Family Resource Group- December '24

Break out the sweaters and curl up with hot cocoa-- it's wintertime! This edition of the newsletter features new resources, tips and upcoming events.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at any time. We also ask you to provide feedback by completing the survey at the end of the newsletter.

We invite the teachers, therapists and school staff who work with your child to register to receive a copy of this newsletter as well. There is a question on the registration page for professionals so that we can contact them. Please pass this on to everyone that supports your child.

Tess Nasehi

Family Resource Group BVI Editor

tnasehi@pattankop.net

Please complete the Family Feedback survey by clicking the link below, or find it at the end of the newsletter, so we know how to better serve you.

Complete the Family Feedback Survey

International Day of Persons with Disabilities- 12/3

Is your child receiving educational services from a Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) or Certified Orientation & Mobility Instructor (COMS)?

If so, by giving permission for your child to be counted in the Federal Quota Child Census, your child’s TVI/COMS may purchase specialized learning materials (e.g., accessible textbooks, aids for low vision, adapted materials, etc.) to use in your child’s instruction.

This program is funded by the federal government and has recently expanded the eligibility criteria to allow more students to benefit from this program. Typically, "Trustees" use a loan program to maximize purchasing power since funding is limited. Once materials are no longer needed by a student or if other changes occur, materials are returned to the "Trustee" and shared with another student.

Parent permission is required and must be given to your child’s TVI/COMS. To learn more, view PaTTAN's Federal Quota page and talk with your child’s TVI, COMS or Tess Nasehi (PaTTAN’s BVI Family Support Specialist, tnasehi@pattankop.net).

Eligible children can receive up to five free books per year through Seedlings. Click here to view Seedlings' catalogue and more information.

Orders must be placed by 5:00pm EST on 12/2 (if shipping through Free Matter for the Blind) or 12/16 (if shipping through UPS) in order to guarantee shipping before December 25, 2024.

• F2MAX Foundational Courses: Please join us Wednesdays at Noon or Thursdays at 7:00pm for the FAMILIES TO THE MAX Foundational Courses. December topics include "collaborating with school teams in ways that make a difference" and "leading change." You can choose to attend one or both of these sessions.

• 2024 Virtual Village Series: It takes a village! As parents of children with disabilities, often times we are left feeling alone. Well, not anymore! F2MAX is your village. Join us for an hour of networking and sharing on December 19 at 7:00pm.

• Insights Needed to Enhance PA Early Transition & Family Engagement: We need your help! You have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can truly make a difference. By taking a few moments to complete a brief survey, you can help us refine the transition process for children who receive preschool early intervention services, making it as seamless and effective as possible.

The TSBVI event calendar shares several resources, from articles to virtual discussions, for families:

• Coffee Hour: Cytomegalovirus (CMV): A Discussion on Supporting Students with CMV: 12/2/2024
• Family Recharge Zone: Making Holiday Family Memories: 12/5/2024
• Coffee Hour: Magnifying Your Knowledge on Albinism: 12/9/2024
• Coffee Hour: Understanding the Unique Needs of a Child with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia: 12/16/2024

• Braille Readers are Leaders Contest: This Braille literacy contest is for K-12 students, adult Braille readers of all levels, and teachers of blind students across the U.S. who will compete to read the most Braille minutes, going against other participants in similar contest categories for seven weeks. The contest will begin on December 2 and run through January 17, 2025.

• Santa and Winter Celebration Letters: NFB is excited to provide braille letters and activities to celebrate the winter season. Each letter is part of a fun celebration packet of activities, which comes with a print copy for the whole family to participate. The deadline to request a Santa or winter-themed letter for your child is December 16.

• Scholarship Program: Each year, NFB awards thirty $8,000 merit-based scholarships, and additional scholarship opportunities, to blind students across the country. The application opens December 1, 2024.

• Career Quest: This program offers pre-employment transition services to blind students by providing exposure to educational seminars, advocacy, training and more. Apply for the program now, which takes place in Washington DC from February 2 to February 5, 2025.

• Future Reflections magazine: Future Reflections is a quarterly magazine for parents and teachers of blind children that offers resources and information based on NFB's positive philosophy of blindness. It contains resources, success stories, access to a national network of parents, guidance for teachers, and much more.

The Bureau of Special Education and PaTTAN are pleased to offer a limited number of parent scholarships to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Annual Conference: "Making A Difference: Educational Practices That Work!" Pennsylvania residents who have school-age children with a current IEP are eligible to apply.

Conference Dates: February 5 - February 7, 2025

Conference Location: Hershey Lodge & Convention Center

These scholarships allow parents an opportunity to learn about recent research and best practices in special education, alongside educators and service providers who teach our children. In addition, you will be able to network with other families and service organizations from across the state.

Scholarship Application Deadline: January 3, 2025

Click here to view the 2025 PDE Parent Scholarship Application

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) Summer Academy Program is designed to offer high school age students with visual impairments an opportunity to develop their knowledge, experiences, and awareness as it relates to their future academic and employment goals. Students will participate in a 7-day program on a college campus, where they will receive assessments, information, and educational experiences in various curriculum areas.

Location: Penn State University Park Campus

Time: Monday, June 16, 2025, to Monday, June 23, 2025 (7 Days).

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Link to Apply: 2025 BBVS Student Application

For assistance or further information, please contact Kiley Foley at: Email: kifoley@pa.gov Phone: (814)-949-7960

Did you know NASA offers internships for students interested in a range of STEM areas? NASA's summer internships run from early June until early August for college students and from late June until early August for high school students. All student interns get paid. Contact Dr. Craig Moore (craig.e.moore@nasa.gov) or Dr. Robert Shelton (robert.o.shelton@nasa.gov) for information on internships for students with visual impairments.

The deadline to apply for Summer 2025 internships is February 28, 2025.

You can also find information about the Science Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students online.

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

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) offers many resources to learn more about the importance and ways of teaching sensory efficiency to your child.

• FamilyConnect shares articles and resources on sensory efficiency topics, such as fun activities to try at home and fall sensory play for your child.
• APH Access Academy also shares related videos on their YouTube channel on topics, such as "seasonal awareness through sensory efficiency," "living and learning with senses in our home," and "me and my senses."
• The Hive also offers an online course on sensory efficiency for blind children.

The Perkins School for the Blind houses a vast library of articles and videos on sensory efficiency. Anyone can visit the Perkins website and search for sensory efficiency resources. Below are a few examples of what Perkins has to offer in this area.

• "Sensory Efficiency: A Student's Perspective" story from Hope Pardee
• "Sensory Efficiency" article from Courtney Tabor-Abbott
• "ECC at Perkins: The importance of sensory efficiency" article
• "Using all the senses to explore" webinar
• "Eccentric Visor: A Mobile Application For Students With Central Vision Loss While Reading" article from Paths to Literacy

NLS provides a free braille and talking book library service. Follow the steps shown on the National Library Service website to enroll and receive:

• books and magazines, including bestsellers, biographies, fiction, how-to books, music scores and instructional materials
• in braille or audio formats
• instantly downloadable or mailed to your door for free

PaTTAN hosts a collection of publications, videos, podcasts, and websites to help families and educators better understand special education information. Listed below are a few popular resources, but you can also search PaTTAN's website and PaTTAN's YouTube channel to find more. Many of our publications are also available in other languages.

• Family's Quick Start Guide to Special Education Bundle
• Blind-Visual Impairment page
• Blind/Visual impairment publications
• Family Information
  
• Student-Led IEP Process
• IEP Information