AIM Updates and January Events

Happy New Year!

AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program

Updates and January Events

We are excited to introduce two new AIM team members!

Mychelle Lee

MDSC Teen and Adult Program Facilitator

The MDSC is very excited to have Mychelle on board to help take our programs and events for self-advocates to the next level! Mychelle will be the lead contact for the AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program and Self-Advocate Workshop at the Annual Conference while Colleen is out on maternity leave.

Mychelle and daughter Alyson

Hello! My name is Mychelle Lee. I am first and foremost a mother of 2 children. My son Kyle is 4 years old. My daughter Alyson is just turning 2 years old this month. Alyson is the reason why I heard about the MDSC. She was born with Down syndrome. She is an amazing beautiful little girl that has changed my life (for the better!). Since having her, I have learned so much about life, respect for others, and generally what's truly important in life. I am excited to be working with the AIM: Teen and Young Adults Program because I think there is so much more for me to learn from all of you, and I look forward to going on new adventures with everyone.

Ashley Coates

AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program Facilitator

We are excited to have Ashley Coates join the AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program as a Facilitator. We know Ashley's expertise in social skills coaching will help AIM participants feel at ease and get to know new peers!

Ashley (top center) at this year's MDSC Bruins Alumni Hockey Game

Hi! My name is Ashley, and I joined the MDSC team as a volunteer with the AIM program and have loved being part of a great group! I studied Special Education at Southern New Hampshire University and am in the process of finishing up my last semester of a Graduate Program in Organizational Leadership. I have 10 years experience working with children and families in a variety of roles and currently support students and their families as a Social Skills Coach and Resource Specialist. When I'm not working, I love spending time with my husband, Colin, and our dog, LuLu.

AIM January Meeting

Sunday, January 13th

We hope you can join us to ring in the new year at our first event of 2013! We have an awesome session planned. Stanwood Chang, an instructor from the Sun Tai Chi Institute of Boston, will visit to teach us about Sun style tai chi chuan, a Chinese martial art whose slow, gentle, relaxed movements can have a great impact on your life! Please wear comfortable/flexible clothing and sneakers.

We will also be playing some games and activities before and after the tai chi session to help us all remember everyone's names- it's been a while since we have all been together!

If you're curious to learn more before our session, please visit: Sun Tai Chi and Stanwood Chang's pages.

Parents! Nadine has a great session planned for you covering Estate Planning. Please let her know if you plan to stay for the session: nadinebriggs@comcast.net.

West Suburban YMCA
276 Church St
Newton Corner
January 13, 2013
12:30PM-3:30PM

AIM/Emarc Snow Ball Dance

Friday, January 25th
Ages 13-22
$15

You are cordially invited to Emarc's 10th Annual Snow Ball Dance, co-sponsored by our MDSC AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program! This semi-formal dance is an inclusive function with volunteers from Reading Memorial High School, North Reading High School, and Malden High School.

Emarc will be 'moving up' all 22 year olds to adult programming at the end of the dance around 9:30pm; we hope you can come to celebrate them!

Attendants are invited and welcome; supervision is provided. RSVP is required by January 18th! If you have not participated in an Emarc program in the last year, please fill out their Emergency Fact Sheet and return to Colleen via:

*Email- cendres@mdsc.org

*Fax- 781-221-0011

*Mail- MDSC; 20 Burlington Mall Rd, Suite 261; Burlington, MA 01803

WS Parker Middle School
45 Temple St
Reading
January 25, 2013
7:00PM-10:00PM

Transition Workshop for parents and guardians!

AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program

aim@mdsc.org

Colleen Endres, Teen and Adult Services Director

cendres@mdsc.org

781-221-0024 x207