Transition Planning for Life After High School: An Introduction to the Process for Families
2022-05-04 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
The goals of this training are to ensure that guardians, family members, and students can work with their Committee on Special Education (CSE) to collaboratively: Assess their child’s strengths, interests, and needs; Establish measurable postsecondary goals and annual goals; and identify appropriate transition services and coordinated activities.

Click Here to Register

WIHD Spring Gala 2022
2022-05-05 18:00 - 22:00 | Scarsale Golf Club, 1 Club Way, Hartsdale

What does Self Advocacy mean to you?
2022-05-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Come meet BJ Stasio with Hear Our Voices on zoom.
BJ Stasio is a disability rights advocate from Buffalo, NY. He is the Co Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS), a position to which he was elected by his fellow self-advocates and peers around New York. He has also been employed by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) for over 20 years, working on person-centered planning, voting issues, and self-determination training and education.
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Certificación de Miembro Padre: Para Padres/Familias de Niños con IEP(Parent Member Training)
2022-05-19 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Meeting
Nota: Éste es un entrenamiento de cuatro horas a través de dos fechas: jueves 19 de mayo y jueves 26 de mayo. Debe asistir a ambas sesiones para ser certificado como Miembro Padre.
Éste taller (a través de Zoom) proporcionará una visión general y un enfoque de mejores prácticas para el proceso de CPSE/CSE para educar a los padres y miembros padres y ayudarlos a desarrollar técnicas y estrategias para convertirse en miembros efectivos del equipo del IEP en sus respectivos roles. ¡Ésta capacitación está abierta a cualquier persona interesada en aprender sobre el proceso de educación especial, o incluso como un curso de actualización sobre CPSE/CSE! Los padres o tutores cuyo hijo tiene o tuvo un IEP en los últimos 5 años, recibirán un certificado para su presentación a su distrito escolar para servir como miembro de los padres en las reuniones de CPSE/CSE. Ésta capacitación será completamente en español.
Ingrese Aquí para Registrarse

Explicit Vocabulary Instruction
2022-06-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Did you know that vocabulary is key to reading comprehension? Readers must know what the words in a text mean in order to comprehend that text. And, as children learn to read more advanced texts, their vocabulary needs to grow with them. We invite all parents and caregivers to join us for a brief learning session on how you can help build your children’s vocabularies. During our time together, we will share quick and easy activities you can do with your children that will help develop their word knowledge.
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My Disability Roadmap
2022-06-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join Samuel Habib and Dan Habib for a special event! A screening and discussion of their new film project: My Disability Roadmap. The film follows Samuel, a young man with complex disabilities, as he navigates the path to work, college, and relationships while seeking out wisdom from disability activists across the country. Following the film, Dan and Samuel will talk about their hopes, dreams and plans for the film, and take your questions, The film is captioned and audio described, and auto-captions will be provided for the discussion. The event will last approximately 60 minutes. Supported by The Taft Foundation and Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

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Event Flyer

Tapping Into Our Community: Resources for School Age and Transitioning Youth with Disabilities in the Mid-Hudson Valley
2022-06-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
This virtual presentation will provide participants with a better understanding of what activities, programs and events are available in the Mid-Hudson area for youth with disabilities this summer. Please come ready to share resources you know of that others may not be aware of. There will be some mini-presentations and a whole lot of sharing!

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Event Flyer
All trainings will have closed captioning. ASL interpretation available upon request. Need additional information or any accommodations?
Contact Nancy Nowak at DRNY. Nancy.Nowak@drny.org or 516.238.1261

CANCELED Understanding the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process for Parents of School-Age Students with a Disability
2022-06-06 09:00 - 11:00 | PNW/BOCES Main Campus – School Services Building, 200 BOCES Drive, Yorktown Heights,, NY, 10598, United States
CANCELED
During this in-person training we will explore the IEP process. Participants will gain a fundamental understanding of program planning as well as the specific components of the IEP document. Join us as we look at the roles parents and families play in this process. We will explore how to develop collaborative relationships between families and educators to support the IEP process.
Event Flyer

Knowing When and How to Access Mental Health Supports for Youth
2022-06-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
The rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions are climbing for all of our young people, including those with disabilities receiving special education services. This presentation will educate and offer an overview of the signs and symptoms of a possible mental health condition, about what steps to take if your child or a student is showing symptoms and about how school districts and families can work together to help students. In addition, representatives from the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health will address how to access their services.
Presented by Debra Carr, Psy.D. Director of Psychology, Behavioral Health Program at Westchester Institute of Human Development along with Tori Shaw and Michelle Armisto, LCSW Program Coordinators, Children’s Mental Health Services, Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health
Click Here to Register

Voices for Change - Parent Advocacy
2022-06-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
Strategies for Engaging Policy Makers – Guest Speakers
Parents, family members, and self-advocates can be highly effective in working with policy makers in the New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, as well as United States Senate and Congress. These members “work for us” and it is important that they hear from us on those issues that are important to our community. The Community Support Network is proud to announce that we are kicking off a series of sessions, designed to teach us all how to be better advocates, get the attention and ears of our policy makers, and communicate those issues to get the best results. Session will be virtual via a ZOOM link. Please register at the link below if you haven’t already.
At our next and last meeting, we will be once again welcoming NYS Senator John Mannion and NYS Assemblymember Tom Abinanti, each of who chair the Disability Committees of their respective houses.

