Parent Leadership Hub Weekly
E-Newsletter

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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for January 19, 2012

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:

• WSPEI website: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/parent.html
• WIFACETS website: http://www.wifacets.org
• Resources- Product Order Form, and Educational Materials for Parents
• Calendar of Events
• Multi-Media Resources- Workshops Online, Video Series, and Webcasts

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
Emilie Braunel, WI FACETS SPDG Coordinator at 715-561-2559 or ebraunel@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 diane@banbury.com .

NOTE: Note: If you would like to receive our weekly Parent Leadership Hub e-Newsletter, please contact one of the PL Hub Co-Facilitators:
Emilie Braunel, WI FACETS SPDG Coordinator at ebraunel@wifacets.org
Mary Skadahl, WSPEI Statewide Project Director at marys@cesa12.k12.wi.us

 

Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

1. Sensory Integration in Adoption and Foster Care Workshop

   WHEN: Thursday, February 9, 2012, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
   WHERE: LE Phillips Memorial Public Library, Chippewa Room, 400 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701
   WHAT: Melissa Haas, Occupational Therapist at SPOTS House of St. Joseph's Hospital will present the basics of Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Disorder including causes, symptoms and possible remediation. She will also include ways to help foster sensory development with changes in environment and ways to prevent sensory distress with changes in environment.
   REGISTER: Please RSVP to Lorrin at 715-832-6644 ext. 11 or Lpekarske@cclse.org by Thursday, February 2, 2012. This is a FREE event.

2. Sledding Day of Fun

   WHEN: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
   WHERE: Cemetery Hill, near Flynn Elementary School, Eau Claire, WI
   WHAT: This event is open to all adoptive families. Hosted by Chippewa Valley Adoptive Families, a group designed to be a place to connect with other families who have adopted African American children, either domestically or internationally.
   INFO: Email or call for help. Contact: Becca Jarzynski at 715-579-0380 or becs_2@yahoo.com for more information.

3. Call for Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) Training Proposals for 2012-2013.

   WSPEI (Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative) is seeking proposals from school districts, communities, parent groups or agencies that would like to host a Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) training for 2012-2013. Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) is the only known program in the country to simultaneously train youth with disabilities, ages 15-20, in transition along with their parents. Up to 25 youth and their parents attend 5 weekend sessions throughout a school year to learn about effective self-advocacy, communication strategies, futures planning and available resources for students in transition.
   Submit Proposal by Feb. 28, 2012 to:
   WSPEI
   Attn: Martha DeYoung
   PO Box 564
   Portage, WI 53901
   

4.  Call for Parents in Partnership (PIP) Training Proposals 2012-2013

   WSPEI (Wisconsin Statewide Parent Education Initiative) is seeking proposals from school districts, communities, parent groups or agencies that would like to host a Parents in Partnership (PIP) training for 2012-2013.
   Parents in Partnership trainings are at no cost to parents or groups. The trainings are consistent with the Wisconsin Personnel Development Model and are designed to address Indicators 8, 13 and 14 of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) six year state performance plan for improving outcomes of children with disabilities in Wisconsin.
   Submit Proposal by Feb. 28, 2012 to:
   WSPEI
   Attn: Martha DeYoung
   PO Box 564
   Portage, WI 53901

5. ALAS Support Groups – Date Reminder

   WHAT: The Latino Alliance Applying Solutions A.L.A.S.'s mission is to promote the independence of persons with disabilities by providing information and support to them, their families, and their service providers in the areas related to but not limited to education and health.
   Upcoming Event!
   WHEN: Saturday, January 21, 2012
   TOPIC: Down Syndrome Support Group and ALAS Support Group
   TIME: 11:00am – 1:30pm
   LOCATION: ALAS Office 1615 S 22nd Street, Milwaukee, WI
   REGISTER: Please call the ALAS Office at 414-643-0022 to register!

Phone Workshops

1. Response to Intervention (RTI)

   WHEN: Tuesday, January 26, 2012, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
   WHAT: Response to Intervention (RTI) is a way to systematize high quality instruction, balanced assessment systems, and collaboration. It is a process that will ensure that all students have equal access to supports that will ensure their long-term success. RTI will offer a process to examine gaps in opportunity and learning and assist in building systems so that every child is a graduate.
   REGISTER: Contact Sandra McFarland at WI FACETS at 877-374-0511 or smcfarland@wifacets.org and Sandra will mail you all workshop materials and provide you with the toll-free number to call in for the workshop.

