Monthly Milestones |SEPTEMBER 2023

Teaching Calming Strategies

This tool featuring happy to sad or mad faces is called a 5-Point Scale. Its purpose is to help children and adults learn how to recognize when they are starting to feel anxious, upset or mad, and how to use strategies to calm down that work for them. It models how I feel, how it looks, and what I need to do when I feel like that.

With the time of transition and routine changes a new school year can bring, using a tool like this can help students of all ages explain how they feel. Each person is unique so the strategies, language and visuals they use may be different.

We have created two downloadable versions, one with a first face that is happy and one that is okay, to reflect various baselines. You can replace the faces and writing with what works for you or your loved one. We have intentionally left Column 4 blank on the downloadable versions for you to type in strategies that are unique to your situation.

You can learn more about the 5-Point Scale and download the forms on our Milestones Autism Planning (MAP) Tool.

Success at School: Support, Balance and Collaboration

A student's success at school is not limited to the times when they are within the school building. Students also need support, a balanced schedule, and careful planning outside of school to help them have a great year!

We are excited to welcome Bradley Wyner, NADD-DDS to Milestones as our Director of Education!

Bradley first became involved with Milestones as a conference presenter and member of the Executive Conference Committee. With a background in intellectual & developmental disabilities, autism, foster care, and residential treatment, Bradley combines best practices regarding mental health, trauma, and autism for an approach that is positive and person-centered, with an acute interest in the intersection of autism and trauma, and support for people who present with severe to profound disabilities.



As a trainer and consultant, Bradley frequently presents on trauma-informed approaches to behavior support, person-centered thinking for people with complex needs, and practical training approaches for direct support staff. A NADD-certified specialist in the support of mental wellness for people with disabilities (thenadd.org), Bradley has been recognized with the 2017 Ed Comer award from the Ohio Mental Illness/Intellectual Disabilities Coordinating Center of Excellence, and as NADD’s 2022 Member of the Year.

This past month, Bradley has been collaborating with the rest of the Milestones staff in training first responders, teachers, medical professionals, and social service agencies about autism, and is helping to plan the 2024 Milestones Conference.

Case Western Reserve University and Community Partners (REACH Services, Hope Behavioral Health, Mother 2 Mother Ohio, and Connecting for Kids) are supporting Caregivers of Individuals with Disabilities through the “Bridging the Gap: Behavioral Healthcare Initiative.

The purpose of this survey is to create an Assessment Tool for Caregivers. This survey can be accessed by this link and by the QR code on the image above. 

Milestones seeks to create a diverse work culture that closely matches the diversity of our client base. We value a culture of collaboration and professional and personal growth for our diverse staff, and we offer a flexible work environment with some in-office time required.

To learn more about our open positions, please visit our website.