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 May
May 12 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
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.
May 2nd-Behavior is Communication (part two 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.
May 6th-The Power of Connection: Peers with Andrea Beachna: 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
May 7th-Collaborating on Transition with Karen Wang: As youth with disabilities move through school, we need to think about what comes next. Transition is the individualized action plan that addresses the skills, programs, and opportunities needed for the student to be successful after their school career ends. This online workshop covers the requirements of IEP transition planning. Successful collaboration is key to supporting students with disabilities transition to adulthood. • Find out the differences between a transition IEP and a pre-transition IEP • Explore the student’s important role in their transition IEP • Learn how the IEP prepares the student for life after school • How to craft an IEP that accurately reflects a student’s transition strengths, preferences, interests, and needs.
May 12-Collaborative Communication in Special Education with Beth Kohler: Learn more about how Special Education Mediation Services’ (SEMS) facilitation and mediation services can support collaborative conversations to help build a foundation for student achievement. Discover: · Who is SEMS and what do they offer? · What is mediation and facilitation? Is there a difference? · How do I know which to ask for? · How can those benefit me and my child? · How does mediation and facilitation fit in with IDEA dispute resolution options? · How do I request mediation or facilitation?
May 13th-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?
May 14th- 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.
May 14th-Growing Up with Self-Determination with Karen Wang: Youth with disabilities have strengths and are able to make decisions that are important to them. Families can enable and empower youth to communicate their strengths and needs. In this workshop, families and youth can learn about: • What Self-Determination is • How to teach Self-Determination from an early age • Specific activities that help youth with decision-making skills • Where to find information about decision-making skills • How youth with disabilities can bring their ideas into IEP meetings.
May 19th-IEP: A Closer Look with Andrea Beachnau: 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.
May 21st-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).
May 28th-Disability is Not a Bad Word with Stephanie Nicholls: Can we embrace the word “disability” as an aspect of identity? In this workshop we will explore how society views disability and how that impacts people with disabilities across the lifespan. We will take a closer look at bias against people with disabilities and what we can do as individuals to address ableism.
