The LADDERS program is pleased to announce the 1st Roger A. Bauman M.D. Parent Lecture Series on Autism Spectrum Disorders 2008.

Speaker/Topic Schedule:

May 21 - Panel: Gail Havelick, Department of Public Health ; Cariann Harsh, Autism Division,  Department of Mental Retardation: “Access to Public Benefits and Services For Children with ASD, Understanding and Navigating the System.”

June 18 - Dot Lucci, ME.d. CAGS & Dr. Scott Mcleod, MGH/Youthcare:  “Transitions & Related Issues For Children with ASD in Adolescence & Young Adulthood.”

September 24 - Terri McLaughlin, Transition specialist, Federation For Children with Special Needs (FCSN), “Transition Planning: The Next Steps for Students age 16 – 22 in Massachusetts” (please note that this workshop will run 6:30pm – 9:00pm).

October 22 - Parents Panel: “Personal Experiences and Lessons learned”  (parents who have children, teenager(s) and adult(s) with ASD will present about their own experiences and facilitate discussion.

THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES WILL NOT MEET DURING JULY AND AUGUST.  STAY TUNED FOR AN UPDATED MONTHLY SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS FOR November- December 2008!

When:   Wednesday Evenings   6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

Where: Charles River ARC, 59 E. Militia Heights Rd, Needham, MA    Paul D. Merritt Center. For directions, please visit www.crarc.org or call: 781-444-4347.

To register and/or for any questions, please call Julie O’Brien, Resource Specialist at LADDERS: 781-449-6074 ext 1256, jobrien20@partners.org. Fee $5 per person *For updates on the schedule visit: www.ladders.org.

*LIMITED Childcare provided by PRE-registration ONLY, contact Julie O’Brien as soon as possible at 781-449-6074 x1256    *there will be light snacks/coffee provided.

*Special thanks to Sarah Richmann, Family Support Director, and Charles River ARC for their support and accommodating our series!

Parent Series Organizing Committee: Roula Choueiri, MD, LADDERS; Julie O’Brien, Resource Specialist, LADDERS; Susan Sutherland, parent, Friends of LADDERS.

Directions to Charles River ARC, Needham:

Charles River Arc is located about 12 miles west of downtown Boston and about 5 miles south of the Mass Turnpike.

FROM RTE 95/128

Take Interstate Route 95 (State Route 128) to Exit 19B (Highland Avenue-Needham -- a westerly direction).Follow Highland Ave. until you reach the third set of traffic lights (about 1 mile). Starbucks will be on your left.

Take a right onto West Street.  Follow West St. until it ends at a "T" intersection with Central Ave. (About 1/2 Mile)

Take a left on to Central Ave. and follow for about 1/4 mile.

Turn right on to Forest Street. (look for Volante Farm on the corner).  Once on Forest Street, the road is windy, it turns toward the left (DON’T go towards the right on Brookside!) Look for the small blue and white Charles River ARC sign on your left at the bottom of hill. Take this left at E. Militia Heights Road. Follow this private road to the very top of the steep hill and enter our property on your left. Charles River Arc's Paul D. Merritt Center is on the right. You will see the sign. Park anywhere in front, go in the main front door and follow the signs downstairs to the conference room.

FROM LADDERS, 65 WALNUT STREET, WELLESLEY

Take a right out of the parking lot. At the immediate set of lights intersection of Walnut, Cedar and River Streets, take a left onto Cedar Street. Follow, go over Rte 9 and straight. Bear right onto Hunnewell. Follow straight. Hunnewell stays straight BEFORE the sharp right hand curve. Stay on Hunnewell (careful of oncoming traffic around that sharp curve) until you come to set of lights at Central Ave. Take a right onto Central Ave. Turn right on to Forest Street at Volante Farm (see above).