April 20, 2025 • 12 mins
We spoke with Founder Helen Taylor about an autism event taking place for parents.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. I'm Allison de Merz. You're listening to Community
Access and my guest today is Helen Taylor, founder and
president of the Social Chase.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning, Good morning Austin. How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I'm well, thank you, how are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I'm sign talking with you.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
April is Autism Awareness month?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Correct, it is?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And you started this amazing organization called the Social Chase.
When did it all begin and why so?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
The Social Chase. I became a nonprofit in twenty sixteen,
but before then I was doing activities for eighteens to
adults because there was a lack of services of activities
for that age range in the Waterbury area. I would
(00:46):
I work in Harford, I would travel a way back home,
forty minute drive home to pick up our son, Chase,
and then since I was picking him up, I picked
up a couple others friends and we either would go
to Bristol or go to Wallingford or go to New
Haven at Yelcassie and then drive away back home. It
(01:08):
was such a long day for me and I said,
what am I doing? Why not I just start something
here because there's so many others that were not participating
in the events. I was going to and I knew
that because I was a coach for Special Olympics for
ten years, so I know all those other individuals that
would benefit from these type of social activities. So that's
(01:31):
why I ended up starting it. So I started with
as being a parent. As a nonprofit, I was collaborating
with allto the Speaks. At the times, we were able
to go to Post University and provide game night with
the athletes at Post University and it was bingo and
(01:53):
apples and apples UNO and the Social Chasers, which I
call our family. They loved it and the Post University
athletes loved it so much that they would fight over
who's going to volunteer at game night. It was such
a wonderful experience. So that's how it started. But because
to the Speaks, you know, they are national organizations, they
(02:16):
can't really monitor all the things I was planning on doing,
so that's why I had to become a nonprofit that
do these activities.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
And the name the Social Chase comes from your son's name, Chase.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
It's funny, it's a pun on its name. So it's
it's a double whammy, right, It's actually we're chasing, We're
chasing after them to be social because they some have
social challenges with being not known boundaries and I understand
and social choose. Some have social issues, challenges with not
(02:49):
being able to communicate with their peers or have conversations
with adults. So it was chasing after them be social.
It just happens that, Yeah, why not use my funs.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
So you have this great event that's coming up. It's
the fourth Free Autism Education and Awareness Forum. It's on Saturday,
April twenty sixth, from eight to four.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Take me through the day. What will happen?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Oh my goodness, I'm so excited that we're having this again.
People were there last year to say can you bring
this back? And it's a way from my husband Allen
and I have to pay it forward. We feel that,
you know, the best way to support your loved ones
is by education. And what we did with the fourth
Free Forum is that it's an all day eight am
(03:35):
to four pm. And first off, let me say thank
you to the City of Waterbury for being so supportive,
the Waterbury Arts Manga School for being so supportive, and
the funding from the Connecticut Community Foundation. Without them, this
would not be possible. And of course our friend Christine Foresa.
She's also a sponsor along with Magnan Nick Fly. So
(03:56):
I'm just really excited. So what we're doing is from
eight to four and we have over twenty speakers, and
so today is going to be we have free breakfast
in the morning which is going to be provided by
chef They Miles. So we have a morning session from
nine to ten forty five and we have four workshops there.
(04:19):
So we're very excited that Altima speaks. Doctor Andy schi He,
the Chief Science Officer, is going to be there speaking
about the current state of autism in our community. Andrew
Arbou are very self advocate from Connecticut. He's going to
talk about his journey until adulthood. Christine Torres, she's going
to speak about empowered communication like master and verbal behavior
(04:41):
for language development, which is very amazing because that's always
a challenge for some of us and that we have
that we have come back ABA Therapy. How can I
Help your child? By Kasey Brophy and Jessica Gamacci. During
the morning session, we have another four more places. This
one's almost full government benefits of special needs families by
(05:03):
Michael Buluff. He's an attorney and then lived experienced navigating
as Systems by Sabria Hardy and Darlene Boord is coming back.
She's with the micro business. Self employment brings purpose every
day and it's a wonderful way for anyway. What doesn't
matter what end of the spectrum you are, that there's
(05:23):
something that we can do is so she's creating this
wonderful program for micro businesses for being self employed, whether
your profile autoism or on the other end. And one
of the most amazing things that we have is a
pard O k it's a speaking Spanish workshop with Jeri
Cruz for the family support and that connective family support
(05:46):
network's completely in Spanish. And that was the result of
feedback from our last event. I send out a survey
and we listen to see people. You know, that's very
important and so we're very excited about that one. And
also then we have lunch, so we're not only having
lunch by Magnamic Flies, but during lunch we're having asked
(06:06):
the lawyer. So it was a great idea by Steve
Ruben attorney Steve Ruben attorney Jeffrey for it. It's going
to be there as well as Melissa Gagney they're going
to be there to answer your questions that would you
know how we know how much lawyers cost, So this
is a very beneficial event as well. It's going to
(06:26):
be during lunch, could be of a very tight schedule,
and then afternoon at one fifteen we have three more
workshops from one fifteen to two fifteen we have Focused
Center for Autism coming back spectrum of Plugged with the
self advocates that was very popular. We need to hear
it their voices too, and also advocating by Julie Swanson
(06:46):
as you know she's a big advocate, the life skilled lady.
