Sharon Leon

Sharon Leon

This April, NFAR Mom's Group has gone VIRTUAL and we'd love for you to join us!

The Mom's Group was designed to help connect Moms who have a son or daughter on the autism spectrum. We offer guest speakers in a welcoming and understanding environment. Even though we cannot be together during this COVID-19 crisis, we want to connect with you! Please join us this month on Wed., April 15th for our first virtual Mom's Group meeting!

For questions on how to Join a Virtual Meeting - see instructions below.


NFAR MOM'S GROUP
Zoom Virtual Meeting
Apr. 15, 2020
6:30 - 8:00 pm

 


April Topic: “Discovering/Creating Social Opportunities at Home - What Can I do?”

Children need exposure to social examples as well as explanations and opportunities to practice throughout the day. Discover resources and strategies you can use with your child in your daily routines, and in new situations as every new situation comes with a new set of social expectations. Learn strategies that you can embed into your established routines and new activities that can help build social competence and take advantage of all those teachable moments!

Guest Speakers:  Sheri Hughes, MA, CCC-SLP, and Renee Tompkins, MS, CCC-SLP -  Poway Unified School District 

Renee and Sheri have each been Speech Language Pathologists for over 20 years.

Renee currently works with young adults and Sheri works with children preschool age through middle school. They share a passion for learning and teaching all things social. Renee and Sheri are both members of the PUSD Special Education Foundation and help both special educators and general education teachers in their understanding of social language issues and implementing social cognitive and Social Thinking strategies for children and adults. Sheri Hughes is part of NFAR's Engage & Connect Leadership team, a program for families of young children.

 
HOW TO JOIN THE VIRTUAL MEETING:
  • Please RSVP by no later than April 15th by 3:00 pm on Eventbrite (as you usually do - link below.)
  • On April 15th, we will send those that have RSVP'd an email with a link to join the meeting on Zoom. (Email sent by 10:00 am for early RSVPs and another at 4:00 pm.)
  • Join the meeting on Zoom at 6:30 pm. The guest speakers will start shortly after 6:30 pm with a question and answer session at the end.
  • Haven't used Zoom before? It's easier than you think! Here's a quick video that shows you how to join a meeting.

March Meeting

Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020

NFAR MEN'S GROUP

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
**Filippi's Pizza Grotto
5353 Kearny Villa Rd
San Diego, CA 92123
Directions

Dinner: Pizza, Salad.
Dinner is provided

The Men’s Group is for dads, step dads, and granddads helping to raise a child with autism. We offer dinner, guest speakers and a chance to network with other men in a relaxed setting.

March Topic: "How to Build Self-Esteem and Confidence in Individuals with Autism"

Learn about the method to build self-esteem and confidence and its application in various settings such as at home or in the classroom. Our guest speakers will help parents learn tips for fostering an environment that will support a confident, content, and thriving individual. Parents will learn to recognize the common triggers including difficulty in communication that can lead to a downward spiral into depression. We will explore the cascading effects of low self-esteem and confidence on general well-being and how it creates a lack of motivation and initiation. We will cover the most effective strategies using Visual Communication Analysis (VCA) to build self-esteem and prevent psychological ill-being (e.g. low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, etc.). There will be a Q&A at the end to help tackle tricky situations.

Guest Speakers: Dalia Shkedy - Executive Director, Gary Shkedy - Director of Research and Dr. Aileen Sandoval - Clinical Director of Alternative Teaching Strategy Center

Alternative Teaching Strategy Center is a non-profit dedicated to providing services to families with children and adults with autism and other cognitive and learning disabilities.  The team has extensively published papers on autism and has presented these techniques at international conferences in Hawaii, Amsterdam and San Diego. Dr. Sandoval is an Assistant Professor of Neuro-Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and an Adjunct Professor of Neuro-Psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University.  To learn more about Alternative Teaching Strategy Center.

To RSVP

 

 

AUTISM MOM'S GROUP
March Meeting

"NEW DATE" Wednesday, March 11, 2020

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
**Filippi's Pizza Grotto
5353 Kearny Villa Rd
San Diego, CA 92123
Directions

Dinner: Pizza, Salad.
Dinner is provided

These meetings are for Moms to come together in a fun and relaxed setting. The group will meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month for dinner and guest speakers. It's an opportunity to share resources, experiences and enjoy being with other moms of individuals with autism.

March Topic: “Successful Transitions: From Morning Routine to Community Outings" 

Set your family up for success!  Learn some easy strategies to help your child transition, wait, and accept 'no' without tears so you can enjoy time with your family at home and when you're out and about!

Guest Speakers: Abigail Bunt, M.Ed., BCBA, Executive Director of MeBe; Meghan Stuhmer, MA, BCBA, Clinical Director of MeBe

Abigail is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Co-founder and Executive Director of MeBe, a San Diego based non-public agency providing ABA, Speech & Language, and Occupational Therapy to children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.  Meghan is a Clinical Director at MeBe, specializing in severe behaviors and intervention in community settings.  Together, they have over 25 years of experience working with individuals on the Autism spectrum ages birth through 22.  

To learn more about MeBe visit: https://mebefamily.com

To RSVP

PLEASE NOTE: FIlippi's Pizza changed the schedule for the NFAR Mom's Group to the second Wednesday of the month. We will need to meet on the second Wednesday moving forward. We apologize for any inconvenience!