INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR ADVOCATES/CONSULTANTS

COMING SOON

Have you ever thought about starting your own business as an Educational Advocate/Consultant?

Watch this website for updates on a formal Internship Program with me in Belchertown!

Curtis Blake Day School in need of supplies & furniture

Please Help the Curtis Blake Day School

We are a group of families, that have worked tremendously hard to save our school and have been successful! Unfortunately communications have broken down and we are unable to secure the contents of our past school. We had hoped that all of the supplies in the building would be donated after being...

Click to read more and donate or copy the URL into your web browser: http://www.youcaring.com/the-curtis-blake-day-school-via-the-children-s-study-home-411734#.VdCbeIFjKHA.email

FREE WORKSHOP ON SUBSTANCE USE IN YOUTH

Responding to Substance Use in Youth Facilitated by Marcy Julian, Western Mass Regional Manager, Learn to Cope Please join us for a light supper, networking with friends and colleagues, and interactive conversations.  Learn what preventive steps families can take to prevent substance misuse in their families, what the signs and symptoms are of substance misuse, and what to do if your family member is misusing substances. Wednesday, June 3, 2015                            5:30 light supper/networking Greenfield Community College                      6:00 - 7:30presentation/questions 1 College Drive, Greenfield ROOM C208  (use main entrance) 1.5 training hours issued                                                          COST                                                              FREE About Learn to Cope: Learn to Cope is a peer-led support network for families dealing with addiction and recovery.  Young people and communities need to be educated on opioid and prescription drug use. It doesn't matter what your zip code, education level, or income is; addiction knows no boundaries, it does not discriminate. Addiction can begin with a legitimate prescription or an experiment. No matter how well you parented your kids, they can make terrible decisions at times that can ultimately ruin their future, many of them didn't realize what they were dealing with when they tried it, they know now. Learn to Cope collaborates with many schools, hospitals, community coalitions, law enforcement and fire departments, as well as district attorneys and politicians to plan and facilitate local forums to address the public health crisis of opioid addiction that our country is facing today. Addiction is no longer only a family crisis, it is a community crisis as well.     www.Learn2cope.org<http://recoverproject.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4d5e4585e77abc9ca6b56ccfd&id=52974f5bc5&e=3751dfbcd4> For more information and to register for this event contact: Carol Venancio 413-536-2401 ext 3007 cvenancio@wmtcinfo.org<mailto:cvenancio@wmtcinfo.org> RSVP IS REQUIRED Error! Filename not specified.Register Early - Seating is limited Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

Participate in community research offered by Boston University!

Are you a teen or young adult with a developmental disability? 

Would you like to try a new activity in your community?

This study is looking for teens and young adults ages  14- 21 with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, or intellectual disability.

Young people and their parents will complete questionnaires about the physical and social environment, the activities they do, and how they feel about themselves.

Questionnaires will be completed three times over four months. After the first meeting, each young person will receive a $50 gift certificate to try a new activity, like going to the movies or a restaurant. 

Young people will also receive gift certificates when they and their parents complete the questionnaires: $25 after the second session and $30 after the third session. 

 Some teens enjoyed talking about themselves and what they like to do in the community. Some parents said that their teens enjoyed setting a goal and talking about their goal with the researcher.

Jessica Kramer at Boston University is in charge of this study.

For more information, contact her at:

kramerbulab@gmail.com        617- 353-7522         617-353-2702

U.S. Department of Education, NIDRR Grant # H133G120091.

FREE WORKSHOP on preparing for life after Special Education!

Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC)

in partnership with

Multicultural Community Services (MCS) Holyoke, 

Holyoke/Chicopee’s Family Support Center

presents

A Full Life Ahead

A Full Life Ahead is a series of workshops for parents and guardians of young adults with a disability. The series focuses on transition, employment, friendships, housing and other topics that will lead to interdependent, full lives in the community for young people with disabilities.

