We hope you can join us at an upcoming event. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want further information about any of these events.
Please note that many of the events listed here are not sponsored by Brookline SEPAC, and there may be changes in schedules and location of which we are unaware. Please check with the direct contact listed before making plans to attend an event listed on our site.
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Please join us to discuss the direction Brookline SEPAC will take next year, the election of co-chairs and committee chairs (we are looking for parent volunteers!), and a review of the past year.
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008
Time: 7 - 8:30 pm
Place: Runkle School library, 50 Druce St. [map]
Please contact the co-chairs if you have any questions.
The Coalition of Brookline Autism Parents (CoBAP) is sponsoring a presentation by Julia Landeau, Inclusion Project Director at Massachusetts Advocates for Children, about the legal rights of children on the autism spectrum.
Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Time: 7-9 pm
Place: Devotion School library, 345 Harvard St. [map]
The event was very popular last year, so please RSVP to Lisel Macenka via e-mail, to make sure there are enough materials for everyone, and contact her if you have any questions regarding the event.
The 2008 CEC Convention & Expo is the premiere professional development event devoted to special and gifted children. At the event, participants will get the latest information and evidence based strategies; explore topics in depth through preconvention workshops or strands; and learn, share and network with leaders and colleagues from around the world.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Federation for Children with Special Needs is pleased to announce that parents who register with the Federation by March 28, 2008 can attend the conference at no charge! Parents may also register one teacher, who can also attend the CEC conference at no charge.
Parents and their sponsored teachers may attend the sessions on Saturday, April 5 only; the entire conference begins on Wednesday, April 2, and contains more than 600 sessions and 300 exhibitors. Parents will enjoy a complimentary breakfast and boxed lunch along with other Federation registrants. Parents can choose to attend a special 4-hour strand focusing on family collaboration, or they can choose to attend any other workshop they like on topics as diverse as autism spectrum disorders, dropout prevention, universal design for learning, literacy, or positive behavior supports.
The event takes place at the Hynes Convention Center (900 Boylston St., Boston [map]).
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. To register, or for more information, please contact Adiana Castro at the Federation, 617-236-7210, ext. 319, or via email.
Does your child have a diagnosis of PDD-NOS, Asperger’s or Autism? If so… you’re invited to the next meeting of the Coalition of Brookline Autism Parents (CoBAP) — a group of Brookline parents who meet to discuss issues related to helping their children.
Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Time: 7:30 pm
Place: Lincoln School, Room 105, 19 Kennard Road [map]
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Kaufman or Lisel Macenka. You may also apply to join the CoBAP Yahoo! Group.
The Asperger’s Association of New England has openings for several parent workshops taking place in upcoming weeks. All events take place at AANE’s offices at 85 Main Street, Watertown [map, directions].
The AANE advises that registration with payment is required one week before each workshop. Please register as soon as possible; AANE reserves the right to cancel a workshop if the minimum enrollment is not met by the registration deadline. The AANE has brochures containing full workshop descriptions and registration information. If you have any questions about these events, please call the AANE at 617-393-3824.
Advocating for Your Child with AS in Public Schools
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Cost: $35
For parents of all school-age children, this workshop is designed to help empower parents as advocates for their children in the IEP process.
Understanding Asperger Syndrome: Interventions and Strategies for Parents
Date: Monday, November 12, 2007
Time: 7 - 9:30 pm.
Cost: $35
Designed for families of newly diagnosed children, this workshop offers “first-step” help for parents as they begin their journey as parents of a child with AS.
Parenting the Secondary School Child with Asperger Syndrome: Effective Responses to Challenging Behaviors
Date: Four-week course — Tuesday, November 13, 20, 27 and December 4, 2007
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Cost: $150 for AANE members/$185 for non-members
This four-session course will provide practical ideas on how to manage some of the more challenging behaviors that secondary (middle and high school) children exhibit both at home and at school.
The Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center is offering a Tae Kwon Do class for children ages 8-12 years with physical, developmental, neurological, learning and mental health disabilities. Tae Kwon Do is a martial art. Children will work on traditional Tae Kwon Do exercises at their own pace. Participants can work towards different belts.
