Summer Programs Newsletter
Summer Is Coming To The Fields Center
Dear Fields Center Community,
Happy Pride Month! We are so full of pride here at the Fields Center! We are proud of our community members and families, the Behavior Technicians who work so hard in the schools and the neurodiverse people from age 3-Adult who participate in our groups. According to the Autism Society citing a large-scale 2020 study, gender-diverse people are 3 to 6 times more likely to be Autistic than those who are cisgender. While there is always more to learn and know it’s good to know that these critical connections are being studied and disseminated to the community.
We are looking forward to a great summer with activities for all ages. If you’d like to see something offered and it’s no here, no worries! Contact our Operations and Groups Administrator, Eliana and she can help! As always, we want to hear from you!
Thank you for your support, Happy June, Happy Pride and Happy (almost) Summer! Jenn
Sensory Social Group
This in-person sensory-based social group for neurodiverse young children (5 & Under) is hosted at the Fields Center in Northampton, MA. This group is a great opportunity to engage and network with other parents while observing the skilled facilitation of social and self-regulation skills in a small group setting.
Summer Session: June 30th- August 18th
[Please email: eliana@fieldscenter.org if you are interested in joining mid-session, doing a trial one time drop in, or being put on our wait-list]
Creative Writing Workshop
Hone your creative writing abilities, share your work, and discover new books in this 8 week long literature workshop with neurodiversity in mind. [Virtual/remote option upon request]
Hosted by Behavioral Therapist Michelle Merola and Playwright James Echols, this workshop is designed to be a comprehensive exploration and celebration of neurodiverse stories and authorship.
Sessions: July 20th - September7th
Wednesdays 6pm-8pm
Open to all ages 16+, no diagnosis required.
Let’s Build - Sensory Social
Play, build, connect, and share in this weekly activities group for young neurodiverse children 7-10 years old, facilitated by behavior technicians. Designed to help engage and naturally encourage core social skills in a fun approachable way. No diagnosis required.
Fridays 12-1:30pm
Current Session: June 30th- August 18th
This group is intended to be an 8 week cohort, to join late or purchase a one time trial ticket please email eliana@fieldscenter.org
RBT Certification Course
Mondays: In Person 881 N King Street, Northampton, MA 01060, 6pm-8pm
Wednesday & Thursdays: Via Zoom, 6pm-8pm
The Registered Behavior TechnicianTM (RBT®️) is a nationally recognized paraprofessional certification in behavior analysis. RBTs assist in areas such as delivering direct behavior-analytic services, aiding in implementing behavior plans which are developed by the BCBA or BCaBA, and collecting data.
Completing this 40 hour course covering the 2nd edition task list is only one component required in order to apply for certification. Please see the Behavior Analysis Certification Board website for more information on the application process.
Please note: To align with the BACB’s requirements for the 40 hour RBT training, “The cumulative duration of your training must be at least 40 hours. The training must be completed within a 180-day period and in no less than a 5-day period.” For more information, please see the RBT 40 Hour Training Packet
For questions please email jennifer@fieldscenter.org
D&D Wait-List
Our adventures have become so popular that everyone wants a seat at the table! Unfortunately, the Fields Center currently is lacking any wizards qualified to create an infinite table and therefore we've had to cap off both our children and teens groups. Not to fear though, we might not have more table space- but we do have more nights of the week!
If your teen or child would join us, please reach out to eliana@fieldscenter.org to be added to a wait list. Once we have enough to form a new party, another adventure can get on its way!
There's Still Room At Our Adult Table
On The Link Between Transgender Individuals and Autism
Numerous studies from the National Institute of Health have shown a sizable overlap in the populations of autistic people and transgender people. According to those studies, trans and gender non-conforming people are more likely on average to be diagnosed with autism than cisgender people. Typically, these findings have been used to suggest that autism is a mental health barrier that needs to be somehow cured or surpassed in order for a transgender person to be allowed access to medical treatment, placing autism in a similar league to disorders such as depression or schizophrenia. However, as Evan Urquhart writes for Slate, "It’s possible that autism is over represented among trans youth because autistic people are less concerned with social norms and less likely to bow to social pressures that keep other trans people from coming out (Urquhart, p. 5)."
Another important factor is something I’ve experienced in my own life; the apathy of myself (being transgender) and many of my friends to societal gender norms. Even many cis women I’ve met who are autistic are gender non-conforming in some way. It would make sense that gender roles are just one of the many things that autistic people have just recently been able to speak for ourselves, and define our lives in our own language.
However, as societal acceptance for transgender people (and LGBTQ+ people in general) waxes and wanes, we should be mindful of the pathologization of identities and types of people who do not fit social norms, including autistic people. Unfortunately, many people view autism as a sickness in need of a cure, in parallel to the ways that even
well-meaning allies believe hormones and surgery can provide the "cure" to transness or gender dysphoria. And as trans rights are continually rolled back in the conservative areas of the country, it should act as a signal for autistic people, even ones who aren’t gender non-conforming, that true progress will come in accommodating for the existence of others, instead of trying to wish away undesirable qualities.
Submission By Sadie Reiss