September 4, 2021 ASCF e-newsletter |
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Hi Friends,
We hope everyone is safe. In this newsletter we have included great news about our getting refunded as well as some information on preparing for emergencies, back to school tips and webinars. We hope it makes your lives a little easier.
Please have a Safe, Happy Labor Day.
Your friends at ASCF
PS Call 973-728-8744 if you need support
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GREAT NEWS
We are happy to share that the U.S. Department of Education announced that our Association has been awarded funding for the next 5 years to continue to offer the Highlands Community Parent Resource Center. We serve families of babies, children and youth with disabilities in northern Passaic County and parts of Sussex and Morris counties. We provide support, guidance, training and information. Our theme is for families and children to have high expectations and to REACH UP and grasp their dream to have happy, successful adult lives. Watch for more information about our activities.
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How to Make an Emergency Plan
Sign up for emergency alerts on your phone.
· Create a support network of friends, family and neighbors that can help you in the event of an emergency. Include your health providers, medical equipment and assistive technology providers in your plan. Let them know how you will need them. Keep your contact list in a watertight container in your emergency kit. Learn more at www.ready.gov/kit.
· Inform your support network where your emergency supplies are kept. You may want to give someone in your support network a key to your house or apartment.
· Contact your health provider to know the process for getting an extended supply or replacement supply of medication should you need it.
· Contact your local emergency management department and plan ahead for your individual needs. Learn about places to go in the event of evacuation and facilities with supplies you may need. Work with service providers of public transportation or paratransit to identify local or private accessible transportation options. Know the location of shelters that allow service animals if that applies to you.
· Know the location and availability of more than one facility for dialysis. If dialysis is part of a health maintenance plan or other life-sustaining treatment, know where multiple facilities are located.
· Know how to use medical equipment if a power outage occurs.
· Wear medical alert tags or bracelets.
· Make note of the best way to communicate with you in an emergency. If you have a communication disability, determine the best way others can communicate with you and let them know.
· Plan how to evacuate with assistive devices or how to replace equipment if it gets lost or destroyed. Keep model information secure and note who provided it such as Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. Also note the vendor or dealer.
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SCIENCE CLUB FOR ALL KIDS
Our next session will be on Saturday, September 25 at 10 AM for children in Grades 2 through 5. We co-sponsor this with the Highlands Family Success Center. Andy Abdul, scientist and Lori, a special education science teacher, will have some interesting activities. Last month the participants had a great time with dancing raisins and Oobleck So join the fun at Highlands Success Center, 1801 Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Hewitt. This is free but registration is required. Call 973-506-6575 to register.
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How to Build an Emergency Kit
An Emergency Kit is a bag of essential supplies that you might need in an emergency, whether you must evacuate or if you decide to shelter-in place. Below is a list of various types of to-go bags that an individual might have ready depending on your circumstance.
Carry-on-you Kit
The carry-on-you kit is for the essential items you need to keep with you at all times. This might include cell phone and charger, flashlight and batteries, current prescription medication, emergency contact and health information.
Grab-and-go Kit
The grab-and-go kit is a bag, such as a small duffle that you can grab if you have to leave home in a hurry. It has the things you cannot do without and that you can carry and use without help from someone else. This should include any medication you take, your emergency contact list, health provider information, straws, mobility device chargers, a change of clothes, non-perishable meal bars, pet food for service animals, credit card, and cash.
Home Kit
The home kit includes water, food, straws, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools, emergency supplies, flashlight and batteries, and disability-specific items. It includes all the things you would most likely need if you had to be on your own for days either at home or in an evacuation shelter.
Bedside Kit
The bedside kit includes items you may need if you are trapped in or near your bed and unable to get to other parts of your home. Some items would be important papers, cell phone, medication, bottled water, straws, flashlight and batteries.
Car Kit
The car kit includes items you will need if you have to evacuate the area and/or are in or near your vehicle during an emergency. This could include food, water, blankets, cell phone and charger, mobility device chargers, first aid kit, jumper cables and a toolbox.
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School Tips for Struggling Kids
by Rae Jacobson (Child Mind)
The first day of a new school year always feels like a new start. New school supplies, new classes, new teachers, new hopes and, for many of our kids, a brand new chance to screw up. Things tend to go off the rails pretty quickly if there is noplan.
Here are some steps you can take to help your child lay the groundwork for good start this year.
Be specific about learning challenges
When you have ADHD or a learning disability, the difficulties it causes often feel baffling, unmanageable and inevitable.
Make organization a priority
Disorganization and poor time management: twin agents of chaos and destruction.. If your child struggles with organization, help her be proactive. Discuss with her organizational challenges and choose some realistic strategies for tackling them.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
Talk about what to do when things don’t go as planned
Set up morale boosters
Don’t surprise kids with questions about school
Give kids space to try, and fail, and try again
Whenever you can, try to empower your child to take charge of his own needs. Whether that’s setting up his backpack for school the night before, arranging a study-session or asking a teacher for help when he’s struggling with an assignment, giving him the reins (within reason) will communicate your confidence in his abilities and enable him to practice being independent.