Date: Thursdays, beginning in January, 2008
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Place: Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton St., Newton [map]
Cost: Member $150, Nonmember $200
For more information, please contact the JCC or visit the JCC special needs web page.
Mass. Advocates for Children has sent along the following information about upcoming events regarding pending state laws concerning special educations services.
The Joint Education Committee will conduct a special education hearing on October 16, at 1:00 p.m in room A1, where testimony will be presented on special education bills that have been filed this session.
Parents are invited to come and testify if you would like to speak in support of any of the bills that have been filed. We have summarized below some of the major bills supported by Massachusetts Advocates for Children. (For a complete listing of bills call the Joint Education Committee at 617-722-2070, complete list of bills will be posted on MA General Court website on Oct. 15)
We understand how committed parents of children with disabilities are to their children’s education. However, we also realize how difficult it can be for parents of school-age children to come and testify at Beacon Hill at 1:00 p.m and be home in time for your children.
If you are unable to attend the Oct 16th hearing, you can submit written testimony, and you can call the members of the Education Committee. We have provided the phone numbers and e-mails of the Education Committee members below.
Phone calls and letters are extremely effective!
See below for more.
Some of Major Special Education Bills Supported by Massachusetts Advocates for Children
This bill would maintain the requirement to initiate special education transition planning and transition services at age 14, rather than waiting to age 16 as now permitted under federal law. Transition services are critical to facilitate a student’s movement to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation. Delay beyond age 14 (waiting until the middle of high school) is too late to facilitate the most effective transition planning for youth with disabilities. (Sen. Augustus lead sponsor)
This bill would amend the state’s special education law to ensure that parents and independent evaluators are provided access to observe the student’s current or proposed special education programs. Although state regulations currently provide parents the right to observe the school district’s proposed program, school districts often place unreasonable obstacles in the way of parents’ and their expert consultants’ observations. Parents are entitled to full participation in the process of developing an IEP, but, without access to observe their child’s school programs, they cannot obtain the information they need to fully and effectively participate with school personnel in the consideration and development of appropriate IEPs for their child. This bill will help to avoid litigation, encourage settlement, and requires no appropriation. (Rep. Balser lead sponsor)
This bill addresses the impact of a Rehnquist decision by the US Supreme Court (Buckhannon, 2001) which has effectively created a two-tier system, barring many low and middle-income families from accessing special education rights and services. This bill would reinstate parents’ rights to recover attorneys’ fees for settlements obtained as a result of litigation, as previously available prior to 2001. This is critical to encourage prompt resolution and settlement of disputes, reduce litigation costs for families and school districts, reduce the lengthy delays which harm children deprived of essential services for months and sometimes years, and help ensure that children of all income levels receive equal educational opportunities. (Rep. Sannicandro lead sponsor)
This bill will help to ensure that teachers receive training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods necessary to educate children with disabilities who are nonverbal or who have limited speech. Thousands of children (including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury), rely on AAC methods to interact with others, and many students are now being included in regular education. The bill directs the Board of Education to revise regulations for educator licensure so that all teachers are adequately prepared in methods of communication other than speech to facilitate interaction, to ensure that students with such disabilities can access the general education curriculum and to facilitate inclusion. (Sen. Antonioni lead sponsor)
This bill would require school districts to continue the current practice of including and maintaining short term objectives in the IEPs of students with disabilities. A recent change in Federal law removed the requirement for short term objectives, and this bill would ensure that the state practice will continue by codification in State law. The inclusion of short term objectives in IEPs is important to maintain accountability and assist in measuring the student’s progress. (Sen. Creem lead sponsor)
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a grant program to provide financial support to parent advisory councils to support their duties. (Sen. Antonioni lead sponsor)
Joint Education Members –with Contact Information
Sen. Robert Antonioni- Chair - Robert.Antonioni@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1230
Rep. Patricia Haddad- Chair - Rep.PatriciaHaddad@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2070
Sen. Edward Augustus - Vice-Chair - Edward.Augustus@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1485
Rep. Geraldine Creedon - Vice-Chair - Rep.GeraldineCreedon@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2070
Sen. Pamela Resor - Pamela.Resor@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1120
Sen. Karen Spilka - Karen.E.Spilka@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1640
Sen. Dianne Wilkerson - Dianne.Wilkerson@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1673
Sen. Scott Brown - Scott.P.Brown@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1555
Rep. Douglas Petersen - Rep.DouglasPetersen@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2637
Rep. Stephen LeDuc - Rep.StephenLeDuc@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2230
Rep. Alice Wolf - Rep.AliceWolf@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2400
Rep. Alice Peisch - Rep.AlicePeisch@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2080
Rep. Marty Walz - Rep.MartyWalz@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: 617-722-2460
Rep. Robert Rice - Rep.RobertRice@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: 617-722-2060
Rep. Rosemary Sandlin - Rep.RosemarySandlin@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: (617) 722-2400
Rep. Jeffrey Perry - Rep.JeffreyPerry@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2396
Rep. Richard Ross - Rep.RichardRoss@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: 617-722-2305
Dr. Anne Larkin, an international scholar and researcher addressing the issues of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and also the parent of a child with autism, will talk about the fascinating journey of autism from childhood to adulthood.
