Autism Society of Maryland

11/15/2025

Drive-Thru Santa Visit – Sensory-Friendly!
Kick off the holiday season with a special Drive-Thru Visit with Santa — a sensory-friendly event designed for comfort and joy!
Saturday, November 15
2:00–3:00 PM
10805 Hickory Ridge Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
Wave to Santa from your car or hop out for a photo with the big guy himself! This event is FREE, rain or shine, and open to children of all ages and abilities.
Sponsored by - Stephanie Maric, Realtor – Legal Team of Long & Foster
No registration needed — just bring your holiday cheer!

11/13/2025

Thank you to everyone who came out for last Saturday’s Nor’Easter Beard & Mustache Competition hosted by the Bearded Gentleman Contest! Your enthusiasm, creativity, and community spirit made the day feel truly special.

A heartfelt thank-you to Don Barrick for serving as a judge and bringing such great energy to the event. And a big shoutout to the Bearded Gentleman of Maryland whose hard work made everything run smoothly!

Because of everyone who participated, donated, and cheered us on, $2,800 was raised for AUSOM. Your support helps us continue building programs and resources that uplift autistic individuals and families in our community.

Thank you for every whisker, smile, and generous heart that made this event such a success. For more information on this amazing association please visit here: https://whiskerbattles.com/about-whisker-battles-mustache-and-beard-calendar/.

11/10/2025

🎅✨ Drive-Thru Santa Visit – Sensory-Friendly! ✨🎅

Kick off the holiday season with a special Drive-Thru Visit with Santa — a sensory-friendly event designed for comfort and joy!

🗓 Saturday, November 15
🕑 2:00–3:00 PM
📍 10805 Hickory Ridge Rd, Columbia, MD 21044

Wave to Santa from your car or hop out for a photo with the big guy himself! 🎄 This event is FREE, rain or shine, and open to children of all ages and abilities.

🎁 Sponsored by - Stephanie Maric, Realtor – Legal Team of Long & Foster

No registration needed — just bring your holiday cheer! ❤️

11/10/2025

🦋 Maryland’s Eric’s Law: Supporting Hidden Disabilities
Maryland residents can now choose to add a butterfly symbol to their driver’s license or ID to show they have a hidden (developmental or intellectual) disability. This optional symbol helps first responders and law enforcement better understand and support a person’s needs during an interaction.
💡 Key Facts:

The butterfly symbol is voluntary and can be added or removed anytime through your myMVA account or an MVA kiosk.

If it’s the only change you’re making, there’s no fee.

No proof or explanation of disability is required.

You can also request a Blue Card, a wallet-sized developmental disability disclosure card designed to help communicate with law enforcement.
🔗 Learn more or request yours here: https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/Persons-With-Disabilities.aspx
🎥 Watch the MVA’s Eric’s Law video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJ7D_ZXWaQ

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

11/10/2025

AUSOM Dads—This One’s for You!

Join us for Dads’ Night Out this Wednesday, November 12 from 6–8 PM at Kelsey’s Restaurant! https://www.kelseysrestaurant.com/

Take a break, recharge, and connect with other fathers in the autism community. It’s a relaxed, welcoming evening to share experiences, swap stories, and enjoy some good food and company.

No registration needed—just show up and ask for Brad when you get there!

11/10/2025

Now Accepting Applications!

The Autism Hiring Program is currently seeking candidates for our Winter Cohort! This unique program helps autistic job seekers build skills, gain confidence, and connect with employers who value neurodiversity in the workplace.

If you’re ready to explore meaningful employment opportunities, we encourage you to apply today!

🗓️ Application Deadline: December 10
📍 Learn more and apply here: https://autismsocietymd.org/autism-hiring-program/ #:~:text=NOTE%20on%20RESIDENCY%3A%20Please%20check%20residency%20requirements%20for%20each%20program%20location.

11/09/2025

Your Feedback Makes a Difference! HELP IMPROVE AUSOM'S IMPACT IN 2026
Please complete AUSOM's 2025 Annual Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRKTV68

The Autism Society of Maryland is committed to improving and expanding our services to best meet the needs of the Autism community. Your input as a valued member of our community guides our work and programming in the year ahead. Help us better understand how we're doing. We invite you to share your perspective by taking a few minutes to complete AUSOM's Annual Survey. THANK YOU!

