Study Skills and Technology Applications for Academic Success Workshop

The DC Capital Branch of the International Dyslexia Association presents: Study Skills and Technology Applications for Academic Success Workshop This workshop is a mult-isensory workshop for educational professionals and parents. Sponsored by Commonwealth Academy and in partnership with ASDEC, this full day presentation will focus on strategies which are appropriate for all learners but especially helpful for those who have learning disabilities. The morning presentation, Study Skills for Academic Success, will include time management, organization, memory training, vocabulary development, and abstracting from text. Participants will have a choice for the afternoon breakout sessions on either Applications in Technology: Test/Exam Preparation or Applications in Technology: E Readers & Note Taking. Participants will receive ready-to-use tools and information so that they may begin to use these strategies immediately with students. Attendees are encouraged to BYOD- bring your own device to this workshop.  Presenters:   Joy Jacques, CALT, ASDEC Instructor;Marilyn Zecher, M.A., CALT, ASDEC Instructor & National Speaker; Sonya Atkinson, Upper School Learning Specialist, Flint Hill School When: Saturday, January 26th  Time: 9:00 am- 3:30 pm (8:30 am sign in) Where: Commonwealth Academy, 1321 Leslie Ave. Alexandria, VA 22301 Fees: Early Registration by 12/31 IDA Members: $90 Non-members $100          After 12/31 IDA Members: $110   Non-members: $120 (Lunch included) Registration:  Available online by  clicking here  or by mail to:  DCIDA, 501 Mac Arthur Dr,                                                                                          Rockville MD 20850   (301) 315-0563.    Appropriate for all educational professionals and parents supporting students Grades 5-12.

The Nuts & Bolts of VA Medicaid Waivers

"The Nuts & Bolts of Virginia Medicaid Waivers" Guest Speaker: Savina Avila Client Advocate, The Arc of Northern Virginia January 14, 2013, 7:30-9:00pmMcLean Bible Church, Tysons Campus, Community Room B(lower level) (8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA) Did you know there are programs that give assistance for respite, assistive technology, and other services for children and adults with special needs? ID, DD, EDCD — what do they all mean? This lecture will provide an overview of the Medicaid Waiver System in Virginia. You will learn what a waiver is, why you might need one, what it can do for your family and how to apply for it.  Please click here for the January lecture flyer with more information. (printable version, click here)  Click here for the flyer of the entire 2012-2013 Lecture Series (printable version, click here) Check out the Lecture Series website for the audio and handouts from previous lectures.  The Access Community Lecture Series, hosted by the Access Ministry of McLean Bible Church, takes place one Monday evening each month from September – June (excluding April). A speaker gives a presentation on a topic of interest to the disability community.  The lectures cover a variety of issues affecting all ages and disabilities. They are free and open to anyone in the community who would be helped by these resources especially parents, teachers, therapists, and volunteers.  As a reminder, the lectures are intended for adults only, so please make other childcare arrangements as necessary.  If you would like to have hard-copies of the flyers to hand out, please email me your address and the quantity that you would like and I will send them to you. Also, if you would prefer to have the flyers emailed to you as a PDF attachment, just let me know.  We would love to get the word out about the Lecture Series to as many people as possible to help provide more resources to those affected by disabilities and those who help care for them. Thank you for your help and for your time.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to RSVP (appreciated, but not required) at erin.roundtree@mcleanbible.org or 703-770-2938.

New and information from the Alexandria Parent Resource Center

January 2, 2013: JCCNV Special Needs Parent Support Group
7:00-8:30pm, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA

This group welcomes parents and caregivers of school-age children with disabilities/special needs. Melissa Hochberg, JCCNV Special Needs Resource Specialist and JSSA's Larisa deGraffenreid, LCSW, facilitate the group, focused on providing resources, gaining knowledge, learning coping mechanisms and strategies and providing mutual support. Please email Melissa atMelissaH@jccnv.org if interested in attending this group.
Cost: $15 per meeting.

January 2, 2013: GPS+ (Generating Person-Centered Solutions and Supports)
7:00-9:00pm, 98 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VAIf you're a parent with a new diagnosis on the autism spectrum, or new to Northern Virginia or experiencing a transition into school, middle school, high school or adult life, this event is well worth your time. Introductory resource information along with some important information on schools and county services will be provided with numbers to call and a path to take to start you on your way to providing your child and family all the services they might need. Please RSVP to the Arc at 703-532-3214, extension 101 as we limit the number of families to provide personalized information from the experts at the table.