Please join us…

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

6:00PM – 8:00PM

MCS Holyoke Family Support Center

260 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040

Planning for Life After Special Education

This workshop will identify specific suggestions on how to develop comprehensive post-secondary vision statements, IEPs and transition plans, developing appropriate transition services for students, knowing various diploma options, best practices for family involvement and more. We are excited to have Attorney Pamela Coveney and Attorney Stefanie Krantz from the Disability Law Center present on this topic. 

Please RSVP by Monday, March 30^th to Karen Fletcher 413.534.3299 or karenfletcher@mcsnet.org

For more information please contact Karen Fletcher or Lisa Kochian at 413.534.3299.

www.mfofc.org                                                                                                                                 www.mcsnet.org

FREE EVENT for students 14-22 with special needs & their families!

Transition Resource Fair

Building Bridges from High School to

Community Life

The place for students with special needs (14-22+) and their families to find resources to help create a life plan

PLACE: Northampton High School (NHS) 380 Elm Street, Northampton 
DATE: March 25, 2015 
TIME: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Keynote Presentation: NHS Black Box Theater, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Reservations required for the presentation in the Theater due to space limitations

Exhibitor Resource Fair: NHS Cafeteria, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This year’s Transition Resource Fair brings together more than 30 exhibitors offering college and post-secondary options, job training, career investigation, day and recreation programs, independent, living ideas, special needs financial planning, and health services, just to name a few.
Students and their families can talk with agency representatives and get their questions answered as they consider their transition plan to adulthood.
The keynote presentation highlights the theme “Person Centered Planning, Building Bridges from High School to Community Life”.
The speakers will discuss the different service paths available for students in school to a life in the community.

The Keynote Presentation
5:00-5:30 p.m. : Presentation arrivals 5:30 p.m.: Presentation begins Location: Black Box Theater
Reservations are required due to limited seating. Please call 585.8010 or email donna.kushi@theassociationinc. org to reserve your spot by March 23.

Exhibitor Resource Fair
6:30-8:30 p.m. : Fair hours Location: Cafeteria
Reservations are NOT required. For more information
call 585.8010 or email donna.kushi@theassociationinc.org. 

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
Resource Fair exhibitors include:
Bacon and Wilson P.C.
Special needs financial planningBaroco, Day activitiesBerkshire Hills Music Academy, Post-secondary Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP
Special needs financial planning Carol Joyce, Person-centered planning Clinical and Support Options
Childrens’ Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)
Community Resources for People with Autism Department of Developmental Services Department of Public Health,
Special health care needs
Edward Jones Financial Planning Family Empowerment
Hampshire County Family Support Center
Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) Franklin County Home Care
Personal Care Attendants and Adult Family Care
Franklin/Hampshire One-Stop Career Center
Job search related skill building
Holyoke Community College
Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment (ICE) Program J.Lynn Enterprises LLC, Transition Consultant Jericho
Life Skills, Day activities
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Milestones
Day and community skill program for adults
New England Business Associates (NEBA)
Employment supports
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)
Travel training services
Riverside Industries ServiceNet
Children’s’ Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)
ServiceNet Farm
The Association For Community Living
Adult Family CareStavros, Transition to Adulthood Programs (TAP)/
Peer Advocates
The United Arc
Berkshire County Family Support Center
United Cerebral Palsy Assistive Technology Center UMass Amherst
Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment (ICE) Program
Valley Educational Associates (VEA)
Employment supports
Westfield State University
Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment (ICE) Program
This year’s Transition Resource Fair is co-sponsored by Family Empowerment and the Departmental of Developmental Services.
A Program of The Association For Community Living

REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL

Western MA takes part in the

Boston Reelabilities Film Festival

ReelAbilities NYC Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Boston has adopted this festival, and the Springfield J are helping to expand and promote its message. We are presenting three FREE events:

VELCRO^® Brand 100 Cameras Project Exhibit AND “Shooting Beauty”

• Thursday, February 19^th • Springfield JCC •

The 100 Cameras Project put 100 adaptive cameras in the hands of individuals with special needs so that we could see their perception of beauty through photography. “Shooting Beauty” is an award-winning documentary that chronicles the 100 cameras project initiative.

