The Family Resource Group Sept 2022
August 12th, 2022
Welcome Back to a New School Year 2022 -23
We are excited for your child and for their learning during this school year! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time. To be sure that you continue to receive all future updates, or information, directly to your email address, sign up on the Family Resource Group mailing list.
Erin Campion
Family Resource Group Editor
September 11, 2022 5:00
AG Bell: Parent Chat Session
"Join us for AG Bell’s September Parent Chat session on Sunday, September 11, 5:00pm ET, for "Real Life with a Cochlear Implant" with Tina Stuchlik.
Hear from Tina Stuchlik, a LSL Specialist, and her 15-year-old daughter Nora, a CI recipient as they share real feelings, real celebrations, and real life living with a CI.
All Parent Chat sessions will be conducted in English. Register here today!"
Parent Chats are designed and intended for parents/family members; we kindly ask that only parent/family members attend. Questions? Email Julie Swaim at parentsupport@agbell.org or call her directly at 202-204-4680.
Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss (SSCHL)
Advocacy and the Law
"Are you a parent concerned about the supports your child is receiving at your public, private or charter school? Are you searching for answers regarding your child's IEP? Did you know that schools are required to ensure equal communication access? Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss has many resources to help educate and empower you while advocating for your child.
A few resources we are highlighting this week are:
Access at School via the Americans with Disabilities Act
Legal Issues in Serving Children with Hearing Loss
DHH Support at Private and Charter Schools
Remember, the resources we are highlighting are geared towards families that can be used at home, by you, with your children and not only in an educational setting. Knowledge is power!"
Download the document, below, to have more links and resources, on this topic, from SSCHL.
September 20, 2022 7-8:30 pm
Clarke Schools Webinar Series: Social-Emotional Competency
"Supporting the social-emotional needs of young children shapes and enhances their success as they navigate family, school and other social settings. This is especially true for children who are deaf or hard of hearing who use hearing technology to develop listening and spoken language.
This free webinar, sponsored and co-presented by MED-EL, will provide professionals who support these children with an understanding of social-emotional competencies and how to support social-emotional growth. In addition, presenters will explain how technology—including cochlear implants—can impact social-emotional learning."
PaTTAN conferences
Fall Series
There are many conferences, through PaTTAN, during the 22-23 school year. Several of them offer scholarships for families to attend. Details will be on the separate conference pages.
- HELIX, November 14-16, 2022. HELIX has sessions specifically designed for students who are deaf, deafblind, blind, visually impaired, and hard of hearing . It is being held in a hybrid format with in-person sessions at State College and online sessions, too. Registration will be opening soon.
- PA PBS Implementers' Forum, November 29-December 2, 2022 at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center. The focus of the Forum will be on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve behavior outcomes for all learners. Registration will be opening soon.
- PA Department of Education (PDE) Conference, March 1-3, 2023. The PDE conference will be held in a hybrid format with in-person sessions at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center and online sessions, as well.
Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)
Resource Guide for Supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Individuals - Summer 2022
"The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is excited to announce the second annual publication of the Resource Guide for Supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Individuals.
The purpose of this guide is to offer resources in one central location for those who support or care for someone who is Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind and receives supports from ODP. The Guide provides some of the most frequently accessed resources to assist in addressing the unique needs of these populations, such as information about American Sign Language (ASL) courses, apps, home modifications, assistive technology, a foundational organizations directory, and so much more! Development of this guide included input from individuals within the Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing, and hearing communities and will be revised annually by ODP’s Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee. For questions, email RA-ODPDeafServices@pa.gov."
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation OVR
Youth Ambassador (YA)
"Youth Ambassadors (YAs) are needed to impact the provision of services for students with disabilities from high school to college or work in the community. YAs will participate in local and statewide meetings, help develop employment programs in PA, help create youth engaging media and support students with disabilities in their communities."
For more information about this paid work experience, in your location, contact Krista Sloan 814.619.8512 or krsloan@pa.gov
Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR)
NEW Due Process Guide for Families from ODR
Understanding Special Education Due Process Hearings: A Guide for Parents and Families is a helpful resource for those seeking additional information about a due process hearing.
This guide has replaced the Office for Dispute Resolution's (ODR’s) document Dispute Resolution Manual.
National PTA
Parent Checklist
" 'I have never met a parent who doesn’t want the best for their child. However, it can be hard for families to know how to support their child’s education. Engaging with their educators is a good place to start. This tool provides families with questions to ask to work with educators to ensure schools are providing all students with an education that will prepare them for college and careers,' said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
The checklist follows the set of rights that the Department recently released outlining what families should be able to expect for their children's education. The rights follow the educational journey of a student—from access to quality preschool; to engagement in safe, well-resourced elementary and secondary schools that hold all students to high standards; to access to an affordable, quality college degree. The checklist suggests these “key questions” that parents should pose to their child’s educators."
Virtual After School Hangout
Book Studies for Students of All Ages
The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services.