Don't Kick Penguins - Oct. 20

This year's Don't Kick Penguin anti-bullying program will be held on Saturday, October 20, at McHenry County College.

See complete information here.

Parent Empowerment Call - Thurs., Oct. 4

The October Parent Empowerment Call, sponsored by IDHS, will be held on Thursday, October 4, from 12:00pm-1:00pm.

This month's topic is "Rx Assist".

Dial 800-260-0702
Participant Access Code: 228137

Darlene McGary, Family Consumer Specialist, will be the presenter this month. Calls are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Services.





Parents are invited to dial in tollfree. Please be prompt and join at the beginning of the call.

Questions about the Parent Empowerment Calls? Call 1-618-838-9382


These calls occur monthly on the first Thursday.

Two-day workshop - Special Ed

A two-day workshop by Paula Kluth and Cindy Golden will be presented on October 16-17 in Arlington Heights. The title is "Designing Successful Inclusive and Special Education Classrooms".

Although this is scheduled in just two weeks, there might be time for parents to hit up their Special Education Departments at their kids' schools to send a couple of teachers to it. Spread the word.

Complete information can be viewed here.

The Inclusive Classroom, presented by Paula Kluth, Ph.D.
This interactive day features group activities, real-world stories, and tools you can bring back to the classroom immediately. Participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum labels and other disabilities within a general education classroom. The centerpiece of the presentation is Dr. Kluth’s “Top Ten Strategies List for Inclusive Classrooms” in which she addresses the need for sensory supports, visuals, active learning, “safe space,” and materials that capitalize on student strengths. Other topics addressed include defining (and redefining) autism, listening to the voices of those with autism, creating more responsive lessons, making the classroom comfortable, and providing opportunities for communication skill development. The presentation provides teachers with the necessary knowledge and strategies to understand every student as complex, as capable, and as a learner.


The Special Educator’s Toolkit, presented by Cindy Golden, Ed.D.
Based on her popular book, The Special Educator’s Toolkit, Dr. Cindy Golden, a seasoned special educator, administrator, and psychologist with almost 30 years of experience, developed this teacher-friendly toolkit and training from her popular OMAC (Organization and Management of All Classrooms) system- an innovative approach to creating effective classrooms for students with all types of disabilities. This is the ultimate guide for every special educator, from the first-year teacher setting up a new classroom to the seasoned veteran who wants a guide to current best practices. Based on researched best practice, special educators will get step-by-step, ready-to-use guidance on managing six key aspects of their daily work. Teachers will come away empowered and motivated to get and stay organized, and they’ll see the positive results year after year in their classrooms.

All About IEPs

Spectrum Support will sponsor the following evening workshop on October 12.

ALL ABOUT IEP’S

"We hope you can make it to our first FREE educational seminar on Friday, October 12th, at 6:00 pm.

"Presented by Elizabeth Hooper, MA, Elizabeth is an educational consultant and advocate. We are excited to have her come to the center for this free parent seminar.

"With a Masters in Special Education and work experience as a special education teacher and behavior intervention case manager, she knows the inside story of how to work the school system so your child gets the supports they need in the classroom.

"Come to learn about current laws, behavioral supports and to ask questions.

"We hope you all can attend. Please RSVP to tmbr@spectrumsupportllc.com, if you plan to attend."

Spectrum Support is located at 1575 West Lake Shore Drive, Woodstock. From U.S. 14, turn north at the traffic light by Culver's. Then take your first left (opposite Culver's driveway).

Family Challenge - a 2-night event

FamiliesETC and OMNI Youth Services are sponsoring a "Family Challenge" as a two-night workshop on September 18 and September 27.

The goal is to increase family communication, cooperation, learn new problem-solving skills, and build trust. Trained staff members will facilitate the activities and discussions. Dinner will be provided. There is no cost to attend.

The first night of the Family Challenge is Tuesday, September 18. It continues on Thursday, September 27. Participants are to attend both nights. The workshop hours are 5:00-9:00PM, and the program will be conducted at 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, Ill.
One 18-year-old past participant said about the Challenge, "I’m an 18 year old son, and
this experience brought my mom and I closer together and it was really fun!"

