 |
Exceptional Times
January 2018
|
|
|
|
Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans' new home. 700 Hickory Ave., Harahan, LA 70123 |
Happy New Year!
2018 Brings in the New
and Brings Back the Old!
By: Mary Jacob
Twenty eighteen is starting off great for us at Families Helping Families and the families we serve. First, at the end of 2017, we purchased a building to house our office. Over the past six years, we've been searching for a building to buy. Preferably, we wanted a one-story, single user building that was accessible and had ample parking. Finding a building like this didn't seem like a huge order - but it did prove to be very difficult to find.
The New -
As we were negotiating our latest lease renewal, a six-year-old single user, accessible building with parking at 700 Hickory Avenue in Harahan was put on the market for sale. The stars and moon finally aligned and after a short negotiation period, we purchased this beautiful building. This ownership represents a permanent move to long-term sustainability, which equals improved support and services to families. We will officially be working out of the building when we reopen after our winter break on January 3, 2018.
Additionally, we will be expanding our office hours one day a week. Effective January 9, 2018, we will keep our office open to 8 pm on Tuesday evenings to accommodate working parents that want to meet in person, but can't meet during our current office hours.
Be on the lookout for open house announcements. We think you'll love our new home as much as we are going to love it.
The Old -
Did you know our legal name is Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans? From 1991 till 2008 we used this name exclusively. However, when we assisted with opening the new FHF office in New Orleans and the majority of our funding was concentrated in Jefferson Parish, we decided to register a trade name or "d/b/a" of Families Helping Families of Jefferson. We've primarily used this name for the past nine years. Since we weren't giving up the FHF of GNO name, it was decided the new office would be FHF of Southeast Louisiana.
Over the past year we've expanded our contracts to provide more direct support to families in Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes. Because of this, we've decided to discontinue using our "doing business as" (d/b/a) name, FHF of Jefferson, and return to using our legal name, Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans. Returning to the old name more accurately reflects the contractual work we are doing in the Greater New Orleans area. You will see our logo, branding, and name changing from "of Jefferson" to "GNO" over the next few months. I'd like to emphasize there is still an FHF Center located in New Orleans serving families in these same parishes. If families are seeking assistance for non-educational resources and support, they should continue contacting the New Orleans Center. If families need support in special education or other educational areas, they may call either center.
There will be lots of things going on in 2018, so be on the lookout for some great new products and changes! I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2018!
|
We Want To Make You
a Star!
We need you! We will be redoing a lot of our products and want to feature our families. Do you have some great high resolution pictures of your child, siblings, family? Send us your best pictures and let us decide if we can use them. All pictures need to be emailed in an attached file to Bebe at [email protected]. Please only send jpeg and png formats. Professional and iphone pictures are good, as long as they are high quality photo's.
|
|
Articles
Check out these other great articles we've provided for you this month:
______________________________________________________________________
|
|
Upcoming Trainings
Facebook Live Mini-Trainings for January
|
FHF Facebook Live Mini Trainings are short interactive trainings to give you the information you need to know now. Topics will be on hot subjects at the moment, interactive, and maybe even with a little added fun thrown in there occasionally. No registration is required. You just need to sign onto Facebook and go to our
Facebook Page
. So like us on Facebook and we'll share our LIVE sessions with you!
Introduction to Louisiana Deafblind Project - Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 1:00 pm: Join us to get familiar with Louisiana's state project for individuals with both hearing and vision loss. We will discuss identification of students, project services and how to become involved.
|
In-Person Trainings in January by FHF
|
FHF offers monthly in-person trainings on hot topics that can be best addressed in person. These are topics that require more time and allows for more participant interactions. Let us know if there is an in-person training you'd like to have us do.
Recreation Therapy: Therapeutic Interventions that Works - Saturday, January 6, 2018, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, LA 70001: The purpose of this training is to help parents or individuals identify and acknowledge new interventions and techniques that are therapeutic and purposeful for any health or wellness need regardless of any illness or disabling condition that works for them.
To register, please call: 504-888-9111 or toll free 1-800-766-7736
Tools for Developing a Communication Plan: Assuring Communication Access for Students with Unique Needs - Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, LSUHSC Human Development Center, 411 S. Prieur Street, Room 133, New Orleans, LA 70112: We will learn why and how to use the new tool for developing a communication plan before and during the IEP to assure communication access. If you are working with students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, limited or no verbal skills, significant impairment in receptive and/ or expressive language including but not limited to impairment in the area of Apraxia, articulation, phonology, fluency, pragmatics, or auditory processing. You don't want to miss this training.