6:30 pm – Join us in the JCC’s Gallery to view the pieces AND meet with the artists themselves! Light refreshments will be served.

7:30 pm – Join us for the screening of “Shooting Beauty” followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker, Courtney Bent.

Reel Encounters I

• Thursday, February 26^th, 6:30pm • Springfield JCC •

A selection of 6 short films ranging from 4 minutes to 17 minutes in length.  This program is in conjunction with NEBA.

46/47 – A provocative short film about Down syndrome offers a unique perspective on disability and difference. (8 min)

A Life with Aspergers – An animated documentary describes the challenges of growing up and living with Asperger’s Syndrome. (4 mins)

Keep the Change – David and Sarah, two young people with autism, meet at a support group for people with disabilities. (16 min)

Just as I Remember – Filmmaker Andrew Moir confronts the heartbreaking decisions faced by two fathers living with ALS. (17 mins)

Motherly (Maadaraaneh) – A mother who is blind spies on her son as he meets his girlfriend in a park in Tehran. (13 min)

The Commute – A man using a wheelchair tries to get home using public transportation and finds himself on an arduous journey. (4 min)

“Wampler’s Ascent”

• Monday, March 2^nd, 7:00pm • Longmeadow High School •

Join us for the closing event of the 2015 ReelAbilities Film Festival

Steve Wampler, who has cerebral palsy, must do 20,000 pull-ups to climb famous El Capitan Mountain in Yosemite.  Come see him show everyone that anything is possible.

This event is presented by Diane Troderman in honor of Kehillah Best Buddies

For all events preregistration is requested, but not required – 413.739.4715

For more information regarding these events please visitwww.kehillah-sjcc.org/reelabilites

   

SAVE THE DATE: TRANSITION WORKSHOP

SAVE THE DATE!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! 

TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO ADULT LIFE

A statewide all-day conference for families

SATURDAY, October 3, 2015 

Best Western/Royal Plaza, Marlboro, MA

A statewide all-day conference for families, introducing state-of-the-art, best practices around Transition, covering topics focused upon creating seamless, successful transitions into the adult world. Workshops will cover education in the school system, employment, post- secondary education, community involvement, self-determination, independent living skills, financial and legal considerations, eligibility for services and many others.

Here is what participants said about the 2014 Conference!

“I didn’t realize that there were so many resources and help out there!” “Start early.....stay calm!”

“Hearing from other parents– success, frustration and encouragement!” “Motivated me to think outside the box”

“My son can go to college!”

“I need to get moving and get a plan going! Although it is overwhelming ...........

I can take it one step at a time!”

217 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453-2710 T: 781.891.6270 F: 781-891.6271 

 For more information, contact The ARC at:  www.arcmass.org

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors (MattyBRaps Cover ft Olivia Kay)

Watch this very powerful video about friendship and compassion!

TRAIN TO BE AN ADVOCATE!

The Federation for Children with Special Needs is offering the Parent Consultant Training Institute in Belchertown MA this spring.

Western MA Spring 2015

Location: Belchertown High School

142 Springfield Road

Belchertown, MA 01007

Time: 3:30 pm - 9:00 pm each day    LATE AFTERNOON-EVENING COURSE

Session Dates: Tuesdays (April 7th, 14th, 28th, May 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th and June 2nd)

Do you find yourself wishing you knew more about laws that support your child/student or that you wish you understood the Individual Education Program (IEP) process better or how to request a special education evaluation? Stop wishing and register for the “Parent Consultant Training Institute” near you! 

