SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT

Contact Sue Heslin (PTA Special Education Liaison) at 410-418-5665 or Email

Special Education News
SECAC Information

January 2010

BUILD A PortFOLIO FOR YOUR CHILD

January 13, 2010 7-9 p.m. Faulkner Ridge Center, 10598 Marble Faun Court, Columbia, MD 21044. Learn about the importance of creating a successful portfolio of your child for new teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, and potential employers. Julie Foley and Kim McKay will emphasize why portfolios, or “visual resumes,” are so useful, how to create them, what to include, and with whom to share it. There will be examples to view and a computer lab so parents can begin making their child’s portfolio, so bring your laptop! A limited number of computers will be available as well. Sponsored by Parents for Parents and the Family Support and Resource Center. Please call 410-313-7161 to register.

SUPERINTENDENT Q&A

January 20, 2010 7-9 p.m. Cedar Lane School 11630 Scaggsville Road, Fulton, MD. This Q&A with school superintendent Dr. Sydney Cousin is one of the most popular events of the year! Come out and ask Dr. Cousin your questions about Special Education in the Howard County Public School System.  Sponsored by SECAC. For more information, call the Family Support and Resource Center at 410-313-7161.

February 2010

MOTIVATION AND LEARNING

Monday, February 8, 2010 7-9 p.m. Linden-Linthicum Church, 12101 Linden Linthicum Lane, Clarksville, MD. Presented by

Dr. William Stixrud, a licensed psychologist who specializes in the evaluation of children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities and promotion of self-esteem. Sponsored by Individual Differences in Learning. Visit www.giftedifferentlearners.org for more information.

 SENSORY PROCESSING

Thursday February 11, 2010 12:30-2 p.m. Pathfinders for Autism Resource Center, Hunt Valley, MD. Presented by Ida Zelaya,

Sensory Street, Inc. This workshop is part of the ASD Brown Bag Seminar Series offered by Pathfinders for Autism and Confident Student. For more information contact Mary Beth Collins, Confident Student at 410-692-6143

or mcollins@confidentstudent.com or Rebecca ienzi, Pathfinders for Autism at 443-330-5370 or rrienzi@pathfindersforautism.org.

LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION (LDA) NATIONAL CONVENTION

February 17-20, 2010, Marriot Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD. Share information, gain new ideas, and network with friends, colleagues and mentors at the largest learning disabilities conference in the world. Discover the latest in LD research; learn effective teaching techniques and strategies; hear from leading experts in the LD field; learn about critical policy issues; earn

graduate and/or continuing education credits (CEUs) and much more. For more information visit

http://www.ldaamerica.org/conference/index.asp
IEP Meeting Facilitation
  • The Maryland State Department of Education and Community Mediation Maryland have partnered to sponsor this program, which offers professionally trained facilitators free of charge to IEP meetings. The purpose of facilitation is to help IEP team members communicate effectively and to assure the meaningful involvement of all participants in the IEP team process. Facilitators are not employees of the school system and do not service as advocates. They are highly trained in fostering positive communication and are experiences in the IEP team process. They volunteer their service and remain independent and impartial. Their role is to support team members in developing and maintaining collaborative relationships and a mutually agreed upon IEP. Facilitation is a voluntary process.
  • Either a parent or school can request a facilitated IEP meeting, but a parent must agree to the process. For more information on the project, call the Family Support and Resource Center at 410-313-7161.

 

Links and Organizations

HCPSS Special Education
Howard County Special Education Community Advisory Committee (SECAC) SECAC is an independent group of parents, community partners, service providers and educators that provide feedback to the Department of Special Education. Being involved in SECAC enables you to collaborate with the department on local issues and has the potential to facilitate positive changes in the delivery of services and the achievement of all students with disabilites. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia from 7:00-9:00 PM.
Howard County Autism SocietyMeetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at the HCAS Resource Center
Aspergers Support Group of Howard County This group meets the second Thursday of the month at Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia. For more information call Elaine McAuliffe at 410-730-0068.
Individual Differences in Learning Association Inc Information and support for parents and teachers of highly able children with learning disabilities. Meets every second Monday, 7:00 PM, Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church, Clarksville. Contact differentlearner@aol.com or 410-531-0764.
The Arc of Howard County works to improve the lives of children and adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) Howard County CHADD Parent Support Group for parents of children with AD/HD. Each meeting will feature a speaker discussing pertinent information to parents of children with AD/HD, such as speical education law, adolescent behavior, social issues, college transition, self advocacy skills, and more. Meetings are the second Thuesday of each month 7:00-8:30 PM. Contac Nancy Rhodes at 410-796-6700 or nrhodes@norbelschool.org

Abilities Network provides customized services to children, adults and families of differing abilities that focus on one-on-one supports to foster broadened, more inclusive communities through education, training and advocacy. Call 410-828-7700 or 1-800-492-2523.

U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Howard County Child Care Resource Center (CARE Center) The center is taking calls from parents who are looking for resources and services or need advice on their children's behavior. If you have concerns about a child's behavior or social and emotional health, school readiness, development or anything else relating to children and teens, call the CARE Center at 410-313-CARE (2273). This service is free to all parents and childcare providers in Howard County.

Learning Disability Association, Howard County Chapter Email

Family Support and Resource Center - To assist families of children with special needes in obtaining information and resources about the Howard County Public School System and community programs. Their services also include workshops, the Stepping Stones newsletter, IEP Assistance, Parent Support, a lending Library (books and DVDs) and Services Referrals. Tonia Lewis and Ann Scholz are the parent coordinators, and can be reached at 410-313-7161.

FAMILY ADVOCACY AND PARENT EDUCATION: FAPE of Howard County offers one-on-one training and assistance regarding special education questions or concerns. They offer support for families in understanding the IEP process, writing IEPs, complaint resolution, and referrals to other agencies or support groups. They also offer a wide variety of free workshops that focus on Special Education. To subscribe to e-mail workshop announcements, please e-mail familyadvocacy@comcast.net with "subscribe" in the subject line. To find out more about the organization, call Julie Foley 410-465-1193.