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
 | ||||||
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:
 | ||||||
DREAM
|
EXPLORE
|
PLAN
| ||||
The Schrafft Center | 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3 | Boston, MA 02129
800-331-0688 | info@fcsn.org | www.fcsn.org
| ||||||
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
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/
Thursday, January 15, 2015
FREE TRANSITION PLANNING WORKSHOP IN HADLEY, MA.
Family Empowerment is hosting a Federation workshop on January 28th, 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.
Questions?
Donna Kushi 413.585.8010
Monday, January 12, 2015
Two Day Workshop on Transition Services
TWO DAY WORKSHOP ON TRANSITION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 & 21.
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:
| ||||||
DREAM
|
EXPLORE
|
PLAN
| ||||
The Schrafft Center | 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3 | Boston, MA 02129
800-331-0688 | info@fcsn.org | www.fcsn.org | ||||||
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Social Opportunity for Youth (ages 14-22) with Disabilities in Western MA.
New Session of Springfield-basedMaking Healthy ConnectionsStarting Soon! We are currently inviting all youth with disabilities and/or special health care needs, ages 14-22, to apply to participate in Making Healthy Connections (MHC), a program of Partners for Youth with Disabilities. Making Healthy Connections is a transitions program for youth with disabilities and/or special health care needs who are 14 to 22 years of age. Youth will have opportunities to meet new friends with similar disabilities and learn information about topics such as their health care needs, independent living, fitness, talking to their health care providers independently, adaptive driving, and much more. Making Healthy Connections also features a variety of adaptive sports and recreation activities to make every meeting interactive and fun! There is a parent group component as well. Making Healthy Connections Springfield program meetings will begin in early January 2015 and run until June of 2015. Meetings take place two Saturdayafternoons per month in West Springfield from 1pm-4 pm. The annual program fee is $75 (sliding scale arrangements are available for any family unable to afford the total amount). Please help us reach young people with disabilities who will benefit from this important program! For more information about Making Healthy Connections, please contact Susan Nicastro at (413) 584-0455 or by email at snicastro@pyd.org as soon as possible. Meetings begin in January 2015, so contact us immediately if you are interested!For more information about Partners for Youth with Disabilities, please visit our website at www.pyd.org Thank You!--Susan Nicastro, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Partners for Youth with Disabilities
P.O. Box 1311
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