PAVE PIPELINE
Fall Edition September 2011 to December 2011 - Vol 2, Issue 2 |
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Join Us for PAVE's Keys to Success
In Special Education Conference
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A Youth's Perspective
"Fears of a New School"
By: Alyssa McCormick
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Greetings!
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This edition of the Pipeline coincides with the start of another school year for some while for other families school is either in their future or is in their loved one's rear mirror. Whatever path your loved one is on the Pipeline strives to offer families the most current and effective information in this editions Pipeline.
We hope the articles and/or topics help you as we walk together to support with our loved ones. There are lots of predictions and absolute realities being experienced with the many changes all around us. The staff and volunteers of PAVE have been working this summer to help families stay ahead of the curve. Getting you information and resources for your family to help you make the best choices for your loved ones. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Tracy Kahlo,
Executive Director
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Tips for an Easy Transition Back to School
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It's the time to start the school year again! If you're feeling excited and anxious about your child's school year, imagine what your child with a disability may be experiencing. Do you have new teachers, new friends, or maybe even a  new school? With the uncertainty of the effects of educational budget cuts, we would like to supply you with some suggestions and strategies to help you and your child with special needs survive what can be a stressful time. Read More On This Article
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Burned Out:
How can I help myself in a stressful family environment? |  One of the hardest jobs to have is to be a parent. It is truly, a 24-7, 365 day job. If you are also the primary caregiver for a loved one with special needs, then you are even more aware of the daily stress and emotional and physical impact it might have on your health. Parenting or being the primary caregiver for an individual with special needs includes the ongoing, repetitive, and difficult, but necessary tasks that must be performed to adequately nurture the person being cared for. Challenging bed-time routines and medication disbursement are often multiple sources of cumulative stress. This stress can be further compounded with major life events. Marriages, mental health, and healthy home environments can be at risk. Burnout is a state of experiencing long-term mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. Burnout makes you feel like you have nothing more to give. It zaps your energy and can leave you feeling helpless, cynical, and resentful.
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Webinars Regarding Families are Important
| Families of infants and toddlers with disabilities now have the opportunity to receive training and  information about the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) process and the importance of your role as a parent on the IFSP team. Parents are the most important people in their children's lives and are an important resource for providers when they are developing your family's IFSP.
"Families are Important" is a curriculum developed by families for families to use as a guide to help them understand Part C Early Intervention and their role in the Birth to Three Early Intervention program. Part C services are family centered and families have an important role in the decision-making process from evaluation to assessment through the implementation of the IFSP and services. This curriculum is used in statewide training and is an important source of information and support for families to help them enhance their infants and toddler's learning and development.
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Finding Dr. Right
|  You can find Dr. Right for your child with special health care needs and/or disability, but it's going to take some effort. There simply isn't a five star rating system right now for doctors. It can make you crazy when you think of it. Most of us wouldn't buy a new car without checking the consumer ratings, or head to a new hotel without looking up the AAA star ranking, but we rely largely on word of mouth when it comes to finding a doctor for our children.
We do this because we have to. Currently, you won't find detailed quality data on individual doctors. Although a detailed quality data system is being developed it isn't expected to be available to consumers until 2015. The demand for a rating system is growing because most families have to choose from their health plan's list of doctors.
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Back to School With RTI:
Helpful information for parents to support their child with academic struggles |  As fall approaches many parents are immersed in the school year. Thinking about school supplies, clothing, transportation, and helping with homework are on the minds of many parents of school age children. On that long list is creating a relationship with the teachers and administrators at the school their child attends. Getting to know what processes your child's new teacher or school plan to use is very important, especially when it comes to Response to Intervention (RTI). RTI is a way of providing academic and behavioral support to students through assessment and instruction that helps teachers meet the needs of students who are struggling in school. RTI, while not in all schools, is becoming increasingly popular within school districts across the nation. Parents should become knowledgeable about RTI and how to ask if their child's school is using it and how it is being used to help children who are struggling with academics and behaviors in the school setting. This knowledge can come from asking teachers and administrators about it and getting involved. This is important because if a child begins to struggle in school parents will already know about this process and how it can support their child. Below you will find a list of terms (cited from the National Center on RTI) and questions that will better equip you to talk with your child's school about RTI.
Read More On This Article
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The Kinship Navigator Program
|  The Kinship Navigator Program was developed to provide families who are raising children of relatives with information regarding assistance and services that are available to them. The general requirements to qualify for services are that you have taken on the responsibility of caring for a relatives' child or children. These children might be the caregiver's sibling's, nieces, nephews, or most often, grandchildren.
The PAVE Pipeline Staff would like to highlight the Kinship Navigator Program here in Washington State with a series of articles combining interviews with the Kinship Navigators and Kinship Caregivers.
Lynn Urvina, the Kinship Navigator who co-ordinates services in Thurston, Lewis & Mason County was interviewed. Lynn's office is located in the Family Education & Support Services Offices in Olympia. You instantly feel comfortable in the surroundings, as Lynn welcomes you. Lynn lets us into her world as a grandparent/caregiver and Kinship Navigator. Below is the conversation with Lynn and her involvement with Kinship.
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Sound Options Group, L.L.C. Continues to Provide Mediation and
IEP Meeting Facilitation for Special Education |  Sound Options Group, L.L.C. continues to serve as the Administrative Agent to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for Washington State to provide mediation services under part B of the IDEA. We also serve in a similar capacity to the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) with the Department of Early Learning to provide mediation under part C of the IDEA.
Mediation is an informal, voluntary and confidential process. A mediation session offers participants an opportunity to present their views and learn about the other's perspectives. The mediator works as an impartial facilitator to help the participants clarify issues, make decisions and build mutual agreements for the student's sake.
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We're Glad You Asked!
|  QUESTION: My son is starting high school this year. He has been asked to fill out his "High School and Beyond Plan" even though he has an IEP and needs support in his general education classes. He has learning disabilities, depression and is on medication for ADHD. We want him to graduate with a regular diploma and walk with his class. I know that school is just starting but I'm getting nervous. What plans do we have to make now to see that this happens?
Read this Answer, and More Questions Here |
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Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment
Administration - Tracy Kahlo, Heather Hebdon, Elma Rounds, Sandy Trujillo, Kady Duggan
360 Military Family Center - Jill McCormick, Candy Reyes, Stacey Luffy
Community Inclusion Program - Michele Lehosky, Susan Jackson, Sarah Miller
Early Support for Infant and Toddler Program - Debbie Jackson
Family to Family Health and Information Center - Julie Finholm
Parent To Parent of Pierce County - Michele Lehosky, Susan Jackson
Parent Training and Information Program - Vicky McKinney, Vanessa Lewis,
Sherry Mashburn, Anita Partida, Jeanette Stonecipher, Jessica Kaluya, Pat Barkley
Person Centered Planning - Michele Lehosky
Response To Intervention Program - Michaela Duggan
Specialized Training of Military Parents - Heather Hebdon, Adriana Martinez,
Kate Mason, Valerie Patterson, Brianna Ybarra
Do you have an idea and/or a topic you would like to see covered?
Let us know by emailing pipeline@wapave.org or calling us at 1-800-572-7368.
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