It's almost here!

Join us at Southwest Middle School in Orlando, FL (6450 Dr. Phillips Blvd. - MAP) on Saturday, February 12, 2011, from 9:00am until 4:00pm for a FREE full day event designed to help bring individuals who are at risk, families who have children with disabilities and the professionals who serve them awareness of their options and rights that are available to them within the school system and beyond.

This year's Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Angela Martin Walker, creator of the popular "Families Building Better Readers" and "Mysteries in the Middle" programs in Florida.  She will be presenting her "Readers of the Caribbean" literacy workshop for families.Children will be invited to "pirate tryouts" and put through a battery of funny "tests" in their quest to become BOOK-A-NEERS. Parents and children practice reading activities led by the trainer, children participate in a live reader's theater, and each participating family takes home a literacy adventure gameboard that helps them apply what they learned during the workshop. Materials will be provided in both English and Spanish.

The "Readers of the Caribbean" literacy workshop will be seen "live" via our website.Stay tuned for additional information!

The afternoon will be filled with workshops on "Understanding Your Child's Learning Style", "Wills, Trusts and Guardianships", "The Road to Successful Transition", Effective Communication" and more!  Workshops on IEP, IDEA and Positive Behavior will be conducted in English, Spanish and Creole.

We will be joined by representatives from ABC Therapies of Florida, Autism Society of Greater Orlando, Lighthouse Central Florida, UCP of Central Florida, Project 10, and much more! Come see how they can help you and your family!

This year's event is sponsored by the Harper Family Charitable Foundation and Publix Super Markets, and presented in partnership with Orange County Public Schools Exceptional Student Education and Bright Feats.

For more information or to register, please visit www.fndfl.org/categories/99/ or call the Family Network on Disabilities Central Office at 800-825-5736.

We appreciate your support of our "Talent Show for Children with Disabilities" idea that we had on Pepsi Refresh last month. As you know, our project didn't win, but we wanted to share with you the ideas that are going to be funded by Pepsi. Some great ideas are going to be seen to fruition and that means there were no losers, only winners!

The #1 vote-getter in the $50,000 category (which is the category that our project was in) came from the National Inclusion Project, Inc. They will receive $50,000 to help kids with disabilities experience life with their peers! Click on the link below to see how they're going to use the money. 

www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject

The other grant recipients in the $50,000 category are:

• Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc: Build a no-kill sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals
• Dogtime.com: Find homes for 500 Gulf region shelter dogs/cats at risk of euthanasia
• Oak Grove Primary School: Build a playground at Oak Grove Primary School
• Cedar Way Elementary: Build a safe playground and learning garden at Cedar Way Elementary
• Shoes 4 The Shoeless: Provide properly-fitting shoes to children in desperate need
• ARF of MS:  Provide sanctuary to abandoned dogs and cats awaiting adoption
• Jordan High School Alumni Association:  Help update worn-out classrooms and ignite community support
• Pets for Vets, Inc.: Heal War Heroes with Rehabilitated and Trained Shelter Dogs
• Northview Band, Guard and Cheer Programs: Purchase new uniforms and equipment for the Northview Band and Guard

Of notable mention in the $25,000 category is Ella's Hope, whose goals are to provide funding to increase therapists for Early Intervention and to providing funding to families with young children with autism.