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Infant & Toddler
Connection of Virginia
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The World Will Turn Blue on April 2, 2021 in Honor of
World Autism Awareness Day
It's all part of Light it Up Blue, a campaign spearheaded by the organization Autism Speaks that aims to foster understanding and acceptance for those with autism. Supporters are encouraged to wear blue clothing and post to social media using the hashtag #LightItUpBlue to raise awareness.
In addition, landmarks around the world will turn blue in support of the cause. Niagara Falls, the United Nations, the Empire State Building, the White House and state government buildings are just a few of the landmarks to glow blue on April 2 in years past.
On World Autism Awareness Day and throughout April, which is Autism Awareness Month, local organizations hold a variety of events and educational activities to help the public learn more about autism spectrum disorder.
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Communication is challenging for Ryan Lowry, but a handwritten letter he penned to his “future employer” has reached millions. The note makes a simple request: “take a chance on me.”
The 20-year-old job seeker who lives in Leesburg, Va., is autistic, and both speaking and writing can be laborious for him. But Lowry had his eye on his professional pursuits, so he decided to write a letter to prospective employers with the goal of finding a mentor and ultimately landing a job in the animation industry.
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WHATEVER YOU DO, MAKE IT MEMORABLE! |
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Local Systems Share Ideas
Early Intervention Awareness Month May 2021
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In years past, we have made rounds with goodies (sometimes put together by day program participants at AHCS) to all providers and agencies we work with or from who we accept referrals. This year, we plan to do that by mailing. Also, our HR officer happens to know the author of a toddler book, called “My Time to Fly” and she has agreed to read this virtually through our area library “Story Time” (now on Zoom). We also plan to put up PR messages on our local online media. MaryEllen Pitt
In years past we have provided donuts and muffins in our main office commons with signs and info about EI. Not sure if we will do that this year with COVID and limited staff in office. We will develop a mailer to go out to local pediatricians recognizing May as EI month. Also, in years past our county hosts a Kids Matter Day where we have always set up a booth offering families information about EI and interactive activities and giveaways for kiddos. That has been cancelled this year but typically it is the first weekend in May. Amy Taylor
We have a few things in the works, but all deal with paying attention to the impact COVID-19 has had on young children and their social emotional development.
We plan to do the following:
- Press release with two local papers in our service area.
- On our page of the Grafton Website, we are going to have information/strategies on how to help young children integrate back into the “real” world, addressing things like separation anxiety, stranger anxiety.
We also will have a page specific to things that impact social emotion development and what parents can do to support their child. Sharlene Stowers
Here are a couple of initiatives we hope to take at our program, Virginia Beach Early Intervention, to celebrate Early Intervention Awareness month in May.
- I have reached out to departmental and city leadership to inquire about training possibilities. I am hoping to be able to present at a local Human Service Department leadership meeting to educate leadership about who we serve, how one qualifies, services that are available, and how to make a referral.
- We will be hosting lunch-and-learn type webinars with frontline workers within the Human Services Department to educate staff about our program.
- Facebook posts will be posted on a weekly basis, at minimum, in May to inform the public of our department and what we do. These posts will be on the VB Human Service Department FB page.
- A flyer/info sheet (PDF) is being created about our program. This flyer will be distributed throughout the Human Serviced Department staff via email. Hopefully this will also be distributed throughout all city of VB departments as well.
- Community outreach will occur, with a focus on childcare settings and pediatrician offices, to offer brief, informational webinars about our program.
Please note that these endeavors have not yet been approved and/or solidified, but are in the works. We hope that we are able to conduct all of them, but will not know the outcome of the requests prior to your April 1 ITCVA Update. Josetta Thomae
We plan to send trays of cookies to our Peds' offices with a thank you card from Southside ITC staff. I have requested the ITC of VA promotional video be put on our Agency FB page. I am going to encourage all EI staff to wear EI Purple on Fridays during the month of May. Trying to see about getting others in the Agency to do the same. Maybe we can do this statewide.....EI Purple Friday! Dee Holland-Brock
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Shirts, socks, hats, face masks, etc. Don your purple for Early Intervention Awareness Month!
Submit your individual and team photos for the May or June edition.
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KYLA SHARES NEW UPDATES ON THE SSIP |
State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)
We have completed our fifth year of SSIP implementation and recently submitted our required report to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Please take a few minutes to read the report and celebrate the positive impacts we’ve been able to document thanks to your hard work!
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WANTED!
Input from local system managers, service coordinators and service providers
All states must develop a new 6-year State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) by February 1, 2022. The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia state office wants to hear from you about what child or family outcome we should target to improve with our new SSIP. We hope you’ll plan to join the discussion!
