Parent Support / Milestones

This webpage is a resource. Milestones Organization does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services from any of the groups or companies listed below.

Greater Cleveland Aspergers Support
Theresa Szalkowski Moderator
pennycat3@juno.com
(440) 846-9845
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/gc-as
We are a group of nearly 200 Northeast Ohio parents and caregivers of
children affected by Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder and Hgh Functioning Autism. Our membership also includes professionals specializing in pediatric neurology, psychology and psychiatry, counseling, occupational therapy and special ed law. You can post a question or share experiences any time on-line through our Yahoo e-mail forum. You will also find information on local service providers, programs, seminars and social activities. We meet periodically over dinner to share experiences and trade information.

Parent to Parent for Autism NE Ohio Online Support Group
Marian Helmick Moderator
http://hometown.aol.com /parentschat/homepage.html
DMHelmick1@wmconnect.com
216-310-9692
We provide networking, information, a parent discussion email group, a
parent contact list for finding a family in your area, family get
togethers, and outings. Our information regards our Northeast Ohio
area and we have directories for schools, therapy services, Doctors /
physician list, other lists of interests, and health and therapy
information.

MDJunction
"A community of family members and friends dedicated to dealing with
Autism, together."

A new yahoo group where parents can discuss marital troubles, divorce, and raising a child(ren) with autism spectrum disorder as a single parent.

Autism Society of America, North Central Ohio Chapter
Avon Lake Public Library
7:00- 9:00 pm, second Tuesday each month
www.ncoc-asa.org

Autism Society of Greater Cleveland
Rory McLean - President
216-556-4937
www.asgc.org
6:30-8:30 pm, first Tuesday of every month at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center on 8001 Brecksville Rd. in Brecksville OH
The goal of this Chapter is to help you; parents, caregivers, individuals with autism, and professionals, grow in understanding so that you may comfortably and confidently work together toward brighter futures. We cannot take your place. You have an important role to play in ensuring the best possible outcomes for individuals with autism. Our efforts are aimed at helping you to make the best decisions possible. We function as a catalyst for change by providing you with support and the very latest information, so that your insight and talents are able to be used to their fullest potential.

Contact infomilestones@yahoo.com if there area any additions or changes for these support groups.

Bay Village City Schools
Mary Woods (Parent Mentor)
bayparentmentor@aol.com
440-617-7625

Brecksville-Broadview Heights
QUEST Parent Support Group
Heidi Karthan
440-740-0098
Carin Kubera
440-546-9165
The group meets at the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Media Center Library from 6:45 - 9:00 pm Their next meeting is April 3rd. They meet every other month.

We will have our first meeting at 7:00 on April 24th at: United Methodist Church 6220 Smith Road Brookpark, OH 44142

Cleveland Municipal Schools
Raychelle Reeves (Parent Mentor)
216-592-7264
Sandra Jordan (Parent Mentor)
216-592-7265

East Cleveland City Schools
Jackie Reid (Parent Mentor)
jreidmentor@yahoo.com
216-268-6471

Lakewood City Schools
Susan Hegarty (Parent Mentor)
Susan.Hegarty@lakewood.k12.oh .us
216-529-4279

Mayfield City Schools
Zivile Khoury (Parent Mentor)
Zkhoury@mayfield.k12.oh.us
440-461-8235

Orange City Schools
O.P.E.N. Parent Group
Cindy Wiley
Open_orangeoh@hotmail.com
www.Open_OrangeSchools.Tripod.com
May/2008 – Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities – Transition to College
May 17, 2008 – Orange Jubilee Kids Fun Run

Parma City Schools
Michelle Pallo/Lisa Neumeyer (Parent Mentor)
440-885-3761

Rocky River
Ellen Riehm
Ann Driscoll

This is a support group designed to provide parents of special needs children with information on how to advocate for their children. Organized five years ago by three moms, the goal is to provide support, friendship, and resources to parents in need. This group is open to all parents of special need children, you do not need to be from Rocky River.

Winter/Spring Schedule

All meetings are held at Panera Bread Company, 190705 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 from 9-11 a.m. at Panera Bread Company in Rocky River. Our speaker will be Barb Rutt of The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities. Topic: UNDERSTANDING AND WRITING IEP'S - Participants will gain a working knowledge of how the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process works and what specific information is to be written into the IEP document.

Shaker City Schools
Holly Palda (Parent Mentor)
Palda_h@shaker.org
216-295-4372
This support group, for families of children with special needs, generally meets the 4th Thursday of every month for networking and a workshop from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Shaker Heights Middle School, located at 20600 Shaker Blvd. To confirm date and topic of meeting contact Holly Palda, Parent Mentor, at 295-4372 or by email at palda_h@shaker.org.

