October has been busy at The Guild! We are grateful to our generous community for showing up in such a big way for the Flutie 5K for Autism this month. We're also proud to spotlight two dedicated staff members and shine a light on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). This month our programs held several engaging events for individuals, including the Scholastic Book Fair at The Guild School and the graduation ceremony for the healthy relationships class for the adult program.



Read on for the latest news from The Guild:

Flutie 5K recap

More than 80 people came together in support of Team Guild at the 26th annual Flutie 5K for Autism. There are still some final numbers to crunch, but we are anticipating our total fundraising amount to be close to $34,000! This achievement and this event would not be possible for us without our incredible team of fundraisers, runners, walkers, and sponsors.

You can still support Team Guild and help us reach $35,000.

The Caring Force Workforce Hero Spotlight

Moses Osei was recognized as the Caring Force's October Workforce Hero honoree. Moses is the Lead Overnight Residential Assistant at Framingham House, where he has worked since the house opened in 2014.

"Growing up, I saw how support and compassion could truly change someone’s circumstances through teaching and counseling. It inspired me to pursue a career in human services to help individuals and families overcome challenges through practical skills," says Moses.



Read the full spotlight here.

Leading through empathy: Staff profile

Teaching Assistant Nerline Desjardins has been working with students with intellectual disabilities, autism, and significant behavioral challenges at The Guild for more than two decades. She worked as a residential assistant for 10 years before transitioning to a teaching assistant 11 years ago.

“I am passionate about creating an environment where every person is valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive, no matter their challenges,” says Nerline.

Read more on our blog.

AAC Awareness Month

October is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month.

The Guild takes an individualized approach to ensure all students have robust language systems that they can use across all settings and with all communication partners. Our highly specialized Speech Language Pathologists are well-versed in the latest innovations of AAC and promote language skills that enable students to thrive in every setting, from classroom to community.

Scholastic Book Fair

Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Scholastic Book Fair visited The Guild School this month! Students budgeted their paychecks and spending money to purchase books, puzzles, toys, and other items throughout the week. This hands-on learning experience provided the opportunity to practice purchasing items in a retail setting.

See more photos on Facebook and a video of Clifford's visit with his AAC device on TikTok.

Healthy relationships graduates

Congratulations to the adult residents who completed the healthy relationships class last month! They participated in 22 lessons on relationships with employers, family members, romantic partners, and themselves.

See more photos of the graduates here.

The Guild for Human Services

521 Virginia Road

Concord, MA 01742

GuildHumanServices.org