| Support Groups The Autism Society of New Hampshire makes every effort to keep this information accurate. Support Group schedules change frequently. Contact the support group for the most up to date information. Report changes to info@nhautism.com or call 603-679-2424. The Autism Society of New Hampshire does not endorse any of the content or information. It is being supplied for informational purposes only. |
Updated 9/11
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| BEDFORD, NH – SPED PAC OF BEDFORD Bedford Special Education Parent Advisory Council is a parent partnership with the Bedford community to further awareness, education and support for special needs children and their families. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at the Bedford Safety Complex, 55 Constitution Drive in Bedford. Visit www.spedpacofbedford.org for more information and meeting schedules. BEDFORD, NH SPEECH CONNECTIONS – Social skills groups for school-aged children with Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism or pragmatic language impairment. Groups meet weekly and are run by Heather A. Adams and Jocelyn G. Lister, two experienced speech and language pathologists. Sessions run for six week intervals at Speech Connections, Bedford; a speech therapy private practice. Groups are limited to a maximum of six students. Contact Heather A. Adams, M.A., CCC-SLP at (603) 623-5237 or heather@speechconnectionsbedford.com. Visit our website www.speechconnectionsbedford.com for further information. CLAREMONT, NH – Parent Links Monthly Group Meeting – the 1st Thursday of every month, 6:00 p.m. at Maple Ave. School, Claremont. Please refer to website www.asdplinks.com for more information or call Don Carpia 603-477-5193 or Kim Bonin 603-542-0958. DOVER, NH – HFA/Asperger’s Adult Recreation Group – The group meets the last Thursday of the month at the Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH., from 6-8 p.m.. Room location to be announced. Snacks are available. Contact Kip Deese-Laurent at 664-8857 or e-mail kipdl@hotmail.com. EXETER, NH – Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation Parent Connection Meetings Date: 3rd Friday of every month Time: From 7:30pm-9:00pm Location: Exeter Hospital, 5 Alumni Drive, Exeter, NH 03833 Parent Connection meetings are a free support group for parents of children living with Sensory Processing Disorder. Please come share your story with other parents. Although we love our children dearly please remember this is for parents only Contact Trysh Lindsey with questions or to register. 603.580.2203 I 603.418.4855 SPDPC603@gmail.com http://home.comcast.net/~spdpc603/site/ Please Note: SPD-Parent Connections groups are run by parents. Parents share their personal experiences related to SPD. All comments or advice are the opinions of parents and are not recommendations. Advice of a medical professional should be sought for diagnosis and treatment. HOLLIS - BROOKLINE - SAU41, WELCOME PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS Our mission is to provide resources and support to the SAU41 special education community through strong collaboration, positive communication and problem solving. What do we do? Organize meetings between parents and SAU41 administrators to discuss education and special education topics of interest and to exchange feedback and ideas with the goal of improving experience for parents, educators and students. We collaborate by sharing a wide spectrum of experiences, information, ideas and perspectives in a positive, problem solving oriented discussions, with an outcome that benefits the whole community: students, educators and parents. Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/sau41special/ Email: hp2special@gmail.com NEW! HUDSON, NH – Autism Support Group for Parents – 8 week support and education group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder – beginning January 2010 at Rodgers Memorial Library, Hudson, N.H. - Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Dates: 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23) – Facilitators: Peggy Wirth, M.A. and Julia Twaddle. For more information on this group or to register call 603-886-3760. KEENE, NH – Recreational Group for Adults with Asperger's Syndrome in Keene, NH. A social recreation group for adults with Asperger's Syndrome and related disorders will meet regularly at Antioch University New England, 40 Avon St., in Keene, NH in room 1B. The group will offer adults with Asperger's Syndrome and related disorders an opportunity to socialize on a regular basis, twice a month. Activities will be developed by the group itself. For the first meeting, participants are encouraged to bring a board game of choice and an appetite for pizza. This group is sponsored by the Asperger's Association of New England - New Hampshire Chapter. The group facilitator is Joanna Andros, LiCSW, a child and family therapist who completed Antioch University’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate Program, in 2008. For more information or to sign-up to attend, please contact Joanna at 603-852-8168 or by e-mail joannaandros@hotmail. For directions please see: http://www.antiochne.edu/aboutane/directions.cfm?nav=1 KEENE, NH - Autism Disorders Support Group in Keene. On Wednesday, Sept. 14th Antioch University New England's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders will reconvene the Friends and Family of Individuals with Autism and Asperger's support