WHAT IS PUNS AND HOW IS IT USED?

• PUNS is a statewide database that records information about individuals with developmental disabilities who are planning for or seeking services.
• The State uses the data to select individuals for services as funding becomes available, to develop proposals and materials for budgeting, and to plan for future needs

WHY ENROLL IN PUNS?

• To assist with identifying service needs and wants
• register individuals on the PUNS

WHO CAN ENROLL IN PUNS?

• Children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities who need or want services or supports

For additional information: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=41131

¿QUÉ ES LA PUNS Y CÓMO SE UTILIZA?

• La Priorización de la Urgencia de la Necesidad de Servicios (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services, PUNS) es una base de datos estatal que registra información sobre personas con discapacidades del desarrollo que están planeando o buscando servicios.

• El estado utiliza los datos para seleccionar a las personas que recibirán servicios a medida que se disponga de fondos, para elaborar propuestas y materiales para la elaboración de presupuestos y para planificar las necesidades futuras.

¿POR QUÉ INSCRIBIRSE EN PUNS?

• Ayuda a identificar las necesidades y deseos de los servicios.

• Registra a las personas en la PUNS.

¿QUIÉN PUEDE INSCRIBIRSE EN LA PUNS?

• Niños, adolescentes y adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo que necesitan o desean servicios o apoyos.

Para más información: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=47621

Save the Date! Our summer renovation projects wrapped up for the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. As part of this renovation, North Shore Academy Elementary moved from its former space in Northbrook to the Rubloff Building on campus. Additionally, the south end of the District Services Center was renovated into four instructional spaces along with other improvements.

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. to celebrate our new instructional spaces with tours and refreshments. Until then, visit our Facilities web page for information about the renovations and view progress photos.

Wilmette – Loyola Academy, 1100 Laramie Avenue
September 2023 – March 2024 Tuesdays 4:15-5:30 pm High School Musical, Jr.

Winnetka – The Skokie School, 520 Glendale Avenue
September 2023 – March 2024 Mondays 4:15-5:30 pm High School Musical, Jr.

Adaptive Dance is a class offered at North Suburban School of Dance at the NSYMCA in Northbrook. This class is designed for individuals age 9 and up with different abilities to have a fun and energetic dance class in a variety of styles each week. From hip hop to jazz, contemporary to ballet, this class will cover it all! Students also have an opportunity to perform in our annual spring recital! The class is perfect for tweens, teens, and young adults who love music and dance and may want to work on flexibility, strength, coordination, agility, and other skills through classwork and creating combinations.

Click here to register or email lbrockley@truenorth804.org with any questions.

CLINIC DATES:

October: 7, 21, 28

November: 4, 11

December: 2, 9

CLINIC TIME

Saturdays from 4:00–5:30 pm

LOCATION

Combe Tennis Center

2311 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208. (at Northwestern University)

PROGRAM COST

Session Cost*: $130/Session

*You may pay online for the entire session or pay at the door per clinic or entire session.

CONTACT INFORMATION

NWChicagoTennis@buforlife.org

For questions or further inquires, please contact your local coordinator via email.

https://buddyupforlife.org/chapter/evanston-il/

Useful for families, practitioners, educators, and administrators in early intervention or early childhood. Click below to access the modules.

Renowned brain and trauma expert, Perry offers a groundbreaking shift from asking, “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This puts the focus on having compassion for other people and ourselves. It’s a subtle but profound shift in an approach to trauma. It also allows an individual to understand their past in order to clear a path to their future, opening the door to resilience and healing. With these powerful insights, individuals can strengthen their self-worth and change their lives.

Virtual on Wednesday, Oct 11 @ 12:00 pm CDT - 1:00 pm CDT

ZOOM LINK:

https://glenbard.zoom.us/j/84505392448

Virtual on Wednesday, Oct 11 @ 7:00 pm CDT - 8:00 pm CDT

ZOOM LINK:

https://glenbard.zoom.us/j/82807525912

This fall we will be offering Sibshops for both children and teens at our Northbrook location. We will begin each Sibshop as a large group for an opening activity and then separate into age groups (children and teens).

Fall In-Person Sibshop Dates for Children/Teens, ages 6-16 are as follows:

August 27
October 15
November 12
December 10

All In-Person Sibshops are on Sundays from 1pm to 3:30pm at our Northbrook location, 255 Revere Drive, Suite 200.

Virtual Sibshops, ages 7-12 (will be offered for Teens if there are enough participants)

Thursdays, 6-7pm

September 21
October 26
November 30

*Virtual Sibshops are for children who cannot participate in person AND for siblings who wish to connect between the in-person Sibshops.

In-Person Sibshops are $30 per session; partial scholarships are available. Virtual Sibshops are free of charge. Pre-registration is required for in-person and virtual Sibshops. Please contact Yuto Kanii or Tammy Besser if you have any questions and/or to request registration materials.

