The Connection

We are excited to share some really great opportunities in this edition of The Connection. There is the Disability Celebration Day at the South Carolina State Museum on Saturday, March 9th, and you don't want to miss the Hakobohu Book Swap this month either!

There is a great Transition training for parents through Family Connection SC that is offered virtually starting March 18th, and the Hopes & Dreams Conference in Columbia, SC on March 21st is an amazing opportunity to connect to resources and learn about opportunities in our state for you and your student. They offer parent scholarships as well!

We hope you'll take some time to read through these resources, and don't forget that if you need a question answered or just aren't sure where to turn, you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at 843-292-1008 or echapman@f1s.org. She would love to connect with you!

Do you have an IEP meeting for your student coming up? It can feel a little overwhelming sitting across from so many adults that you may not be familiar with, but work with your child.

It's important to know that you can request an IEP meeting at any point for your student. You don't have to wait until the yearly IEP meeting to get your student's team together. If you have questions or concerns, bring them to your child's teacher, and if you need the team to come together, request an IEP meeting.

Florence 1 also has a Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, that will attend IEP meetings with parents. You can contact her before the meeting with your questions and concerns to help you feel better prepared for the meeting itself. You can reach her at 843-292-1008 or echapman@fsd1.org.

If you would like some tips on important things to discuss at an IEP meeting, check out this article by Amanda Morin, in Parenting Special Needs Magazine. It goes over 10 things you want to cover at your next IEP meeting. It discusses everything from your child's area of eligibility, if the goals in the IEP appropriate, to what happens at graduation. Make sure to check it out before your child's next IEP meeting!

Our 2024 Hopes & Dreams Conference brings together parents, students, professionals, exhibitors, and sponsors for a day of learning and collaboration!

When: March 21, 2024 @ 9:00AM — 4:00PM
Where: R2i2 Conference Center: 763 Fashion Drive Columbia, 29229

You can register here.

Parents: Apply for a scholarship

A limited number of parent scholarships are available to attend conference at no cost. Parents who have been awarded a scholarship will be notified via email by March 1.

We are planning 15 breakout sessions and two general sessions. Keynote speakers and session topics will be announced soon!

Disability Celebration Day

Saturday, March 9th from 9 am - 3 pm

Free for Participants

You are invited to Disability Celebration Day at the South Carolina State Musueum. This special day celebrates those with disabilities with fun, inclusive activities.

• ZotArtz Community Art Creation featuring accessible art tools
• Sensory-friendly planetarium and 4D theater shows with ASL interpretation
• Hands-On History and Astronomy Zone
• Sensory Room offering a dedicated quiet space
• Silent Disco provided by The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
• AND LOTS MORE!

Attendance and activities are free for participants, except for planetarium and 4D theater shows which are $5.

Register online at scmuseum.org.

Sponsored by ZotArtz, SC DDSN, Able SC, Richland County SC, The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, Colonial Life, SC School for the Deaf and Blind, The Behavior Co.and SC Arts Commission.

Many young people with disabilities want to work after high school or college, just like their peers. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a program that provides services and supports to help people with disabilities prepare for, get, and keep a job.

This FREE self-paced online course will provide basic information about the vocational rehabilitation program and the services that are available.

This training is open from March 18, 2024 through April 18, 2024.

Training can be accessed any time during these 3 weeks.

Certification of completion of 2 hours will be provided to participants who complete this training.

Register here.

Presented by PEATC in partnership with Family Connection of South Carolina

Got books?

Hakabohu Book Swap 2024

Drop Off Period: March 25th-30th

Swap Dates: April 3rd-5th

Drop off your New or Gently Used Books for a voucher to use during the Swap Dates!

All proceeds from our first annual book swap will go to The School Foundation!

Get your child's summer reading collection ready!

Reach out with any questions!

670 Senior Way

Florence, SC 29505

843-664-8383

Bring your old books that are in good to like new condition and then get the opportunity to purchase a similar number of other books for $1 each. ALL proceeds will go to the School Foundation and all books not purchased will be donated to local libraries or organizations that serve children. It’s a chance to donate books that are just taking up shelf space and for your child to get tons of books that are new to them for spring and summer reading.

If you have children’s books you’d like to just donate to our event, we would love to add them so families can get the opportunity to purchase way more than they donate and a chance to raise even more money for the School Foundation.

Save the Date for Special Olympics Area 1!

It will be on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at West Florence High School.

Exceptional Education students ages 8 & up may participate.

You will receive more details from your teachers soon. It does require that you submit two forms, including paperwork from your student's doctor. Those forms must be returned before your student will be cleared to participate. You may ask your teacher about more details!

Florence County Adult Education

Resource Fair

The Resource Fair will include vendors who provide the following services:

• Insurance
• Healthcare
• Education
• Housing
• Legal Services
• Mental Health
• Maternity Health
• And Many More!

March 5, 2024

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

500 S Dargan St

McClenaghan Building in the Yellow Jacket Room

Erika Chapman is the Florence One Schools Parent Liaison for our Program for Exceptional Children. Erika serves as a liaison between teachers, parents, students, support staff and the community regarding educational programs, services and student issues in areas of Programs for Exceptional Children.

You will receive our PEC parent newsletter, The Connection, twice a month. It's full of helpful information, announcements and the dates for all upcoming parent training events. Erika can help parents/guardians to connect to resources both within and outside of the district; as well as get connected to agencies like DDSN, fill out paperwork for Medicaid and understand your child's IEP.

The Parent Liaison website also has lots of helpful resources for families. On the website you can find all past PEC newsletters and helpful webinars on Understanding Your Child's IEP and All About Resources in the Florence area. Check it out!

Please feel free to reach out to Erika if she can assist you in any way! Her email is echapman@fsd1.or and her phone number is 843-292-1008.

Do you want to know what your student's school is offering for breakfast and lunch during the month of March? Find out here!

We would love to hear from you! If you have a question or comment you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at echapman@f1s.org or 843-292-1008 or visit the Parent Liaison website for helpful resources.

You also can contact us at exceptionalchildren@f1s.org or at 843-673-1161.

Email: exceptionalchildren@f1s.org
Website: f1s.org
Phone: (843) 673-1161