Michigan Alliance for Families Offers Various FREE Learning Opportunities for February

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.

Feb. 3rd-Transition: Employment Expectations with Karen Wang:  Transition services are a coordinated set of activities that is designed to be results-oriented. These services assist students and youth with disabilities in achieving their post-school and career goals. During this free, online workshop learn how employment goals fit into the transition planning process for youth with disabilities. · How to overcome barriers to employment · Creating a vision plan for adult life · How to access vocational rehabilitation services · Best practices to get and keep the first job

Feb.5th-Supporting Student Mental Health with Margo Pierce:  Meeting the mental health needs of students is important for their success at home and at school. ACMH joins us to share school-based mental health initiatives, family approaches, and helpful resources. This webinar explores questions like: • How do mental health and school performance impact each other? • What do mental health challenges at school look-like socially, emotionally, and behaviorally? • What does it look like when youth are well-supported? • How to unlock success, get support, access accommodations, and make connections?

Feb.6th-Moving On from Early On ®:  Your baby or toddler with a disability or developmental delay qualified for Early On services. What do you need to consider when preparing to exit Early On? This workshop explores the five things you need to consider as your child approaches the end of their Early On services. · Inclusive high-quality early childhood programs · Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) · Timelines · Transition Planning & Conference · Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

Feb. 7th-Sensory Processing (two of webinar from Jan. 31st) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle:  People with SPD have difficulty processing sensory information and responding appropriately to that information. SPD are associated with problems in adaptive behavior. Children and adults with sensory processing difficulties can experience impaired self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or aggression. When sensory disorders are looked at as non-compliance and bad behavior resulting in problems with social participation, self-regulation, and impaired sensorimotor skills needed for daily life tasks. Who should attend? Families with a child or young adult with disabilities or learning challenges, school staff, other community members.

Feb.10th-The Power of Connection: Peers with Andrea Beachnau:  As social beings, we all crave relationships with others to make life more enjoyable and enrich our daily lives. Yet building meaningful friendships can be a challenge for us all, including those who have a disability. During this webinar we will explore and discuss: • The definition of friendship and the different ways it can look • The benefits of friendship and the impacts of lack of social connection • The barriers to friendship and how to overcome them at home, at school, and in the community • Ways to be a better friend for peers, both with and without disabilities.

Feb.11th-Youth Self Determination Series 2, a  4-week series for teens with an IEP on Tuesdays:  This course can help youth choose and set their own goals, be more involved with decisions making, and learn to advocate for themselves. This course includes assignments and discussions to learn about and practice self-determination. Areas to be covered include: · Choice and decision making · Problem solving · Setting and reaching goals · Internal focus of control (looking at who controls your future) · Self-awareness, regulation, efficacy, and advocacy. Who should attend? Students and young adults ages 14 and up who have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP). This course is intended for student interaction. Please come ready to share. Parents are encouraged to support as needed. Space is limited. Registration closes TBD or when the course is full. After registration closes, Michigan Alliance for Families will contact you to confirm your participation.

Feb.12th-Tools for Supported Decision-Making with Mary Shehan:  Every person has the right to make life decisions, to direct their life, and to be treated with dignity. Multiple avenues are available to support individuals to make decisions and direct their own life. We will discuss a variety of tools that can be used to support people in decision-making while retaining their rights. Join Mary Shehan to dive into tools that can be used to address concerns people have about young adults’ decision-making. This will be hands-on learning with tools you can start using today. As we move through an example scenario you can test the tools for yourself or your loved one. · Gain a basic understanding of Supported Decision-Making · Understand the impacts of guardianship and the benefits Supported Decision-Making · Explore tools that can be used to support decision-making. · Discuss how to integrate Support Decision-Making ideas into the IEP.

Feb.13th-IEP: A Closer Look with Stephanie Nicholls:  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.

Feb.19th-Discipline Protections for Students with Disabilities with Michelle Driscoll:  All students are required to follow the school rules and be treated fairly. Students who receive special education services have additional protections under state and federal laws that guarantee their right to receive a free appropriate public education. Join this webinar to learn more about the laws and rules that govern school discipline, as well as the rights and protections of students with disabilities. • The 7 Factors that must be considered before any suspension or expulsion of a student • Shortened school days, suspensions, expulsions, and the Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) process • Change of placement and appealing discipline decisions • Discipline protections for students not yet eligible for special education services.

Feb.20th-Preschool with an IEP:  Heading off to preschool? Students with disabilities should attend preschool with non-disabled peers. But navigating preschool is different than the Early On® program or kindergarten. Join this free, online workshop to learn more about preschool options that are available for students with an IEP (Individualized Education Program), and how special education and related services work for preschoolers. In this workshop you will learn more about: • Researching preschool options • Least Restrictive Environment and the benefits of inclusion • Rights and protections • Supports and services available There will also be time set aside to ask questions.

Feb.26th-Special Education State Complaints with Michelle Driscoll:  This workshop will explain when and why a parent might want to file a special education state complaint and how the process works. · Explain the federal regulations, state rules and guidance about resolving disputes and complaints · Learn about informal and formal dispute resolution options · Understand the definition and purpose of a special education state complaint · Understand the special education complaint process and procedures · Review of special education state complaint timelines · Learn about corrective action and proof of compliance Who should attend? Families with a child or young adult with disabilities or learning challenges, school staff, other community members.