Introducing NOAH Connections
Inspired by our early pandemic “Social Distancing with Friends” series, as well as the heart-warming connections created during #VirtualNOAHCon2020, NOAH is delighted to introduce NOAH Connections, an ongoing series of virtual opportunities to bring the community together. An essential part of NOAH’s mission is to “provide a place where people with albinism and their families in the U.S. and Canada can find acceptance, support, and fellowship.” With the participation and engagement of community members like you, NOAH Connections will provide this opportunity for virtual “face to face” connections. Unless otherwise stated, NOAH Connections will be hosted on the Zoom platform.
Looking for a way to help? Let YOUR voice be heard!
Learn more about NOAH Connections Advisory Task Force opportunities!
We hope you’ll join us for one of many upcoming opportunities to connect!
What’s Your Vision?
Do you have a vision for future support forums, interest group meetings, educational sessions or social activities that would benefit the albinism community?
Submit your session ideas using this form to suggest upcoming content and connections for all!
Upcoming Opportunities to Connect:
Preschool ~ Grades K-5 ~ Grades 6-8 ~ Teens
Young Adults ~ Adults ~ Parents, Grandparents, & Caregivers
Special Interest ~ Everyone!
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
Wednesday, January 26th ~ Young Adults
Sunday, January 30th ~ Walt Disney World Theme Park Planning
Wednesday, February 2nd ~ PWA Book Club
Thursday, February 3rd ~ Teens
Sunday, February 6th ~ BIPOC
Sunday, February 6th ~ LGBTQ+ and Allies
Tuesday, February 8th ~ Career Corner Panel
Wednesday, February 9th ~ Young Adults
Thursday, February 10th ~ Adults
Thursday, February 15th ~ Aging with Albinism
Preschool NOAH Connections
Preschool NOAH Connections
with Kathi Garza
TBD
Join us for some Fun Fall Fingerplays as we chat about the beautiful changes fall brings. If you like spending time outdoors in the fall, collect a few treasures on a nature walk and bring them to Preschool Connections so we can share in the joy together! If you’re unable to go on a nature walk and would like to draw some of your favorite fall things, we’d love to see that, too!
Sign up for Preschool NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join Preschool NOAH Connections!
Grades K-5 NOAH Connections
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
NOAH Kids in grades 4 & 5, make sure to check out our new NOAH Kids’ Book Club for middle grade kids with albinism!
Grades K-5 NOAH Connections
Next Call TBA
Sign up for Grades K-5 NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join Grades K-5 NOAH Connections!
Grades 6-8 NOAH Connections
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
NOAH Kids’ PWA Book Club
(recommended for grades 4-8)
Next Call TBD
NOAH Kids – you’re invited to our new book club!! Fill out the book club survey so we can plan for our meeting times, and stay tuned to find out the first book we’ll be reading together!
Fill Out the NOAH Kids’ Book Club Survey!
Teen NOAH Connections
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
Teen NOAH Connections
Thursday, February 3rd at 8:00pm ET // 5:00pm PT
NOAH Teens, you’re invited to our next Teen Connections call!
Sign up for Teen NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join Teen NOAH Connections!
Young Adult NOAH Connections
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
Young Adult NOAH Connections
Wednesday, January 16th ~ 9:00pm ET // 6:00pm PT
Wednesday, February 9th ~ 9:00pm ET // 6:00pm PT
Young Adults, join us for our next session. This is a great chance to share our experiences and connect with fellow PWAs!
Sign up for Young Adult NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join Young Adult NOAH Connections!
Adult NOAH Connections
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
Adult NOAH Connections
Thursday, January 27th at 9:00pm ET // 6:00pm PM
Thursday, February 10th at 9:00pm ET // 6:00pm PM
Adult PWAs, you’re invited to our next session of Adult Connections! We hope to see you on Zoom for social time with fellow PWAs.