Registration is per Sibshop. Virtual Sibshops are free but registration is required to attend.
Children can attend one, two, three, or all of the Sibshop series. To register email: mailto:TamaraBesser@JCFS.org

LOCATION

Elaine Kersten Children's Center

September 26, 2023

6:00 PM-7:30 PM

In Person at Madison Early Childhood Center

Come and join us in a parent education workshop like you’ve never attended before. We will take a light-hearted approach to learning about sensory processing. In this workshop we will explore the question “Why do kids do the goofy the things they do?”

Participants will:

-Define sensory processing why it’s important for development, behavior and learning.

-Apply the interrelated components of sensory processing framework and/or the thresholds continuum model in the service of understanding a child's behavior

-Describe the ways in which sensory processing differences impact development, behavior, learning

-Make home modifications that are quick and low to no cost utilizing a sensory processing approach.

Registration Deadline: September 26, 2023

Register Here: https://web.cvent.com/event/6bb5a5a4-98a0-4707-94b5-ca7e257d78cf/regProcessStep1

R.S.V.P. Here

Lurie Children's SAILS (Supporting Adolescents with Independent Life Skills) program offers a six-week curriculum to teach teens to prepare for their future in work, college and managing their healthcare. There are also sessions for parents for more information and support.

Click the picture below to learn more.

Mark your calendars for a new series geared towards teens and young adults (ages 16-35). Please feel free forward this email to your children or grandchildren, ages 16-35, that may be interested in participating. This 3 part series will include the following classes:

• Class #1 Cash Flow - "What is it and How do I Start?" to be held on 10/19/2023 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

• Class #2 Investment Choices - "What are the Differences?" to be held on 02/13/2024 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

• Class #3 Powers of Attorney - to be held on 05/14/2024 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

Full class description provided here.

Registration is required. Click here to register for the first class. Each webinar will be recorded and sent to the registrants.

Chicago’s Metropolitan Area Parent Training and Information Center!

Are you a parent of a child with a disability or a community member interested in gaining a strong understanding of the special education system? The Parent Advocacy Leadership (PAL) program is a free training series designed to help you navigate the special education process Illinois.

Requirements:

-Willing to attend all eight sessions,

-Willing to complete pre and post-survey

Training will cover:

-The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

-State law (Part 226)

- The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

- Section 504

- Advocacy

- Current Special Education Issues

- Conflict Resolution

Each training session will be on Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm (excluding holidays) via Zoom Meeting.

The PAL Session Dates Meet: September 30th, October 7th, October 14th, October 21st, October 28th November 4th, November 11th, November 18th.

Family Resource Center on Disabilities is excited to announce that registration for our Fall PAL Training Cohort of 2023 is open. All training will be virtual. The PAL is eight sessions long. Participants who complete all eight sessions will receive a Parent Advocacy Leadership Certificate of Completion.

For more information contact Paula Wills at paula.wills@frcd.org or call (312) 939-3513.

REGISTER

September 23, 2023 10:00 AM via Zoom

Do you have questions about your child’s IEP, but don’t know how or when to ask them? Are you concerned about how your child’s IEP is being followed? Do you want to learn how to effectively prepare for your child’s IEP Meeting?

This webinar provides an overview of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and discusses the parents role as a member of the IEP team.

The presentation will also focus on:

-Individualized Education Program (IEP),

-Least Restrictive Environment (LRE),

-Procedural Safeguards.

-Preparing for your child’s IEP meeting.

-What to do after the meeting.

REGISTER

Looking for a warm and cozy place to hang out on a Monday morning, either by yourself or with friends? Come by to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and fresh scone while you support TrueNorth Transition students demonstrate their amazing job readiness skills at this job training site. We're open for business every Monday that school is in session, from 9-11 am. Curt's Cafe is located at 1766 2nd Street in Highland Park.

October 5-6, 2023

Hybrid

This year’s 2-day SUSO Summit will be HYBRID - ONLY 250 in person, the rest VIRTUALLY, using Zoom Webinar

$50 Summit Registration fee is required for all attendees, including personal support workers. Financial assistance for registration fee is available.

This year the theme is “Building a Better Future Together” and will focus on providing attendees with information to help empower them to use their voice to make positive choices and changes in their life.

Click here for the brochure in English.

Click here for the brochure in Spanish.

Visit the https://www.speakupspeakoutsummit.org/ for additional information, including the full agenda and registration/stipend information.

Are you worried about what will happen to your loved one as you get older? Do you find the process of planning for the future overwhelming?

If yes, you might be eligible to join the VFIN research study, which is testing the effectiveness of an online future planning training at the University of Illinois Chicago for adults with IDD & their families in Illinois. The VFIN research study will randomly assign families to be part of the intervention or control group. All family caregivers and adults with IDD will complete pre- and post- tests.