To register, please call: 504-888-9111 or toll free 1-800-766-7736
Know Your Rights: Section 504 - Friday, January 19, 2018, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, LA 70001: This training will cover what Section 504 is, what schools must do because of it, the criteria for students to qualify for a 504 Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP), and how 504 is different from Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). We will also cover how Section 504 can help people with disabilities in college.
Click here for more information!
To register, please call: 504-888-9111 or toll free 1-800-766-7736
|
Webinars in January by FHF
|
FHF and LaPTIC webinars are designed for busy people that doesn't have the time to attend an in-person training. Webinars are just 60 minutes long and offers time for questions and answers. In additional to our staff, webinars frequently have knowledgable professionals presenting on topics they are considered specialist in. Don't see what you need? Let us know and we'll do our best to bring you what you need.
Anatomy of an IEP - Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Like a biology student, this presentation will dissect the parts of the IEP document and examine their functions individually, learning their meanings and application. It will provide constructive and practical tips to help create an IEP that supports all of the student's needs.
We will explore the parent's role in the IEP process and learn the basics of their child's right to special education services, the process of developing special education plans, and the parent's role.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Addressing Challenging Behavior - Thursday, January 11, 2018, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: There is often a cycle of failure for students with behavioral challenges. This workshop will focus on interventions for students who exhibit challenging behaviors (e.g. aggression, self-injury, tantrums). Identifying the function of behavior will be discussed with an emphasis on educational strategies that help students learn alternate behaviors that can lead to long-term change.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Know Your Rights: Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools - Friday, January 12, 2018, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: This presentation outlines guidance issued by ED on December 28, 2016, to help parents, students, local educational agencies (LEA), state educational agencies (SEA), charter schools, and others better understand the rights of students with disabilities in public charter schools under Federal laws.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Understanding the Evaluation Process in Special Education - Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: You've noticed your child is not keeping up with the rest of the class and you suspect your child may have a learning disability. If you feel your child's needs aren't being met in the general education setting, he or she may be eligible to receive special education services. In this presentation, you will learn about the evaluation process in special education.
Questions like, when can I ask for an evaluation, what is the process and what are my child's rights. Join us and learn all you need to know about getting the evaluation process started for your child.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
"Procedural Safeguards" - Thursday, January 18, 2018, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Since the first federal law dealing with the education of students with disabilities in public schools was passed, legal rights for parents has been an important part of the law. These legal rights for parents are generally referred to as "procedural safeguards". The purpose of this webinar is to let parents know that they have legal rights and to help them understand what these rights are.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Related Services - Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Children with disabilities are entitled to special education and related services. The IEP must contain a statement of the special education, related services and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child. Participants will learn several critical elements used to determine what related services a student needs.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Tips for Happier, More Productive IEP Meetings - Thursday, January 25, 2018, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: This one hour webinar is perfect for families looking for ways to make the IEP meeting a more positive experience for everyone involved. You will hear tips on how to positively advocate for your children, strengthen the relationships between parents and service agencies, and help create the appropriate IEP program.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Addressing Challenging Behavior - Friday, January 26, 2018, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: There is often a cycle of failure for students with behavioral challenges. This workshop will focus on interventions for students who exhibit challenging behaviors (e.g. aggression, self-injury, tantrums). Identifying the function of behavior will be discussed with an emphasis on educational strategies that help students learn alternate behaviors that can lead to long-term change.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
"ADA and Childcare" - Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Meeting the needs of individual children is something child care providers understand. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law, enacted in 1990, that provides child care professionals with an exciting opportunity to serve children with special needs or disabilities. The ADA gives the opportunity for child care providers to include children with disabilities in care. Providers, children and parents all benefit when children can learn and play together.
Including both children with and without disabilities in child care reflects our larger community where people with and without disabilities live, work, and play together. Participants will gain an understanding of reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures in order to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Extended School Year (ESY) Services - Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Helping Children Sustain & Maintain Learning- Extended school year (ESY) services are required special education and related services provided beyond the limits of the school term, in accordance with the child's individualized education program (IEP), and at no cost to the parents.
