The Friday FYI

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.

Now is a great time to learn more about what a SEAC is and does. We will be looking for new members to fill open positions on the SEAC beginning in March of 2024!

If you are interested in learning more about the SEAC, our Special Education Advisory Committee, you can learn more through these workshops offered by PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center):

1. Self-paced online SEAC Training: This course is open from January 3-January 31
2. LIVE Zoom training on January 27, 2023, from 8:00-11:30am.

The next HCPS SEAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 5, 2023, at 6:30pm. The SEAC meets in the School Board Office boardroom. Visitors are welcome to visit and listen to subcommittee meetings.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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

Soar365 Summer Camp

Summer Camp at Maymont

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

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.

These two checklists, from Independent Futures that Work can help students and their families plan and prepare for the future!

• Working Independently, Here We Come
• Independent Living, Here We Come

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!

Hanover County Public Schools’ Department of Special Education has established the Parent Teacher Resource Center (PTRC) as a source of information, training, and support for families, students, teachers, staff, and community members. The PTRC is committed to connecting people with the information and resources that facilitate and strengthen collaborative partnerships between home, school, and the community as we work towards the common goal of successful outcomes and inclusion for all of our students in Hanover County Public Schools.

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