And then we Havendicating Challenging Behaviors by Lee and Mailman.
That's going to be another great session. And then after
the session, the final set we're gonna have supporting Autism
Adults in the Workplace. That's by Julie Woolf from Yale
University and those shipping from protecting it from from protecting
(07:09):
it to empowering by Nicole Collins. And then Healthcare Accommodations
for Autism and other developmental disabilities by wall Plum. And
the fun we have is the art of the therapy
of art with Bibianna Elizabeth, so she's gonna do some
art and explain how it's a great therapeutic session for
for the parents. I also want to add I forgot
(07:30):
to mention that we do have a paid for it panel,
and I was amiss and say that. So we have
a paid forward panel, which is the parent panel, and
so we're gonna be sitting down discussing like share paid
It's called paid forwards because we're sharing arts, you needs
journeys with others. So on that one, we have Emmanuel Palmers,
(07:51):
we have Stephen Polowski, the dad. Lynnon Norris is the mom,
Tony Pinciro a mom. And another panel we have is
is profound Ato the panel, and that is going to
also include Darlene Boord, Bets Lambert Injury, and Benjamin who's
(08:13):
been up there at the Capitol trying to get certain
things done with the certain certain laws of regulations, tasks
for individual individual profiles, also to give them the support
that they need and get some data from the states
and live our Arizona. So it's as you can see,
I'm talking fast because there's so much going on and
(08:35):
I'm just super excited that we have this that we
provide this, and again it's not possible without support of
the City of Waterbury. The Mayor's office has been wonderful
reassis from the principal at Ram's supportive of her whole
team because this takes a lot of technology and lot
(09:00):
of tables. So we're also looking for as volunteers if
you learn a volunteer. But anyways, I just want to
say it's something that we feel. It's important that we
understand that you know, there's workshops and conferences out there
and you have to pay for them, but everyone cannot
afford those, and so that's why Allen and I do
(09:23):
this because we want people who just just because you
just don't have money, as I mean, you don't get educated.
So this is really important for us to educate all
We are going to be closing up the registration very
soon because it is literally next Saturday. So please register
(09:43):
on www. Doessocial Chase dot org quickly because I am
going to be closing up because we have a lot
to get prepared for them.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So you have over twenty resource vendors that are going
to be there as well.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Oh yeah, so so we have over twenty resource vendors,
but also the speakers are also going to have the
vendor tables as well, so that's really so we're going
to have over forty tables there of information, so we're excited.
Spark Yale, Spark for Yelle, coming Back for Roger, Joe Tasa,
Torchon Area Families for Autism. They also have a nonprofit
(10:16):
organization and a walk coming up. Connect Get Music Therapy,
Beach Pathology Group. Now the State of Connecticut also in
the services is going to be there, so you ask
questions as r C Clipper Bearers, Connect Get Music Therapy,
Water Based Special Olympics, Sun Moon and Stars. We're all
going to have two of our Social Chasers, Jordan Lopez
(10:38):
and Chase Taylor, who are both authors who are going
to be selling their books there, and one of my favorites,
Waterby Police Department. They'll have the blue envelopes and also
your registration to register your child in the system, so
if you get a call from the police department, they
know how to handle your loved one when they approach them,
(10:59):
which is very important. Connect to Auto them and Language
lab empower Education.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Yukon Kids is going to be there.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
From the Yukon Hospital. I'm Carolin Little Bridges, which is
a therapeutic horseback writing which Chase also participated in, which
I highly recommend it.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Well, this is an amazing event.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
As I said earlier, this is for adults only, and
there's a reason for that because these people walk the
walk and talk the talk, and if you need any
kind of guidance, this is the place to be. It's
happening Saturday, April twenty sixth. Please register today. Go to
the Social Chase dot org. If you'd like to make
a donation or perhaps volunteer or find out about any
(11:45):
of their events, just go to that website again. It's
the Social Chase dot org.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Again.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
It's the fourth free Autism education and Awareness Forum. Sarah
Cody will be there as the host.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Thank you so much. I'm speaking with Helen Taylor, founder
and president of this Social Chase. Thank you so much
for being here today.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Thank you
Good morning. I'm Allison de Merz. You're listening to Community
Access and my guest today is Helen Taylor, founder and
president of the Social Chase.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning, Good morning Austin. How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I'm well, thank you, how are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I'm sign talking with you.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
April is Autism Awareness month?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Correct, it is?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And you started this amazing organization called the Social Chase.
