The Friday FYI
February 2, 2024
Visit our website & Facebook page for the latest updates!
Visit the Hanover County Parent Teacher Resource Center website for the latest announcements about upcoming workshops & webinars and the links to register. Don't forget to check out our Facebook page, too!
Please note: If you have "early access" (before Friday) to the Friday FYI, please be sure to revisit this page after Friday morning at 7:30am when the Friday FYI is officially published! We will continue to update each edition until Friday morning when the link is distributed through HCPS Blackboard Connect. Thank you!
The Next Steps Transition Conference and Resource Fair will be March 2, 2024, at Hanover High School. Conference sessions on a variety of topics related to transition for students of ALL ages will be offered. Exhibitors will be on site from 9:00am-1:00pm, and families can visit their tables to get information about the organizations and the activities they provide.
Learn more about the Next Steps Transition Conference & Resource Fair by visiting the event website: bit.ly/NextStepsTransitionConference
You will find information about the conference sessions being offered, recommended tracks for each grade level, and link to the websites of the agencies & organizations that will have resource tables at the event.
AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Series
The Inclusive Learning Team will be offering more information on AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) in 2024. Click the link to register for one workshop, or all three, and to submit your AAC questions! AAC Workshop Series
- February 29th: Virtual Q&A (Google Meet), 12:00-1:00pm: Send us your questions and register here. A link will be sent one week before the event to those who register.
- March 28th: Adults only field trip to the grocery store. Meet up at the Rutland Kroger at 10:30am, and practice using AAC as we grocery shop!
- May 9th: Ideas for Summer Fun. Location & time TBD.
HCPS Preschool Behavior Series
Winter Courses from PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center)
Visit the PEATC website to learn more and to register for these upcoming courses:
- Early Childhood Academy: Online, self-paced, and FREE! This course will be open from January 19-February 23, 2024. This course is for families of young children (birth through age 6) with disabilities or developmental delays.
- Winter Special Education Workshop Series : This is a series of 5 live-streamed, virtual courses: Anatomy of an IEP (February 7), Measurable IEP Goals (February 21), Ins and Outs of IEP Meetings (March 6), and Dispute Resolution Options in VA (March 20).
- Let's Talk About Sex: Sexual Health & Wellness Training for families of students with disabilities. Topics related to online safety & social media, puberty, consent, and relationships will be addressed. Access the online, self-paced training module (1.5-2 hours) between February 1 and February 29th, then join PEATC and the Region 3 PRC for a virtual Q&A on February 29th from 6:30-7:30pm.
- Transition University will be open February 24-April 28, 2024. This free, self-paced course provides families and professionals with information to help make transitions easier for students with disabilities. Information about decision-making options, transitioning to independent living, and connecting to community services will be shared.
Think College!
Think College from RAISE
Students with intellectual disability want to go to college - and they can! But they can’t get there alone. They need educators and family members who understand what skills are necessary to make it happen and will support them to achieve their goals. And they need resources to help them (and their families!) understand the college search and application process.
Think College created the “Think Higher. Think College.” public awareness campaign to inform and educate teachers, school administrators, support professionals, college staff and faculty, families, and students themselves that college is an option for students with intellectual disability. The public awareness campaign includes new tools to make the process easy to understand and doable.
Join us for this free webinar to learn about the current picture of inclusive higher education in the US, and hear from college students with intellectual disability from around the country, along with educators and family members, to learn how we can “Think Higher. Think College.” together.
During this webinar attendees will hear about:
- The current situation regarding college options for students with intellectual disability.
- New resources from the Think Higher. Think College. campaign.
- Options that exist for students with intellectual disability, how to guide students to pursue college, and what the college experience is like for a student with intellectual disability.
Date: Monday, March 18th, 2024
Time: 2pm
ASL interpretation & Spanish interpretation will be offered!
For more resources, visit RAISECenter.org or ThinkCollege.net.
Local Activities & Programming
Minds of All Kinds at the Science Museum of VA
Visit the Science Museum of Virginia on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 4:00-8:00pm for "Minds of All Kinds," a sensory-friendly night developed just for children with disabilities. Visit their website for more information about all of the activities that will be available and to register for the event. The event is free, but registration is required.
Autism Society of Central VA
The Autism Society of Central Virginia has reorganized their website, so you can find activities and events for your student's age group. Visit the ASCV Programming page, and click on the tab for your child's age to explore all of the wonderful things the ASCV has to offer!
Jacob's Chance
Broom Ball, Bowling, and Basketball! Visit the Jacob's Chance website for more information about their winter recreation activities, including basketball and Taekwondo. Jacob's Chance has a variety of other events & activities throughout the year, including social gatherings for various ages, family events, and more!
Virginia Down Syndrome Association
The Virginia Down Syndrome Association has January events listed on their calendar page. Visit their website to learn more!
I'm Determined Summit: Register TODAY!
The 2024 IMD Youth and Family Summit applications are available!
The Summit will be at the Festival Conference & Student Center at James Madison University on June 11-13, 2024. This event is designed for students who are 14-18 years old, and 50 students will be accepted to attend. Apply today!
https://www.imdetermined.org/event/2024-youth-family-summit/
Summer Camp Information!
It's not too soon to start thinking about summer...and we can always use some warm thoughts in the middle of winter. Information about Summer Camps & Activities will be added here as we receive them, so check back often!
YMCA Summer Camps/ EveryBuddy Camp
Very Special Camps (NOT local to Richmond, VA)
Camp Free2BeMe (ages 14 and up, young adults with autism)
Autism Society of Central Virginia (*registration is not yet open)
Miracles in Motion (*registration is not yet open)
Hanover Parks & Rec (ongoing programs): Be sure to click the Therapeutic Recreation tab
Transition Resources
- The VCU Center on Transition Innovations has a free, online, self-paced course all about Transition Planning. Visit their website to learn more about Fundamentals of Transition Planning.
- Visit DBVI's website (Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired) and check out their Transition page to learn more about resources and information for students preparing for transition to post-secondary life!
- Visit the PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center) website Transition to Adulthood page for resources related to transition. You can also check out their latest Transition Newsletter, Waze to Adulthood, for information related to the topic "It's Never Too Early to Prepare for Exiting High School!"
- Join PEATC for a live webinar, Connecting the Dots: Transition to Adulthood Edition, to hear more about the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and how WWRC helps students to prepare for the transition to life after high school! February 15, 2024, from 6:00-7:00pm.
- Are you interested in learning more about different career opportunities, career pathways, and post-secondary education opportunities? Take a look at CareerOneStop: Get My Future's website. Search information about careers, watch videos about different careers, and learn about post-secondary education options!
- Learn more about ABLE accounts from the recently launched ABLE Youth Transition Toolkit on the ABLE website!
Contact the Parent Teacher Resource Center
HCPS Parent Teacher Resource Center
Email: hanoverprc@hcps.us
Website: https://www.hcps.us/departments/instruction/special_education/parent_resource_center
Phone: 804-365-4596
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HanoverParentResourceCenter