Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)

Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for January 8, 2009

The attached "Parent Leadership Hub" Weekly Email Update is sent to you from WSPEI and WI FACETS.   The Parent Leadership Hub supports
parents/family members, educators and other community partners to build capacity regarding meaningful family involvement.  
The Hub serves three primary purposes:
(1) To support parents of children with disabilities between birth and 26 years of age to participate as partners in the professional development activities of each of the other Statewide Initiatives as they design, deliver and support professional development experiences; and
(2) To facilitate opportunities for parents/family members to build leadership skills; and
(3)  To provide Content Focused technical assistance concerning family involvement.

1. Craig Fiedler
   It is with sadness that we inform you of the death of Dr. Craig Fiedler. A professor of special education at UW Oshkosh, Craig also co facilitated WSPEI Parents in Partnership training for many years, and served as a special education hearing officer. He made a difference in the lives of many individuals with disabilities, families and educators. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2009 in Appleton. In lieu of flowers, donations for the Dr. Craig R. Fiedler Special Education Scholarship may be sent to Janice Stark, College of Education and Human Services, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54901-3551. For details please see the article at http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090107/
   APC010301/901070570/1007
2. Teacher/Student/Family Materials on Self-Determination
   Below is a link to new materials from Virginia on self-determination for youth with disabilities, including lesson plans for teachers, checklists and assessments, resources for families and students, etc. Go to www.imdetermined.org
3. Latest Issue of Transition E-News from WSTI
   For the latest issue of the Transition e-News. Go to http://www.wsti.org/enews.php. It includes information related to transition practices that educators, parents and youth will benefit from.
4. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports for All Students
   An opportunity to network with other parents and learn about behavior strategies to help students succeed will be held in Stoughton Tuesday, January 13, 2009 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Complimentary snacks, beverages, and childcare will be available.
   Presenter
   Cathy Van Leuven is a parent of five children and a physician with expertise in behavioral supports. The meeting will be at the Administrative and Educational Services Center (AESC) 320 North Street, Stoughton, WI 53589. If you are planning to attend, please respond to: Amy Moll, Inclusion Support Teacher at (608) 877-5044 or amy.moll@stoughton.k12.wi.us
   
   
5. Seizure Disorders in School Age Students Workshop
   Thursday, Jan. 29th, 2009 at the Salem Community Library, 24615 89th St., Salem, WI
   
   (SE corner of Hwys 83 and AH) 6:15-6:30 Registration, 6:30-8:00 Workshop
   Presented by Jeanne Lee, Chief Professional Officer and Program Director for the Epilepsy Foundation of Southern WI
   Registration is required for this free workshop!
   For further information or to register call The Westosha Special Education Alliance office at 262-843-2343 or email Dannette Cates at DCates1@wi.rr.com



6. Did You Know? Now You Know! 2009 Trainings
   

   Manitowoc	9:30am-2:30pm
   Wednesday, February 4 and Wednesday 11	9:00 registration
   Snow day-Monday, February 16th
   For additional information, and to register for Northeastern Region trainings, please contact Jennie Woreck 1-920-969-5325

   
   

   Wausau	5:30pm-8:00pm
   Thursday, February 5, 12, 26	5:00 registration
   For additional information, and to register for Northern Region trainings, please contact Linda Salzman715-845-6747 or toll free 800-577-7971. Free onsite childcare.

   
   

   Portage	5:00pm-9:00pm
   Tuesday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 10	4:30 registration
   For additional information, and to register for Southern Region trainings, please contact Liz Hecht 1-608-263-7148

   
   

   Black River Falls	9:30am-2:30 pm
   Friday, March 27 and Friday, April 24	9:00 registration
   For additional information, and to register for Western Region trainings, please contact Rose Marsh 1-715-726-7908

   
   
7. Wisconsin First Step Help Book 2009 – A Directory of Services for Children with Special Needs
   Directories are now available on-line at: www.mch-hotlines.org
   Five regional directories are available, each serving specific counties in Wisconsin.
   Directories are produced in "real-time" with the most up-to-date information provided at the time they are downloaded. For information or assistance in downloading the directories please contact Teresa Halverson or Karen Brandt at Wisconsin First Step;
   1-800-642-7837 or wispubhealth@mch-hotlines.org.
   
   
8. Legal Center for Foster Care and Education
   Special Education Decision making Series
   These factsheets, designed for specific stakeholders, address the issues
   surrounding special education decision-making for children in out-of-home care. Go to http://www.abanet.org/child/education/ for more information.
9. Free Workshop presented by The Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin
   A Marquette grad and parent of a young adult with autism, Emily Iland is the author of Autism A to Z, which was the Autism Society of America's book of the year in 2006. She will be presenting on family balance and sibling issues for families who have a child with autism. This will be presented twice in 2 different venues, in English and in Spanish.

