High Expectations Advocacy: February 2015

Monday, February 23, 2015

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

http://www.kehillah-sjcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Sponsors_Horiz_Reelabilities_2015-e1422464939284.png

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

Sunday, February 22, 2015

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

Watch this very powerful video about friendship and compassion!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

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.