Juvenile Resource

Networking Group for Parents of Autistic, AD/HD, and Other Neurodivergent Kids


This class is open to the public FREE of charge – be sure to click on the “Disclaimer” link, down below, in order to read the Disclaimer details/agreement before proceeding with participating in this class/group. Any questions? – please don’t hesitate to ask.

  • This class is NOT specifically “for” the parents of Juvenile Court-involved kids with Autism, though these parents ARE certainly welcome to attend as well.
  • Children/teens do not attend this class, but only adult parents, teachers, caregivers, and other interested adults can attend.
  • This class IS for parents of Autistic children of all ages. Even if your Autistic child is an adult who is still dependent on your support to one degree or another, you are welcome to attend.
  • Unless the court is directly involved with your family/child and has established specific expectations for attendance, you are free to come to class/group or not come. You can even come at 6:00 and leave any time before 7:30 if need be. If you are coming voluntarily, you do not have to sign-in, and I will not be "keeping track" of you in any way. This class/group is meant to be anonymous if you'd like for it to be; I do not "need" to even know your last name unless you share it with me. 
  • However, if you do share your email address with me, then I would use it for sharing additional resources with you in that way. 
  • Childcare is not available for this class at this time, unfortunately; however, that is why we have made a virtual option available through the Microsoft Teams link that you can find down below.
  • For each class you’ll be attending in person OR via Microsoft Teams, you'll need to: 

(The classroom has only 14 seats, so, I do need to keep an eye on how many are planning on showing up in-person. If, for example, 17 people RSVP for attending in-person, I will reply to the last three RSVP emails received and ask that these folks attend via Teams instead; or, “extra” people can come to the building, sit in the lobby or in their vehicle, attend via Microsoft Teams, and then mingle with other parents at 7:30 PM when class ends. The best way to be sure you get a seat is to RSVP on Wednesday for class/group on the following Tuesday).


This image contains basic information about the time, day of the week, and location of the Autism parenting class, along with the URL address of the webpage itself.


Please be sure to read all of the following important details:

  • CANCELLATION(S): Class will NOT be held in-person or via Microsoft Teams on the following dates in 2026: Tuesday 8/4. 
  • NO IN-PERSON CLASS - using Microsoft Teams app ONLY: N/A at this time. 
  • Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM every Tuesday evening (except for any cancellations due to vacation, illness, or a lack of RSVPs - see dates listed above). Text or call Greg Handleton at his Google Voice number (513.427.2269) if you need to reach him during regular business hours or on a Tuesday afternoon until 4:00 or 4:30 PM (unless class IS being held, in which case he will be in the office all afternoon).
  • Location: The Clermont County Juvenile Community Resource Center: 2339 Clermont Center Dr. - Batavia, OH - 45103.
  • Childcare: None at this time, although conversations are happening behind the scenes to try to get a solid plan in place. If you are a parent of an Autistic child, if you feel you have the right knowledge and temperament, and if you are willing to help out in one way or another, please let me know ... because one option might POSSIBLY be that, in the future, parents end up taking turns providing childcare for one another's children on a rotating basis. 
  • Microsoft Teams link: https://teams.live.com/meet/9311415844780?p=bdzdiTcYIe1cHkeKBX. This is a permanent link that can and will be used as long as the class/group is running. Virtual attendees are encouraged to remove their last name from their Microsoft Teams avatar if they’d like to remain anonymous.
  • If you’re new, first watch this pre-recorded video which contains all of the necessary introductory information: [https://youtu.be/bQl2q0MOxRc]. This video contains the necessary introductory information, including an important Disclaimer (see link for the Disclaimer below, as well). It is highly recommended that all newcomers watch this video immediately before attending their first class either in-person or via Microsoft Teams. Attendance implies that a person has read and agrees with all of the Disclaimer information. If someone desiring to attend this class/group via Microsoft Teams is unable to watch this introductory video ahead of time, please look elsewhere on this webpage for a copy of the Microsoft PowerPoint curriculum, the second slide of which is the slide containing the same Disclaimer information. In-person attendees will be handed a physical copy of the Disclaimer upon their arrival. The primary reason as to why this is so important is because this class covers a very broad range of information when it comes to interventions, resources, products, and skills; there is also, like in any field, imperfect agreement – even amongst professionals – as to which interventions, resources, products, and skills are best, which are acceptable, and which might even be considered to be experimental, “grass roots,” “unvetted,” or unacceptable. Therefore it is important for participants to agree to the Disclaimer before participating because the class facilitator cannot possibly make sure that all information is 100% accurate and vetted in the eyes of all professionals in the field of Autism assessment and treatment.
    • This video was recorded BEFORE changes were made to the class (1) time, (2) location, and (3) Microsoft Teams link. So, please ignore the false information in this video about these three pieces of information. The correct times, location, and Microsoft Teams link are to be found next to the bullet points, above.
  • Now in 2026 one in every 31 kids (and one in every 20 boys) is suffering from some degree of Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder – ASD), 95% of these kids also have sensory issues and struggles, and this percentage doesn’t even take into consideration the number of kids (both with ASD and those who are “neurotypical”) struggling with AD/HD. In order to begin to meet a need in our community, our Resource Center staff member, Greg Handleton MA, LPCC-S, TRCC (licensed therapist) has started this FREE class/support group at the designated location.


