“What’s Next?” Parent Q&A Series-Session 3
2020-11-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Virtual Transition Planning and Services-Focus: Employment
Join us for a brief discussion, on how families of youth with disabilities can address transition planning for life after high school with their school teams, while students are being educated through remote learning. This session will provide suggestions for virtual transition activities to help students meet their measurable postsecondary goals for employment, as well as an opportunity to share additional ideas. Participants are encouraged to come with questions and leave with answers to “what’s next” in their young adults’ transition to adulthood.

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Positive Behavior Solutions for Families
2020-11-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom Meeting
This six series parent training will provide information for families on how to promote children’s social and emotional skills, understand their problem behavior, and use positive approaches to help children learn appropriate behavior. The trainings are designed to give parents key strategies that may be used with all children under 5 years old. (Sessions are not designed to offer parents specific advice for their child’s individual issues).
In the last session, parents will be offered a routine guide that offers advice for supporting their children across common family routines.
Topics will include:
Making Connections – Relationships, Quality Time and Encouragement
Making It Happen – Play, Friendships and Positive Behavior
Why Do They Do What They Do? – Behavior, Expectations and Rules
Teach Me What to Do – Emotional Vocabulary, Anger and Disappointment, Problem Solving
Facing the Challenge Part 1 – Strategies to Promote Positive Behavior
Facing the Challenge Part 2 – Challenging Behavior and Everyday Routines
Haga Click Aqui En Español
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Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool Special Education
2020-11-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom Meeting
This workshop is for parents of children turning 3 this school year and/or aging out of Early Intervention. Come learn about important timelines, your role, and how to prepare for your meeting with the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) in your district.

Zoom Registration
Event Details

TRANSITION PLANNING FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: An Introduction to the Process for Families
2020-11-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
This free workshop will provide parents of students with disabilities with information on the school to post-school transition planning process. Families are essential partners with the school district and collaboration with the Committee on Special Education (CSE) team is extremely important to fully understand considerations for successful career development and transition to adulthood. The workshop will help parents to think about their children today, their children in the future and the support required to help them achieve long-term goals after high school.
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AN OVERVIEW OF SELF DIRECTION
2020-11-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
Are you considering Self Direction for your family member and aren’t sure where to start, or if it is right for you?
Attend an information session that will answer your questions about the requirements for eligibility, the application process, and things to consider.
Event Flyer
Zoom Registration

Family Engagement: Communication and Culture Online Workshop
2020-11-12 16:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
This webinar is designed to introduce educators to concepts of communication and culture that impact the ways educators and educational organizations (EOs) interact with families. Some of the key ideas that will be discussed in the two-part webinar:
● Examine the role of communication in schooling and how culture influences the way we communicate in our respective roles (administrators, teachers, etc.).
● Explore the concept of culture & connect with the idea of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education.
● Explore strategies for effective collaboration between families, caregivers, and schools to support students in the special education process.
This workshop will consist of a live check-in via Zoom at 4 PM (30 minutes) and a live check-out via Zoom at 6:30 PM (30 minutes). Registered participants will receive all relevant links 24 hours before the day of the workshop. ***If they do not hear from us within 24-hours prior to the workshop, check your spam folder or contact the facilitator at Dagmar.Luciano@DCBOCES.ORG The workshop will be self-paced (asynchronous) on Google Classrooms. Participants will view and complete all assignments at their own pace and submit all work by 9 pm. Participants will receive 4 CTLE credits when all assignments are submitted, and they attend both mandatory live Zoom sessions. This training must have a minimum of 5 participants. Under-enrollment may result in postponement or cancellation.
Thursday, November 12, 2020. 4 – 7 pm
Monday, December 21, 2020. 4 – 7 pm
Note: This course will be self-guided, with exercises to be completed in google classroom. There will be a 4 pm check-in (about 30 minutes), and Q and A and share out at 6:30 pm, and final assignments will be handed in by 9 pm for credit.

Sign up via My Learning Plan

“How to Support Your Child’s Vocabulary” (Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents)
2020-11-17 15:30 - 17:30 | Zoom Meeting
Parents and caretakers will be able to explain the importance of vocabulary instruction for their child in the elementary grades. Participants will also be able to describe ways to incorporate explicit instruction and vocabulary instruction in the home. Zoom links and additional materials will be shared following registration.
Also offered with Spanish translation/captions
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Tuesday, December 15, 2020 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, January 19, 2020 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
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Hear Our Voices Self Advocacy Meeting - Disabilities in the Media
2020-11-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Our next zoom meeting will be on November 17th, at 6pm to 7pm topic Disability in the Media.

