Join us on Thursday, October 28, for the screening of "This Is Not About Me"

xMindsWire October 2021

Join Us to Watch an Important New Documentary About Jordyn Zimmerman

LIVE INTERVIEW WITH JORDYN AFTER SCREENING

Join us on Thursday, October 28, for an online screening of "This Is Not About Me," the inspiring new documentary about Jordyn Zimmerman, an impressive nonspeaking autistic individual. The hour-long screening will be followed by a live interview with Jordyn.

Because she was unable to communicate as a child, Jordyn’s teachers thought she was unable to understand or learn. Frustrated and struggling to communicate, Jordyn’s behavior worsened year after year. Her teachers couldn’t manage her challenging behaviors, and school became a living nightmare. Finally, a team of educators helped Jordyn find a way to communicate with the world. She quickly caught up to her peers and not only graduated high school but also graduated from college with a degree in education policy. Jordyn is now pursuing a masters of education and aspires to improve the education system.

xMinds is excited to bring Jordyn’s story to our community. This will be a virtual screening of “This Is Not About Me,” followed by a virtual live interview with Jordyn, Thursday, October 28, 7:00 – 8:30 PM.

REGISTER HERE


Jordyn Zimmerman

Did You Miss Our IEP Clinic?

As part of our September IEP Clinic, education attorney Kimberly Glassman discussed the compensatory services that MCPS provides, in some cases, to remediate a student’s loss of learning or regression of skills. Ms. Glassman detailed what compensatory services are, how best to request them, and what you can do if you disagree with your school's decision. A video recording of the presentation is available on our website and on our new YouTube channel.


Kimberly Glassman, Esq.


Still Have Questions on Compensatory Ed? 

On October 25 at 7:00 PM Kimberly Glassman will be back to answer more questions about compensatory education. She'll focus on the option of delaying graduation and retaining students at their current grade to make up for lost learning. Ms. Glassman will be available for questions on this and all other topics relating to compensatory education. Come and bring your questions!  Register here.

Join Our Free Monthly Online Parent Discussion Groups

Are you looking to connect with other families who have similar interests or concerns? xMinds now hosts free monthly online discussion groups geared toward specific segments of our community.

Take this opportunity to chat, connect, and share experiences with other parents raising an autistic student in MoCo! 

People of the Global Majority. Discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students. Hosted the fourth Monday of each month, 7:00–7:45 PM by the xMinds BIPOC Outreach Committee. The first meeting date will be Sunday, October 24, at 7:00 PM. Register here

Let’s Talk Transitions. Discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic child in middle or high school, approaching the transition to adulthood. Hosted the fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00–7:45 PM by the xMinds Student Transitions Committee. Next meeting date will be Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00 PM. Register here. 

Hablemos Educación Especial. Discussion group for Spanish-speaking MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic child. Hosted the first Wednesday of each month, 7:00–7:45 PM by the xMinds Spanish-Language Outreach Committee. Next meeting date will be December 1 at 7:00 PM. Register here. 

Check Out Our Online Guide to Tutoring Resources

EXTRA SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHILD IS AVAILABLE

As the school year gets into full swing, are you finding that your child could use some extra help? xMinds has compiled a list of tutors who have training in special education and experience with special education students. Many kids need this extra support as they transition back to in-person school. Check out our Tutoring Resources page to find a good fit for your child.

Upcoming xMinds Events


Sunday, Oct. 24, 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM

People of the Global Majority 

Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic BIPOC child. Register here


Monday, Oct. 25, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Q&A with Kimberly Glassman, Esq. 

Bring your questions about delayed graduation or any other compensatory education topic. Register here.


Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7 PM – 7:45 PM

Let's Talk Transitions

Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic child in middle or high school. Register here


Thursday, Oct. 28, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM 

Screening of Documentary "This Is Not About Me" and Interview 

See the description above about our online screening of this fascinating documentary. Register here. 

Community Calendar

The October calendar is FULL of great offerings!  Check out the programs and many free events posted on our Events Calendar.


Note: Our Events Calendar shows events on their start date, but some programs require you to apply before the start date, so please look ahead! 


