Students and their special guests had a wonderful time at the
Lower School Valentine’s Day Tea.
Information From Cotting School
No School Next Week for February Vacation
Wishing everyone a wonderful break!
Next PTO Meeting
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 9 a.m.
Want to learn more about the PTO and volunteer opportunities? Join us at the next meeting! You can either attend in person (meetings are held in the school’s Board Room) or online via Zoom. All Cotting parents and guardians are welcome to attend!
Upcoming Events
Please mark your calendar for these upcoming in-person events taking place on campus.
Cotting School-Massachusetts Historical Society Partnership Celebration
Wednesday, March 15, 6:30-8 p.m.
Mass Historical has graciously agreed to be the archivists for Cotting’s rich educational history. Come help celebrate the partnership, complete with a display of records and images from our 130-year history. Learn more here.
Information Session
Friday, March 17, 9:30-11 a.m.
Know someone who might be interested in sending their child to Cotting School? Encourage them to attend our next information session! Learn more here.
Play it Forward Fundraiser
Featuring Falcon Trivia
Thursday, April 13, 6-9 p.m.
Support our after school and athletics programs! Play trivia, take your chances on exciting raffles and silent auction items and give our candlepin bowling alley a try. Learn more and register here.
Cotting Student Art Cards Can Still Be Ordered for Delivery
Important Notice From the Arc About MassHealth Redetermination
When the COVID pandemic began in March 2020, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), which included “continuous Medicaid enrollment”. In effect, everyone who already had Medicaid was required to continue receiving Medicaid–even if they were no longer eligible for that Medicaid category.
The federal government has determined that the “continuous Medicaid enrollment” requirement will end. Therefore, everyone with Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) needs to complete a redetermination application. MassHealth will begin mailing Medicaid redetermination applications to everyone who is enrolled.
Click here for more information on how to prepare.
“Beyond the Spectrum” Art Classes for Teens Ages 13-18
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, February 18, 2023. This is scheduled to be an in-person event. Please check with the host for confirmation. For teens with Autism Spectrum and Aspergers Disorders ages 13-18. Students will focus on specific art topics and learn how to incorporate discussion, critical inquiry and sketching in the galleries. They will then work independently on a project with guidance from an experienced instructor.
February Theme: Honoring Black History. In celebration of Black History Month, explore African Art History in the MFA’s African and Nubian collections and contemporary art by Black artists in the Touching Roots exhibition. Then, create your own collage honoring an important figure in your personal or cultural history.
Universal Access Outdoor Connections in Massachusetts
Winter Recreation: DCR Programs, Parks and Trails
The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Universal Access Program provides outdoor recreation opportunities in Massachusetts state parks for visitors of all abilities and ages. Join them on Zoom at Universal Access Outdoor Connections to learn about their offerings and share your experience with accessible and adaptive programs in DCR Parks.
2023 Dates and Topics:
February 17- Partnering with DCR Parks for Programs and Groups
March 17 – Accessible Hiking in DCR Parks
April 21 – Birding in DCR Parks
May 19 – Summer Programs and Opportunities
To get more information, register and get the link to attend, email Kristen.Rhodes@mass.gov.
Adaptive Youth Sled Hockey Clinic
Everett, MA, February 19, 2023 with Spaudling Adaptive Sports. Open to children of all abilities ages 3–16. Sled hockey enables youth and adults to play hockey in a seated position with blades beneath them.
Players propel themselves by using sticks with picks on the end, or with the assistance of a designated pusher.
Sessions are open to able-bodied friends and family members as well.
Coaching and equipment is provided to participants in all sled hockey sessions.
Practices and clinics consist of group drills, small games, scrimmaging and individual coaching.
Applying for Housing for People with Disabilities in MA
Webinar, February 22, 2023 with the Northeast Arc’s Autism Support Center. This will be an Autism Housing Pathways of Massachusetts presentation. FREE and open to the public. This presentation walks families and professionals through the range of affordable and subsidized housing options available to people with disabilities in Massachusetts.
About the speaker: Catherine Boyle is the president of Autism Housing Pathways, a commissioner of the Winchester Housing Authority and a member of the Winchester Housing Partnership Board. She also holds a certificate of graduate studies from UMASS Boston in adapting curriculum. During this presentation, she will share a strategy for completing a basic set of applications and tracking them over time.
