Special Education

Special Education Training on the IEP and the 504 Plan is being provided at the Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona in their Conference Hall at 5025 E. Washington St. in Phoenix on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 from 9am-12noon or 6pm-9pm.

Do you have questions about how to prepare for an IEP or 504 meeting?

Do you have questions about your role as a parent in the IEP or 504 meeting?

Do you have questions about your child’s IEP or 504 services?

Do you have questions about your rights regarding the IEP or 504 processes?

Well, let’s get some answers!

The Arizona Center for Disability Law will be conducting a training for parents and interested individuals to answer these questions and more.  This free training will provide information on the procedural safeguards set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation.  Highlights of the training will include detailed information on the IEP and 504 plan development, implementation and enforcement.  In addition, the training will provide parents with practical advice and strategies for developing self-advocacy skills.

For more information or to register for the training, please contact the Center, at (602) 274-6287 (voice/TTY) 1-800-927-2260 or e-mail kvanhorne@azdisabilitylaw.org . Please notify the Center as soon as possible if you need any special accommodations or are unable to keep your reservation. The training is subject to cancellation if minimal registration is not achieved; you will be contacted as soon as possible if the training is cancelled.  The training is limited to 50 participants.

For more information about the Center, please visit our website at www.azdisabilitylaw.org

Funding for this training is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

Disability Empowerment Center is a fragrance free environment; we encourage you to
refrain from wearing scented products.

 On Saturday, July 24, 2010 the Southwestern Eye Center will be teaming up with the Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation to provide those in financial need with free eye exams and eye glasses. This event will be referred to as “Service AZ Day”.   It will be held at:

Location:        Southwestern Eye Center 1055 South Stapley Drive Mesa, Arizona 85204

Time:               7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Date:                July 24, 2010

The Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation will be handling all of the pre-screening ahead of time.  If you know of someone that falls in this category of financial need and would like to help them out, please refer them to the Lions Foundation at 602-954-1723.

Please see the following from Holly Reycraft in Gilbert.

Dear Parents,

I am very excited to tell you I will be running SOS (Social Opportunity for Success) Groups this summer for Kids with High functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and Anxiety Disorders.  The groups will be offered for kids age 7-16 and will be grouped accordingly.  I will start the second week of June and will run till July 20 for a total of 6 weeks ( one week off during June 22, while I will be out of town).

I run the social groups in my home in Gilbert (Lindsay & Williamsfield).  For those who may not know me, I worked in the school system for 9 years as a special education teacher, department chair, and guidance counselor.  I facilitated groups at a local junior high and loved it.  I also have a 12 year old son who has very high functioning autism and participates in group.  He is one of the reasons I decided to facilitate social groups, based on the day to day struggles he has been experiencing with his peers.

The curriculum I use is based on the work of Michelle Garcia-Winner and is designed for kids who are high functioning and have language skills, but struggle with socialization.  I have found her social thinking theory to be very effective with my son, Hunter.  You can check out her website to get a feel for her.

www.socialthinking.com

The cost of the group is $25./session and parents may pay weekly.  You do not need to pay if you miss, but try to let me know if you will be absent.  The groups will run about 1 hour, ending 5 minutes early in order to transition.  Parents may drop their child off at my home. 

Attached you will find a registration form.  If you have already completed one, you do not need to send me another one.  Just shoot me an email responding to the following:

Please respond:

1)      Do you prefer Tues class, Thurs class, or both?

2)      Time preference (10:00am-2:00pm)

3)      Fill out registration form (if you have not already) and email, fax, or mail to me.

As I begin to form the groups based on appropriate peers, I cannot guarantee your time request, but I will certainly do my best.  Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions.  I look forward to working with your child.

Holly Reycraft

(602) 703-6500

Get Ready for Summer 2010!
SUSD Special Needs Summer Camp
Please note:*
new times of 8am – 1pm *
new location at Desert Canyon Elementary School

To register contact
SUSD Community Schools
9313 N. 95th Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Tel# 480-484-8614

Arizona’s Tenth Annual Transition Conference

September 20-22, 2010

Talking Stick Resort

SECONDARY TRANSITION SERVICES AWARDS

They will be recognizing the best of the best this fall at Arizona’s Tenth Annual Transition Conference with the presentation of Arizona Secondary Transition Services Awards! Nominations for Secondary Transition Services awards are now being accepted in the following categories:  Community-Based (i.e., agency, business, business-owner, parent), Youth & Young Adult, and School-Based (i.e., certified staff, related service provider, classified staff, support staff, or administrator).  Nominations must be received by August 6, 2010.  Go to the website below for details. 

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

A limited number of scholarships are now available on a first-come, first-served basis for youth, young adults, and family members needing assistance with lodging or registration costs.  Only youth/young adults aged 22 or younger and/or family members of eligible youth are eligible for scholarship funding.  For more details see the link below. 

Registration is now open, be sure to take advantage of the Early Registration discounted rate!  All Transition Conference information can be found at the ESS Secondary Transition website:  https://www.azed.gov/ess/SpecialProjects/transition/

SUSD is announcing a new Summer Reading Program for students with special needs.  It is for students entering grades 1-8 who are currently enrolled in Fundations/Wilson Reading Program.

It will be held at Redfield and ANLC for two sessions – June 1, 2010 to June 24, 2010 and July 5, 2010 to July 22, 2010 Monday through Thursday from 8-10am or 10:15-12:15.  The cost is $80/week.  Assigned sessions will be determined by registration and grouping numbers.

For more information go to susd.org/community schools

Ms. Mary Lou Muccino, presently the principal of Chaparral HS, is being recommended by Dr. Catalani to the governing board as the new Special Education Director of the Scottsdale Unified School District. Ms. Muccino started her teaching career in special education. She has been at Chaparral HS for the past 15 years and is dedicated to the inclusion of special education students into the general school community. SEPAC of Scottsdale welcomes her.

The Arizona Technology Access Program (www.aztap.org) is presenting a 1-day Assistive Technology (AT) conference this summer. ADE/ESS is a sponsor. It will be held at the Glendale Civic Center on Thursday, July 22, 2010.

They are offering a special rate to parents and consumers. For only $35.00 you can attend a full day of Assistive Technology (AT) sessions, and breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included! This is a really great deal, limited to 200 participants.

The keynote for this year is Dr. Christina Whalen, Ph.D., BCBA-D. Her keynote presentation will be about AT and Autism. She is the editor of the book, Real Life, Real Progress for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Strategies for Successful Generalization in Natural Environments.