Professional Member Spotlight

As a benefit to both our families and professional members, xMinds publishes information about our professional members here in the xMindsWire as well as on our website. Inclusion does not constitute our endorsement. This month, xMinds would like to highlight the following new and renewing Professional Members:



Enhance EFS 

Contact: Marci Skigen; 847-903-5600; enhanceefs@gmail.com

Services: Executive Functioning Coaching; IEP Consulting; Academic Tutoring


Enhance EFS provides executive functioning (EF) coaching within the context of individual and family treatment serving clients ages eight through adulthood with learning differences such as but not limited to ADHD, Autism, and Twice Exceptional (2e). Enhance EFS strives to provide its clients with EF coaching that elevates their executive functioning skills, providing tools embedded in their daily lives, whether at school or work. Enhance EFS also offers an array of educational guidance as families navigate the 504 and IEP terrain. Assistance is also given to students needing support with subject tutoring.



Guiding Exceptional Parents LLC

4711 Sheridan St., Riverdale Park, MD 20737

301-768-8503, www.guidingexceptionalparents.com 

Contact: Sarah Wayland, wayland@guidingexceptionalparents.com

Services: Social Skills Therapy; Behavioral Therapy; Educational Consulting; Behavioral Support; Coaching


Sarah Wayland, Ph.D., is a parenting coach, certified RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) consultant, and a special needs care navigator at Guiding Exceptional Parents LLC. Her work as a parenting coach involves working closely with families to figure out which parenting strategies are best suited to their family taking the profiles of both the caregivers and the child into account.

As an RDI consultant, Dr. Wayland works with parents to show them how to teach their children the essential skills that make relationships work. She teaches them how to identify problems, and through a highly customized program that takes both their profile and their child’s profile into account, they learn how to teach the missing skills. She also works with teens and adults to help them learn the skills necessary for making and maintaining meaningful relationships.

Her Special Needs Navigation Services are designed to help parents learn how to access resources and knowledge so they can confidently and effectively help their children. She knows how to effectively navigate clinical care and educational systems, how to evaluate reports, and how to help prioritize.



Ivymount School and Outreach Programs

11614 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville, MD 20854

301-469-0223; www.ivymount.org

Contact: Carolyn Leskowitz Woodham; cwoodham@ivymount.org

Services: Private school; Nonprofit organization; Occupational therapy; Speech-Language Therapy; Social Skills Therapy; Behavioral Therapy; Educational Consulting; Athletics/Recreational Support

Ivymount School and Outreach Programs provide school- and community-based services for children and young adults with special needs throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

The school serves more than 200 students, ages 4-21, with speech and language impairments, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The classrooms are structured to serve students with a range of academic and cognitive abilities, including, in some cases, those who have the potential to obtain a high school diploma.

Ivymount Outreach Programs serve students, teachers, and parents to support children with learning and developmental challenges in the community through assessments, evaluations, therapies, and professional development. The goal in all of the programs is to help children and young adults achieve their highest level of development and independence to live with dignity and self-respect. Ivymount School has been twice recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Founded in 1961, Ivymount celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.



Gulnoza Yakubova, Ph.D.

University of Maryland, College Park, 3214 Benjamin Building

https://education.umd.edu/directory/gulnoza-yakubova

Contact: Gulnoza Yakubova; (301) 405-6889; gulnoza@umd.edu

Services: Research studies involving autistic individuals and their families. Research interests: Autism, technology-based intervention, virtual and augmented reality, parent training, life-skills instruction, academic supports.


Gulnoza Yakubova, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of special education in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. Having received her Ph.D. in special education from Purdue University in 2013, Dr. Yakubova worked as an assistant professor at Duquesne University prior to joining University of Maryland. She has several years of experience in working with autistic children to teach them independent living skills and supporting them in an academic environment. Her overarching research interest focuses on examining technology-based interventions to teach autistic students the skills they need to have a successful life after school. She uses technology with a primary focus on: (1) increasing functional independence of autistic children in school and community, (2) supporting access to learning academic content, and (3) training parents on creating video-based interventions. She conducts virtual and in-person training and research with autistic children and their parents via ongoing research projects.



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