September 7, 2022 | Issue 44 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

Important News

Back to School Resources to

Support Students

Resources from Project ECHO

It's that time of year: back to school! Families and students are excited about all the fun a new school year brings. However, going back to school often means adjusting to new routines, new teachers, and new faces. These changes can be tricky for some autistic people and their families - as well as others.

These behavior basics resources can be a great starting point to prepare for the start of school:

Check out other free evidence-based resources from ECHOAutism

As we launch into a new school year, the physical and emotional well-being of our children is a top priority. Given all the changes that have occurred in the last two years, parents and schools alike recognize that addressing this priority is likely to be a year-long challenge.

Check out important information in the latest "Buzz from the Hub" here

Resources

Don't Miss These Webinars

"Our Disability Roadmap": Judy Heumann Talks with Samuel Habib About Transition

Sep 14, 2022

3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

Join Samuel Habib as he speaks with disability rights revolutionary Judy Heumann for the first in a year-long, FREE series of webinars: “Our Disability Roadmap."

Judy and Samuel will discuss a wide range of issues around transition, including career pathways, higher education, independent living, advocacy, relationships and sexuality, and much more.

Questions can be submitted in advance or asked live.

ASL interpretation and captioning will be provided.

Closing Gaps in Healthcare Inequities Webinars

Wednesdays in September at Noon

The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities will be hosting #WebinarWednesdays, to share recommendations to help close gaps in healthcare inequities experienced by people with disabilities.

Topics include:

9/2/2022 Prenatal Diagnosis

9/14/2022 Mental Health

9/21/2022 Organ Transplantation

9/28/2022 Aging/End of Life

SPAN's own Josie Badger and Lauren Agoratus participated in developing the recommendations.

The Power of Peers!

Peers are a natural source of support for students with disabilities at school. They are capable of providing a wide range of academic, social, and practical support.

Support from peers is less intrusive than using one-to-one paraprofessionals to provide support. Peers are usually quite willing and interested in contributing their time and effort in a wide variety of ways.

Peers also benefit from getting to know their schoolmates with disabilities, so peer engagement is a win-win-win proposition. It is good for students with disabilities, good for their peers, and good for educators.

The TIES Center has published guides about powerful approaches that can promote relationships and inclusive education at school. These include:

Peer networks
Peer support arrangements
Stay-Play-Talk
Recess-based approaches
Strategies for students who use AAC
Paraprofessional facilitation strategies
Class-wide peer acceptance efforts
Cooperative learning
Peer partner programs

Learn more about these strategies here

There is also a searchable Decision-Making Guide to guide decisions about which approach or combination of approaches to use.

Review the Decision-Making Guide here

Special Announcement!

Take a Look at SPAN's New Website!

Here are the Highlights:

Easier to navigate
Improved search feature to help users explore our robust collection of resources
Designed with increased accessibility in mind to ensure access for all

You will discover helpful resources and tools developed to support families.

A big thank you to the SPAN Communications team, especially Melanie McLaurin, our fabulous Website Content Manager.

Visit us to see all that the new SpanAdvocacy.org has to offer.

See all of SPAN's upcoming events with details and registration links here

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