Back to School Resources for Parents

Recognizing reading (and other) problems early: Programs for parents.
Empowering Parents, a PBS special hosted by Al Roker, visits schools to help families identify early signs of reading problems and find ideas for getting their kids the help and support they need to succeed at reading.
http://www.readingrockets.org/shows/launching/empowering

Concerned about your child's food allergies at school?
Managing food allergies at schools can be challenging. Education, communication, and cooperation are the keys to preventing allergic reactions.
http://www.foodallergy.org/school.html

Have you met Alex?
First, meet Alex's mom. She wanted the IEP team at the new school to see her son as a person, not a label, so she made a wonderful 3-minute video to introduce him at the beginning of the IEP meeting. It worked even better than she expected. Check it out.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.video.moody.htm

Parents get involved.
Project Appleseed is the #1 ranked resource in Google and Yahoo! for "parental involvement in public schools" (or so they claim). But a look at this organization's bristling-with-purpose website is bound to make parents feel...well, like getting involved. Find out how at the link below. Pssst: National Parental Involvement Day is coming up soon (November 19th) but we thought we'd tell you early, so you can plan ahead.
http://www.projectappleseed.org

Communicating with your child's school.
This resource from CADRE offers specific communication skills that may be helpful to parents as they develop and maintain partnerships with their child's school.
http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/success.cfm

Building a good relationship with your child's teacher.
From the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
http://www.ncld.org/at-school/general-topics/parentschool-partnership/building-a-good-relationship-with-your-childs-teacher

Effective IEP meetings: Tested tips.
Here's another from CADRE, offering suggestions for convening successful IEP meetings. It includes preparation tips for parents and educators.
http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/testedtips.cfm

Interested in autism?
CDC (the Centers for Disease Control) has a new autism website. Very snazzy.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html

A parent's guide to developmental delays: A podcast.
LD Podcasts are a weekly event at LDonline about all aspects of learning disabilities and kids who struggle in school, and this one focuses on DD. Listen at:
http://ldpodcast.com/2006/11/20/show-31-a-parents-guide-to-developmental-delays/

Is challenging behavior a problem at home?
Then you may be interested in what the Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior (CEBP) has to say. This document gives parents eight practical tips they can use when their young children exhibit challenging behavior. Each tip includes a brief explanation and an example to show parents how they might use the specific approach with their own family in everyday life.
http://www.tats.ucf.edu/wg_inclusion/PositiveSolutionsforFamilies_CEBP.pdf

Planning your transition from high school: A tool kit.
A very good tool kit from PACER for youth with disabilities and their parents.
http://www.pacer.org/tatra/2009Award.pdf

Resource list excerpted from the NICHCY newsletter, News You Can Use - Sept 09

The Oklahoma Autism Network is sponsoring several training events in February specifically for parents, including this one for families who are struggling to support children on the autism spectrum who engage in challenging behaviors.

Training: Challenging Behavior: What Should I Do?

Part I: A positive behavior support (PBS) framework for determining why children engage in challenging behavior.

Part II: Use the PBS framework to prevent and replace challenging behavior.

Location: OKC (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Date: Part 1: February 26, 2009 & Part 2: March 26, 2009

*Part I required prior to Part II.
*Technical assistance available.

Register at least 7 days prior to the course. Please include your name, address, email address & phone number. You may register by:
E-mail: okautism@ouhsc.edu
Fax: 405.271.1707
Mail: Oklahoma Autism Network 1600 N. Phillips, OKC, OK 73104
Training location will be confirmed once registration is received.

Live chat on parenting with positive behavior support!

Save the date! On December 13, 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern, Meme Hieneman, author of Parenting with Positive Behavior Support: A Practical Guide to Resolving Your Child's Difficult Behavior, will answer your questions in an online chat hosted by the Central Florida Parent Center (CFPC).

Dr. Hieneman is the project director of the Positive Family Intervention Project at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and she has worked with children with severe behavior problems and their families for more than 20 years. Be sure to register to take part in the live session.

If you miss the chat, CFPC will post the transcript at a later date.