“Every cold and dark phase ends and hence begins a beautiful phase of warmth and vibrance. Don’t believe? Just notice March."

Quote by Anamika Mishra

Exciting programs are on the horizon!

Presentations, Special Guests & More!

Bravo Brandon!

Congratulations to Brandon Ehrlich who completed the Tropical 5k and the Miami Half Marathon in January 2024! In fact, athletics is where Brandon really shines. Brandon runs as part of Achilles International. The New Jersey Chapter, Achilles NJ, enables people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement.

Peter Leidy Workshops!
April 16 & 17

Peter Leidy will be hosting a series of workshops covering topics that bring us back to the heart of our work. He conducts workshops, develops training materials, writes songs, speaks and sings at conferences, and works with organizations, government agencies, families, and paid supporters to promote positive support, inclusion, building healthy relationships, and thinking differently about people who are called “challenging.” (Peter himself is known to be non-compliant at times and can often be found exhibiting attention-seeking behavior.) Stay tuned for times and locations. Info coming soon!

"Since Peter’s five days of workshops, I’ve been inundated with staff from Orbis and other organizations here saying how uplifting, motivating and invigorating these days were. With humor and music to boot! It recharged their batteries and made them think differently about the important work they do." -Nigel Devine, Owner, Orbis Support, Newcastle, United Kingdom

Do you have a question about how support brokerage can help you self-direct? Send your questions to jennb@eiros-group.com and Jenn will answer them!

Guest Commentary:

Colleen Roche
"From Carbon to Diamonds"

Back in January, on what would turn out to be the warmest day for quite a stretch, I took a ferry ride with a friend who had never been. The worker told us, “Oh, you can go outside if you want. Enjoy!” Typically, I don’t go on the deck, especially after it’s rained because the water is choppy and it’s cold. However, the minute we got out there, I realized why he was so encouraging. The water was incredibly still! It looked like the sun was reflecting off a sheet of glass. Intense little diamond flecks, so bright they irritated my eyes, danced ahead of us as we crossed the river.



Last year was intense and, if the first two weeks of January were any indication of what’s in store for 2024, I’m buckling up for a wild ride! My niece and nephew celebrated their 15th birthday (time flies), several people passed away* and a new baby niece arrived. Over the two months since then, I’ve sincerely wondered, how do people plan and resolve to meet specific goals over the course of a year when tomorrow isn’t promised, yesterday’s often a cloudy blur and right now is more than enough to handle? With to-do lists, calendar invites, zooms, timelines, gym memberships and vision boards a plenty, they plow through, but how? It makes no sense to me. I’m lucky if I remember to look at my mail.

(By the way, my first attempt at creating a vision board happened a few weeks ago, and, apart from the cutting and gluing, the experience was not nearly as stressful as I thought it would be….I might even say it was fun. Give it a try if you’re curious…there are many ways to adapt the process.)

Instead of standard goals and resolutions to achieve by year’s end, I’m keeping those diamond flecks in mind for 2024. Natural diamonds take billions of years to create; they’re works in progress for lifetimes unknown–timeline unspecified. As a work in progress who will get it all wrong most of the time, I hope to: continue shedding my numb silence, navigate an ever icy and narrowing experience of accessibility with humor, patience (with some rage mixed in), and welcome the changing levels of life’s intensities as they ebb and flow within me and throughout our shared community.

Diamonds only form under intense heat and pressure. As disabled people, loved ones, caretakers, friends, staff, direct support professionals, brokers, coordinators and community partners we are ALL familiar with the intense heat and pressures of life. Good news, we already have the ingredients needed to make beautiful things!! In the midst of continually tough times, the diamonds I’d like to cultivate (grow) most this year are peace, trust and joy.

So, I wonder, as winter gives way to spring, what diamonds are you hoping to cultivate (grow) in 2024 and beyond? Let us know!

We are all guilty of it... brb, fwiw, btw, lol... condensing words into acronyms. Sometimes they're a great way to get a point across, or describe a topic. However, there are times that acronyms point to specific terms or programs or services and in the DDD world, we are especially guilty of this! In realizing that not everyone in our world will know what we are referring to, we thought we would dial it back a few steps and create an Acronyms List to help decipher some of those abbreviated terms you may hear. If you have any others you know that you would like to contribute to our growing list, please send us an email! Info@eiros-group.com. The list is here -->

February 9, 2024
An Unforgettable Evening!

Night to Shine was an unforgettable prom night experience, that was celebrated on Friday February 9, 2024.

Night to Shine is a complimentary event for people with special needs hosted by local churches around the world. This annual event is open to anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older.

Members of our teams attended Night to Shine events throughout New Jersey. Shown in the photo above, Eiros family member and customer Richard attending Night to Shine.

More information about NTS2024 is here

Charting the LifeCourse Showcase 2024 Kansas City, Mo.

Eiros Group will be heading to Kansas City next month for the Charting the Life Course Conference, joining a network of advocates, families and professionals to explore how CtLC weaves together personal growth, community engagement, policy advancements and technological innovations to promote self-determination and good lives for all.

Our own amazing advocates, Kristen Mathews, Emily Blohm and Sherry Cameron will be presenting a workshop, "Charting Self-Directed (Not Service-Directed) Lives." We are also looking forward to attending numerous other workshops to engage with others in the DD community to be a part of the rising tide that lifts all boats.

Eiros Group's First Town Hall

On February 20th, Eiros Group held its' first Town Hall meeting, inviting Direct Support Professionals and Direct Support Providers, to discuss any and all topics. During the 2 hour session, the Eiros team, led by Jenn Brown, updated participants in a wide variety of topics, answered questions regarding staffing, housing, NJDDD updates, and much more. The intent of the meeting was to have everyone that is a part of team Eiros meet, get together, and find ways that we can improve to everyone's benefit. We are grateful to everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to join us, and we plan to make this a regular event! Thank you for your input and your time!

