Adults

Social Activities, Events, and Interest Series Groups for Adults on the Spectrum

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Just for Fun

Feb 16  Workshop: Intro to TV Puppetry for Adults”

AANE in partnership with the Puppet Showplace, New England’s favorite premier destination for puppetry arts for adults is pleased to announce a new workshop “Into to TV Puppetry for Adults” with Sarah Holen, Puppet Showplace Resident Artist.

Learn how professional puppeteers bring Muppet-style mouth and rod puppets to life in this fun class especially designed for AANE affiliates. Once we cover the basics of puppet animation, we’ll try our hands at performing in front of a camera-and-monitor set-up, just like those used by film and television puppeteers. Everyone will have a chance to try exercises for “lip-synch,” maintaining puppet focus, making entrances and exits, and more. A great class for muppet fans and puppetry enthusiasts! The class will take place on Saturday, February 16, 2019 from 4:30-6:30 PM at the Puppet Showplace Theater. The cost is $40 and the class is limited to 10 participants. Puppets will be provided by the instructor, though person puppets are welcome. Register Now

Interest Series Social Groups

Interest groups are designed so that a limited number of members (typically 12 or less) meet for a series of 6 or 8 weekly meetings and participate in activities focused on a shared interest.  These interest group series are designed to create a tight-knit community of interest that may flourish even after the interest series meetings end. Members register and pay in advance for all of the meetings and they should plan to attend all of the meeting in the series.  The cost of each series varies. Financial assistance is available for interest group series. Contact Nancy Schwartz for more information.

Register Now for:

Coming Soon:

  • AANE Trivia Team Interest Series – April 2019
  • Role-Playing Games Interest Series – Summer 2019
  • Creative Writing Interest Series – Fall 2019

 

Women’s Social Events

 

The Boston Evening Clinic grant provides funding for a monthly women’s social event, open to women of any age on the spectrum.  Upcoming events include:

  • January 2019 – Chocolate Festival
  • February 2019 – Creativity for Stress Relief
  • March 2019 – Go to a Movie
  • April 2019 – Yoga
  • May 2019 – Walking the Freedom Trail
  • June 2019 – TBD
  • July 2019 – TBD
  • August 2019 – Farmer’s Market
  • September 2019 – How to cook a healthy meal
  • October 2019 – Foliage Tour

Contact Stephanie Birkdale (stephanie.birkdale@aane.org)  for more details.

 

Book Club for Adults on the Spectrum at the Boston Public Library

AANE and the Boston Public Library have partnered together to offer a free book club for adults on the spectrum.  The group meets for 90 minutes once every 6 to 8 weeks to discuss a book that they have all read and to pick a book to discuss at the next meeting.  Although this group is free and open to any adult on the spectrum, we recommend that you register in advance so that you know what book will be discussed and so that we can contact you in case the group needs to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.

Book for Discussion: The Light Fantastic: A Novel of Discworld
When: Friday, February 15, 2019
Location: Boston Public Library, Mezzanine Conference Room 2
Cost: Free
Hosts:  Stephanie Birkdale and Katie Devine at BPL

 

Pizza & Game Nights

P&G Nights for Adults on the Autism Spectrum meet in person at various locations throughout Massachusetts. Socialize in a safe place, where you can be yourself, play your favorite board games, card games, or interactive computer games, and gorge on pizza.

Cost: $12/event.  Advance registration for each meeting is encouraged, in case we need to cancel or reschedule a meeting due to inclement weather, but newcomers are always welcome.  Online payment preferred, but you can also pay at the door. If financial assistance is required, please contact Stephanie Birkdale (stephanie.birkdale@aane.org).

For the best P&G night experience, we recommend that newcomers contact the group facilitator prior to the meeting to get a brief orientation. Orientations are typically done via phone.

Greater Boston – Watertown, MA —– Pizza and Game Night
2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: AANE office, 51 Water Street, Watetrown, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Nick Gallop

 

Metrowest- Framingham, MA — Pizza & Game Night
3rd Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: SMOC, 300 Howard Street, Framingham, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Nick Gallop

 

North Shore Danvers, MA — Pizza & Game Night
1st Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: North Shore Elder Services; 300 Rosewood Drive, Second Floor, Danvers, MA
Cost: $12
Hosts: Gail Kastorf and Nick Gallop

 

South Area, MA — Westwood Pizza & Game Night
1st Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Arc of South Norfolk, 789 Clapboardtree St., Westwood, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Stephen Nadel

 

Central Mass – Fitchburg, MA — Pizza & Game Night
4th Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Fitchburg State University, McKay Art Academy, Room C192, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg, MA
Cost: $12
Host: David Duval
Contact Stephanie.Birkdale@aane.org for more information.

 

Central Mass – Worcester, MA — Pizza & Game Night
2nd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Worcester State University
Student Center Building, Room 204, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Christian Tsetsos

 

Western Mass – Amherst, MA — Pizza & Game Night
1st Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: UMASS Amherst, Campus Center, Room 917, 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Cindy Wills
Contact Stephanie.Birkdale@aane.org for more information.

 

Western Mass – Holyoke, MA – Pizza & Game Night
4th Thursday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: MCS (Multi-Cultural Services), 260 Westfield Street, Holyoke, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Linda Wynne
Contact Stephanie.Birkdale@aane.org for more information.

 

Western MA Greater Springfield — Pizza & Game Night
1st Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow, 7 Somers Street, East Longmeadow, MA
Cost: $12
Host: Linda Wynne
Contact Stephanie.Birkdale@aane.org for more information.

 

Social/Recreational Groups for Adults with Asperger Profiles – Keene NH

1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 PM (subject to change due to holidays, vacations or weather)
Location: Monadnock Developmental Services, 121 Railroad Street, 2nd Floor, Keene, NH or at a scheduled event location.
Cost: Attending the group is free, but there may be fees for food or event registration. Newcomers are welcome, but they should contact Joanna Andros, 603-852-8168 to arrange an orientation and to find out what activities are scheduled.  Note: AANE does not handle registration for the Keene, NH group.

 

Annual Events and AANE Traditions

  • AANE Halloween Party – The AANE social event of the year. Time to show off your best cosplay and ghoulish humor.  (3rd or 4th Thursday in October)
  • AANE Holiday Party –  Holiday cheer, connect with your AANE friends, and be part of an AANE Yankee Swap. (Dec 13, 2018)
  • AANE Gala – April 2019
  • AANE Adult BBQ – July 2019, A get together at Watertown Arsenal Park for adults on the spectrum. Family and friends are also invited.
  • Red Sox Games – Spring and Late Summer
  • Museum of Fine Arts – Several times a year
  • Tanglewood – July or August
  • Boston Symphony –  Several times a year
  • Rodman Ride for Kids – Usually the 3rd Saturday in September.  Bike 25, 50, or 100 miles to raise money for AANE, sponsor a biker, and come cheer for Team AANE.