Greetings to our VFN Family and Friends.

Happy Back to School!

Vermont Family Network wishes a strong, healthy start to all our families as they begin the school year. New beginnings, a time for a fresh start, adjusting family schedules to accommodate the multitude of events, therapies, activities, athletic practices, homework, and the like. It can be a challenging time for our families as both positive and negative changes can bring about stress. At VFN, we are here to help you navigate the school year and ensure access, equity, and opportunity for your children. It’s exhausting – navigating the educational and healthcare landscapes and ensuring a free, appropriate education for your children is part of the work you do as engaged families. How will you engage with schools and providers in 2023-24? How do you feel about your school's services and their approach to family engagement?

Family Engagement is directly linked to improved, positive outcomes for children and youth with disabilities, disorders, and special health needs. The National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has six research-based Principles of Effective Family Engagement that are appropriate for Birth – 22. Read through the NAEYC Principles of Effective Practice here. How well do you think these principles are being carried out in your school?

In our upcoming VFN newsletters, we are going to focus on family engagement. What is meaningful family engagement? What are some best practices? What are some barriers in a small, rural state? Why is it so important? What can you expect and what can you ask for? What are tips and strategies for fostering effective communication and collaboration with your educational and medical teams? Our VFN staff have been studying these issues which impact Vermont families and invite an open dialogue on what we can do as a state to foster equitable, impactful family engagement – however family is defined. Stay tuned! You won’t want to miss the best practice strategies that move parent involvement to family engagement.

From the heart,

Jacqui

Coordinated Services Plan (Act 264) Meetings

When a child with a disability or special health needs requires services from multiple organizations, and families need help with coordinating those services, they may be eligible for a Coordinated Services Plan (CSP). This tool coordinates the parties involved in a child’s care by bringing all the service providers together at one meeting. Families who access the CSP are entitled to a parent representative who can support the family before, during and after the CSP meeting. VFN Family Support Consultants, through a collaboration with the Vermont Department of Mental Health and several designated agencies, support families in the CSP process in the role of parent representative in many parts of the state.

If you have any questions regarding the parent representative role and how to access one for your meeting, Act 264 or mental health supports in general, please contact the VFN helpline at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.

Vermont Leadership Series

The Vermont Leadership Series is an immersive training where participants learn how to become an effective advocate for those with a federally defined developmental disability. There are three sessions, each led by one of the participating organizations: Green Mountain Self Advocates, The Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council and Vermont Family Network. You will learn about the Disability Rights movement, how to craft your story, and how to cultivate relationships with policy makers. The following are the dates and locations of each weekend:

• Weekend 1: November 4-5 Middlebury
• Weekend 2: December 2-3 Burlington
• Weekend 3: January 6-7 Montpelier

We strive to make the environment as supportive and inclusive as possible. Participants will gain new skills, learn about systems change and about being a leader all while having fun and making new connections. While the emphasis of the training is legislative advocacy, the skills learned are transferable to other settings. Over 100 Vermonters have already graduated from the Vermont Leadership Series. Is this the year you will make the commitment toward being an advocate for system change? Send an email to joanne.wechsler@vtfn.org today with your interest in joining the 2024 Vermont Leadership Series cohort. The deadline to apply is September 22, 2023.

Grant Funds Available!

Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism

Flutie Funds are still available! This fund will provide direct financial support to families who are eligible. Families who have children (from birth to age 22) with an autism diagnosis may request up to $200 for needed equipment, respite, camp, therapies, emergency childcare, or to attend a conference related to their child's diagnosis.

We encourage families from rural areas (e.g. Bennington, Essex, Orleans and Windham counties) to apply. First time applicants will be prioritized for receiving a grant. One grant per household.

The Doug Flutie Jr., Foundation for Autism based in Framingham MA, awards grants annually through a competitive application and review process. The signature grants that the Flutie Foundation distributed this year support traditionally under-served, under-funded, culturally diverse communities reflected in the Foundation’s area of interest by providing a path for educational and vocational skills, supporting recreational and active lifestyles, and ensuring people with autism are safe, supported and informed.

Please visit Get Support to complete an application. If you have questions or need support in completing an application, please email laurel.sanborn@vtfn.org or call 802-876-5315.

VFN and HireAbility

VFN works in collaboration with HireAbility, formerly Vocational Rehabilitation VT, to bring information about post-secondary options to families and youth with disabilities. We help families and youth access HireAbility in-school offerings during the transition to adulthood process. VFN also partners with HireAbility on projects that highlight youth leadership and perspective.

One leadership project is the Youth Advisory Council which is made up of youth ages 14 to 24 years old who have a disability or special health need. Council members participate in leadership training and opportunities that impact how Vermont prepares students with disabilities for life after high school. Interested youth should apply here: Vermont Youth Advocacy Council Application 2023.

VFN helps to facilitate a youth panel in HireAbility’s annual fall Interagency Event. This panel highlights youth perspective and experience in the transition process to professionals who work in the education and adult services fields. If your young person is interested in participating in such panels, please contact martha.frank@vtfn.org.

For more information on transitioning to adult life, call VFN Family Support at 876-5315 or check out our Transition Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities.

News From the Puppets -

Meet our New Puppeteers!

Earlier in the year, Puppets in Education advertised for two new per-diem puppeteers. We are very proud to welcome Ry Poulin and Judi Byron to our puppets family!

Ry Poulin (they/them) has been involved with the Vermont theater community for ten years, and has worked with Vermont Stage, Lyric Theatre, and more. They are Co-artistic Director for Between The Willows, a queer-owned and operated theater company started with their best friend to uplift queer voices and share new work.

