http://t.co/gMagxbJoX0/s/BCE3

I know someone who lives this world. This is very well written - direct and to the point as we would expect.

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a32491/living-with-autism/

Georgia Congress has two days left to pass a bill calling for cameras in special education classrooms.  House Bill 614.

http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Local-push-for-cameras-in-special-education-classrooms-297898711.html?fb_action_ids=10153111731261830&fb_action_types=og.shares

OK GA parents & advocates.  We’ve been asking for this.  Now rally and send your e-mails and make your calls!

Dear Parent or Guardian,

 

A team of developmental psychologists from Georgia State University is seeking to recruit participants for a study on factors that contribute to language learning in children with different developmental profiles. If you have a child, or children, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who is/ are between 2 and 13 years of age, please read on.

 

Participation requires 90 minutes of your time; we provide free parking and provide compensation in the amount of $20 for your participation with your child.

 

Please find attached a letter describing the research, as well as an explanation of what involvement in the study consists of.

 

Do not hesitate to contact Nevena Dimitrova at 404-413-6257 or LanguageLab@gsu.edu if you have any questions about this study.

 

Thank you for your attention and your interest!

 

Nevena Dimitrova, Ph.D.

Language Development Laboratory

Department of Psychology

Georgia State University

FREE FOCUS Mini-Conference at Clayton State

Saturday, March 21, 2015 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, Ga. This conference is a great day of information, networking, and a little fun!! Cost: FREE to Parents!   No cost for this event for parents, but you must register by Wednesday, March 18!  Click  to register with your name and zip code!  Professionals are $20. Registration includes access to all workshops, coffee, and FREE Chick-fil-A lunch. Workshops: NOW/COMP, Wills and Trusts, IEP Basics and Strategies for  Successful Advocacy, Disability Awareness 101 Mini-Conference Brochure Contact FOCUS at 770-234-9111 or email Elizabeth with any questions.

This is a very special deal and will only be available until Friday to sign up for!!

Lindamood Bell is having their February 1/2 off evaluations. You can purchase the evaluation before Friday and then schedule March or April. These evaluations are good tools to show as "another" evaluation" as to where your child is performing - or not - and use to request District paid summer services. Also, LMB will let you retest for free the next 3 years - so you can compare how your child is doing after almost a full school term. Now that is the short version - and there is a lot more to this. Getting this evaluation does not guarantee anything - however this is a great price, only offered in February and can be a solid tool for requesting District to pay for intensive services. Ask an advocate or attorney - but take advantage if Lindamood Bell has ever been mentioned as a potential teaching tool for your child. It's not for all children however it has helped many of my clients.

You know it is full out IEP season when your LinkedIn account has more than 9 views stating: LinkedIn member - This member chose to be shown as anonymous.

Please remember it is all about the child folks!

Dear Parents and Professionals

The Cobb County Navigator Team is hosting a workshop on October 27, 2014 from 6:30pm -8:30pm. All are welcome please feel free to forward it to other families/professionals who might be interested in attending.

Reading Difficulties

Presenter:

Jennifer Hasser, Executive Director, Syllables Reading Center & SMART Teacher Training

Is my child really struggling with his/her reading?

When should I start worrying?

What Can I do to help?

Learn the warning signs for reading failure and what you can do to help your child succeed.

Where: North Star Church

True North Auditorium

3413 Blue Springs Road Northwest

Kennesaw, GA 30144

           

When: Monday October 27, 2014

Time: 6:30PM – 8:30PM

 RSVP is not required but preferred. Please RSVP by 4:00 pm on October 27, 2014

To RSVP call or Text Sitara  Nayak at 678-993-3008 or email cobb@p2pga.org

You can also send a message to us on Facebook - Cobb Navigator Team

.

All are welcome you do not have to live in Cobb to attend

--

Sitara Nayak
Cobb Navigator Team
678-993-3008

http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2014/08/37-ways-to-help-students-with-dyslexia.html

37 Ways to Help Students with Dyslexia Flourish in the Mainstream Classroom | Minds in Bloom

I really liked this list, I would just like to add one more, ensure the child knows what dyslexia is and they understand they are not dumb just that their brains work differently and highlight some of the amazing dyslexic role models that are out there in the world :) 

MINDS-IN-BLOOM.COM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-gilman/harvard-schmarvard-why-ge_b_5896976.html

Harvard, Schmarvard; Why Getting Your Kids Into College Should Be the Least of Your Concerns

Posted: 09/28/2014 8:54 pm EDT Updated: 10/01/2014 6:59 pm EDT

It's almost that time of year. I can feel it in the fall air and see it on the faces of parents and seniors everywhere. It's almost college application time and the race begins, as parents and kids vie for the chance to get into their first choice colleges.

