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DECEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

ASBC Wishes You and Your Loved Ones a Happy and Joyous Holiday Season!

We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our community for yet another year and are looking forward to many more as we continue to build and grow together. Thank you!

While You Are Holiday Shopping... Make ASBC Your Amazon Smile Charity!

It's so easy to support the Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake while doing your holiday shopping and checking off all those Wish Lists! Make us your Amazon Smile charity organization by going to this URL: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1864361 and don't forget to always shop Amazon Smile!

Use AmazonSmile for your holiday shopping to support ASBC!

LAST CHANCE: Membership Fee will Increase to $15 on January 2023!

The ASBC Membership Fee will increase to $15 a year in January 2023!

If you are not a member yet, December is your last chance to become a member at the $10 rate! Don't miss out to enjoy the membership benefits below - become a member TODAY for only $10 a year, sign up here: https://www.baltimoreautismsociety.org/get-involved/become-a-member/

Family membership includes:

Access to member-only social events
Up to $100 per family per year to attend Autism related workshops and conferences provided by the Charles J. Fowler, Jr. Memorial Fund
Access to ASBC grants and funding opportunities (for families living in Baltimore City and County)

Your membership helps the Autism Society of Baltimore Chesapeake:

Connect people to valuable information and resources through our phone line, website, calendar and info@baltimoreautismsociety.org email
Provide monthly groups like our virtual discussion groups for adults with Autism, and parents/caregivers
Provide monthly socials for those in the Autism community

Not a member yet? Don't miss out - become a member TODAY for only $10 a year (until December 31st, 2022), sign up here: https://www.baltimoreautismsociety.org/get-involved/become-a-member/

WE ARE HIRING! Part-time Administrative Assistant

Help Wanted! We are looking for a reliable Administrative Assistant that can help keep ASBC supporting the Autism Community in Baltimore! You can work from home and make your own schedule. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking for long term part-time employment (approx. 10 hours/week) and the opportunity to work with a group of dedicated volunteers. Check out job description here: http://www.baltimoreautismsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Job-Description-Administrative-Assistant-November-2022.pdf

If interested in this position, please contact us at info@baltimoreautismsociety.org and include your resume.

Local Events & Programs

Our Next Social: We Rock The Spectrum! December 29th

Join us for a whole lot of fun on Thursday, December 29th at We Rock The Spectrum Kid's Gym at 9770 Groffs Mill Drive, Owings Mills, MD 21117. ASBC has rented the facility from 5 to 7pm for community members to enjoy an evening of play! Admission is open to both members and non-members, but please note that registration is limited to 20 children!

MEMBERS: FREE

NON-MEMBERS: $5

Look out for the event registration email later in December!

By Autistics, For Autistics: Self-advocating Autistic Adult Meetup at Dave & Buster's - Good food, good fun, and a great time had by all!

Our meetup at Dave & Buster's was a wonderful way for Autistics in the community to get together over the holiday and enjoy each other's company. Stay tuned for more self-advocating Autistic Adult meet ups in 2023! Please register via the link below to be put onto the mailing list for future updates:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fgKjaH0/AutisticAdultGroup

Virtual Groups, Meetings & Other Resources

_{Upcoming ASBC Virtual Groups}

Click the group name to register and receive the email reminders and login information.

General Session

An inclusive space for all adults to learn and grow in their understanding

NO GENERAL SESSION IN DECEMBER!

See you in the new year!

Parent / Caregiver Discussion Group

A supportive environment to meet other parents and share

NO PARENT/CAREGIVER GROUP IN DECEMBER!

See you in the new year!

Autistic Adult Discussion Group

Every Thursday @ 9:00pm

For Autistic Adults (18+) Only

A casual, neurodiverse space to connect and share

Making AAC More Inclusive: Spectrum Support BLAAC

Joy F. Johnson, M.Ed., MS, BCBA, of the Black Spectrum Fund, is developing an AAC app for children called Spectrum Support BLAAC to combat the lack of diversity and representation in current AAC apps. The illustrations feature Black Autistic characters with he, she, and they pronouns. People can download PDFs of the picture communication versions for free from her website while the app is still in development at https://joyfjohnson.com/ under "Free Resources" at the end of the page (and if you want to support the project, you can donate to the Black Spectrum Fund on the same page!).

SECAC December Meeting on 12/5

Baltimore County SECAC

December Meeting

Monday, December 5th, 2022

7:00-8:30 PM

Topic: A Parent’s Perspective: What We Wish We Knew Then

Access the meeting via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/fak-czgt-dvf

If you would like to participate in the meeting by phone please email egalvez@bcps.org.

We hope to see you there!

Click link below to review SECAC's updated Recommendations for SY 2022-2023:

SECAC Recommendations for SY 2022-2023

Make Us A Part Of Your Year Round Charity!

As we continue to celebrate the holiday season and approach the new year, please consider donating to the Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake! Your donation will help ASBC further its mission to empower everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. The ASBC impacts the lives of children, adults, families and professionals in the Greater Baltimore area through support groups, the creation of social and community connections, information and resources, networking, and public awareness. Your gift also allows the ASBC to fund social events for our members and their families. These events play a pivotal role in providing the much needed social and community connections for our families. Thank you to all of our everyday and year round donors! We could not do what we do without your donations!

Donate Here & THANK YOU!

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