AHRC’s New Family Education Series to begin January 14, 2009

The Family Education Committee of the AHRC Board of Directors is committed to providing families with information that will assist them in best caring for their family member with a developmental disability.  Through the Family Education Series we are hoping to cover a wide array of topics that impact many different individuals throughout the city.

Attached is the flyer for the January 14^th workshop, “How to Access Appropriate Educational Services for Your Child with Autism.” Registration information and details are on the flyer. Please print and share it with anyone you know who will benefit from this session. autism-flyer_layout-1

If you are unable to open the attachment, please contact Jennifer Amendola at 212-895-3446 or you can respond to this email. You can also contact Donna Gifford at 212-780-2713 or via email at donna.gifford@ahrcnyc.org.

Thank you and we hope that you will join us.

Jennifer Amendola

New York Branch – International Dyslexia Association

Learning Disabilities Series
Thursday Night Bimonthly Workshops for Parents
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Members Free/ Non Members $5.00

RSVP: Contact Diana Naples at 212 691 1930 ext. 12 or info@nybida.org

January 8, 2009 Advocacy: Getting Appropriate Services
Mel Hoffman, Esq., Private Practice

January 29, 2009 Organization & Study Skills
Ginny O’Hare, Director of Outreach, Mary McDowell Center for Learning

Location: New York Branch – International Dyslexia Association

                   71 West 23rd St., Suite 1527 (Corner of 6th Avenue)

“Breakfast with Santa” December 20, 2008 at Cromwell Center

You don’t want to miss this special day! Santa is leaving the North Pole to come to Cromwell Center. Child ages 3 to 12 are invited but must be registered. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is limited, so please register TODAY. Call (718) 816-6172

Parent Autism Workshop: Using TEACCH at Home – January 20, 2009 at Fashion Institute of Technology

Parent Autism Workshop: Using TEACCH at Home with Autism Expert Dr. Roger Cox of TEACCH, UNC-Chapel Hill. January 29, 2009 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Location:Fashion Institute of Technology, 27th Street at 8th Avenue, Manhattan Building A, 8th Floor

Registration is required by January 20, 2009 Call Kirsten Rorke (718) 816-8897 ext 210

TEACCH is an evidence-based service, training, and research program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders.  Established in the early 1970s by Eric Schopler and colleagues, the TEACCH program has worked with thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.  TEACCH provides clinical services such as diagnostic evaluations, parent training and parent support groups, social play and recreation groups, individual counseling for higher-functioning clients, and supported employment.  In addition, TEACCH conducts training nationally and internationally and provides consultation for teachers, residential care providers, and other professionals from a variety of disciplines.  Research activities include psychological, educational, and biomedical studies. 

Individualized Education Program Diploma – Announcement of Public Policy Discussion Groups

FROM:	Rebecca H. Cort
SUBJECT:	Individualized Education Program Diploma – Announcement of Public Policy Discussion Groups

At their July 2008 meeting, the Board of Regents discussed the individualized education program (IEP) diploma for students with disabilities and recommended that the State Education Department seek public comment on the continuation or modification of policy relating to this diploma to address concerns raised by parent and student advocacy organizations, members of the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Special Education Services and others that:

• Data show a greater than expected percent of students with disabilities exiting school with IEP diplomas. 
• A decision by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) that the student is expected to achieve an IEP diploma often results in lower expectations for that student.
• Too often, the decision about the type of diploma the student is expected to achieve is made earlier than necessary in the student’s educational career.  Once this decision is made, such students may not be enrolled in courses that would lead to high school credits necessary for graduation with a regular high school diploma. 
• Students and parents are often not aware that an IEP diploma is not considered a regular high school diploma.
• Without a high school diploma, a student’s access to postsecondary training, education and employment options is limited.
• The IEP diploma identifies the individual as a student with a disability, raising concerns about the identification of an individual with a disability in the student’s transcript. 

I would like to take this opportunity to provide information on these regional sessions and invite you to participate. Wednesday 1/14/2009 from 3-5 p.m.

 

 

Brooklyn Integrated
Service Center
131 Livingston Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Directions:
http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/
5FB277A6-AB1C-4EDF-A826-6E31C902D205/41090/Directions.pdf

 

 

Holiday Door Decorating Contest at Petrides “J” Building

Please visit the Petrides “J” Building website to check out their Holiday Door Decorating Contest. GO TO: www.373rsunnyside.wordpress.com  Cast your vote for favorite Holiday Door! It was extremely difficult to make that decision for best door, because they are all so beautiful!

YAI/Project Grow FREE Family Training Program on Staten Island Starting January 2009

There is a great family training program offered FREE to families of children with special needs on Staten Island. It is offered through YAI/Project Grow and will be held at PS 373R at 91 Henderson Avenue in Staten Island. Please see the attached flyers. The classes start in January 2009. Please call Nicole Kirby, M.A. at Project Grow with any questions: (212) 273-6200.

grow-flyersidates20091 outreach-flyer-si-grow1

SIDDC December Meeting

Advocacy  Committee will be meeting on

Monday, December 15^th , 2008 @ 9:30 am

The meeting will be held at Community Resources

@3450 Victory Boulevard, SI NY 10314
RSVP – Barbara Devaney - vandev52@msn.com 

 

Health and Clinical Services Committee will be meeting on

Wednesday, December 17^th, 2008 @ 9:15 am

The meeting will be held at A Very Special Place @ 55 Quintard St. 

RSVP – Dorothy Clark – dorothyaclark10@aol.com

 

Residential Quality Of Life Conference

Friday, December 19^th, 2008 @ 9:30 am

The meeting will be held at IBR 1050 Forest Hill Road, SI NY 10314 RSVP – Christine Cea – ccea@si.rr.com

“Help, I Need a List of Books to Help Me with My Child with Autism!”

December 2nd we had an amazing workshop facilitated by Kari Sachs who is an Autism Coach at the District 75 NYCDOE Office of Autism. Her workshop was entitled: ” Using Visual Supports at Home”. Following is the list of books she brought with her. They are an invaluable resource.

 

1. Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family’s Triumph Over Autism By Catherine Maurice
2. Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals By Marlene J. Cohen Ed.D., BCBA and Donna L. Sloan, M.A., BCBA
3. The Social Skills Picture Book: Teaching Play, Emotion, and Communication to Children with Autism By Jed Baker, PhD
4. Solving Behavior Problems in Autism: Improving Communication with Visual Strategies By Linda Hodgdon, M.ED., CCC-SLP
5. Everybody is Different: A Book for Young  People Who Have Brothers or Sisters with Autism By Fiona Bleach
6. Activity Schedules for Children with Autism: Teaching Independent Behavior By Lynn E. McClannahan and Patricia J. Krantz

December 2008: Brothers Care Inc. Hosts 1st Annual Christmas Toy Event at P.S. 18 in Staten Island

Brothers Care, Inc., Neighborhood Housing Services, Shaolin Ryders, There to Care

Bring You Their

First Annual Christmas Toy Event at PS 18

Monday, December 22, 2008 at PS 18 (Corner of Henderson and Broadway) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

FREE TOYS FOR CHILDREN: Infant to 18 years

Toys  Donated by:

• Toys for Tots
• Merchant Marines
• Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation
• Gifts in Kind
• A&P Corporation

Toy Donations will be accepted

For more information contact: Brotherswhocare@aol.com