News From the Heart: Vol 2, Issue 11

In this issue...

Children's Week

Free Tax Preparation

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day

Wrightslaw Conference

Help Support FND

Upcoming Events

March 19:
Parents Morning Out Respite
8:00am - Pensacola
More Details Here

March 19:
City of Boca Raton Boating & Beach Bash for Persons with Disabilities
10:00am - Boca Raton
More Details Here

March 22:
Parenting Styles: Love & Logic Workshop
6:30pm - North Fort Myers
More Details Here

March 23:
Transition to Kindergarten Workshop
5:30pm - Miami
More Details Here

March 24:
Conflict Resolution Webinar
10:00am - Online
More Details Here

March 24:
Making Your Case Webinar
(Note: This webinar will be presented at 12:00pm and again at 7:00pm)
12:00pm - Details
7:00pm - Details

March 26:

Festival Educativo

8:30am - Miami

More Details Here

March 28:

CHADD Collier County March Support Group Meeting

7:00pm - Naples

More Details Here

March 30:

Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) Workshop

10:30am - Tallahassee

More Details Here

March 30:

Respaldos para un Comportamiento Positivo (PBS) Taller

12:30pm - Tallahassee

More Details Here

April 5:

NAMI Polk County Mental Health Support Group Meeting

7:00pm - Lakeland

More Details Here

April 7:

Conflict Resolution Workshop

7:00pm - Tallahassee

More Details Here

April 9:

Summer Camp & Recreation Options for Students with Disabilities

9:30am - Tallahassee

More Details Here

For more upcoming events, click here to visit out online event calendar.

News From the Heart

Vol 2, Issue 11

March 18, 2011

This will be the last weekly edition of News from the Heart. The results of our survey indicated that you would prefer to receive the newsletter monthly.

News from the Heart will be sent to you the first each month, beginning April 1. We hope that this format will give you the information that you need in a timely, efficient manner.

Please don't wait for the next survey to let us know what you think. This publication is for your use and we want to provide you with information that you when you need it. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Children's Week

We are very excited about the Children's Week event that is fast approaching on Saturday, March 26 from 11:00am - 2:00pm at The Dunedin Community Center (1920 Pinehurst Road - MAP). This is a FREE event celebrating the upcoming Children's Week event in Tallahassee next month. The Dunedin Public Library will be there to conduct storytime (which will also be interpreted in sign language), Art from the Heart Café will have pottery painting, and Phinley of the Clearwater Threshers will make a special appearance at 11:00 am. The Dunedin Blue Jays mascot, D-Jay, heard that Phinley is going to be there and is planning to crash the event too! There will be a free bounce house, free food, and much more!

Children can decorate paper cut-outs of their hands for FND staff to take to Tallahassee to hang in the Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, April 3. This artwork will remain hanging in the Rotunda all of Children's Week as a visual reminder to legislators to remember our children.

Agencies all across Florida will be hosting local events leading up to Children's Week. Click here to find an event in your area.

Free Tax Preparation

The Free File program allows 70% of all taxpayers to file their returns for free online. This public-private partnership between the IRS and a number of tax software companies is available to millions of people. Some companies offer their software in both English and Spanish. Visit www.freefile.irs.gov to find out if you are eligible and to learn more about the program.

United Way also has a free tax preparation program. Call 2-1-1 for the free filing site nearest you.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day

Wednesday, March 23, is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day.
This year's event in Tallahassee is sponsored by the Florida Development Disabilities Council and the Arc of Florida. This is a great opportunity to visit exhibit tables hosted by various organizations and state agencies that can provide you with information about services and programs available for persons with developmental disabilities and their families.

This is also an excellent opportunity for you to meet your state senators and representatives and help them understand the challenges you and your family members face.

Click here for the day's schedule.

Wrightslaw Conference

Registration is still open! Register online at www.fndfl.org/wrights-law/.

FND is proud to be hosting a FREE Special Education Law & Advocacy Training Program with Peter Wright, Esq. being held on Saturday, June 4, 2011, from 9:00am until 4:30pm at the Campus Activity Center at USF St. Petersburg in collaboration with the USF St. Petersburg College of Education.

The Wrightslaw special education law and advocacy training 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

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.

Registration is required and will be open to 200 participants. All 200 participants will receive FREE Wrightslaw materials pertaining to the training! Additional Wrightslaw materials will be available at a discounted rate.

Box lunches will be available on site for $5.00 per person. Cash only!

We will be offering 0.6 CEU's for attending this training! A fee of $9.00 will be payable the day of the conference to receive the certificate. CLE's are pending.