Tired of Being Tired? Addressing Sleep-Related Issues
FREE Webinar, February 22, 2023 with the May Institute of Randolph. Tired of being tired? This presentation will address some common sleep-related issues in children with autism.
Presented by Dr. Karie DePaolo, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National Autism Center at the May Institute and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. During the presentation, she will:
Tackle non-compliance with bedtime routine, sleep-interfering behavior, delayed sleep onset and early wake-ups.
Discuss intervention ideas that may help you catch some much-needed sleep.
For children ages 6-12. There’s still time to grab a spot!
Tuesday, Feb. 21, Wednesday, Feb. 22 and Thursday, Feb. 23 from 2-5 p.m.
Register for one, two or all three afternoons. Payment is only due the day(s) your child attends. A minimum of six participants is required for an afternoon to run.
Tuition
Per afternoon: $140 cash only, $150 check or Venmo
For all three afternoons: $400 cash only, $425 check or Venmo
Natick, MA, February 25–March 25, 2023 with the Skyline Adaptive Program at the Natick Parks and Recreation Department. Serving the Natick community and surrounding towns with adaptive and inclusive programs for individuals with special needs.
“Move with Eve” is part yoga, dance and Qigong. Participants can explore and experience the joy of movement and freedom of expression within a supportive and creative environment, regardless of experience.
The goal of this session is to have families interested in AFC learn more about the program, including input from a provider about their family’s experience with it. Joe will discuss:
His family’s reasons for choosing AFC
Guardianship considerations
The AFC stipend
Expectations from the program
Positives and negatives to consider
Financial planning as it relates to the care of the member
Housing Models for People with Developmental Disabilities in Massachusetts
The Autism Housing Pathways’ Family Action Meetups (FAMS) are monthly opportunities for families to get together, learn about two housing models per month and chat in depth.
Each monthly meeting includes:
A 15-minute overview of housing for people with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts.
A brief video description of a housing model, followed by 20-25 minutes of breakout discussion groups.
Repeating this process with another housing model.
Click here to register. Tickets are $5. Please note the Zoom link will be sent to registrants by email but will not be posted on Eventbrite.
Need Supportive Housing?
Mainstay Can Help!
Join our Housing Informational Sessions on Zoom, led by Doreen Cummings, Director of In-Home Services! Learn about Mainstay’s seven properties and other housing resources in Massachusetts. We will review budgets, websites and meet current residents who will share their perspectives.
Mainstay coordinates supportive homes in Newton, Malden, Norwood and Walpole for adults with a variety of abilities. Residents live largely independently. Services offered include live-in overnight staffing, evening and weekend staffing, professional cleaning of common areas, a daily communal dinner, support with activities of daily living and built-in socialization and friendship opportunities.
Deadline: March 8, 2023. The Doug Flutie Foundation in Natick and the Hoyt Foundation for the Dick and Judy Hoyt Grant for Inclusion will be distributing $50,000 through this community grant* to people with autism and other disabilities in honor of Dick and Judy Hoyt, who were pioneers for inclusion and acceptance.
*Grants will be awarded to help those looking to pursue athletic, academic and employment endeavors in their community.
New Series from The Arc of MA: Advocacy for MA DDS Self-Directed Services as Envisioned by the 2014 Real Lives Law
Your voice is needed! Join the conversation about the Massachusetts Alliance for 21st Century Disability Policy’s (MA21) advocacy for changes to the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Self-Directed Services to comply with the 2014 Real Lives Law.
Help improve regulations and waivers at DDS to increase transparency, flexibility and self-determination. Learn how to be part of organized advocacy with DDS to transform regulations, policies and guidelines to make Self-Direction more transparent and less restrictive.
Sessions are currently scheduled for the following dates and times. You can attend one or more sessions. Additional dates will be posted.
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Cotting School every time you shop, at no cost to you. Just select “Cotting School, Inc.” as your charitable organization and remember to shop at smile.amazon.com! Amazon will then donate a portion of your order’s purchase price to Cotting School!
Spread the Word!
Do you know someone who would like to learn more about Cotting School? Please share the information at the links below with someone you know. Cotting School parents are our best ambassadors, and our team is available to connect with families that would like to learn more!