2. Child & Adolescent Bipolar Disorder and the Effects on Children in Schools

   WHEN: Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
   WHAT: This session provides an overview of mood disorders in children and adolescents, the biological basis of these illnesses as well as a discussion of treatments and therapeutic interventions. Education strategies and accommodations will also be addressed.
   REGISTER: Contact Sandra McFarland at WI FACETS at 877-374-0511 or smcfarland@wifacets.org and Sandra will mail you all workshop materials and provide you with the toll-free number to call in for the workshop.

Webcast Trainings and Webinars

1. Webinar – Supporting Postsecondary School Outcomes through Transportation Education

   WHEN: January 26, 2012 from 1; 00pm – 2:00pm (cst)
   WHAT: Here's a primer for school administrators interested in learning how high schools across the country are connecting students to travel training services, developing and adapting goals, and supporting local implementation of travel training programs.
   REGISTER: Registration deadline is January 20, 2012. Go to: http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=36985

2. Finding Jobs for Students with Intellectual Disability: Where do you Start?

   WHEN: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
   WHAT: When it comes to job development, the biggest question is often "Where do I start?" Without strategies and structure, the process can seem very daunting. This webinar will give participants a step-by-step process you can use to create opportunities for students by getting your foot in the door of the right businesses to make your job not only easier, but actually fun. The first step is getting to know the students. You will learn strategies for turning a variety of assessment and discovery options into skills for selling students to the perfect employer. Learn how to approach employers and get more than just your foot in the door. You will also learn the skills to customize positions and give you the information you need to comfortably negotiate with an employer. The webinar will be presented by Amy Dwyre, an experienced employment and job development specialist at TransCen, Inc. in Baltimore, MD.
   REGISTER: To register simply go to: http://www.thinkcollege.net/for-professionals/trainings-events

3. Did You Know? Now You Know! Training

   This training provides a comprehensive overview of health care and community supports. Topics include Medicaid and how to maximize benefits, how to appeal denials, prior authorizations and medical necessity. Other important programs such as the Family Support Program and Children's Long Term Support Waivers are discussed. To access this training go to: http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/birthto3/module.php

4. What's After High School – Training on Transition

   This training provides a broad over-view of concepts and programs to support youth and their families as they move from children's supports and services to adulthood. Supported employment, community living options, legal considerations and envisioning a youth's future are discussed. To access this training go to: http://www.fvofwi.org/Publications/What's_After_High_School_Training_Power_Point_Presentation.pdf

Family Involvement Resources

1. Developing Communication skills in the Atypical Child

   This article featured on the Special Education Advisor is a thorough and understandable article regarding the importance of communication, assessing speech errors treatment options. To read this article go to: http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/developing-communication-skills-in-the-atypical-child/

2. Get the Angries Out Newsletter

   This weekly inspirational newsletter can be accessed from the link below. Articles run the gambit of issues- everything from anger to how children learn and other topics of interest to parents who are concerned about the social/emotional development of their children as well as inspiration for parents. To view this newsletter simply visit: http://www.angriesout.com/newsletter.htm

3. Autism Materials for Educators

   Go to this link to find information, materials and other links to webpages containing information that educators can use in their day to day classrooms. http://www.autism4teachers.com

4. Kidsknowit

   Over 500 free learning games can be selected by grade and subject area. This site makes it easy to give children practice activities and games that make learning fun.
   To get to Kidsknowit visit: http://www.kidsknowit.com/

5. Website for Students with Disabilities

   Our Mission – We Connect Now is dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues. One of the goals of this site is to help college students with disabilities to succeed in their studies by getting the information and support they need, both through resources, links, blogs latest news, studying existing laws and regulation and through personal contacts. Through this website people can also share and read other people's stories as a source of support and comfort. We also want people using our webpage to take action by writing blogs, hosting an event or becoming involved in politics by knowing about upcoming legislation.  Also, every month our webpage will focus on a particular disability or condition to bring our visitors more information and support related to our focus of the month. Through our jobssection, we also hope to help empower people with disabilities find employment through job posting and job searching tips, and  if people have any questions we encourage them to contact us. The goal of this site is that people leave it having gained knowledge, a support system and having taken action. We were founded in 2008 as a blueprint project for Young People For. Visit this site at: http://weconnectnow.wordpress.com/

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.