Fairfax County Public Schools holds Autism Awareness Day Events

A message from FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) will hold Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 25, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The day will include two workshops, exhibitors, resources, lunch, and more!  Join us at the FCPS Parent Resource Center located at Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services.  Please register!

10:00 – 11:30 am	Language Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorders  | Register online   |   Download the flyer Dr. Laurie Swineford, primary clinician at the National Institute of Mental Health will discuss early communication impairments and developmental delays in toddlers and children at this free workshop for parents and educators.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm	Lunch, resources, and exhibitors in the Parent Resource Center Exhibitors from Fairfax County Public Schools ABA Program, Autism Speaks, Autism Society of Northern Virginia, Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, the National Institute of Mental Health, Parents of Autistic Children, Project Lifesaver and the Organization for Autism Research.
12:30 – 2:00 pm	Anxiety in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders   |  Register online  |   Download the flyer Dr. Sajjad Khan, clinician and researcher at NeuroScience Inc., will discuss anxiety in students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and the behaviors resulting from anxiety. Dr. Khan will also discuss assessment and treatment options at this free workshop for parents and educators. Please join us for Autism Awareness Day at the FCPS Parent Resource Center ~ two workshops, lunch, resources, door prizes & more!

Contact the FCPS Parent Resource Center with questions at 703-204-3941 or prc@fcps.edu.

Events in the area that may be of interest to parents of children with special needs

From the 

Anne R. Lipnick

Special Education Family Resource Center

 (703) 824-0129

 

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE AREA AND INFORMATION 

 

April 14, 2014 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.  Workshop, Rental Choice Virginia Information Session. Learn how to use waivers to help with independent living options. Contact Lucy atLBeadnell@thearcofnova.org  or (703) 208-1119 x116 for more information.

 

April 15, 2014, Application Deadline for FREE Dental Outreach Clinic for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, aged 18 and older, through the Arc of Northern Virginia.  Submit application and documentation to Cheryl Johnson, Director of Services, The Arc of Northern Virginia, cjohnson@thearcofnova.org, (703) 208-1119, x 109. 

 

April 23, 2014, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Workshop, Employment of People with Disabilities: Cultivating Your Competitive Edge: Leveraging Community Resource Partners-Bridging the Gap Between Business and Providers. Sponsored by the DC Metro Business Leadership Network, the Washington Industry Liaison Group, the Fairfax Area Long Term Care Coordinating Council and the Arc of Northern Virginia.  Northrop Grumman, 2980 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042. Contact Katherine McCary at KMcCary@dcmetrobln.org  for additional information and to register.

 

April 23, 2014, 6:30-8 p.m. Futures Planning and the Role of the Special Needs Trust workshop

presented by Tia Marsili of the Arc of Northern Virginia, 2755 Hartland Road, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043. (703) 532-3214.  Register at www.TheArcofNova.org.

 

May 2, 2014, 10 a.m-12 p.m. Tia Marsili, Director of Trusts at the Arc of Northern Virginia, presents Future Fridays, an opportunity to learn about special needs trusts and other tools. The Arc of Northern Virginia, 2755 Hartland Road, Suite 200, Falls Church, (703) 532-3214.

 

May 2, 2014, 12-2 p.m. Consumer Directed Attendant Workshop. The Arc of Northern Virginia presents a workshop to answers questions about finding, hiring, training and maintaining good attendants on minimal Waiver dollars. Contact the Arc of Northern VA to register,www.TheArcofNova.org, (703) 208-1119 x116.

 

May 6, 2014, 7-8:30 p.m. Workshop, Transition Planning Topics, presented by Julie Triplett of the disability Law Center of Virginia.  The workshop will cover self-advocacy at a transition IEP meeting, developing an appropriate transition plan, working with DARS and/or DBVI during and after high school and understanding work incentives from SSA.  PEATC Office, 100 N. Washington Street, Suite 234, Falls Church, VA 22046.  To register, contact partners@peatc.org

 

May 10, 2014, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Transition to Employment, a workshop for families with transitioning youth ages 14-22. The Arc of Northern Virginia, 2755 Hartland Road, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043.  Register at www.thearcofnova.org/events/workshops/ or contact Diane Monnig atDmonnig@thearcofnova.org, (703) 208-1119 x118.