Save the Date
to participate in a virtual listening session:
Friday, April 30, 10 AM – 11AM
Monday, May 3, 1PM – 2PM
Thursday, May 6, 3PM – 4PM
You only need to participate in one session, and meeting details will be provided at a later date.
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2021 FAMILY SURVEY
DAVID KEEPS US UPDATED ON TIMELINE
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Annual Early Intervention Family Survey Being Mailed this Week!
Help us to improve Virginia’s Part C early intervention system by encouraging families to share information about their experience!
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Wave 1 begin mailing - 3/29-4/5/2021: ODU is on track to complete the first wave of the survey being mailed out this week. They will also be working on sending out the email invitations for the web survey.
Wave 2 begin mailing - 4/19-4/23/2021
Calls begin to localities with less than 15 completes - 5/14-5/21/2021
Data cleaning, compilation, and delivery to R. Penfield - NLT 6/28/2021
Input from families today allows us to better serve
families tomorrow.
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EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY
Presented by PARENT EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING CENTER (PEATC)
in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education
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Parents are their child’s first and most important teachers and,
the early years are a critical time for growth and development.
Helping children learn and grow doesn't have to be complicated or
done alone.
In this FREE 5-week learning program, parents and caregivers will
learn useful tips and ideas for supporting their child's development
and the resources available to help make transition from early
intervention to school less confusing. This course was designed so
that busy families can learn on their own schedule with new
sessions opening weekly and available anytime – day or night.
Participants who complete all sessions will receive a certificate of
completion with 6 contact hours.
Learn about:
- Tips on being involved in your child's education
- Parents as first teachers
- Developmental milestones
- Supporting language development
- Encouraging positive behaviors
- Special education services
- The importance of inclusion
- and, more!
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What March Madness Teaches Us About Leadership
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March Madness is upon us. It’s the time of the year in college basketball where dreams come true and when hearts are broken depending on the final score. How’s your bracket looking? Regardless of how your team performs there are key leadership lessons to be learned. Here are five worth your consideration.
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Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. – Michael Jordan
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Meet Valerie Coles and her Diverse Furry Coworkers |
I have worked in Early Intervention for 13 years. For many of those years I was the Early Intervention program manager for Easterseals in the Roanoke area, leading a team of service coordinators and developmental educators. A year ago I moved into a program development position with the agency, looking for opportunities to expand services throughout the state. Early Intervention will always be my love and as a certified EI professional, I continue to participate in assessments and intakes.
Milo, the cat was my first pet. He followed me down the alley to my apartment one day 19 years ago and we have been together ever since. Milo is most likely to be seen on a Zoom call.
The best we can tell, Molly is a Plott hound mix. I rescued her from a shelter just before Christmas several years ago, finding it charming when she bayed at me each time I walked past her kennel. I am now very thankful she does not bark or bay very often and has the sweetest disposition with all people and animals. Molly is most likely to need a bathroom break in the middle of an assessment and definitely makes herself known.
Our family acquired Jenga the brown haired bunny and his sister Poppy after no less than 4 years of near constant begging by two of our daughters who were certain owning bunnies was the answer to all of their dreams. I relented with the expectation they would be primarily outdoor bunnies living in a fancy hutch and that they would have a space indoors away from the main living area. Though they look completely different, these siblings are a mix of Holland lop and Jersey Wooly breeds. Fast forward one year, they have used the outdoor hutch a handful of times. Apparently, these rabbit breeds are not very hardy and don’t do well with temperatures above 75 degrees. They also really like to be in the middle of everything, oftentimes right under foot when you are trying to walk across the room. The bunnies have a hutch located in our living room and when we are around can be found free ranging throughout main area of our home. Though Milo is not impressed and can sometimes be found swatting at them, everyone else in the house is enamored by their personalities and antics.
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Your home office likely includes a four-legged co-worker.
Let's see them hard at work!
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What do we do in this situation? |
Question: Mom called the SC to indicate she would be able to attend the first 45 minutes of the scheduled assessment but would have to go to work after this. Grandma, who is one of the child’s caregivers, would remain at the assessment. Mom agreed to sign all remaining paperwork after the assessment is complete. Is this allowable, or does mom have to be present for the entirety of the meeting?
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Are there questions that come up that you would like the answer to or think others wonder the same? We're here to help! |
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EARLY INTERVENTION CERTIFICATION |
Have issues with your username or password for Early Intervention Certification?
For questions about certification of practitioners, contact David Mills • 804-786-6593
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Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia is part of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
1220 Bank Street, 9th Floor, P.O. Box 1797, Richmond, Virginia 23219-1797
Main Office: (804) 786-3710 • Main Fax: (804) 371-7959
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1220 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 664-2462
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