Navigating Adult Services
2020-07-21 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Participants will receive resources to aid students 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.
Register by 12:00pm Monday 7/20/2020

Click Here to Register

Mini Summer Strategies for Families
2020-07-22 13:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for FUN IDEAS to get you through summer.
These mini sessions will have a BIG impact for your child’s summer learning, and be QUICK and EASY for you! In each half hour session you will learn big principles and little practices you can try with your child in LITERACY, ART, SENSORY STRATEGIES, STRENGTH AND MOVEMENT, and more…
With time for Q and A with our professionals!

Click Here to Register
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Parent Member Training Part 1 AND 2
2020-07-23 09:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Meeting
Note: this is a four hour training with a two hour break in between. The sessions will be from 9-11am , then a 2 hour break (11-1), then the second session from 1-3pm. You must attend both sessions to be certified as a Parent Member.
This is part one of a two part training and in order to receive certification, participants must attend both sessions.
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! For any 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.
Interested in learning more about Parent Member Training?
https://youtu.be/8N_k4UOwBIo
In this video, CSN team member and Family Educator Debbie Goddard interviews Tasha Wright about the role the Parent Member plays on the Committee on Special Education. Tasha Wright is a Special Education Training Specialist with the Lower Hudson Regional Partnership Center at the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES.
Registration is required in advance for this meeting. Zoom Link

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After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents
2020-08-04 14:00 - 15:30, 2020-08-10 09:00 - 11:00 | 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.

Family Engagement: Communication and Culture Online Workshop
2020-08-06 09:00 - 14:00 | Google Classroom
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 9 am and a live check-out via Zoom at 1 pm. Participants will watch two short videos and complete assignments by 2 pm in order to receive credit. Registered participants will receive all relevant links prior to the scheduled date.
Thursday, August 6, 2020
9:00 am – 2 pm
Click Here to Register

TRANSITION PLANNING FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: An Introduction to the Process for Families
2020-08-11 10:00 - 12:00 | 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

Navigating Adult Services
2020-08-12 09:00 - 11:00 | 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.
Presented by: Melinda Krafft & Veronique Dietrich, Mid-Hudson Regional Partnership Center (RPC) and Joyce Hawk, CSN/Hudson Valley School-Age Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Center; NYSED OSE Partnership
Register on Dutchess BOCES My Learning Plan/Frontline(CTLE credit available):
https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=10281&I=3512211

Need More Information? Send an Email to kimberly.cannon@dcboces.org

"Now What? Back to School Discussion and Q&A" (PreK – 12th grade)
2020-08-13 11:00 - 13:00, 2020-08-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-08-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join us for open discussion and Q&A about how you can best prepare your child for Fall! We will host two series in August, on Tuesdays for families transitioning out of school and on Thursdays for families with children in school, PreK-12th grade.
CSN staff and our colleagues (including advocates, self-direction brokers, and more) will facilitate discussions to help you strategize about how to best support your child. We want to share what we have learned and create a space where we can learn from each other. Please join us to share what has been working for you, where you are challenged, and to learn what will help you as we move into Fall!
Click Here to Register

Want to know more about OPWDD eligibility and Self Direction?
2020-08-18 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom Meeting
Attend an information session that will give you an overview about OPWDD and Self Direction.
Bring your questions about requirements for eligibility and the application process. Find out if Self Direction is right for your family and how to best utilize it.

Click Here to Register

Talking about Sexuality with Your Children with Disabilities
2020-08-20 13:00 - 15:30 | Zoom Meeting
Talking about sexuality can be very challenging, even more with your child with a developmental disability. This workshop will help you become more comfortable with topic by providing insights and strategies for communicating with your child and assessing appropriate developmental stages for addressing certain topics. This workshop is for family members of individuals with disabilities of all ages.
Click Here for Event Flyer

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) BASICS
2020-08-25 19:00 - 20:00 | 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.
Click Here to Register

Parent Member Training (part 1 & 2)
2020-08-31 09:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Meeting
Note: this is a four hour training with a two hour break in between. The sessions will be from 9 am-11 am, then a 2 hour break (11 am-1 pm), then the second session from 1 pm-3 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

“What’s Next?” Parent Q&A Series Virtual Transition Planning and Services
2020-09-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Transition Planning & Services Overview
Join us for a series of brief discussions 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.
Each session will focus on key transition components of the IEP, ideas for transition activities and tips to help parents be engaged in the transition planning process. Participants are encouraged to come with questions and leave with answers.

