what's happening

Transition Family Information Meetings for middle and high school families will be held monthly (except for December) at Middletown High School Media Center from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Family Information Nights provide information about planning for your child’s future. Each child’s future is different. Some will move on to college, others to work and some to community based activities. What does your child’s future include? Do you know what needs to happen at school and home so your child can realize their dreams? If not, help is available! Just plan to attend Family Information Night!

Family Information Night will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Media Center at MHS. Please note if school is closed due to weather, the meeting will be cancelled. Everyone is welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Here is a schedule of dates and topics:

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital presents:

The Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder presents the following FREE training's for families. Workshops will be held at Childrens Hospital, 5th floor, 3430 Burnet Ave. Dates, times and topics are:

Friday, February 3 from 9 - 3:30 p.m., Getting Started: Building Skills and Learning Strategies for Working with Your Child with ASD. This day long workshop is for familieswhose child has been diagnosed with ASD in the past year. Workshop covers basic information about Autism Spectrum Disorder, community and financial resources, family coping and basic intervention strategies. Short lunch break is provided and onsite cafe is available to purchase food and beverages.
Friday, February 17 from 9 -3:30 p.m., When Behavior Is A Challenge. This day long workshop will focus on strategies and positive ways of dealing with behavior. Short lunch break is provided and onsite cafe is available to purchase food and beverages.
Wednesday, March 21 from 4 - 6 p.m., Topics in Behavior: Feeding Problems in Children with ASD. This 2 hour session will address the following topics: common feeding problems in children with ASD, practical tips to address feeding problems, and evidence-based behavioral intervention procedures used to treat feeding problems.

There is no fee to attend the above workshops but you MUST register to attend. To register email Jamie.fellers@cchmc.org or call 636-1377 . Download flyer

1st Annual Transition Boot Camp for Student's With IEP's will be held at the 5th Floor conference Room of Children DDBP building, 3340 Burnet Ave, in Cincinnati. Dates include February 7 & 21 and March 6 & 20. All sessions run from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Come learn about options after high school, funding sources, career directions, social and leisure ideas, independent living, what every family should know and more. Every session except the first will include a provider fair that will have different venders focusing on the topic of the night. For more information call 761-5400. Free registration (click on buy tickets) at http://dsagc.donordrive.com/event/2012TransitionBoot Camp Download flyer

School to Adult Transition Series is an information session for students with special needs and their families. Students must register and be eligible for Butler County DD services to participate in the employment awareness and planning sessions. Sessions will be held at the Janet Clemmons Center, 282 Fair Ave. in Hamilton from 6 -7 :30 p.m. Download flyer

Bullying Prevention for Families will be presented at the Hamilton County ESC, 11083 Hamilton Ave. in Cincinnati on Tuesday Jan. 31 from 12:30-3:00 p.m. OR 5:30 -8:00 p.m. To register contact terri.densford@hcesc.org or call 513-674-4278. Find out what schools and families can do to stop bullying now! Workshop is free. Download flyer Sponsored by State Support Team 13.

The Remarkable Families Symposium, A day of learning and networking, will be held at the Xavier University Cintas Center Schiff Family Conference Center on March 2 from 9 - 4 p.m. Registration is $25 and you can register at: www.xavier.edu/familyresiliency Over 75 vendors and service providers will be at the conference. The Remarkable Families Symposium presents the opportunity for families raising children with special needs to access resources, learn of new opportunities and to network with other families in order to not only survive but to thrive! Download flyer

The Suburban Cincinnati Children/ Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD) is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the First Baptist Church of Mason, 735 Reading Rd. (Rt 42) in Mason. Door open at 6:45 and meetings begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Speaker presentations run about 75 minutes and are free for CHADD members. A $3 donation is appreciated for non members. Following the speaker, parent and adult support groups meet until 10 p.m. For the most update information visit www.chadd.net/648 Download calendar of events.