Here is the link to register,
During this zoom meeting, we will talk about:

How do you feel about the way individuals with disabilities are shown in television shows? movies? reality TV?
Join us as we watch some clips from television and the movies, and talk about whether characters with disabilities are shown in a way that we feel good about? In a way that makes us feel uncomfortable?What are your thoughts – WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please come and join the discussion!
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For more information contact: Stephanie Bellantoni (sbellantoni@wihd.org) or Brendan Klein (Bklein@wihd.org)
Please feel free to share this announcement with other self-advocates who may wish to join and their house staff or family members.
New members are always welcome to join!
Event Details

INCLUSIVE COLLEGE PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
2020-11-18 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom Meeting
Focus: Student Centered Planning for College Students with I/DD
How will my child’s inclusive college or transition program identify what courses or components of the college experience to incorporate into my child’s day, in order to promote optimal employment opportunities and independent living after college? Listen to college administrators and staff, parents and faculty discuss how they approach program development at the college level for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
COME JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS!
Featured Panelists include:

Kelly Glover, Program Director, Vocational Independence Program (VIP) at College of Mt. Saint Vincent, Riverdale, NY
Jan Goings, Program Director, Transition and Access Program (TAP) at University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Zoom Registration
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NYS Diploma and Credential Options for Students with Disabilities Overview
2020-11-19 14:30 - 15:30 | Webinar
Join us for this one-hour online overview of graduation and exiting credential options for students with disabilities including: 4+1 Pathway, the appeals process, local diploma options, safety net options, the Superintendent Determination, the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential and the Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential. Multiple graduation pathways allow for individual students’ strengths, preferences and interests to be considered and is the basis of quality transition programming and planning. Identification of a Pathway is integral for developing a student’s Course of Study and improving student outcomes
Presented by: Mid-Hudson Regional Partnership Center and Hudson Valley School-Age Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Center NYSED OSE Partnership
Registration Link. Register on Dutchess BOCES My Learning Plan/Frontline(CTLE credit available):
https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=10281&I=3640433
Need more information? Send an Email to kimberly.cannon@dcboces.org

Parent Member Training
2020-11-23 09:00 - 14:30 | Zoom Meeting
This virtual workshop will provide an overview and best practices approach to the CPSE/CSE process. Parents and Parent Members will learn to develop techniques and strategies to become effective members of the IEP team in their respective roles. This training is open to anyone interested in learning about the special education process, or even as a refresher course on CPSE/CSE! Any parent or guardian whose child has or had an IEP in the last 5 years, will receive a certificate for submission to their school district to serve as a Parent Member at CPSE /CSE meetings.
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En Español

Navigating Adult Services
2020-11-30 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom Meeting
Participants will receive resources to aid in the promotion of self-determination with students throughout the transition planning process; recognize various adult service agencies and the different types of services available in NYS as well as the eligibility, referral and application process for each.
Registration Link
Event Details

How to Support Your Child’s Vocabulary
2020-12-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Meeting
Come to this session for parents and caretakers to learn how to support your child’s development of new vocabulary, the importance of vocabulary instruction and ways to incorporate vocabulary instruction at home for your children in Pre-K through grade 6.
Registration link below, and additional materials will be shared following registration.
Event Flyer
Register here

“What’s Next?” Parent Q&A Series-Virtual Transition Planning and Services-Focus: Independent Living Skills
2020-12-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for a brief discussion facilitated by CSN staff, on how families of youth with disabilities can address transition planning for life after high school with their school teams, while students are being educated through remote learning.