The legislative session is adjourning soon, and we will hear a year end wrap of from each of them on topics including:

key budget initiatives
what they see as biggest improvements for PWD
what they see as the toughest challenges yet to come
plans for addressing those items next year

Any. questions can be directed to – Lucille Rossi
Click Here To Register

Agency 101 - Connecting Individuals with Disabilities to Adult Agencies
2022-06-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Meeting
Identifying the agencies who will be working with students and their families post-high school is a critical component of transition planning. Join us as we explore self-determination and its impact on postsecondary success. We will discuss adult service agencies and the different types of programs they provide.
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Event Flyer

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Basics
2022-06-14 12:00 - 13:00 | 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.

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Discussion with the self-advocates about the Crip Camp movie!
2022-06-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Hear Our Voices will be showing Crip camp trailer!
Discussion with the self-advocates about the Crip Camp movie!

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What Does it Mean to be Culturally Responsive?
2022-06-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Meeting
This workshop is intended to introduce participants to foundational elements of culturally responsive education. The materials will support the development of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining mindsets, practices, and strategies to be implemented in Educational Organizations. As educators grow in their understanding and execution of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, student engagement, academic performance, behavior, and graduation rates will improve. Culturally Responsive educators provide instructional scaffolds so that learners of all abilities will be able to access content & will feel welcomed in classroom settings. Participants will be able to recognize that “CRT is not a set of ‘best practices’ but a practice that recognizes the mind-body connection involved in learning” (Zaretta Hammond, 2013).
* This course is offered synchronously online via Zoom. Thursday June 16,2022 10 am-12 noon Participants will receive Zoom log-in information 24 hrs. prior to workshop commencement via registered Frontline email.

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ABLE (Achieving A Better Life Experience) Accounts Basics
2022-06-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Would you like to learn more about Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts? Come to this workshop where information about Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE), a new financial savings tool for individuals with disabilities will be shared. What is an ABLE account, how it works and the eligibility requirements will be discussed. Potential ABLE participants and their families are invited.

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Family Forum: Preparing for the Transition of Young Adults Going to College
2022-07-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for a discussion on how things will be different from high school for young adults with disabilities who plan to pursue a college degree. Participants can ask any questions they may have including the process for accessing accommodations, the disability documentation needed, possible types of college-related services available through Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR), as well as things to consider when selecting or visiting 2&4 year colleges and universities.

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Self-Direction and the OPWDD 5.07 Plan Understanding What's at Stake
2022-07-25 18:30 - 20:30 | WIHD Auditorium, Cedarwood Hall Auditorium, Valhalla, NY, 10595, United States
The Community Support Network at WIHD, In the Drivers Seat (of Rochester), the NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, and Supporting Our Youth & Adults (SOYAN, Long Island) are hosting a virtual educational session on the OPWDD 5.07 draft plan. This session will focus on components of the draft plan related to self-direction and be targeted to all stakeholders, including family members and self-advocates. The goal is to share information offered by experts with knowledge and context in order to promote quality feedback during the public comment period for the draft plan. ​It is critical that your experience and voice be shared! ​
OPWDD will also be hosting in-person feedback hearings across the state, including a Hudson Valley session here at WIHD on Wednesday August 3, 2022 at 3:30 pm.
You can register at this link.
See the flyer for the 8/3/22 event and other information here
See the 5.07 plan here
Opportunity to respond in writing here

OPWDD's upcoming Westchester Public Forum for the 2023-2027 Draft Strategic Plan
2022-08-03 15:30 - 17:30 | WIHD Auditorium, Cedarwood Hall Auditorium, Valhalla, NY, 10595, United States
OPWDD’s upcoming Westchester Public Forum for the 2023-2027 Draft Strategic Plan will be at WIHD!

IN PERSON!!

Some links:
5.07 Strategic Draft Plan: https://opwdd.ny.gov/statewide-comprehensive-507-plan

Registration for Public Forums: https://survey.alchemer.com/…/Registration-for-In…

Written Comments can be entered here: https://survey.alchemer.com/…/2023-2027-Draft-5-07…

Directions: https://www.wihd.org/contact-2/

Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
2022-08-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Meeting
This training was developed to promote the understanding and appropriate use of test accommodations for students with disabilities. It is intended to provide information related to the decision-making process and types of test accommodations, as well as the documentation of appropriate accommodations on the individualized education program (IEP).

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Culturally Responsive Teaching Workshop- "Family Engagement: Communication & Culture" (Virtual)
2022-08-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Meeting
This workshop is designed to introduce educators to concepts of communication and culture that impact the ways educators and educational organizations (EOs) interact with families. Participants will be introduced to The Culturally Responsive Sustaining-Education framework and include an opportunity for educators to review meaningful and equitable training resources/tools to support effective family engagement and communication. Participants will receive Zoom log-in information 24 hrs. prior to workshop commencement via registered Frontline email.