The following Parent Trainings sponsored by Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio will be held at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Fairfield, 3050 Mack Rd. from 7 - 9 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. Download flyer. Dates include:

Free Informational Parent Workshops sponsored by Northwest Local School will be held at Houston Educational Service Center, 3310 Compton Rd in Cincinnati from 6 -8 p.m. Free light dinner is served (adults only please, reservations required). For further information or reservations call Nancy at 522-6700 x28 or email ndragan@nwlsd.org Please download flyer for brief description of workshops

BRIDGES Parent Training's will be held at Nagel Middle School Media Center, 1500 Nagel Rd in Cincinnati from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. Light snacks and drinks provided and registration is required. Call Tina at 616-6111 or tinabrophy@foresthills.edu to register. Please download flyer for brief description of workshops.

The Parent to Parent Program is in its fifth version and will be held at the Fairfield YMCA, 5220 Bibury Rd. in Fairfield from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. The Parent -To -Parent Lessons Learned is set up in groups of 3 sessions that run February through November. You will receive your own workbook and DVD free for attending 3 sessions. Sessions include listening to a dvd presenatation followed by discussio. n Topics include keeping your child safe from a toxic culture which includes drugs, premature sex, violent behavior and internet. More information is available at www.thepassagegroup.com To register contact Tammy at 513-615-1917. Series is sponsored by The Fairfield Community Connection Group and the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Fairfield. Download flyer. Dates include:

Special Olympics offer opportunities for developmentally delayed athletes to participate in a variety of sports in Butler County. Athletes must be eight years of older, be able to follow directions , and be able to participate as part of a team. The athlete must have a current Special Olympic Medical and partifipation form. The form can be obtained from Mary Swagler, Coordinator. Contact: mswagler@zoomtown.com or phone 513-417-4765. The medical form can be downloaded from http://sooh.org/pdf/2009_Medical_release_form.pdf Basketball registration is Monday, Oct. 31 at Hamilton Freshman School Gym, 2260 NW Washington Blvd from 6:30 -7:30. School age and adult registration will be at the same time. Lakota basketball season is December through February. Contact Diane Ayers at diane.ayers@lakotaonline.com

Valentine Dance sponsored by GE Volunteers/PIC will be held on Wednesday, February 15 at Fairfield Banquet & Convention Center at Tori's Station, 74 Donald Dr. in Fairfield from 6 -8:30 pm. . Come enjoy the fun, talk with friends and dance to music from a live band! Tickets are $1 at the door. Reservations are required. For reservations and information call Cathy at 420-2570, ext. 25.

Middletown Bowling at Eastern Lanes every Saturday beginning at 1:00. Must be there by 12:45 to get on lanes. Cost is $4 per person for 2 games (includes shoes). All participants must provide their own transportation and if assistance is needed family or caregiver must attend and provide thee necessary assistance

The Rave Theatre presents a Sensory Sensitive Cinema monthly for families affected by disabilities. This means lights up, sound turned down and audience members are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing! Family members and caregiver pay $7.50 and people with disabilities are free. Doors open at 9:15, film starts at 10. Alvin and the Chipmunks will be shown at Western Hills (574-4315) on 1/7 and Milford 16 (248-2169) on 1/14 and Beauty and the Beast at West Chester 18 (463-2324) on 1/28. Each location will do a different movie each month. Call for details. Download flyer

Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled has a newsletter that lists different activities throughout Butler county. Click here for Winter 2012 activities. To receive a copy please write Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled at 1920 Fairgrove Ave., Suite E, Hamilton, Oh 45011. Information is also posted on their web site at www.trdonline.org

A Special Scout Troop for Special Families will be held every Tuesday from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, 6049 Yankee Rd in Liberty Township. Troop volunteers are welcome. Download flyer For more information please call The Good Shepherd Home care at 513-488-1938 or visit our web site at www.ohiospecialneedsprovider.com

The Butler County ARC is a non-profit human rights organization of family members and friends committed to improving opportunities for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities. Please visit face book for the latest ARC information http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Arc-of-Butler-County/132104826828025?ref=ts

Fun and Fit is a directory of great resources for people with developmental disabilities to find recreation, leisure and fitness programs in the Greater Cincinnati area. To access the directory go to www.cincinnatichildrens.org/funandfit

Music Therapy for individuals with disabilities is available through Melodic Connections. For more information about adapted guitar, piano lessons, and group lessons visit the web site at www.MelodicConnections.org or call Laura at 937-877-8287.

