Special Education TRANSITION FAIR in Northampton, MA.

Northampton MA Transition Resource Fair: Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Includes panel with local employment and pre-employment providers. DDS Family Support Director, Margaret Van Gelder will discuss the department's vocational supports.

Transition Resource Fair Tuesday, March 25

Northampton High School Cafeteria

380 Elm Street, Northampton

Get all the information you need straight from experts who provide transition/adult services. All in one place! Then stay for the panel presentation to learn more about local employment service options. Margaret Van Gelder, Family Support Director of the Department of Developmental Services will discuss the new focus of the Department in regard to vocational supports.

5 - 7 p.m. -           Exhibitor Displays Resource Tables
7:15-7:25 p.m. -   Margaret Van Gelder, employment overview
7:25-8:30 p.m. -   Panel presentation of local employment and pre-employment providers.

For more information contact Donna Kushi, Family Support Specialist
donna.kushi@theassociationinc.org  

413.585.8010 ext. 104

Podcast on Discipline and Behavior

Behavior, Young Children, & IEPs: A Conversation with Advocate Sandra Fitzpatrick

 I was recently interviewed by Christie White, pictured above, on the topic of Discipline and Behavior.  We discussed what to do if your child is struggling at school with behavior -- how to take the emphasis off of discipline and onto identifying the lacking skills that are manifested as "behavior."  Once we can identify the lacking skills, we can teach those skills and affect real and positive change.   To listen to the interview/podcast go to:

 www.speducated.com/behavior/ 

Christie is an advocate located in Eastern Mass, who also trained to be an advocate with the Federation for Children with Special Needs.  Christie has also interviewed Dr. Karen Postal, a neuropsychologist and co-author of the book, Feedback That Sticks: The Art of Effectively Communicating Neuropsychological Assessment Results.  In the interview with Christie, Dr. Postal discusses the role and purpose of neuropsychological evaluations.

Please check out Christie's website   www.speducated.com for her ongoing podcasts/interviews and for various resources!

Have a Say on New Proposed Regulations on Student Discipline!

Notice Of Public Comment on 603 CMR 53.00, Student Discipline Regulations- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educationhttp://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=8031

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educationhttp://www.doe.mass.edu/

Education Laws and Regulations

Notice Of Public Comment on 603 CMR 53.00, Student Discipline Regulations

Pursuant to its authority under M.G.L. c. 69, § 1B, and c. 71, § 37H and 37H ¾ , and in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, M.G.L. c.30A, § 3, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) is soliciting public comment on 603 CMR 53.00, Student Discipline Regulations.

 

The proposed new regulations establish certain procedural requirements for student suspensions and expulsions in public and charter schools as required by Chapter 222 of the Acts of 2012, "An Act Relative to Student Access to Educational Services and Exclusion from School". The proposed new regulations will include: the minimum requirements and procedures applicable to the suspension of a student under new M.G.L. c. 71, §37 H ¾; the requirement that public schools have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all student who have been suspended, in-school or out-of-school, or expelled, have an opportunity to make academic progress during their suspension or expulsion, in accordance with new M.G.L. c. 76, §21; and the requirements for data reporting.

 

Copies of the regulations are available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/, or by calling 781-338-6303.

Written comments on the proposed regulations may be submitted by mail to: Elizabeth Harris Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148, by fax to781-338-3399, or by e-mail to eharris@doe.mass.edu.

The deadline for submission of public comment is Friday, March 7, 2014.

The Board is expected to vote on adopting the regulations as permanent regulations at its regular monthly meeting scheduled for March 25, 2014.

 

 

  603 CMR 53.00, Student Discipline Regulations

HOW CAN THE FCSN HELP FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

The Parent Training and Information Center a project of the Federation for Children with Special Needs. This is our Special Education Information Survey: Tell Us About Your Child's Services

We need your help, so that we may help families.

The Parent Training and Information Center at the Federation for Children with Special Needs is interested in learning about your experiences with special education in Massachusetts.  We are conducting an assessment of the training and information needs of parents and families.  This information will assist us in planning and creating activities that will more effectively serve families. If you have more than one child that you support, please fill out the survey for each child and submit it to us by February 28, 2014. Many Thanks!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PTI2014

FCSN ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Federation for Children with Special Needs conference

Early Bird Registration extended through February 16^th!

After February 16 the participant fee will increase from $75 to $90. 

 

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, 2014 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. Topics include 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.

 

Transportation is being offered FREE.

The Western MA location for pick up is 

11 Wilbraham Rd, Spfld

You must indicate you are requesting transportion on you registration form.

EASY WAY TO SUPPORT THE FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!

Dear Friend, The Federation has an exciting opportunity to share with you! Do you subscribe to the Boston Globe? If so, you have the unique opportunity to help the Federation!  The Boston Globe has mailed vouchers to each of their subscribers and are asking them to return the voucher with the name of their favorite Massachusetts non-profit on it. Seven-day newspaper subscribers' vouchers are valued at $100; all other subscribers (including website-only readers) have been sent vouchers valued at $50.  Learn more about the program! The organizations with the most donations will receive free advertising in The Boston Globe. Please send in your vouchers and vote for the Federation! Free advertising in the Boston Globe would enable us to reach and support more families who have children with special needs! Thank you!                                   Richard J. Robison                                                     Executive Director

Urge Your Congressional Rep. to Support House Resolution on Dyslexia, #456

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity congratulates Rep. Bill Cassidy for the House Resolution on Dyslexia (H.Res. 456, 113th Congress), at long last, recognizing that dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty that has profound educational implications.

Rep. Cassidy's resolution represents a giant step forward for everyone and anyone who cares about dyslexia - parents, teachers, dyslexic children and adults. Science has progressed in bringing understanding and clarity to dyslexia. This Resolution now calls for educators and testing agencies to catch up and put this powerful knowledge to work so that affected children and their families, and our entire nation may benefit. For too long, parents have had to endure watching their child struggle, often year after year, with every sign of dyslexia, with (if they could afford it) reports confirming the diagnosis, only to be denied recognition and services. Children confused, thinking they are not capable, lose self-esteem and give up on themselves and their futures. 

Rep. Cassidy's Resolution recognizes each major element of dyslexia, its:  high prevalence (1 in 5);  cognitive and neurobiological bases; unexpected nature; persistence; and critically, its profound impact on education and the critical need for action by schools. Dyslexia impacts your child's education and can be properly and successfully addressed by schools. There is no excuse not to, our children and our nation's futures are at stake. Schools must take their heads out of the ground and look up - to science and morality - and move forward.

Rep. Cassidy gets it; the Bipartisan Dyslexia Caucus which he co-founded was a major step forward and now the Dyslexia Resolution brings light and understanding and we hope action to ensuring that children who are dyslexic receive the understanding and evidence-based programs and accommodations that they deserve and require. We urge all who care to contact your Congressional representative and urge him or her to support this resolution. Please act now - find your rep here: www.house.gov/representatives/find

You can make a difference!