Sign up for Adult NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join Adult NOAH Connections
PWA Book Club
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 2nd at 9:00pm ET // 6:00pm PT
Current Reading Material: “Night” by Ellie Wiesel
All PWAs (18+ years old) can join NOAH’s Book Club – simply sign up and get your hands on a copy of the current book. Depending on the length of the book, we will meet every 1-2 months in NOAH’s zoom room for a discussion facilitated by the book club member who selected the current book. Members will take turns picking the next reading selection and facilitating the discussion!
Please note: NOAH’s book club is offered free of charge, but NOAH does not provide the current reading material to participants. You must purchase or borrow the selected book to participate!
Join NOAH PWA Book Club Today!
Parents, Grandparents, & Caregivers
Are you a parent or caregiver who lives in Canada?
Sign up for NOAH Connections: Canadian Parents today!
Are you looking for educational or social-emotional sessions facilitated by a licensed professional? Check out NOAH Workshops and register for upcoming offerings!
NOAH Connections: Dads!
hosted by Sam McClung
Next Meeting TBD
NOAH Dads, join us to connect with fellow dads of children with albinism. We’ll discuss the unique experiences of being a dad to a PWA and come together in the shared goal of being the best dads we can be for our children.
Register for NOAH Connections: Dads today!
-OR-
text DADS to (417) 473-2310 to sign up!
Practical Considerations for Early Literacy
a presentation intended for parents, grandparents, and caregivers of children with albinism ages 0-5.
When we hear the word, “literacy,” we often think of conventional reading and writing, but did you know that the development of literacy skills begins at birth and continues on until the child is ready to read and write? Come discover how to support the development of early literacy skills in practical ways through shared reading, singing songs, and exploring the world around you.
Anyone signed up for Parent Connections or Grandparent Connections will receive the link to join this call via email! Not a member? Join today!
Join Parent Connections! ~ Join Grandparent Connections!
NOAH Connections for Everyone
Walt Disney World Theme Park Planning
hosted by: Nick Smith
Sunday, January 30th at 4:00pm ET // 1:00pm ET
Planning to come to NOAHCon2022 and want to visit Walt Disney World Theme Parks during your trip? Join Nick Smith, Sunday, January 30th at 4pm ET to share tips, tricks, and planning ideas!
Sign Up for Walt Disney World Theme Park Planning!
Career Corner Panel!
featuring: Jocelyn Leworthy, Rebecca Smith, Mayia Warren, Hafeez Shaka
Tuesday, February 8th at 8:00pm ET // 5:00pm PT
Join panelists Jocelyn Leworthy, Rebecca Smith, Mayia Warren, and Hafeez Shaka as they discuss their experiences as PWAs in their respective fields and answer questions!
Meet the panelists:
Dr. Hafeez Shaka is a Board Certified Internist and Illinois-licensed physician. He was born and raised in Nigeria, where he completed medical school in 2015. He had post-graduate medical training in Internal Medicine at John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL and is currently a chief resident at the same hospital. He has been in the US since June 2018.
For the past 11 years, Mayia Warren has used her voice to advocate for Albinism. She has presented her cause before school board officials, educators, program directors, organizations, and more. The entirety of the content she produces serves to engage audiences in Albinism, Invisible Chronic illness, and Disability advocacy and awareness. Essentially this means taking her life experiences as an advocate, her education, and communication skills into collaborative efforts, on and offline. The goal is and has always been to impact people who live with these various circumstances while educating those who may not have such life experiences with Albinism, illness, and disability. This often entails partnering with organizations, building meaningful relationships, and creating strategies for change.
Rebecca Smith is an educator with a license in Moderate/Intensive Disabilities as well as Visual Impairments. She has worked with students in Preschool all the way to 12th grade. She loves working with students with a variety of skills and a variety of needs. She has students who communicate in many different ways and says it’s always eye opening to see them make progress.
