Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)

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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for February 12, 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.

Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

1. Save a Date – Special Kids Resource Fair
   Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 9:00 – 2:00 at Kenosha County Center, 19600 75th Street, Bristol, WI. Further details will be available this summer. For further information, please contact Dannette Cates at 262-843-2343 or Dcates1@wi.rr.com
2. Building Family-School Partnerships – May 13 in Portage
   Teams from individual school districts are encouraged to attend this workshop for special education staff, principals, administrators, and parents of students with disabilities. A team should comprise a minimum of three staff, including a WSPEI District Parent Liaison or a parent of a student with a disability. Two staff members from Birth-21 are strongly encouraged to attend. School teams who attend will receive a free copy of the book, Beyond the Bake Sale. For questions about workshop content, contact Martha DeYoung at (608) 742-8814, ext. 255, or email deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us Questions about workshop registration? Contact Jo Ann Senzig at (608) 742-8814, ext 272, or email senzigj@cesa5.k12.wi.us
3. Upcoming WWAACCshops
   (Western Wisconsin Autism Advocacy & Consulting Center)
   New free informational WWAACCshops are now offered the last Monday of each month. (Pre-registration required.) WWAACCshops are designed to provide support for families, caregivers, educators, & service providers of children with ASD, but some content may also be relevant to other special needs.
   Fees: None
   Register: Call 715-381-8454 or email wwaaccshops@wwaacc.org
   Location: Faith Community Church, 777 Carmichael Road, Hudson, WI 54016
   Childcare: Contact a WWAACC Volunteer about childcare needs.
   Refreshments will be served.
   For more information, go to http://www.wwaacc.org
4. Widening the Circle Conference in La Crosse
   The La Crosse Native American Student Association and the Hmong Organization Promoting Education, and KDP in conjunction with the WI Department of Public Instruction and the UW-La Crosse School of Education is planning the 6th annual Widening the Circle/Act 31 Teacher Education Symposium April 3-4th at UW-La Crosse. If you have any questions regarding the conference please contact Samantha Lawien, 608-785-8838, 608-797-0159 or indigenouseducation@gmail.com. Visit http://www.uwlax.edu/native/Act31.html for a brochure and registration.
5. Transition Workshop in Salem
   Transition the Bridge to the Future will be presented by Cathy Steffke, Advocacy Specialist, Disability Rights Wisconsin on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, 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. Registration is required for this free workshop. For further information or to register contact the Westosha Special Education Alliance office at 262-843-2343 or email Dannette Cates at DCates1@wi.rr.com.

Trainings Available on the Web

1. PEATC Complimentary Webcasts Series
   PEATC in partnership with VCU-RRTC is presenting six transition-focused web casts funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Career options for youth with disabilities and other aspects of preparing for life after high school are the topics. For a complete listing and to register please visit www.peatc.org. The full series is free but you must be registered to access.
   PEATC Webcast Series Schedule:
   3/2/2009 - From Segregated to Customized: The Shift to Personalized Employment Laura Owens, E.D., APSE
   3/16/2009 - In Support of Supported Decision Making - Lisa Morgan, E.D., Icon Community Services
   4/6/2009 Assistive Technology & Transition: Evaluation, Identification, & Acquisition - Joey Wallace, Ph.D., New Well Foundation
   4/20/2009 - Opportunities Offered through Career Tech Ed - Domenic Giandomenico, Institute for a Competitive Workforce, US Chamber of Commerce
   5/4/2009 -Transition and the Arts: Tapping into Creative Opportunities - Betty Siegal, JFK Center for Performing Arts
   5/18/2009 Student Voice: The Transition to College - Liz Getzle, VCU and students

Phone Workshops

1. Employment Practice Group Community Connection Calls
   The Wisconsin Community on Transition Employment Practice Group will be hosting monthly informational conference calls on topics relating to employment of youth with disabilities.  On February 20, 2009, from 11:00 to Noon, Mary Kampa (CESA 11) will be presenting information on Post High School Data.  If you are interested, please send an email to meredith.dressel@dwd.wisconsin.gov to get conference call information.
   
   Spring Schedule for Community Connection Calls: 11:00 A.M to Noon
   March 20-Easter Seals Transition Camp: Kelly Housman- Easter Seals
   April 17- Family Care Overview: Mike Linak-DHS
   May 15-Americorps: Laura Coleman-Americorps

Family Involvement Resources

1. Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Releases Two New Fact Sheets
   The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the Department of Labor released two new fact sheets for promoting equal employment opportunities and supporting employers who hire employees with disabilities.
   - Making Workplace Accommodations: Reasonable Costs, Big Benefits
   - Employee Assistance Programs for a New Generation of Employees: Defining the Next Generation
   
   Both fact sheets are available in PDF and MS Word versions on the ODEP website:  http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm
2. File Folder Games
   This website that has literally thousands of activities from PreK /K up to 8th grade and covering the 5 big areas of reading.   Go to http://www.fcrr.org/forTeachers.htm. Under Curriculum and Instruction, click the grade level of your interest. Scroll down to the activities.
3. Succeeding in College and at Work: Students with Disabilities Tell Their Stories
   The New England ADA Center recently released four video interviews conducted with college students with disabilities. In the videos, the students share strategies to successfully stay in school, graduate and get jobs. Students reveal their struggles with self-reporting their disability, and negotiating accommodations in school and at work. DVDs are available upon request. Please see http://adaptiveenvironments.org/neada/site/student_videos
4. Tots ‘n Tech Website
   This site provides creative ideas and instructions for making low-tech assistive devices. Child care and early intervention providers, as well as parents, will find practical information about activities, routines and developing functional skills in infants and toddlers. Go to http://www.asu.edu/clas/tnt/ and click on ‘Ideas to Share’ button.
5. Peer Power Grant Call for Proposals
   The Independent Living Council of Wisconsin, 201 West Washington Avenue, Suite 110, Madison, WI  53703 is seeking proposals for up to 4 Peer Power Program Sponsors. First Year Funding up to $10,000.00 for each Sponsor is available.
   To apply go to www.ilcw.org. Grant Application Deadline:  4:00 pm, March 16, 2009
   To be eligible for funding all grantees must operate under a 501(c)(3). This request for proposals (RFP) is funded by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) . Questions about this RFP should be directed to cheryls@ilcw.org and in email format only. If you are in need of a Screen Reader Version of this RFP, please notify Cheryl Schiltz at cheryls@ilcw.org
6. Website: Going to College
   The site provides video clips, activities, and resources that can help high school students get a head start in planning for college. Video interviews with college students with disabilities offer a way to hear firsthand from students with disabilities who have been successful. Modules include activities that will help students explore more about themselves, learn what to expect from college, and equip them with important considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college. Go to http://www.going-to-college.org/ for these resources.
7. Join the State-Wide AT Community of Practice
   Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology (WIAT) listserv facilitates interactive electronic communication to provide a mechanism for educators and others to receive technical assistance, share experiences, network with each other, ask questions, and find resources related to assistive technology state-wide. Contact Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology (WIAT) Listserv at Join-wiat@lists.dpi.wi.gov .
8. Guidance on Report Cards and Transcripts for Students with Disabilities
   The Office of Civil Rights in the U.S .Department of Education issued guidance concerning disclosure of disability on report cards and transcripts for students with disabilities attending public elementary and secondary schools. For Questions and Answers on Report Cards and Transcripts For Students with Disabilities Attending Public Elementary and Secondary Schools please go to http://www.edpubs.org/lyris/ReportCards.pdf .
   

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.