This session will provide suggestions for virtual transition activities to help students meet their measurable postsecondary goals for independent living, as well as an opportunity to share additional ideas. Participants are encouraged to come with questions and leave with answers to “what’s next” in their young adults’ transition to adulthood.
Event Flyer

Positive Behavior Solutions for Families
2020-12-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2021-01-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Meeting
This six series parent training will provide information for families on how to promote children’s social and emotional skills, understand their problem behavior, and use positive approaches to help children learn appropriate behavior. The trainings are designed to give parents key strategies that may be used with all children under 5 years old. (Sessions are not designed to offer parents specific advice for their child’s individual issues).
In the last session, parents will be offered a routine guide that offers advice for supporting their children across common family routines.
Topics will include:
Making Connections – Relationships, Quality Time and Encouragement
Making It Happen – Play, Friendships and Positive Behavior
Why Do They Do What They Do? – Behavior, Expectations and Rules
Teach Me What to Do – Emotional Vocabulary, Anger and Disappointment, Problem Solving
Facing the Challenge Part 1 – Strategies to Promote Positive Behavior
Facing the Challenge Part 2 – Challenging Behavior and Everyday Routines

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) BASICS
2020-12-08 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Meeting
Are you considering applying for SSI for your family member?
Come to this workshop to learn some tips and tricks to the application process. When and how to apply, the eligibility requirements and how to best make the process less stressful.

Event Flyer

Guardianship - TRANSITION Workshop Series
2020-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
Guardianship
• What is guardianship?
• What are the different types of guardianship?
• What is supported decision-making?
NOTE: This is NOT a “HOW-TO” workshop going over the application process and forms. It is for informational purposes only.
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This workshop will be held virtually via Zoom. You must RSVP to Dawn Kitz at dkitz@rboces.org in order to get the link to participate or at (845) 624-5833 for information.

Transition Planning from Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten
2020-12-09 19:00 - 20:30
The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be a time of excitement but it can also be a source of anxiety. Transitions are made easier when families and providers understand the process. This session will help participants to understand the transition process, to be an active member of the transition team, to understand the difference between services in CPSE and CSE, and to understand the purpose of an IEP.
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En Español

Social Media and Internet Safety for Special Needs Families
2020-12-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Meeting
· Hosted by State Assembly Member Nader Sayegh, 90th district of the New York State Assembly, Yonkers, NY,
· Nnenna Akoma-Ononaji, Special Needs Liaison, Yonkers Community Organization.
· Our speaker will be Brendan Klein that works at WIHD doing social groups and Self-Adovcaiting cross NY state and county for people with disabilities. He will be speaking about his wonderful private facebook social groups and learn how to be safe on the internet.

Event Flyer
Zoom Registration Link

“How to Support Your Child’s Vocabulary” (Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents)
2020-12-15 11:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Parents and caretakers will be able to explain the importance of vocabulary instruction for their child in the elementary grades. Participants will also be able to describe ways to incorporate explicit instruction and vocabulary instruction in the home. Zoom links and additional materials will be shared following registration.
Also Available – Tuesday, January 19, 2020 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
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Talking to Our Children about Learning Differences
2020-12-15 15:30 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
Promoting Self-Awareness and Self-Determination
How do I talk to my child about his disability? – This presentation will allow participants to discuss freely the issues surrounding a discussion with your child about their disability or learning differences, with a positive eye toward self-awareness and self-determination. The workshop will explore tools to support students in expressing themselves as a member of their CSE, so as to develop a quality IEP that respects and accommodates unique individual needs.
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Summarizing Adult Services
2020-12-16 14:30 - 15:30 | Webinar
In this session, participants will discover how connecting students with disabilities to adult services while in school, can increase their post-school success. In addition, eligibility requirements and referral process and services for commonly utilized adult service agencies will be presented. Participants will acquire contact information for local agencies in the Mid-Hudson region.
Presented by: Mid-Hudson Regional Partnership Center and Hudson Valley School-Age Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Center NYSED OSE Partnership
Register on Dutchess BOCES My Learning Plan/Frontline(CTLE credit available):
Registration Link. https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=10281&I=3640500
Need more information? Send an Email to kimberly.cannon@dcboces.org

Parent Discussion Forum – Your Child’s IEP and the 2020 School Year
2020-12-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
As we approach annual review season, come talk to other parents and professionals about your child’s school year, their IEP and current services and the impact of remote/hybrid learning this year. Educators and families of children ages PreK-12th welcome!
Presented in collaboration with Jennifer O’Neill, Special Education Advocate, Taconic Resources for Independence
Event Flyer