For more information and to register, contact Teri Lindahl at tlindahl@familiesetc.org or 815.308.0861

Webinar 8/21/12 for parents

One parent writes, "If you have a child in transition, you really should join in this Webinar!!  And you should invite your IEP/Transition Team to join in also."

What a novel idea! That an IEP Transition Team (you know, the principal, the special ed director, teachers ... the whole team...) should join in on a conference call, where all can hear the same information at the same time.

If it happens anywhere, let me know. Here's the info.

Indicator 8 Parent Webinar Series

Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/473013216

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

This Webinar was developed as a response to the Illinois State Board of Education Parent Survey for State Performance Plan Indicator 8. The Parent & Educator Partnership and Deb Kunz, Parent Consultant from the Illinois State Board of Education will host a series of Parent Webinars.

Our featured presenter will be Sue Walter, Statewide Transition Consultant, Illinois State Board of Education and Project Director for Transition Outreach Training for Adult Living (TOTAL) Project.

What is "Indicator 8"? Call your school district's special education office and ask them.

This webinar is free but, if you register, please show up. If you don't show up, you might be preventing someone else from attending.

Siblling autism support group

The following information was received from Spectrum Support, located in Woodstock across the road from Culver's (on Route 14):

Do you have a brother or sister with Autism? Would you like to talk about it or hang out with other siblings? If so, this group could be for you.

The second Saturday of every month, starting July 14th.
Ages 12 and up: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Spectrum Support, LLC, 1575 West Lake Shore Drive, Woodstock 60098

Topics that may be discussed:
What do love about your sibling?
What annoys you about your sibling?
Embarrassing Moments and how to deal with them
Clichés/Literal Thinking and Autism
Obsessions and Autism
Peer Issues
Concerns about the Future
Bullying
The "R" Word
Parental attention

If there is anything that you would like to discuss, let them know.
Please RSVP to Elizabeth Lewis at (815)566-9824 or elewis0603@gmail.com

Grandparents' support group

Are you a grandparent who is raising a grandchild?

OK, you might know what you want and what you need, but do you know what your rights are? Do you have any rights in Illinois as a grandparent?

A support group for you meets on the 4th Sunday of the month at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 932 S. McHenry Ave. in Crystal Lake from 2:00-4:00PM.


The next meeting is tomorrow, Sunday, June 24. The subject? What else? Grandparents Rights!

If you bring the rugrats, there is a carpeted gym next to the meeting room, where the kids can play during the meeting. The notice did not include whether there is actual child care.


If you want more information or have questions, call Peggy O'Connor at 847/772-5158

(This message is also posted on www.WoodstockAdvocate.com 

Now THIS is a school!!!

Check out this school - Lionsgate Academy, in Minneapolis.

A friend sent this to me. Her son is a student there. This is what our schools should be for our children. Not jails. Not prisons. Not torture. (our schools, I mean)

Our schools should be places our children want to go every day. And places where we can trust that they will treated with dignity and respect.

Click on the link above or visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEY53o1oJbQ&feature=youtu.be

Parent Empowerment Call, May 3

The May Parent Empowerment Call of the Child & Adolescent Services section of the Division of Mental Health, Illinois Department of Human Services, will be held on Thursday, May 3, from 12:00-1:30PM.

These monthly calls are normally one hour, but the May call will be 90 minutes. No topic was announced for this call, so perhaps it's a free-for-all.

It is free, and parents of children with emotional and/or behavioral health concerns are invited to join in.

To access the call, dial  (800) 260-0702; then enter Participant Access Code 228115.

The code changes monthly, so don't bother to save it.

 If you have questions, contact Judy Hutchinson, Family Consumer Specialist, Region 5, DMH Child & Adolescent Network at judy.hutchinson@illinois.gov or (618) 838-9382

Kirk Martin at Ill. home-school convention, plus

Kirk Martin and his son, Casey Martin, will present two free parent workshops in the Chicago area, while they are here to participate in the 2012 Illinois Homeschool Convention.

