FCSN ANNUAL WORKSHOP: Vision of Community 2014

Visions of Community 2014
A Conference for Families of Children with Special Needs
and the Professionals Who Serve Them
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Seaport World Trade Center - Boston

*FREE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FROM THE SPRINGFIELD AREA*

The Federation is pleased to announce its annual statewide conference "Visions of Community, a Conference for Parents of Children with Special Needs and the Professionals Who Serve Them" will be held on Saturday, March 8 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.



Two keynote presentations for Visions of Community will feature Michael K. Yudin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services for the US Department of Education and Dana and Brooke Yarbrough. Dana is the Executive Director of Parent to Parent of Virginia. Her daughter Brooke operates Brooke's Happy Tails Dog Boarding, a microenterprise she started in 2012.



Breakout workshops at Visions of Community will include topics on special education advocacy, managing challenging behaviors, transition to adulthood for students with disabilities, inclusion, policy initiatives, assistive technology, healthcare, bullying, parent leadership opportunities, early childhood, autism and more. In addition to approximately 30 sessions in English, a full conference strand of many of these topics will be offered in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Somali, and Vietnamese.

The conference Exhibit Hall typically features over 75 vendors and resources for families. The conference is a wonderful opportunity for families and professionals to network and learn about important resources.

Please use this link for more information about the conference:
http://fcsn.org/voc2014/

Community Partnership Awards
Each year the Federation for Children with Special Needs presents Community Partnership Awards to individuals in Massachusetts who have successfully promoted an inclusive environment in their community at our Visions of Community conference. Do you know a parent, student, teacher, administrator, health provider, coach, neighbor or other individual who has worked to create and support the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, those at-risk, or those who face cultural or linguistic barriers, in your school, health care or other place in the community? Nominate a person who has made a difference for a Community Partnership Award!
The Federation will present its 2014 Community Partnership Awards at the Visions of Community Conference to be heldSaturday March 8, 2014 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.

Community Partnership Award Nomination Form (http://fcsn.org/voc2014/cpa-form/)

Keynote Speakers
Michael K. Yudin

[yudin] Michael K. Yudin is the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education. He serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on matters related to the education of children and youth with disabilities, as well as employment and community living for youth and adults with disabilities. The mission of his office is to provide leadership to achieve full integration and participation in society of people with disabilities by promoting inclusion, ensuring equity, and creating opportunities for people with disabilities.


Dana Yarbrough

[dana] Dana Yarbrough, a native of Massachusetts, is the mother of 19-year-old daughter Brooke, who has physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities. Brooke lives in Richmond, Virginia where she operates Brooke's Happy Tails Dog Boarding, a microenterprise she started in 2012 one month after graduating with an IEP Diploma from Varina High School. Dana is the Executive Director of Parent to Parent of Virginia and serves as the program leader for family support and self-advocacy projects at the Partnership for People with Disabilities located at Virginia Commonwealth University. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, a Masters Degree in Non-Profit Leadership, and in May will earn a Masters Degree in Transition Secondary Special Education from The George Washington University.


Brooke Yarbrough

[brooke] Brooke is a 19 year-old young woman who has physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities. The Yarbrough family has an entrepreneurial spirit and Brooke has followed in those footsteps by opening her own business one month after graduating with an IEP Diploma from Varina High School in Richmond, Virginia.





Workshops

This year we are pleased to offer 45 topical workshops in 6 different languages. A limited number of English workshops will be interpreted if requested by February 7th. Here are the workshops that will be presented by session:
http://fcsn.org/voc2014/home/workshops/

FREE WORKSHOP ON BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

West Springfield Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Presents: "Providing Behavioral Supports to Individuals with Autism"

By: Jason Litto, Family Support Manager, Community Resources for People with
Autism

The strengths and challenges often associated with autism will be discussed.
The workshop will include information on how to best assess the intent
behind "challenging behavior", strategies that utilize an individual's
learning style to teach desired behavior, and hands on strategies to help
facilitate success.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Doors Open at 6:00 P.M.
6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
The Middle School Auditorium
31 Middle School Drive
West Springfield, MA.

