Monthly Milestones | JUNE 2024 | |
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Eileen Saffran to Step in as Interim Executive Director
Eileen Saffran is the founder of The Gathering Place and served as its CEO for 21 years. She brings to Milestones a keen eye to the needs and contributions of the local nonprofit community.
Eileen knows Milestones well as she consulted with the organization from 2020-2023.
To learn more about Eileen and to reach her, visit our About Us page.
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The Countdown is On!
ONE WEEK until the Milestones National Autism Conference!
Gain practical strategies, hear from experts, and connect with new autism resources.
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Our 60+ Session Lineup is now Live!
Need help narrowing down the best sessions for you? Check out our easy Plan Your Conference article.
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New to MNAC?
This conference is for everyone. Featuring sessions for professionals (including early childhood), parents, autistic individuals, and a Spanish track too.
See what all the hype is about!
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Hear from a few of our Speakers! | |
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June 11th 9:15 a.m.
"Perspectives in Navigating Neurodiversity: From Personal Experience to Professional Advocacy"
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June 11th 1:15 p.m.
"The Birds & Bees for Parents of Autistic Kids"
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June 11th 2:45 p.m.
"Becoming an Autistic Entrepreneur: Marketing & Building Connections to Build Your Own Business"
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June 11th 1:15 p.m.
"Harmony Unleashed: Nurturing Connections - Autism and Animal-Assisted Intervention"
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Click the links below to read more about Autistic Pride Day.
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June 18th is Autistic Pride Day!
Autistic Pride Day was first established in 2005 by autistic advocates as a day of pride for autistic individuals modeled after the gay pride movement. According to Kabie Brook, the co-founder of Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH), "The most important thing to note about the day is that it is an autistic community event: it originated from and is still led by autistic people ourselves."
3 ways to celebrate Autistic Pride Day:
- Display the Neurodiversity Symbol - a spectrum infinity loop, representing the infinite diversity of human neurology.
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Wear #REDInstead, the color chosen to represent autism by autistic people themselves.
- Read and promote the writings and works of autistic advocates, such as Cynthia Kim, Mel Baggs, Amy Sequenzia, Ari Ne'eman, Julia Bascom, Emma Zurcher Long, Jim Sinclair, Lydia Brown, Judy Endow, and many more.
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Helpdesk Announcement
Our Milestones free Autism Helpdesk Staff is currently focused on the Conference from 6/5 - 6/17. Please allow for extra patience and expect to hear back from Helpdesk staff following 6/17.
If you are in need of immediate assistance please contact your Support Administrator with your local county board of developmental disabilities. If you are experiencing a behavioral crisis please contact the Frontline Crisis line at 216-623-6888 or the Behavioral crisis line at 1-800-720-9616.
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Travel Tips for Your Summer Vacation!
Whether you're traveling by car or by plane, summer trips on the spectrum can make for unexpected twists and turns.
Milestones offers a comprehensive Travel Tool Kit with practical strategies for everything from planning and packing, to finding autism-friendly destinations.
Click here to visit the Travel Tool Kit.
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Self Advocacy
With Autistic Pride Day on the 18th, June can be a good time to reflect on goals for self advocacy.
The Life & Social Skills section of the Milestones Autism Planning (MAP) Tool features easy-to-navigate articles to help individuals advocate for their own wants and needs at all age levels.
Check out some of our favorite articles:
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Milestones is always here to give guidance for yourself or a loved one. Contact our free Helpdesk team by filling out an intake form. | |
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Milestones Invests in Children
Milestones Vice President of Education & Services, Eira Yates, and Director of Education, Bradley Wyner, attended the Invest in Children annual meeting in May.
“We are excited about our partnership with Starting Point through the United Way's Community Partnership Project to enhance Childcare Providers and Professionals with building capacity by creating and providing access to resources for Childcare Professionals, including a separate track for Childcare Professionals at our annual National Autism Conference,” said Yates.
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Milestones Education Team Addresses Trauma
Milestones Director of Education, Bradley Wyner, and Director of Autistic Supports, Nathan Morgan, presented at the Ohio Trauma Informed Care Summit in Columbus on May 9th.
Their session titled "Autism and Trauma: Preventing Retraumatization" centered around ways that trauma impacts people across the autism spectrum, including autistic professionals, youth, people identified as autistic in adulthood, and families who frequently access crisis services.
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Milestones Welcomes Nikki Grimes as Autism Education Project Coordinator!
Nikki Grimes is an Educator, Speaker, and Multi-Instrumentalist with 10+ years of experience in child & adolescent behavioral health, community development, and marketing.
Nikki's musical artistry shines a light on communication through the arts, and how this kind of treatment can aid in physical & mental rehabilitation, allowing individuals who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, a way to communicate.
Nikki’s interests include diagnostic evaluations & strategies, treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and social skills interventions.
To learn more about Nikki, visit our About Us page.
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