Walking to the Beat of Our Own Drum-Line

October 24, 29, and November 5, 7, 6:00 to 7:00PM. The drumline group is a dynamic program designed to enhance executive function skills, foster group cohesion, and promote overall social development in individuals with autism. Through the structured practice of drumming, participants improve their ability to plan, focus, and execute tasks. The collaborative nature of the drum line encourages teamwork and communication, building a strong sense of community and social connection among members. Click here to register for this group. For more information please contact [email protected].

Parent Support Group (online)

December 4, & January 15,  6:00 to 7:00 PM. A Parent Support Group led by the UF Health Jacksonville CARD and FLDRS-MDC clinician. It’s conversation-based with the goal of helping strengthen the relationship between child and parent, while learning about resources and supports from other parents with professional support. Parents will be able to join virtually from the comfort of their home. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected]. 

GIRLS – Girls in Real Life Situations (online)

November 25, 5:30PM to 6:30PM. An experiential learning workshop based on the Girls in Real Life Situations curriculum. These online sessions will focus on developing healthy body image, understanding the impact of our choices, communication, emotions, friendships, relationships, self-esteem, stress, and more. The activities will be adapted for virtual environments. As girls progress through the lessons, they will have to demonstrate critical-thinking skills, self-control and self-discipline, use oral, written and listening skills to express themselves, create positive friendships with other students, and more. Attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged. Open to Girls in 6-12th grades. Click here to register for this event. For more information please contact [email protected].

Sibshops (online)

October 23, November 6, and December 5, begins at 5:30PM. Sibshop is a gathering of siblings across the ages to create community, build support and share in the stories that make us unique as the sibling of individuals with developmental, intellectual, social-emotional, and medical disabilities. Siblings will be able to join virtually at link provided. Ages 12 to 17 years of age. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].

 Manswers: A Group for Men on the Spectrum (online)

October 28, 6:00PM to 7:00PM. Join our men’s group, a supportive space where we discuss male-specific challenges, share experiences, and connect with others.  Whether it’s navigating relationships, work, or personal growth, this group offers a safe, understanding environment to explore issues unique to men on the spectrum. Click here to register for this event. For more information contact [email protected].

JAX Airport and ASD tours

The next tour will be in November 2024. Do you want to travel but are unsure if your child can handle the flight? CARD is looking for interested families that would like to practice walking from baggage claim up to ticketing, through the security checkpoint, into the concourses, onto a Southwest plane (if available), and then back out through the passenger exit. If you are interested, please reach out to Brett Walden at [email protected].

Black Parent Outreach: An Initiative to Include & Inform

November 4, 5:00PM to 6:30PM. The purpose of this group is to help spread awareness of the characteristics and disparities of developmental, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social disorders /disabilities to practitioners and Black families. Ultimately, this group will help to build trust between communities as well as a sense of understanding for caregivers so that they are equipped with information to help bridge the gap with identification and problems with disparities.  Parents will have to opportunity to hear from panelists, professionals in the community, and to sign-up for our mentorship program. Location: Northside Community Involvement, Inc., 4736 Avenue B, Bldg. C —The Education Bldg., Jacksonville, FL 32209. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].

Creating Circles with CARD

November 5, December 3, 3:00PM to 4:00PM. Taking place the 1st Tuesday of each month. Creating Circles with CARD is a group that will help individuals with autism and related disabilities navigate relationships while learning and understanding social boundaries and interpersonal skills. A group for individuals with ASD, ages 16 to 21. Location: Henderson Haven, 772 Foxridge Center Dr., Orange Park, FL 32065. Available spots are limited. Please register for each week you plan to attend. Parents must remain on the premises for the duration of the group. Participants must be able to have back and forth conversations. Click here to register online. Click here to download a flyer. For more information please contact [email protected].

CARD Adult Resources and Support Group (online)

November 6, 5:00PM to 6:00PM. 1st Wednesday of each month. Adults with autism spectrum disorder will have the opportunity to engage in facilitated social conversations via Zoom. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].

Parent Training Series – Understanding Autism (online)

November 13, Begins at 6:00PM. This training is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and support children across the spectrum of autism. By gaining a deeper understanding of ASD, you can create an environment that fosters growth and development for all children. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].  