Eiros Group Attends the DDD "Conversation Cafe"

Team Eiros attended another well planned and diverse workshop facilitated by the Office of Education on Self-Directed Services Self-Direction.

The opportunity to attend this workshop highlighted the importance of collaboration between Support Brokers and Support Coordinators. Discussing and problem solving with fictional scenarios provided the chance to engage in conversation that promoted questions and answers stemming from each attendees real world experience. These workshops are a way to learn from each other and gain insight into how the two professional roles, Support Broker and Support Coordinator, can work together to assist our customers.



Team Eiros looks forward to attending more workshops, facilitated by Office of Education on Self-Directed Services Self-Direction, to expand on practical skills, enhance our knowledge base and open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

Are you, or someone you know looking for either a way to bring more meaning to their career, or a to join a growing and dynamic group of caring professionals? Then you will want to visit our Work with us page on our website! It is updated regularly, and because we are growing, we have a number of open open positions throughout New Jersey!. Want to learn more? Click here and apply today!

We are growing! We have a number of open positions throughout New Jersey. Want to learn more? Click here and apply today!

Mark your calendars and let's March forward into Spring!

Mark your calendars to attend these free Lunch & Learn webinars on the first Wednesday of each month from 12pm to 1pm

To register, please go to www.parlesrekem.com

• On our home page, click on any event and RSVP.

• When you RSVP, you will receive an email with the link to join the zoom meeting for the event.

• You can also add the event to your calendar.

Navigating the IEP Process: What to Include in an Effective IEP

Denise Dimson Rekem, Esq. and Judith Weinstock, Esq.

April 3, 2024

Key Questions When Selecting (or Creating) a Program for Individuals with Autism or I/DD and Challenging Behaviors

Lisa McCauley Parles, Esq.

May 1, 2024

Eiros Group will be attending the NJACP Conference 3/21 & 3/22 in Atlantic City.

Upcoming events throughout NJ

Below are upcoming fun things to do throughout New Jersey! If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to info@Eiros-Group.com

*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks!

NORTH JERSEY:
Newport Skates
Now-March 15

Roosevelt Park Family Outdoor Skating Rink
Now-March 31

Yoga for the Soul
March 15, 23 and 30: 9am

Newark Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
March 15: 1pm

Shamrock ‘N’ Run
March 16: 10am

Spring Equinox Campfire and Night Hike
March 16: 6pm

North Jersey Spring Warm-Up Indoor Kite Event
March 16: 10am-4pm

Tabletop Tuesday - Board & Card Game night
March 19: 6pm-9pm

Easter Bunny Train Ride and Egg Hunt
March 23, 24, 30 and 31

Special Needs Resource Fair and Family Fun Day
March 23: 11am-1pm

Spring Craft Show - Paramus High School
March 24: 10am-5pm

CENTRAL NEW JERSEY:
Saltwater Fishing Expo
March 15: 12pm

Princeton 5k
March 16: 8:30am

SS Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church Flea & Craft Market
March 16: 9am-3pm

Accordion Melodies of the 1890’s
March 16: 1pm-3pm

Princeton Winter Concerts
March 16: 1pm-4pm

Nature Walks in Toms River
March 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31: 2pm-3pm

Bubble Zone at Casino Pier Arcade
March 16 and 24: 1pm-3pm

Watchung’s Texier Open House Museum
March 17: 2pm-4pm

Purim Carnival
March 17: 11am-2pm

Story & Verse: A Storytelling. Poetic, and Spoken Word Open Mic
March 21: 7pm-8pm

Meet the Filmmakers Night
March 21: 7pm-9pm

Crystals, Stones and More: Advice and Readings with Shannon
March 23: 12pm-4pm

Uncork Spring
March 23: 3pm-8pm

New Brunswick Kennel Club
March 23-25: 8am

W/E Women & Girls Conference
March 23: 9am-1pm

Paint the Pony Purple
March 24: 1pm-5pm

Weequahic Park 5k run and walk challenge
March 24: 8am-11am

Hoboken Mac and Cheese Festival
April 6: 1pm-5pm

SOUTH NEW JERSEY:
DiDonato’s Eggspress
March 16,17,23,24 and 30

Sharrott Trivia Night
March 13: 6:30pm-8:30pm

LRHSD Student Job, Career and Transition Fair
March 14: 4:30pm-7pm

Chess at Ventnor Library
March 16: 12pm-4pm

Women’s Self Defense
March 16: 5pm-6:30pm

Sensory Sunday at Adventure Aquarium
March 17: 9:30am-10:30am

Lenape Spring Craft Show
March 23: 9am

Spring Fling Family Fun Day
March 30: 1pm-3pm

Festival of Tulips
March 30

Autism Awareness Annual Fundraiser
April 14: 1pm

Wheaton Springs
April 6: 10am-4pm

ONGOING

Elizabeth’s Historic Heartline Walking Tour
February 9-December 31

Comedy Therapy-Stand-up Comedy Club
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s

Caregiver Support Group
March 19: 5:30pm-6:30pm

VIRTUAL:
Caregiver Support Group
March 19: 5:30pm-6:30pm

FEMA Cybersecurity Webinar at New Jersey City University
March 20: 12pm-1pm

If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like  it included in our newsletter, please send to info@Eiros-Group.com

*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks! Please note, we are relaying information found on other websites or through other organizations, and doing so as a service. Please confirm event details and information directly.