An Old Saybrook Youth and Family Services (OSYFS) program supporting the parents and grandparents of children with autism spectrum disorder has been recognized by the Connecticut Youth Services Association as the support program of the year. The program is the brainchild of Joanne Baker Deal.

Autism Spectrum Disorder or Autism Level One is what used to be known as Asperger’s syndrome. People on the spectrum may misread social cues or have awkward social interactions but can be very high-functioning in other parts of life. Joanne says the program was first started in 2013.

“It’s a program to give parents and grandparents the information and tools to work with,” Joanne says.

The group meets monthly, both in person and on Zoom, for 90-minute sessions. The group discusses different seasonal topics at each meeting, such as handling back-to-school stress, navigating holiday schedules, or vacation and sensory issues that may crop up at the beach.

“For example, as we come up on holidays and people on the autism spectrum are very into routines, and maybe it’s a good time to think about what things you absolutely have to do for the holidays and how to do them, and what things you can live with putting off for a few years if they’re too much,” Joanne says.

More information on the group schedule is available online at osyfs.org. Joanne says the group is open to those outside of Old Saybrook.

“The idea for the program came about from personal experience. I have two children on the autism spectrum,” Joanne says.

The group started meeting in 2013, and Joanne says it is always open to anyone who wants to attend; no registration is needed.

“I try to get the word and any information out any way I can to people who need it,” Joanne says.

Earlier this year, Joanne was shocked when OSYFS director Heather McNeil informed her that the Connecticut Youth Services Association had recognized the program as the support program of the year.

“Heather showed me, and I was completely blown away. I’ve just been speechless,” Joanne says of her reaction to winning the award.

That isn’t the only successful program Joanne helped start at OSYFS; she also founded a bereavement group and helped run it for over a decade.

“I recently relinquished control of that group, but I was blessed with a tremendous co-facilitator, and I’m very happy the group is still going strong,” Joanne says.

Joanne’s career in counseling began in her 50s when she decided to go back to school for it.

“My heart has always been in counseling,” Joanne explained.

When she went to college, Joanne says she thought about majoring in psychology then, but her family disapproved of it, so instead, she pursued a communications degree. Still, Joanne says, even then, she still took psychology-based communications courses to scratch that itch.

“I was just breathing it in. I took every course I could,” she jokes. After a long career in the communications field, Joanne says she decided to pursue a lifelong interest in psychology.

“I’ve just always wanted to understand what makes people tick,” says Joanne.

Joanne says when it came time for her to find an internship, she called OSYFS and was able to secure an interview. The rest is history.

Asked what her favorite part of her job is Joanne says it’s seeing the fruits of her labor pay off.

“I love seeing my work will make a difference in people's lives. Seeing the light bulb go off is huge,” says Joanne. Of course, Joanne admits it can be a hard job at times too.

“Seeing people be stuck in a rough situation is really hard to watch. I have been so proud to make differences in people’s lives,” Joanne says.

Joanne originally grew up in southern California but has lived in Ivoryton for close to 45 years.

“My husband Tom got stationed here for a job,” Joanne explains.

In her spare time, Joanne enjoys cooking, gardening, hosting family and friends, and playing the flute, a talent she picked up from her mother.

Asked what she enjoys about Old Saybrook, Joane responds, “Oh my goodness, I love Old Saybrook. There’s a great mix of people and places in Old Saybrook. It’s a wonderful town.”