Class Curriculum:

The following links will take you to each topical "chapter" of the curriculum. You are free to scroll through and read any/all of these resources at your leisure whether or not you attend the class/networking group or not! Chapters will be updated on approximately a monthly basis. Please know that the "Disclaimer" handout, below the "Class Handouts" heading, below, applies to all curriculum chapters and handouts. By clicking on and/or downloading any one of these files, you will be able to join the class via Microsoft Teams and will then be able to follow-along with class discussions on your computer, laptop, or tablet. Downloading any PDFs will also allow you to do your own research in between classes. This material is being made available free of charge with the permission of PESI.com (who owns the copyright to a lot of the material contained in the PowerPoint slides; non-PESI-cited slides are the result of efforts by the class facilitator). If you download any PDF file, you are solely responsible for what you do with it/them and the consequences of any/all related actions you take. You are also responsible for reading the Disclaimer (see Handouts, below) on your own, and its terms will apply to you even if you do not agree with them and/or do not actually participate in the class.

It is recommended that you start with the "chapter," below, entitled, Autism Class Introduction: 


Class Handouts:

Note: Several of the longer PDFs are resources that are available for free from the respective organization’s website; they’re included here even though it’s just as easy to go to their website and download the same item for free. Also, the reason some of these handouts have to do with nutrition and gut health is because more and more research is showing that a statistically significant link exists between poor gut health and the symptoms of Autism. In addition, these resources, like the primary curriculum chapters (see link, above) are for educational and research purposes only and are not to be constituted as psychological or medical advice. These resources should only be used in conjunction with your own and/or your child's medical and mental health providers. 

Please note that the PDF entitled, “Parenting in the Wake of Past Trauma” is for all parents, not just parents of an Autistic child … its focus is on helping parents to better understand the impact of their own childhood trauma experiences on their current feelings and functioning as a parent. 

The 'Weekly Order of Business' is a proposed structure for class/group time that will be followed once more people are in attendance.

Indeed, some of these handouts might be thought of as being useful only for parents of neurotypical kids, but I’ve included them here because I believe they also have some usefulness for parents of an Autistic child as well (i.e., 5 Love Languages, Learning Styles, Showing Love & Affection, and Trauma Training for Parents):

Book Titles Available:

If you would like to schedule a time to come to the office to do some reading, here are the book titles that we currently have available for on-site reading only (i.e., we will not be loaning any books out):

* Ohio's Parent Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders (Second Edition) - developed by Ohio parents, for Ohio parents (available as a free PDF download through the OCALI.org)

* Safe and Sound: A Polyvagal Approach for Connection, Change, and Healing - by Dr. Stephen Porges and Karen Onderko.

* Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World - by Raun K. Kaufman (Director of Global Education for the Autism Treatment Center of America) (Note: Raun USED TO BE severely Autistic as a child, but has been symptom-free since the 1970s).

* Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues - by Barry Neil Kaufman (father of Raun K. Kaufman)

* Naturally Recovering Autism: The Complete Step-by-Step Resource Handbook for Parents - by Karen Thomas CMT, CST-D (Includes prevention information on Autism, ADD, allergies, and more).

* The Unbreakable Brain: Shield Your Brain From Cognitive Decline ... For Life! - by Will Mitchell LAc, DOM (NM), MS Nutrition.

* The Whole-Brain Guide to Raising Neurodivergent Kids - Modern Edition with Guided Workbook: 7 Science-Backed Strategies to Emotionally Coach ADHD, Autistic, and Sensory-Sensitive Children - by the Emergence Institute (for questions about Autism specific to your child, you can get free support via email at emergenceinstitute1@gmail.com).

* Anyone Who Tells You Vaccines Are Safe and Effective is Lying - by Vernon Coleman.

* Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Dyspraxia, Autism, ADD, Dyslexia, ADHD, Depression, Schizophrenia (Revised and Expanded Edition) - by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, MMedSci (neurology), MMedSci (nutrition).

* The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Differences (Third Edition) - by Carol Stock Kranowitz MA.

* Coconut Oil: The World's Most Powerful Superfood - by Dr. Bruce Fife.

* Self-Regulation and Mindfulness Activities for Sensory Processing Disorder: Creative Strategies to Help Children Focus and Remain Calm - by Stephanie M. Foster PhD, OTR/L, RYT.

* Social Behavior Mapping: Connecting Behavior, Emotions and Consequences Across the Day - by Michelle Garcia Winner, MA CCC-SLP.

And Here Are The Two Best Parenting Books Available Today for Parenting Neurotypical Kids (but the skills, approach, and attitude that these authors teach are so fundamental, they are actually important in parenting Autistic/neurodivergent kids as well): 

* Transforming the Difficult Child: Shifting the Intense Child to New Patterns of Success, Strengthening All Children on the Inside - by Howard Glasser and Jennifer Easly (Note: The approach they teach is called the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA)).

* The Explosive Child (Sixth Edition: Revised and Updated): A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children - by Ross W. Greene, PhD. (Note: The approach that Dr. Greene teaches is called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), which used to be called "Collaborative Problem Solving").