The Lapeer County Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of educators and parents representing our local school districts whose primary focus is to stay informed regarding Special Education plans and changes, current trends in Special Education at the County, State, and Federal level, and if needed, to assist and promote partnerships among parents and educators that benefit students with disabilities.

The PAC takes an active role in the development of the Lapeer County Special Education Mandatory Plan, a document which describes the delivery of special education services in Lapeer County. The PAC provides workshops and speakers from the county and Statewide programs which can richly serve not only the parents of children with special needs, but in many instances the individual with the disability.

After a very busy and unusually unique school year, this summer is a perfect time to unwind, enjoy the sunshine, and have some much needed fun! Below are some great free things kids can do outdoors. The information is from an occupational therapist who gives examples of activities and games that focus on gross motor, sensory, and play, while supporting students with special needs. The website includes:

• Tips to get your child outside!
• A free printable scavenger hunt
• Ideas for sidewalk chalk, scooters, trampolines, or even core strengthening with "wheelbarrow walking"
• "Bored" activity cards
• Ideas for creating a sensory calm-down area at home

https://www.pocketot.com/20-summer-fun-ideas-ot-approved/

Below are links to several camps that offer a wide range of services for individuals with disabilities. Just click the link to check out each camps website. Please know the links to the various resources are provided as a convenience, Lapeer County Intermediate School District does not specifically endorse any particular resource.

• OUCARES Summer Camp

• Bay Cliffs Health Camp - Children's Therapy & Wellness Center

• Skyline Camp and Retreat Center

• Clarkston SCAMP - A Special Camp for Special Kids

• YMCA Camp Copneconic in Fenton - POWER CAMP

• The Fowler Center - for Outdoor Learning

The Consortium for Exceptional Children, the Special Education Department servicing Almont, Dryden, and Imlay City Schools had the honor of hosting Christian Moore, MSW, LMSW. On April 28, 2021, Christian Moore, internationally-renowned speaker, author of The Resilience Breakthrough, founder of the Why Try Program, and the nation's leading expert on practical, everyday resilience gave a FREE keynote address to Lapeer County. Over 80 participants joined to hear the dynamic speaker talk about his life and work experience to create a unique resilience model aimed at changing lives! His childhood with severe learning differences in a blended family environment gave him his own raw lessons in resilience, and later a conviction that resilience can be taught. If you missed the live virtual presentation, Moore's parent resources for resiliency are available for FREE at the link below. The chapters are broken down into easy to listen to audio clips, and followed up by great tips for parents. A big shout out to Jennifer Kortge, School Social Worker, serving CEC, for her work with Christian's Why Try organization for bringing this wonderful evening to our county.

The Parent Guide To Resilience

On May 10, 2021, the Parent Advisory Committee hosted a presentation on Respite Care. Jill Kagan, program director with the ARCH National Respite Network was the guest speaker. Jill reviewed the types of respite care, how States vary, and how families apply for respite care. She shared several guidance documents, including the ABC's of respite care, how to choose a respite worker, and a decision making guide about bringing a respite worker into your home during COVID-19. Below are several links to various resources that were shared during the presentation, including Jill's powerpoint.

Presenter: Jill Kagan, Program Director

ARCH National Respite Network

JKagan@archrespite.org

Jill's PowerPoint Presentation

Link to the ARCH National Respite Network: https://archrespite.org/

ABC's of Respite - A Guide

Respite During COVID Guidelines

Decision Making Guide

ARCH National Respite Locator Link

Jamie Calabro, MCSI S.I.P./Respite, Program Manager

Michigan Community Services Inc. (MCSI)

jcalabro@mcsionline.org

MCSI provides respite workers in Lapeer, Genesee, and Bay Counties

https://mcsionline.org/wordpress/

Other Respite Organizations Mentioned Last Night:

Helping Hands: https://helpinghandhealthcare.com/

Life Skills Centers Inc.: http://lifeskillscentersinc.org

A Family Guide to Respite in Michigan

Michigan Kids' Wivers Information Website

Steps to TEFRA - Parent to Parent (resource share)

Lapeer Community Mental Health-

Customer Service and Access Center: 888-225-4447

This is the number to call if you do not have any services through Lapeer CMH and would be the first step in the process. This is the number you would call for children's services as well as adults.

Advocacy Organization In Michigan:

Michigan Family Voices

Disabilities Rights Michigan

The Arc Michigan

Below is a link to the Lapeer County ISD mental health toolkit that has many resources for parents, teachers, and students.

LCISD Mental Health Toolkit

Jennifer Kortge, School Social Worker, at the Consortium for Exceptional Children (CEC) created a wonderful online resource. She developed a virtual calming center, where everything pictured in the room is an interactive resource; just click and explore. Parents, I encourage you to try it out for yourself! Click on any item in the virtual office and you'll be taken to a helpful strategy to decrease stress and increase wellness. I challenge parents to explore this resource with their kids, click and discover the great resources together. The calming center explored together by parents and children can create rich conversations. Try some of the yoga poses, sing a song together, listen to the soothing sounds for a 2 minute meditation, or explore a strategy card. The options are endless!

VIRTUAL CALMING CENTER

STRATEGY CARDS

Below are agencies that can help parents who are looking for information, education, answers, or mediation when working together with schools.

Michigan Alliance for Families

https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/

Check out MAF's pre-recorded webinars, upcoming events, and parent resources on everything related to special education.

Joyce Dearhamer- Parent Mentor

Lapeer and St. Clair Counties

joyce@michigan allianceforfamilies.org

810-643-1373

"Family Matters"

Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education

The Family Matters website has an A-Z list of one page fact sheets on all topics related to special education. Have you ever wondered what a BIP is, or what a Personal Curriculum is, how about what ESY means? These one page face sheets give simple and easy to understand answers. Take a look at the link below:

Family Matters Fact Sheets

Special Education Mediation Services

https://www.mikids1st.org/

Call: 833-KIDS-1ST

Did you know Michigan Special Education Mediation Services (SEMS) is a FREE service offered to schools and parents? SEMS can help improve communication by facilitating complex meetings, or mediate to resolve disagreements. Parents, you are not alone. SEMS will gather information about your concern, provide information about services to help your situation, contact the other party for agreement to participate, and coordinate services with your local resolution center. For more information, call the number listed above or complete the request services form on their website.

As part of the Lapeer ISD's General Supervision System Grant, the special education administration team has been hard at work to develop a policy and procedures guidance manual. The General Supervision System supports improvement efforts to build capacity within local member districts to fulfill the responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all students with an Individualized Education Program.

To connect to early childhood programs in Lapeer County, text the number above.