Parent E-Newsletter
a resource for families of children with disabilities
November 2011
Parenting Together Support Group 
A Support Group just for parents of children with special needs
  • Meet once a month to share joys and struggles with those who understand and care
  • Learn about school and community resources and develop a network of support
  • Facilitated by Jim Kneeland, a parent of a son with disabilities and disability social worker
  • Meetings are second Thursday of the month, October - May, from 6-8:30 at the Garfield building in Cloquet (board room)
Come and join us! For families in the 12 school districts in the Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative.  No registration required. 
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iPads and my special needs child
Will an iPad help my child?

 

There is a lot of buzz about iPads or other tablets in the special education setting. Questions, such as:
  • Will an iPad help my special needs child meet his/her goals? 
  • Do insurance companies fund the iPad?  
  • Is there funding available that will help cover the cost of purchasing an iPad?
Here is a few websites* that touch on these topics:

Every child is different and it is important to review the student needs, the environment where help is needed, the tasks the child is trying to complete and the tools that will assist the student to meet those goals. 

 

For a free and easy to read Assistive Technology brochure, contact Shannon Proulx at sproulx@nlsec.k12.mn.us or 218-879-1283.
 
 *note these websites are not opinions of the Northern Lights Interagency Council - Parent IC, but to help you with researching iPads in special education.
Parent Website Resources

 

KidSmart
An initiative by IBM to help prepare young learners prepare for a 21st Century world.
http://www.kidsmartearlylearning.org

Information in categories:
  • Learning and Playing Together
  • Integrating Technology
  • Access for All
Information is introduced using videos, cartoons and information segments.  For parents this site is designed to help understand what's possible when it comes to younger children and computer time.

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Bookshare Resource for Parents
12 minute webinar for parents on tips obtaining digital textbooks
http://www.youtube.com/user/BookshareTeam#p/a/u/0/U32KqCaIaGU

Bookshare, an OSEP-funded project that provides accessible books to students with print disabilities, offers many helpful resources to parents to help them better understand their services. Bookshare's 12-minute Back to School webinar provides parents with tips on obtaining accessible textbooks and other reading material. They also maintain a parent listserv where parents can ask questions of Bookshare and other families of children with print disabilities. 

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Mom Enough | ME
Mother - Daughter team talk about today's issues in motherhood
http://www.momenough.com/

Listen to audio shows on the many facets of motherhood in today's world - from confronting the daily joys and struggles of helping kids grow up well, to balancing work and family, to considering the big questions of how society views and values mothers and mothering.  A mother-daughter team hosts the show. 

 

Upcoming Events for Parents
Events for Parents and Families
Disability Mentoring Day
  Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
  March 15, 2012

Similar to the event last year - connecting kids with different employers - A Career Exploration Event!  Businesses will present on their specific careers to students.
 
Parents:  a strand of presentations just for you!  Presentations currently being planned.  If you have a topic you'd like more information on, please contact:

Steve Schoenbauer at 218-879-1283 x6018 or sschoenbauer@nlsec.k12.mn.us
 
A publication by 
Northern Lights Interagency Council - Parent Advisory Committee
Cloquet, MN  *  (p) 218-879-1283

Are we missing an upcoming workshop for families, or you have important information to include in our next edition for area families with children with disabilities? 
 Please email me: 
sproulx@nlsec.k12.mn.us
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