   In English:
   Date and Time:	Saturday, January 10th, 9:30 am
   Place:	Nicolet High School, D-wing library, 6701 N Jean Nicolet Dr, Glendale
   Contact:	Autism Society of SE WI, 414-427-9345 or info@assew.org
   In Spanish:
   Date and Time:	Saturday, January 10th, 2 PM
   Place:	St Adalbert's Catholic Church, 1923 W Becher Street, Milwaukee, WI
   Contact:	Nelsinia Ramos, nramos@wifacets.org

   
   
   
10. Assessing the Risk of Student Violence
    

    Date:	Tuesday, February 3, 2009
    Location:	Marriott West, 1313 John Q Hammonds, Middleton, WI

    DPI is sponsoring a free, half-day training on assessing the risk of student violence. This workshop is designed for school personnel who are responsible for determining whether a student poses a risk to staff or students. It will describe a procedure to assess risk of harm to staff and other students when a threat, aggression or concerning behavior arises. Participants will receive a set of procedures/tools to use when a student may pose a risk to the safety of others that suggests the need for immediate action. Participants will learn how to use the procedure and be better able to determine the risk of harm posed by the student. Agenda: 8:30 a.m. Registration, 9:00 Workshop begins, 11:30 Trainers available for questions. Registration may be completed by contacting Elizabeth Please at 608-267-9240 or email at elizabeth.pease@dpi.state.wi.us
11. New National Center for Parents with Disabilities and Their Families
    Through the Looking Glass recently announced its new National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families. This National Center is funded by NIDRR, U.S. Department of Education. The Center targets three national populations: parents with diverse disabilities; family members; and service providers and trainees who have a particularly critical impact on parents. The Center's activities focus on priority issues facing parents with disabilities and their families: custody and parental evaluations; family roles and personal assistance; paratransit; and, intervention with parents with cognitive and intellectual disabilities and their children. The overall goal of this project is to improve the quality of life among parents with disabilities and their families. Further information about the Center can be found at http://lookingglass.org/ncpd/index.php
12. Strengthening Family Involvement Workshop (REACh)
    The workshop will cover the following four concepts: Keys to Successful School/Family Partnerships, Facing Our Fears-Communication and Collaboration, Families and Teachers in Problem Solving, and How Family Friendly Are We?
    February 19, 2009 at CESA #6, Oshkosh, or
    April 16, 2009 at Holiday Inn Conference Center, Manitowoc
    Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Online registration is necessary. To register for Oshkosh, go to www.cesa6.k12.wi.us and search “Professional Development”. For questions, please contact Donna Runice, 920-236-0534 or email drunice@cesa6.k12.wi.us
    To register for Manitowoc, please visit www.cesa7.k12.wi.us and click on the “register chalkboard” icon. For questions, please contact: Chris Larson, 920-617-5628 or email: clarson@cesa7.k12.wi.us
13. Follow Me to the Autism & Transition Training
    Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at CESA #2, 448 E. High Street, Milton, WI.
    8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. COST: TLC Member $150.00 Non-TLC Member $175.00
    Presented by Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D. is a Professor of Special Education, and Chair of the Diversity in Learning & Development Department at the National-Louis University in Chicago. Participants of this workshop will learn considerations of fascinations, passions and interest areas of learners with autism; ways of viewing these areas as positive teaching tools that calm motivate and improve learning; and how to promote successful relationships in schools, classrooms, after school settings, and in the community. Successful supports/key players and needs to make transition from High School to Post Secondary life a success. Contact Pam Jenson, Transition Consultant at 608-758-6232 x-309 or pamjenson@cesa2.k12.wi.us with workshop content questions.
    Registration deadline is February 6, 2009. A registration brochure is available at http://www.cesa2.k12.wi.us/maf/TransitionAutism2172009.pdf
14. Procedural Safeguards for Special Education
    Beginning December 31, 2008, a parent of a child with a disability may revoke consent for the provision of special education and related services. The revocation of consent must be in writing. Upon receipt of the written revocation, the school district must promptly provide prior written notice in accordance with § 300.503 a reasonable time before stopping special education and related services.
    
    The department has developed two model forms to assist districts in implementing this change in special education law. Form P-5 may be used to document written revocation of consent. Note, however, parents may use other ways of providing written revocation, and this form is not required. P-6 is a form districts may use to provide the required prior written notice. The department has also revised the Model Procedural Safeguards Notice and form P-1 (Determination and Notice of Placement: Consent for Initial Placement).
    The revised information is on the DPI website at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/hmnew.html.  There is a half-page document called Revised Procedural Safeguards Language that can be used as an insert in the Procedural Safeguards brochures. 
15. Resource Video on Transition
    From the Institute for Child Health Policy at the University of Florida, tips for adolescents on talking with their physicians and making the office visits. Available as a video or video transcript: http://video.ichp.ufl.edu/VideoScripts/twyd_video_script.htm

 

DISCLAIMER
Inclusion of information in this e-mail does not constitute an endorsement by the Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative, Wisconsin FACETS, the Department of Public Instruction, the U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.