The Parent Training and Information Center at the Federation for Children with Special Needs is offering an opportunity for Massachusetts parents and professionals to learn more about the state and federal Special Education laws and process. We believe that parents and professionals who understand the process are better able to collaborate effectively to develop supports and services that enable children/students with disabilities to succeed.

The extensive agenda includes speakers from the Massachusetts Department Elementary and Secondary Education, distinguished attorneys and other professionals in the field of special education. Some of the topics that are presented are: Federal (IDEA 2004) and State Law, Individual Education Program (IEP), Writing Measurable goals, objectives and benchmarks, Program Quality Assurance and the due process system, Access to the General Education Curricula, Evaluations, Positive Behavioral supports, Effective Communication, Transition for students 14-22 and more!

In addition, participants have the option, through an internship, to acquire the necessary skills to assist parents of children with special needs to effectively design and/or manage their children’s special education program. Participants who choose to meet the requirements of the internship are issued a Certificate of Completion, with which some professionals have been granted PDPs from their school districts. This Federation supervised internship requires 25 hours of phone consultation at a Federation site as well as 25 hours of advocacy at no fee based on Federation referrals. Participants who elect to only attend classroom sessions are issued a Certificate of Attendance. 

Tuition for parents is $325, professionals $425. Limited scholarships are available for parents through the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC). You may contact them directly at 617-770-7676 for more information or to apply for a scholarship. 

To apply: Download the application or call the office and request an application by mail. Fill it out and send it in with your payment. Even if you are applying for funding or a scholarship, you must send in your application as soon as they are being accepted. You must send payment with your application, or send a note attached to the application regarding your payment circumstances. You will receive an email to confirm receipt of your application. Those who are accepted into the class will receive another email soon thereafter. We usually receive more applications than we have space so, if for some reason you are not accepted into a class, we encourage you to apply again. For more information regarding the Parent Consultant Training Institute, please contact Laura Yellick at lyellick@fcsn.org.

For more information go to:  http://fcsn.org/pti/advocacy/become_a_parent_consultant.php

Download an application to attend a Parent Consultant Training Institute. 

TWO DAY WORKSHOP ON TRANSITION PLANNING

Planning A Life Making the Most Out of High School for students with disabilities
If you have a child with a disability approaching the ages of 14 to 21, this transition conference is an important opportunity for you.
Did you know that each year in Massachusetts, about 900 students with disabilities transition from high school, often unprepared to make real choices for a real life in the real world?     Begin the transition planning process early and stay on schedule. Strategize now and prepare for a full productive life during and after high school.   Two action-packed days (Friday and Saturday) are filled with information and resources that will support you to understand your role, rights and responsibilities in the transition planning process.
Planning A Life is offered on Friday and Saturday from 8:30am-3:30pm. Dates for the 2015 school year are: February 27 & 28, 2015 Seven Hills Foundation 81 Hope Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603 March 27 & 28, 2015 Kittredge Center, Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040
Come and Learn About: Creating a VISION Person Centered Planning Portfolio Development Transition Requirements of IDEA 2004 Importance of transition assessments Using the Transition Planning Form to incorporate Transition goals into the IEP Employment Job Development Work Supports Making connections and networking with other families going through the transition planning process. For more information contact: Leslie M. Leslie           leslie@fcsn.org For registration information contact Wanda Morton at 800-331-0688 or info@fcsn.org, or  visit our transition page or  download a Planning A Life Brochure
DREAM	EXPLORE	PLAN
The Schrafft Center | 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3 | Boston, MA 02129 800-331-0688 | info@fcsn.org  | www.fcsn.org

FREE IEP WORKSHOP & CLINIC

The Federation for Children with Special Needs

presents

An IEP for My Child

A Workshop & Clinic for Parents and Professionals

Every child with a disability who receives special education services must have an Individual Education Program.  This workshop takes parents step-by-step through the development of the IEP including how to articulate a vision, using evaluations to write measurable annual goals and measuring their child’s progress.  

