SEPAC Update
Special Education Parents Advisory Council
September 4, 2007
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Reminder for Friends and Supporters:

What: Yes to Children Volunteer Rally

When: Wednesday, September 5 from 5:00- 6:30 p.m.

Where: Don and Charlie's, 7501 E Camelback, Scottsdale

Who: Anyone interested in learning more about the Scottsdale Unified School District budget override initiatives on the November 6 ballot.

Why: Because Better Schools make a Better Community! Come learn how you can help with the campaign.

Questions? Contact Val Iverson, Campaign Manager, Yes to Children, 602-622-0111, valiverson@cox.net or visit www.yestochildren .org.

VOTE YES
YES FOR TEACHERS, TEXTBOOKS AND TECHNOLOGY.

 
Do you want an opportunity to direct tax dollars to our children and their education?  Then vote YES on the Scottsdale Maintenance & Override Issue and the Capital Override initiatives at the next Scottsdale election on November 6th. These overrides are NOT new taxes; they simply continue the current tax and allocate those dollars to our schools. 

 

The following links provide additional information presented by Superintendent, Dr. John Baracy.

SUSD District Presentation #1
SUSD District Presentation #2

Scottsdale Unified School District needs these overrides to pass! You can also find more info/facts and answers to frequently asked questions at www.yestochildren.org.  You can request a mail-in ballot through this organization as well. Remember this is a great opportunity to vote YES and help our children and their education!

Please pass this along to all Scottsdale voters so we can get this message out. Only 11% of Scottsdale parents with school children voted in the last election in which the Override did not pass. Your vote is important and counts!

 
Jan Blocher, was an adapted P.E. teacher for many families in the Scottsdale school district over the past years, and her passing is a great loss to the community. Your condolences can be shared in her online guestbook.
Sibshops: September 29th

Brothers and sisters of children with special needs, whether developmental or life-limiting conditions, now have a chance to meet and talk with other children whose brothers and sisters have similar needs. They'll have the opportunity to share with each other their thoughts about having a sibling with a disability.  They'll also have fun!  

Sibshops are an exciting new support, information, and recreation opportunity for siblings ages 6-13.  The first Sibshop, co-facilitated by professionals from Child Improvement Through Therapy (CITT), Raising Special Kids, and Ryan House, is scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2007, and we'd like you to SAVE THE DATE.  

Besides peer support, Sibshops provide participants with an opportunity to learn more about their sibling's disability.  Most  important, Sibshops are fun!  Participants play new games, cook  lunches, and make new friends.

Brothers and sisters may have feelings that are difficult to express, even to a friend:  sadness that a sister can't learn things that  others take for granted, anger when a brother's behavior problems prevent the family from doing things other families do, or the special pride when a sibling with a disability learns a basic but important life skill after months or years of practice.  At Sibshops, siblings will share these feelings with others who truly understand.  

Contact:
Holly Cottor
Ryan House Community Liaison
(email) holly@ryanhouse.org
(home office) 480.664.6191
 
Special Education Parent Training - This three part series is designed to provide parent with the information and skills they need to actively participate in the Special Education process:

It will be offered in Phoenix on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-8:00 on September 11, October 9, and November 13.

The classes in Tempe will be held on Saturday mornings from 9-11 on September 15, September 29, and October 29.

Topics for the three classes are:
  • Participation in the Special Education Process
  • Participation in the IEP process
  • Parents as Advocates

 
Flyer for Phoenix class
Flyer for Tempe class

To RSVP or for more information call:

Barb Ross, ADE/ESS/PIN Specialist
480-607-3030
Arizona Autism United is offering an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training course available to all habilitators of children with autism. This is a **PAID** TRAINING and is open to ALL HABILITATORS in Arizona!

The next training class is Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30. See flyer for details. To get more information or to sign up, contact:

Aaron Blocher-Rubin, Executive Director
AZA United / GALA Human Service Co-op
(480) 820-2924
Aaron@AZAunited.org
Rick Lavoie will speak on Exploring the Ways to Motivate Any Child

Date: Tuesday, 10/16/2007 7:00 PM
Location: Arizona Child Study Center, Phoenix, AZ
Price: $ 15.00
Sponsor: Arizona Child Study Center

To register for this event, please call 800-483-7436 or can register online.