When did it all begin and why so?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
The Social Chase. I became a nonprofit in twenty sixteen,
but before then I was doing activities for eighteens to
adults because there was a lack of services of activities
for that age range in the Waterbury area. I would
(00:46):
I work in Harford, I would travel a way back home,
forty minute drive home to pick up our son, Chase,
and then since I was picking him up, I picked
up a couple others friends and we either would go
to Bristol or go to Wallingford or go to New
Haven at Yelcassie and then drive away back home. It
(01:08):
was such a long day for me and I said,
what am I doing? Why not I just start something
here because there's so many others that were not participating
in the events. I was going to and I knew
that because I was a coach for Special Olympics for
ten years, so I know all those other individuals that
would benefit from these type of social activities. So that's
(01:31):
why I ended up starting it. So I started with
as being a parent. As a nonprofit, I was collaborating
with allto the Speaks. At the times, we were able
to go to Post University and provide game night with
the athletes at Post University and it was bingo and
(01:53):
apples and apples UNO and the Social Chasers, which I
call our family. They loved it and the Post University
athletes loved it so much that they would fight over
who's going to volunteer at game night. It was such
a wonderful experience. So that's how it started. But because
to the Speaks, you know, they are national organizations, they
(02:16):
can't really monitor all the things I was planning on doing,
so that's why I had to become a nonprofit that
do these activities.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
And the name the Social Chase comes from your son's name, Chase.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
It's funny, it's a pun on its name. So it's
it's a double whammy, right, It's actually we're chasing, We're
chasing after them to be social because they some have
social challenges with being not known boundaries and I understand
and social choose. Some have social issues, challenges with not
(02:49):
being able to communicate with their peers or have conversations
with adults. So it was chasing after them be social.
It just happens that, Yeah, why not use my funs.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
So you have this great event that's coming up. It's
the fourth Free Autism Education and Awareness Forum. It's on Saturday,
April twenty sixth, from eight to four.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Take me through the day. What will happen?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Oh my goodness, I'm so excited that we're having this again.
People were there last year to say can you bring
this back? And it's a way from my husband Allen
and I have to pay it forward. We feel that,
you know, the best way to support your loved ones
is by education. And what we did with the fourth
Free Forum is that it's an all day eight am
(03:35):
to four pm. And first off, let me say thank
you to the City of Waterbury for being so supportive,
the Waterbury Arts Manga School for being so supportive, and
the funding from the Connecticut Community Foundation. Without them, this
would not be possible. And of course our friend Christine Foresa.
She's also a sponsor along with Magnan Nick Fly. So
(03:56):
I'm just really excited. So what we're doing is from
eight to four and we have over twenty speakers, and
so today is going to be we have free breakfast
in the morning which is going to be provided by
chef They Miles. So we have a morning session from
nine to ten forty five and we have four workshops there.
(04:19):
So we're very excited that Altima speaks. Doctor Andy schi He,
the Chief Science Officer, is going to be there speaking
about the current state of autism in our community. Andrew
Arbou are very self advocate from Connecticut. He's going to
talk about his journey until adulthood. Christine Torres, she's going
to speak about empowered communication like master and verbal behavior
(04:41):
for language development, which is very amazing because that's always
a challenge for some of us and that we have
that we have come back ABA Therapy. How can I
Help your child? By Kasey Brophy and Jessica Gamacci. During
the morning session, we have another four more places. This
one's almost full government benefits of special needs families by
(05:03):
Michael Buluff. He's an attorney and then lived experienced navigating
as Systems by Sabria Hardy and Darlene Boord is coming back.
She's with the micro business. Self employment brings purpose every
day and it's a wonderful way for anyway. What doesn't
matter what end of the spectrum you are, that there's
(05:23):
something that we can do is so she's creating this
wonderful program for micro businesses for being self employed, whether
your profile autoism or on the other end. And one
of the most amazing things that we have is a
pard O k it's a speaking Spanish workshop with Jeri
Cruz for the family support and that connective family support
(05:46):
network's completely in Spanish. And that was the result of
feedback from our last event. I send out a survey
and we listen to see people. You know, that's very
important and so we're very excited about that one. And
also then we have lunch, so we're not only having
lunch by Magnamic Flies, but during lunch we're having asked
(06:06):
the lawyer. So it was a great idea by Steve
Ruben attorney Steve Ruben attorney Jeffrey for it. It's going
to be there as well as Melissa Gagney they're going
to be there to answer your questions that would you
know how we know how much lawyers cost, So this
is a very beneficial event as well. It's going to
(06:26):
be during lunch, could be of a very tight schedule,
and then afternoon at one fifteen we have three more
workshops from one fifteen to two fifteen we have Focused
Center for Autism coming back spectrum of Plugged with the
self advocates that was very popular. We need to hear
it their voices too, and also advocating by Julie Swanson
(06:46):
as you know she's a big advocate, the life skilled lady.