These services are necessary in order to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This webinar will be an opportunity to learn more about the federal regulations that specifically address ESY services. Additionally, it will provide parents with the information on requesting these services and how IEP teams determine the need for ESY services.
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
|
E-Learning Mini Modules by FHF
|
e-Learning Mini Modules are formatted for all devices so even if you are at a ball game, dance practice or waiting for your dinner to arrive in a restaurant, you can log onto our website and watch one of our e-Learning Mini Modules in approximately 10 minutes. That's right - you only need about 10 minutes! The following e-Learning Mini Modules are currently available:
- What do you do when the school calls to pick up your child?
- What transportation services are available to my child with a disability?
- How can I prepare for my child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting?
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Basics
- What is Least Restricted Environment (LRE)?
We hope these are useful to you and happy to be able to add additional ways for families to learn relevant information they need in to get their child the most appropriate education they deserve.
Click here
to go to our website and learn more about the e-Learning Modules!
|
Trainings & Webinars by Others
|
Let's keep Talking! Increasing Communication for Emerging Speakers - Thursday, February 1, 2018, 2:30 pm: Many individuals with ASD with some verbal language, but those skills need to be continuously prompted and the number of opportunities they have to practice their skills may be less than those of their peers. In this webinar, strategies will be shared to promote verbal communication at school and home, including environmental arrangement and reinforcement. Join LSU-HDC LaSARD project in this great training by registering now. If you have any questions, email Julie at [email protected].
Click here to register.
|
Do you have an idea for a training? Is there something you need that isn't being offered? Share your suggestions and ideas for training topics with us.
|
|
|
ATTENTION ALL
Teens & Young Adults with Disabilities:
This section will feature our trainings and resources specific to individuals between the ages of 16 - 26 years old. Of course, others are welcome to check them out too!
FHF January Facebook Live for Teens & Young Adults
FHF Facebook Live Mini Trainings are short interactive trainings to give you the information you need to know now. Topics will be on hot subjects at the moment, interactive, and maybe even with a little added fun thrown in there occasionally. No registration is required. You just need to sign onto Facebook and go to our
Facebook Page. So like us on Facebook and we'll share our LIVE sessions with you!
After the resume comes looking for a job - Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 1:00 pm:
Most people get their first jobs through their parents or someone else they know. This shouldn't be any different for you. Your parents, brothers, sister, aunts, uncles, neighbors and friends all either work somewhere or know people working.
This facebook live gives you tips on how to find jobs and getting help from your family and friends.
- Resources for Teens & Young Adults -
Got Transition
A website dedicated to health care transition. Learn how to prepare, find adult healthcare providers, tracking your health information, managing your own health care needs and more. Website is in both English and Spanish.
Medication Safety
Giving kids medicine safely can be complicated. And many parents feel the pressure when a young child needs certain medications, knowing that giving too much or too little could cause serious side effects. But with a little knowledge and a lot of double-checking, you can give your kids medicine safely and prevent dangerous reactions.
A guide to help you understand your reproductive rights as a woman and your civil rights as a person living with a disability; offer suggestions on how to self-advocate to exercise these rights and overcome barriers that could result in denial of your care or in services that are unsafe or of poor quality; help you understand your right to become a mother with resources for raising your children and inform you of the resources available if you are experiencing domestic or sexual abuse.
SmoothMovesYHT is a health information site created to help teens navigate the move to adulthood. If you are age 14-17, this site is created just for you! YHT is important for all youth! That includes youth with and without a special health care need or disability. The site offers up-to-date info and links to tools which can help you get ready for a smooth transition to adulthood. In this site, you will also find skill building activities and even games!
SmoothMovesYHT is a tool to help you set goals for the future YOU want!!
|
Q & A on U.S. Supreme Court Case Decision Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District - This Q & A answers questions in the landmark case of a child with autism and how much progress he should make under his IEP. Endrew, a child with autism, attended public school from kindergarten through fourth grade. In April of 2010, Endrew's parents rejected the 5th grade individualized education program (IEP) proposed by the Douglas County School District. Endrew's parents believed the proposed IEP was basically the same as the previous IEPs under which their child's academic and functional progress had stalled. Endrew's parents subsequently withdrew him from public school and placed him in a private school that specialized in the education of children with autism. Endrew's behavior in the private school setting improved significantly; his academic goals were strengthened and he thrived. This case arose because Endrew's parents were unable to obtain tuition reimbursement for the cost of the private school placement.
