Do you have or know a preschooler?
Check out
ECAC's Preschool Parent Press ~ Winter Edition
for ideas and activities to become your child's best advocate and to support your child's development and learning. Use everyday opportunities to have fun and help your child grow
!
|
Tools and Resources
You Can Use!
|
Check out our Blog
ECAC's IEP DVD
This 5-chapter DVD about parent participation in the IEP Process is also available to view on ECAC's
|
|
|
|
Welcome to... ECACOnline!
|
ECAC
Online! is a monthly publication brought to you by the North Carolina Parent Training and Information Center (PTI),
a program of ECAC. ECAC is dedicated to improving the lives and education of all children, through a special emphasis on children with disabilities.
Every
program at ECAC is developed with families, children, educators and other professionals in mind. Be sure to learn more about all that we do on
ECAC's website!
|
|
Support ECAC!
Your support makes a big difference for children and families in North Carolina. Please consider a donation today!
Be a part of Empowering Families and Improving Lives!
|
You can't stop them - They WILL grow up!
Sometimes it's hard and downright scary to visualize our "children" as adults. But children, including children with disabilities and special healthcare needs will eventually become adults - whether we are ready or not!
The purpose of IDEA 2004, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, is to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for
further education, employment and independent living. All of your efforts to ensure your child's education, including navigating an appropriate IEP for your child (Individualized Education Program), should be based on a vision for the future. It may start with your vision - but as your child grows and develops, he or she must be supported to have their own vision.
Here is one young man experiencing his vision become reality! What's your vision for your child? What's your child's vision for him/herself?
|
|
| Teen's Reaction to Getting a Job |
|
US Department of Education releases new guidance and tools for parents and educators!
We have included the links for
easy downloading!
1. Rights of Charter School Students with Disabilities:
These 2 FAQ (frequently asked questions) documents
provide information about the rights of students and prospective students with disabilities
- FAQ about the Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under IDEA - issued by the Office of Special Educaiton and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
- FAQ about the Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Issued by Office for Civil Rights
2. Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities
This transition guide addresses the following topics to facilitate a seamless transition from school to post-school activities:
* Transition planning: opportunities and programs;
* Transition services and requirements,
* Education and employment options, and
* Supporting decisions made by students and youth with disabilities.
This guide also includes "real life" examples, a sample flow chart of the transition process, and a glossary of key terms used in the transition process.
3. Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Schools
Section 504 is a Federal law that prohibits disability discrimination and all public schools and school districts, as well as all public charter schools and magnet schools, that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department must comply with Section 504.
Section 504 provides a broad range of protections against discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, all qualified students who meet the definition of an individual with a disability under Section 504 are entitled to receive regular or special education and related aids and services that are designed to meet their individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of students without disabilities are met. Section 504 also requires, among other things, that a student with a disability receive an equal opportunity to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities, and to be free from bullying and harassment based on disability.
|
Upcoming Events - Register today!
Parents As Collaborative Leaders
2-day learning opportunity
- seating is nearly at capacity
Wallace, NC | Friday/Saturday, February 3 - 4th
Would you like to make a difference, large or small, for children with disabilities? This 2-day training is designed for parents interested in developing skills to improve educational outcomes for all children. Participants will learn about their own "leadership" style and the skills needed to work collaboratively in groups.
_______________________________
_______________________
Project SPARKLE Boot Camp
S
upporting Parent Access to Resources, Knowledge, Linkages, and E
ducation for Learners with Dual Sensory Impairment
Charlotte, NC | Saturday, February 4th | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
All materials and lunch will be provided at no cost!
This a free training for parents of children and youth with deaf-blindness, vision loss and or hearing loss.
All materials and lunch will be provided at no cost!
Registration deadline is Wednesday, February 1st!
________________________________________________
Communication & Negotiation: Resolving Disagreements in Special Education
Elizabeth City, NC | Saturday, February 18th | 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
All materials and lunch will be provided at no cost!
Ever feel like your IEP Team gets stuck? Do you know how to be effective & persuasive when you communicate about your child's needs? Join us for a free, fun and interactive day!
Please register by Thursday, February 16th.
|
ECAC's Lending Library is FREE to use!
ECAC's combined libraries have thousands of titles in a variety of formats available to lend to parents, families, young children, students, educators and other professionals. Some of our titles are brand new, some are "oldies but goodies", and we add titles throughout the year.
Borrowing is easy and free! Just email or call the ECAC Librarian,
Shandra Umazar
at 1-800-962-6817, ext. 313 or check the
Library section of our website.
If you don't see something you are looking f
or, please ask and we will try to get it for you.
|
ecac, the Exceptional Children's Assistance Center, is NC's PTI - Parent Training and Information Center. Our toll-free Parent Info Line is answered by parents and we provide a variety of no cost services for NC parents and families with children who have special needs and disabilities. On occasion there may be a nominal charge for professionals. Services include:
- Individual Assistance with educational concerns
- Information packets and cds
- Workshops and webinars
- Lending Libraries
- Newsletters
- IEP Partners
- Parent to Parent Support and more!
For more information or assistance, please call: 1-800-962-6817 www.ecac-parentcenter.org |
The contents of this online bulletin were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H328M140025. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Project Officer, Julia Martin-Eile.
|
|