Their workshops will be

Wednesday, May 9     6:30pm - 8:30pm  

Sayre Language Academy, 1850 North Newland Ave., Chicago, IL 60707

Thursday, May 10      7:00pm - 9:00pm

Jefferson Middle School, 1151 Plum St., Aurora, IL 60506  

(Kirk will focus on Defiance, Yelling & Motivating Strong-Willed Tots, Tweens & Teens) 

See the flyer for these workshops at http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101440021553-298/Flyer-IL+May+9-10+Multi+Dates.pdf

and more information at www.celebratecalm.com

For information about the Convention, go to http://www.chicagohomeschoolexpo.com/home/2012-workshops

Convention dates are Thursday and Friday, May 10-11, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, Ill. Advance registration has closed, but you can register at the door.

The story of Stuart Chaifetz is all over the internet. Stuart wired up his son, Akian, who has autism, and sent him to school. The recording proved that Akian was being verbally abused by his special ed teacher and the teacher's aide.

The aide was fired; the teacher was re-assigned, not fired.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/23/stuart-chaifetz-father-wire-son-records-teacher-abuse_n_1447330.html?ref=mostpopular

We entrust our children to schools and staff for important hours every day.

I have witnessed verbal abuse of a child in Special Ed. My stepson experienced it in Woodstock District 200. He took a tape recorder to school in eighth grade and promptly got in trouble for it. It was a worse "crime" to take a tape recorder to school than it was for the bullying to occur.

Then, a year later and in summer school after a change in placement, he didn't want to go to school because of bullying. After he missed the bus one day, he agreed to go to school, if I would drive him there. So I left Woodstock, drove to Wonder Lake to pick him up and drove him to the therapeutic day school on the north side of Elgin, near I-90 and Illinois Route 31.

He wanted to take a tape recorder to school and record the bullying. Now, this is from a 9th Grade student. Pretty savvy, right?

To get him out of the house and into the car, I agreed to his taking a tape-recorder. On the 40-minute drive to school, we discussed what was happening at school, and I suggested that there might be a school rule about tape-recording. When I suggested that we ought to talk with the principal upon arrival about the use of a tape-recorder, he agreed that this would be a good idea.

When we arrived, we asked to meet with the principal, and the special ed director and she came to the school entrance. I explained about the tape-recorder and the rule I suspected was in place. Instead of listening and complimenting my stepson on coming to school and asking for permission, they went ballistic. Right in front of me.

I let him stand up for himself and he did a good job of remaining polite. Finally, they went "over the top" and I intervened and called a halt to their bullying. Even so, I hated to think what was likely to occur after I left.

No wonder he didn't want to go to school.

How do we protect our kids from bullying by teachers and staff?

Autism Fair - this Friday, April 20

Like to know more about autism? Interested in finding new or additional resources? Want to meet other parents who have (or need) information to support living with those affected by autism?

There will be a fair this Friday evening, April 20, from 5:30-7:30PM at Spectrum Support, located at 1575 W. Lake Shore Dr., Woodstock. Spectrum Support is located just east of Woodstock on U.S. 14 across from Culver's Restaurant. Turn north at the traffic light and then take the first left. Then it's the first building on the right. Got that?

Spectrum Support is teaming up with Options & Advocacy and Crystal Lake District 155 for Friday's event. Approximately 30 organizations and vendors will be represented, so you can get  most or all of your questions answered.

And it's free.

For information about Spectrum Support, visit www.spectrumsupportllc.com/

Need an advocate for your kid's IEP?

It seems to be getting harder and harder to find educational advocates to help parents with their kids' IEPs. Maybe that's because it's the parents that have to foot the bills to get their schools to provide the services that the schools are legally required to provide.

Why should it be a battle?