Endrew's parents sought reimbursement for the private school tuition payments at a due process hearing, and subsequently sought judicial review of the hearing decision in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado after the hearing officer did not grant the relief they were seeking. The District Court affirmed the hearing officer's decision, and they appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In these proceedings, Endrew's parents argued that the IEP proposed by the public school was mostly unchanged from his previous IEPs, under which he made "minimal progress." The Tenth Circuit rejected the parents' arguments and concluded that Endrew had received FAPE through the district's IEPs because they were calculated to provide educational benefit that is merely more than de minimis (i.e., more than trivial or minor educational benefit). Endrew's parents then appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court overturned the Tenth Circuit's de
cision.
School Finder Website - Louisiana's Department of Education has launched a brand new website - School Finder. School Finder is an interactive online tool designed to help families more easily locate and evaluate schools and child care centers across the state. The tool, which hosts detailed information about each site's offerings and academic performance, was unveiled in November with the release of the annual school performance scores and the first-ever early childhood performance profiles.
Orleans Parish School Registration is underway. N
ew Orleans' annual public school enrollment period is quickly coming to an end. If you haven't already done so, it's time to register your child for school, if they will be a New Orleans Public School in the 2018-19 school year.
The application, commonly called OneApp, covers almost all public schools in New Orleans, plus private schools that participate in the state's voucher program and early childhood education programs that receive public funding.
The application is for parents of students changing schools or entering school for the first time in the 2018-19 school year. Parents who wish to keep their children at their current schools need not fill out any forms.
A computer matches schools and applicants, with some preference for students who have siblings at the school they apply for, or who live close to the school.
Only three public schools in New Orleans do not participate in OneApp. They are Lusher Charter School, Lake Forest Elementary Charter School and Benjamin Franklin High School.
Parents have until Jan. 12 to apply to schools with selective admissions criteria, such as those with language immersion programs, and until Feb. 23 to apply to most other schools. Results will be mailed by April.
To apply, families can go to
www.EnrollNOLA.org
or visit any of three Family Resource Centers that are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
|
|
Links You Want To Check Out
If you've ever done an internet search on a topic, you know first-hand how difficult it is to sort through the thousands of links that come up with the search. Below is a list of some of our favorite links for the month that others have shared with us. We hope you find them as informative as we did.
Colorin Colorado is a website that serves educators and families of English language learners (ELLs) through grade school. As the demographics of the United States change, teaching ELLs has become a fact in all schools, yet many attend school with little resources and are among the most underserve students. To support t educators and parents, this website offers free multimedia materials such as classroom videos, toolkits, research-based articles, multilingual tip sheets, newsletters, featured books and authors, and social media. Colorín Colorado is a bilingual website in English and Spanish -- and we offer basic parent content in eleven other languages, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Hmong.
Google Wants Help Tagging Accessible Places -
Google is looking to the public in an effort to make navigating the world easier for people with disabilities. The search giant is asking users to add information about wheelchair accessibility to entries on Google Maps.
Oral Care Guide -
We spend most of our lives caring for our teeth - from the first 20 or baby teeth to our 32 adult pearly whites. Here you'll find new and traditional treatment options for oral and dental health issues like gingivitis and tooth decay, dental complications and what to do about them, and many tips on day-to-day dental care.
Abuse, Restraints and Seclusion in School - Children with disabilities are sometimes left open to potential abuse when those who are charged with their care do not understand the difference between "bad behavior" and "behavior as communication". The term "behavior as communication" refers to a child's effort to communicate dislikes, needs, desires, etc. but cannot do so because of a communication deficit (ie. no speech, limited speech). Sometimes happiness can look the same as sadness, anger the same as excitement...emotions can be very hard to distinguish.
|
|
Success Story of the Month
Every day we hear wonderful things about the work we do for individuals in the community. One of the things that keep us going daily are the success stories we hear.
"I learned through Families Helping Families that if it is not documented, it didn't happen."
We were concerned about our son Victor's reading skills. He was falling far behind his grade level and eventually was held back a year.
|
|
Lagniappe
This section will give you information on events FHF of GNO will be attending, waiver waiting list info, other community events you might be interested in attending and anything else that doesn't fit in one of the above sections.