And then we Havendicating Challenging Behaviors by Lee and Mailman.
That's going to be another great session. And then after
the session, the final set we're gonna have supporting Autism
Adults in the Workplace. That's by Julie Woolf from Yale
University and those shipping from protecting it from from protecting
(07:09):
it to empowering by Nicole Collins. And then Healthcare Accommodations
for Autism and other developmental disabilities by wall Plum. And
the fun we have is the art of the therapy
of art with Bibianna Elizabeth, so she's gonna do some
art and explain how it's a great therapeutic session for
for the parents. I also want to add I forgot
(07:30):
to mention that we do have a paid for it panel,
and I was amiss and say that. So we have
a paid forward panel, which is the parent panel, and
so we're gonna be sitting down discussing like share paid
It's called paid forwards because we're sharing arts, you needs
journeys with others. So on that one, we have Emmanuel Palmers,
(07:51):
we have Stephen Polowski, the dad. Lynnon Norris is the mom,
Tony Pinciro a mom. And another panel we have is
is profound Ato the panel, and that is going to
also include Darlene Boord, Bets Lambert Injury, and Benjamin who's
(08:13):
been up there at the Capitol trying to get certain
things done with the certain certain laws of regulations, tasks
for individual individual profiles, also to give them the support
that they need and get some data from the states
and live our Arizona. So it's as you can see,
I'm talking fast because there's so much going on and
(08:35):
I'm just super excited that we have this that we
provide this, and again it's not possible without support of
the City of Waterbury. The Mayor's office has been wonderful
reassis from the principal at Ram's supportive of her whole
team because this takes a lot of technology and lot
(09:00):
of tables. So we're also looking for as volunteers if
you learn a volunteer. But anyways, I just want to
say it's something that we feel. It's important that we
understand that you know, there's workshops and conferences out there
and you have to pay for them, but everyone cannot
afford those, and so that's why Allen and I do
(09:23):
this because we want people who just just because you
just don't have money, as I mean, you don't get educated.
So this is really important for us to educate all
We are going to be closing up the registration very
soon because it is literally next Saturday. So please register
(09:43):
on www. Doessocial Chase dot org quickly because I am
going to be closing up because we have a lot
to get prepared for them.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So you have over twenty resource vendors that are going
to be there as well.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Oh yeah, so so we have over twenty resource vendors,
but also the speakers are also going to have the
vendor tables as well, so that's really so we're going
to have over forty tables there of information, so we're excited.
Spark Yale, Spark for Yelle, coming Back for Roger, Joe Tasa,
Torchon Area Families for Autism. They also have a nonprofit
(10:16):
organization and a walk coming up. Connect Get Music Therapy,
Beach Pathology Group. Now the State of Connecticut also in
the services is going to be there, so you ask
questions as r C Clipper Bearers, Connect Get Music Therapy,
Water Based Special Olympics, Sun Moon and Stars. We're all
going to have two of our Social Chasers, Jordan Lopez
(10:38):
and Chase Taylor, who are both authors who are going
to be selling their books there, and one of my favorites,
Waterby Police Department. They'll have the blue envelopes and also
your registration to register your child in the system, so
if you get a call from the police department, they
know how to handle your loved one when they approach them,
(10:59):
which is very important. Connect to Auto them and Language
lab empower Education.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Yukon Kids is going to be there.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
From the Yukon Hospital. I'm Carolin Little Bridges, which is
a therapeutic horseback writing which Chase also participated in, which
I highly recommend it.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Well, this is an amazing event.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
As I said earlier, this is for adults only, and
there's a reason for that because these people walk the
walk and talk the talk, and if you need any
kind of guidance, this is the place to be. It's
happening Saturday, April twenty sixth. Please register today. Go to
the Social Chase dot org. If you'd like to make
a donation or perhaps volunteer or find out about any
(11:45):
of their events, just go to that website again. It's
the Social Chase dot org.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Again.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
It's the fourth free Autism education and Awareness Forum. Sarah
Cody will be there as the host.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Thank you so much. I'm speaking with Helen Taylor, founder
and president of this Social Chase. Thank you so much
for being here today.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Thank you
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.