Events

TOPSTONE Family Story Time Co-Sponsored by the Redding Department of Parks & Rec (ages birth-5)

Tuesday, April 30

10:30 am - 11:00 am

MTL Story Times @ Topstone Pond: Co-sponsored by the Redding Department of Parks & Recreation Let's enjoy the outdoors together! We'll gather at Topstone beach for an outdoor Family Story Time with books, songs, and flannel board stories. Please bring your own beach chairs/ beach blankets. REGISTRATION REQUIRED; include your phone number for a text update in case of inclement weather. Photos and or videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.

Paths To Autistic Empowerment: Open Communication and Self-Advocacy

Tuesday, April 30

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Registration Required Below April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time for sharing stories and providing opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism. Jeremy Farrell, an Autism Spectrum Disorder Advocate, provides a roadmap to help those with autism and their loved ones find ways toward open communication and advocacy. As an autistic individual who has been on his own personal journey, Jeremy has unique insight on cultivating autistic empowerment. Jeremy goes beyond the textbook “dos and don’ts” for those on or off the autism spectrum, providing actionable steps toward empowerment. Jeremy will use examples from his personal and professional life to provide a comprehensive understanding of the common barriers autistic individuals face in everyday life and how to break through those barriers. Jeremy K. Farrell is a passionate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Advocate and a proud person on the spectrum himself. He has been working with children with developmental disabilities, specializing in autism, since the age of 15. Since graduating from Southern Connecticut State University, he has run social skills groups for kids through Western Connecticut Behavioral Health. He has also worked with autism-focused organizations to provide recreational resources for clients. He spent time working as a University Assistant for Southern Connecticut State University, where he traveled around the state as the Leader of Community Outreach and Recruitment for the Listening to Faces Speech and Language Autism research with Yale’s Child Study Center.   About Our Speaker Jeremy K. Farrell is a passionate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Advocate and a proud person on the spectrum himself. He has been working with children with developmental disabilities, specializing in autism, since the age of 15. Since graduating from Southern Connecticut State University, he has run social skills groups for kids through Western Connecticut Behavioral Health. He has also worked with autism-focused organizations to provide recreational resources for clients. He spent time working as a University Assistant for Southern Connecticut State University, where he traveled around the state as the Leader of Community Outreach and Recruitment for the Listening to Faces Speech and Language Autism research with Yale’s Child Study Center. In his role as the Director of Family and Personal Growth at Planning Across the Spectrum, Jeremy has consulted with businesses and organizations, aiding them in understanding autism to effectively serve their autistic clients. More recently, he has been involved as a Certified Job Coach for the Connecticut Autism Waiver program, empowering autistic adults to establish their own businesses and advocating for the autistic community by offering webinars and presentations built on what he’s learned through his personal and professional life