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Volume 5 - Number 5                                                                                           May 2011
Empower Local Families who have Children with Disabilities  

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In This Issue
Students with Disabilities Award of Excellence
Dreams Take Flight Art Contest
Projects PEACE and Natural Beginnings at FIU
The Importance of Early Intervention for Infants
Simple Quiz Speeds Diagnosis of Autism in Infants
FDOE Annual ESE Parent Survey
UCP's Transitional Learning Academy's Summer Camp
UCP's Culinary Arts Program
Workshops & Support Groups

 

 

 

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Spotlight

Parent to Parent of Miami has the pleasure of welcoming two new employees to our team. Jessica Wendorf, Program Development Coordinator and Jennifer Iguina, Information Specialist


Jennifer Iguina - Brings over 13 years of experience in the business administration field and is the mother of three beautiful children, her youngest son has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect before birth. As an Information Specialist, she will be responsible of data entry, and will be contacting parents to survey the effectiveness of the services provided by Parent to Parent of Miami.

 

Jessica Wendorf - Is passionate about working to help children and families and cares deeply about her community. As a parent, she personally connected with the cause since the birth of her son who was diagnosed with autism. She brings extensive experience coordinating marketing campaigns and fundraising events. As Program Development Coordinator, she will be responsible for spearheading all activities related to increasing fundraising opportunities and program sustainability efforts to ensure the organization can manage the unexpected.
   



       

 Save the Date!

Join us for our annual fundraiser
Saturday - November 19, 2011
J.W. Marriott  

 

Congratulations


   
Excellence Award Ceremony held April 28th, 2011 at

 Ruth Owens Krus� Educational Center

 

Sponsored by:   

Parent to Parent of Miami & PCG Education

Superintendent's District Advisory Panel for Students with Disabilities annual award ceremony celebrates the accomplishment of students with disabilities in Miami-Dade County. This yearly event starts with the nominations of students in the Pre-K Programs for Children with Disabilities, Elementary, Middle and High School. The students selected are honored with the Award of Excellence and their teachers are recognized with the I MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD.

 

Parent to Parent of Miami congratulates and celebrates the leadership of the business honored for their commitment to improving opportunities for students with disabilities in Miami-Dade County.

 

2011 Excellence Award Honorees: Juan Carlos Castaneda (PreK). Elementary School. Teacher Diana Guergo - Tommy Gutierrez (5th Grade) Palm Springs Elementary School, Teacher Anna Allene McDougall - Raidel Leon (8th Grade) Hammocks Middle School, Teacher Gwendoyn Owes-Roberson - Erika Chirino (11th Grade) Robet Morgan Educational Center, Teacher Barbara Chotiner- Brian Beaubrun (12th Grade) Ruth Owens Krus� Educational Center, Teacher Gordon Parkin.

 
2011 Reno Cocci Employer Recognition Award Honorees: The DeMoya Group /North Shore Medical Center/Publix - Store #454/Loehmann's/ Fashion Island/South Miami Hospital/Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center/Whole Foods Market/Zoo Miami/Service System Associates

 

Dreams Take Flight Art Contest

Francisca Paulino, a Deaf/HH student at Barbara Goleman Senior High School was selected as one of the award winners of the 2011 All Kids Included Family Arts Festival - "Dreams Take Flight" Art Contest. This event is hosted by South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. Francisca participates in the After School Program at Barbara Goleman, funded by The Children's Trust/Family and Children Faith Coalition, where an Art Instructor goes every Tuesday to teach students Art and Crafts Skills.

The Dreams Take Flight art awards were presented at the 5th Annual All Kids Included Family Arts Festival at the new South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay. In addition, all award winners' art work were on display in the lobby of the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center from April 23 - 29, 2011.

 

Education
Projects PEACE and Natural Beginnings at FIU

Recruitment efforts are continuing for Projects PEACE and Natural Beginnings at Florida International University, an advanced master's degrees in Special Education. However, they will now be considering individuals who are certified in Exceptional Student Education (ESE K-12) if they do not have a Bachelor's degree in Special Education.

 

Project PEACE (Preparing Educators about Autism through Collaborative Efforts) is a Master's of Science of Education (MS) degree program in special education that leads to an add-on endorsement in autism in the State of Florida. The aim of the degree is to improve the education of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing coursework and experiences for special education teachers who teach students with ASD. This project recruits, educates, and retains special educators highly qualified to work and serve culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students with ASD.

 

Project Natural Beginnings is a Master's of Science of Education (MS) degree program in special education that specializes in early childhood special education (ECSE). The aim of the degree is to prepare special education teachers to serve young children with disabilities, their families, and communities in natural, inclusive, and diverse environments by providing coursework and experiences leading to an add-on endorsement in Pre-K Disabilities.

 

If an individual meets all other program and university requirements and is interested in applying to one of these programs, please complete the program application and email Sandy at [email protected] as soon as possible.

 

Click HERE to download the applications and frequently asked questions. 

 

News
What's new at www.nectag.org

New Publication: The Importance of Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families: Fact Sheet (2011) 

 

The Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Program (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created in 1986 to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities, minimize potential developmental delay, and reduce educational costs to our society by minimizing the need for special education services as children with disabilities reach school age. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the Part C program and quick facts from the research on early brain development, the importance of intervening early, the benefits of early intervention, and current unmet needs. It is meant to be used as a tool to communicate with policymakers, pediatricians, families, and community leaders about the importance of high quality services for infants and toddlers with or at risk for developmental delays and their families.

 

Simple Quiz Speeds Diagnosis of Autism in Infants

News Alert from the Wallstreet Journal

 

A brief screening in a pediatrician's office can detect autism-like symptoms in children as young as 12 months old, giving them an important head start on treatment, according to a study published Thursday. Click HERE to read the full article. 

 

FDOE Annual ESE Parent Survey

FDOE conducts an annual parent survey designed to provide USDOE, Office of Special Education Programs, with information on how well Florida's schools are supporting the involvement of parents of students with disabilities in their child's education. The survey is open to all parents of children with disabilities receiving exceptional student education (ESE) services from Pre-K through grade 12. Click HERE to take the survey.  

 

   

 

Click HERE to download the Summer Camp Registration Form  

 

  

 
PtoP

Parent to Parent of Miami

7990 SW 117 Ave. Suite 200
Miami, Florida, 33183
Tel: 305-271-9797
Fax: 305-271-6628
[email protected]
www.ptopmiami.org


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Mission
To empower and support a network of parents of children and adults with disabilities.
 
Vision
All parents of children and adults with disabilities will have universal access to information, training, support and advocacy skills to ensure their children achieve their fullest potential, while leading the community on the rights of all children.
 
Above all, we respect your privacy. We will never sell or share your information with anybody.
 
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Parent to Parent Of Miami
7990 SW 117th Avenue, Suite 200
305-271-9797 | 1-800-527-9552