For some parents, college acceptance approaches the culmination of every single parenting choice ever made. It can seem the ultimate goal, the ROI of parenthood, the final gold award and the epitome of a parenting job well done. It feels like the end game for every AP class, honors class, volunteer opportunity, and sports involvement that you required of your child. This college acceptance looms as the justification for the hours upon hours of helping with homework, rewriting their essays, doing most of their science fair projects since sixth grade, hiring the most expensive college counselor, and pushing, pushing, pushing your kids to get the A at any cost. "My child got into his first choice university" will be worn proudly and loudly as a testament to how well you have done as mom and dad.

I'm just being honest. I have been hacking into your lives for the past 25 years as a founder and head of school at a private school in California. If you are finding yourself already getting annoyed or a little angry with me, I ask you to hear me out. I was once where you are now, until my son decided on a much different path and forced me to rethink the whole process and what constituted my achievement as a parent. It was not college acceptance.

What I have found in my 25 years in education is that as parents we are almost forced into this artificial race upon birthing our children. We start with our best intentions, of course. We want the best preschool, the best teachers, the best summer camps. Slowly, without our being aware of it, we are competing with our neighbors, our friends, our families. What started out as just wanting the best for our children, suddenly morphs into my child needs to be the best.

So, what do we do as a result? We DO too much! And, we expect our kids to do too much. We start believing that we need to start the protracted process of getting our kids ready for college in elementary school. We begin having massive anxiety about college acceptance when our kids are in middle school. And by high school, oh boy, we get bat shit crazy! We lose our focus on our children and what's best for them and instead start seeing them as a reflection of us as parents. They must get into a great college or we have failed miserably at parenthood. What will our neighbors think? What will we say about our kids at dinner parties? Of course, we don't think we think these things, but I know they exist in some form in our heads! Our societal anxiety about this is, in my humble opinion, at an all-time high!

And it must stop.

We have strangled the creativity out of our children by forcing them to do things they may not want to do, but as good parents we have to check the box that reads competitive sports -- check! We have robbed them of their childhood so that we can feel good about their chances at college entrance. Many of our kids don't even know what it is they like to do because we have been telling them what to like for their whole lives. Our children are riddled with anxiety and we are medicating them more now than ever. Why are we doing this? So that they can get into college and be successful! Let me tell you something -- college acceptance does not make a person succeed, nor does it say one thing about your parenting.

You know what does speak volumes about your parenting? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does your child have a compassionate soul?
• Does your child have a healthy dose of intellectual curiosity?
• Is your child resourceful and independent?
• Is your child happy with who she is?
• Can your child creatively problem-solve?
• Is your child passionate about anything?
• Can your child sit with himself and enjoy his own company?

We must stop the competitive, ridiculous, and oftentimes painful race to college. We must remember that our children come from us but are not a reflection of us. Together, we can stop this madness and allow our children to find their way in this world, prestigious college or not. By embracing what makes THEM happy, and by seeing them as the creative beings that they are, we can stop competing with each other as parents, and they can enjoy, flourish and even love this one life they have.

If you are still a little angry with me, the comment section is just below. Thank you for reading.

___________________

Learn About Positive Behavior Interventions for Your Child and Family!

There are two learning events being held the week of October 20th, sponsored by  the Georgia Advocacy Office. These are value based training and these events are around behaviors in children who cannot - for whatever reason - use their voice to communicate - and instead "act out" as it may be viewed by the school, parent, caregiver.

These may include children with PTSD, Autism, Bi-Polar, Anxiety and where conventional interventions do not work. This workshop will provide a myriad of content around behaviors and positive supports.

You are invited to attend one or both of these workshops which are designed for anyone (individuals with disabilities, human service workers, advocates, family members, concerned citizens), who is involved in supporting people with significant impact of disability to fully participate in community life.  The workshops are sponsored by the Georgia Advocacy Office, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Georgia Microboards Association.

To receive the flyers for the event details - contact Donna Champion.

Space is limited so do not wait to sign up.   

If you have any questions you may contact the event coordinator, Donna Champion by telephone (voice or TTY) at 404.885.1234 (in metro-Atlanta) or 800.537.2329 (toll-free in Georgia) or by email at dchampion@thegao.org

From: Kelly Kirkland and Beth Mares <beth@taplearningservices.com>

Subject: You're invited: TAP Parent Support Group Meeting 9/25

Date: September 11, 2014 at 6:59:34 AM CDT

To: Sarah Wise <scwise@comcast.net>

Reply-To: Kelly Kirkland and Beth Mares <beth@taplearningservices.com>

TAP Parent Support Group "CONQUERING THE PAPER MOUNTAIN" - SEPT. 25, 2014 Dear Sarah, Please join us at the TAP Parent Support Group meeting on Thursday, September 25 at 7 p.m. in Room 213 at Intown Community Church. This one-hour meeting will feature Robin Lucas speaking on “The Paper Mountain.”   Your child’s school paperwork is important now and in the future. Beyond the grade, these papers can give you insights into your child’s performance. Robin will walk you through what you need to save, what you may be overlooking and how to archive in an easy format.   Robin Lucas has worked as a Special Education Advocate and Educational Consultant for more than six years.

