Family Resource Group- Dec 2023

It's time to welcome the winter weather and all that comes along with it. Read on to learn about upcoming events and resources for the month of December and beyond.

Updated newsletters will be shared at the beginning of each month. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at any time. To be sure that you continue to receive all future updates, directly to your email address, sign up on the Family Resource Group mailing list.

Tess Nasehi

Family Resource Group BVI Editor

tnasehi@pattankop.net

- For Winter -

- ECC at Home -

- Resources to Keep -

*Each section contains 4-6 topics.

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is hosting the 2023 National Coding Symposium just in time for Computer Science Education Week. If your child is curious about coding, this event is for them! Educational partners from around the country will feature accessible coding activities that will inspire coders of all levels. Click here or the link below to learn more and register.

This event will be offered at no-cost across three days:

Monday, December 4, 2023, 12:00pm (ET)- Focus on Student Instruction

Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 12:00pm (ET)- Focus on Careers in Coding

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12:00pm (ET)- Focus on Supporting Coding Year Round

*Participants must register for each day they will attend

As much as we try to avoid conflict, we may sometimes still find ourselves in disagreement or challenging situations. This training will focus on skills to successfully resolve conflicts and communicate well throughout a child's educational experience. Topics covered include: introduction to conflict resolution; conflict management styles and self-assessment; communication skills, perceptions and attitudes; and a six-step conflict engagement model.

This training will be offered at no-cost on:

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) presents the Family Recharge Zone- a virtual space just for families to network and collaborate. Families may join TSBVI on the first Thursday of each month for 90 minutes of learning, connection, and encouragement. Click here or the link below to learn more.

This event is offered at no-cost on the first Thursday of every month from 11:30am-1:00pm (CT) and 6:30pm-8:00pm (CT). This month's event will be held on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

The 2024 Winter Camp, hosted by Camp Abilities Delaware, is an educational sports camp for athletes with visual impairment, ages 5-17. Last year's camp featured instruction in tennis, football, lacrosse, golf, as well as first aid and fire safety. Students cooked lunches and also participated in evening activities, such as bowling and an escape room.

The Winter Camp runs from February 17-19, 2024 and will be held in Lewes, DE at the University of Delaware's Virden Center. Pennsylvania students are welcome to register. A $25 deposit per child is required. However, families are encouraged to contact Camp Abilities Delaware about potential scholarship opportunities at CampAbilitiesDelaware@gmail.com. Click the button below for more information and to register.

Save the date for the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Bureau of Special Education's signature event. This annual statewide conference offers an opportunity to learn and engage with nationally recognized presenters, as well as families and educators from across the state, highlighting effective instructional strategies and interventions designed to make an educational difference for all students.

A limited number of parent scholarships will be available soon. Please check the conference page (by clicking the link below) regularly for updates.

The InSights Art competition from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is back! This international art competition, for both amateur and professional artists who happen to be blind, has been running since 1992. Winners will earn prizes, have their artwork displayed in APH's annual exhibit, and have the opportunity to attend APH's annual InSights Art awards celebration in Louisville, Kentucky. Click the link below to learn more and sign up!

Submissions will be accepted until March 29, 2024.

Click here or the link below to find out more.

Students who are blind or visually impaired are taught skills from the 9 areas of the expanded core curriculum (ECC). You might already be teaching or reinforcing some of these skills at home.

Areas of the ECC include assistive technology, compensatory skills, career education, recreation and leisure, orientation & mobility (O&M), social skills, self-determination or advocacy skills, visual efficiency, and independent living skills. Read on to find ways to continue reinforcing the ECC in your own home and community, and click here to learn more about the ECC.

We will spotlight a new area of the ECC each month! This month, we're highlighting assistive technology (AT).

For students who have low vision, various interventions have the potential to maximize the use of functional vision, which varies from student to student. Specifically, these strategies can maximize clarity, optimize the field of view, maximize color and contrast, optimize lighting, minimize glare, and enhance visual efficiency, visual comfort, and visual confidence. This booklet explains the general process for matching students with appropriate low vision interventions within a functional setting. Click the link below to download and view the publication.

Paths to Technology is an interactive site to help families, students, and teachers learn about technology for students with visual impairments. The site shares a ton of information and trainings to support student success in school and even employment. Users may also share their own stories, ideas, tools, and more. Click here or the link below to learn more.

Hoping to learn how to use built-in accessibility features of computers, smart phones, or other devices you may have at home? Hadley offers a multitude of trainings at no-cost online. Users can explore accessibility features on Android, Apple, computers, talking books, and more! Click here or the link below to start learning.

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) houses a library of trainings for families and teachers on The Hive site. There is an entire section dedicated to assistive technology (AT). Users can learn about specific devices, ways to use them, and how students may benefit. Click here or the link below to learn more.

Are you interested in connecting with other parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired? APH (American Printing House for the Blind) FamilyConnect and the Chicago Lighthouse have partnered together to provide a virtual support group that connects on the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30pm-8:30pm (ET). Visit the FamilyConnect website to view additional details and resources.

ALL students can reach their maximum potential!

That is the fundamental belief of the FAMILIES TO THE MAX: Pennsylvania Statewide Family Network (F2MAX). This dedicated group of families, professionals, and community members is leading change in our homes, schools, and communities. By building awareness, empowering families, presuming competence, and fostering high expectations of students with disabilities, the Network is leading change in Pennsylvania. Click the link below to learn more.

Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania aims to connect and empower families by building a supportive community. Families can connect with others who have had similar journeys so that no parent feels alone. Click the link below to visit Parent to Parent of PA.

Looking for a little help navigating the special education process? This bundle includes several different publications that provide essential, comprehendible information to families who are new to special education.

Topics include procedural safeguards, special education resources, special education evaluation and reevaluation, a glossary of special education terms, and more!