Strong Families. Strong Futures. | |
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Greetings to our VFN Family and Friends.
As autumn arrives, Vermont Family Network (VFN) prepares for another busy school year. Our helpline is buzzing with calls from parents seeking guidance as their children return to the classroom.
Our experienced education helpline family support consultants are ready to assist you in navigating the education process for your child with a disability. With several decades of lived experience, our team brings knowledge and compassion to every interaction.
Our mental health parent representative family support consultants are working alongside them, offering support during Coordinated Services Plan (CSP) meetings to ensure your voice is heard and your child's needs are met.
We're excited to share that we have new additions to our family support team. New staff members have strengthened our Act 264/CSP process support, and we've welcomed a specialist focused on supporting the transition of young people with disabilities into adulthood.
We've also created a new intake coordinator position to serve as a warm and welcoming first point of contact for families who contact VFN.
Our Puppets in Education team, with their engaging puppet shows, is making a significant impact on schools statewide. By addressing sensitive subjects such as kindness and anxiety support, they promote understanding and empathy in a unique and inspiring way.
VFN's commitment to supporting families of children with special health needs extends across Vermont through our education and health helplines. Our health team has been exceptionally busy supporting parents with various needs but remains available and eager to help more families.
As we begin this new academic year, remember that VFN is always here for you. Our experienced staff is passionate about empowering families like ours, providing the tools, information, and support caregivers need to advocate effectively for your child. Whether you need help navigating IEP meetings, seeking healthcare advice, or simply need a listening ear, our team is ready to support you.
We'd like to encourage you to take advantage of VFN's resources. Contact our helpline with any questions or concerns. Together, we can work towards ensuring that every child and their caregivers in Vermont has the opportunity for success in their educational journey and beyond.
We at the Vermont Family Network wish you and your family a healthy, successful, and supportive school year.
From the heart,
The VFN Leadership Team
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We are happy to announce increased capacity in our Sibshops Program for 2024-25 to serve more siblings with a brother or sister with a disability or special health need.
Registration for 2024-25 Sibshops begins September 16th, 2024!
Sibshops is a national program open to children aged 8+ who are siblings of brothers and sisters with disabilities and special health needs. All Sibshops are on Saturdays from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted at various locations in Chittenden County. Each Sibshop is facilitated by trained Sibshops Staff, which includes a fun activity, a snack, and a facilitated Sibchat. Every Sibchat has a theme that will allow participants to connect with what it means to be a “sib.” The $10 Sibshops fee covers all food and activities.
Announcing new Tweens and Teens Sibshops!!!
New in 2024-25 is a Sibshops dedicated to 11–13-year-olds! Tweens and Teens Sibshops will be offered three times this year: October 19th, January 18th, and April 5th. All sessions will be held at St. Marks Church, 1251 North Avenue, Burlington, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the bowling alley and game room. Tweens and teens will not join younger siblings ages 8-10 for their activities (except for our end-of-the-year celebration at Oakledge).
Please complete the 2024-25 Sibshops Registration Form on our Get Support page and send your check to VFN to register your child for any/all of this year’s Sibshops activities. Scholarships are available. Please email info@vtfn.org with any questions.
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VFN is Hiring!
Join our Family Support team
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Vermont Family Network is reaching out for your help! Our Parent Match Program has seen a high demand for Support Parents who are ready to offer support and share their journeys with other parents seeking connection and a sense of community.
We are particularly interested in parents with children who have been diagnosed with:
- Autism (especially younger children with early diagnosis)
- Complex medical conditions
- Complex mental health needs
- Adult children dealing with complex medical issues
If you are interested, register here as a Support Parent. Your participation could make a real difference in another family's life.
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Changing Roles of Parents | |
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The role of parents changes as their children with disabilities move from high school to adulthood. Parents who have spent years advocating for their child in school may find themselves playing a smaller part in their child’s postsecondary education or pursuit of employment. As their children become more independent, parents may have difficulty adjusting to this shift in responsibility. A role change starts to take place as the student nears age 18, commonly referred to as “the age of majority.” Beginning at least one year before the child reaches the age of majority, the child’s IEP must include a statement that the child has received notice and been told about the rights (if any) that will transfer to them at age of majority. At this point, the transfer of special education rights from the parent to the student takes place.
For more information about transition, read VFN’s Transition Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities or contact our helpline at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org if you have concerns or questions about your high school student with a disability.
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Empower Your Voice!
Join the Vermont Leadership Series
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Ready to become a powerful advocate for positive change? The Vermont Leadership Series seeks passionate individuals for an intensive and robust training program. Designed for people with developmental disabilities, their family members, and allies, this transformative experience will equip you with skills to make a real difference.
