IEP Institute by the OK State Dept. of Education

IEP Institute by the OK State Dept. of Education

Save the Date: Nov. 10, 2008

WHERE: Moore Norman Technical Center
13301 S. Pennsylvania
Oklahoma City, OK

WHEN: Your choice of 2 sessions
Morning Session from 8:30am-11am
or
Afternoon Session from 1pm-3:30pm

This training will assist families of children who are on IEPs or suspect will be on IEPs to understand their rights and the process of developing an IEP. With all the changes over the past few years, it is difficult to keep up with the law with understanding. Families will become better IEP Team Partners with staff from their schools as they understand better the process of developing an IEP.

Families will receive a $40 stipend to assist with the cost of child care, fuel, etc. Questions may be directed to Tina Spence at 405-521-4877 or fax (405)522-2066. Please specify if you want morning or afternoon.

Tina Spence, Coordinator
Special Education Services
Oklahoma State Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 412
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
Phone: 405-521-4877

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends "Fly Day"

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends has scheduled a “fly day” on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, at Wiley Post Airport, 5901 Phillip J. Rhoads Avenue, Bethany, OK.

It is a free event for children with disabilities, ages seven to 25, and their families. The day includes an educational ground school, a 30-minute flight over Bethany, face painting, clowns and much more.

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends is a Dallas-based not-for-profit organization that inspires children with disabilities through aviation. Pre-registration is required. Visit www.challengeair.com, for more information or to register, or contact Cindy Miller at 214-351-3651 or via email at cindy@challengeair.org.

Free class: Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals

The National Family Caregivers Association is hosting a FREE Family Caregiver telephone class called "Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals" to help you improve communications with healthcare professionals and to become better healthcare advocates for yourselves and your loved ones.

You can join them for this 2-part FREE class available by phone and Web on Thursdays - November 6 and 13 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm eastern time.

One of the most important attributes of being an advocate for your loved one is the willingness and the ability to speak up and keep your eye on the ultimate goal, protecting not only the health and safety of your loved ones but your own as well.

REGISTERING IS EASY - JUST CLICK HERE

For more information call the NFC at 1-800-896-3650. This year, give yourself a gift by taking the time to learn how to communicate more effectively with health care professionals. It is a gift that can last you a lifetime.

October is Learning Disabilities Month

Learning Disabilities Month is a time when people pay particular attention to children and adults with learning disabilities. During this month, LD OnLine is asking everyone to teach one person one new thing about learning disabilities.

Need some info or ideas to get started? LD Online has put together a page just for you.

Print a fact sheet to share with someone you know.
E-mail one of the brief articles to a friend, using the "e-mail" icon to the right of each article
Offer to read a children's story about learning disabilities to your child or at a local classroom, daycare or library

If everyone does a little, a LOT can be accomplished!

Brainline....new website for individuals living with TBI

If you teach, know, or live with someone who has a traumatic brain injury (TBI), here's some good news for you. LD Online has recently launched BrainLine, a comprehensive website for anyone whose life has been affected by TBI.

You can find authoritative, useful, and timely information and resources here. BrainLine has specific sections for people with TBI, their families and friends, and professionals.

Click here to visit BrainLine >>

Website Empowers Those with Disabilities to Vote

My Voice, My Vote is a website that encourages young adults in all situations, including those with disabilities to make their voice heard through voting.

The site includes many resources geared towards informing and assisting youth who want to learn about the voting process and make a difference in their communities. The website also includes an open-captioned video on the voting process in Minnesota that is applicable to many different situations.

Click here for voter registration information specific to Oklahoma.

An Estate Plan Built for Special Needs

With wall street and the state of our economy constantly in the news, each financial decision takes on more and more importance. Families planning to protect the future of a child with special needs have even more issues to consider.

Rachel Silverman of the Wall Street Journal offers tips for families in her WSJ article, An Estate Plan Built for Special Needs

Planning Ahead: Seizure Emergencies

EP Magazine presents this primer article on the necessity for a seizure emergency plan, and for added awareness and education about the administration of emergency antiepileptic medication within the school environment.

To view the full article and online via EParent.com, click here

You can also view the archive recording, for free, on EP LiveOnline of the related Web seminar on seizures by clicking here. The recorded seminar is titled, "Managing Seizure Emergencies within the School Environment: A Seminar for Professionals & Caregivers".

