Community Calendar
January 14, 2010: Thursday morning, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The ABCs of Literacy. Margie Gillis, Ed.D. President, LiteracyHow, Inc., Senior Scientist, Haskins Laboratories, Vice President, Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities presents Dr. Margie Gillis, well-known reading expert, on the foundational skills children need to master in order to become successful readers -- and how parents can help their children enter kindergarten or elementary school well-prepared to learn. Hand-outs for this program will include instructional materials with suggestions for fun activities with children, and suggested books to read with your child. Westport Public Library McManus Room (co-sponsored by the Westport Public Library) Please register for this free program at Info@SmartKidswithLD.org or call (203) 226-6831.
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January 26, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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February 2, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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February 5, 2010: Speech Therapy: Redefining Oral Motor/Oral Placement Therapy. Lori Overland, M.S., CCC-SLP, a speech and language pathologist with more than 28 years of professional experience, specializes in the unique needs of infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-aged children with oral motor, feeding and speech disorders. She will discuss the underlying sensory/motor skills that support feeding and speech, provide an overview of muscle-based therapy and the confusion that has led to a debate over the efficacy of these techniques and re-define oral motor and oral placement therapy in the context of the discussion. Examples of oral motor/oral placement techniques will be demonstrated for both speech and feeding. Ms. Overland consults with local school districts, Birth-to-Three organizations, and children throughout the world, providing evaluations, re-evaluations, program plans and week-long therapy programs that address feeding and speech challenges with the goal of improving the quality of life for the children she serves and their families. Friday, 10:00 a.m. to noon at The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton. Please RSVP: (203) 563-9994 or rsvp@spednetwilton.org.
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February 10, 2010: Wednesday morning, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Getting Through the Early Days of a Child's Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities. Anne Ford, Chairman Emeritus, National Center for Learning Disabilities and John-Richard Thompson, Writer. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities presents Anne Ford, who will draw on her own story of raising her daughter with severe learning disabilities, as well as many years of helping other parents -- including 12 years as the Chairman of the National Center for Learning Disabilities -- in this program discussing her new book, dedicated to the informational and emotional needs of parents whose children have been recently diagnosed. Copies of her new book, A Special Mother: Getting Through the Early Days of a Child's Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities & Related Disorders, co-authored by John-Richard Thompson, will be available for purchase at this event, a week before the book's publication date. Westport Public LIbrary McManus Room (co-sponsored by the Westport Public Library) Please register for this free program at Info@SmartKidswithLD.org or call (203) 226-6831.
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February 23, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Helping Children Deal With Stress and Anxiety. What is anxiety? How does it affect our children? What can we as parents do to protect our children and help them flourish in an anxious world. The Presenter is Ridgefield Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Engelberg. This FREE workshop is held at the offices of Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge. 898 Ethan Allen Hwy Suite 6 Ridgefield, CT 06877. Registration is not required but seating is limited. Please call 203-438-4848 or email drroseann@hotmail.com to reserve a spot.
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February 23, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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March 2, 2010, 6:30 p.m. The Special Needs/ ADHD Parent Survival Guide. The essential parent guide to not only understanding Learning Disabilities, ASD, ADHD and their common pitfalls, but also what to do about it! Parents will gain insight into how to deal with negative home and school behaviors and address their many educational needs. Learn how to manage common issues from preschool to adulthood. Appropriate for parents of children of all ages. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge will present this very useful workshop. This FREE workshop is held at the offices of Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge. 898 Ethan Allen Hwy Suite 6 Ridgefield, CT 06877. Registration is not required but seating is limited. Please call 203-438-4848 or email drroseann@hotmail.com to reserve a spot.
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March 2, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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March 3, 2010: Wednesday 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Moods, Behaviors & Learning: Strategies for Children with ADHD & LD. Presenter is Ken Magrath, Ph.D. As parents know, there's more to meeting the needs of children with learning disabilities and ADHD than finding appropriate support for learning issues. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities will present a program on helping children who may suffer as much from emotional distress, including anxiety and depression as from their struggle in school. Dr. Ken Magrath, the licensed psychologist providing testing and evaluation of children with learning issues in Westport, CT and New York City, will talk about effective ways to address children's emotional distress, including both mood and behavioral issues. Dr. Magrath is a member of Smart Kids with LD's Board of Directors. Westport Public Library McManus Room (co-sponsored by the Westport Public Library) Please register for this free program at Info@SmartKidswithLD.org or call (203) 226-6831.