The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
provides supports and services through a variety of locations throughout the state to support the dignity, quality of life and security in the everyday lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families, acting as the Single Point of Entry.
Waiver Registry Dates - As of December 15, 2017, the following dates have been reached on the waiver registry, a.k.a. The waiting list.
New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) - 8/18/2004
Children's Choice Waiver - 07/31/2006
Supports Waiver - 02/19/2015
Not sure where you are on the registry? Call 1.800.364.7828
LaCAN (Louisiana Council's Advocacy Network) -
LaCAN advocates for service systems that support children and adults with disabilities to live in their own homes and be fully-included and participating members of their local schools and communities.
Click here to join!
LaCAN Legislative Round Table Events for 2018 are planned. Below is the list of all events. Please save the date to attend the one in your area.
Greater New Orleans LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Monday, January 22, 2018, 10:30 am - 1 pm. East New Orleans Library, 5641 Read Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70127. For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leader in this region, Stephanie Bartet, 504.301.6765, 877.243.7352, or [email protected].
Greater Baton Rouge LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.
For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leader in this region, Ashley McReynolds, 225.715.5740, 866.216.7474, or [email protected].
Bayou Area LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. Terrebonne Parish Library, 4130 West Park Ave., Gray, LA 70359. For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leader in this region, Julie Smith, 985.447.4461, 800.331.5570, or [email protected].
Acadiana Louisiana LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Lafayette Main Library, 310 W. Congress Street,
Lafayette, LA 70501. RSVP to Laci Polotzola 337.351.1332 or [email protected].
University of New Orleans Focus Group Participants Needed: Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 10:30 am. Norman Mayer Library, 3001 Gentilly Blvv., New Orleans, LA. Participants are needed to help shape a new certification program in the area of significant disabilities. A $50 stipend is available for participants. To participate or for additional information, please contact Janice Janz at 504.782.7172 or email at [email protected].
Southwest Louisiana LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 9:00 am - 11:30 am.
Water's Edge Gathering, 2760 Power Center Parkway, Lake Charles, LA 70607.
For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leader in this region, Mylinda Elliott, 337.436.2570, 800.894.6558, or [email protected]
Central Louisiana LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Monday, February 12, 2018, 9 am - 11 am. Main Street Community Center, 910 Main Street, Pineville, LA 71360.
For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leaders in this region, Kristen Reed, 318.641.7373, 800.259.7200, or [email protected] or Melissa Brossette, 318.641.7373, 800.259.7200, or [email protected].
Northwast Louisiana LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Friday, January 12, 2018, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Christ United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 1204 Crabapple Dr., Shreveport, LA 71118. RSVP to Duane Ebarb, 318.688.4830, 318.226.4541 or [email protected].
Northeast Louisiana LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Thursday, February 8, 2018, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. Delta Community College, 7500 Millhaven Road, Monroe, LA 71203.
For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leader in this region, Konstance Causey, 318.547.9379, 888.300.1320, or [email protected].
Northshore Area LaCAN Legislative Roundtable: Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. St. Tammany Parish Library, Madisonville Branch, 1123 Main Street, Madisonville, LA 70447. For information about the event and to RSVP, please contact the LaCAN Leader in this region, Karen Artus, 985.264.1186, 800.383.8700, or [email protected].
|
|
FHF Team
Families Helping Families of Jefferson is your one stop shop for disability information. We are the only family resource center for individuals with all disabilities, all ages and their families in Jefferson Parish. We offer services across the lifespan.
|
|
Families Helping Families of GNO will be closed on the following days:
January 1 & 2 - New Year's Holidays
January 15 - Martin Luther King Day
|
|
Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (LaPTIC) is a program of Families Helping Families of GNO and a grant from the US Department of Education; Office of Special Education (OSEP) as Louisiana's official and only statewide federally funded Parent Training and Information Center.
|
|
|
The Mission of Families Helping Families is to educate and
connect children and adults with disabilities and their families to resources, services & supports to attend school, work and thrive
in their communities
|
Families Helping Families of GNO
700 Hickory Avenue
Harahan, LA 70123
504.888.9111
800.766.7736 (toll free)
|
|
|
|
|
|
