Parent Leadership Hub
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Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)

Parent Leadership Hub Weekly
E-Newsletter

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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for October 01, 2009

This week's update is provided by WSPEI and WI FACETS to share statewide information regarding parent leadership and family involvement. Please visit the Parent Leadership Hub web page of the SPDG website at http://www.wispdg.org/pl.html for the current and archived weekly updates and to find information on these topics:

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.

Please, direct any questions to the PL Hub Co-Facilitators:
Mary Skadahl, WSPEI Statewide Project Director at 715-829-8932 or marys@cesa12.k12.wi.us
Dawn Wians, WI FACETS SPDG Coordinator at 608-827-5234 or dwians@wifacets.org

Deadline for submitting contributions to each week's issue is Tuesday noon. For time sensitive training advertisements, the information should be sent a minimum of two weeks prior to the event date; ideally a month ahead of time. Material appropriate for the weekly newsletter include web links to sources of family involvement/parent leadership resources and advertisements for statewide trainings for parents, youth or parent/educator audiences (we don’t post research articles, reports or news opinion articles). Your submittal may not be in the final copy if it was in a previous weekly email, the event date has passed or the web link doesn’t work. Please, send submittals to phyllis@banbury.com

NOTE: Note: If you would like to receive this weekly update or if you would like to have your name removed from the distribution list, please contact Mary Skadahl or Dawn Wians.
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Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

  1. Charter School Workshops
    Two charter school workshops will be hosted by the Department of Public Instruction in October. The first will be held October 15 in Stevens Point and the second will be held October 22 in Milwaukee. Registration is open to any interested educators and will focus on how various charter school models are successfully serving elementary and secondary students. For more information contact julie.blaney@dpi.wi.gov
  2. 2009 Fall SELF-ADVOCACY Series
    Sponsored by Wisconsin FACETS & IndependenceFirst  
    These workshops are especially for transition-aged students with disabilities, parents, educators and service providers !
    Location: INDEPENDENCEFIRST, 540 S. 1st St., Milwaukee, WI 53204

    Session 1: Career Exploration - Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 6-8pm
    Learn about all types of careers, participate in activities designed to explore career options, & hear from a panel of experts on career exploration. 
    Session 2: What to Expect In College - Tuesday, November 3, 2009 6-8pm
    Participants will learn differences between colleges, universities & technical schools & discuss which type might be right for them.  Local college representatives will discuss how to get accommodations in college & how to apply for financial aid.  Youth with disabilities will share their college experiences. 
    Session 3: Independent Living Skills - Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6-8pm
    Staff from IndependenceFirst will talk about peer support, self-advocacy and a new project for youth with disabilities called Peer Power.
    All sessions are FREE
    Registrations:  Contact Matthew Zellmer @ 414-374-4645 or mzellmer@wifacets.org
  3. Managing Challenging Behavior: Empowering Parents to Advocate for Positive Approaches to Managing Behavior- Thursday, October 22
    If your child is receiving special education services and his/her behavior is interfering with learning…this program is for you! Learn about the parent’s role in the IEP process, school discipline, the use of positive behavior intervention, and how to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint.
    Speaker: Jeff Spitzer-Resnick, Managing Attorney, Schools & Civil Rights, Disability Rights Wisconsin
    Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. A light supper will be provided.
    Place: Gateway Technical College –Racine, Conference Center – Michigan Room
    Enter in back off of Pershing Drive, Parking Lot D.
    To Register: Call The Arc at 634-6303 to register or for more information. You can also
    register by e-mailing us at: info@thearcofracine.org. Space is limited; please register early.
  4. Understanding Sexual Relationships: A Series for People with Developmental Disabilities Sponsored by ARC of Greater Milwaukee
    Session 1 November 3rd 1-3 PM
    Session 2 November 10th 1-3 PM
    Session 3 November 17th 1-3 PM
    Session 4 November 24th 1-3 PM
    This series is designed for transition-aged youth and/or adults with developmental disabilities who are dating or are interested in learning more about the rights and responsibilities of being in a sexual relation-ship. Concrete teaching methods (videos, pictures, games, and activities) will be used to improve understanding and help you make responsible decisions about your sexuality. All 4 programs will be held at ARC of Greater Milwaukee, Conference room, 7203 W. Center Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53210
    Payment & Fee 4- part series $50.00
    The cost of this workshop includes hand-outs and light refreshments. Questions or concerns? Call 262-284-5043 or e-mail tcouwen@execpc.com
    For more information you can also call 414-774-6255 or visit their web site at http://www.arcmilwaukee.org/
  5. Children Come First 20th Annual Conference
     November 16 - 17, 2009 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center
    Theme: Ready, Set, Relationship!
    KEYNOTES: Dr. Barry Duncan & Lucille Eber
    PLENARY: Luthe Family
    30+ Break-Out Sessions
    Youth Track & More!
    For the complete brochure, go to http://www.wifamilyties.org/year2009/2009%20CCF%20complet
    e%20brochure.pdf
  6. 25th Annual State Superintendent’s Conference on Special Education & Pupil Services Leadership Issues
     November 17-18, 2009 at the Marriott Madison West, Middleton, WI
    Registration is Now Open! The registration fee includes continental breakfasts, lunch (Tuesday only), instruction, materials, and refreshments. The registration fee is $135, if registered by October 23, 2009. Registration fee after October 23, 2009, is $175. No refunds are issued, though substitutions are welcome. For access to the registration portal and more information, visit our website at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/falleader.html.

Leadership Opportunities

  1. Do You Use Assistive Technology?
    The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services is seeking people who use assistive technology to participate as members of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology (AT) Advisory Council. The AT Advisory Council will provide ongoing advice and direction to the Department on the WisTech program. They are seeking consumers who use assistive technology. For those consumers unable to represent themselves, this includes family members or guardians, are willing to and interested in providing a guiding voice for the availability and provision of AT services across the state and are willing and able to participate in four meetings a year via telephone or in-person. Consumer members receive reimbursement for lodging, meal and mileage expenses, serve two- or three-year terms, provide a voice for consumer direction of AT services to people with disabilities.

    Application materials can be found online at: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/disabilities/wistech/index.htm
    All applicants must submit a consumer interest form and a resume
    DEADLINE: Friday October 16, 2009
    CONTACT: Sarah Lincoln at (608) 266-7974 or sarah.lincoln@wisconsin.gov

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.