Click to view this email in a browser

Summit Starts in Two Weeks Sign Up Now! Educating Traumatized Children SummitSept 30-Oct 10, 2014 FREE Register here Join us for 11 days of interviews from professionals who are passionate abouthelping children with trauma and attachment disorders succeed in schools!  Calling all Teachers - Parents - Child Care Professionals With special introductory interview from Dr. Robert Anda Co-principal of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study Topics include: How Trauma Impacts Learning Recognizing Attachment Disorder in the Classroom Building Trauma Sensitive Schools Teaching Empathy Strategies for Reaching Traumatized Children Alternatives to Traditional Public School Speakers include: Joel Ristuccia, TraumaSensitiveSchools.org, co-author of Helping Traumatized Children Learn Heather Forbes, LCSW, Beyond Consequences Institute Jane Stevens, ACEs Connection Founder Susan Craig, Ph.D., Author of Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt Lawrence Smith, LCSW-C, Attachment Therapist Christine Moers, Therapeutic Parent See complete list of speakers here Do you have questions about the Summit? Download a flyer to share here Essential Conversations for Therapeutic Parents Join the conversation with ATN's Learning Center Faculty on important topics for therapeutic parents.  This 5-part, pre-recorded series of webinars is critical for all ATN members.  As a member, your price is discounted and if you buy the whole set for $60 you'll receive FREE Therapeutic Parenting cards. Learn more about these great conversations here. Visit ATN:  www.attachtrauma.org. And remember: YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Buy Recordings & Transcripts Can't find time to hear all 22 interviews?  Want to share them with colleagues?  Take advantage of Early Bird Pricing by pre-purchasing downloads of the  the Educating Traumatized Children Summit. All the interviews (including any bonus interviews) will be available to download as mp3s after the conference.  We will also have transcripts available as pdfs for each interview. Order now to assure you get the best pricing. Remember:  ATN is powered by volunteersand donations.  We always need both!  Maybe 2014 is the year you can pay it forward and help other children and families.  Check out our Volunteer page or contact our Executive Director, Julie Beem.  And donate anytime, right here. Follow Us On Join ATN Today!

Studio Movie Grill theaters presents "Dolphins 2" on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11:00am. You can go to Roswell or Duluth locations. All special needs screenings are free for children with disabilities and their siblings. Everyone else pays $6. SNS run with the lights up and sound down so the children are free to laugh, play, sing and even dance while they watch. Seating available on first come, first served basis. Ask your server for the "Chefs for Children" menu special and 5% of the proceeds from these food items will benefit Spectrum and other local non-profits!
Spectrum is proud to be one of the sponsors of Special Needs Free Screenings at SMG!

There are always so many questions around Assistive Technology for students.  This is a wonderful opportunity to attend a very informative event!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-gate-seminar-tickets-12740702785

Event Details

The Georgia Assistive Technology in Education (GATE) Seminar is a FREE comprehensive venue for Educators, Therapists, Parents and Community Members to gather and learn about Assistive Technology to help achieve student success in the classroom. This seminar will feature a hands-on exhibit hall including national and local vendors in all areas of Assistive Technology. Specialists in the field will present a variety of sessions that focus on best practices, product demonstrations and classroom implementation strategies that will support each student as they reach for their “Accessible Tomorrow”.

For more information on event parking, lunch options, lodging, Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and Certified Rehabilitation Credits (CRCs), please visit our Wiki page here.

**Wireless Internet will be available for a charge of $3.00.  Debit or Credit Card ONLY, NO CASH accepted.  Wifi access can be purchased on location on the day of the event.  Instructions for Wifi access will be included in your attendee packet.

***While admission is free, we are collecting $1.00 cash donations for a LAST RESORT FUND.  This fund helps pay for assistive technology for people in need.  Contributors will be included in the drawing for DOOR PRIZES sponsored by our GATE exhibitors.

Check out our Facebook Page here

Follow us on Twitter here

Tweeting about GATE Seminar 2014?  Use the hashtag: #GATE2014

**If you are a vendor wanting to register for space in the exhibit hall, please use THIS VENDOR REGISTRATION LINK