Fall 2008 Vol. 17 No. 1 Look What’s New! by Barb Ross The Parent Information Network (PIN) has two new Specialists! Please join us in welcoming Amy Dill, serving Gila and Pinal counties, and Kathy Gray-Mangerson, serving Pima and Santa Cruz counties. Amy resides in Phoenix with her husband and two children, ages 7 and 9. Amy says, “I am excited to be a part of the Parent Information Network. I look forward to meeting and working with the families, agencies and schools within my counties.” Kathy resides in Tucson with her husband and son, age 17. Kathy says, “I am passionate about empowering families to effectively advocate for their children with special needs!” Assistive Technology (AT) Scholarship Opportunity The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) would like to extend an invitation to parents to attend these excellent workshops presented by the Assistive Technology Team. The workshops highlight tools and strategies for implementation of AT into the education curriculum. Each two-day workshop includes a tool-kit for each participant as well as breakfast and lunch for both days. Once again, the Assistive Technology Team is pleased to offer two parent scholarships per workshop to attend and benefit from these training opportunities to make AT EZ in AZ! All of the trainings are presented by nationally recognized authorities in the field of Assistive Technology. The scholarships include breakfast, lunch, snacks and an AT Tool Kit. For information about the upcoming workshops, parent scholarships, workshop dates and locations contact your PIN Specialist or visit the Assistive Technology website at www.ade.az.gov/ess/at/train.asp. Enhancing Arizona’s Parent Networks Something New for EAPN Too! Please join us in welcoming the new coordinator for EAPN, Biss (Elizabeth) Kuttner. Biss lives in Phoenix with her youngest child, age 16, and has three older children ages 19– 23. “Negotiating an equitable education for my daughter with a disability has instilled a passion in me to help parents effectively advocate for their children with special needs”, says Biss. The EAPN website, www.azeapn.org, offers an Event Calendar and links to over 60 non-profit agencies and support groups such as the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP), the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), Raising Special Kids, Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona and many disability-specific support groups. The Event Calendar is an excellent way to keep current on upcoming events that offer family support, special education updates, advocacy training, and more. The Parent Information Network Specialists utilize this calendar to publicize PIN trainings held around the state. Inquiring minds want to know, have you responded to the Arizona . . . Parent Survey Fostering family involvement in Special Education! Please check out the Parent Survey website, www.azed.gov/ess/parentsurvey, to see if your school is one of the 300 districts and charter schools administering the Survey this year. Participating schools will give parents of a child with an IEP a confidential User Code and Password to complete the 25 question online survey in either English or Spanish. Paper copies are also available. This is your opportunity to report how well school staff facilitates parent involvement as a way to improve services and results for children with disabilities. To find out more, call the toll-free PIN hotline at 877-230-PINS (7467). Network News Fall 2008 Page 2 • Review the current IEP; determine whether goals have been met or not. Think about academic, social, behavioral and self-help skills for the next year and upcoming transitions. If new goals are needed, write some goals for the team to consider at the meeting. Make a list of questions or concerns you may have to discuss with the team. Have someone with you for support and/or to take notes. Assume each team member has your child’s best interest in mind. Tips for Success Throughout the School Year by Barb Ross Starting with a positive attitude can help make the journey more valuable for everyone involved in your child’s education. Many parents struggle with this concept as they try to get help for their children. However, HELP is on the way! The Parent Information Network (PIN) has an extensive array of free trainings and supports available to parents throughout the special education process. The following are some basic tips to get you started. Learn what your child needs • Learn your child’s strengths, as well as their needs. • Learn how your child learns. • Learn how your child’s disability will affect his/her future. • Learn about current research for ‘best practices’ in teaching a student with your child’s disability. Organize records • Be acquainted with and keep copies of the records relating to your child (i.e., official documents, progress reports, evaluations and recommendations). • Keep copies of all written communications or emails with the school including the originals you receive. • Keep a dated communication log of incoming and outgoing phone calls. • Organize your child’s records in a 3-ring notebook or system that works for you. The PIN has a “hands-on” workshop titled Organizing Your Child’s Records to help manage this volume of paperwork. Contact the PIN Specialist in your area for a workshop near you or ask for a copy of Create a Home File (GR06). Know your rights and responsibilities • Learn all you can about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004. • Review your Procedural Safeguards Notice (PSN) (GR10) • Ask your PIN Specialist for a copy of Traveling the Special Education Highway (GR09). • Learn the essential components of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and