January 8: Lunch Bunch with the Ability AllianceNoon-2:00pm, 98 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA. 
Bring a bag lunch and talk to experts about your questions and concerns in navigating the maze of services for individuals with disabilities and on the spectrum. Number of families limited to provide personalized information, so RSVP to the Arc at 703-532-3214 and ask to RSVP for Lunch Bunch.

January 8: Dyslexia Workshop 7:00am-8:00pm, Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA 
Learn the common signs of dyslexia and practical strategies to support elementary and secondary students with dyslexia.Workshop presented by the FCPS Office of Special Education Instruction.For more information: call the FCPS Parent Resource Center at 703-204-3941

January 9: The Lives of Students with Gifts & Talents: Parent Information Night7:00-9:00pm, Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA
Special parent session on the needs of twice exceptional (2E) learners, offered by FCPS offices of Advanced Academic Programs and Special Education. This session will be presented by Dr. Tracy Cross, Executive Director for Gifted Education at The College of William and Mary.

January 10: ADHD: Brain Development in Childhood and Brain Changes Over Time10:00am-12:00pm, Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA 
Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health are studying brain development in children with ADHD. Learn how emotions, social situations and problem-solving skills are processed in children with ADHD at this free workshop. Workshop presented by the FCPS Office of Special Education Instruction. For more information: call the FCPS Parent Resource Center at 703-204-3941
flyer attached, please distribute
January 12: POAC-NoVA Information and Support Group Meeting1:00-4:00pm, Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA
Join us at our January member support meeting when POAC-NoVA presents our annual "How to get the most out of your Child's School Program" presented by Parents for Parents. Learn from the voices of experience when it comes to IEP meetings. It is FREE and open to the public. For more information:http://www.poac-nova.org/

January 12: Sensory Friendly Performance by the National Symphony Orchestra11:00am-1:00pm, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
The Kennedy String Quartet demonstrates many types of musical contrasts and shows how composers use opposites to express a stunning variety of musical moods and emotions. For age 4+. Contact the VSA & Accessibility Office at 202-416-8727 (voice) or access@kennedy-center.org to sign up. For more information:http://www.kennedy-center.org/accessibility/schedule.html#Sensory-Friendly.
GKSN: Grandparents of Kids with Special Needs

The Sibling Support Project and the Kindering Center are pleased to announce GKSN—Grandparents of Kids with Special Needs.We believe that no one understands a grandparent’s unique joys and concerns better than another grandparent of a child with special needs. On the GKSN website, grandparents will have a chance to meet other grandparents through our Yahoogroup or Facebook groups, share ideas for supporting their kids and grandkids, and even post pictures of their grandkids! Please visitwww.gksn.org

Airport Social Stories for Autism Access Program Like Dullus International Airport, the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) provides the Airport Autism Access Program, which creates opportunities for children with autism and their families to become familiar with traveling through the airport.  In addition to the simulated airport experience, they also provideSocial Stories™ by Carol Gray:http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Accessibility/Documents/SocialStories.pdf

National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Down Syndrome Resources
The University of Kentucky's Human Development Institute (HDI) is proud to announce the launch of its National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Down Syndrome Resources atDownSyndromeDiagnosis.org. TheNational Center websiteprovides a portal for medical professionals and new and expectant parents to find out about what each of these free and well-established resources offers. The activities of the National Center include the distribution of professional resources to medical providers and their patients both in print and online; the development of new materials; and national medical outreach through journal publications and presentations at medical conferences.
New Online B.A. in Disability Studies from CUNY School of Professional Studies

This year, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS) debuted a new, fully online B.A. in Disability Studies. As the first and only undergraduate program of its kind in the country, the Online B.A. in Disability Studies gives you the skills to improve the lives of people with disabilities, and paves the way for job advancement within the field.You can tailor the program to meet your individual career pursuits by electing a concentration in one of the following areas: Intellectual/Developmental Disability,Autism Spectrum Disorder,Mental/Behavioral Health, or Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. CUNY SPS is happy to answer any questions that you may have about the Online B.A. in Disability Studies. Contact them at inquiry@sps.cuny.eduor212.652.2869.