Solon City Schools
Donna Boss (Parent Mentor)
Dboss@solonboe.org
440-349-7757 ext. 5184
O.P.E.N. Organized Parent Education Network

South Euclid/Lyndhurst
Special Needs Advocacy and Parent Support (SNAPS) Parent Support Group
Brenda Goodman
Doublebn@aol.com
SNAPS is a parent based group designed to support and educate other interested parents of special needs children in our community. In addition to a speaker series, regular monthly meetings occur on the 2^nd Friday of the month. Please join us in becoming effective advocates for our children and great supporters to each other!

Geauga County
Parent Advocate
Gabriele Spangler (Parent Mentor)
440-564-1001
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Autism Society of America, North Central Ohio Chapter
Avon Lake Public Library
7:00- 9:00 pm, second Tuesday each month
www.ncoc-asa.org
October 9, Steps Behavioral Consulting Services
November 13, Karen Lyke, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)

Autistic Spectrum Kids
Brenda Goodwin, president of A.S.K.
(330) 723-4778
Email: askaboutautism@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.askaboutautism.org
We are a support group for families who are affected by autism spectrum disorders. We have meetings, speakers, family get-togethers and advocacy.

All Parents with concerns, issues and obstacles
regarding their Special Needs Child are encouraged to attend.

Parents of any child regardless of their child’s disability are
welcome to attend our meetings and encouraged to discuss
their specific issues pertaining to their child or family.

Partners For Full Potential Parent Support (PFFP) Aurora, Ohio
Vicki Webster
aurorapffp@yahoo.com
330.995.4440
Parent Coffee and Conversation at Starbucks Coffee in Aurora. It is an open forum to share ideas, strategies, contacts & learn from other parent’s experiences. Our first Coffee will be Thursday October 25th at 9 am.

Field Local Schools
Robin Howard (Parent Mentor)
Field Local Schools, Mogadore
rhowardpm@aol.com
330-677-2509 x3017

Kent City Schools
Jeanne Schmidlin (Parent Mentor)
Ke_parentmentor@kentschools.net
Susan Foley
330-676-7661

Southeast Local Schools
Sandra Craft (Parent Mentor)
sandra.craft@att.net
330 678-2216 (x1226)

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Meets every other month with a resource person to cover topics that have been requested by parents.

This support group is for adult family and community members. Featured speakers and general discussions will take place during this time. Please check out their sibs support group also!

Cuyahoga Falls City Schools
GeorgeAnne Pinter (Parent Mentor)
cf_pinter@cfalls.org
330-926-3800 ext.2041

Woodridge Local Schools
Jeanne Schmidlin (Parent Mentor)
Ke_parentmentor@kentschools.net
Susan Foley (Parent Mentor)
330-928-9074 ext 320

Hudson City Schools
Diane Rudzitis (Parent Mentor)
rudzitid@hudson.edu
330-653-1296
SPED support group meeting for parents of kids with all special
needs in Hudson at the Hudson Library on the 2nd Tuesday of the month
from 9:30 - 11:30 am.

Stow- Munroe Falls City Schools
Barb Greenwald and Sue Zavodnik (Parent Mentor)
Stow-Monroe Falls Board of Education
st_greenwald@smfcsd.org
st_zavodnik@smfcsd.org
330-689-5426

Twinsburg City Schools
Beckey Thomas (Parent Mentor)
bthomas@twinsburg.k12.oh.us
330-486-2416

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OASIS (Organization for Autism Spectrum Information & Support)
Angel Thompson

7:00 pm, third Tuesday of every other month at Akron Children's Hospital (William Considine Professional Building) The Greater Akron Chapter offers support, guidance and general information about Autism and other related spectrum disorders such as PDD & Asperger Syndrome.

SPARK (Sharing Perspectives and Autism Resources for our Kids)
Kim Evangelisti

SPARK is a parent support group for ASD families with children ages
birth-5 years. This group was created by parents, for parents, as we
have found other parents to be our greatest resource. We meet monthly
to discuss topics of our choosing pertaining to child development in
the ASD world within this age range covering new diagnosis, infant/toddler issues, early intervention, and preschool. SPARK meets
the last Thursday of every month currently at Akron Children's Hospital Considine Building, 2nd Floor from 6-8pm (unless otherwise specified
based on the speaker/topic).

ASPIES Support Group
Joy Spencer
Rreindeer@aol.com
330-745-5115
A sister group to ASA Greater Akron, we offer programs and support to families with kids on the spectrum (Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS and High-functioning Autism). Our meetings our held the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm. We meet on the 2nd floor of the William Considine Professional Building in rooms 5 & 6 across from the main entrance of Akron Children's Hospital.

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Contact infomilestones@yahoo.com if there area any additions or changes for these support groups.