Dr. Larkin, a professor at Lesley University, explain pathways to help us better understand ASD; will talk about current ASD research including areas such as sensory, social, communication, behavioral, and movement; and will explore topics such as intervention, treatment, and controversy related to ASD. Dr. Larkin will discuss the ages and stages of development for those with autism, from birth to death, in terms of education, medical issues, entitlements or lack thereof, transitions, and planning. She’ll also share information about the non-profit organization PALS, whose mission it is to assist parents and other caregivers in establishing and maintaining a lifetime plan for a safe and secure future for loved ones with a disability, and discuss the answer to the difficult question the organization raises — Who will look after my loved one when I am no longer able?
Parents, teachers, caregivers, social workers, and special education directors, or anyone interested in the subject of autism, are invited to join us for this critical topic and informative lecture.
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Time: 6 - 8 pm
Place: Place: Brookline High School, 115 Greenough Street [map]
Cost: $5
This event is sponsored by Brookline Adult and Community Education. Pre-registration is required. You may register online, or by calling 617-730-2700. Please visit the event page on the Brookline Adult and Community Education website or give them a call for more information.
Do you know what your teenager with disabilities wants to do when he finishes high school? Where will he live? What kinds of educational and job opportunities will be open to him? How can he prepare for his adult life while still in high school? What will happen when the bus doesn’t come to your door any more?
Take the first steps toward finding answers at Planning A Life: Making the Most Out of High School, a conference sponsored by the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
Date: Friday & Saturday, November 2-3, 2007
Time: 8 am - 4 pm
Place: Federation for Children with Special Needs, 1135 Tremont St., Suite 420, Boston [map]
Cost: $100
Planning a Life: Making the Most Out of High School is packed with transition planning information and resources for and about students in special education, ages 15-22. Transition planning needs to be on schedule to insure a systematic and purposeful educational experience. Plan now to attend and find out “what you need to know, when you need to ask about it, and who you need to go to for answers.”
To download the registration form and for more information, visit the conference website.
SpEdWatch, Inc., a statewide nonprofit watchdog group working to secure the educational rights of all Massachusetts schoolchildren with disabilities, will host a series of Community Meetings this school year. SpEdWatch’s Founder and Executive Director Ellen Chambers will speak about the high rate of noncompliance with special education laws occurring in the Commonwealth’s public schools, the conditions that allow noncompliance to continue unchecked, and the disastrous consequences this has had for students. She will explain SpEdWatch’s mission and their unique plan to address this silent crisis in our educational system. Ms. Chambers will also facilitate a discussion with parents if they wish to address specific concerns about special education in their local communities, and will provide tips on how parents can effectively pursue change in their own school districts.
Meetings are free and open to the public. In order to ensure adequate seating and hand-outs, registration is appreciated by calling SpEdWatch at 978-433-5983 or via email.
The full schedule of events is listed below.
