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 Association for Special Children & Families Sunday Connection September 13, 2020 |
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Getting Back to a Routine
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Hope you are adjusting to your new routine. Check out our articles for parents and educators and as well as the webinars and resources.
Moms, we hope you tell the dads about our Dad Talk group. We also have a virtual Art program for youth with ADHD.
Please give us a call to share your successes as well as frustrations. We learn from each other. Remember to support all those working to make this a successful year for the kids. If we can help, just call Julie at 973-728-8744.
Take care,
Your friends at ASCF
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How to Handle and Manage Sibling Rivalry 
Sibling rivalry, it's real. It's not easy for parents to deal with and it's escalating during this Coronavirus-fueled lockdown. Right now, with families spending mountains of time together and siblings often being each other's only playmates, it's more important than ever for parents to deal with sibling rivalry as effectively as possible for their kids' sake...and their own.
Quite different considerations must come into play when there is a disabled child in the family, especially if it's a child who requires a lot of extra support both in and out of the home. In this case, non-disabled siblings can be resentful of the time spent on their brother or sister; they sense the parent's preoccupation. They often feel they are receiving only "surface attention," and that the parent is not really alert to their needs. There is one critical point that should be made and emphasized in all such cases. Whatever time and effort are spent with the disabled child, it's done with the goal of improvement: making the child better able to function independently over time. As he improves his skills, the demands on his parents will decrease commensurately, freeing them to devote more time to other members of the family. It actually boils down to, "Come on, let's everyone help, and ultimately everyone will benefit."
There are other measures to be taken to lessen sibling rivalry and tension in families with a disabled child. Every child deserves a certain amount of quality time with a parent. It needn't be long but it should be undivided. Maybe a short quiet chat before bedtime, or lunch at a special restaurant. Additionally, when one of the non-disabled siblings is involved in a school or community function, the parents should make every effort to be there, no matter how much advance planning is required. Should the disabled child go, too? Take your cue from the child who is involved in the function - it's his night. Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.
copy and paste this link for complete article
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/school-age-children-development-parenting-tips/sibling_rivalry/?
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This OSERS transition guide will help students and youth with disabilities and their families to better understand how state education agencies, local education agencies, and vocational rehabilitation agencies work together to facilitate improved outcomes for students and youth with disabilities.
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 BOOKS TO HELP KIDS
Trinka and Sam Fighting the Big Virus
This book helps young children and families talk about their experiences and feelings related to COVID-19 and the need to shelter in place. In the story, the coronavirus has spread to Littletown causing changes in everyone's lives. The story opens doors to conversations about COVID-19, ways that families and communities are working together to keep safe from the virus, family and community strengths, common challenges and reactions in children and adults, ways that families support children and each other, and our intense gratitude for frontline workers. A caregiver guide is available in the back of the book that provides ways parents can use the story with their children. (Published in 2020)
Copy and paste this link for more information.
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/special-resource/trinka_and-sam_fighting_the_big_virus.pdf
Copy and paste this link for more information.
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/fighting-the-big-virus-trinka-and-sam-questions
Thanks to Parent Center Hub for sharing this information.
https://www.parentcenterhub.org
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A Strategy for online learning during a Coronavirus Outbreak
Provide clear expectations to staff and parents.
During a closure, communication between administrators, staff, parents and students is more important than ever.
"In an online environment, everyone's anxiety is high and channels of communication need to be frequent, clear and succinct," Chow says.
For big-picture communications, prepare an FAQ outlining all the details of how the school will operate during a closure so staff and parents are on the same page.
David Lowe, a parent and former assistant principal whose children's district in Washington state switched to remote learning on March 9, recommends the FAQ include where to find the daily assignments; a list of sites and tools the students will need, how to log in and what to do if the technology doesn't work; and, finally, the expectations of parents. "There's a lot of information to sift through and parents are working hard to make sure they're clear on what they should be doing to best support their students."
In addition to posting and distributing FAQs, schools should set up communitywide texting to communicate quickly and then advise people where to find follow-up messages via email or on your website.
Next, prepare a step-by-step guide on how to access and use online learning tools and curriculum. Make sure you present this information in various formats including video and text and include screenshots and screen-casting tutorials.
Ask families to make sure all students - especially the youngest learners - know how to log in to the apps and know their passwords. Teachers need to know how to take attendance. Provide extra tech support and make sure parents and teachers know how to ask for help.
Communication should go beyond logistics and academics. David Miyashiro, superintendent at Cajon Valley Union School District in California, recorded a video for the teachers in his district outlining what the district has been doing to meet academic and basic needs of students. But he also covered at length the importance of meeting the social-emotional needs of students.
"Based on the input our principals have received from you and the input we received from our parent leaders, it's obvious that flexibility, human connection and guidance for our staff, students and their parents during this time is most important for the engagement and continued progress of our students," he said in his address to teachers.
Excerped from 10 Strategies for online learning Click here for article 10 Strategies
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 Back to School Webinar
TIME CORRECTION
SPAN Q&A session about navigating the special education landscape
October 26, 2020 - 1-2:15 ET
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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REGISTER FOR OUR NEW DATES:
Wednesday,September 23 and September 30, 4:30-6 PM. OPNEN TO Passaic County youth with ADHD. 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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