St. Patrick’s Day Dance

Everyone had a great time at the St. Patrick’s Day Dance. There were fun Irish ties, hats, and beads for all. The DJ was playing great music and there were snacks! It was a great night!

Special Needs Planning

The Moody Street Group consists of Financial Planners who specialize in Special Needs Planning. For assistance, reach out to Tom Alessi and Craig Richardson. Sarah has worked with them in the past and was pleased to give them a tour of Grow.  For further details, visit:

Women’s Group Hosted By Dora

Twice a month, on a Monday and a Thursday, Dora has organized a Women's Group for Grow attendees. Dora is a Case Manager in the Community Based Day Support program (CBDS). The Group in March began with various stations. Participants could choose to paint nails, create bracelets, or decorate Easter eggs. Topics like hygiene and makeup were covered and questions were welcomed. The discussion highlighted that while some women enjoy makeup, everyone is naturally beautiful even without it. It was an informative and engaging group!

Sandy made a pretty necklace with different charms in the Women’s

Group.

Jessica decorated Colorful Easter Eggs in the Women’s Group!

Come Meet & Greet Sarah Palin- May 1st

Families, guardians and friends of Grow are invited to meet Sarah, Grow's new Executive Director, on May 1st at Grow in the “extra space.” Choose the 10-11AM or 4-6PM reception. Please let us know by April 24 which time you will be attending by contacting Keagan at 781-961-6700 x341 or kmulcahy@grow-associates.org.

Light refreshments will be provided.

New Job Coach: Sol

Sol is excited to join Grow Associates as a new job coach. Sol has spent the past 15 years in education, as a teacher, curriculum developer and entrepreneur.  Sol previously worked with high school students helping support job skill development and employment placement.  Sol also served on the Board of Trustees at The Sage School in Foxboro   When not working at Grow, Sol enjoys cooking, golf, the beach and traveling.  Sol is also a volunteer at the Rhode Island Computer Museum, teaching STEM classes and supporting the museum's education outreach programs. Sol lives in Newton with his wife Nancy and pet turtle Lou.

Day Hab Cooking Class

The individuals cooked scrambled eggs and toast. They all helped with mixing together the eggs, salt , pepper and milk!

YMCA CBDS Outing

A group enjoyed playing a game of basketball at the YMCA. They all worked together with the members on their team.

Grow Closed:

April 15th, 2024

Grow April Afterhours

Please Contact  Wanda Soto with any questions. Phone Number: 781-300-3054

Please sign-up on Grows website on the event page. You must sign-up one week prior to the event. Please contact Wanda to see if you are eligible for the AfterHour Program.

Wednesday April 10th: Paint/Ceramic Night at Grow $15

Thursday April 11th: Lucky Punch Boxing $25

Saturday April 13th: Lego Land $50

Tuesday April 16th: Hometown Arcade $30

Wednesday April 17th: Pottery Playce $25

Thursday April 18th: Lucky Punch Boxing $25

Monday April 22nd: Cranberry Bog Tour $25

Tuesday April 23rd: Hometown Arcade $30

Wednesday April 24th: Pinspiration $40

Thursday April 25th: Lucky Punch Boxing $25

Monday April 30th: Timberlane’s Bowling $10

Autism Awareness By Sarah Palin

April marks Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising public awareness and the understanding of Autism and advocating for acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Autism. Throughout this month, various events, campaigns, and initiatives are organized worldwide to educate the public about Autism, dispel myths and misconceptions, and promote greater understanding and acceptance. Autism Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to celebrate the unique strengths and contributions of individuals with autism while highlighting the challenges they may face in daily life. By fostering a more inclusive and supportive society, we can create environments where individuals with Autism feel valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

As Autism Awareness Month unfolds, it provides an ideal occasion for individuals, organizations, and communities to come together in solidarity to promote meaningful change and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism. It's a time to amplify voices, share stories, and showcase the diverse experiences and perspectives within the autism community. Through education, advocacy, and engagement, we can work towards building a world that embraces neurodiversity, celebrates differences, and ensures equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

I am thrilled to share that I've been collaborating with the Autism Society, a national organization, to establish a Massachusetts chapter dedicated to serving individuals and families with Autism. This new chapter will be instrumental in providing much-needed resources and support to families across the state. Our primary focus will be on developing comprehensive resource guides tailored to the specific needs of families with children at different stages of life, including those newly diagnosed, school-aged children, transition-age youth, and adults. Additionally, we are working closely with Project Lifesaver to expand this critical service throughout Massachusetts, ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals with Autism who may be prone to wandering. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower families, raise awareness, and foster a more supportive and inclusive community for individuals with Autism in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Senator

Walter F. Timilty

Senator Walter Timilty recently visited Grow for a tour. He met many individuals and staff and was pleased to see Grows engaging programs.

April 12th Stars at The Grand- Hosted By The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism

STARS of the Spectrum sensory inclusive club night with a special documentary premiere at The Grand in the Seaport!

Address:

The Grand Boston
58 Seaport Blvd #300
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
United States

• Date: April 12th, 2024 6PM-9PM

• 18+ Event

• Use the code: GROW for 100% off tickets.

• Music will be done by an autistic DJ, KingCamdenTheGreat

• There will be no strobe lights, there will be a quiet sensory space, they will pass out sensory items

Autism Advocacy Day at the State House

Sarah Palin, and a group of three staff and five individuals from Grow attended the 19th Annual Autism Advocacy Day at the State House on April 9th. The event was coordinated by Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) and supported by the ARC of Massachusetts. This autism community benefits from having such strong advocates in this state, and Grow does its part to amplify those efforts.

The program was titled “An Unbearable Wait: The Burden Placed on the Autism Community by the Workforce Crisis.” Sarah is particularly interested in two legislative initiatives:

• Maintain the Chapter 257 reserve at $390,000 million, plus the $95 million designated by the legislature’s economic development bill to ensure that direct care staff compensation is no less than a median standard of $20 per hour. While Grow currently pays its staff $20 per hour to foster retention and attract new hires, the organization would benefit from the higher rate of reimbursement.

• Pass Nicky’s Law Expansion, H4393 to protect individuals with autism and IDD from abuse and neglect.