 
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is offering FREE Signing ClassesThese classes are offered for parents and families of young children with hearing loss. All skill levels are welcomed! Child care is provided for children from birth-12 years old. Class time:6:15-7:45pm. Class dates are: Nov. 8 & 29, Dec. 6 & 13, Jan. 10& 31, Feb. 21 & 28, March 7 & 21, April 4 & 18, and May 2, 16, & 30. All classes are held on Thursday nights at VSDB, 514 East Beverley St, Staunton, Virginia. Contact Kathy Guisewite for more information 540-414-5248orkathy.guisewite@vsdb.k12.va.us

Statements from Autistic global Initiative &

This morning, the leadership of ARI's Autistic Global Initiative project issued the following statement:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the community of Newtown, Connecticut today in the wake of yesterday's tragedy. Some public comments have drawn potentially inaccurate and stigmatizing conclusions about a link between the diagnosis and a propensity for violence and lack of empathy.

The autism community has long labored toward building understanding, awareness, and trust within communities throughout the United States and the world. As adults with autism living productive, peaceful lives, we urge the media and professionals who participate in speculative interviews about the motives of the accused shooter to refrain from misleading comments about autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. The eyes of the world are on this wrenching tragedy - with 1 in 88 now diagnosed, misinformation could easily trigger increased prejudice and m

isunderstanding. Let us all come together and mourn for the families and exercise the utmost care in discussions of how and why it occurred."

Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.
Director, Autistic Global Initiative
on behalf of the AGI Executive Leadership & the Autism Research Institute
Media Contact: Denise Fulton

Scott Badesch to CNN
I am the President of the Autism Society of America. Your reporter just told the nation that two people mentioned that today's shooter lived with autism. First, that is heresay and not yet documented. Second, there is absolutely no link between autism and planned violence. Third, may who are diagnosed with autism have a dual diagnosis such as depression or other possible developmental or mental health related diagnosis. To imply or sugggest, as your reporter did, that autism might be a cause of this is not only wrong but extremely wrong in that it suggests a false conclusion and implication that is harmful to every person who has an autism diagnosis.

Scott Badesch, President, Autism Society of America 

News and events from the Alexandria Parent Resource Center

January 2, 2013: JCCNV Special Needs Parent Support Group
7:00-8:30pm, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA

This group welcomes parents and caregivers of school-age children with disabilities/special needs. Melissa Hochberg, JCCNV Special Needs Resource Specialist and JSSA's Larisa deGraffenreid, LCSW, facilitate the group, focused on providing resources, gaining knowledge, learning coping mechanisms and strategies and providing mutual support. Please email Melissa atMelissaH@jccnv.org if interested in attending this group.
Cost: $15 per meeting.

January 2, 2013: GPS+ (Generating Person-Centered Solutions and Supports)
7:00-9:00pm, 98 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VAIf you're a parent with a new diagnosis on the autism spectrum, or new to Northern Virginia or experiencing a transition into school, middle school, high school or adult life, this event is well worth your time. Introductory resource information along with some important information on schools and county services will be provided with numbers to call and a path to take to start you on your way to providing your child and family all the services they might need. Please RSVP to the Arc at 703-532-3214, extension 101 as we limit the number of families to provide personalized information from the experts at the table.

TeletonUSA y Univision lanza evento para recaudar fondospara los niños con discapacidades La Fundación Teletón  y el canal de televisión, Univision, lanzanuna recaudación de fondos el 14 y 15 de diciembre para los niños con discapacidad y cáncer con el fin de construir el primer centro de rehabilitación para niños o Teletón en los Estados Unidos y apoyar a los hospitales más prestigiososde la nación para los niños. Para obtener más información, por favor visite el sitio web enhttp://www.teletonusa.org/ (en español).

Exciting New Social Skills Program at Ivymount
The Unstuck and On Target! Program is a 20 week, wrap-around program beginning on Saturday, Jan 5th and running throughSaturday, May 25th. The program consists of weekly therapeutic student groups and bimonthly parent instructional groups. Parent sessions will be led by Monica Adler Werner, M.A., director of the Model Asperger Program  (MAP) at The Ivymount School, and will include direct instruction, student observation, round-table discussion and follow-up support. Tuition for The Unstuck and On Target! program is $2500 (for 30 total sessions).We do not accept any insurance at this time, however we encourage parents to check with their insurance provider regarding coverage and reimbursement. For more information on tuition, schedule and registration, please contact Amy Couch, acouch@ivymount.org.  Registration closes December 14, 2012.