NOVEMBER 2024

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Hello Jackie,

Fall is a time of change and reflection. We are happy to add Kelsey Biswanger to our Training Team. Previously, Kelsey was a Regional Parent Mentor serving Oakland and Livingston Counties. We're thankful to have staff remain with the organization, expanding our work of informing and empowering families. Register to join Kelsey for these early education webinars.

• December 16 Moving On from Early On® with Kelsey Biswanger from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mwkpwc8t
• January 24 IFSP: A Closer Look with Kelsey Biswanger from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3ukd87zu

Need individual support? Contact us with your special education question or concerns. Our Parent Mentors all have a child or close family member who received early intervention or special education services. We can listen, share information, and help you think about next steps to take.

Kanika Littleton

Director, Michigan Alliance for Families

Transition from school to adulthood can be confusing as families will be working with different agencies for supports and services.

The Michigan Interagency Transition Team (MITT) has created "A Guide to Transition from Special Education into Adulthood" to explain how to connect with these supports and services.

By providing a single comprehensive document explaining the transition process, services, and supports, the MITT hopes to make this journey easier for you.

Michigan has many statewide agencies to help families and self-advocates with the transition from special education into adult life. These agencies are members of the MITT. 

The goals of this guide are to answer your questions, connect you with services, and help you plan for a successful transition

Early childhood staff that work with your family work as a team. YOU are an important member of this team. You are the most knowledgeable person about your child, your family, and what you want to see happen to help your child learn and grow.

As a team member, you should help with your child’s assessment and evaluation and share ideas about what you want to work on with the rest of the team. You should be involved in writing your child’s plan (IEP or IFSP).

Your interactions with other team members provide opportunities to try out ideas, make suggestions, and provide feedback about what is or is not working.

Check out this guide from Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center that includes different things that can help you be actively and meaningfully involved with other team members.

Literacy is a fundamental building block for success. In October, Governor Whitmer signed a set of literacy bills that emphasizes foundational skills and using the science of reading.

These bills improve training, assessments, and interventions to support kids who are struggling with characteristics of dyslexia and will help all kids master decoding skills.

Dyslexia is a type of specific learning disability that impacts reading skills. Because dyslexia is commonly misunderstood by educators, families, and the public alike, it is important to clarify these misconceptions to better identify, teach, and support learners with, or at risk for, dyslexia in and out of school.

Michigan Dyslexia Handbook: A Guide to Accelerating Learner Outcomes in Literacy (released in 2022) is designed to help educators develop a shared understanding of best practices to prevent reading difficulties associated with dyslexia. The handbook includes assessment practices needed to inform instruction and intervention methods.

Paving the Way to Self Determination offers free, online educational opportunities for families with children with disabilities (ages birth – 12) to empower thinking that leads to living an independent and self-directed life. Let’s raise the bar of expectations so our children can look forward to a brighter future – one of their choosing.

November 12 Charting the LifeCourse

November 13 The Power of Connection

November 20 Building Resilience

December 3 Understanding Social Security Benefits

December 10 Instilling Disability Pride in Your Child

December 18 The Power of Connection

Visit the Disability Network of Southwest Michigan website for full details and to register. Questions should be directed to Mary Fortney at fortneym@dnswm.orgor 269-345-1516 x 201.

November 13 Employment Expectations with Karen Wang from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mwvxhsmn

November 14 Positive Behavioral Inventions and Supports (PBIS) with Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yck98nf6

November 19 Rethinking Discipline with Amy Wilhelm from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4sz93jau

December 4 Section 504@School: What Parents Need to Know with Michelle Driscoll & Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mrted8u5

December 5 Math for All: Supporting Your Child with Disabilities in Math with Rachel Tabron from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/36yeex69

December 6 & 13 Behavior is Communication (two part webinar) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle from 1:00pm-2:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/bwees5ek

December 11 Disability is Not a Bad Word with Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yckx7z83

December 11 Tools for Supported Decision-Making with Mary Shehan from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/fxxm33fd

December 12 Collaborative Communication in Special Education with Rebecca Kozlow from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/8w4b26xv

December 16 Moving On from Early On with Kelsey Biswanger from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mwkpwc8t

December 17 IEP: A Closer Look with Andrea Beachnau from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/puup6vf6

December 18 Growing Up with Self-Determination with Karen Wang from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5n8p4mta

Being a caregiver is rewarding, but it often requires sacrifice. Caregiving may be a full-time responsibility, or an additional role on top of existing obligations. Often it's done with no recognition or support.

National Family Caregivers Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of family caregiver issues, celebrate the efforts of family caregivers, educate family caregivers about self-identification, and increase support for family caregivers.

A new animated series features a warm-hearted raccoon who loves collecting things. Carl The Collector breaks new ground as the first PBS KIDS series to feature central characters on the autism spectrum.

Representation matters. Seeing someone like you gives children who share these experiences a sense of visibility and belonging. Seeing diversity onscreen helps all children understand and appreciate differences, which is essential for building inclusive attitudes and reducing stereotypes about disabilities.

Have special education questions?

Ask us! 

info@michiganallianceforfamilies.org

1-800-552-4821

En Español

313-217-1060

للغه العربيه 

248-963-0607