Click Here to Register

Family Forum: Post-School Planning for Young Adults Not Going to College
2022-08-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for a discussion on program options and considerations for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Participants can ask any questions they may have including the eligibility process for services through the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities(OPWDD) and other state service systems, the types of programs and support services available, as well as things to consider when selecting or visiting adult community-based programs.

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Judy Heumann from the Crip Camp!
2022-08-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Come meet Judy Heumann International Disability Rights Advocate.

Click Here to Register

Transition Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten (CPSE to CSE)
2022-08-18 14:00 - 15:00 | 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).

Presented by the Hudson Valley School-Age FACE Center, Lower Hudson Early Childhood FACE Center

Zoom Registration here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvdO-rrzwiEtUBOhvv3I9Zo-MYDawL8po7

Planificación de la transición de la educación especial preescolar al jardín de infantes (CPSE a CSE)

Jueves, 18 Augusto @ 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT

Este evento será en inglés.
Para ver los próximos eventos ofrecidos en español, ingrese aquí y únase a nuestro grupo de Facebook para familias de habla hispana. Para más información puede escribir un correo electrónico a cbueti@wihd.org

Early Childhood Family Forum: Getting Young Learners Ready for Back to School
2022-08-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for a lunchtime discussion about preparing your young children for back to school. We will discuss what to expect, tips and tricks, our calendar of events and trainings for the school year, and there will be plenty of time for Q and A!
Click Here To Register

Virtual Parent Member Training
2022-08-24 09:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Meeting
Four-hour parent member certification for parents/families with children with IEPs
Note: this is a four-hour training with an hour break: 9 am to 11 am and 12pm to 2 pm. You must attend both sessions to be certified as a Parent Member.
This workshop (through Zoom) will provide an overview and best practices approach to the CPSE/CSE process to educate parents and Parent Members and assist them 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! Parents or guardians 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.
Click Here to Register

Announcements, News and Resources from the NYS Education Department and US Department of Education
2022-09-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom Meeting
This virtual presentation will provide participants with a brief summer update on recent laws, policies and announcements affecting students with disabilities, families, school personnel, and community service providers.
Join members of the Mid-Hudson Special Education Task Force as we review important notices that have been distributed on topics such as discipline, safety, the special education due process system, disability classification, over-age students returning to school, competitive integrated employment, performance data and behavioral interventions. Resources will be provided to expand upon the guidance presented.
Zoom Registration here

Hudson Valley School-Age FACE Center, Mid-Hudson Special Education Task Force (SETF)

One Too Many NY Virtual 5K
2022-09-16 - 2022-09-18 | Anywhere
Join our 3rd Annual Virtual One Too Many NY 5K because one child abused is ONE TOO MANY. Run, walk, skip, or bike in support of the Child Advocacy Center at WIHD between Sept. 16th-18th. Your $40 registration will help us in our mission to end child abuse and provide support, free services, and healing to children in crisis and their families. Make a difference!

Register at https://bit.ly/3RkUSFd and select “Child Advocacy Center at Westchester Institute for Human Development” as you complete your registration. Registration is open until September 17th.

Pick your day, your time, your route and run for the kids! For more information: https://www.nyschildrensalliance.org/5k

Thank you to our sponsors!
Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor
Vera Halpenny
Bronze Sponsor
Fern Juster
Empire State Forensics

Understanding the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process for Parents of Students with a Disability
2022-09-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Meeting
The purpose of this training is to gain a foundational understanding of the entire IEP process, including but
not limited to, the Committee on Special Education
(CSE), the roles and responsibilities of all parties, the
various components of the IEP as well as transition
planning. Join us as we explore how to develop
collaborative relationships between families and
educators to support the IEP process.

Understanding the IEP Process for Parents of Students with a Disability

Register here by Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Lower Hudson Regional Partnership Center (LHRPC)

Positive Solutions for Families
2022-09-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Meeting
Positive Solutions for Families
Positive Solutions for Families is a seven-session, monthly workshop series that will give parents and family caregivers positive and effective strategies to promote children’s social and emotional development and address the challenging behavior of children ages 2-5 years old.
Seven sessions, Third Friday of the Month, from 10-12. 9/16, 10/21, 11/18, 12/16, 1/20, 2/17, 3/17
Zoom Registration here
Mid-Hudson Early Childhood FACE Center, Mid-Hudson Regional Partnership Center (MHRPC)

Hear Our Voices” - Self Advocacy Group Meeting Voting Rights and How to Vote
2022-09-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Come meet Tina Fitzgerald for some discussion tips for
Voting Rights and How to Vote!

Tina Fitzgerald studied Special Education at SUNY Geneseo and Social Work at Syracuse University. She had a long career as an advocate and Medicaid Service Coordinator. Tina has worked with the Board of Elections for 20 years as a inspector and a voting machine specialist. She is a very active community advocate taking up issues around community involvement and participation for all.
Zoom Registration
For more information contact: Brendan Klein bklein@wihd.org or
Mariela Adams madams@wihd.org Claire Poiln cpolin@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.
