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News From the Heart
Vol 2, Issue 5
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February 4, 2011
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 Heart and Hope
Updates: - The afternoon workshop schedule has been set. Workshops will begin at 1:00pm."IEP", "Key Changes to IDEA", and "Positive Behavior Supports" will be presented in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Other workshop topics include, "Developing a Vision and Plan for Your Family with Special Needs", "Using Love and Logic with Parenting Styles", research-based "best practices" in the area of sexuality education for people with Autism, and so much more!
Click here to see the full schedule of workshops.
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.  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.
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 Children's Week
Children's Week activities are scheduled to take place in Tallahassee from April 3, 2011, to Saturday, April 9, 2011. Thousands of parents, children, professionals, advocates, community leaders and concerned citizens will come together to focus their attention on issues that affect the health and well-being of children and families in Florida. Family Network on Disabilities is hosting a local Children's Week event at The Dunedin Community Center (1920 Pinehurst Rd - MAP) on Saturday, March 23, 2011, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. This is a FREE event. There will be a bounce house, parachute play, "Touch a Truck" provided by the Dunedin Fire Department, interpretive story time with the Dunedin Public Library will be conducted both orally and through sign language, and more!Phinley of the Clearwater Threshers will make a special appearance between 11:00am and 12:00pm and food will be provided. Bring your family and join us for this fun-filled event to celebrate Florida's children. Please contact FND's Central Office at 800-825-5736 or email tblackburn@fndusa.org for more information.
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 Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida Scholarship Opportunity
Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida, Inc. (VAVF) is a non-profit volunteer organization that provides training, coordination and assistance to various groups within Florida. Each year, they award scholarships to selected legally blind high school seniors who are Florida residents and continuing their education.
Applications can be found on the VAVF website at www.vavf.org.
Completed applications must be received by March 30, 2011.
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 Wrightslaw Training Program
Family Network on Disabilities is hosting a Wrightslaw Training Program in partnership with the USF St. Petersburg College of Education. Wrightslaw Programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The Wrightslaw Special Education Law & Advocacy Training Program with Peter Wright, Esq. will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2011, from 9:00am until 4:30pm at the Campus Activity Center at USF St. Petersburg (199 6th Ave S - MAP). The program will focus on four areas: - Special education law, rights and responsibilities
- Tests and measurements to measure progress and regression
- SMART IEP's
- Introduction to tactics and strategies for effective advocacy.
Registration will begin in March 2011, so please stay tuned.
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