Dr. Lauren has moderated a free parent support group for parents of autistic children since 2009 in her practice (as well as in school settings since 2001). The current group initially was formed by the National Autism Association’s NY Metro chapter in 2009 and took place in Dr. Lauren’s first office in Manhattan. Dr. Lauren moved the group to her Bayside office in 2015. The group transitioned to Zoom in April 2020 (in response to the COVID-19 pandemic), allowing for parents who could not attend in-person access to this community of resources. In 2023, the group transitioned to hybrid, alternating between in-person (Bayside) and Zoom each month, allowing for the rich experience of in-person community, while maintaining accessibility to those with limited childcare and/or transportation.
Dr. Lauren’s parent group is run in memory of Shirael Pollack, a dear friend and fellow former NAA-NYM Board Member. Shirael strongly advocated for parents and families in the autism community, including by providing a low-cost summer day camp for autistic children through NAA-NYM. Shirael believed that parents are the best vehicles to improve their children’s ability to grow and prosper; she left a legacy of empowering and supporting children and families in her professional and personal communities. The parent group was held from 2009-2015 at Watch Me Grow, a center founded and directed by Shirael that provided services to children with neurodevelopmental differences.
Please contact us here for sign-up information.
Connected Growth & Wellbeing 