College for Young Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Tuesday December 9th during the 9:00-10:00PM hour, New England Cable News (NECN) will air itsMaking the Grade segment on the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment (ICE) program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities attending college. The segment focuses on Roxbury Community College ICE student Max Pimentel and his experience fighting for educational opportunity since he was a child and the success he has achieved. In the segment myself and Glenn Gabbard, ICE Coordinator at the Executive Office of Education, discuss the importance of the program and how families with children with disabilities can take advantage of the higher education opportunities available to them. The ICE program allows students ages 18 to 22 who have significant disabilities and do not pass MCAS, to enroll in college classes alongside their non-disabled peers and is currently available at 10 of Massachusetts' 29 public colleges and universities. Help spread the word by encouraging families you know to watch Making the Grade on NECN, Comcast channel 6, Tuesday night at 9PM.

Sincerely, PS. You can also watch the segment after it airs by visiting the Making the Gradewebsite here.

FREE WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS

A Night of Art and Mastery of Success

MOTIVATE Students to Choose SUCCESS with Susan Fitzell

“From the time I walked into the room, I was intrigued. Susan’ s presentation style and electric personality captivates the audience - small or large, and empowers each workshop participant to become the best s/he can be!
Joy L. Tibbott, Director of Special Education

Attendees will learn how to:

• Foster motivation at school and at home.
  
• Motivate the unmotivated.
  
• Strategies that empower youth to reach their
  goals.
  

• Techniques that make homework and studying fun!
  
• Identify and teach body language that exudes confidence
  

We may have heard the utterance, "Today’s youth are so unmotivated!" and the good news is that there's a lot that we can do to change that. Susan will share how at this seminar.
Each attendee will also receive a 18x24 Moodz poster with instructions on how to use it to foster meaningful discussion with youth as well as access to valuable reference materials and tools related to the seminar.
Don’t Miss this Event! Join us at: 

Hatfield Elementary School

33 Main St Hatfield, MA 01038

October 23, 2014 

Fundraiser & Refreshments 6:30– 7:00 

Speaker 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Susan is a dynamic, nationally recognized presenter, author of over 10 books for teachers and parents, and an educational consultant. A mother, teacher, and martial artist. Susan has over two decades of experience identifying and meeting the needs of youth, especially those with special needs.
Contact: Susan Fitzell, M.Ed., CSP sfitzell@susanfitzell.com * 603-625-6087

RSVP Now! Limited Seating
Go to: bit.ly/hatfieldpta
Anita Gingras, President, PTA anita.hatfieldpta@gmail.com Phone: 413-247-5010

FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT HATFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SHARE YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING SPECIAL EDUCATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE ELLEN STORY!

On Friday, September 19, 2014 at 10:30am at the Community Center in Amherst, MA behind the post office.  Ellen Story your state representative will listen to parents and professionals about the struggles of having a child with special needs.  Many families can’t get the proper services or supports because of needing finances to battle with schools. Rep. Ellen Story is willing to hear your stories. She will take your concerns and voice it on your behalf to legislators!  If , you live in this county and you can come out; please do!

The more that come out, the better chances your voices can be heard.  Empowering by families and professionals and uniting together is going to get the attention of legislators. 

For more information contact: Jan Lamberg @ (413) 536-2401

WEBINAR: Insurance Appeal Process

Autism Insurance Resource Center

Join us for a Webinar

Space is limited. To reserve your space contact,info@disabilityinfo.org
(if you require accommodations, please let us know at least 1 week prior to the date the webinar is scheduled)

---

Title: "What to Do When Your Insurance says - "No"? - The Insurance Appeal Process. Presented by the Autism Insurance Resource Center and the Office of Patient Protection.

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Time: 10:00 - 11:30am

After sending in your email to register (info@disabilityinfo.org) you will receive a confirmation email by Tuesday, September 16th containing information about how to join the webinar.

Amy K. Weinstock
DirectorAutism Insurance Resource Center

FREE WORKSHOP

presents The Hidden Curriculum  Workshop   A workshop designed to introduce you to the importance of the "hidden curriculum" - the unwritten social rules and expectations of behavior that we all know but were never taught - and how a lack of these skills impacts individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is no fee for this training. Workshop will be facilitated by Jason Litto, autism specialist and family support manager. Thursday, Sept. 18th, 2014 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Berkshire County Arc Social Development Center 65 Depot Street Dalton, MA Snacks and Refreshments will be served REGISTRATION:  Please register for this event by clicking on this link and filling out the RSVP form.

My Child Just Got Diagnosed -- Now What?

FROM THE:

      Asperger's Association of New England       

When your child gets an Autism Spectrum diagnosis it's hard to know what to do first. Join other parents to learn about the most common characteristics of Autism Spectrum/Asperger Syndrome, including basic information about behavioral issues, parenting strategies, disclosure, and school concerns. This seminar is exclusively for parents, family members, and caregivers.
 

Presented by Nancy Schwartz, MSW

Adjunct Trainer, AANE

 

Nancy Schwartz is the mother of a young adult with AS and a past president of the AANE Board of Directors. She co-leads AANE's MRC/Employment Programs and Services. Nancy developed this workshop more than ten years ago to welcome families into the AANE community.

Date: September 8, 2014

Time: 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Location: AANE office, 51 Water Street, Suite 206, Watertown

Cost: $40 members (one fee for one or both parents)

        $55 nonmembers (one fee for one or both parents)

Advance registration with payment is required no later than one week before the workshop date. After the deadline, please call Karen at (617) 393-3824, ext. 10, to check workshop status/space availability.

REGISTER HERE

You are a member of AANE if you have a paid membership on file. If you are unsure of your membership status, please call Karen at (617) 393-3824 ext. 10 to check. You will not be registered if you pay the incorrect fee.

No refunds or credits to attend another workshop for no-shows. No prorated/reduced fees if you cannot attend the full workshop.

TRAIN TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL ADVOCATE/CONSULTANT

The Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) is offering an 8 week training: Parent Consultant Training Institute (PCTI) in Western MA.

  

DATES: Every Monday beginning September 29 2014 through November 24th  

              (no class on Columbus Day)

TIME: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 

PLACE: Berkshire County Arc (satellite location)

                65 Depot Rd

                Dalton, MA

Here is the link to the FCSN website where you can find out more about the course: http://fcsn.org/pti/advocacy/become_a_parent_consultant.php as well as download the application.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact Laura Yellick at 1-800-331-0688 or at lyellick@fcsn.org.