Learn effective advocacy, inclusive leadership, and policy engagement from expert facilitators. Develop confidence, build lasting connections, and join a supportive community dedicated to disability rights. This series is organized by the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, Green Mountain Self-Advocates, and Vermont Family Network.
Don't miss this chance to reshape the future of disability rights in Vermont. Apply today and embark on a journey that will change lives – including yours!
To learn more, please get in touch with brianna.underwood@vtfn.org.
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News from the Puppets
It's back to School!
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It’s back to school time across the state, and the puppets are gearing up for the fall!
Six schools in central and northern Vermont will be starting the school year off with a show from the puppets! Thanks to funding from the Vermont Department of Mental Health and the National Life Group Foundation, these schools will receive either the Anxiety or Kindness & Stress puppet program. Older kids at the schools will be receiving our newly revamped Anxiety Workshop.
The needs of the students are always changing and growing, and we do our best to meet the kids where they’re at in the moment. That is why we are planning to debut a brand-new script for the 2024-2025 school year: Friendship.
Our new Friendship program will be appropriate for PK-4, with different scripts being used for the PK-2 and 3-4 groups. The PK-2 script will focus on how to make friends, including introducing yourself to someone else, what a good friend does, and what to do if unkind behavior happens. Our 3-4 script addresses the subtle aspects of friendship—how it feels when a friend stops talking to you, how to compromise, and what to do when disagreements happen.The new Friendship program will be available for schools starting in November.
If your school would like us to perform and you are able to pay for a day of shows, or if you would like to fund a day of programming at a local school, please reach out to Karen at karen.sharpwolf@vtfn.org to discuss your options.
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Compensatory Services in Special Education | |
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Compensatory services are educational services provided to a child with a disability to make up for services the child should have received but did not. These services are intended to bring your child to the level they would have achieved if the services had been provided appropriately. How should you proceed if you feel that your child needs compensatory services?
1. Document the missed services that your child did not receive as outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan and review the IEP and related communication with the school to confirm if services promised were delivered.
2. Request an IEP meeting and be clear that you are requesting that compensatory services be considered for your child. Prepare for the IEP meeting with documentation.
3. At the IEP meeting, be clear about the nature and amount of services that need to be made up. Ensure that any proposed compensatory services address the areas in which your child has regressed/failed to make progress.
4. Follow up by monitoring implementation. Document everything and keep the lines of communication open with the school.
For more information on compensatory services or how to prepare for an IEP meeting, contact VFN Family Support helpline at (802) 876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.
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Funding for Families is Available! | |
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VFN has two respite funds available to families who are not currently receiving respite funding from other sources. Respite is a planned break for parents or caregivers, which allows time to spend with other children, to schedule necessary appointments, or to have an opportunity to rest and recharge.
The Vermont Family Network Family Support Fund is for Vermont families with children up to 21 years of age who have a chronic physical, medical, or developmental condition. This funding is for:
- Vermont residents from birth up to 21 years
- Have a chronic physical, medical, or developmental condition
- Requires health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally
- Children and families who earn at or less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Level
Eligible families may access up to $1,500.00 per grant year for both medically necessary expenses and for respite combined. The fund is last resort, meaning other resources would be explored first. This fund is made possible through a grant from the Vermont Department of Health Children with Special Health Needs program.
Please contact joanne.wechsler@vtfn.org for more information.
Our Vermont Respite Support Program is for Vermont families with children up to 19 years of age who have a chronic physical, medical, mental, or developmental condition OR:
- are experiencing circumstances such as: homelessness, economic hardships, and/or DCF Family Services involvement
- are suspected of a diagnosis and waiting for an evaluation
- require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children and youth generally
You may also be eligible if you are:
- a parent/caregiver with a disability that has a child (up to the age of 19) living at home
- a relative caregiver with a child(ren) living with them
- a parent/caregiver of an adopted child(ren)
Families may access up to $1000 per year through a voucher reimbursement process. This fund is made possible through a generous grant from the Vermont Department of Children and Families - Child Development Division. Please contact laurel.sanborn@vtfn.org for more information. A new grant cycle begins October 11th.
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Genetics Corner: Back to School | |
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As the back-to-school season begins, families with children who have genetic conditions face unique challenges. Navigating school routines, managing medical needs, and ensuring educational support can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, resources are available to ease this transition. Here are 5 tips that you might find helpful with links to other resources included!
1. Schedule a check in with the teacher and school teams to share information about the genetic conditions and the impact it has on your child’s school day, your hopes and dreams and expectations. Here are some letter templates that can help guide this discussion.
2. Talk with your medical team about concerns you have and maybe schedule a care conference with the school and medical team so that everyone can have the same information and have a chance to ask questions.
3.Gather all the necessary paperwork and information, like any updated medical action plans, before the school year begins.
4. Because there is so much variation in each child, if you give any information (articles, etc.) about your child’s condition to the school team, highlight the items that affect your child. A helpful resource to check out is a resource called Genetic Educational Material for School Success (GEMSS).