Westwood - October 12
10:00 - 1:00
South Norfolk County Arc
789 Clapboardtree St.
Directions
Northampton - October 19
11:00 - 2:00
Forbes Library
20 West Street
Directions
Fitchburg - November 1
10:00 - 1:00
Fitchburg Public Library
610 Main Street
Directions
Worcester - November 8
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Worcester Public Library (Main Library)
3 Salem Square
Directions
Tewksbury - November 16
11:00 - 1:30
Tewksbury Public Library
300 Chandler Street
Directions
South Yarmouth - December 3
11:00 - 1:00
South Yarmouth Library
312 Old Main Street
Directions
Beverly - December 10
11:00 - 1:30
North Shore Community College
Cummings Center
181 Elliott Street, Suite 121E
Beverly
Directions
Springfield - February 5
10:30 - 1:30
Springfield Central Library
220 State Street
Directions
Somerset/Westport Area - March 18
Evening
Location to be determined
The Hasbro Center for Teaching Excellence (part of the Dunn Institute) is presenting a series of Parent Workshops on various topics. Strand I programs providence help on effective support and intervention for student learning, while Strand II programs (listed below with an asterisk) discuss the neurodevelopmental perspective. A full list of upcoming programs, along with dates and times, is listed below the fold.
Date: Various
Time: 7 - 9 pm
Place: CVS-Highlander Charter School, 45 Greeley St., Providence [map]
Cost: $5/workshop
The workshop fee includes materials and refreshments. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Call to see if online registration with a credit card is available. Workshops that fill may be run a second time — make sure you are on a waiting list. For more information, including further details on the presenters and registration, please visit the program website.
Thursday, February 15: The Journey of Parenting: Connections to the Evolving Brains of Children Ages 4 - 14.
Offered by: Dr. Rick Solomon
This workshop uses the neurological processes of a developing brain as a framework for understanding the behavioral, social and academic changes experienced by children through a decade of maturity. Each stage of development will focus on how the child perceives the world and how parents can best respond to these evolving needs.
Thursday, March 1: Transitions to Higher Education
Offered by: Susan Hanflik
As students with learning differences move from high school to college and other post secondary placements, careful planning becomes critical in maintaining student success. This workshop will focus on providing the information parents and students need to take the next educational steps. Topics covered will include an exploration of the differences in service between high school and higher educational settings, types of services available, and managing the College Selection and Application process.
Thursday, March 8: Self-Esteem*
Offered by: Rose Mary Grant
This workshop will explore how learning strengths, affinities and weaknesses contribute to a child’s self-esteem. Participants will learn strategies and communication techniques to support learning and build self-esteem.
Monday, March 12: Quirky Kids
Offered by: Dr. Eileen Costello
This workshop is devoted to demystifying quirky kids (ages 3 - 8) and defining what caring adults can do to support them. We all know young children who just don’t seem to fit in. They may be out of sync with their peer group, have difficulty managing their emotions, struggle with anxiety, have unusual interests or demeanors, or have a specific developmental delay or diagnosed special need. Together we will develop a deeper understanding of these children and learn strategies to support their optimal development.
Wednesday, March 28: Understanding the Impact of Early Reflexes on Sensory and Academic Development.
Offered by: Lin Johnson & Su Rubinoff
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is the control center for all thinking, learning, and moving. It facilitates early development via automatic movement patterns called reflexes. As a child matures, the CNS typically “breaks up” these reflexive responses to achieve increasingly complex movements controlled by the child. Many variables, however, can interfere with this process. Retained reflexes may manifest themselves through dyslexia, poor written expression, poor sequencing, attention problems, slow processing, hyperactivity, reading difficulties, etc. This workshop will present a variety of reflexes and demonstrate how each can hinder development. Participants will learn to evaluate the three most prevalent reflexes and practice activities for intervention.
Wednesday, April 4: Parenting a Child with Learning Differences
Offered by: Kim White
This workshop will provide information and strategies for parents who support children with learning differences. The strengths-based model will help parents analyze their expectations and offer guidance in the process of setting boundaries, fostering independence, maintaining discipline, and nurturing academic curiosity and skill development at home.
