Westchester Institute for Human Development

Transition Thought Exchange
2021-09-23 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Build capacity for Transition Supports and Services using ESSER Funding
The first in a series of Transition Thought Exchange discussions to assist school districts to support their students and families in partnership with the Community Support Network. The September discussion for District Administrators of Special Education and Transition Coordinators will focus on building capacity for transition supports and services using ESSER funding. This month’s discussion will focus on recovery services including overage students with disabilities.
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Hear Our Voices - Self Advocacy Group Meeting - Community Service and Volunteering Opportunities
2021-09-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Why is volunteering important for my community and myself and how do I get started?

Come hear our next presenter from our Hear Our Voices Self-Advocacy Patti Colombo manages the Readiness thru Integrated Service Engagement (RISE) program at Volunteer New York! that connects young adults with I/DD to nonprofits where they can build job readiness skills while volunteering.
Discussion Leader: Patti Colombo, MS. CTRS
Manager, RISE Program from Volunteer New York!
Here is the Volunteer NY website: https://www.volunteernewyork.org/Rise
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Transition Planning for Life after High School: An Introduction to the Process for Families
2021-09-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
This free virtual workshop will provide parents of students with disabilities with information on the school to post-school transition planning process and transition components in the IEP. 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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Parent Member Training
2021-09-09 09:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Meeting
Four-hour parent member certification for parents/families with children with IEPs
Note: this is a four-hour training with a two-hour break in between. The sessions will be from 9 am-11 am, 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. If you are unable to attend this training, it will be offered again late October. Check our calendar for details. In addition, we will offer this training in Spanish sometime in early 2022.

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Transition Planning from Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten (CPSE TO CSE)
2021-09-02 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
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Diploma and Credential Options for Students with Disabilities
2021-08-18 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Meeting
The goals of this training are to ensure participants will recognize and identify:
The definition of self-determination and its relation to determining individualized diploma and
graduation options, the credit requirements for graduation in NYS, The Multiple Pathways to
Graduation 4 + 1 Option requirements for all students, the appeal eligibility criteria for all
students, the safety net option for students with disabilities and also the exiting credentials
available in NYS and the requirements for each.

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Participación de Los Padres y La Familia dentro del Proceso de FBA/BIP (Family Participation within the FBA/BIP Process
2021-08-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Oferta bilingüe: Inglés/español Familias, Cuidadores y Guardianes, comprenderán la definición de un FBA (Análisis de Comportamiento Funcional/BIP (Plan de Intervención de Comportamiento), cuando sea necesario, y cómo se realiza/desarrolla y el papel que desempeñan como parte de los distintos equipos. Los participantes también comprenderán cómo el proceso de FBA/BIP forma parte del Comité de Educación Especial Preescolar (CPSE)/el proceso del Comité de Educación Especial (CSE), así como la orientación relativa a los Reglamentos del Comisionado de Educación del Estado de Nueva York (NYS), Parte 200.
Bilingual Offering: English/Spanish Families, Caregivers, and Guardians, will understand the definition of an FBA (functional behavior analysis/BIP (Behavior Intervention Plan), when it is needed, and how it is conducted/developed and the role they play as part of the various teams. Participants will also understand how the FBA/BIP process is part of the Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE) /Committee for Special Education (CSE) process, as well as the guidance regarding the New York State (NYS) Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Part 200.

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Talking about Sexuality with Your Children with Disabilities
2021-07-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Talking about sexuality can be very challenging for all parents, 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.

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Agency 101 – Connecting Individuals with Disabilities to Adult Services
2021-07-22 10:00 - 12:00 | 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 for this two-hour presentation 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. Eligibility criteria will be explored including considerations for appropriate referrals.
This is a NYSED OSE Partnership training presented by the Hudson Valley School-Age FACE Center

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Understanding the IEP for Parents of Preschool Children
2021-07-15 11:30 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
This workshop will provide families/parents and caregivers an overview of the process for developing an Individual Education Program (IEP) using a collaborative approach. The training provides a review of the areas of the IEP and the information that a parent, family and/or caregiver can share with the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) regarding their child’s performance and disability related needs.
Participants will:

Understand the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) process and your role within the process​
Identify the different components of the IEP​
Discuss how to develop relationships and practices that build home-school collaboration and support the student​

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How to Support Your Child's Vocabulary (Cómo Apoyar el Vocabulario de su Hijo)
2021-07-13 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 and elementary school. Participants will receive a link containing the pre-recorded workshop. We will host a live “Ask the Experts Q&A” on July 13th at 11am. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to talk to Literacy and Professional Development Specialists. Please watch the training before the live Q&A session. A Zoom link will be shared following registration.
Español:
Venga a esta sesión para padres y cuidadores y aprendan cómo apoyar el desarrollo de nuevo vocabulario en su hijo, la importancia de la instrucción del vocabulario y las formas de incorporar la instrucción del vocabulario en casa para sus hijos que están en Pre-K y en la escuela primaria. Los participantes recibirán información que contiene un taller pregrabado. Organizaremos una sesión de preguntas y respuestas en vivo El 13 de julio a las 11 am titulado “Pregunte a los expertos”. Los padres y cuidadores tendrán la oportunidad de hablar con especialistas en alfabetización y desarrollo profesional. Vea el video del taller antes de la sesión de preguntas y respuestas en vivo. Se compartirá un enlace de Zoom después del registro.