October Proclaimed as Parent Involvement Month Statewide

In collaboration with the Oklahoma Parent Information and Resource Center (OK PIRC) and the Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers (OK PTA), Governor Brad Henry issued a proclamation declaring October as Parent Involvement Month for the state of Oklahoma.

With this proclamation, the state legislature acknowledges that parental involvement, not income or social status, is the most accurate predictor of student achievement in school. The proclamation, issued on October 1, 2008, states that families can create a home environment that encourages learning; can communicate high yet reasonable expectations for their children?s achievement and future careers; and become involved in their children?s education and the community.

The OK PIRC and OK PTA will be distributing Parent Involvement Calendars and Parent Involvement Checklists to schools statewide to encourage parents to get involved with their child?s school. The calendar and checklist are also available at the OK PIRC website, www.okpirc.org. OK PIRC is a statewide technical assistance and training center whose mission is to build partnerships between schools and families to increase student achievement and parental engagement, birth to high school. OK PIRC is available to assist families with ideas for getting more involved in the education and development of young students, and to train educators on how to increase parental involvement in their schools. For more information about parent involvement, technical assistance and support, please contact the OK PIRC at (405) 478-4078, www.okpirc.org or the OK PTA at (405)681-0750.

2008 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference

The Fall Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference is an Oklahoma tradition. Oklahoma has a high percentage of grandparents who are responsible for their grandchildren - emotionally, physically and financially. This conference will provide grandparents with resources and education to ensure their success.

Dates: Oct. 29 & 30, 2008

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m

Location:
New Covenant Christian Church
12000 N. Rockwell
Oklahoma City, OK

For more information, contact Claire Dowers at (405) 522-4510
or click here to view/print a conference brochure

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference

A Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference is being sponsored by The Oklahoma Disability Law Center on December 3, 2008 in Edmond, OK with Speaker Pete Wright and last from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The program will be held at:
University of Central Oklahoma
Constitution Hall
100 N University Drive
Edmond, Oklahoma 73034

Program Description
One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:
· special education law, rights and responsibilities
· tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
· SMART IEPs
· introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.

Registration
Registrants will receive two books: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition.

Questions? Please call the Oklahoma Disability Law Center at (405) 525-7755.

Click here to download a registration form or read more specifics about the agenda.

Wrightslaw conferences tend to fill quickly, so don't delay!

Shared Youth Vision of Garfield County

Garfield County has been selected to participate in the Shared Youth Vision project. This federal project is new to Garfield County and is designed to streamline community resources and improve the education and employability of young people who are considered at-risk. The federal project targets groups such as:
· Youth transitioning out of foster care
· Children of incarcerated parents
· Court involved youth
· Youth at risk of court involvement
· Migrant youth
· Youth with disabilities
· Native American youth
· Homeless and runaway youth
· Out of school youth
· High school dropouts.

The focus of the current pilot project in Oklahoma is youth transitioning out of foster care. In Garfield County this effort will be combined with the current Community Team meeting supporting our Systems of Care staff. Anyone interested in supporting at-risk youth or that currently provides services to transition age individuals is invited to attend the 1st Shared Youth Vision meeting on November 18th at 10 a.m. at the YWCA, 525 S Quincy St, Enid.

Get your flu shot

The Garfield County Health Department will be hosting a Flu Shot clinic on October 21, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The health department is located at 2501 Mercer Dr.
Enid, OK 73701.

For more information, contact:
Phone: (580)-233-0650

The health department has Spanish and Marshalese interpreters available.

Other clinics available include:

General Clinic
Monday-Thursday 8:00-11:00 & 1:00-4:00 Walk in clinic.

Family Planning
Monday 8:00-3:00 exams by appointment.
Tuesday 8:00-3:00 exams by appointment, later appointments are available, call Monday am to schedule.
Wednesday 9:00-4:00 by appointment.
Friday 9:00-11:00 by appointment.

Maternity
Tuesday 8:00-2:00 by appointment.

WIC
Monday - Friday 8:30-4:00 by appointment.

STD/HIV & AIDS Testing
Monday-Thursday 8:00-11:00 & 1:00-4:00 general clinic

Immunizations
Monday-Thursday 8:00-11:00 & 1:00-4:00 general clinic.