Click Here to Register

Hear Our Voices - Get ready for the 2020 National Elections
2020-09-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
During this zoom meeting, we will talk about:
* Understanding our voting rights & responsibilities
* Ways we can learn about candidates and issues
* Voting during COVID-19
WE WILL SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE HEAR OUR VOICES SPEAKERS NETWORK
The meeting discussion leader will be Mitchell Levitz, Disability Specialist
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!
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Back To School Parent Discussion
2020-09-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Focused on Supporting Children with Disabilities as we navigate the new school year.
Join us for open discussion and Q&A about how you can best help your child this school year.
CSN staff and our colleagues (including advocates, self-direction brokers, and more) will facilitate discussions to help you strategize about how to best support your child. We want to share what we have learned and create a space where we can learn from each other. Please join us to share what has been working for you, where you are challenged, and to learn what will help you and your child this year.
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Strategies for Supporting Students with Special Needs and Countering Isolation During Hybrid and Remote Learning
2020-09-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
The Lower Hudson Valley Special Education Task Force presents a Zoom Webinar featuring Peter Faustino, PsyD. Dr. Faustino is a school psychologist at Scarsdale High School
and has a private practice with the Developmental Assessment and Intervention Center (DAIC) specializing in adolescent behavior, anxiety disorders and autism. He is also on the Board of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and serves as a member of NASP’s Government and Professional Relations Committee advocating for children’s mental health at the state and national level. This will be a Zoom Webinar and Q&A.

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ACCES-VR INFORMATION SESSION
2020-09-24 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom Meeting
ACCES-VR assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development..
Come to this presentation to learn about the services available, the eligibility requirements and how best to benefit from the supports to enable employment. Bring your questions and get answers from Debra Ehrenberg, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, ACCES-VR
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COLLEGE – A GREAT Option For Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities!
2020-09-29 15:30 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
Listen to a diverse panel of students, parents and faculty discuss the many
advantages to post-secondary education on a college campus for students with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. Families and professionals supporting
students with I/DD should be including college as a viable and even preferred option
for post-secondary learning. COME JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND ASK YOUR
QUESTIONS!
Featured Panelists include:
BRIDGES Program, SUNY Orange, Middletown, NY
• Patricia Bassey, Director, BRIDGES Program
• Anna Hersher, BRIDGES Career Instructor
• Sherrie Wingler – BRIDGES Parent/ former Advisory Board member
Impact U, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY
• Eleanor Evangelista, Director, Impact U
• Elizabeth Geiling, Psychologist/Professor/Advisor, Impact U
• Paul Evangelista, Student, Impact U
• Akelah Geary, Student/Peer Neighbor, Impact U
Please forward your questions for panelists ahead of time to Stephanie Bellantoni at sbellantoni@wihd.org
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Positive Behavior Solutions for Families*
2020-10-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Meeting
*este evento será traducido en español
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
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En Español

“What’s Next?” Parent Q&A Series-Session 2
2020-10-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Virtual Transition Planning and Services
Focus: Education & Training
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 post secondary goals for education and training, 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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CANCELLED Family Engagement: Communication and Culture
2020-10-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom Meeting
This course aims to ensure that educators are mindful with how they communicate with parents, guardians, and families to ensure that educational sites are culturally responsive and welcoming.
Participants will complete the self-guided course on Schoology prior to participation in an online, interactive synchronous Zoom session.
Registration will be open from Thursday, September 10, 2020 through Wednesday, September 30, 2020. On October 1, 2020, all registered participants will be emailed instructions to access the Schoology workshop content, which will need to be completed by October 8, 2020. On October 9, 2020, all participants who completed the Schoology session will be emailed a link for the Zoom sessions (you can choose the one that works best with your schedule).
Click Here to Register
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Hear Our Voices Self Advocacy Group: Self Advocacy in Relationships
2020-10-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
During this zoom meeting, we will talk about:
· Being in a couple – what is healthy? What is unhealthy?
· Speaking up in relationships / problem-solving
· Breaking up – being respectful and dealing with emotions
The meeting discussion leader will be Stephanie Bellantoni, Assistant Director of Community Support Network at WIHD.

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Family Engagement: Communication and Culture
2020-10-15 09:00 - 10:30 | Zoom Meeting

"How to Support Your Child’s Vocabulary” (Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents)
2020-10-20 10:00 - 12:00 | 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.

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Home Schooling; Home Instruction... What’s the Difference?
2020-10-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Webinar
From this presentation, you will learn the meaning of a few common terms that have become more prevalent since our children’s education has been provided thorough virtual learning platforms, as well as the basic components of home-schooling and home instruction, which are often confused or misunderstood by many. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the differences, in order to improve school-family collaboration and meet the needs of our students with disabilities. When we use the correct phrases to discuss new alternate modes of instructional delivery, district-specific practices, concerns and committee decisions, we all benefit. Sponsored by: The Mid-Hudson Special Education Task Force
REGISTER online by 10/19/20 Click Here to Register
Questions? Contact Renee/rfbadvocacy@gmail.com or Joyce/845-891-1305
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“What’s Next?” Parent Q&A Series Virtual Transition Planning and Services
2020-10-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Social and Recreational Activities
Join us for a series of brief discussions 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.
Each session will focus on key transition components of the IEP, ideas for transition activities and tips to help parents be engaged in the transition planning process. Participants are encouraged to come with questions and leave with answers.
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Family Engagement: Communication and Culture Online Workshop
2020-10-22 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, September 24, 2020 4 – 7 pm
Thursday, October 22, 2020 4 – 7 pm