how to participate in the IEP process. The PIN has a three-part training series to help empower you. Not only will you learn about IDEA and the IEP process, but strategies to effectively advocate for your child. You’ll also learn effective communication skills, how to be a team player, how to follow the chain-of-command to address issues or concerns, and dispute resolution options available through the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Preparing for the IEP • Start preparing for the IEP meeting several weeks before the expected date. • Request a copy of your child’s records to review. If needed, your PIN Specialist can provide the Sample Letter: Education Records Request (SE16). • • • • Be sure to request Preparing for the IEP: Helpful Hints for a Successful Meeting (IE11), as well as, Be Prepared: Simple Steps to Get Ready for an IEP Meeting (IE06). Remember you are a valuable IEP team member! Monitor your child’s progress • Ask the IEP team to see the district’s/school’s format for progress reports. • Ask questions to become familiar with the form, definitions or codes, and when you can expect to receive progress reports. • Review all progress reports as soon as possible, including progress reports from the related service providers. • If your child is not progressing you can request an IEP meeting to discuss options. • Ask to see the data to support the progress stated. • Revise goals as needed to address your child’s needs. The PIN Clearinghouse (PINC) offers the document Measurable Goals (SE10) which provides an overview of what goals should look like and explains why each element is important. All PIN printed resources are available online at www.azed.gov/ess/pinspals or by contacting your regional PIN Specialist listed on page four of this newsletter. How to Start a Parent Group Training by Teri Rademacher Looking to connect with others in your community who are facing similar challenges as your family? Wondering if there are families who have dealt with some of the same issues and might have some words of wisdom to share? Searching online for community resources that might provide you with the supports and services to meet the needs of your child with a disability? Then, how about forming a parent group? The mere thought of forming a parent group might initially be a bit overwhelming; however, the Parent Information Network (PIN) has a training designed to assist you. It can begin as simply as inviting a few friends/parents over to explore the idea. The How to Start a Parent Group training is designed to provoke thought about the purpose of the group, the format (i.e. informational, support), identify pitfalls, and discuss shared responsibilities among members. This training can be tailored to meet your needs. It is ideal for those interested in Network News Fall 2008 launching a parent group, but can also assist existing groups with some structure and organization to support sustainability. It contains components that allow participants to explore some identified “reasons” for starting a parent group while noting some motives that might not lend themselves to the development of an effective group. How to Start a Parent Group outlines an organizational structure and speaks to the ideal personality traits that are important for specific leadership roles. There is a place for everyone in shared responsibility, no matter whether you are outgoing, prefer to work behind the scenes, or have strong organizational skills. Identifying members’ individual personality traits will insure that the right person is filling specific leadership roles. Components of the training include: defining roles and responsibilities of the leadership; developing a meeting format; outlining meeting topics; appropriating a location or host for the meetings; publicity; growing members; identifying community resources, and strategies to support sustainability. There may be other issues that are specific to the population the parent group represents that need to be taken into consideration during the development phase. The PIN has several documents that can be used to support your efforts when looking to start a parent group. Although the document titled The Importance of Good Communication Skills (SA05) identifies strategies for use during an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting, most of the components are applicable to any meeting. For example, the importance of following an agenda, developing good listening skills and being prepared are all things that are vital to the success of any meeting. Other documents that might be helpful are Parents as Advocates (SA24), Person First Language Guidelines for Discussing People with Disabilities (DR01), and Disability Etiquette (DR02). If you are interested in scheduling this training or looking for more information about it, please contact your regional PIN Specialist listed on page four of this newsletter. Coming to a TV Screen Near You Free Media Lending Library Resources by Teri Rademacher The Parent Information Network (PIN) strives to provide timely, relevant, and effective resources in our Lending Library. We have some NEW additions that are not in the current catalog. Here is a brief summary of each of the videos. The First IEP: Parent Perspectives – This DVD illustrates effective collaboration between professionals and parents as they prepare for transition from early intervention services to preschool. Viewers will learn from parents who have been through the process as they share tips that helped them prepare for this very important Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. The presentation provides viewers Page 3 with a window into a meeting where the early interventionist meets with the family to