Family Engagement: Communication and Culture Online Workshop
2020-12-21 16:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
This webinar is designed to introduce educators to concepts of communication and culture that impact the ways educators and educational organizations (EOs) interact with families. Some of the key ideas that will be discussed in the two-part webinar:
● Examine the role of communication in schooling and how culture influences the way we communicate in our respective roles (administrators, teachers, etc.).
● Explore the concept of culture & connect with the idea of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education.
● Explore strategies for effective collaboration between families, caregivers, and schools to support students in the special education process.
This workshop will consist of a live check-in via Zoom at 4 PM (30 minutes) and a live check-out via Zoom at 6:30 PM (30 minutes). Registered participants will receive all relevant links 24 hours before the day of the workshop. ***If they do not hear from us within 24-hours prior to the workshop, check your spam folder or contact the facilitator at Dagmar.Luciano@DCBOCES.ORG The workshop will be self-paced (asynchronous) on Google Classrooms. Participants will view and complete all assignments at their own pace and submit all work by 9 pm. Participants will receive 4 CTLE credits when all assignments are submitted, and they attend both mandatory live Zoom sessions. This training must have a minimum of 5 participants. Under-enrollment may result in postponement or cancellation.
Monday, December 21, 2020. 4 – 7 pm
Note: This course will be self-guided, with exercises to be completed in google classroom. There will be a 4 pm check-in (about 30 minutes), and Q and A and share out at 6:30 pm, and final assignments will be handed in by 9 pm for credit.
Sign up via My Learning Plan

CSN 2021 TRANSITION INSTITUTE
2021-01-11 - 2021-01-13 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for a FREE multi-day, multi speaker event on all the most important transition topics. This event will be virtual.
The Community Support Network is pleased once again to offer our annual conference on post-secondary transition covering topics ranging from employment options, inclusive college programs, social and recreational programs, systems navigation, self-advocacy, and policy issues with several breakout tracks to choose from.
Announcing our Keynote Presentations:
Jane St. John, of “Charting the Life Course”
Tom Abinanti, NY Assembly, Policy and Budget Discussion
Dan Habib, Award winning documentary producer

*Dan Habib’s new documentary, Who is GNAO1?, will be featured with a panel discussion afterwards

To preview the agenda, as well as other important details about our virtual event, please visit our conference website:
https://www.wihd.org/events-2/csntransitioninstitute/
Registration Link

How to Support Your Child’s Vocabulary
2021-01-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Meeting
Come to this session for parents and caregivers to learn how to support your child’s development of new vocabulary, the importance of vocabulary instruction and ways to incorporate vocabulary instruction at home for your children who are in Pre-K through grade 6.
A Zoom link will be shared following registration and materials will be shared during the session.
Event Flyer

Transition Planning from Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten
2021-01-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom Meeting
This online training will support parents as they prepare for their child’s transition from preschool special education to kindergarten. Topics covered include: understanding the differences between Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee for Special Education (CSE), understanding the transition process from CPSE to CSE, learning how to be an active member of the transition team, understanding the purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
This workshop will be held via ZOOM

Registered participants will receive access to a self-guided training package on January 11th. This will include a three-part training webinar.
Participants will listen to the 3 parts at their own pace (each is approximately 20 minutes long)
Participants will receive handouts that they can access and save or print as well as helpful resources
The presenters will host a Live Q&A Session via Zoom (link will be provided) on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Participants can ask questions live or submit them in advance

This workshop will be repeated on the following upcoming dates:
Wednesday, February 3, 7-8:30 pm
Thursday, February 25, 10am -12 pm*
*Please note the February 25th session will also be translated into Spanish
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Parent Discussion Forum – Lets Talk Behavior!
2021-01-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Whether you are a parent of a preschooler or a teenager, parenting can be challenging as children continue to learn from home and have limited social/outdoor activities with winter here!
WIHD’s Community Support Network is hosting a discussion for parents and professionals to talk about address challenging behaviors. Open to parents of Prek – 12th graders! Guest speakers will include Family Educators and Behavior Specialists!
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CANCELED “How to Support Your Child’s Vocabulary” (Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents)
2021-01-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Zoom Meeting
PLEASE JOIN US ON FEB 23rd
Parents and caretakers will be able to explain the importance of vocabulary instruction for their child in the elementary grades. Participants will also be able to describe ways to incorporate explicit instruction and vocabulary instruction in the home. Zoom links and additional materials will be shared following registration.
Event Flyer
