Cleveland/East Side: February News You Can Use (from Shaker Heights parent mentor)

[Guest guest]

NEWS YOU CAN USE

SHAKER HEIGHTS PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM

PROVIDING SUPPORT AND INFORMATION TO PARENTS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES

February 2010

PTO Special Education Committee

Thursday, February 18, 2010, 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Bertram Woods Library. Monthly speaker series on topics of interest to parents of children with special needs. Presenter will be Dr. Hertzer, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist specializing in pharmacological management of psychiatric conditions. For more information or to register, contact Sharon Midura, PTO Special Education Committee chair at sharonmidura@...

Annual Super Bowl Party for Teens and Young Adults with Challenges

Sunday, February 7, 2010, 5:30 to 9:30 PM at Beachwood Community Center, 25325 Fairmont Boulevard. Cost $5 per person (pay at door.) Watch the game with family and friends. Pizza and pop provided. Bring an appetizer to share (NO CHIPS OR DIP.) RSVP to Judi Greenspan at 932-1989 or email jgreenspan@...

February 27 Camp Fair Sponsored by State Support Team 3

Mark your calendar for Saturday February 27th! Our regional special education center, State Support Team 3, will be hosting the Annual Recreation Fair for families of children with disabilities from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the St. 's Woodside Party Center, 5025 East Mill Road in Broadview Heights, just off the I-77 and Wallings Road Exit.

With summer just around the corner, parents are beginning to plan activities for their children. This familiar task is often a little more challenging for families of children with disabilities. Representatives from area camps and organizations will be available to answer questions and share information. Families are encouraged to browse the information tables and pick up their FREE copy of the "2010 Recreation Directory."

Summer Opportunities for Children/Teens with Aspergers, LD, ADHD and Behavior Disorders

Camp Nuhop located near Mohican State Park in Ohio. Week-long sessions throughout the summer. See website at www.campnuhop.org. For more information call 419-289-2227 or email info@...

Margaret Foundation Forum on Campus Mental Health

Thursday, April 8, 7:00 PM at the University of Akron. FREE. Hear Alison Malmon, founder and Executive Director of Active Minds, talk about her mission to combat the stigma of mental illness by encouraging students to seek help at an early stage and prevent future tragedies like the one that took her brother’s life. Active Minds has chapters on over 200 campuses across the country. For details, visit the Margaret Foundation website at www.mcmfdn.org

FREE Respite Care

The Fellowship Bible Church in Chagrin Falls continues to offer FREE respite care at the church to families with special needs kids one Friday a month, from 6 to 9 PM. Families need not be church members to participate. Next session is Friday, February 19. Children will enjoy an evening of food, games, activities, and fun while parents/caregivers get a well deserved break. Each child attending will be paired up with a trained adult volunteer for the evening. Families, who have used this program, have given it very high marks. Space is limited to the first 50 registrants and fills up quickly. To get more information, contact Candy Baroni at 216-299-1669 or visit the website at www.breathefellowship.com.

Toilet Training for Children with Disabilities

How to toilet train articles from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY):

a child with disabilitieshttp://pediatrics.about.com/cs/parentingadvice/a/sp_needs_potty.htmhttp://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/potty-training-children-with-disabilities.html

a child with autismhttp://www.teacch.com/toilet.html

a child with cerebral palsyhttp://www.originsofcerebralpalsy.com/04-care/01-bathing-toilet.html

a child with developmental disabilitieshttp://www.dcs-cde.ca.gov/rsc/toilettraining.pdf http://www.consultantlive.com/display/article/10162/1425974?verify=0

Early Signs of a Learning Disability: From the Learning Disabilities Association

Children who may have a disability often exhibit signs that their development is not typical at a very early age. The presence of significant delays in specific areas of development, when other skills are age appropriate, could indicate that a child has a learning disability. This resource page at the Learning Disabilities Association of America will connect you with helpful resources to help you understand the early signs of learning disabilities, early assessments, and ways to help children: http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/parents/early_childhood/index.asp

Reading Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities

This article on the Reading Rockets website provides research-based information and advice for sizing up reading programs and finding the right one for a child with learning disabilities

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/33084

Free Resource Guide to Ohio’s Programs for Children with Autism

Organized by county, this resource guide is offered free by the Children’s Hospital of the Cleveland Clinic. Order your complimentary copy at http://clevelandclinic.org/autismguide

Free Sibshop

A program for brothers and sisters of kids with special health or developmental needs. Sessions include recreation, discussion and peer supports. From 1-4 PM on the following Saturdays: February 6, March 6. April3, May 1 June 5, and July 10. Takes place at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital at 2801 Luther King Jr. Drive. To register, contact S. Vitello at 216-448-6267.

Sibling Issues

What do siblings have to say about their brother or sister with disabilities. Links to articles:

· “What Siblings Would Like Parents and Service Providers to Know†at www.siblingsupport.org/publications/what-siblings-would-like-parents-and-service-providers-to-know

· “We the Siblings†at http://www.angelfire.com/bc/autism/index.html. This site helps brothers and sisters of kids who have autism to meet each other.

· “When Special Needs Spark Sibling Rivalry†at http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/patient/coping/rivalry.htm

Autism Society of Greater Cleveland Sensory Friendly Movies

10 AM at Ridge Park Square Theater, 4788 Ridge road. Admission reduced to $4.25. Lights are brought up, sound turned down and silence is golden policy not reinforced. Outside food permitted.

· February 6: Tooth Fairy

· March 27: How to Train Your Dragon

American Academy of Pediatrics Launches New Website

HealthyChildren.org has been created by the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide reliable, up to date information on child health and parenting issues:

http://www.healthychildren.org/english/our-mission/Pages/default.aspx

IEPs for Children with Behavior Problems

slaw answers questions from parents and educators about IEP requirements for children with behavior problems: http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/07/nl.0516.htm

Holly Palda, M.S.S.A., L.I.S.W.

Parent Mentor

Shaker Heights School District

15400 South Woodland

Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120

216.295.4372