Wrightslaw Boot Camp

3rd AnnualTxP2P

Wrightslaw Special Education & Advocacy 2-Day Boot Camp

Friday & Saturday, August 1st & 2nd, 2008

Region XIII Education Service Center

5701 Springdale Road, Austin, TX

SBISD Parent Trainings

Preparing for Your Child’s Transition to College

The following colleges and universities are scheduled to attend to
provide information about services/supports for students with disabilities and answer your questions:

Blinn College

Texas Tech

University of Houston

University of St. Thomas

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
6:00PM
Administration Building (955 Campbell Road), Board Room

For more information call:
713-365-4795
Prior registration is not required.

SBISD Parent Trainings Spring 2008

Trainings for Parents of Students with Special Needs Spring 2008

Taking the Mystery Out of the TAKS Test
Thursday, January 17, 5:30PM – 7:00PM
Administration Building (955 Campbell Road), Room 275
Presented by Michele Burta, SBISD Support Team Specialist (Department of Teaching and Learning) and Jan Teater, Special Education Coordinator

Transition: Beyond High School
Tuesday, January 29, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Administration Building (955 Campbell Road), Board Room
Presented by representatives from community agencies, including MHMRA,
University of Houston/Center for Students with Disabilities, and DARS

Developing Community Skills, Home Safety, and Leisure Activities
Tuesday, February 5, 3:30PM-5:00PM
Wilchester Elementary (13618 St. Mary’s), Library
Presented by Wendy Olson, SBISD Teacher (APPLE Program)

Helping Your Child Develop Organizational Skills
Wednesday, March 5, 3:30PM – 5:00PM
Memorial High School (935 Echo Lane), Multipurpose Room
Presented by Wendy Cooper, SBISD Teacher (AIM Program)

Registration is not required.
For more information, please call 713-365-4795.

SEPAC Social, A Success!

For those who made it last night, Thank You!
Those who could not, we missed you.
Everyone had a great time last night, especially the kids. New contacts were made and previous contacts were reconnected. Hopefully, we can do this again in the Spring. Thanks to Vivecca Hartman and her family for all her hard work fot putting this together. Thanks to Deb, Angela, Ann and other special ed. staff who came out. You are much appreciated!

Special Education Family Social

Hosted by: Special Education Advisory Committee (SEPAC)

Who: All Special Education Family Members
What: Family gathering for food, fun, and socializing!
When: Tuesday, October 23rd from 6:30 to 8:00
Where: Spring Woods High School Cafeteria
Why: To meet other families both young and old. To feel supported and know there are others in your community that you can relate to.
(The cafeteria is on the West side of the school, near the tennis courts.)

We will have a buffet of deserts and activities for children.
So come have fun with us! RSVP's are appreciated (but not required) by e-mailing: mandsdoler@hotmail.com

We want you to come if you can! Hope to see you soon!

SBISD Administrative Team

Office Number: 713-365-4795

Director...........................................Deb Darmer........x3047

Suuport Services Coordinator...........Teresa Canon.....x3033

Behavior/Autism Coordinator............Linda Buzzell.......x3007

Secondary Program Coordinator......Michele Burta......x3035

Elementary Program Coordinator.....Jan Teater...........x3024

STAT/504/Sp. Ed. Coordinator.........Ann Conkling.......x3009

Parent-To-Parent Network

Parent-to-Parent Network

2007 - 2008

Questions? Call one of us. We are here to help!

Parent : Phone Number: Email Address:

Elementary School:

Jeff Miller (713)204.0611 jeff-miller@att.net
Suzanne Doler (713)932.6503 mandsdoler@hotmail.com

Middle School:

Suzanne Doler (713)932.6503 mandsdoler@hotmail.com
Jeff Miller (713)204.0611 jeff-miller@att.net


High School:

Laurie Huffman huffmanlb@yahoo.com
Paula Tippit pjtippit@hotmail.com

AIM Program:

Elaine Castello aspenamu@sbcglobal.net

Apple Program:

Geraldine Bliss (713)984.8319 bbliss@comcast.net

Auditory Impairment/Visual Impairment:

Vivecca Hartman (713)231.7508 hartmanfam28@sbcglobal.net


Dyslexia Program:

Paula Tippit pjtippit@hotmail.com

Life Skills – Elementary & Middle Schools:

Lisa Demiano (713)468.8554 ldemiano@comcast.net

HYLA Young Lawyers in Schools Committee and the Center for Children, Law & Policy Present:

What’s so “Special” about Special Education Law?

A Legal Clinic for Parents, Advocates, and Attorneys
April 14, 2007
9 am – 3 pm
University of Houston Law Center

Parents Want to help your children receive the education they deserve?
Advocates Want to gain knowledge and share your experiences dealing with the special education process?
Attorneys Want to make a huge difference in a child’s life and earn pro bono hours?
This clinic will provide a UNIQUE opportunity for everyone to learn more about the special education process from attorneys, advocates, and service providers.
Topics will include:

• an Overview of Special Education
• Evaluations – What They Tell Us and How To Use This Info
• Navigating the Complaint Process
• Transition Issues
• Open Records Act Information
• Discipline Issues and Zero Tolerance
• Q & A with an Attorney
• Plus Much More!
  