Thursday, April 12: Homework*
Offered by: Rose Mary Grant
This interactive presentation provides an overview of the 8 functions of the brain and how they impact learning — specifically in reading, writing and math. The presentation will provide strategies for supporting successful homework completion for students with a variety of learning styles, and provide a framework for decreasing the nightly struggle around various assignments.
Thursday, April 26: Using Evaluation Data to Advocate for Your Child
Offered by: Dr. Myrna Silverstein
This workshop will help parents interpret evaluation data and focus on critical needs as they advocate for their child. It will provide a framework for successful advocacy practices, and offer strategies for collaborating and negotiating with school personnel.
Tuesday, May 1: Cultivating Collaborations: Creating a Team Approach to Support Your Child
Offered by: Dr. Maryellen Butke
Creating a functional team approach for your child with learning differences is critical to ensure that your child’s needs are met within the school environment. All too often, lack of communication and follow through, disagreement about resources, and lack of parental involvement can serve as barriers to a student’s success. Ongoing attention and nurturance of the team, and a consolidated effort to cultivate these critical connections can assist children in reaching their highest potential.
Thursday, May 10: Attention*
Offered by: Rose Mary Grant
This workshop explores the different parts of Attention and their impact on learning. Participants will leave understanding the facets of attention control, how to know when they are not up to par, and how to help children manage and regulate the different pieces of Attention.
The Hasbro Center for Teaching Excellence (part of the Dunn Institute) presents the 2007 Learning Disabilities Awareness Conference. The forum address will be given by Dr. Robert Brooks, who will give a talk on “The Power of Mindsets: Nurturing Motivation and Resilience in Children with Learning Differences.”
Date: Saturday, March 3, 2007
Time: 8 am - 3 pm
Place: Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms Street, Providence [map]
Cost: $40 ($50 after February 17); student discount available
Dr. Brooks has lectured around the world on topics related to motivation, resilience, self-esteem, fam relationships, and the quality of effective leaders. He is the author of The Self-Esteem Teacher and co-author with Dr. Sam Goldstein of titles such as: Raising Resilient Children; and The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life.
The conference includes two workshop sessions. One of the workshops offered during the first session, entitled “Critical Friends: The Collaborative Examination of Student Work” and intended for teachers and administrators, is presented by Gene Thompson-Grove, the Director of Professional Development and Special Initiatives for the Public Schools of Brookline.
A printable brochure with more information about the conference and registration details is available on the Dunn Institute website.
The Bureau of Special Education Appeals, part of the Massachusetts Department of Education has announced it will conduct information sessions for any interested person, especially for those who do or may appear at the BSEA. The information session is designed particularly for non-lawyers, both parents and school district personnel, as the information will address process more than “the law.” But, anyone may attend and everyone is welcome. There is no charge for the sessions.
Date: November 27, 2006; January 24, March 28, and May 23, 2007
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Place: DOE conference room 203, 350 Main St., Malden [map]
All sessions will cover the same information; thus you need not make a commitment for all four sessions. After the first session, the BSEA will send notice of each subsequent session.
Each session will consist of one mediator and one hearing officer, introduced by the Director or Assistant Director. The mediator will discuss the nature of mediations; the hearing officer will discuss the nature of due process hearings. There will be time for questions.
Coffee and refreshments will be provided. The capacity of the room is not more than fifty (50) people; therefore we must ask for pre-registration, otherwise all participants may not be able to be accommodated comfortably. If you wish to attend the session in November, contact Sitthikay Phongsa via email or at 781-338-6406.
The Astra Foundation in conjunction with Acton Boxborough Community Education will be offering two six-week courses on DIR/Floortime throughout the year. Both courses will take place one evening per week (7pm-9pm) at the Astra Foundation offices in Acton, Massachusetts.
Floortime: Helping Parents work with children with developmental delays introduces parents to the DIR model and the Floortime approach. This course will be offered in the Spring and Fall sessions (upcoming sessions: September 2006, April 2007).
Floortime Part 2: More Strategies and Techniques is designed for parents who are familiar with the DIR model and who wish to become more effective Floortimers. This course will be offered in the Winter and Summer sessions (upcoming sessions: June 2006, January 07).
For more information on the courses, dates, and times, visit the Astra Foundation website or e-mail them.
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