CARD Conference Scholarship (Application Deadline)

November 15, 2024. This CARD-JAX is offering scholarships to parents and educators who would like to attend the 32^nd Annual CARD Conference (event dates: Jan 16-19, 2025 in Orlando, FL). The purpose of the annual statewide CARD conference is to provide information on state-of-the-art practices in areas that promote best practices in education, early intervention, and quality community-based lifestyles for individuals with autism, deaf-blindness, and related disabilities. For more information about the scholarship and a digital copy of the application click here. Learn more about the Annual CARD Conference at https://cardconference.info/

After the Diagnosis: Social/Emotional Disorders (Parent Support Group)

November 18, December 2, 5:30PM to 6:30PM. A Parent Support Group for families that have recently received a medical diagnosis for their child. This group will offer resources and guidance on “what to do next” and how to process your child’s diagnosis. Together, we’ll address the mixed emotions that often come with receiving a medical label. We’ll provide information that may be useful for the parent/caregiver as well as the whole family. The more the family understands the characteristics of your child’s diagnosis, the better the family can support the child. Click here to register. For more information please contact [email protected].

Teacher Strategy Hour (online)

November 19, January 28, April 29, 5:30PM to 6:30PM. Teachers, are you running into some challenging behaviors? Are you struggling with specific student behavior? If you said yes, then consider joining Teacher Strategy Hour – a group designed to help you learn new strategies from your peers. Before joining, teachers are requested to share a scenario they are struggling with. During the group session, these scenarios will be discussed collectively, allowing participants to “fish bowl” ideas and strategies for addressing challenging behaviors or working with specific students. All scenarios will be kept anonymous and won’t include individual names. The group’s purpose is to establish a community of educators that openly share strategies and resources within our communities. If you’re looking to enhance your teaching toolkit and connect with fellow educators, Teacher Strategy Hour might be the perfect fit for you. The group will meet once per month virtually. Location: Virtual. Click here to register. For more information contact [email protected].

Parent Training Series – Understanding Executive and Learning Skills to Help Your Child (online)

December 20, Begins at 6:00PM. Executive functioning is coordinated in the brain’s frontal lobe and used to plan, organize, strategize, pay attention, and complete goals. Executive dysfunction creates challenges with impulse control, flexible thinking, task initiation, organization, and working memory. Executive dysfunction affects children’s learning and can make it difficult for them to complete a project, organize their work, complete multistep tasks, and think independently. Executive functioning skills are learned in day to day activities, in real life contexts. This presentation will offer strategies adults can use to teach these skills. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].  

Parent Training Series – Self-Care Strategies for Parents of Individuals with ASD and Developmental Disabilities (online)

December 11, Begins at 6:00PM. This training focuses on research of mental health data over the past few years and also looking at the importance of developing a personal self-care plan in our fast-paced society.  Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].  

Parent Training Series – What About the Others? (online)

December 18, Begins at 6:00PM. Sibling relationships are a vital part in the stability and preservation of the family unit. This presentation will explore the challenges a youth may face while growing up with a sibling who has a disability. The presenter will review topics such as, ways to talk with siblings about applicable family member diagnoses, guiding siblings through the various emotions they may experience, and creating an environment that fosters and supports the needs of the sibling without a disability. Click here to register online. For more information please contact [email protected].  

32nd Annual CARD Conference – Orlando, FL

January 16-19, 2025.  The purpose of the annual statewide CARD conference is to provide information on state-of-the-art practices in areas that promote best practices in education, early intervention, and quality community-based lifestyles for individuals with autism, deaf-blindness, and related disabilities. For more information go to https://cardconference.info/

St. Augustine Fall Sensory Festival

November 9, 2024, 11:00AM-3:00PM. You are cordially invited to join us at the Inaugural St. Augustine Sensory Fall Festival hosted by The Therapeutic Learning Center for Children and St. Johns Community Campus. This event embodies The Arc of the St. Johns’ commitment to providing opportunities and advocacy for individuals and families impacted by developmental differences in St. Johns County and the surrounding areas. We encourage the community at large to participate. We hope you will join us in building community acceptance and support. Together, we can ensure every individual has an opportunity to live full, meaningful, and productive lives. This event will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 11-3 at The Arc of the St. John’s Campus in St. Augustine, FL. We encourage local businesses, service providers, and resources to join us as exhibitors. Exhibitor space is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. To access the exhibitor registration, please use this link: https://forms.gle/sF3F1ku1MHfsF18H6. If you have trouble with the link, an alternate form will be sent upon request. Sponsorship, participation, and volunteer opportunities are available. For additional information, contact Anna Machiz-Dillon at [email protected].

Deck the Chairs event

December 6, 2024, 5:00PM-9:00PM. A beloved Jacksonville Beach holiday tradition featuring more than 60 decorated lifeguard chairs and showcasing five weeks of children’s arts programming. CARD-JAX will have a chair decorated at this event (chair #22) and our staff will be present. Come say hello. Learn more at https://deckthechairs.org/