Lunch will be provided. There are a limited number of spaces, so please call or email Stacey Mathews at 713-743-1845 or slmathew@central.uh.edu to RSVP!

Upcoming Events

February 14th, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. "Special Education 101": Presented by The Arc of Greater Houston. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Karen Snead at 713-957-1600, ext. 13.

February 14th, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. "Capitol Day 2007": Sponsored by The Arc of Texas. This year's theme is "The Heart of the Matter" -- over 100,000 Texans with disabilities are waiting to receive supports and services in their community. Wear RED, make appointments with your legislators and meet at the south steps of the State Capitol. Lunch will be provided. For more information, contact your local Arc, go to http://www.thearcoftexas.org/ or call 512-454-6694.

February 15th, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. "Nutrition & Medication Management": Presented by the Council for Health Education and Development, LLC in conjunction with the Houston-Galveston Area Council - Area Agency on Aging Elderly & Caregiver Support Services. Class given by a registered dietician and a speech/language pathologist at Montgomery College, Building A, Room A100, The Commons. Free to registered participants. Call toll free for reservations by Feb. 15th: 1-877-747-1542.

February 17th, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. "In God's Image, Disability Ministry Conference": A conference for all with a heart for disability ministry. Hosted by the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston at St. Teresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell, Houston, 77007. Registration is $10 per person ($7 per person if 4 or more people from the same family or parish attend, and $12 per person after Feb. 5th). Financial assistance is available. For more information, contact http://www.blogger.com/ or call 713-741-8793.

February 17th, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. "2nd Annual Special Education Parent Conference and Resource Fair": Sponsored by Katy ISD and Special Kids/Special Parents of Katy at Morton Ranch High School. For more information or registration details, go to http://www.specialkidskaty.com/.

February 19th, 6-8 p.m. Wharton County Junior College: Join Kandace Nasis, Youth Activities Coordinator with WCJC, to discuss the possibilities of WCJC developing and expanding programs for children and adults with disabilities. Meeting to be held at WCJC Richmond Campus, 5333 FM 1640, Richmond 77469 (across from Wal-Mart and the George Memorial Library). Please RSVP to Cheryl Sewell at 281-494-5924 or cbsewell@arcoffortbend.org.

February 23rd, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. "Positive Behavior Intervention": Presented by Partners Resource Network - TEAM Project at 3311 Richmond, Suite 334, Houston 77098. Training available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. For more information, contact prnteam@sbcglobal.net or 713-524-2147.

February 28th, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. "Emotional Disorders & Special Education Needs": Presented by The Arc of Greater Houston in both English and Spanish. For more information, call 713-957-1600, ext. 13.

February 28th - March 2nd and 3rd "Inclusion Works! Conference" and "Inclusion Works for Parents, Too! Conference": The state's premier conference on inclusive education is back for a 14th year! As always, we bring you top experts from across the nation to share the latest research, information and practical strategies you can use in you own district, school, classroom or family. Sponsored by The Arc of Texas, Access to General Curriculum Network and VSA Arts of Texas. Conference to be held at the Austin Renaissance Hotel. The pre-registration deadline is January 31st, or on-site registration is available. For more information on the conference, registration, or parent stipends, go to http://www.thearcoftexas.org/ or call 800-252-9729.

February 28th - March 2nd "Texas Transition Institute": Sponsored by Texas A&M University College of Education and Human Development, Region VI Education Service Center, the Texas Transition Network, and the Texas Effectiveness Study. Conference to be held at the College Station Hilton. Regular registration fee is $195 and due by Feb. 21st. Onsite registration is $215. For more information, go to http://tti.cehd.tamu.edu/ , call 979-845-1831, or email tti@coe.tamu.edu.

March 12th "Save the Date: Texas Families Unite 2007 Rally": Sponsored by TxPACs, parents of children with disabilities who advocate for appropriate and adequate community supports/services to allow people to live in the community, not in institutions. Join other Texas families at the State Capitol to tell your story and make it count. For more information on how you can share your story, contact Jeanine Pinner at jeanine@txp2p.org. To subscribe to the TxPACs online group, go to txpacs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

March 12th-16th, "Lose the Training Wheels" Bicycle riding camp: Classes for individuals aged 7 to adult.The Down Syndrome Association of Houston is sponsoring this bicycle riding camp at West Gray Adaptive Sports inHouston TX. For more information, please contact Angela Hankins at 281-980-1646, or via e-mail http://www.blogger.com/.
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Resource Fair

Family to Family Network’s Disability Leadership Network of Houston
presents

Resource Fair 2007

January 27, 2007
9 am - 12 noon
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
15015 Memorial Dr.
(at the corner of Memorial Dr. & Eldridge)