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Equity Symposium (For Professionals)
2021-07-09 09:00 - 12:00, 2021-07-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2021-07-07 09:00 - 12:00, 2021-07-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has come to understand that the results we seek for all our children can never be fully achieved without incorporating an equity and inclusion lens in every facet of our work (see also NYS-ESSA Plan). Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CR-S) education is a view of learning and human growth that values differences in culture and identity (e.g., race, social class, gender, language, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, ability) as strengths that should be included in teaching and learning (NYSED, 2018 p.6). If you are looking for support on how to begin this work or have questions regarding the systems and practices that are already in place at your school, classroom, or district please join us at the Regional Partnership Center (RPC) and the Family & Community Engagement Center (FACE) this summer for an Equity Symposium. During this four-day/half-a-day workshop series you will learn about Equity and The Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework (CR-SE). After you complete our workshop series, you will be better equipped to know what Culturally Responsive teaching looks like and how to better support your staff and teachers in implementing the strategies throughout the year.

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Hear Our Voices Speaker's Network
2021-06-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Come hear our next presenter from our Hear Our Voices Speaker’s Network. Jacob Kuligowski is a 22-year-old self-advocate from New Rochelle, NY. Jacob is passionate about working with children and brings his own perspective as a person with a disability into his work. Come listen to Jacob’s story and how he discovered his calling in life at such a young age”.

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Family Engagement: Communication and Culture Online Workshop
2021-06-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-05-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Webinar
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.
Registered participants will receive all relevant links 24 hours before the day of the workshop.
After the Live Zoom, participants will and complete all assignments at their own pace and submit all work by 9 pm. Upon completion of all assignments and attendance to the mandatory live Zoom session participants will receive 4 CTLE credits.

Talking to Our Children About Learning Differences
2021-06-16 16:00 - 18:00 | 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.

Hear Our Voices - Self Advocacy Group Meeting
2021-06-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
My Safety, My Responsibility, My Plan: Fire Safety
Being prepared for an emergency is everyone’s responsibility. We will focus on smoke or fire emergencies
Come join our discussion, and explore:

What we can do to prevent fires
What we should do in case of a fire
What is your escape route in case of a fire?
Do you have a “go-bag” in case of an emergency?
What do others need to know about me to help me in an emergency?

Let’s be prepared and stay safe!
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Disability Across the Lifespan - Exploring Sibling Relationships
2021-06-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
Join sibling panelists in a candid and compelling conversation, as we explore the many issues that surround the support of a sibling with a disability across the lifespan.

Tapping Into Our Community: Resources for School-Age and Transitioning Youth with Disabilities in the Mid-Hudson Valley
2021-06-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom Meeting
Looking for ways to get your student engaged in the community and socializing with others in a healthy and positive way? Join us for an evening of information sharing. Representatives and volunteers from local organizations will offer information about available activities, events, and services geared toward school-age and transitioning youth with disabilities. You’ll learn about local social skills groups, camps, sports leagues, school-to-work programs, music classes, and more. Participants will also have the opportunity to share any resources that they may have. A handout listing the resources will be provided.
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Supported Decision-Making: A Path of Empowerment for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
2021-05-26 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Meeting
This presentation, led by SDMNY Site Coordinator Joan Cornachio, will cover what supported decision-making (SDM) is, where it comes from, and how SDM can be an alternative to guardianship that leads to more self-determined, autonomous lives for persons with developmental disabilities. It will include a description of the SDMNY 3-phase facilitation process and how it has been transformative for the participants, lessons learned during the SDMNY 5- year DDPC funded project, how parents and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should think about utilizing SDM, and what’s on the horizon for SDM in NY in 2021.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Basics
2021-05-25 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.

Hear Our Voices Speakers Network
2021-05-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
This meeting will highlight one of our amazing self-advocate speakers, Blake Eagel. Blake is a busy and active young person who is living their life to the fullest. Blake is an artist, budding fashion designer and fitness enthusiast. Blake also lives with Autism and has chosen to use their voice to support others seeking independence and a purposeful life. Come hear Blake’s story and get to know an amazing self-advocate.

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Lunch and Learn: Positive Behavior Solutions for Families
2021-05-25 12:00 - 13:00, 2021-05-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from March 9 – May 25th
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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Parent and Family Engagement within the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) & Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP)Process
2021-05-18 11:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting
Families, Caregivers, and Guardians, will understand the definition of an FBA/BIP, when it is needed, and how it is conducted/developed and the role they play as part of the various teams. Participants will also understand how the FBA/BIP process is part of the Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE) /Committee for Special Education (CSE) process, as well as the guidance regarding the New York State (NYS) Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Part 200.
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Transition Planning in the IEP
2021-05-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Review your child’s IEP Transition Plan!
Target audience: parents of students with IEPs 8th grade and older, college bound or other options.
Transition planning is a process that requires a partnership among the student, family, and school district and, as appropriate, other agencies that can provide transition activities to help students with disabilities move from school to adult life. By its very nature, transition planning is a collaborative effort and must be thought of as an ongoing process across multiple school years.
Effective transition planning is based on the student’s strengths, preferences, and interests and focuses attention on how the student’s educational program, including instruction, career and educational experiences, can be planned to help the student make a successful transition to his or her goals for life after high school.
This will be a hands-on workshop where parents will learn about what makes an EXCELLENT transition plan, how to partner with the school district, and how to include instruction, career, and educational experiences to lead to future success. Have your child’s IEP available to follow along with each section
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College Panel: Successful Supports at College for Students with IDD
2021-05-11 15:30 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
Successful Supports for College Students with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Join this virtual panel discussion where you will hear first hand from administrators, residence life directors, and parents, the different ways that colleges are supporting students with more significant support needs in the areas of independent living, campus navigation, managing academics and social integration. Your questions will contribute to a rich discussion addressing the interests and concerns of students and parents! Please join this event and open doors for your high school student preparing to exit high school.
DON’T LET THE OPPORTUNITY OF COLLEGE PASS YOU BY – COLLEGE IS AN OPTION AND IS YOUR CHOICE! Feel free to send in questions ahead of time to csn@wihd.org.
Looking forward to seeing you!
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