11/06/2025

Le invitamos a nuestra reunión comunitaria/sesión interactiva de noviembre para la comunidad hispanohablante

¡La Administración de Discapacidades del Desarrollo (DDA por sus sigla en inglés) del Departamento de Salud de Maryland quiere recibir sus comentarios y pensamientos! Acompáñenos en nuestra próxima reunión comunitaria, en la cual compartiremos noticias sobre lo que está sucediendo en la DDA y le pediremos diálogo abierto sobre los temas que más le importan.

La reunión se llevará a cabo virtualmente el 10 de noviembre de 2025, de las 6:00 p.m. a las 8:00 p.m. ¡Por favor, regístrese a continuación para la próxima sesión!

Lunes, 10 de noviembre de 2025
Hora: 6 - 8 p.m. 
INSCRÍBASE AQUÍ: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_3A1I8jkRdyTCMr-UFLw1A #/registration

Para ver las grabaciones de seminarios web/reuniones comunitarias anteriores, visite el canal de YouTube de MarylandDDA: lista de reproducción de reuniones comunitarias. Para recibir actualizaciones e información sobre los seminarios web, únase a la lista de correo electrónico de la DDA.

You Are Invited to our November DDA Spanish Speaking Community Meeting Listening Session

The Maryland Department of Health’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) wants to hear from you! Join us at our next Community meeting, where we will share updated information about what’s happening at DDA and invite open discussion about the issues that matter most to you.

The meeting will be held virtually for a Spanish Speaking Listening Session on November 10, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Please register below for the upcoming session!

Monday, November 10, 2025
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_3A1I8jkRdyTCMr-UFLw1A #/registration

For recordings of past Community Meeting webinars, visit the DDA Maryland YouTube channel: Community Meeting playlist. To receive updates and webinar information, join the DDA email list.

11/06/2025

📣 Research Opportunity for Autistic Teens and Young Adults

Children’s National Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are partnering on an important new study focused on helping autistic youth build stronger daily living skills and improve quality of life as they transition out of high school.

Researchers are exploring how access to services, self-determination, and executive functioning skills (like problem-solving and planning) affect independence in areas such as self-care, home life, and getting around in the community.

For more information please visit the SOAR website: https://www.childrensnationalcasd.com/soar
or download this flyer:https://autismsocietymd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SOAR_Flyer_Final_QR-1.pdf

Who can participate:

Autistic teens or young adults (or those who meet eligibility based on screening)

In their last two years of high school or enrolled in a transition program

Have a full-scale IQ (FSIQ) greater than 50

This study is led by Dr. Lauren Kenworthy (Children’s National Hospital) and Dr. Benjamin Yerys (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) and supported by a grant titled “A Longitudinal Study Identifying Psychological and Service Delivery Targets to Improve Daily Living Skills and Quality of Life Outcomes Among Transition-age Autistic Youth.”

📧 To learn more or see if you qualify, contact Alejandro Todd at datodd@childrensnational.org

Every study like this brings us closer to understanding how to better support autistic teens and young adults as they grow toward independence!

11/06/2025

The weather is looking great to head on out for this fall fundraiser!

Get ready for some seriously impressive facial hair — all for a great cause! 🧔

Join us Saturday, November 8 from 12pm - 6pm at for the Nor’Easter Beard & Mustache Competition, hosted by The Bearded Gentlemen of Maryland & Ladies Social Club. For more information please visit :https://www.facebook.com/events/s/noreaster-beard-mustache-compe/1091168126179796/

Our past president and members of the AUSOM Board of Directors, Don Barrick, will be among the judges, and we can’t wait to cheer on the competitors using their beard powers for good!

All proceeds from this whisker-filled showdown will benefit the Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM).

Whisker Battles celebrates connection, creativity, and charitable giving through the art of facial hair — proving that even beards can make a big difference! Learn more here about this amazing event: https://whiskerbattles.com/event/noreaster-beard-mustache-competition/

This year we’re rocking out on the creek to support Autism research and resources in our community