ASCEND's SUPPORT NETWORK for Families of Adults with AS
DATES: 9/11, 10/9, 11/13, 12/11, 1/8

Meetings are now held on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
TIME: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
WHERE: Montgomery Co. Human Svces. Bldg., 1430 Dekalb Street, Norristown, PA
CHAPTER COORDINATORS: Maria Duca and Diane Pringle
Click here for directions or get directions from MapQuest.

These meetings are open to family members of adults and older teens with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses. Professionals are invited to attend our speaker meetings. You do not have to be a member of ASCEND to attend these meetings, and there is no charge to attend.

PHILLY's GRASP NETWORK
GRASP is the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Network. Meetings are specifically for individuals on the autism spectrum. All GRASP groups are absolutely FREE to attend. Contact Bob Hedin for dates, times, directions and location.

AUTISM SUPPORT GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE REGION
The Autism Society of America, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, does a wonderful job collecting resources for families throughout our area. To view a listing of supports organizations and groups, visit the ASA Philly "Resources" page.

UPDATE REGARDING ASCEND’s SUPPORT MEETINGS

Many of you know that ASCEND started as a support group offering monthly meetings for parents and caregivers. In the beginning, we met in a church in Havertown and families came from throughout the region to connect and figure out ways to best support their loved ones with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses on the autism spectrum. Eventually, we offered chapter meetings in all the counties within the Greater Philadelphia region.

Times have changed! Fewer people were attending the meetings now that there is so much virtual support via the Internet. As ASCEND continues to grow to meet the needs of the families we support, we revamped the way we provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction. Rather than county-based support groups, we’ll offer a speaker series—starting this fall—to replace our former support group format.

ASCEND will continue the support meetings for families of adults with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses on the first Saturday of each month. These meetings in Norristown, headed up by Diane Pringle and Maria Duca for many years, remain strong in numbers and are unique in our autism world which still most often centers on families raising kids on the spectrum.

We want to give special thanks and praise to our support group coordinators, past and present, who have contributed their time and energy to ASCEND over the years. In addition to Diane and Maria, those committed individuals include: Jane Thurston and Barb Sullivan (Chester County); Sally Barr, Deb Dunn, Audrey Morrison, Teresa Singleton and Meghan Dunleavy (Delaware County); Bill Carroll, Deanna Bosley, Eileen McDermott and Judy Evans (Montgomery County); and Peggy Blank (Philadelphia County).

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