A W eekend to Remem b e r
WishingYouWell
Inside our final edition of the Respite Newsletter you will find resources to celebrate the winter season, with fun community activities such as winter festivals and yoga. You will also find helpful resources for caregivers and resources for individuals looking to further increase their independent living skills.
As some of you may know by now, our current A Weekend To Remember Respite Program has come to end as the grant that funded the program has ended. We are currently looking into ways of continuing a respite program through alternative funding. I will be reaching back out to families if and when we restart the program. The end of this newsletter contains resources for similar respite opportunities/programs in Massachusetts. Thank you for your participation in the program and for making it a great success!
Stoneham Respite
The group had a fun outing to Stone Zoo to see the Zoo Lights and enjoyed a special visit to feed the sloths. The fun evening was complete with a trip to Dave & Busters!
Rockport Respite
Everyone enjoyed decorating a tree for Gloucester’s annual Parade of Trees event. The group also got to see Santa arrive and the tree lighting in downtown Rockport. A festive time was had by all!
Community Events
Lowell Winterfest
Friday February 21st &
Saturday February 22nd
Tons of entertainment, including:
Live music, fire and ice scultpures, a chocolate festival, a soup competition, food trucks, and a scavenger hunt!
Saturday January 25th
&
Sunday January 26th
Wilmington, MA
Take your taste buds on a sweet journey at the annual Chocolate Expo. Featuring tastings & sales of chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, cheeses, dairy products, and ready-to-eat foods from 50-90 vendor booths,
Community Events
So Salty Festival
Saturday January 25th & Sunday January 26th
Gloucester, MA
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester.
So Sweet Festival
February 7th through February 9th
Salem, MA
A decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 23rd year, Salem’s So Sweet has become one of the most popular winter events on the North Shore.
Free Chair Yoga at Georgetown Public Library
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Transforming Residential Care for Adults with Disabilities
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Doors Open at 6:30 pm Show Starts at 7:00 pm
FREE EVENT
“Raising Bar” is a film that sheds light on the lives of young adults with intellectual disabilities and the price they pay for simply turning 22. Bar is 37, and it is the trajectory of his life that shows the obstacles and the possibilities this community faces as their families and other caregivers seek to provide them with rich, meaningful, and connected lives. Following the 40-minute movie you are invited to stay for conversation with High Spirit Staff, Founders, and each other to talk about how to develop more residential communities like High Spirit Community Farm.
Independent Living Resources
Financial Football: Money Skills Game
Run, pass, and score your way to financial success with this fast-paced interactive video game created by Visa and the NFL. Financial Football is designed to teach players personal finance skills by having them answer financial questions to earn yardage and score touchdowns.
Play Here
You can find a variety of other financial literacy resources on the Practical Money Skills website.
The Work Without Limits Virtual Career Fair For Individuals with Disabilities connects job seekers with disabilities with inclusive employers.
Job Candidates will network with leading disabilityinclusive employers from Work Without Limits Business Network and more. They will also learn about available internship and career opportunities. Candidates will also have the opportunity to attend a live virtual prep training and have access to a Candidate Guide to make the most of your Career Fair experience.
The Digital JEDI Consortium provides services across the Metro North and Northshore Areas of Massachusetts
Caregiver Resources
Support Group for Parents of Children/Adults with Autism & Mental Health Conditions
Northeast Arc’s Autism Support Center hosts a virtual support group the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm.
Zoom registration link
Multi-Session Support Group for
Parents
of Transition Age Youth (18-22)
2/4/25 - 5/20/25
AANE is hosting this multi-session group, which is designed for parents and family members of Autistic transition-age youth (18-22). This group is limited to 15 participants for caregivers to connect with one another and share information
Perkins School for the Blind Presents...
Transition talk: Parental Mindset:
Stepping Back and Letting Go
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm EDT
Location: Virtually on Zoom
Join a conversation with two parents who’ve successfully shifted from being hands-on to stepping back, allowing their adult children to take the lead. This approach helped their children build confidence, improve decision-making skills, and access support systems outside the family. Learn how letting go can empower your child to grow and become more independent.
Based out of Woburn, Bridging Independent Living Together, Inc. works to enrich the lives of people with disabilities through compassionate support.
https://biltne.org/ https://www.tillinc.org/
Based out of Dedham, Toward Independent Living and Learning (TILL) is committed to working with people and their families to create meaningful lives, connected to one ’ s community and all that it has to offer. See next page for more information on their Social Club.
