Announcements

Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families Accepting ApplicationsThe Governor’s Youth Commission (GYC), a diverse and representative body of Arizona high school students who advise Governor Napolitano on important youth issues, is now accepting applications for the 2008-2009 year. Applications and instructions are available online at www.gocyf.az.gov/CYD/BRD_AGYC.asp.

All applications must be received no later than Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m.

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

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

I’ve just made a few updates to the SEPACs web site, including an updated list of summer programs that Lisa Meyerson Marshall put together.

Thanks to Lois Healey at SUSD for sharing this announcment. 

A free sports and recreation program for kids with disabilities is coming to the Valley.

To learn more, please join us!

TUESDAY, February 26, 2008

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

What: A town hall meeting to learn about KEEN and how this unique program will soon be available to Kids with disabilities in the Phoenix area.

Who: Parents, volunteers, agencies, organizations and other interested parties.
Where: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, LLP
2398 E Camelback Road Suite 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85016

RSVP: If you plan to attend, or would like more information, please call us by Friday, February 22, 2008 at 602.508.3939 or email us at info@keenphoenix.org

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN), is a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization that provides free one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. At each KEEN session, a participating athlete is paired with a volunteer coach for a variety of age-appropriate recreational opportunities. Since its inception in the United States in 1992, KEEN has served several hundred children and young adults with severe and profound disabilities who, because of their need for individualized attention, have experienced difficulty accessing existing programs. After establishing nine separate programs in the Washington, DC metropolitan community, KEEN received the seed funding to establish new programs in Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Francisco and New York. KEEN is excited to announce the launch of KEEN Phoenix in March 2008.

For more information about KEEN Phoenix, please visit our website at www.keenphoenix.org

From the Arizona Department of Education’s Nework News:

February 20, 2008, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

If a dynamic keynote speaker, ceremony, theater performances, or the chance to visit with over 100 exhibitors interests you, plan to attend the annual AZ Disability Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center, 33 South Third Street, Hall E.

The theme for this year is Your life, Your community, Your future. The keynote speaker is Paul “Doug” Goddard.

For more information and to see a list of workshops and exhibitors, visit their website at www.azdx.com or call 602-470-1802, x114.

Another great opportunity from Barbra Ross:

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.

Please review the attachment for additional information. 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.

FYI! Great opportunity for interested parties, please distribute widely!

Barbra Ross
Parent Information Network Specialist
East Maricopa County
Arizona Department of Education
Exceptional Student Services
Phone: 480-607-3030
Email: Barbra.Ross@azed.gov
Website: www.azed.gov/ess/pinspals

First Things First seeks to engage parents, child care and preschool providers, health services providers, public school administrators, early childhood educators, business owners and leaders, faith community members, policymakers and philanthropists in planning and improving early childhood development and health outcomes for children birth through age five throughout the state.

Arizona is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to create an early childhood system that affords our children an equal chance to reach their fullest potential, provide families with real choices about their children’s educational and developmental experiences, and engage every community in sharing the responsibility as well as the benefits of safe, healthy and productive residents.

If you are living or working in Arizona and you want to broaden your professional skills to include advocacy and public policy leadership, apply to be a Regional Partnership Council Member now!

Online applications are available at www.azecdh.gov,  and can be submitted via US mail or fax to:

Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board
Regional Partnership Council Application
4000 N. Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, Arizona, 85012
Fax: 602.274.7040.

Applications should be received by February 8, 2008.

Quesitons?

Kim VanPelt
Regional Manager – Phoenix and Yavapai
“First Things First”
Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board
(602) 771-5039 (office)
Kim.VanPelt@AZECDH.GOV

Courtesy of Barb Ross at the Arizona Department of Education:

GREAT ARIZONA TEACH-IN

The Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services is excited to announce the Third Annual Great Arizona Teach-In. This ‘One-stop’ education career fair will provide comprehensive information to current and future education professionals. Arizona schools will be recruiting SLPs, Special Educators, General Educators, Paraprofessionals, Administrators, Related Service Providers, and more! Schools from around the state will be conducting on-site interviews to obtain the best and brightest to serve Arizona students. A resource room will feature information on a wide array of education employment issues (finger printing, certification, etc.) and participants will be able to obtain comprehensive information, all under one roof.

Saturday, March 15, 2008
10:00am – 3:00pm

Phoenix Convention Center
111 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Details