Here's Your Important Milestones News for February.

Monthly Milestones | FEBRUARY 2024

Registration is Now Open for MNAC 2024!

Milestones is excited to be hosting our national autism conference in-person June 10th & 11th, 2024, at Tri-C Corporate College East in Cleveland, Ohio.

Don't wait. Register before March 31 to receive our best conference rates! Group rates and scholarships are available!

RECONNECT, REIMAGINE, RECHARGE,

with fellow autistic individuals, parents and caregivers, and professionals. This conference is for everyone.

HOT TOPICS:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in Autism Services
Strategies & Supports for Bilingual Families
Autistic Culture
Practical Tips for Care & Support
Newly Diagnosed Kids & Families
High Support Needs/Autism with Intellectual Disability
Newly Diagnosed Adults
Autism & Aging
New & Emerging Ideas

Information on our keynote and featured speakers coming soon!

New to MNAC? Watch this video to see what all the hype is about!

Need a specific resource? Want to learn more about our services? Contact the Milestones free Helpdesk today.

Spanish Helpdesk

Milestones está ofreciendo a la comunidad de habla hispana recursos a través de su mesa de ayuda en español. Para mas información, llama nuestra línea en español al 216-464-7600 Ext.123.

HELPDESK

The MAP tool is your online guide, step by step from early childhood through adulthood. Visit the MAP for practical tips, goals and information.

VISIT THE MAP

BECOME A 2024 SPONSOR

Sponsorships support Milestones' mission to deliver professional and educational resources to the autism community and provide scholarships for those in need.

Join us as a valued sponsor to be a part of our mission and gain valuable visibility with professionals, family members and autistic individuals.

BECOME A 2024 EXHIBITOR

Showcase your autism services and products and connect with your target audience. Check out the benefits of being an exhibitor at the Milestones Conference today!

LEARN MORE

You're Invited!

Join Milestones as we celebrate cherished advocates and fund vital resources for our autism community!

RSVP BY MARCH 15

Relationships & Dating

With Valentine's Day around the corner, February is often thought of as the month to honor love and friendship. The Life and Social Skills section of the Milestones Autism Planning (MAP) Tool features a few easy-to-navigate articles to help with a variety of needs regarding relationship building. Check out some of our favorite articles and blogs:

Milestones is always here to give guidance for yourself or a loved one. Contact our free Helpdesk team by filling out an intake form.

Northeast Ohio Neurodivergent Social Group becomes Independent

For the past four years, Milestones Autism Resources has worked in tandem with autistic adults to create a space for neurodivergent individuals to socialize, while simultaneously building leadership skills within their community. The overarching goal of this effort was to create an autistically led community that would grow and thrive within Northeast Ohio. Funding for this effort was provided by the Department of Developmental Disabilities - Ohio Family Network.

Milestones Autism Resources is proud to announce that as of 1/3/2024 the Northeast Ohio Neurodivergent Social Group, formerly known as the Milestones Neurodivergent Social Group, will transition from being operated by Milestones to being operated by members of the neurodivergent community for the neurodivergent community under the leadership of Chris Beason and his fellow team members.

The shift of leadership brings a significant change that everyone needs to be aware of. The Discord server will not be monitored by Milestones staff nor anyone in an official mental health capacity. The contact information for seeking outside support for both emergency and non-emergency situations, as well as an updated list of group rules, can be found in the Rules-and-Community-Safety channel within the Discord server.

For more information or to register for this community, email neohiosocial@gmail.com

Welcome to our New Board Members

Janet Griffith is a special education attorney with Hickman Lowder.

Her practice is focused on helping families with education needs, including IEPs, 504 plans, and disciplinary concerns.

Janet's passion for education work is rooted in personal experience. She grew up watching her parents navigate her brother's special education needs. Now, as a mother herself, she has a child with an IEP. She knows first hand that advocating for your child is uniquely stressful, so she strives to provide families with confidence and emotional support.

Tracy Hill, M.Ed., is the Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

She began her education career as a Teacher/Counselor at the Positive Education Program in Cleveland providing instruction and intervention to students with autism and severe behavior and mental disorders. She then became the Coordinator of Pupil Services for Strongsville City Schools where she was instrumental in creating more integrated services for students with special

needs.

Brian Kelly is a law partner at Frantz Ward. He will officially be joining the Milestones Board in July.

Brian focuses his practice on the representation of management in all phases of labor relations and employment litigation, including discrimination and harassment.

Brian also has extensive experience counseling employers on employment topics ranging from FMLA and ADA compliance to reduction in workforce planning and implementation.

Dr. JaNice Marshall, RCC, PCC, is the vice president of Access and Community Connections at Tri-C.

JaNice has an extensive background in directing comprehensive community outreach and innovative student access to higher education strategies.

Her connection to autism started in her educational training in special education, and rehabilitation counseling. Her personal experience is with her two autistic nephews. JaNice spends time

supporting and helping them and their parents navigate and prepare for the future.

Milestones welcomes Monique Burgdorf as Education Manager!

Since 2000 Monique worked at Oberlin College in various leadership roles including Director of Student Wellness Promotion, Assistant Dean of Students, and Interim Director of the Office of Disability Resources.

Monique has designed and taught courses on Executive Functioning and Adulting and directly supported black, indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and first generation college students.

Monique will be managing the annual conference and collaborating on education and training projects.

Visit our About Us page to read Monique's full bio.

You can reach Monique at mburgdorf@milestones.org

Milestones Welcomes KayLyn Garrett as Special Events Development Manager!

KayLyn holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership and has a passion for mission driven work. She honed her skills in relationship building and event planning from her experience with the Cleveland State University Young Alumni Council.

Kaylyn will be working on Milestones special events and will be the staff liaison to our Associate Board.

Visit our About Us page to read more about KayLyn. She can be reached at kgarrett@milestones.org.

Milestones seeks to create a diverse work culture that closely matches the diversity of our client base. We value a culture of collaboration and professional and personal growth for all team members within a flexible work environment.

To learn more about our open positions, please visit our website.

DONATE TODAY

Milestones is excited to be hosting our national autism conference in-person June 10th & 11th, 2024, at Tri-C Corporate College East in Cleveland, Ohio.

Northeast Ohio Neurodivergent Social Group becomes Independent

Milestones welcomes Monique Burgdorf as Education Manager!

﻿Milestones Welcomes KayLyn Garrett as Special Events Development Manager!

Milestones Welcomes KayLyn Garrett as Special Events Development Manager!