Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)--E-Newsletter 4/30/09

Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for April 30, 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

Community Building/Circles of Support Training - May 27-29 in Stevens Point
This is an opportunity for 50 people to be part of a three-day learning event with David and Faye Wetherow on Community Building, PATH and Circles of Support. Both of these events last fall filled quickly and had waiting lists, so we encourage people to sign up soon. There is no charge for the event, but it is imperative that people register in advance, since the size of the group is limited.

The learning from this training is inspiring, thought provoking and pragmatic. Family members, care managers, ADRC staff, citizens with disabilities, advocates, and service providers are applying the learning and the connections from this event. It is particularly powerful in helping people within the system and those who rely upon the system work to develop ;Self-Directed Supports within a county, Family Care, or IRIS.

Please register on line at http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?
5S,M3,0c6d50a4-6164-432c-ac3b-b0acaf3818d0. Contact Nate Smith (smith@eri-wi.org) or 608-246-3444 if you have questions or need help registering.
3rd Annual CD Conference Creating the Good Life – Improving Outcomes for Students with Cognitive Disabilities
The Conference will be held at Howard Johnson Hotel in Madison, WI on August 11-12, 2009. This conference is for K-12 teachers of students with mild, moderate, or severe cognitive disabilities; paraprofessionals; directors of special education; parents, and other interested educators. If you have any questions related to the conference, please call Barb Behlen at 920-236-0551 or bbehlen@cesa6.k12.wi.us or look for further information and registration at:
http://www.cesa6.k12.wi.us/CD_2009_Conference_brochure.pdf
CREATE conference in Green Bay
June 29-July 1, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin
This conference is designed to enhance educators’ understanding and application of research-based and culturally responsive policies, procedures, and practices. This conference is one part of the CREATE Grant to address the achievement gap between diverse students and to eliminate race as a predictor of participation in special education. The first day is for identified district teams. Online Registration Forms are available at http://www.createwisconsin.net/events/create_conference.cfm
Save the Date for National Indian Education Association Conference in Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Indian Education Committee and Wisconsin Indian Education Association are hosting the 2009 National Indian Education Association Convention. The convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from October 22 to October 25, 2009. Visit the following link to for the 2009 NIEA Convention being held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: http://www.nieamilwaukee2009.org/
Parents in Partnership (PIP) Training in Onalaska
The Parents In Partnership program (PIP) is a five-part leadership opportunity for parents, foster parents, or other care givers who have children, 6-14 years old. Parents will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, support networks, and positive parent-professional partnerships. You will meet with parents, educators, state agency personnel, and other statewide leaders over the course of these five sessions. You will also have time to share your own stories, obtain useful information, and strengthen skills that will enable you to communicate more effectively with educational, medical, and human service providers. Topic areas may include IDEA and the special education process, policymaking, citizen participation, and community inclusion of youth with special needs. Participants will share information about resources, collaborative teams, advocacy, and conflict management skills. For information about the Onalaska PIP, contact John Shaw at 608-266-7707. To register, contact Phyllis toll-free at 1-877-844-4925. Registration information also will be posted at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/par_partn.html.
Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) in WI Dells
YiPPE is an opportunity for youth and their parents to learn about the transition process in a unique way. Youth and parents will hear from speakers and take part in hands-on activities in parallel programs. While some topics may overlap, parents will be able to enjoy their own sessions while their youth are learning similar information in a youth-friendly format. To apply, contact Phyllis toll-free at 1-877-844-4925 or Phyllis@banbury.com. After your initial application, a program facilitator will contact both parents and youth.
Parents as Leaders (PALS) in Green Lake
PALs is a group of parents and other caregivers who meet together five times during a year. Parents will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, support networks, and positive parent-professional partnerships. PALs is open to all parents or primary caregivers of young children up to six with special needs. Couples say attending together strengthens their PALs experience. Individual parents are welcome. If you want more information or would like to register, call Lynn Havemann at (608) 263-5947 or Ann Ramminger at (608) 263-4186 or call toll-free, 1-800-532-3321. For an online brochure, see http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cedd/assets/pdf/palsbrochure.pdf

Trainings on the Web

Parents as Collaborative Partners Online Training
This (10) module parent leadership training is a collaboration of the University of Vermont and the PACER Center. The project receives major funding through the U.S. Dept of Special Education Programs, as well as support from the National Institute of Leadership, Disability and Students Placed at Risk. First time users of this site must follow on-line directions to registration to download these modules. The on-line training can be found at: http://www.uvm.edu/~pcl/modules.php

Family Involvement Resources

Educational Evaluation Guide for Autism
We are pleased to announce the Educational Evaluation Guide for Autism is now available. The guide is available at: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/autism.html. If you have any questions about this document, please contact Brian Johnson, 608-266-3648 or brian.johnson@dpi.wi.gov.
Wisconsin Extended Grade Band Instructional Examples Available Online
The Wisconsin Extended Grade Band Instructional examples for Mathematics, Reading, and Science are now available on our website! The examples were developed by general and special education teachers throughout the state and will assist teachers as they develop curriculum based on the Wisconsin Extended Grade Band Standards for students who participate in the Wisconsin Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities (WAA-SwD). The examples can be found at: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/assmt-extstd.html Any questions, please contact Sandra Berndt, Education Consultant-Cognitive Disabilities at Sandra.berndt@dpi.wi.gov or 608-266-1785.
Project SPIES: Strategies for Preschool Intervention in Everyday Settings
This website contains curriculum to teach adults how to teach young children in the context of daily routines wherever they happen – in homes, preschools, child care settings, and in the community. Visit: http://www.spies.cpd.usu.edu/
Parents can sign in to the Parent page at: http://www.spiesforparents.cpd.usu.edu/

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.