5. Figure out a good communication system with the school and particularly the classroom teacher. Some families find a home/school communication log in a notebook beneficial while others find emails work best.
A couple of additional resources to check out are the toolkits Advocating For Your Child with a Rare Disease at Their School and Explaining Living with a Rare Disease to Children and Teenagers.
Contact Ashley Michaud at info@vtfn.org or 802-876-5315 if you or a family member need help communicating with your school about a genetic condition or if you need support navigating a genetic diagnosis.
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As we all know, caring for children with special health needs often requires specialty tools, some of which can be costly. However, the practicality of available technology can provide some support for care without excessive expense. There are a few useful apps for smartphones and tablets - a gentle reminder to review the app's details before downloading because some features require additional fees.
Here are a few noteworthy options:
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Proloquo2Go: provides text-to-speech and symbol-based communication.
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Breathe2Relax: offers guided breathing exercises for stress management.
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Symbo Talk AAC: uses customizable symbol boards to aid communication.
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Be My Eyes: connects visually impaired users with sighted volunteers via video call. As a bonus, you can also sign up to help someone when they need it.
We would love to learn about apps that have been a help to your family and would welcome your recommendations for our community. Feel free to email us at info@vtfn.org.
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Upcoming Events - Register today! | |
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Free Online Workshops
October 3 at 1:00 p.m. "HireAbility Pre-ETS Services in Vermont Schools"
HireAbility transition counselors work with high schools to provide pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to students with disabilities who are eligible for HireAbility services. The intent of pre-ETS services is to improve the transition of students with disabilities from school to postsecondary education or employment. In this workshop, learn about how HireAbility may be working with your teenager’s high school and what programs may be available.
Presenters: Kara Haynes - HireAbility Transition Program Manager, Tia Tallman - HireAbility Transition Counselor (Morrisville) and Diane Knichel - HireAbility Transition Counselor (Bennington)
October 24 at 1:00 p.m. "Digital Wellness Series - Workshop 1: Building Digital Resilience"
"Empowering Families in the Online World" is an online empowerment series presented by Grow Digital Skills. In this first workshop we will be sharing information on "Building Digital Resilience" which includes: Coping with online negativity; Developing a healthy relationship with technology; Encouraging offline hobbies and social connections.
Presenter: Emmy Hilliard - VFN Co-Director of Family Support - Health and Grow Digital Skills Coordinator
November 14 at 1:00 p.m. "Nurturing Wellness for Parents of Children with Disabilities"
This wellness workshop is designed to provide emotional, mental, and physical support for parents of children with disabilities or special health needs. Parenting a child with disabilities can be both rewarding and challenging, requiring parents to balance care-giving responsibilities with their own well-being. Join us for this workshop which aims to equip parents with practical tools and strategies to prioritize their own health and wellness, which in turn can positively impact their ability to care for their children.
Presenter: Kheya Ganguly - Director of Trauma Prevention and Resilience Development at the State of Vermont Agency of Human Services
November 21 at 1:00 p.m. "Digital Wellness Series - Workshop 2: Digital Etiquette and Online Communication"
"Empowering Families in the Online World" is an online empowerment series presented by Grow Digital Skills. In this second workshop we will be sharing information on "Digital Etiquette and Online Communication" which includes: Teaching children about appropriate online behavior; Dealing with cyberbullying; Promoting empathy in digital interactions.
Presenter: Emmy Hilliard - VFN Co-Director of Family Support - Health and Grow Digital Skills Coordinator
December 12 at 1:00 p.m. "Digital Wellness Series - Workshop 3: Digital Wellness for Families"
"Empowering Families in the Online World" is an online empowerment series presented by Grow Digital Skills. In this third workshop we will be sharing information on "Digital Wellness for Families" which includes: Balancing screen time with offline activities; Setting up tech-free zones and times at home; Encouraging positive online interactions
Presenter: Emmy Hilliard - VFN Co-Director of Family Support - Health and Grow Digital Skills Coordinator
Our workshops are online using the Zoom meeting platform.
If you are unable to attend the live presentation, you can still register and we’ll send you a link to the recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time, unless otherwise noted.
Registrations are also posted under Upcoming Events on the landing page of our website. In case you missed our last series of workshops, you can find a full list on our VFN website. Check in regularly as we add more workshops to our schedule!
We save workshops on our website and YouTube channel.
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VFN Workshop Topics/Speakers Survey
We want to hear your ideas for our upcoming online workshops. What topics interest you? Are there presenters you would recommend?
Let us know your thoughts.
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Contact Us. We Will Listen! | |
Helping Vermont Families thrive for more than 30 years | | |
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Office
600 Blair Park Rd, Ste 240,
Williston, VT 05495
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