May Institute

08/27/2026

We are pleased to welcome Melissa Pierce and Elaina Cohen as our newest doctoral interns in clinical psychology. As part of May’s APA-accredited internship program, they will build clinical expertise through supervised, hands-on experience across May’s adult and school-based programs. We’re excited to have them as part of our May community!
Learn more about our intership programs: https://bit.ly/4gnFx5F

08/25/2026

We’re proud to have partnered with the Randolph Police Department on training to better support autistic individuals and other vulnerable community members during emergencies.

Thank you to RPD for continuing to strengthen supportive, informed responses across the community!

The Randolph Police Department and our Support and Outreach Unit is proud to announce the creation of our new At-Risk Questionnaire. This voluntary program helps our department provide rapid, specialized assistance, to vulnerable community members including those with dementia, autism, or critical medical needs during an emergency. By securely sharing information such as physical descriptions, communications preferences, and favorite wandering locations, you ensure that officers can approach and interact with your loved ones with the right care and sensitivity during times of crisis. All submitted details are kept strictly confidential and are only accessed by public safety dispatchers and officers in the field when an emergency or missing person report is active.

During calls for service, officers will be equipped with a business card that contains a QR code. These business cards will be handed out to those in need so the family members and caregivers can complete the questionnaire as soon as possible.

We would like to thank Dr. Matt Riley and his staff at the May Institute for their guidance and partnership during this planning process. Through the new officer training program developed by Dr. Riley, Dr. Jenna Gilder, and Post Doctoral Intern Katherine Tackitt, our department has been fortunate to receive top notch training at the May Institute Headquarters in Randolph. As a result of this important training, our community & department has created a safer, more supportive response for autistic individuals and their families. The form can be accessed on our website (www.randolphmapd.gov) directly on the homepage. Additional information can also be located on our Support and Outreach Unit page, which is accessible in the Special Units drop down menu!

If you have any questions regarding this initiative, please reach out to Lieutenant Michael O’Neill ([email protected]) or Sergeant Kevin Gilbert ([email protected]).

As always, we are here if you need us.

08/20/2026

A few of our favorite moments from the Randolph School Carnival 🎈 🎉

We loved having our students, families, and staff come together for a fun day of games and activities!

08/17/2026

Congratulations to Team May Institute for completing the Falmouth Road Race this past weekend!

Our team ran to raise funds in support of our mission and the individuals we serve.

Donations are still open! Help our runners meet their goal: https://bit.ly/3UCehYA

08/14/2026

One teacher. One classroom. Thousands of students impacted.

For Dr. Lisa Thomas, Director of School Consultation at May Consultation Services, meaningful change starts by helping educators feel more confident, prepared, and supported.

Through evidence-based strategies and professional development, Lisa works with schools to strengthen classroom practices and create better outcomes for students.

In our latest Meet the Consultants feature, Lisa shares how supporting one teacher can create a ripple effect across an entire school community.

Learn more about Lisa's story:

How one consultant's work reaches thousands of students, one teacher at a time

07/28/2026

Summer should be a time for fun—not stress about staying safe in the heat.

For families of autistic children, hot summer days can bring challenges, from finding comfortable clothing and making sunscreen more tolerable to staying hydrated.

In our latest A Closer Look article, Amanda Frye, M.S., BCBA, LABA, Clinical Director at the May School in West Springfield, MA shares practical strategies families can use to help children stay safe while enjoying summer activities.

Amanda’s tips include making sunscreen part of a predictable routine, encouraging hydration in ways that work for your child, and knowing the warning signs of heat-related illness.

Read the full article: https://www.mayinstitute.org/news/acl/asd-and-dd-child-focused/keeping-kids-safe-in-the-summer-heat/

Summer brings sunshine, pools, and more time outdoors – but for families, especially those supporting children with autism – warmer weather also means extra planning to keep kids safe, regulated, and comfortable. With a few simple strategies and predictable routines that break activities into sm...

07/21/2026

When emergencies happen, preparation can make all the difference.

Many autistic individuals will interact with first responders at some point in their lives. Families can take proactive steps to help make those interactions safer and less stressful by building relationships with local police and fire departments, creating emergency information sheets, and sharing communication preferences ahead of time.

In this article, Dr. Jenna Gilder, Assistant Director of the National Autism Center, shares practical tips for families to help first responders better understand and support autistic individuals during emergency situations.

Read more: https://www.mayinstitute.org/news/acl/applied-behavior-analysis/when-first-responders-arrive-tips-for-families-of-autistic-individuals-/

Many autistic individuals are likely to interact with first responders at some point during their lives. Whether responding to a behavioral crisis, an instance of elopement in the community, a medical emergency, or a fire drill - firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency med...

07/10/2026

Trauma-informed care is essential to providing compassionate, person-centered support for autistic adults and individuals with developmental disabilities.

Join Jenna Gilder, Ph.D., BCBA, LABA, and Lauren Meyers, Ph.D., for From Compliance to Compassion: Trauma-Informed Care for Autistic Adults, an engaging workshop that explores practical ways to integrate trauma-informed principles into behavioral and clinical practice.

📅 July 15, 2026
🕑 2:00–5:00 PM ET
🎓 3 COA HRS | 3 BACB® Ethics CEUs

You'll learn how to:
✔️ Identify trauma triggers across clinical and behavioral settings
✔️ Recognize practices that may unintentionally contribute to re-traumatization
✔️ Apply trauma-informed strategies to behavior support planning and staff training
✔️ Foster communication, collaboration, and psychological safety across service settings

Can't join us live? Register now to receive on-demand access to the recording and earn your CEUs at your convenience.

Register today:

View details for the 2026 Women in Behavior Analysis conference.

07/09/2026

What an incredible day on the water! 🎣💙

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the 10th Annual Charter Cup Fishing Tournament such a success. We are honored to once again be a beneficiary of this beloved Cape Cod tradition and are so grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, volunteers, and supporters.

A special thank you to E.J. Jaxtimer Builder, Inc. and E.J. Jaxtimer for their continued leadership of this amazing event. We are also deeply grateful to our longtime corporate sponsor, Carl F. Riedell & Son Inc., and to Captain Ron Murphy of Stray Cat Sportfishing, whose generous donation of his services helped make this opportunity possible.

Because of this incredible support, funds raised will help provide residential, day, and community-based services for more than 100 autistic adults and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts, creating opportunities for greater independence, connection, and fulfillment.

Thank you for helping build a more inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We couldn't do it without you! 💙

06/23/2026

Communication is a fundamental right for every autistic individual.

The National Autism Center has released a new position statement on Spelling to Communicate (S2C), the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), and Facilitated Communication (FC).

The statement reviews the current scientific literature, discusses concerns related to independent authorship, and provides guidance for families, educators, clinicians, and other professionals evaluating communication interventions for non-speaking autistic individuals.

It also identifies evidence-based communication approaches that can help support meaningful and independent communication.

Read the full statement here:

The National Autism Center has released a position statement on Spelling to Communicate (S2C), the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), and Facilitated Communication (FC). The statement reviews the current evidence related to these methods and provides guidance for practitioners, families, educators, and p...