Guidance
Call (580) 233-0650 for an appointment.

Children First
Call (580) 249-5977 for an appointment.

TB Skin Testing
Call (580) 233-0650 for more information.

Sick Child Clinic
Friday at 11:30 by appointment.

Would you like to help another parent understand the IEP process?

Calling all IEP veterans!

Sooner SUCCESS and Supporting the Pieces will be co-sponsoring a training at the Integris Bass Hospital on October 25th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The training is provided by the Oklahoma Parents Center (OPC) and is designed to train Community IEP Partners. IEP Partners can be either parents or professionals who are interested in offering support to parents who are new to the special education process or simply struggling to find their place in the IEP process.

Trained Community IEP Partners are matched with parents who would like support at their child's IEP meeting and the goal is to have trained partners in every community in Oklahoma. The partner receives ongoing training and support from OPC and a $25 stipend for each meeting they attend.

The role of the partner is to help the parent prepare for the meeting and then take notes and act as a trained listener during the meeting as someone who is familiar with special education rules and regulations. Partners are trained to model positive parent/professional partnership and collaboration.

Interested individuals can register for the training by contacting
Theresa Sharp at 977-7479 or Lisa Simmons at 603-1580.

Additional information about the program is available on the OPC website at:
http://www.oklahomaparentscenter.org/COMMUNITY_IEP_PARTNERS.html

Resources for Helping Children Deal with Disasters

The National TA Center at UACF has released a set of resources to help communities dealing with disasters. Families, and especially children, can experience serious emotional trauma as they prepare for, and then deal with the aftermath of, a hurricane or other disaster. This trauma can even extend to children who are not affected by the disaster, but have seen extensive media coverage on it. The following links are just a few of the available resources:

Disaster Preparedness for Families of Children with Special Needs (PDF)

After the Disaster: A Children’s Mental Health Checklist

Emergencies, Mental Health, and Traumatic Stress

Disaster Preparedness for Children

Mental Health Services in Disasters/Major Traumas

Where do the presidential candidates stand on Education issues?

In preparation for the election, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has created Education and the 2008 Presidential Election—Where the Candidates Stand, a side-by-side comparison of key topics of the education plans of both candidates to make sure you know where they stand on key education issues.

NCLD's goal is to provide insight into the essential aspects of their education platforms and the priorities that will drive their education agenda as an administration.

Click here to learn where each candidate stands on issues like No child left behind, early intervention, and the high drop out rate among students with special needs.

Calling all IEP veterans!

Is this you?
**I've been to lots of IEP meetings for you my child or others.
**Special education is familiar ground for me.
**I wish I could help parents who are new to special ed and really struggling.
**I have a few hours a month to help others.
**I'd like to earn a little extra income.

If this sounds like you, Sooner SUCCESS and Supporting the Pieces would like to introduce you to the newest program at the Oklahoma Parents Center...Community IEP Partners.

What is the Community IEP Partner's Program?
The Community IEP Partners Program trains and matches Partners with parents wanting support at their child's IEP meeting. The goal is to have Partners available in every community throughout the state of Oklahoma

Who are Community IEP Partners?
Partners are parents and others who have gone through a Partner Training Program. Partners are volunteers for the Oklahoma Parents Center, the Training and Information Project for Oklahoma. They receive a $25.00 stipend for each meeting that they attend as assigned by OPC.

What is the role of a Community IEP Partner?
Partners assist parents to advocate for their children. Partners need to be good listeners that are willing to continue training in special education and be open to collaboration. Their role is to help parents prepare for the meeting, plan an agenda, identify the issues, write out proposals etc. At the meeting they will take notes and act as a trained listener who is familiar with special education rules and regulations. Partners model parent/professional partnership and collaboration.

Are there Community IEP Partners in our area?
OPC is coming to Enid on October 25, 2008 to train interested individuals to become Community IEP Partners.

Date: 10/25/08

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with a 1-hour break for lunch)

Location: Integris Bass Hospital, Northeast Conference Room.
600 S. Monroe, Enid OK

Fee: This training is free of charge, however registration is required.

To register, contact:
Lisa Simmons at 603-1580
OR
Theresa Sharp at 977-7479