Life Planning Workshop

By

Margaret “Midge” White, M.Ed., CCD

           The Cutty Legacy Foundation Administrator  

Location:  UCP

            1802 West Parkside Lane*

            Phoenix, AZ 85027

Time:   Thursday, November 12^th, 2009        

•  
              6:30 to 8:30 

Free Workshop: How to Provide for Your Family Member with a Disability: Overview of Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney, Guardianship, Conservatorship, MAP’s, Government Services, Health Care Directives and Futures and End of Life Planning.(Free booklets including information on all areas listed, etc.)

To Sign up Please Call or e-mail at: Call: UCP at 602-943-5472 ask for Kimberly or e-mail:  kphillips@ucpofcentralaz.org or Margaret “Midge” White at 480-730-4108, 480-844-7520 or e-mail: mmwhite@tch-az.com or mmwhite@inficad.com Workshop and “Life Planning” booklets are free but please call ahead so we have enough materials.

Please read synopsis of proposed overhaul article and for further information please go to the NY TIMES article.

Experts revising psychiatry’s diagnostic manual have proposed eliminating Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, folding them into a single, broader diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The New York Times reports that the change is part of an effort to modernize the mental illness model as a continuum, with many degrees of severity.

To view link, please cut and paste in your browser:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/health/03asperger.html?_r=2&ref=health

The attendees will have a unique opportunity to listen to and ask questions of a panel of youth who live with a child with special needs. They will share their hope, strength and challenges and give us an inside look as to what their lives are like.

Saturday, November 14th @10am

Highlands Church

9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

480-348-9191

The City of Scottsdale is hosting a Citizens’ Disability Forum on November 17, 2009 at two locations.  Please come and share your thoughts and ideas.

 Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 (attend either session) 

Light refreshments will be provided 

2 p.m. 6 p.m. 

Civic Center Library – 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

or

Via Linda Senior Center – 10440 E. Via Linda

For more information, please contact: Denise at (480) 312-2246 or dlabreque@scottsdaleaz.gov

Applications for the next Partners in Policymaking class are now being accepted. This is a highly recommended program for parents, caregivers, and/or self-advocates.  See flyer below.

Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona Announces Partners in Policymaking A FREE Leadership Training for self-advocates & parents of children with disabilities. Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training program for parents of children with disabilities and for adults with disabilities. The program is designed to provide information, training, resources and skill building to people with a disability and the parents of children with disabilities so that they can become better advocates for themselves or their children. Partners in Policymaking provides participants with opportunities to meet and talk to national and state leaders in the disability advocacy field.   Participants will have an opportunity to meet and unite with others who have similar concerns to create a powerful voice on important issues. Participants learn how the legislative process works at the local, state and national levels. The goal of the training is to develop productive partnerships between people who need and use services and those in a position to make policy and law. Topics To Be Addressed History of the Disability Movement Inclusion & Quality Education IEP Participation Community Supports People First Language Person Centered Planning Assistive Technology State & Federal Policy Legislative Process Planning for Transitions Organizing for Change.

Click on link for application and more information:
partners-application-20094

A great opportunity for parents!

Special Education Training for Parents

Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona  

Second Floor/Room 208

5025 East Washington Street

Phoenix, Arizona

Thursday, April 23, 2009

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

&

6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Do you have questions about the special education process?

Do you have questions about your child’s IEP?

Do you have questions concerning discipline?

Do you have questions about your rights?

Well, let’s get some answers !

The Arizona Center for Disability Law will be conducting an intensive training designed for parents to answer these questions and more. This free training will provide in depth information on the procedural safeguards set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, Bureau of Indian Education and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Highlights of the training will include information on the evaluation, the IEP, appropriate placement, transition services and discipline. In addition, the training will provide parents with practical advice and strategies for developing self-advocacy skills.

For more information or to reserve space in one of the trainings, please contact the Center, at

(602) 274-6287 (voice/TTY) 1-800-927-2260 or e-mail kvanhorne@azdisabilitylaw.org . Please notify the Center as soon as possible if you need any special accommodations or are unable to keep your reservation. The training is subject to cancellation if minimal registration is not achieved; you will be contacted as soon as possible if the training is cancelled. The training is limited to 25 participates.

For more information about the Center, please check our website at www.azdisabilitylaw.org

Funding for this training is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities

Every child can succeed with positive direction and care.  This a wonderful opportunity to help prepare our young adults  for their lives after high school.  Register Now!

For more details, please visit the website for the conference:  www.SpectrumTrainingSystemsInc.com/Conferences.html

Read below for the conference schedule.

Career Planning for Individuals
with Autism Spectrum Disorders
April 2-3, 2009

After several years of planning, Spectrum Training is delighted to announce that our two day Autism Career Planning conferences are now ready. After much dialogue with career planners, transition teachers, parents and other ASD concerned persons we planned these conferences to meet those specific, critical needs.
This high caliber career planning is the key to a successful future with positive long-term outcomes and is ESSENTIAL for:
* Career counselors, job developers/job coaches, rehab administrators, vocational coordinators
* Special education administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, case managers, therapists
* Students, parents, caregivers, young adults with ASD (16+)

Date and Location

April 2-3, 2009 Phoenix, AZ

Topic Schedule
Conference Schedule Day One:

Career Planning
A. Communication Skills in the Initial Interview
B. Interview Communication Graffiti Activity
C. Structuring the Interview Environment
D. Interview Structure Activity
E. Theory of Mind
F. Building the Career Portfolio
G. Career Portfolio Development Activity

Career Assessment
A. Creating the Evaluation Plan
B. Assessment Processes for Job Seekers With ASD
C. Skill/Interest Testing
D. Assessing Social/Communication Skills
E. Career Assessment Activity

Workplace Supports
A. Workplace Problems
B. Natural Support Development
C. Take Workplace Supports
D. Minnesota Work Adjustment Theory
E. Work Values Graffiti Activity

Conference Schedule Day Two:
Social Communication in the Workplace
A. Basic Self-Advocacy
B. Asking for Help Activity
C. Sins of the System Overview
D. Sins of the System Graffiti Activity
E. Courtesy Rule Card Activity
F. Social Skill Supports
G. Workplace Visuals Graffiti Activity
H. Workplace Social Story Make/Take

Implementing the Career Plan
A. Career Strategies in Action
B. Working with the Business Community
C. Final Wrap Up – Q & A Session

Presented by Spectrum Training Systems, Inc.

spectrumtrainingsystems@yahoo.com

(920) 749-0332 

Please come and show your support!

March 4 Schools 4:00 – 6:00 
> March 4, 2009 @ the Arizona State Capitol 
> We need everyone at this event. Buses are leaving from 10 different elementary schools (departing at 3:45). Please use this link to RSVP.
> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nFTKO846qE475Fzbniswzw_3d_3d
> 
> Pass this email on to anyone, I mean anyone, who believes that a promising tomorrow starts with our schools today. Right now the legislative leadership is proposing cuts of 18% to our already inadequate funding. 
> My promise is to speak up against this. Will you? I mean really…what’s it gonna take? 
> PTOs and PTAs, I implore you to get this through your network with a real sense of urgency. 
> 
> My sincerest thanks,
> Eric Kurland
> SEA President
> erickurland6@aol.com
>

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