Sensory Bounce located at 2109 Lyons Rd in Miamisburg, is a fun place for children with sensory issues and their families. The private sensory bounce group is made up of families of children with sensory issues and the noise is kept to a minimum. It is a great place for parents to socialize and network with other parents. No RSVP is necessary, just show up. Private Sensory bounces are held on the second Monday of each month from 5:30 -7 p.m. and cost $8 at the door. Parents play for free. Remember to bring your socks!

ADHD support group has formed in the south Dayton area (Kettering). The group meets at Christ United Methodist Church, 3340 Shroyer Rd. on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Meetings also include monthly presentations by a child psychologist. Childcare is available if you call in advance. For more information, please call Terry at 937-293-3151.

Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati has 2 support groups. Group One, A Networking Group for Adults with Asperger Syndrome and High Function Autism is held the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Kenwood Baptist Church, 8341 Kenwood Rd. (parlor room on 2nd floor) in Cincinnati. Group two, A Support Group for Family Members of Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and HIgh FUnctioning Autism is held on the second Thursday of each month from 7:30 -9:00 p.m. at the Kenwood Baptist Church (parlor room on 2nd floor), 8341 Kenwood Rd. in Cincinnati. Please contact the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati for more information on these groups. Download information.

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention / Hyperactivity Disorder) meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at First Baptist Church of Mason (735 Reading Rd.) from 7 -10 p.m. Speakers talk for 75 minutes followed by discussion and support. A $3.00 donation is requested for non CHADD members. For more information call 513-459-6080.

A Peer Support Group sponsored by the Butler County National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Butler County Family and Children First Council has been formed. They meet the second Tuesday of every month from 7 - 9 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 4601 Fairfield Ave. in Fairfield. Questions call Lynda at 513-887-5519.

Epilepsy Support Group of Butler County meets the 4th Thursday of the month at Janet Clemmons Center, 282 Fair Ave. in Hamilton from 6:00 -7:30.

Parents Anonymous helps parents or caregivers deal with the stress of raising children. The meetings are co-led by parents and a professionally trained facilitator and welcome anyone involved in parenting a child. The group meets every Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the YMCA, 244 Dayton St., Hamilton. For more information call 863-6129.

Asperger's Syndrome, PDD and High Functioning Autism support group meets the first Monday of every month at Christ United Methodist Church, 3440 Shroyer Rd. in Kettering at 7 p.m. Free childcare is provided by the church. For more information, or to be added to the groups mailing list call Audrey at 937-433-4505.

TS (Tourette Syndrome) Plus center located at Cincinnati Children's Hospital satellite in Mason will offer the latest information on Tourette Syndrome to families. Various featured speakers will present the last Friday of each month. For more information please contact Cindy at 513-677-0075 or 1-800-543-2675 for a list of times and speakers.

Tourette Syndrome Support Group in Dayton offers education and support to parents of children with Tourette Syndrome. Group meets quarterly. For times and more information call 937-641-3497.

Cystic Fibrosis Parent Support Group meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7:00 -8:30 at Children Medical Center in Dayton. Call 937-641-3440 for more information.

Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association (MVDSA) meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Job Center, 1133 Edwin C. Moses Blvd. in Dayton. All family members are invited to attend. Family membership in the group costs only $15 a year.

Parent of BiPolar Children Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Sabin Education Center at 3333 Burnett Ave., 2nd floor, rooms D-24 and D-25. Call Pam 513-467-0423 for more information.

Dynmoc Duos User Support Group meets at Bobbi Fairfax School, 4999 Kingsley from 6 - 8 p.m. in Cincinnati. For further information call Sue at 513-241-2600.

Deaf Kids Club sponsored by Community Services for the Deaf provides recreational opportunities for deal kids and teens throughout the Dayton area. The group meets at the Dayton Deaf Club on Valley St. For more information contact Michelle at 937-640-8032.

Downs Syndrome Society of Greater Cincinnati has numerous support groups available for parents and grandparents. Call 513-761-5400 for more information and a complete listing.