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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly
E-Newsletter


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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for February 18, 2010

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.

'Just in Time Information' Now Available  

A new online repository of information is available for parents, youth and professionals who are searching for articles previously posted to the PL Hub Weekly E-Newsletters since October 2008. This repository of information will help the reader locate valuable information by topic, 'just in time'. Currently, there are web pages for 'Transition to Adult Life' and 'Family Involvement'. Future web pages will include 'Early Childhood' and 'School-Age Years'.

For our reader's convenience, all archived issues of the E-Newsletter will eventually be re-posted on the 'Just in Time Information' page of the PL Hub website. We hope this format will help our readers quickly access the resources they need, when they need them, and that it will be visited frequently. Additions are always welcome! To submit suggested resources and training products, simply follow the instructions and criteria provided in the introduction to each of the PL Hub Weekly Updates.

To visit the new 'Just in Time Information' web page go to: http://www.wispdg.org/pl/resources.html

 

Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

  1. Call for Parents in Partnership and YiPPE Proposals 2010-2011
    The Call for Parents in Partnership (PIP) proposals and the Call for Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) proposals for the 2010-2011 year are on the WSPEI website at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/par_partn.html . Proposals must be submitted by March 17, 2010 to: WSPEI, Attn: Martha DeYoung, P.O. Box 564, Portage, WI 53901. For more information call 608/742-8814 ext. 25 or e-mail deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us

    PIP is a four or five part leadership opportunity for parents, foster parents, or other care givers who have children with special needs, 6-14 years old. These proposals can be submitted from communities or parent groups that would like to host a Parents in Partnership training. WSPEI will fund a limited number of PIP trainings.

    YiPPE is the only known program in the country to simultaneously train youth with disabilities in transition ages 15-20 along with their parents. For the 2010-2011 school year YiPPE is seeking proposals from school districts, communities, parent groups or agencies that would like to host a YiPPE program. The group must provide a commitment of funding to cover the cost for the youth part of the program. Please see the website for details.
  2. Family Led Employment Workshop
    March 1, 2010 Eau Claire
    March 2, 2010 Ashland
    March 3, 2010 Marshfield
    Join Anne O'Bryan - from the United Kingdom, as she presents a process based on team Building and Community Inclusion work of Connie Lyle O'Brien and the Customized Employment planning process by Michael Callahan and other innovators as Griffin-Hammis Associates. Please attend the invitation event to see if you would be interested in being involved with a series of workshops. There is no fee. Call Shannon at (608) 318-0700 or shannonm@pcsdane.org or contact the facilitator in your area:
    Eau Claire: Terri Larson-Baxter at 715-874-4961 or tlbaxter3@wwt.net
    Ashland: Deanna Yost at 715-682-7171 or dyost@nhnorth.com
    Marshfield: Pam Ironside at 715-423-7182 or ironkids@wctc.net
  3. Estate Planning for Special Needs Family Members in Sheboygan
    Navigate the maze of legal and financial complexities surrounding planning for the future of children with special needs. Presented by Stanislav Krakovyak, Financial Representative and Mike Russo, Financial Planner, Metdesk – a division of MetLife.
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Mead Public Library, Rocca Room, 710 North 8th Street, Sheboygan.
    For questions, call Hearthstone of Wisconsin at 920-451-3179.
  4. Save the Date: WCCF's Annual Advocacy Camp in Madison
    April 14-15, 2010
    Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison
    *Build your advocacy skills in a fun and relaxed atmosphere
    *Dynamic guest speakers
    *Networking with other advocates
    *Capitol visit
    Information on Advocacy Camp 2010 will be available soon at http://www.wccf.org/
  5. Ethics and Boundaries in Support Relationships
    Peter Leidy and Mark Sweet present this four hour training in several locations. Areas of exploration include how power and control become aspects of support relationships, the relationship between unwanted behavior and assertiveness, and the kinds of questions that make us think about what we are doing. Registration Fee: $35 per person
    Details can be found at: http://ddnetworkinc.org/id4.html Registration form and additional information can be found at: http://ddnetworkinc.org/E&B2010.pdf. Questions can be sent to registrations@ddnetworkinc.org.
  6. Circles of Life Conference Scholarships
    Scholarship applications for the April 29-30 Circles of Life Conference became available February 1, 2010. Obtain scholarship applications by contacting John Shaw by phone at 608-266-7707, or by e-mail at john@elsieshaw.org. Return completed scholarship applications as instructed no later than March 5, 2010.