• Families assigned to the intervention group will receive a 6-week training with weekly 1.5 hour Zoom classes from October 2-November 6, 2023 on Mondays and two Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm CT.
• Families assigned to the control group will receive access to the self-paced materials after the post-test is completed.
• 
  

Learn more by visiting our website: go.uic.edu/VFINIllinois and check out a short video to get a taste of the training: https://youtu.be/WUrfmMDonXc

To participate, please fill out this form: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5dukbZuT2l43TZs or contact Katie at: 312-996-1002 or by email at kkeiling@uic.edu

Una investigación sobre familias hispanohablantes y personas que usan la comunicación aumentativa y alternativa (CAA)?

¿Usted es o conoce a un familiar hispanohablante

de alguien que usa la CAA?

QUÉ: Investigadores de la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago están realizando un estudio para conocer las experiencias y perspectivas de los familiares

hispanohablantes de personas que utilizan la comunicación aumentativa y

alternativa (CAA). Se les pedirá a los participantes completar un cuestionario y una entrevista remota.

Los participantes familiares y expertos que utilizan la CAA recibirán

una tarjeta de regalo Visa de $75 al finalizar.

QUIÉN:

Adultos hispanohablantes que tienen familiares que usa la CAA

Terapeutas o profesionales adultos quienes son bilingües y biculturales y que

brindan servicios de la CAA

Expertos adultos en diversidad culturallingüística y comunicación aumentativa y alternativa

POR QUÉ:

La investigación sobre la diversidad culturallingüística en CAA es limitada. Este estudio ayudará a llenar el vacío y aprender acerca de las necesidades únicas de los compañeros de comunicación familiares hispanohablantes y las personas que usan CAA.

Para participar en esta investigación, por favor póngase en contacto con Ellyn McNamara al(312) 343-6348 o emcnam3@uic.edu.

The Illinois Autism Taskforce (IATF) is seeking feedback from parents and guardians on their understanding of the high school (Secondary) transition process.

The Autism Transition Subcommittee is conducting The IATF: Transition Sub-Committee Survey 2023 to assess parent/family knowledge when it comes to understanding services available for the autism population leading up to and during their high school transition years. By gaining understanding of this, the IATF as well as autism-based service entities and schools can target their messaging and parent education to better guide parents, students, and families with the goal of improving student success after high school.

This Survey makes no distinction between educational classification of autism or medical diagnosis, all are encouraged to complete the survey.

The survey will be available beginning September 1, 2023, ending December 1, 2023:

The survey should take 15 minutes and your responses are completely anonymous.

For example, dentists or doctors available to families.

Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.

Listen Here

This month's hang-out will be at 7:00pm at Spears in Wheeling.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org with any questions or to sign up for email alerts. No RSVP required.

Are your child's mental health struggles impacting you and your family? Are you wondering how to start finding help?

We recommend seeking support for yourself first with a CATCH Conversation.

Sign up and a CATCH volunteer will reach out to schedule a time to talk, meet for a cup of coffee, or go for a walk to give you a chance to share what's going on and learn how CATCH can support you.

Sign Up Here

Join us for information, resources, tips and strategies on a variety of topics to empower you in your parenting or caregiving journey with your child with autism. Come to connect and interact with others navigating a similar journey! Parents of newly diagnosed children are strongly encouraged to attend.

Lurie Children's Sound Experience is a social experience for families of children with hearing loss. We offer Sound Experience four Saturday afternoons throughout the school year at our Outpatient Center in Westchester.

The program aims to provide:

• A network of parents of children with hearing loss who are going through or have gone through similar situations and to share experiences and information
• Information for families about hearing loss and how it affects our children
• An opportunity for children with hearing loss to meet other children with hearing loss

What to Expect at Sound Experience

• Parents informally share information and stories before the formal breakout sessions
• Children and siblings of all ages are entertained with a dedicated staff of volunteers
• Parents meet in an adjoining room to discuss the meeting’s topic

How to Get Involved

To learn more about Sound Experience, ask your audiologist or contact Cara Donahue at 312.227.3061 or cdonahue@luriechildrens.org.

APH FamilyConnect and The Chicago Lighthouse are pleased to offer this virtual support group for parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired. These monthly sessions are for families to connect with and learn from each other about the joys, challenges, and adventures of raising children with visual impairments and blindness. These sessions are open to families. You only need to register once for this ongoing series. The No ACVREP or professional development credits will not be available.

Register Here

The Association of Parents and Staff (APS) is an organization of parents who have children in any of TrueNorth's 18 member school districts, and the staff who serve them. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of our children with disabilities through advocacy, partnership and support. Together with our staff partners, we hope to heighten awareness and understanding of learning differences, provide ongoing training and education, and offer support and connections to all.

Whether children are enrolled in a TrueNorth instructional classroom or receive services through their local school district, all parents of children with learning differences are welcome.

If you would like to connect with your district representative or have questions for our Parent Engagement Facilitator, Nicole Magesis, please email us at apsnewsletter@truenorth804.org