 

May 24, 2014, 8:30 a.m-12:45 p.m. Workshops to Promote Independence: Why Guardianship?, Social Security Income, and Medicaid Waivers. The Arc of Northern Virginia, 2755 Hartland Road, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043. (703) 532-3214.  Register at www.TheArcofNova.org.

 

May 27, 2014, 7-9 p.m. The Arc of Greater Prince William County presents Life on and Slightly to the Right of the Autism Spectrum: An Inside View towards Success by guest speaker Dr. Stephen Shore, author of Autism for Dummies and the DVD Living Along the Autism Spectrum: What it Means to Have Autism or Asperger Syndrome. Dr. Shore will discuss classroom accommodation and issues faced by adults, such as relationships, self-advocacy, higher education and employment.  Kelly Leadership Center, Room 1101, 11715 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112. This lecture is free, but registration is required by May 22.  Contact jrussell@arcgpw.org.

Summer camp and Baseball

Camp Live Out Loud! Ivymount School offers a six week Saturday morning camp for youth and young adults aged 8-25 of all ability levels.  Each camp day offers a variety of activities, focusing on music, movement, sports, games, socialization and the arts.  Camp runs from 10:00 a.m.-1:15 p.m. each Saturday.  Campers will be grouped according to age and ability, and activities will be adapted to individual abilities and interests. Tuition is $575, not including 1:1 student support.  Registration closes April 25.  Camp runs fromMay 3-June 24. For more information, contact bskosnik@ivymount.org.

Miracle League Baseball. Opening Day is Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the Kelly Cares Miracle Field, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA.  (Rain site is the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center).  This year's Miracle League will feature  youth games on Friday nights and adult games on Saturday afternoons.  Youth games will be held at the Miracle League Field on the following Friday evenings at 6 p.m.: May 2, May 9, May 16 and May 30.  The final game, for both youth and adults, will be held at 6:35 p.m. at the Potomac Nationals Stadium, Woodbridge, VA.  At that game, adult and youth players will be allowed to parade around the field, stand with Potomac Nationals players during the National Anthem, and attend a minor league baseball game. For more information, contact Mac Slover at (703) 746-5402, mac.slover@alexandriava.gov.  

Alexandria City Public Schools now accepting applications for Preschool

The City of Alexandria is taking application for its preschool programs including: Preschoolers Learning Together (PLT).
Below is the description, application criteria and school where the program is offered. You must submit and application before attending the screening.
For more information and other preschool programs visit http://www.acps.k12.va.us/preschool/

PLT is a half-day preschool program offered to children ages two years and six months thru four years (by September 30), who are eligible for the PLT program. This is an opportunity for typically developing children from the Alexandria community to be integrated into an early childhood special education (ECSE) classroom for the purpose of providing typical role models to students with disabilities.

Licensed ECSE teachers implement a play-based special education program with emphasis on providing services to students with an individualized developmental delay or disability.

Developmentally appropriate activities are incorporated into the daily routine.

PLT Guidelines and Application (PDF)
APPLICATION CRITERIA OF PLT PROGRAM

Currently a resident of the City of Alexandria.
Meet the age requirements-child must be two and a half to four-years-old by September 30, 2014.
Pass a developmental screening, and be observed by an ACPS preschool special education teacher.
Children who have had no formal early childhood school experience.
Preference given to children who are toilet trained.
Parents/Guardians must provide transportation to/from school (John Adams, Charles Barrett or Jefferson-Houston).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Complete the PLT program application.

Step 2: Return completed application to the preschool site closest to your home:

Jefferson-Houston: Caitlyn Schnure or via e-mail to caitlyn.schnure@acps.k12.va.us
Charles Barrett: Heather Morgan or via e-mail to heather.morgan@acps.k12.va.us
John Adams: Andrea Handel or via e-mail to andrea.handel@acps.k12.va.us
Step 3: Participate in a Screening Event and Play Observation.

Applications must be submitted prior to attending a screening event. For those interested in attending these schools you must attend a screening event from 4 to 6 p.m. on these dates:

John Adams - Thursday, May 1 
Charles Barrett - Thursday, April 24 
Jefferson-Houston - Monday, April 28

Step 4: Receive notification in June. Parents must sign an agreement ensuring that their child will attend school five days a week, according to the school schedule. Parents must also register their child at the school and must provide transportation.