The IEP Team is supposed to be a 'team". That "team" includes the parent and, often, the student. Also on the team are all the school personnel and others on the school payroll. Often, the line-up looks like this:

Principal
Special Ed Director
Special Ed teacher(s)
Regular Ed teacher
Social worker
Occupation therapist
Language therapist
Reading specialist
Parent
Student

The order ought to be Student, Parent, ...

And too often it feels like

Principal, Special Ed Director, Special Ed teacher(s), Regular Ed teacher, Social worker, Occupation therapist, Language therapist, Reading specialist
vs.
Parent, Student

If you need a professional, experienced educational advocate, call Pam Labellarte at (847) 401-5053 or email Pam at plabellarte@gmail.com

Pam's website is at www.fromadvocacy2action.com

I first met Pam in January 2006, when she was a Parent Advocate at the Lake County Center for Independent Living. Do you have questions? Call Pam before more of the school year passes. This is IEP season. Know your your rights under Federal and State law to stand your best chance of getting all the services to which your child is entitled.

Parent University - Sat., Feb. 25

The Special Services Department of Woodstock School District 200 would like to invite you to the upcoming Parent University on Saturday, February 25, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Woodstock North High School. This year, District 200 has partnered with McHenry High School District 156, Harvard School District 50, Johnsburg School District 12 and Alden-Hebron School District 19 to bring a wide variety of topics for parents of children of all ages.

  

This event is a great opportunity to hear locally- and nationally-known speakers present on topics including preparing for the social aspects of college, bullying, underage drinking, ADHD and more. 

The keynote speaker is Dr. Dennis Embry, whose presentation, "Five Things Every Parent Can Do to Protect Their Children For a Lifetime," will give parents and guardians valuable tools to make their children "happy, healthy, safe and living to their maximum abilities and goals."

A resource fair featuring 18 different agencies will also be available. 

  

Details of the Parent University can be found by clicking here. To register, click here. You can also register at the door on February 25.

 

FREE childcare will be provided. Please be sure to attend this important, fun, and FREE event!

Free webinar on Jan. 25 - depression in children

Peggy Kubert

The BalancedMind Foundation will offer a free webinar on Wednesday, January 25.

Executive Director of Erika's Lighthouse (Evanston, Ill.), Peggy Kubert, AM, LCSW, will discuss their Parent Handbook on Child & Adolescent Depression. 

 

This unique and practical guide was written for parents whose children are suffering from depression by parents who have been through similar issues with their children. The discussion will explore some of the typical family dynamics which occur when a child is dealing with depression, and will offer tools and techniques to address common issues. A limited number of complimentary handbooks will be available to webinar participants.

Some of the topics we will explore include: 

• How to establish expectations of "acceptable behavior" for all family members (including your child with depression).  
• How to talk with your depressed child, close family members and friends about the illness and treatment of depression.
• How to practice active listening skills as a way to connect with all family members.
• Exploring ways to strengthen yourself and the family during challenging times

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Time:    8:00 – 9:00 AM Pacific
               9:00 – 10:00 AM Mountain
             10:00 – 11:00 AM Central
             11:00 – Noon Eastern

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Reserve your Webinar seat now: 
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/316282830

Autism center opens January 14

Are you interested in autism, or do you have a family member or friend who would benefit from services in the autism coimmunity?

Spectrum Support, LLC, will hold an open house on Saturday, January 14, at its new center at 1575 West Lake Shore Drive, Woodstock. Turn off U.S. 14 at the traffic light where Culver's is. Instead of turning right into Culver's (you can do that later), turn left and head toward Towels & More.

Spectrum Support is in the building on your right. There is plenty of parking.

10:00AM Doors open. Meet & greet.
10:30AM Information about Spectrum Support center.
11:00AM Options & Advocacy
11:30AM Talk About Curing Autism (TACA)
12:00PM Open discussions with providers
1:00PM Nature's First Medical, Dr. Scott Morris
2:00PM MJ Thinks Social
3:00PM Open discussions with providers
4:00PM Center closes

For information, call 815.337.7570

Speech therapy services are available on-site from Talk Time Speech Academy (Tammy Basel).