March 2008

From Laura Holgate, Chair of Twice Exceptional (2e) Parent Group:

Because I have had a few parents respond to my emails regarding interest in friendships and social skills, our next meeting will be April 12th from 10-12noon at the Mustang Library in the auditorium (not the book discussion room where we usually meet) and the topic of discussion will be:

It’s So Much Work to Be Your Friend Strategies for teaching friendship skills and overcoming social incompetence in the classroom, home, and in the community.  We will watch a video and have time for discussion.

Our last meeting for the year will be on May 17th from 10-12pm at the Mustang Library in the Book Discussion Room and the topic will be:

Discipline, resolving behavioral issues, and creating a predictable environment to help children flourish.

Barb Ross (parent information network specialist) will be there to help me facilitate this meeting. We will watch the video “When the Chips are Down”. Hopefully this will help you prepare for a summer with your child at home.

For additional information on these meetings or the 2e (twice exceptional), plese contact Laura at twoeparents@yahoo.com

Affiliated with Scottsdale Supporters of the Gifted (SSG)
http://azgifted.org/  and SEPACS http://sepacs.org/

Barb Ross at the Parent Information Network passed this info along:

Playful Possibilities for Fostering Positive Behavior in Young Children

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 8 am- 3pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona

Join us for this interactive and dynamic workshop and learn some unique and innovative strategies for reducing challenging behaviors and promoting pro-social behaviors.

Our presenters will be psychologist Katherine Norgard, M.S.W., Ph.D. and early childhood educator and behavior specialist, Lisa Clifford, M.S.W.

Kathy specializes in psychodrama and consults with teachers and counselors in the public schools to foster action methods in the classroom to spark children’s creativity and spontaneity. She helps teachers rediscover their joy for teaching.

Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary educations and an endorsement as an early childhood educator. Her Master’s degree in counseling has guided her 16 years with Tucson Unified Schools in working as an educator, counselor and currently as a behavior specialist.

Their workshop will be highly interactive…come prepared to participate and engage in role playing!

Questions about the workshop can be directed to:

Gayle Moore, AZ DEC President
gafm52@yahoo.com
or: Sharon Brady, Ph.D.
Sharon.Brady@asu.edu

From Johanna Bookbinder at KEEN:

OPEN HOUSE – Come Play with Us

SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

WHAT: An Opportunity to Experience the unique aspects of KEEN Phoenix. Bring your athlete and let them enjoy an afternoon of exercise with our coaches. Learn more about becoming a coach for future KEEN events.

Registration for KEEN Phoenix is limited and is on a first come first serve basis!

WHO: Athletes, Parents, Caregivers, Agencies, Volunteers and anyone interested in
learning more about KEEN.

WHERE: Boys and Girls Club

Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch
2242 W. Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85061

QUESTIONS: Contact our Program Director, Johanna Bookbinder at info@keenphoenix.org or call 602-508-3939. Or visit www.keenphoenix.org

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) is a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides free, one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities in the United States and in England. The young people who participate in KEEN have disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and various developmental and intellectual disabilities. During our activity sessions, each athlete is paired with his or her own volunteer coach, allowing children with any disability to participate.

We are looking for eager participants, volunteers, parents and community organizations to join us!

Unlike other recreation programs for individuals with disabilities, KEEN provides an open, unstructured environment for young people with any type of disability, including those with significant needs. For some of the children and young adults who are unable to participate in other programs, KEEN may be their only recreational activity.

In its non-competitive environment, every child can enjoy every activity without the fear of losing or not being the best. Athletes gain confidence and self-esteem, and perhaps most important, a sense of social belonging.

And they have fun!

KEEN’s programs are offered entirely free of charge to families and caregivers.

Please join us this evening for the annual SEPACS summer program expo. 

Time: Tonight, March 19th, anytime between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Location: Mohave Middle School Cafeteria, 5520 N. 86th Street. 
The gates will be open on the north side of the complex near the baseball field and our usual Kachina room so you can get to the cafeteria easily.

The following organizations have committed to being at the event: 

We will also have information avaailable from other organizations that were not able to join us for the evening.

Stop on by!

Here’s a video to inspire us all: 

Thanks to Terri Lusser for the recommendation. Please visit her blog to get the background on the dancers, which is equally inspiring.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Arizona’s Eighth Annual Transition Conference

“Transforming Visions to Realities”

September 22 – 23, 2008
Radisson Fort McDowell Resort
10438 North Fort McDowell Road
Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, AZ 85264
(480) 836-5300 / (800) 333-3333

Arizona’s Eighth Annual Transition Conference, “Transforming Visions to Realities” will focus on seven (7) strands related to facilitating successful transition for youth with disabilities. The following strands include suggested areas of focus, but are not exhaustive lists.