This event is a no cost opportunity to come get to know many Houston organizations who will be available to talk to you about their services for people with disabilities including:

Advocacy, Inc. - The Arc of Greater Houston - Attention Deficit Disorders Assoc. - Assistive Technology Resources - Bridging Lives - Carrie’s Heart - College Living Experience - Dynavox Technologies - Early Childhood Intervention - Estate and Financial Planning for Special Needs - EveryChild, Inc. - Families Can FOCUS Initiative - Greater Houston Chapter of the Autism Society of America - K2 Academy for Kids - Medco Medical Supply - MHMRA of Harris County - NAMI Metropolitan Houston - Neurodevelopmental Therapy Services - NW Houston Chapter of the Autism Society of America - Partners Resource Network - Pediatrics Plus Therapy Services - The River Performing & Visual Arts Center - Special Friends, Inc. - Special Kids/Special Parents of Katy - The TEAM Approach - Texas Access Alliance - Texas Children’s Hospital - United Way of Texas Gulf Coast - The Wheelchair Shop - Winter Pediatric Therapy

Everyone is Welcome!

SBISD Trainings for Parents

Trainings for Parents of Students with Special Needs
Entrenamiento Para Padres de Estudiantes con Necesidades Especiales
2006-2007

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Dealing with Challenging Behavior / Tratando Comportamientos Desafiantes
(for parents and staff / para padres y personal)
Thursday (Jueves), October (Octubre) 5, 4:00PM – 6:00PM
Westchester Academy of International Studies (901 Yorkchester), A422
Presented by SBISD Special Education Coordinators
Presentado por Coordinadores de Educación Especial

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Self-Help Skills: Helping your Child Adjust to Puberty Changes
Destrezas de Auto-Ayuda: Ayudando a su Hijo Ajustar los Cambios de Adolescencia
Thursday (Jueves), October (Octubre) 26, 4:00PM – 6:00PM
Wilchester Elementary (13618 St. Mary’s), multipurpose room
Presented by Wendy Olson (SBISD Teacher) / Presentado por Wendy Olson (Maestra)

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Instructional Strategies to Support Struggling Writers
Estrategias de Instrucción para ayudar estudiantes luchando con escritura.
(for parents and staff / para padres y personal )
Thursday (Jueves), October (Octubre) 26, 3:30PM – 6:30PM
Terrace Elementary (10400 Rothbury)
Presented by SBISD Dyslexia Teachers / Presentado por Maestros de Dislexia

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Using Data for Informed Instruction / Usando Datos para Instrucción Informada
(for parents and staff / para padres y personal)
Thursday (Jueves), November (Noviembre) 2, 4:00PM – 6:00PM
Westchester Academy of International Studies (901 Yorkchester), A422
Presented by SBISD Special Education Coordinators
Presentado por Coordinadores de Educación Especial

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¿Que es elAutismo? / What is Autism?
(presentación en Español / presentation in Spanish)
Wednesday (Miércoles), November (Noviembre) 15, 9:00AM – 11:00AM
Spring Branch Support Center (9000 Westview), LOC II
Presented by SBISD Psychologists / LSSPsPresentado por Psicólogos/ LSSPs

Family to Family Network Meeting Schedule 2006/2007

Disability Leadership Network of Houston, a project of Family to Family Network is proud to announce the following training events. These educational events are free of charge and will be held at the Family to Family Network office located at 13150 FM 529, Suite 106, Houston (the corner of FM 529 and N. Eldridge.) Call 713-466-6304 for more information.

October 5, 2006, 7-9 p.m.: "Becoming a Partner in Creating Inclusive Schools" Charlene Comstock-Galagan, I.D.E.A. Works Consultant, will spend an evening with us discussing the benefits of inclusive education and how to work with schools to create a good inclusive experience. In collaboration with The Northwest Houston Chapter of the Autism Society America, AUTISM/ASPERGER/PDD Parent & Professional Networking Group.

October 17, 2006, 7-9 p.m.: "Creating Effective School/Family Partnerships" Eve Cugini will provide a presentation on how to create effective school/family partnerships that benefit children.

Disability Leadership Network of Houston is a project of Family to Family Network, funded through a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities. The State Farm Good Neighbor Program and Houston Endowment also provide support for this program.

A Parent’s Guide to Special Education: Insider Advice on How to Navigate the System and Help Your Child Succeed

This looks like a great book. Click on the title for the full article. If you would like to purchase this book, please use the Barnes and Noble link on this blogsite.

Do you know a child or youth with a disability who has made outstanding achievements? Then nominate him or her for a ...Yes I Can Award

Welcome to the Blog of Spring Branch Independent School District's SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee). We want to keep our parents up to date on the latest news regarding Learning Disabilities and Special Education (IDEA and 504) as well as specific disorders (autism, asperger's, Downs, pediatric bipolar, dyslexia, dysgraphia, auditory processing, PDD etc.