The Family Resource Group Oct 2023

This is our second newsletter of the 2023-2024 school year. We hope your year is off to a successful start as October brings in new, exciting opportunities. Read on to learn more!

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, or information, 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 Fall -

- For the Seasons Ahead -

- For Anytime -

*Each section contains 1-3 topics.

White Cane Safety Day is almost here! White Cane Safety Day calls attention to the use of the white cane as an important travel safety tool for people who are blind or visually impaired. It is also a day to spread awareness of state White Cane Laws. Click the link below to read more about White Cane Safety Day on the American Printing House for the Blind's (APH) website.

Interested in "creating a legacy" for your family with special needs? This upcoming webinar hosted by Confluence Financial Partners is an opportunity to learn about ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts, as well as answers to common questions around special needs planning. Click here or use the link below to register and attend at no cost.

Questions? Email brandon.corlett@confluencefp.com.

Join us in celebrating high expectations for students with low incidence disabilities and to support families and school staff who are working hard to make those expectations a reality in our current school environments.

This annual statewide conference offers an opportunity to learn and engage with families, presenters and professionals, all while highlighting effective instructional strategies and interventions designed for students with low incidence disabilities, such as blindness/low vision.

Participants may attend in-person at the Lancaster Counter Convention Center or virtually via Zoom.

For all conference questions, please email helix@pattankop.net.

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 two dates in the Fall:

Thursday, October 5, 2023, 9:00am - 12:00pm

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

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.

The Student-Led IEP process (SLIEP) benefits every member of the IEP team. New to the idea of SLIEP? Click the link below to visit PaTTAN's new Student-Led IEP Resource Hub and learn more about the benefits and how to begin or continue the SLIEP process.

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.

Do you or someone you know have a child that qualifies for special education, but doesn't know where to start? 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!