Trainings on the Web

  1. Transition Program for Families, Youth, and Professionals
    The PEATC NEXT STEPS transition-training program Building Effective Partnerships & Accessing Resources is offered to help families, youth with disabilities, and professionals develop effective partnerships while learning how to tap into valuable community resources. All webinars are Free and begin at 2:00pm EST.
    To view the upcoming dates or to register visit: www.nextsteps.peatc.org
    Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Continuing Rehabilitation Credits (CRCs) are available. For more information, call the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center at 1-800- 869-6782 (toll free) or email partners@peatc.org

Family Involvement Resources

  1. New Youth Website
    Wisconsin Youth First is the first-of-its-kind website developed by youth, for youth.
    This website at www.wiyouthfirst.org was created so youth had one place to go to get all the info they needed about school, work, and leadership activities. It’s also a place for youth from all over the state to connect with each other. The website features a calendar of youth activities, Google Groups chat, YouTube Channel, information on working, college, relationships, and much more. Families and professionals will also find the site useful for finding information geared toward youth. For more information, contact wiyouthfirst@gmail.com.
  2. Statewide Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities
    Click here to find information on Statewide Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities. If you were unable to receive the attachment, you can e-mail Phyllis@banbury.com and she can send you the attachment separately.
  3. Natural Supports Project is Looking for Youth Stories
    The Natural Supports Project at the Waisman Center is looking for stories of youth ages 14-18 with developmental disabilities (intellectual disability, autism, multiple disabilities) who are currently employed in community-based, competitive-wage jobs to be featured in a set of transition stories. Youth, their family members, teachers, friends, and other community members would be interviewed and featured in these stories. Of special interest are stories where youth receive natural supports at their job, in school, and in the community; and stories of youth who are active in a variety of activities in their communities with natural supports. For more information, visit this link: http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/naturalsupports/pdfs/
    YouthStoriesAnnouncement.pdf
  4. Podcast on Self-Advocacy for High School Students with Disabilities
    The Disability Law Lowdown Project is a set of podcasts that provide up-to-date information on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability laws. The newest podcast discusses a new information sheet published by the Pacer Center (www.pacer.org) that provides valuable information for high schoolers about how to plan for their future by taking an active role in IEP meetings and transition planning, whether the transition is to employment, post-secondary education, or independent living. The podcast is available at www.DisabilityLawLowdown.com, as well as on iTunes. Listen directly from a computer or download it to an MP3 player.

    The Disability Law Lowdown is a project of the national network of ten ADA Centers across the country, offering technical assistance and training in the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related laws. Contact the Center that serves you by calling 1.800.949.4232 v/tty. The Disability Law Lowdown is available in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
  5. Updated Family Voices of Wisconsin Website
    Family Voices of Wisconsin, home of Wisconsin’s Family to Family Health Information and Education Network, has a new, greatly enhanced website with resources on health care and community supports, parent leadership, advocacy and training opportunities.  Go to www.fvofwi.org .
  6. Wisconsin Department of Health Services State Website on Health Issues
    Wisconsin Department of Health Services is a state website with current information on health issues. There is an A-Z topic list, programs and services and references. Current topics such as childhood obesity are also addressed on this site. http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/physicalactivity/index.htm
  7. National Head Start Association
    National Head Start Association offers news and advocacy information, describe various service delivery options, and research. http://www.nhsa.org/
  8. Reach Out and Read Center Website
    The Reach out and Read Center (ROR) is a national organization of pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners who promote literacy to the families in their practice. In the first two years of life, pediatricians interface more with families than any other agency. The web site is rich with resources including literacy milestones, reading tips, books for children, and books for parents. http://www.reachoutandread.org/
  9. Reading Resources for Spanish-Speaking Parents
    Get Ready to Read! recently launched a new section on its Web site that provides resources to assist Spanish-speaking parents in helping their children build early literacy and learning skills before kindergarten. It also offers practical tips to help parents communicate with educators and day care providers about their child's developmental progress. To learn more, go to http://getreadytoread.org/index.php?option=com
    _content&task=view&id=98&Itemid=107
  10. Preliminary Draft Revisions to the DSM-5
    The American Psychiatric Association has released preliminary draft revisions to its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and is inviting comments from both professionals and the general public until April 20, 2010. The proposed revisions include using the term Intellectual Disability in place of Mental Retardation, as well as including Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder under the broader diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. To view all proposed revisions and to submit comments, go to http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx

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.