Community Calendars
Great Start recognizes the importance of community involvement and the value of opportunities for families to learn and grow together. We have created these community calendars as a way to share timely community events with you. If you know of any events please take time to add them to our community calendar or forward the information to gsevents@dsisd.net. Please encourage the agencies and organizations that you partner with to do so as well so we can have a comprehensive one stop shop for early childhood information in our communities.
Please note that there are guidelines for submissions and each will be reviewed before posting
Michigan Alliance for Families Offers Various FREE Learning Opportunities for April
April 7 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Join Michigan Alliance for Families for a FREE webinar workshops for families of children with disabilities, youth with disabilities, and those who support them. If you need accommodations, please let us know at least two weeks before the event. Who should attend? Families with a child with a suspected disability or learning challenge, school staff, other community members.
April 7th-Transition: What You Need to Know with Karen Wang: This workshop will teach participants how the IEP transition plan can be used along with community resources to plan a smooth transition from school to adulthood. -Understand the legal requirements of IEP's regarding transition planning and why it's important. -Understand the different parts of your student's transition plan. -Learn about options for life after school. -Access community resources for adult life.
April 8th-Assistive Technology: More than Checking a Box with Sara Pericolosi: Assistive Technology enables people with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of their lives – at home, at school, and in their community. Assistive Technology (AT) can also help students access their right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). This workshop will discuss AT in the Individualized Education Program (IEP): · Developing a well-written Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) statement to include the difficulties the student is experiencing · Establishing goals to address difficulties · Creating an implementation (follow-through) plan.
April 14th-Transition Beyond IDEA with Karen Wang: Transition planning sets the goals and activities that will help a teenager achieve their post-high school plans. This online workshop will provide an overview of supports that can assist young adults with the transition from school to adult life. · Understand the transfer of parental rights at the age of majority · Learn the basics of guardianship and alternatives to guardianship · Gain an understanding of public benefits that may be available · Understand the principles of person centered planning and self-determination · Learn about adult services that assist individuals with employment, accessing community resources, and independent living.
April 15th- Intro to Augmentative & Communication & Resources with Caitlin Hurban: Students who have difficulty expressing themselves may require an alternative way to communicate. Communication systems, strategies, and tools that replace or supplement natural speech are known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Learn about AAC in this workshop, including: • what is AAC and when AAC should be considered • how to find the right AAC • philosophies to consider AAC resources including supporting organizations, training and support, research, books, funding, podcasts, social media will be shared. Who should attend? Families with a child or young adult with a disability, school staff, other community members, or anyone seeking a better understanding of AAC.
April 16th-FSP: A Closer Look: This workshop takes a closer look at the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) process for babies and toddlers in Michigan. This workshop will help you: • take a more in depth look at the IFSP • prioritize your greatest concerns • learn how to address those concerns • improve your ability to have productive conversations There will also be time set aside to ask questions.
April 17th-Building Parent Leadership in Early Childhood with Stephanie Nicholls and Victoria Martinez. a 4-week series for parents with young children. Thursdays: To help parents understand the important role they have in positions of leadership. As a parent, there are many opportunities to add your voice, knowledge and experience to local, county and state boards that support families of children with disabilities. • Leadership opportunities on local, county and state boards • Learn your leadership style • Discuss the importance of early childhood Inclusion • Your mission: taking your involvement to the next level. Who should attend? Parents of children birth to 8 years old who: • receive or have received Early On® services • current Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) representatives • are interested in serving on local, county, and state boards.
April 17th-FAPE in the LRE with Stephanie Nicholls: Students with a disability are entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). This free, online workshop will dive into these two foundational concepts in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how they apply to your child. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) must be provided by schools to eligible students through programs and services to meet the student’s unique needs and provide educational benefit. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is the setting where a child with a disability can receive an appropriate education designed to meet his or her educational needs, alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
April 22nd-Supporting Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)@Home with Carolyn Parker: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a tool for individuals who cannot fully rely on spoken words to communicate. For many students, AAC is a powerful tool that provides independence and confidence in expressing themselves. Parents, caregivers, and other family members are vital in supporting AAC. Many have questions about how to use AAC at home and how to best support growing their AAC user's communication skills. This online session will cover: • Strategies for incorporating AAC tools into daily routines • Training skills to support AAC as a communication partner • Advice from other parents AAC users on supporting AAC at home.
April 23rd-IEP: A Closer Look with Stephanie Nicholls: This workshop takes a closer look at the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. This workshop will help you: • take a more in depth look at the core areas of the IEP • prioritize your greatest concerns • learn how to address those concerns through the IEP process • improve your ability to have productive conversations There will also be time set aside to ask questions.
April 25th & May 2nd-Behavior is Communication (two part webinar) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle: Join us for a two-part webinar to help us learn that ALL behavior is communication. A child’s problematic or inappropriate behavior is a sign that something is not right. The child needs support, not punishment. This online workshop will help you determine what the child is saying with their behavior and how to substitute a more acceptable way to communicate that message.