Strand # 1: Community Partnerships

Sessions may focus on:
• Post-School Results
• Rural Issues
• Charter School Issues
• Migrant/Homeless Issues
• Employer Perspectives
• Development of Local/Community-Based Secondary Transition Planning Teams/ Councils
• Community of Practice Model
• Post-Secondary Education/Training

Strand # 2: Family Voice

Sessions may focus on:
• Cultural Diversity/Cultural Expectations
• Parent Perspectives
• Parent Involvement
• Family Support and Parent Information

Strand # 3: Legal Implications

• Attorneys may present on transition related issues

Strand # 4: Secure Care

Sessions may focus on:
• Post-School Results
• Transition Focused IEPs
• Innovative Transition Programming in Facilities
• Secure Care Transition to Community
• Merging Two Worlds Curriculum
• Mentoring Youth in Secure Care Facilities
• Vocational Training
• Vocational Assessment and Diagnostic Strategies

Strand # 5: Accessing Community Resources/ Medical and Social Empowerment

Sessions may focus on:
• Agency Access: Division of Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Behavioral Health (DHS), Social Security Administration, Departments of Labor and Commerce, Arizona Department of Education, etc.
• College/University Services
• Career Exploration
• Trade Schools
• Community Based Resources
• Housing
• Transportation
• Health Care
• Behavioral Health Strategies
• Benefits
• Guardianship
• Advocacy

Strand # 6: Youth/Young Adult Empowerment

Sessions may focus on:
• Transition Experiences/ Post-School Experience (Youth Panels)
• Cultural Diversity
• Leadership
• Self-Advocacy/Self-Determination
• Empowerment Programs

Strand # 7: Assistive/Instructional Technology

Sessions may focus on:
• High School/ Secondary Accommodations
• Job Accommodations
• College and University Accommodations
• Universal Design for Learning
Proposal Review Process

Proposals must describe the associated strand and target population. Sessions must be strategy/intervention oriented, have active participation of the group, time for reflection and sharing, and relevant handouts. Description of sessions must be precise and accurate. Please plan the session for one hour in length. Times will be confirmed upon notification of acceptance of proposal.

The Conference Planning Committee and ADE/ ESS staff will review proposals. Each proposal will be evaluated by three to five reviewers and scored using the following criteria:
1. The degree to which the proposal addresses the descriptions and/or issues in the identified conference strand. (1 – 8 points)
2. Clear identification of what the participants will know and be able to do as a result of their attendance at the session. (1 – 10 points)
3. Relevance of the content to the participants, to the needs of youth and young adults with disabilities, to the field of special education, to secondary transition, and to post-school transition outcomes. (1 – 8 points)
4. The degree to which content and process are aligned with the intended outcomes, as well as consistency with quality staff development design. (1 – 5 points)
5. Appropriate research that supports the topic. (1 – 5 points)
6. The degree to which the proposal is complete and in the required format. (1 – 8 points)
7. Up to six additional points will be added to the proposal score if the presenter includes district, school-based, agency-based, or organization-based personnel who have implemented the content or skills and can show positive results.

Proposal Format:

Please provide contact names and information for each presenter:
Contact Name(s):
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Position:
School/Agency/Organization:
Name(s) and Title(s) of Presenter(s):
Strand #:
Target Audience:
Participant Outcomes:
Title of Session:
Description of session (200 words or less):

Presenter Accommodations (please describe needs in your proposal):
• Room Format: primarily interactive or lecture based
• Presenter Accommodations: special needs, table set-up, room preference, etc.
• Overhead Projector (for transparencies)
• Easel
• Microphones (note the number needed, including audience participation if applicable)
• Flip Chart/Markers
• Screen
• PowerPoint Equipment (laptop, Proxima- for projection)
• Podium

Conference Registration Fee & Multiple Presenters

Up to two presenters can be exempt from paying the conference registration fee. If there are additional presenters beyond two, the registration fee payment will be required of each additional person.

The deadline for proposals is Friday, March 28th, 2008, at 5:00pm. Notification will be made no later than April 18th, 2008. Forward proposals via email to:

Jeannette Zemeida
 (602) 542-3855
Jeannette.Zemeida@azed.gov

For questions regarding format or content please contact:

Cynthia Bryant
(602) 542-3005
Cynthia.Bryant@azed.gov

I just got the latest flyer from Daring Adventures, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Program that provides outdoor adventures for teens and adults with disabilities.

Spring programs include:

• Adaptive Kayaking
• Sled Ice Skating and Hockey
• Cycling
• Backpacking

Space is limited.  For more info, contact TJ Penkoff at 502-495-5222 or at tj.penkoff@phoenix.gov.

CALL FOR ARTWORK FROM STUDENTS WITH IEPs to DESIGN ARIZONA’S 2008 TRANSITION CONFERENCE BROCHURE COVER

“TRANSFORMING VISIONS TO REALITIES”

2008 Transition Conference
September 22 & 23, 2008

The 2008 Transition Conference Planning Committee is seeking artwork designed by students with IEPs for this year’s transition conference brochure. Any student identified with a disability, between the ages of 14 through 22, and currently enrolled in an Arizona public education agency (PEA) or approved private school is eligible to submit an entry.

The entry submission deadline is March 28, 2008.

For additional information you may contact Cynthia Bryant at (602) 542-3005, email Cynthia.bryant@azed.gov, or Jeannette Zemeida at (602) 542-3855, email Jeannette.zemeida@azed.gov. Jeannette Zemeida
Administrative Assistant
Exceptional Student Services
602-542-3855

Here’s an article worth reading… the comments give additional insight into the challenges that children with special needs face as adults.

Sean Beaudoin, 25, has an autism spectrum disorder, but with help he has become fairly independent.

He has his own car. He works 20 hours a week as a kennel assistant. He has a credit card in his name, though his mother keeps it. And he has a good credit rating.

But his parents, Curtis and Paula Beaudoin, recently experienced the downside of such autonomy for their son, who lives with them in Nesconset.

Hat tip to Sharon Hayes