Jocelyn Leworthy is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), and works in the community at a non-profit supporting children impacted by Cancer. This past year she have been honoured to be the recipient of the “40 under 40 in Cancer” award for her innovation and leadership in the work that she does with children. Aside from her role in community Oncology, she also leads support groups at another local non-profit for children who are grieving the death of an immediate family member. Additionally she is an Educator, both at the elementary level as an Early Childhood Educator in the Ontario Full Day Kindergarten program on an occasional basis while also serving as a Faculty within the Early Childhood Education program at Georgian College. Her undergraduate BASc is in Early Childhood Studies and she also holds a Master of Science in Child Life and Paediatric Psychosocial Care. As a CCLS she is trained to provide developmentally responsive psychosocial care and support to children, youth, and families who are coping with potentially challenging life experiences. In her practice she utilizes play based and other creative/expressive interventions to facilitate education (about a diagnosis or something going on in their life), for psychological preparation for experiences (ex medical procedures, funerals etc) , she also uses fun games, activities, and stories to help children/youth learn coping skills, express themselves/their emotions. She has also been striving to advocate for more psychosocial support for children with Albinism and has been making it her mission to use her personal experience as a PWA and her professional expertise to offer specific programming through NOAH.
Sign Up for Career Corner Panel!
NOAH Connections Coffee Chat!
Meet Karen!
Next Call TBA
Coffee Chats are an open invitation to have coffee with NOAH staff on Zoom. Share your thoughts on NOAH programming, share your voice, or simply join us for some social time.
Sign up for NOAH Connections Coffee Chat today, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join NOAH Connections Coffee Chat!
Special Interest
NOAH Connections: LGBTQ+ & Allies
Sunday, February 6th at 8:00pm ET // 5:00pm PT
YOU belong here! Join us for a social gathering open to all LGBTQ+ and allies with albinism. Participants are welcome to connect however they are comfortable – leave your camera off or dial in via phone if video isn’t your style. We look forward to connecting with you!
Sign up for NOAH Connections LGBTQ+ & Allies today, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join NOAH Connections: LGBTQ+ & Allies!
BIPOC NOAH Connections
hosted by: Dale Hamilton
Sunday, February 6th at 4:00pm ET // 1:00pm PT
This gathering is intended for adults with albinism who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
Sign up for BIPOC NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join BIPOC NOAH Connections!
Aging with Albinism
hosted by June Waugh
Tuesday, February 15th ~ 5:00pm ET // 2:00pm PT
Sign up for NOAH Connections Aging with Albinism today, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join NOAH Connections Aging with Albinism!
Parenting without Pigment NOAH Connections
Next Call TBD
Are you a PWA with kids? This is the perfect group for you!
Join together with fellow parents without pigment to connect, discuss, share, and more! We hope to “see” you at our next gathering.
Sign up for Parenting without Pigment NOAH Connections today for info on how to join this session, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join Parenting without Pigment NOAH Connections
People with Albinism in the Legal Profession
hosted by Arielle Lewis and Katy Carroll
TBD
Calling all law students, lawyers, judges, and paralegals with albinism. You’re invited to join with fellow PWAs in the legal profession for a NOAH Connections social time just for you. Please join us for conversation and connections.
Note: This is a social time for people with albinism in the legal profession – legal advice will not be provided.
Register Now for People with Albinism in the Legal Profession!
Canadian PWAs
Next Call TBD
Sign up for NOAH Connections: Canadian PWAs today, and we’ll automatically subscribe you to email reminders for future opportunities to connect!
Join NOAH Connections: Canadian PWAs!
Canadian Parents –
Next Call TBD
Calling all Canadian parents of children with albinism! This group is just for YOU! Sign up today and you’ll be invited to future chances to connect with fellow parents from Canada 🙂
Sign Up Now!
PWAs in the STEM Fields
hosted by Sarah Kane & Derek Schindelman
Next Call TBD
PWAs in STEM, you’re invited to a social gathering hosted by Sarah Kane & Derek Schindelman!
Register to participate in this and future PWAs in STEM connections!
NOAH Connections: Military Families
Next Call TBD
Calling all military families (active, reserve, retired), join us to connect, share experiences, and discuss the challenges of being a military family navigating life with albinism. Do you have tips and tricks to share? How you navigated EFMP, PCSing, Tricare, etc?