discuss the child’s special needs and to assist them as they prepare for the first IEP meeting. A simulated IEP meeting provides families with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the process and prepare to be an active participating member of the team. The DVD is 30 minutes in length and is closed-captioned. Accessible IEPs for All: Gathering the Experts Around the Table – Viewers of this DVD will be a virtual participant in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting for Alejandro, a young boy with multiple disabilities. It recognizes parents as authorities on their child and views them as equal partners in the development of an appropriate plan. It includes practical tips for administrators, teachers, support personnel, and families on how to create a less intimidating IEP process. Real-life parents and educators share the ups and downs of their own IEP planning experiences. Viewers will find inspiration as they watch the IEP team members collaborate to develop an appropriate IEP that includes measurable and meaningful goals that really improve child outcomes. The DVD is 40 minutes in length. The Motivation Breakthrough – This DVD presentation is the latest release from Rick Lavoie, the popular speaker and writer on learning disabilities. In this workshop, Rick Lavoie reviews common misconceptions related to student motivation and the ineffective strategies that are typically used in the classroom as a result. Rick Lavoie outlines the six factors that motivate human beings and translates these factors into practical, pragmatic classroom strategies. You will want to be sure and visit the menu on the DVD to see the extra segments available. The DVD is 90 minutes in length, closed-captioned, and contains the Spanish language version. If you are interested in checking out any of these titles, contact your regional PIN Specialist listed on page 4 or call the Parent Information Network at 928-679-8102. Resources can be checked out and kept for two weeks. At the conclusion of those two weeks, the borrower is asked to ship them back to the PIN in Flagstaff. The borrower will incur the cost of postage, including a delivery confirmation, to return the video(s) or DVD(s). Get your free copy of the Blue Pages, your 411 for local, state, and national disability related resources, by contacting your regional PIN Specialist. New this year--entries are listed by County for easy reference. Network News Fall 2008 Page 4 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) requires schools to provide parents of a child with a disability a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Notice (PSN) to learn about parental rights and special education procedures. Traveling the Special Education Highway (GR09) is a guide and is not intended to replace the PSN. This guide provides valuable information to compliment the PSN and help parents fully understand their rights. It includes practical tips on Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, following the chain-ofcommand, and how to document your child’s special education journey. Parents can request a copy by contacting their regional PIN Specialist, calling 877-230-PINS (7467) or emailing a request to PINS@azed.gov. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Copies are now available for schools and agencies to purchase from the Arizona Department of Education by calling 602-542-3088 or emailing a request for an order form from PINS@azed.gov. Name or Address Change? Network News goes out to over 4,000 parents, service providers, agencies and schools. We need to continuously update our mailing list to stay current. We would also like to know if you are a parent, provider, or educator. In addition, you now have the option to receive your copy of the Network News via the U. S. Mail or electronically via e-mail. To update and/or correct your information and note your preference for U. S. Mail or email, please contact the PIN toll-free number at 877-230-PINS (7467) or PINS@azed.gov. You may also contact your Regional PIN Specialist below. Parent Information Network (PIN) Specialists Toll Free: 1-877-230-PINS (7467) or email PINS@azed.gov Apache, Navajo Jana Bays 928-537-0250 Jana.Bays@azed.gov Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, Allison Meritt 928-289-5834 Allison.Meritt@azed.gov La Paz, Yuma Teri Rademacher 928-344-0141 Teri.Rademacher@azed.gov West Maricopa Jill Castle 480-699-0067 Jill.Castle@azed.gov Cochise, Graham, Greenlee Cecilia Nelson 520-452-9054 Cecilia.Nelson@azed.gov Gila, Pinal Amy Dill 480-759-1029 Amy.Dill@azed.gov East Maricopa Barbra Ross 480-607-3030 Barbra.Ross@azed.gov Pima, Santa Cruz Kathy Gray-Mangerson 520-572-0896 Kathleen.Gray-Mangerson@azed.gov For more information contact the PIN/Child Find Coordinator: Becky Raabe, (928) 679-8106, or Becky.Raabe@azed.gov. The contents of this publication were compiled by Barb Ross and Teri Rademacher with funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Education under IDEA 2004. These contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the agency nor should endorsement by the Federal government be assumed. The Arizona Department of Education of the State of Arizona does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs, activities or in its hiring and employment practices. If you have questions or concerns related to this policy, please contact the Administrative Services at 602-542-3186. This document is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced in its current format. For more information, call the Parent Information Network at 877-230-PINS (7467). Arizona Department of Education Exceptional Student Services Parent Information Network 1535 W. Jefferson St, Bin 24 Phoenix, AZ 85007 # 85678