Fall is beyond be-LEAF!

Welcome to Fall from

The Center for Exceptional Families!

We are a non profit made up of mentors, parents, and advocates who strive for positive outcomes for those with disabilities, including their families. Some of the services we provide are:

Knowledgeable Parent Mentors

Our mentors are parents of children with disabilities. They have life and work experiences plus training that make them uniquely qualified to help parents and schools work together to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.

Information

We provide information for caregivers of children with disabilities like resources, presentations, workshops, and other materials. We also connect with schools and other community organizations.

Family Fun

TCFEF is proud to present Sensory Cinema in Jonesboro, which allows caregivers, and children and adults with disabilities to watch movies in a sensory friendly environment. We hope to expand this program to more cities.

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A Word from Our Director

It's already November!!

November is a very special month as we honor our veterans who served our country and for the first time in two years, many of us will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving in person with loved ones. YAY! Another celebration that occurs between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving is American Education Week. In 1921, well before Veterans Day and its predecessor, Armistice Day were national holidays, the National Education Association and the American Legion created an awareness campaign supporting public education as 750,000 World War I draftees were rejected from serving as they were unable to read. This year American Education Week will be celebrated on November 15–19.

As we begin the holiday season, the CDC has updated their guidance on Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays. This guidance included considerations for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities, their families, providers and educators. The CDC updates their guidance regularly and you can access their updates via email subscription service.

Your parent center staff hope that you and your family enjoy the upcoming holiday with your family and friends in a manner that best fits you. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Organization Spotlights!

Disabled American Veterans Department of Arkansas

DAV is an organization of disabled veterans who are focused on building better lives for disabled veterans and their families. Click below to learn more!

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Arkansas Brain Injury Support Program

As part of the Arkansas Dept. of Education, this program promote positive outcomes for students with brain injury by providing leadership, support, and service to students with brain injury, their families, and the districts who serve them.

Click Here

Disability Resource Spotlight

Respite Care Vouchers!!

Respite care is a service that provides caregiving for your child with a disability so you can have a break. Funds are available with $300 per quarter and up to $1200 per year! If you already have respite care through Medicaid, you won't qualify. Funds are giving on a first come, first serve basis. Click to learn more!!

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Free November Virtual Disability Events!!

Stanford Neurodiversity Summit

A FREE virtual summit of neurodiverse individuals who come from multiple areas of life and professions to speak about many different topics and share information with each other and interested community members!

Nov 7-9th

Click Here

Local Disability Events!

The Arkansas Down Syndrome Association empowers people with Down Syndrome and their families with education and events! They will be hosting their Free Family Zoo Day on November 7th at the Little Rock Zoo for people with Down Syndrome and their families!

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Community Connections hosts fun social events for kids with disabilities in Arkansas. They will be hosting their annual fundraiser called Good Night on November 13th at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock! Follow the link to sign up for fun events for the kids and/or learn more about Good Night!

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Shop for the Holidays and Support Artisans with Disabilities!

The Blue Umbrella is a unique gift shop where artists with disabilities can sell their creations! The idea is a collaboration between Arkansas Department of Health Services (DHS) and Division of Developmental Disability Services (DDS). It is located inside Arkansas DHS at 700 Main Street in Little Rock! Click below to learn more about shopping and also becoming an artisan for the shop!

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TCFEF Office Holiday Closure

We Will be Closed for Thanksgiving!

The Center for Exceptional Families would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Our office will be closed from November 23rd-26th.

News from Your Parent Mentors

Southwest and Central Region

Karen is working with 5 state Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) Parent Training Information Centers (PTI) on a project called Independent Futures that Work. She is loading up the Youth Resources tab on our website with useful info for teens in transition and their families!

Northeast Region

Teresa continues working with the State Personnel Department Grant on Family Engagement. Our video is releasing next month! She is also co-developing a new power point and training on Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) and Restraint/Seclusion!

North Central Region

Loreena attended the LEA Conference in Little Rock on behalf of TCFEF and made connections with many Special Education Directors across the state of Arkansas! She is also co-creating power points on parent advocacy and IEPS!

Delta Region

Michele is distributing information about TCFEF to the community, working on the newsletter, and co-creating educational power points!

Northwest and River Valley Region

The Center for Exceptional Families is hiring a mentor for your area! Are you a parent or self advocate who is passionate about helping children with disabilities and their families? Email: Shelby.Knight@tcfef.org

Administrative

Lauren is working hard on the Parent Binder initiative. If you would like a FREE TCFEF IEP/504 Binder, follow the link below.

Binder!

Ways to Support our Center!!

Want to Support TCFEF with a Facebook Birthday Fundraiser? Click to learn more!

Did you know you can support us for free when shopping on Amazon? Click to learn more!

You can also support TCFEF when shopping at local grocery stores like Kroger! Click to learn more!

Microsoft Rewards

Do you search online? Would you like to also help TCFEF when you do? Click to learn how!

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