For complete article copy and paste
https://childmind.org/article/back-to-school-tips-for-kids-who-are-struggling/Back-to-
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CDC RESOURCE
Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Health
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect children and young people directly and indirectly. Beyond getting sick, many young people’s social, emotional, and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage can continue to affect them across their lifespan.
Some of the challenges children and young people face during the COVID-19 pandemic relate to:
- Changes in their routines (e.g., having to physically distance from family, friends, worship community)
- Breaks in continuity of learning (e.g., virtual learning environments, technology access and connectivity issues)
- Breaks in continuity of health care (e.g., missed well-child and immunization visits, limited access to mental, speech, and occupational health services)
- Missed significant life events (e.g., grief of missing celebrations, vacation plans, and/or milestone life events)
- Lost security and safety (e.g., housing and food insecurity, increased exposure to violence and online harms, threat of physical illness and uncertainty for the future)
CDC developed this COVID-19 Parental Resource Kit: Ensuring Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being to help support parents, caregivers, and other adults serving children and young people in recognizing children and young people’s social, emotional, and mental health challenges and helping to ensure their well-being.
Cut and paste the link to review
https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/parental-resources/
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Two Back to School Tips for a Successful School Year
Below are 2 tips from and the article "10 Tips for a Successful School Year , Yes, Even with COVID" by Pat Howey, Advocate. The link to full article: https://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/10tips.sch.yr.htm
TIPS
Review your child's IEP
Does your child's current IEP include a plan if school closes? Does the IEP explain how the school will change the way children access school in a pandemic? Does it provide all the services your child needs, even if the school shifts to a virtual model?
Is the IEP clearly written so that if a different teacher is assigned to work with your child, the new teacher will know the special education and related services in the IEP (i.e., frequency, location, and duration), how these services should be provided, and by whom? If the answer to any questions about the specifics in the IEP is "no," request an IEP meeting to clarify these issues.
The goals in your child's IEP must be SMART (specific, measurable, action words, realistic, and time-specific).
Prepare to Deal with Potential Problems Early
Is your child in general education classes? If so, the teachers may say they want to see how your child "gets along" before changing their approach or their class rules. Teachers often take this position because they want to give each child a fresh start. Thank the teacher for explaining the reasoning behind their position. In a few weeks, you will know if it's necessary to explain why your child's success depends on receiving the special education and related services, and accommodations in the IEP.
Children with disabilities often have problems when their routines and environments change. If your child is affected by changes, it is realistic to expect that this will happen again if COVID-19 causes disruptions at school.
Prepare your children to expect changes. Remind them early and often that their routine and environment may change. Make up possible scenarios. Ask what they will do in these scenarios. You want your child to learn resilience and how to keep their emotions under control. Your expectations will depend, in large part, on your child's age and maturity level.
https://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/10tips.sch.yr.htm
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Join Mom Squad Support Group every Thursday
Dates this month are September 16, 23, 30 from 6 - 7 PM. Share the joys and challenges of raising a child or children with special needs in a positive, supportive environment focused around your concerns. Julie from ASCF and Diana Varga from Family Partners co-facilitate. Registration: Contact Diane Varga at [email protected]
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WEBINARS
SAFE Space: Partnering with Families Regarding Developmental Concerns
Monday, September 20, 7pm – 8pm
S.A.F.E Space is an opportunity for parents and early childcare providers to come together and discuss issues that encourage, educate and promote family engagement of children with disabilities. When families are engaged as partners, children are provided with a foundation for success.
Childcare providers are in a unique position to notice if a child is not developing through typical stages or milestones. They should partner with families to discuss their concerns and provide support and resources.
In this session, we will:
•Discuss the stages of the diagnosis process
•Provide an overview of how families can obtain Early Intervention and Special Education service
•Identify resources and strategies that can be used to build positive relationships with families and strengthen family engagement
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REAL Transition Partners "Mental Health & Employment"
Thursday, September 23, 2021 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Youth/young adults with mental health challenges sometimes struggle to find and keep employment.
Hear from a young man who will share his personal experience and why it's important to:
-Normalize mental health and realize everyone can work.
-Support young adults and avoid common pitfalls.
-Help youth/young adults identify and learn skills to move forward.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/real-transition-partners-mental-health-employment-registration-166149310059
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DISCLAIMER: The Association for Special Children and Families does not provide or give Legal or Medical advice.
DESCARGO DE RESPONSABILIDAD: La Asociación para Niños y Familias Especiales no proporciona ni brinda asesoramiento legal o médico.
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