treatment of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, at NSSA it’s Halloween!
The annual Halloween party was a smashing success…
Students, clients and staff dressed in costume and enjoyed games, crafts and the fun holiday atmosphere.
Hope everyone had as much fun as we did on Halloween!
NSSA closed out its summer session with the 5th Annual Sibling Day on Thursday, August 18, 2016. Invitations were made to students’ and clients’ families to join us for an afternoon of fun, food and friends.There were indoor and outdoor activities, a waterfall slide bouncy house, wonderful Grill Boys food truck lunch courtesy of NSSA’s Parent Association, and a prize wheel and photo booth (thanks to the artistic stylings of Tori). And kids everywhere! Sliding, swimming, scootering, prize-wheel spinning, swinging and just plain having fun. It was a wonderful way to end the Summer of 2016. See you all in the fall!!!
Lilly Polishuk from Individualized Family Care also taught Barell students how to make cake pops!
Cake batter was mixed with frosting and coloring….
Hand-rolled into balls…
Stuck onto lollipop sticks with melted chocolate…
And iced, decorated, and placed in cellophane bags to be sent home.
There were definitely smiles all around with tubs of smooshed-up cake on the table! Hope some of the cake-pops made it home that day!
Lily Polishuk from Individualized Family Care returned to NSSA last week to lead both adult clients and Barell students in creative projects.
Adult Service clients created a red white and blue wreath out of clothespins just in time to decorate their homes for the 4th of July.
Clients painted and glued clothespins, sorted by color, and attached them to a metal frame.
Thanks, Lilly!
On Tuesday, June 21, Martin C. Barell’s Classroom 1 (and a buddy!), graduated from their 12-week class at Farmingdale Gymnastics Academy.
They demonstrated all their exercises for family and friends – balance beam, tumbling, obstacle course, zipline, and trapeze.
There were dazzling smiles everywhere as the boys flew, swung, and fell into the foam pit.
Friendships were made…
Everyone grouped around to be congratulated for their efforts and progress.
Each gymnast received an award for their special strength:
Best Trampoline
Best Flyer
Best Somersault
Best Trapeze
Best Balance Beam
And Honorary Team Member J. received the award for Best Buddy!
We’d like to thank Farmingdale Gymnastics Academy and especially coaches Serena and Lisa for their teaching skills and wonderful ways with our students.
June 14, 2016 was a proud day here at NSSA. We had three fine young men graduate from the Martin C. Barell school program…in preparation of their entrance into NSSA’s Adult Services program.
Teachers, families, and district personnel have all done a great job in preparing the graduates for their next step at NSSA. Through job sampling or training, the Adult Services program works to ensure that the adults we serve are able to grow and develop to their maximum potential. Our primary concern for the adults we serve is that they continue to grow to their greatest level of independence through employment and skills required of daily living.
Families were beaming with pride as students accepted their certificates from teachers and school district personnel.
After the ceremony there was time for family photos, refreshments and cake.
We wish the graduates every success in this new phase of their lives.
Congratulations, graduates!
It was a perfect day for cycling: cool temps, no humidity, and a strong wind blowing in just the right direction. Bike to the Beach NY 2016 was underway by 5am this past Friday morning, June 10. And for the first time NSSA had not one, but two teams participating in the 100-mile ride to raise awareness and funds for autism.
The wind helped push the riders along at a faster pace than ever before, and the first rider pulled into Rest Stop 6 at Corey Beach in Blue Point, NY a little before 10am. We don’t normally see anyone til close to 11:30!
Soon many riders were coasting into the stop, having ridden 75 miles over the past 5+ hours…and ready for a little break in the shade, some water, energy bars, and iced tea.
NSSA had a table at Rest Stop 6, decorated for National Iced Tea…until those helpful winds blew away all the decorations!
Many riders struggled with flat tires, but Bike to the Beach had us well stocked with bicycle pumps, tubes and tools, and riders were soon on their way.
There was even a tandem bicycle this year – a father and son team.
Samantha Grassle was the first NSSA team rider to appear – Yay, Sam!
The rest of Team NSSA followed closely behind. Shoulder rubs were gratefully received.
NSSA’s Velocipedalers, led by Barell teacher Stacey Leo, were right on Team NSSA’s tail
Team NSSA with their fans and supporters and a proud Mom.
And both NSSA teams – we couldn’t be more proud of them – for doing this ride and for raising money for NSSA.
You can still make donations to the teams by going here, typing NSSA into the search box, and selecting one of the teams to donate to.
We thank Bike to the Beach for letting us be part of this wonderful event once again.
The wonderful students and staff of Smithtown High School East once again hosted a fun evening for NSSA students and clients on April 1, 2016.
They decorated the space and dressed according to a Luau theme and everyone had a great time dancing, snacking and limbo-ing.
The event is geared for students and clients aged 14 and up. Smithtown students encourage dancing and socializing. NSSA staff attends as well.
DJ Matt Figuccio keeps the party lively playing favorite tunes.
Thanks again to Smithtown High School East for being such gracious hosts, we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 was a perfect day for Commack High School’s 5th Annual Student/Teacher Doubles Tournament fundraiser “Tennis for Autism” to raise awareness of autism and NSSA.
Proceeds from the fundraiser were generously donated to NSSA.
Shane Helfner, President of the Suffolk County Tennis Coach’s Association, spearheads this event each year – we’re so fortunate to have such good friends and supporters in the community.
Family and friends, staff and students came out to support the event and players. There was such a genuine feeling of camaraderie among the tennis team and faculty players.
Raffle prizes were announced near the end of the event and there were many happy winners.
Everyone who participated received a medal and the top four places in the tournament received trophies. But everyone involved in the event – from students and faculty, to Shane and parents – are winners as far as we’re concerned.
Thank you Commack HS Boys Varsity Tennis Team, Commack High School faculty, and Shane Helfner for helping to raise awareness of autism and Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism.
Martin C. Barell’s Classroom 1 is our youngest classroom, with six boys between the ages of 7-9. Six (wonderful!) teachers work with them throughout the day from the moment they get off the bus in the morning until they leave to go home at the end of the day. As you can imagine with boys this age, this is a busy classroom! Let’s follow them through a day back last summer…
The boys arrive by bus at 9am.
They greet their friends while learning to unpack and put their backpacks away in their lockers.
Mornings are spent doing goal work, such as reading, counting and sequencing.
And then there’s some time to learn to play with new toys.
The teachers were designing a new bulletin board for the classroom with the theme “Kicking Off to a New Year” so we had a little photo shoot with the boys dressed as football players.
Lunchtime is spent practicing using utensils and napkins appropriately and trying new foods.
Once a week the group takes a yoga class where they learn and practice postures and movements.
After working up a sweat in yoga, the class heads next door to the JCC for swim.
Some are super enthusiastic to get in the pool!
Some are a little more cautious…
But once in, everyone enjoys themselves.
After swim it’s almost time to get ready to pack up to go home.
The end of a long day. See ya tomorrow!