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March 8, 2010: "Smart But Scattered": Improving Executive Function Skills for Students with Learning Disabilities and AD/HD. Peg Dawson, Ed.D., psychologist with the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, will discuss practical strategies for developing and improving skills necessary for goal-directed and problem-solving behaviors. As a child development specialist, Dr. Dawson has found that youngsters who are 'smart but scattered' lack or lag behind in executive skills, which are crucial in tasks like getting organized, staying focused and controlling emotions. Learn what executive function skills are, how they matter, and how we as parents and teachers can help our kids who are struggling become independent academic and social problem solvers. Dr. Dawson is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), recipient of NASP's 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, and co-author of Smart But Scattered: The Revolutionary 'Executive Skills' Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential.(2009), Smarts: Are We Hardwired for Success? (2007) and Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents (2004). Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton. Co-sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton, Wilton Public Schools and the Wilton Library. Please RSVP: 203-762-3950 or visit www.wiltonlibrary.org/events. For additional information, please contact (203) 563-9994 or info@spednetwilton.org.
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March 12, 2010: Friday 7:30 pm. The Sky's The Limit. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities' 10th anniversary benefit event will be held at the Westport Country Playhouse. This gala event will honor Philip Schultz with the organization's 2010 Community Service Award and will present the 2010 Youth Achievement Award winners. Mr. Schultz, who grew up unable to read and write, has dedicated his life to writing and teaching others to write. He is the founder of the Writers Studio and the recipient of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his most recent book. The event will include a gala cocktail reception, followed by the award ceremony in the theater. Westport Country Playhouse For additional information, call (203) 226-6831
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March 30, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Raising Daughters with Healthy Self Images: A presentation for parents teachers and professionals on finding ways to positively influence girls and teens. From understanding and recognizing the signs of eating disorders to exploring hidden media messages. This presentation will focus on strategies for helping girls to be confident and happy. The Presenter is Therapist Lauren Wolfe, M.S., N.C.C. This FREE workshop is held at the offices of Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge. 898 Ethan Allen Hwy Suite 6 Ridgefield, CT 06877. Registration is not required but seating is limited. Please call 203-438-4848 or email drroseann@hotmail.com to reserve a spot.
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March 30, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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April 6, 2010: "Late, Lost, & Unprepared": Practical Strategies for Parents to Help Disorganized Kids. As a follow up to Dr. Peg Dawson's March presentation. Ruthann Short, MSW, LCSW, will facilitate an educational workshop in how parents can assist children with executive function challenges in building skills and compensatory strategies. It takes knowledge, patience and practice to support your children through this journey. Join us to discuss the book, Late, Lost, & Unprepared, by J. Copper-Kahn, Ph.D. and L. Dietzel, Ph.D. and answer specific questions. Tuesday, 10:30 to noon at the Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton. Co-sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton, Wilton Public Schools and the Wilton Library. Please RSVP: (203) 762-3950 or visit www.wiltonlibrary.org/events. For additional information, please contact (203) 563-9994 or info@spednetwilton.org. .
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April 6, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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April 27, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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May 3, 2010: The College Coaching Project: Supporting Students with Special Needs to Be Successful in College. Lynda Geller, Ph.D., is the Director of the Institute for Cognitive Diversity at Bank Street College, NYC, which offers educational support for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, from childhood through the transition to adult life. Many students who did well within the structure of high school find themselves unable to create their own structures to cope with the academic, social, emotional, self-management and career choice aspects of college living. Impaired executive function can create problems in the full array of life skills necessary for college success, yet specific interventions are seldom available or understood. Executive functions -- the wide range of abilities including planning, organizing, goal setting, flexible thinking, emotional regulation, time management and self-monitoring -- are particularly challenging for students with AD/HD, learning disabilities or autism spectrum conditions, despite their often excellent intellect and academic potential. Coaching is a service uniquely suited to the need for flexible support in various areas of life, especially those associated with executive function tasks, and can help students create a structure in new and unfamiliar settings where expectations are different from those in high school. Dr. Geller will discuss the particular challenges college presents, the differences in finding and utilizing support between high school and college, and how the coaching model can help students develop the skills necessary for college and life success. Monday, 10:00 a.m. to noon at The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, Wilton. Sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton and Wilton Public Schools. Please RSVP: (203) 563-9994 or rsvp@spednetwilton.org.
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May 4, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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May 25, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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June 1, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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June 29, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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July 6, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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July 27, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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August 3, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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August 31, 2010: 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, BLUE LUNA (formerly Francesco's), Route 7, Wilton. Casual. No need to RSVP, just come! More info: Patti Sylvia 761-0248 or pattisylvia@aol.com. Info on the meeting at http://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct.
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September 7, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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October 5, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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November 2, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
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December 7, 2010: Tuesday. Pizza Moms! Pizza Moms is a support group for Moms with special needs children. Moms meet for pizza and beer (or special orders) on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Post Corner Pizza Restaurant on Post Road in Darien (across from the Firehouse). Dinner costs approximately $15, talk is free. Pizza Moms provides an informal information sharing and support group during supper. Everyone is welcome. This group is an excellent place to network and talk. If you would like to get on our email list please email:Nanette Jordan (contact person)at nanette618@gmail.com. Check http://sites.google.com/site/pizzamomssite/home for more info.
