Social Group for youth with disabilities (14 yrs - 22 yrs) in Western MA.

New Session of Springfield-based Making Healthy Connections Starting Soon! We are currently inviting all youth with disabilities and/or special health care needs, ages 14-22, to apply to participate in Making Healthy Connections (MHC), a program of Partners for Youth with Disabilities. Making Healthy Connections is a transitions program for youth with disabilities and/or special health care needs who are 14 to 22 years of age. Youth will have opportunities to meet new friends with similar disabilities and learn information about topics such as their health care needs, independent living, fitness, talking to their health care providers independently, adaptive driving, and much more. Making Healthy Connections also features a variety of adaptive sports and recreation activities to make every meeting interactive and fun! There is a parent group component as well. In addition, participating youth will be given the opportunity to be matched to an adult mentor with a similar disability. Making Healthy Connections Springfield program meetings will begin in early January 2013 and run until June of 2013. Meetings take place two Saturday afternoons per month in West Springfield from 1pm-4 pm. A pre-registration appointment will be arranged for any youth who express interest in participating. The program fee is $75 (sliding scale arrangements are available for any family unable to afford the total amount). Please help us reach young people with disabilities who will benefit from this important program! For more information about Making Healthy Connections, please contact Susan Nicastro at (413) 584-0455 or by email at snicastro@pyd.org as soon as possible. Space is limited, so contact us immediately if you are interested! For more information about Partners for Youth with Disabilities, please visit our website at www.pyd.org Thank You! -- Susan Nicastro, Ph.D. Deputy Director Partners for Youth with Disabilities 95 Berkeley Street, Suite 109 Boston, MA 02116 Phone: (413) 584-0455 Email: snicastro@pyd.org Website: www.pyd.org

Social Security Announces Benefit Increase for 2013

Social Security Announces 1.7% Benefit Increase for 2013 Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 1.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012. Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $113,700 from $110,100. Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum. Information about Medicare changes for 2013, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

Transition Workshop in Western MA.!!

Turning 14

An Introduction to the Transition Planning Process; A Workshop for Parents and Professionals

In Massachusetts Transition planning must begin at age 14 and continue throughout the high school years as students prepare to journey into a full and inclusive adult life. Coordinated and continuous transition preparation promotes better post school outcomes for students with disabilities.

This introductory Transition workshop will address:
. Development of self-advocacy and self-determination skills to support the student's vision.
. How Transition Assessments identify students' strengths and interests as well as areas of academic and functional skill development needed to support Transition goals.
. How the Transition Planning Form guides the conversation to develop Transition goals which lead to meaningful opportunities in education, training, employment and independent living.

Hosted by: FCSN

Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Location: Family Empowerment at
The Inclusive Community Center
41 Russell Street
Hadley, MA 01035

Time: 6:30-8:30 pm

Contact Person: Donna Kushi 413-585-8010 x 104 or
kushid@theassn.org to register

Any questions regarding this workshop should be directed to the host/contact individual listed above. A presenter from the Federation for Children with Special Needs will conduct this workshop.

The Federation for Children with Special Needs, Schrafft Center, 529 Main
Street, Suite 1102, Boston, MA 02129
617-236-7210 or 800-331-0688, ext. 0 or
http://fcsn.org/pti/workshops/home.php

The Federation for Children with Special Needs, supported in part by grant #H328M040001 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs and the Massachusetts Department of Education.

CAUTION! Procedures Lite

DESE Advises Against "Procedures Lite"


The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) posted an advisory that directs school districts to discontinue the process, called "Procedures Lite," where parents are asked to waive critical rights guaranteed by federal and state special education law.

Procedures Lite has already been adopted by a few school districts around the state. Advocates and parents mobilized against the Proecudures Lite waiver of rights and protections (such as an IEP), and MAC provided key leadership in advocacy efforts at the state level.

Many thanks to Attorney Bob Crabtree for taking the lead and joining with MAC and others to alert the parent community about the dangers of Procedures Lite.

And thanks to DESE for issuing such a clear guidance, ensuring that parents and children maintain legally mandated rights and protections necessary to ensure a level playing field.
(Update provided by Terry McLaughlin of the FCSN)