This and every meeting is open to everyone who is interested in attending

*** To Educate, Inform, Support and Encourage ***

WORKSHOP

ATTEND A WORKSHOP ON TEACHING LANGUAGE USING IPADS AND SPEECH GENERATING DEVICE. LANGUAGE ACQUISITION THROUGH MOTOR PLANNING (LAMP) March 21-22, 2013 Day 1: 9:00 - 3:30 Day 2: 9:00 - 12:30 Hosted by: Communicare, LLC. Location: The Jewish Community Center 1160 Dickinson St. Spfld. MA, 01108 $125 .8 ASHA CEUs/8 Contact Hours For more information or to register visit: www.aacandautism.com/trng

PARENTS, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Parent Involvement Survey – Each year the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MADESE) surveys parents to determine how well your child's school is partnering with you and promoting your involvement in your child's education. We are encouraging parents to participate in this important survey. All states must collect this data as part of their State Performance Plan as required un IDEA. At this time parents from schools/districts in Cohort 1 only are being asked to complete the survey. All districts in Mass are broken up into 4 cohorts, and each cohort reports every few years. The survey has a drop-down link which lists the districts in Cohort 1 open to the survey. Survey links will also be available on school district websites. You may use any computer to complete the online survey and your answers are confidential. Please submit your online survey by March 29, 2013. To fill out this important survey for parents of students receiving general education services and for parents of students receiving special education services please go here: http://www.maparent1.com/ Also thanks to Jill from Quincy SEPAC for sharing this info: More info on this Parent Involvement Survey/Indicator and the other Indicators can be found here: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/spp/datacollection.html?section= Individual districts' indicator data can be found in its school district profile here: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/ (choose you district, select "students," then "Sped") Stats for the entire state can be found in the State Performance Plan, here: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/ Departamento de Educación Primaria y Secundaria del Estado de Massachusetts Encuesta de Participación de los Padres Para completar esta encuesta importante para padres de estudiantes que reciben servicios de educación general y educación especial: Español Encuesta Departamento de Educação Elementar e Secundária de Massachusetts Pesquisa de Envolvimento dos Pais Para preencher esta pesquisa importante para os pais dos estudantes que recebem serviços de educação geral e para os pais dos estudantes que recebem serviços de educação especial: Português Pesquisa Sondaj Depatman Edikasyon Primè ak Segondè Massachusetts sou Patisipasyon Paran yo Pou reponn kesyonè sondaj enpòtan sa a pou paran elèv k ap resevwa sèvis edikasyon jeneral ak pou paran elèv k ap resevwa sèvis edikasyon espesyal: Sondaj Kreyòl Ayisyen

Transition Planning Workshop in Springfield, MA.

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 are filled with information and resources that will support you to understand your role, rights and responsibilities in the transition planning process. Upcoming Dates and Locations: Friday and Saturday, March 15 & 16, 2013 St. Catherine of Sienna Parish 1023 Parker Street Springfield, MA 01129 Friday and Saturday, April 12 & 13, 2013 TBD Friday and Saturday, May 10 & 11, 2013 The Keith Center Edison Room 175 Warren Avenue Brocton, MA 02301 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 Federation for Children with Special Needs tmclaugh@fcsn.org 617-236-7210 or 800-331-0688, x336 or visit our transition page or download a Planning a Life Brochure DREAM EXPLORE PLAN The Schrafft Center | 529 Main Street, Suite 1102 | Boston, MA 02129 800-331-0688 | info@fcsn.org | www.fcsn.org

Workshop for Advocates

Legal Issues Facing the Parent Consultant. Wednesday, March 20, 2012 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. At the Federation For Children With Special Needs. Schrafft Center | 529 Main Street, Suite 1102 | Boston, MA 02129. This seminar will cover issues pertaining to contracts, insurance, releases, liability, disclaimers, billing and time documentation. Each attendee will leave with samples of a contract, a release form, and billing procedures, as well as an explanation of the reasoning behind each. You may sign up via e-mail at Ellenjhutt@aol.com, or by phone (978) 394-0737, but to secure your place in the class please send your $50.00 registration fee along with your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and any questions you would like to have answered by attending this seminar to: Ellen J. Hutt, Attorney At Law 2 Clock Tower Place, Suite 525 Maynard, Massachusetts 01754 Instructor: Ellen J Hutt is an Attorney practicing in the areas of Special Education and Disability Law, a trained Mediator, and a parent of children with Special Needs. Note: A limited number of scholarships are available upon request. 

Grant $ for Families in Western MA.!!!

I've recently become aware of an organization in Belchertown, MA. that awards grants to families in Western MA who have children with special needs. I have a client that was awarded $500 for advocacy services. The organization is: WillPower Foundation, Inc. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE AT: www.willpowerfoundation.org This is from their home page: "William (Will) Michael Burke was born with a rare brain malformation called schizencephaly. His condition limits his gross motor skills significantly meaning he cannot move about by himself and needs several adaptive devices to maintain a high quality of life. Will is the namesake for the WillPower Foundation in so much as his spirit and ability to lead a fully abled life inspires our organization mission: to provide financial support to local families and individuals with disabilities in Western Massachusetts when private insurance or other institutions do not. The WillPower Foundation exists to lend financial assistance to families and individuals with little to none of the bureaucracy normally associated with this process. Since its inception in 2008, the WillPower Foundation has granted over $35,000 to more than 40 families in Western Massachusetts to help them meet the varied needs of their family members."