Judi Byron (she/her) has an educational background, serving in multiple positions with various school systems over the years. She is currently the Adult Program Coordinator for Waterbury Public Library and is a professional harpist. She regularly travels the state, performing at events and giving harp therapy workshops.

Our new puppeteers started their training on August 28^th with some puppet sit-ups (pictured). It was a wonderful day filled with a lot of learning mixed with a little silliness, exactly what a puppeteer training should be! Puppets in Education is so excited to have both Ry and Judi on our team, and we look forward to many puppet adventures with them.

Our first show for the 2023-2024 school year will be in Milton on Wednesday, September 20^th. We’ll be dusting off our “Feelings” script - one we haven’t performed in schools since March 2020!

To book a show for your school, please visit our Schedule a Puppet Show Page on VFN’s website. Please email Karen Sharpwolf at karen.sharpwolf@vtfn.org with any questions you may have.

Upcoming Events for

VFN's Parent Match Program

Support Parent Trainings:

These Zoom meetings comprise Part 2 of the Support Parent Training. Please complete the Support Parent Volunteer Application if you are interested in becoming a trained Support Parent and to receive Part 1 of the training.

2023

• Thursday, October 19, 12-2:00 p.m. OR
• Tuesday, October 24, 6-8:00 p.m.

2024

• Wednesday, January 17, 12-2:00 p.m. OR
• Tuesday, January 23, 6-8:00 p.m.

Trained Support Parent Gatherings:

These gatherings are virtual and a Zoom link will be sent out to trained support parents closer to the date.

2023

• Tuesday, November 14, 6-7:00 p.m.

2024

• Wednesday, February 7, 6-7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 7, 6-7:00 p.m.

Here are a Few Fun Fall Facts

• Highest recorded temp in VT in October:

85 degrees 10/11/1949 & 10/17/1947

• Coldest recorded temp in VT in October:

15 degrees 10/ 20/1972

• Approximately 30 to 40 apples will yield one gallon of cider.

• 5 percent of an apple’s volume is air; that’s why they float.

• Orange County is home to the most maple trees in Vermont, is located east of the Green Mountains. The region includes Newbury, West Topsham, Vershire, Strafford, Thetford, Brookfield, Chelsea, Randolph, and Tunbridge.

• One in every four trees in Vermont is a maple tree.

• Vermont’s State record for the largest pumpkin on record is 2,017.5 lbs.

• Apples are the official State fruit of Vermont.

• This year, the Autumnal Equinox, when the amount of daylight and night are equal is on September 23.

• You never know when to put your snow tires on… the earliest snowfall on record occurred on September 20^th in 1956 and 1991 in Burlington, Vermont.

Free Workshops

POSTPONED! New date TBD for "Understanding When and How to Give Public Comment on the Medicaid Rules that Impact Your Family"

This workshop will explain the rulemaking process that state agencies must follow to create or change regulations, what Public Comment is and what role it plays in the rulemaking process, where to find out when Medicaid Rules are open for Public Comment, how to write and submit your comments, and how public comments are considered in the rulemaking process.

Presenter: Rachel Seelig (she, her), Esq. - Director of the Disability Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid

September 28 at 1:00 p.m. Register for "What Every Parent Needs to Know About Learning to Read"

Learning to read is a complex process that does not come easily for many children. This workshop will provide you with a basic understanding of how the human brain learns to read. Parents and caregivers interested in learning more about reading development will leave with a better understanding of what to expect as their child learns to read, signs of early reading trouble, and how to support them when they struggle.

Presenters: Abby Roy, M.A., NCSP, CAGS, A/OGA - nationally certified school psychologist and evaluator at the Stern Center for Language and Learning in Williston, VT and Nicole Chick M.S.Ed, CAS Remedial Reading, AIT/OGA - Founder of Early Literacy Labs, a private literacy instruction and consulting company located in Waitsfield, VT and adjunct professor at Norwich University.

October 3 at 10:00 a.m. Register for "How To Become Your Own Best Advocate"

Presenter Alexina Federhen, will use her lived experience with mental health issues and a reading disability to show how you can become your own best advocate. Alexina at a young age was diagnosed with a neurological disorganization disorder called cross dominance. She has struggled with depression and anxiety since middle school and is currently dealing with long COVID as well. She shares her experience of self-advocacy through school, the healthcare system, and professional work. She explains what worked, what didn’t, and the need for persistence in advocacy.

Presenter: Alexina Federhen - native Vermonter, graduate of Cornell University, former 2020 Miss Vermont and creator of the non-profit "The Feel Better Way," providing information and resources to teens and young adults struggling with mental health issues

October 9 at 11:00 a.m. Register for "It’s Your Rights! What Family Caregivers Should Know About the New Medicaid Rules for Adult Developmental Services"

Last March, new federal requirements took effect for people receiving Medicaid-funded home and community based services. These impact adults receiving developmental disability services in certain settings, including group homes and shared living arrangements. The rules are designed to ensure that people living in these settings have privacy, autonomy, and full access to the community. An expert in Medicaid policy, Ms. Murphy will provide helpful background for navigating the complex world of adult services.

Presenter: Kirsten Murphy is the Executive Director of the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council

If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we’ll send you a recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time.

In case you missed our last series of workshops, you can find a full list on our VFN website. Stay tuned as we add more workshops to our fall schedule!

We save workshops on our website and YouTube channel.

Join our closed Facebook group specifically for parents of adult children

Join our closed Facebook group

for all parents

Contact our Helpline at (802) 876-5315 or info@vtfn.org