Rick Lavoie is one of the country's leading special education consultants, with more than 30 years of experience, a thriving lecture career, and a series of PBS videos. Rick has served as an administrator of residential programs for children with special needs since 1972. He holds three degrees in Special Education and has served as an adjunct professor or visiting lecturer at numerous universities including Syracuse, Harvard, Gallaudet, Manhattanville College, University of Alabama and Georgetown. His numerous national television appearances include CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America, ABC Evening News and Disney Channel Presents.
SEPAC's monthly meeting will be held in the Kachina room at the Annex at Mohave.

All meeting dates are on Wednesdays, and meetings will run from 6:30-8:30, unless otherwise noted in the specific monthly announcment. Speakers will be announced at a later date.
  • September 19
  • October 24
  • November 28
  • January 16
  • February 20
  • March 19
  • April 16
SEPTEMBER 2007
 
Wednesday, September 5th 1:30-3:30 pm Resilient Families - Learn ways to help your family "bounce back" and thrive in the face of challenges. www.raisingspecialkids.org held at 2400 N. Central #200 RSVP 602.242.4366 or contact via website.  FREE
 
Monday, September 10th Special Education Rights (IEP/504 overview) 1:30-3:30 at Raising Special Kids 2400 N. Central #200 RSVP 602.242.4366 or contact via website www.raisingspecialkids.org   FREE
 
Friday, September 7th  8 am - 4 pm Autism Spectrum Disorder Series www.ade.state.az.us/onlineregistration view listings under exceptional student services $$$
 
Friday, September 14th 9:30 am - 11:30 am IEP Q & A (limited to 4 families) - call to pre-register 602.242.4366 or online www.raisingspecialkids.org  FREE
 
Saturday, September 15th 10 am - 12 noon at Mustang Library Monthly 2E parent support group meeting.   How to get what your child needs at school- Kim Yamamoto from Raising Special Kids will answer questions regarding advocacy, IEP, 504, etc.  Need more info?  Call Laura 480.451.6525 or write to twoeparents@yahoo.com
 
Saturday, September 15th 9 am - 11 am Participation in the special education process -discuss how children with disabilities and their parents are guaranteed certain rights. Contact Barb Ross ADE/PIN specialist 480.607.3030  FREE
 
Saturday, September 15th 9:30-11:30  Dad's Network For men, by men-fathers, grandfathers, uncles of children with special needs. Shiloh Community Church Activity Center 19021 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ. Call Ray Morris 602-569- 7011.
 
Wed., Sep. 19, 10 am -11:30 am.  Parent/Professional Collaboration
Learn tools for clear and effective communication with service providers.  Call to pre-register 602.242.4366 or online www.raisingspecialkids.org&nb sp; FREE
 
Wednesday, September 19th 4pm Biomedical Approaches to the Understanding of Autism.  Contact Jeannette Reece at 602. 340.8717 or jreece@autismcenter.org  RSVP by September 14.  FREE
 
Monday, September 24th Nonverbal Learning Disabilities- From Diagnosis Through Strategies for Home and School.  Call 715.836.9900 or register online
https://www.meds- pdn.com/continuing_education.php? seminar_id=1230 $$$
 
Saturday, September 29th 9 am - 11 am Participation in the IEP Process- provides an overview of the purpose of the IEP call Barb Ross ADE/PIN specialist 480.607.3030  FREE
 
Saturday, September 29th  Sibshops:  A program for brothers and sisters of kids with special needs!  Contact Raising Special Kids 602.242.4366    www.raisingspecialkids.org
 
OCTOBER 2007
 
Wednesday, October 10th 8:30 - 4:30.  The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood.  To register call 800.489.0727 or go to http://fhautism.com/conferences/phoenix.ht m 
 
Tuesday, October 16th  7pm.  Rick Lavoie:  Exploring the Ways to Motivate any Child.  Call 800.843.7436 or register online http://www.friendshealthconnection.org/pro ducts.php? showProducts=true&groupID=293
 
Friday, October 26th 8:30- 3:30.  Implementing a Response to Intervention Model in Arizona.   With the reauthorization of IDEA, the US Department of Education is urging states to give up the Discrepancy Model and to use Response to Interventions (RTI).
https://www.meds- pdn.com/continuing_education.php? seminar_id=1330
 
Please direct comments, suggestions, and article ideas related to SEPACS and this newsletter to:

 


 Dru Bloomfield
Special Education Parents Advisory Council of Scottsdale

 
phone: 480-513-7012