AWAREness

   Volume 2

May 2007      

Providing parents of children with disabilities with information, training, assistance, and support

 

1021 Delaware Avenue

Palm Harbor, FL  34683

1-888-61-AWARE

www.CFLparents.org

 

Pop-Up IEP

Are you a little bit anxious about an upcoming IEP meeting?  Are you concerned that there may be areas of disagreement with your IEP team?  If so, you are not alone!  “Pop-Up IEP” offers some “conversation stoppers” that parents may hear when advocating for their children. Knowing what the “real” issues might be, some respectful but effective responses, and what the laws say about educating children with disabilities can help and your IEP team to move forward in a positive direction!

For more information on Pop-Up IEP, click here. 

In This Issue

 

Pop-Up IEP

 

What is a School Advisory Council?

   

Ten Tips for Improving Parent Involvement in IEP Meetings

 

Get in the Loop!

  

Call for Support Groups

 

Florida Early Steps Program

 

Comprehensive School Reform

 

Share Stories or Tips

 

Job Interviews and the

ADA

 

 

What is a School Advisory Council?

 

 

 

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a team of people representing various segments of the community – parents, teachers, students, administrators, support staff, business/ industry people and other interested community members. The purpose of a SAC is to assist in the preparation and evaluation (developing and evaluating) of the results of the school improvement plan and to assist the principal with the annual school budget. Additionally, SAC receives funds "to be used at the discretion of the School Advisory Committee A portion of the money should be used for implementing the school improvement plan."

For more information regarding School Advisory Councils, click here.

 

 

 

 

Ten Tips for Improving Parent Participation in   IEP Meetings

By Randy Chapman

 

Randy Chapman is the director of Legal Services at The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People, Colorado’s Protection  and Advocacy System.

 

 

Get in the Loop!

 

Have you signed up for the Listservs offered by Central  Florida Parent Center?

 

Listserv topics include:

 

* General Information

* Early Intervention

* Parental Participation

* Students  and Young Adults

* School Reform Activities

* Collaboration between Agencies

* Espanol

 

To sign up to receive information, click here.

 

 

Are you a Support Group leader?  Are you a member of a Support Group?  Central Florida Parent Center is identifying Parent Support Groups to post on our website.  If you have (or know of) a Support Group that you would like to add to our list, please send contact information to candace@CFLparents.org.

 

 

Florida's Early Intervention System, Early Steps, offers services to support families in the growth and development of infants and toddlers with special needs (birth to 36 months).

To learn more, visit the Early Steps website.

 

 

Comprehensive School Reform (CSR)

Comprehensive School Reform was developed to help schools       engage in comprehensive reforms that are grounded in scientifically based research and effective practices so that all students can meet challenging state and local academic standards. CSR was designed      to leverage systemic improvement in low performing schools                  — especially those that qualify for Title I funds.

To learn more about Comprehensive School Reform, click here.

 

We’d love to hear from YOU!

 

Do you have a story you would like to share with AWAREness readers?   Maybe

 you have helpful

 tips that you would like to pass on to other parents?  Please feel free to send stories and

 tips to:  diane@cflparents.org

 

 

 How Can I Help My Son or Daughter Get That Job?

The ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and the Job Interview

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 with its 1992 Amendments are both       Civil Rights laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination. The ADA protects persons from discrimination          by private employers, public agencies and state and local government agencies. The Rehabilitation Act covers programs      and services which receive federal money. This article will focus      on the provisions in the laws that protect people with disabilities        in the job interview.

Although the article is from Pacer Center in Minnesota, the information is helpful to any parent who is searching for         answers about employment for their son or daughter in any state.

To read the full article, click here.

 

 

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.

Michael Pritchard