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 Association for Special Children & Families Sunday Message August 30, 2020 |
We know you are trying to prepare for the start of a very new school year. We are sharing some articles and webinars that may help you in this transition.
REMINDER: OUR PHONE NUMBER IS 973-728-8744.
Remember we are here for you so do not hesitate to contact us. We encourage the dads to attend our virtual Dad Talk group. Please be kind to yourself and one another.
Your friends at ASCF
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Taking Care of Yourself
During challenging times it can be hard to stop and take care of yourself. You may feel like you are juggling so much but could still be doing more to help those around you. Take a step back and breathe. The best way to be there for the ones you care about is to first reach inward and be there for yourself. When you are effectively taking care of yourself, you are better able to care for others. Self-care can help you be the calm and steady pilot in the middle of unpredictable turbulence.
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Simple Self-Compassion Tips for Teens
Coping With Uncertainty as the World Navigates COVID-19
Meditate on music
Play a piece of instrumental music that feels relaxing. Get comfortable- stretch out on your bed or a couch, and closely pay attention to each note of the music. When your mind wanders, which it will, bring your attention back to each note until the song is finished.
Enjoy the outdoors
Go for a walk, engaging your senses as you identify the objects that make you smile. Notice the look, feel, smells, and sounds of the object. Spend time acknowledging those senses, and then take a picture. Start an album of these happy pictures and refer to them when you need a lift.
Sketch it out
Try 'mindful doodling.' As you draw, notice the sensation of the pen in your hand and as it drags across the paper, the weight of the lines or curves in your doodles. If you're disappointed in your work, acknowledge it, but let it go without judgement, as 'thoughts are not necessarily facts.' Bring your thoughts back to the sensation of drawing.
Show your support
We give hugs or wrap arms around friends, and we pet our cats and dogs, but we don't do this for ourselves. Place a hand over your heart or on your cheek, cradle your face in your hands, gently 'hug' yourself or stroke your arm with your hand. Supportive touch releases oxytocin- your body's feel-good hormone-to help you feel better.
Take it easy
This is a hard time for everyone. When you hear a judgmental inner voice saying 'You should be getting more done! You're such a slacker!' respond with your other inner voice-your kinder one. Think of what you might say to a good friend who is struggling and try saying those same compassionate, supportive things to yourself
Learn more about mindfulness and self-compassion at http://selfcompassion.web.unc.edu
Source; Bluth, K. (2020). Simple self-compassion tips for teens coping with uncertainty as the world navigates COVID-19. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
Click here for pdf articleTeens
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School at Home Fact Sheet
Remote learning? Home Instruction? Homeschooling? Knowing the difference is critically important for families as decisions are being made about reopening schools. This fact sheet will help you to know the differences so you can make an informed choice for your family
HOME SCHOOLING
The student must be removed from enrollment in the public school district.
The student's IEP is no longer valid and all educational services, including related services, will no longer be provided.
To return to the district, the student must be re-enrolled and referred to the Child Study Team to start the IEP process from the beginning.
Other choices are Home Instruction and Remote / Virtual Instruction
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 Back to School Webinars
Back to School and Virtual Accessibility
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 12-1 PM ET
Virtual learning has become commonplace since the start of COVID-19. This has presented challenges and opportunities. In the move to more and more remote learning for K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities, ensuring an equal opportunity for students with disabilities to access and participate in the education process is critical. This webinar will provide a basic overview of the legal need for online accessibility in the education setting, review key elements in accessible online learning, and discuss how schools and educators can address planning for an accessible online classroom.
Presenter: Joe Zesski, Program Manager Northeast ADA
To register:
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SPAN Q&A session about navigating the special education landscape
October 26, 2020 - 10:00am - 11:30pm
As students head back to school, either in person or online, there are often questions about parental rights under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With a global pandemic disrupting every part of our education system, there is additional confusion and concern about how COVID-19 is impacting students with disabilities. We've identified pressing questions parents asked about how to navigate this new normal, and will have them answered by an expert attorney in the field. Topics to be covered will include: compensatory education, procedural safeguards, the waiver of rights, and keeping the "I" in IEP. Please join us for an interactive Q&A session about navigating the special education landscape during COVID-19.
This webinar features Diana Autin, Esq. Co-Director of the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network.
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NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders presents Youth Suicide: Starting the Conversation
September 30, 2020, 7:30-8:30 pm
Presented by Wendy Sefcik and Maureen Brogan
This presentation will provide an overview of the scope of youth suicide, who may be at risk and what we can all do to prevent our youth from dying by suicide. It will be an open and honest conversation about the 2nd leading cause of death for youth. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what to look for and how to have open and honest conversations about a very important topic that impacts many. Maureen Brogan Coordinator for the NJ Traumatic Loss Coalition and Wendy Sefcik, Chair of the NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council will be the presenters.
For more info or to register contact NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders Inc. |908 575 7350 | 50 Division St. Ste 205, Somerville NJ 08876 | www.njcts.org
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Sign up for our next 2 sessions on Wednesday,September 23 and September 30, 4:30-6 PM. This exciting new program is for Passaic County youth with ADHD. To register email [email protected] or phone 973-728-8744. This is collaboration with Passaic County FSO and ASCF.
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Disclaimer: The Association for Special Children and Families does not provide or give Legal or Medical advice. ASCF does not endorse or recommend any one specific diagnostic or therapeutic regime, organization, opinion or methodology mentioned in this newsletter. We are not responsible for the content or information on any website given and do not endorse or recommend the views expressed as we have no control over the nature and content of those sites.
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Contact Information
Assn. for Special Children & Families
POB 494, Hewitt, NJ 07421
973-728-8744
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