During the last hour, advocates will be available to review your child's IEP with you, so remember to bring the IEP.

Date:      Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Location:    Chestnut Hill Community School

                    59 State St.

                    Belchertown, MA. 01007   

Time:     6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

Contact Person:  Kathleen Terry, KathleenHorganTerry@charter.net

    

Questions regarding this workshop should be directed to the contact individual listed above. A presenter from the Federation for Children with Special Needs will conduct this workshop. Federation workshops are free to parents and open to the public. You are welcome to attend any workshop in or outside of your immediate community. 

  

Join us at FCSN’s Annual Conference!

Plan to attend the Federation’s annual Visions of Community conference on Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 8am-5pm at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston.  Additional information and conference registration available on the Federation’s website, http://fcsn.org/index.php.

Federation for Children with Special Needs

Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3, Boston, MA  02129

617-236-7210 or 800-331-0688, ext. 0 or http://fcsn.org/ptic/home/events/

FREE TRANSITION PLANNING WORKSHOP IN HADLEY, MA.

Family Empowerment is hosting a Federation workshop on January 28^th, 2015 from 6-8 on Transition.  All are welcome.

FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN

WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

14

An Introduction to the Transition Planning Process

A workshop for parents and professionals

Presented by The Federation of Children with Special Needs and hosted byFamily Empowrment

Successful transition from high school to adult life is about creating opportunities to explore educational and vocational options while a student is still in school. A well developed vision and an IEP which reflects those needs and interests really helps the process.

The workshop will address these topics:

• Development of self-advocacy and self-determination skills to support a student’s vision 
• How transition assessments identify strengths, interests, and academic and functional skill development needed to support transition goals. 
• How the Transition Planning Form guides the conversation to develop transition goals which outline meaningful opportunities in education, training, employment, and independent living.

Date/Time: 

Wednesday January 28, 2015, 6 – 8 p.m.

Presenter: 

The Federation for Children with Special Needs

Location: 

Family Empowerment, 41 Russell St., Hadley

(This is in the Hadley Farms Meeting House plaza)

RSVP: 

Joyce Paige 413.585.8010 or joyce.paige@theassociationinc.org   by January 26

Questions? 

Donna Kushi 413.585.8010

Two Day Workshop on Transition Services

TWO DAY WORKSHOP ON TRANSITION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 & 21.

  

Planning A Life Making the Most Out of High School for students with disabilities
If you have a child with a disability approaching the ages of 14 to 21, this transition conference is an important opportunity for you.
Did you know that each year in Massachusetts, about 900 students with disabilities transition from high school, often unprepared to make real choices for a real life in the real world?                                                Begin the transition planning process early and stay  on schedule. Strategize now and prepare for a full productive life during and after high school.   Two action-packed days (Friday and Saturday) are filled with information and resources that will support you to understand your role, rights and responsibilities in the transition planning process.
Planning A Life is offered on Friday and Saturday from 8:30am-3:30pm. Dates for the 2015 school year are: January 23 & 24, 2015 Federation for Children with Special Needs The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Boston, MA 02129 February 27 & 28, 2015 Seven Hills Foundation 81 Hope Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603 March 27 & 28, 2015 Kittredge Center, Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040
Come and Learn About: Creating a VISION Person Centered Planning Portfolio Development Transition Requirements of IDEA 2004 Importance of transition assessments Using the Transition Planning Form to incorporate Transition goals into the IEP Employment Job Development Work Supports Making connections and networking with other families going through the transition planning process. For more information contact: Terri McLaughlin, Transition Projects at tmclaugh@fcsn.org For registration information contact Wanda Morton at 800-331-0688 orwmorton@fcsn.org, or visit our transition page or download a Planning A Life Brochure
DREAM	EXPLORE	PLAN
The Schrafft Center | 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3 | Boston, MA 02129 800-331-0688 | info@fcsn.org  | www.fcsn.org