Co-Presidents' Message
by Frank Wise and Linda Carter-Ferrier

AACC-ASA meetings are held on the last Tuesday evening of each month at Ruth Parker Eason School in Millersville.

Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.

The agenda includes introductions and general announcements, followed by time for open discussion. A refreshment break is followed by a presentation given by the guest speaker. Then time is allowed for a follow-up discussion and further opportunity for group support and socialization.

New members and new ideas are always welcome. 

Come check us out!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for last month's meeting, which included a presentation by Jane Sinclair of SinclairProsser about create a comprehensive life plan for children with special needs.  If you missed the presentation and wish to learn more about the information she covered, Ms. Sinclair can be reached by phone at (410) 573-4818.

Our April 24^th meeting will feature a presentation by William Stanley, Jr. and Diana Bonan of Developmental Services Group, Inc. They will provide information about the behavioral support services available through DSG, including the process of eligibility, referral, and consultation. DSG is a local agency that, through a grant from the DDA, provides time-limited behavioral support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers.  The services are provided in the individual's natural environment outside of school (home, daycare, etc.).

Both presenters bring significant experience in behavioral support services; each has

worked with individuals with emotional/behavioral problems over the past 8 years.

We have also invited Pauline Bailo of Docksiders Gymnastics to attend our April meeting and make a brief presentation about their summer program, which consists of two one-week sessions designed for special needs children.  If you will be unable to attend the meeting, but wish to learn more about the program, please contact her at (410) 987-8780.

At the April meeting we will also kick off our "chapter lending library" initiative.  We ask that everyone bring any books, videos, catalogues, or other resource material that you are willing to make available to share with other chapter members.  Please be sure to write your name on each item, so that we can ensure that your ownership is secure.  There will be a library cart on hand to collect and keep all of the materials, as well as cards for borrowers to complete.  If you have any questions about the lending library, please contact Mindy Wise, chapter librarian, at (410) 721-4562.

To add a more personal tone to the newsletter, we've added a new section that debuts this month.  It's called the "Spotlight Family of the Month", and, as the name implies, it provides information about one of our chapter's families. We hope you enjoy reading it and learning more about other families, in their own words.

By now, you should have on hand a copy of our new Chapter Directory, which was distributed at last month's meeting and also sent out by mail.  We hope you will find it to be a valuable resource, and encourage you to consider being included in the next edition.

We want to remind everyone that we get many of the ideas for newsletter articles from YOU!  We encourage you to send us information that you've seen or heard that would be of value to share with other chapter members.

In closing, we hope to see you at our Family & Friends Day on April 22^nd.  If you are planning to attend, please be sure to call Karen Orofino at (410) 421-5444 with your RSVP.