relationships

Dates
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27
March 6
March 13
March 20

$100
Recurring

Multi-Session Support Group for Parents of High School Teens

Virtual

This closed group is designed for parents and family members of Autistic high school teens. This group is limited to 15 participants for caregivers to connect with one another and share information.

Dates
January 9
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27

$180
Recurring

Multi-Session Small Group Employment Coaching for New Job Seekers

Virtual

If you are starting out on your search for a job or have been looking for some time and it’s all a bit intimidating and confusing for you, this coaching course could be just what you need to demystify the process.

This practical coaching course will cover all aspects of job hunting by building your knowledge weekly, helping you identify action steps and supporting you to work through any worries or issues you face, with the help of a workbook. You will be provided with guidance, training, accountability and inspiration over 8 weeks to help you feel more confident about applying for, interviewing for, securing and keeping a job.

Dates
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27
March 6

$150
Recurring

Online “Closed” Support Group for Women (18-35)

Virtual

This “closed” support group is designed for Autistic women (18-35). Through this “closed” support group, women (18-35) can build an ongoing connection with a small group of other women. AANE “closed” support groups for women also give women an opportunity to voice their concerns and frustrations. It also lets them acknowledge hard-won and unexpected victories. Common topics of discussion are:

Masking/camouflaging
Sensory sensitivities/overloads
Relationships
Self-care
Empathy

$100
Recurring

Multi-Session Support Group for Parents of Adults (30+)

Virtual

This “closed” support group is for parents who have an Autistic adult child 30+ years of age. Other adult family caregivers may also register for this group. “Closed” support groups are ideal for parents and other adult family caregivers who want to go beyond sharing their stories with newcomers each time at open support group meetings.

AANE support groups provide an opportunity for parents and family caregivers to voice their concerns and frustrations and celebrate hard-won and unexpected victories. Although each group will focus on different themes and questions, here are some of the most common ones:

Now that your child is an adult, how do you support and/or parent without power?
How do you keep the lines of communication open?
How can you help the Autistic adult find and sustain work and live independently?
How do you motivate them to expand their social network?
What types of services have other families used and what were the results?
How have other members tapped into health, income, housing, and other benefits?
Dates
January 2
January 16
January 30
February 6
February 20
March 6
March 20
April 3

$180
Recurring

Multi-Session Support Group for Autistic Parents

Virtual

This is a Support Group for autistic adults who are parents. As an autistic individual, parenting brings with it a multitude of unique experiences and challenges. That’s why we’re here! Together we can share lived experiences and offer support to one another so we can grow and succeed in parenthood. Parents of all genders are welcome, whether your child is arriving soon, a toddler, in high school, or an adult themselves. This group is open to parents of all genders.

Dates
January 9
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27

$100
Recurring

Multi-Session Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Interest Group for Adults

Virtual

This interest group is intended for post-high school adults who fulfill the player pre-requisites outlined below:

Participants need to have played Dungeons and Dragons before either at AANE or elsewhere.
They must also be familiar with character creation, general rules of D&D Edition 5, cooperation within a team, and following campaign rules and storyline.
Each participant is expected to attend all 8 meetings in order to help his/her team advance as far as possible in the campaign.
This interest series will be using a campaign selected by the Dungeon Masters. Participants must agree to follow the rules of the campaign at all times.
Because this is an interactive/collaborative game. Participants need to be able to participate fully in each game session.
Please note that this is a two-step process (application and registration). If you are interested in this group, please submit the application above.

$100

Freeing the “Anxious Generation” From the Harms of a Phone-Based Childhood

Virtual

Gen Z is the first generation in history to go through puberty with portals in their pockets that call them away from the people nearby and into an alternative universe that is exciting, addictive, and unstable. Zach Rausch, lead researcher for the #1 New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation, will argue that the decline of independence, responsibility, and free play in childhood and the rise of smartphone and social media use among adolescents is driving the youth mental health crisis that is impacting teens in nations all across the world. Drawing on research from numerous academic fields, he will provide concrete solutions that will help parents and teens to escape out of the social traps they find themselves in.

Learning Objectives
Critically review and analyze adolescent mental health trends to improve the quality of care for young people in treatment.
Better manage adolescent mental health struggles by incorporating collective action solutions that can reduce overprotection in the real world and underprotection online.
Evaluate causal claims related to the impact of digital technology on youth mental health.

$27.18

Employment Workshop – Apprenticeships and Trades for Adults

Virtual

If continuing your academic studies past high school is not attractive or achievable, there are alternatives, regardless of your age! You may want to consider jobs that are more “hands on” such as being a jeweler, brick mason, electrician, dental assistant or elevator mechanic. The world needs individuals with practical skills and certain trades can be very lucrative. Come to this session if you want to explore the options regarding apprenticeships and vocational training. It might be that earning as you learn, with mentorship and oversight is the right solution for your future career.

*Please note that this event will be recorded. The recording will be sent out to registrants a few days after the live event and participants can watch the recording for up to 30 days.

$25

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