Communication Connection

COMMUNICATION

CONNECTION

March 2023 | Issue 16 | Helping Families and Schools Since 1997 CORRECTED

7 Keys to Achieving Communication Success!

Communication is a key to success in every aspect of our lives: personal, friendships and career. Knowing how to communicate well can make all the difference.

Active Listening - To truly hear what others are saying, we need to listen and hear what they are saying. Mind your body language!
Choose Words Wisely - Be deliberate, clear, and concise.
Keep Cool - Remain calm and collected when communicating and practice empathy.
Be Assertive, not Aggressive - It's the sweet spot right in the middle between passive and hostile.
Adapt to the Audience - A great communicator can adapt the communication style to suit the audience. Be flexible!
Embrace Feedback - No one is perfect and we all have room for improvement. Be open to hear it!
Practice makes Perfect - Like any other skill, communication takes practice. The more you engage, the better you become at expressing yourself.

Remember, effective communication is the foundation to strong relationships and personal and professional success.

Please see more communication tips here.

U.S. Dept. of Ed. Family Engagement Learning Series Webinars Released

Six-part webinar series on Family Engagement

The Department recently released the Family Engagement Learning Series briefs! These briefs summarize a six-part webinar series of conversations designed to Raise the Bar for family engagement practices between school and home. The learning series produced by the U.S. Department of Education in partnership with Carnegie Corporation of New York and Overdeck Family Foundation, provided an overview of evidence, highlighted bright spots in the field, and shared resources and evidence-based strategies to support student success with education leaders and practitioners. We invite you to learn about how family engagement supports each of the areas of education highlighted in the learning series.

CALL 1-833-KIDS-1ST or Visit MiKids1st.org

Special Education Mediation Services (SEMS) understands the challenges special education meetings can bring. We help navigate these complex meetings by providing a FREE neutral facilitator whose role is to help team members stay on task, follow rules of conduct, ensure all voices are heard, help negotiate disagreements, and keep the meeting focused on the student. Call or visit our website today! We are here to help.

FREE • FAST • EFFECTIVE

National News

Department of Education Offers Guidance for Assistive Technology

The U.S. Department of Education has issued new guidance on how to support children with disabilities through the incorporation of AT into their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The guidance provides information such as myths about AT, the requirements surrounding AT under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and creative ways AT can be used to help children.

SEMS Presents

Please join our upcoming session being presented via Zoom in partnership with Michigan Alliance for Families.

March 21: Collaborative Communication in Special Education, 12:00 - 1:00.

Look for details on how to register by clicking here.

SEMS On Location

If you've ever wanted to learn more about SEMS, please visit our vendor booth and/or speaking engagements at these upcoming conferences.

Autism Alliance - Navigating Autism Conference - Novi - March 8

MASP - Michigan Association of School Psychologists (Spring Conference) - Lansing - March 15

Community Advocates Inclusion Conference - Kalamazoo/WMU - March 15

MI Association for Student Opportunity - Lansing - March 15

WMU Developmental Disabilities Conference - Kellogg Center - April 16-17

Michigan Association for Education of Young Children Early Childhood Conference - Amway Grand - April 18-20

START Conference - Kellogg Center - April 22

Special Education Mediation Services (SEMS) is an Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Grant Funded Initiative through the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education.

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