group. This group is free and open to all adult friends and family members of individuals with autism or Asperger's. We hope to provide a place for families to share challenges, joys and strategies for success with others who are having similar experiences. New families are always welcome. The group will start on Sept. 14th 2011 from 6:30 - 8:00 and will be held on the second Wednesday of each month following, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. The location is the Antioch Marriage and Family Institute Center at Keene, Second Floor,#9, 149 Emerald St., Keene, NH. (The stairs are near the red deli sign.) For more information or to sign up please contact Jeni Wahlig at 603-283-2156. LAKES REGION -Autism support group for parents, grandparents and caretakers. Please call 524-8811, ext 189, or email Lisa DiMartino at lisad@lrcsc.org for dates, times & locations. Lisa is the Family to Family Coordinator for Lakes Region Community Services and will be the facilitator of the support group. There will be guest speakers to help answer some questions or concerns about autism. MANCHESTER, NH - Support Group for Parents of Non-Verbal Children Is your child non-verbal and over 4 years of age? This group might be for you! We would like to meet once a month and talk about some of the unique situations that happen in the life of families with non verbal children. We hope to support one another and share ideas about communication, peer interaction, and family dynamics. Our first meeting! Date: February 12, 2011 Time: 2:00 PM Place: Blake's Family Restaurant, 53 Hooksett Road, Manchester, NH This group is NOT diagnosis specific, all are welcome. If you are interested in attending, PLEASE contact Maria Yakkey 264-0999 OR Laurie Lamy MANCHESTER, NH - Manchester Regional Autism Support Group meetings are held the first Monday of the month from 7-9 pm at Moore Center Services, 195 McGregor St, Unit 400, Manchester, NH 03102 (across from Catholic Medical Center). Enter through the Center entrance and take the elevator to the fourth floor. Contact Susan Marcotte-Jenkins at the Moore Center 206-2802 or e-mail Susan at Susan.MarcotteJenkins@moorecenter.org. or Steve Hambleton @ s.hambleton@comcast.net for additional information. MANCHESTER, NH - Manchester Developmental Pre-School: Contact Karen Davis at the Manchester Developmental Pre-School, 555 Auburn Street, Manchester, tel. 624-6340 for further information. MANCHESTER, NH – Autism Network at Easter Seals – Parent Support Group meetings held monthly on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the New Easter Seals facility around the corner from the Main Building on Auburn Street . Entrance on Wilson Street . Please contact Elizabeth Webster at 621-3444 or e-mail ewebster@eastersealsnh.org for more information. MILFORD, NH – Asperger’s Support Group – Asperger’s/NLD Support Group, Wadleigh Library, Milford, NH. Meetings will be held the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, September 8. Please contact facilitator Chris Bonner for more information at 673-7191 or chris.bonner@yahoo.com. NASHUA, NH - Dr. Susan Yardley and Jocelyn G. Lister will co-facilitate a group for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism and social-pragmatic impairment. The group will meet every other Thursday from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in Nashua, and will focus on social skills such as conversation and interaction, nonverbal communication, negotiation and self-advocacy, perspective taking, etc. The group will meet at a variety of community settings such as Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, etc. Each month there is an opportunity for group members and others to participate in a fun outing to the movies, bowling, restaurants, games, etc. For more information contact Dr. Yardley at 888-2228. NASHUA, NH – Art Therapy Groups for children, teens and adults with Autism, Asperger’s or PDD. Fall and summer sessions. Focal Point Counseling, 174 Main Street, Suite 16, Nashua. For more information, contact Fran Nutter at (603) 889-8200 or email focalpointcounseling@gmail.com. Website: www.focalpointcounseling.com. NASHUA & MILFORD, NH – Social skills groups for children, teens and adults. Contact Kathryn Smith, MA, M.Ed. at (603) 595-1734 or (603) 886-5565 or email kbhsmith@gmail.com. Website: www.nhchildcounseling.com. NASHUA, NH - Gateways Community Services
Organized By: Gateways Autism Center See more details and RSVP on Nashua Autism Network:
Newton NH - Therapy in Motion, LLC (Social Skills Group) - Thursday's from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dates: May 13-June 17th Location: The Kettle Carriage House Address: 6 Sarah's Way Newton NH 03858 Tel: 603-686-6775 or email: mab6173@aol.com 603-401-7870 or email: akoocher@comcast.net Therapists: Aida Louise Koocher, M.A., CCC-SLP Michelle Bragdon-Place, MS, OTR/L NH Asperger’s Association of New England Chapter – visit www.aane.org for more information on area support groups or contact Robin Lurie-Meyerkopf, MEd, Associate Director at AANE – 617-393-3824, ext. 316 or robin.lurie- meyerkopf@aane.org. NORTH CONWAY, NH - The Puzzle Project Autism Support Group, Parents/Caregivers of Kids with Autism (birth-12yrs) The first Monday of each month, 6:30pm-8:30pm Mount Washington Valley Children's Museum 2936 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860 Please check the MWV Children's Museum's website for cancellations or changes www.mwvchildrensmuseum.com or e-mail Kelly: mwvpuzzleproject.com. 603-356-2992. Northwood - Aspergers/Autism spectrum Parent Networking Group I have had a goal and vision to start a networking group for parents of children on the autism spectrum in the Northwood. I have taken courses at Antioch New England College in Keene, NH; have attended conferences and continuing education workshops, read many books, and have parented my daughter who is 25 years old now, and was diagnosed with aspergers syndrome at age 16. As I have talked with parents, they have expressed a need and desire for a support group in this area. I can facilitate the group, and have gathered resources and materials to share with parents. I have experience in facilitating small groups, and have a passion for this growing need in our community. Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8pm at Coe Brown. RSVP to Laurie Foster or call 942-5531 x112 PETERBOROUGH, NH - Peterborough Autism Spectrum Support Group We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the River Center, 46 Concord Street, Peterborough. Free, experienced on-site childcare is available. The group is sponsored by MDS and its Family Council. For more information contact Amanda Dinino at 924-3985 or Lynn Yeiter at lynny@mds-nh.org PLYMOUTH, NH – Parent Support Group Meeting for parents of children with special needs to share current events, success stories/failures, books, social stories and more. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Sponsored by Lakes Region Community Services. For more information contact Lisa DiMartino at 524-8811 ext. 189 or Barbara Stout at 726-3311. PLYMOUTH, NH area - Parents Meeting the Challenge NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Parents Support Group. This support group is for the parents and primary care givers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. Located at the Piermont Congregational Church., the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month; 7pm-9pm. For more information contact Rebecca Ladd 603-989-5476 or RebeccaLadd@hughes.net. The National Alliance on Mental Illness NH (NAMI NH), 15 Green St., Concord, N.H. 03301 - Telephone: 1-800-242-6264, - Website: www.naminh.org. PORTSMOUTH, NH – Speech Connections, Seacoast - Speech Connections, Seacoast, a speech and language assessment and treatment facility in downtown Portsmouth is now offering social skills groups for all ages. For adults (18 years and older) with social-pragmatic concerns, there is a group on Friday nights between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. The target of this group is to learn practical ways to interact with others in the workplace and community. Each session is six weeks long and the next session begins on January 30th. For teens, there is a group on Tuesday nights from 6:45 - 8:00 p.m. The next six week session begins on February 3rd and includes a parent night where parents are expected to meet with the therapist to discuss what they can do to foster social success at home and in the community. For younger children, there is a group on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. The next six week session begins on February 4th. For more information regarding any of these groups, please contact Jocelyn Lister, MA/CCC-SLP, at 475-9549 or set up an inquiry/appointment online at: www.speechconnectionsseacoast.com. All groups are tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the group and include a hands-on approach to learning. Fun activities, community outings and video taping are included in each group experience, and groups will run continually throughout the year. Groups are limited to a maximum of six students so call now to reserve your slot. Ask about the Saturday Series. RAYMOND, NH – Autism Parent Networking Meetings *New address: 135 Rte. 27, Raymond, N.H. Autism Parent Networking Meetings for the ’09-’10 school year are on the 1st Wednesday morning of the month from 9:30-11AM (expires 6/9/10) at Easter Seals NH The Family Place, 135 Route 27 Suite 2 (entry in back of building), Raymond, NH 03037. Please RSVP at 895-1522 or VSGayhardt@yahoo.com if we are to expect you! 2010 Autism Parent Network Meeting Schedule: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5 and June 9. STRAFFORD COUNTY, ROCHESTER, NH – Informed Hope ASD: – Autism Spectrum Support Group for families and caregivers: The 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Emmanuel Advent Church, 34 Eastern Ave, Rochester, N.H. 03868. Note: Childcare may be available. Please call us in advance to make arrangements. This group services Strafford County and surrounding communities and Maine . Family activities throughout the year. Contact parents Kyle Szczepanik at 335-5286 or e-mail informedhopeasd@aol.com; Suzanne Fletcher at 942-8386 or Deidre at 332-8683. UPPER VALLEY: Facilitated Support Group sponsored by ARCH. First Monday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at ARCH, #80 Route 5 South, Norwich, VT. Please contact Kirsten Murphy at ARCH for directions (802) 649-2720 or ARCH@valley.net. *The Autism Society of New Hampshire makes every effort to keep this information accurate. Support Group schedules change frequently. Contact the support group for the most up-to-date information. Report changes to Heather at heather@nhautism.com or call 603-679-2424. The Autism Society of New Hampshire does not endorse any of the attached or following information. It is being supplied strictly for informational purposes. |