October is National Bullying Prevention Month. PACER Center in Minnesota developed this initiative in 2006 to raise awareness for bullying prevention and to help keep children safe.
There are many ways that you can get involved and we want to be sure you are aware of the different activities and initiatives available.
Unity Day Wednesday, Oct. 9 Students, teachers, and community members can wear orange and send a united message of support on Unity Day,Wednesday, Oct. 9 (#UnityDay2013). Several schools in Maryland will be participating in Unity Day. Find out if your child's school is involved. You can show your support by wearing orange to work on Wednesday! Web-based tools Last year, two million people in nearly 200 countries used the National Bullying Prevention Center's resources and web-based tools to plan events, activities, outreach, and educational initiatives. Bullying prevention tools and resources are available on three websites: PACER.org/Bullying for parents, teachers, and other adults; PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org for teens; and PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org for elementary school students. |
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Join us for the Run, Walk, n' Roll Against Bullying!
On Sunday, October 27, 2013 you can take action to help address bullying prevention by joining Parents' Place of Maryland in Run, Walk, Roll against Bullying 5K run and 1 Mile walk/roll. The event will be held at the Western Regional Park in Woodbine, MD.
Bring your family and enjoy this fun event with kid's activities, music, awards, photo booth, and yummy treats from a waffle truck! Participants will receive a t-shirt, goodie bag, and race bib.
Don't wait! Register now at www.ppmd2.org.
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Poster and Video Contest for Students
 Students can win a $100 pizza party for their class! Create a poster or video explaining how BULLYING affects you. Be creative! Show your talents!
Awards will be given in each category, Poster and Video, for High School, Middle School, and Elementary School at the Run, Walk, n' Roll.
Download instructions for the contest here. |
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Welcoming Schools Website Addresses Bullying
Initiated by a group of parents and educators to meet the needs of students whose family structures are not well represented or included in school environments, Welcoming Schools is also a response to educators who have asked for tools to address bias-based name-calling and bullying. Additionally, it offers a wide range of resources for school administrators and educators to support students who don't conform to gender norms.
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St. Mary's Dental Supports Parents' Place
Dr. Gina McCray and the staff at St. Mary's Dental recently made a generous contribution to the Parents' Place. From March through June, hundreds of dental practices professionally whiten teeth to raise money for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged kids through the Smiles for Life Foundation. This year, St. Mary's Dental chose to donate a portion of the funds raised through this program to Parents' Place to help us continue to support families in St. Mary's county! Thank you Dr. McCray and the staff at St. Mary's Dental.
 | | Dr. Gina McCray, Missy Alexander, and Josie Thomas |
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New Registry for People with Down Syndrome
Just in time for National Down Syndrome Awareness month, the first national Down syndrome registry in the United States has been launched by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The DS-Connect web-based registry will serve as a free resource for people with Down syndrome and their families, as well as health care providers and researchers. Participation in the registry is voluntary.
People with Down syndrome -- or their family members on their behalf -- can sign up to create personalized profiles so they can anonymously compare their health information to other participants. The site has been designed to keep all personal information confidential so participants cannot be identified by other people using the site.
You learn more and join the registry at DS-Connect.
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Maryland Health Connection
Beginning in October 2013, Maryland residents and small businesses can visit Maryland Health Connection to determine if they qualify for federal tax subsidies or cost-sharing reductions to help pay for health insurance or if they, or a member of their family, is eligible for Medicaid or another program such as the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Open enrollment for individuals and families begins October 1, 2013. For small businesses open enrollment begins January 1, 2014. For more information visit the Maryland Health Connection website.
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Save These Dates!
October 10, 2013
D.C. Chapter International Dyslexia Association
6:45pm - 8:45pm
Potomac, Md
October 11, 2013
Basic Special Education Rights
10:00am - 12:00pm
Columbia, MD
October 18, 2013
8:00am -8:00pm
Linthicum Heights, MD
October 28, 2013
8:30am - 12:30pm
Suitland, MD
November 2, 2013
Various Times and Various Programs
Rockville, MD
Application Deadline:
October 18, 2013
November 16, 2013
8:00am - 4:00pm
Bowie, MD
There are a lot of new workshops and training events on our calendar! Be sure to check the PPMD online calendar for time, location, and registration information for these and many other training opportunities. www.calendarwiz.com/ppmd
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Howard County 911 Center "Flagging" Available
Howard County families who have loved ones with autism can breathe a little easier knowing that county 911 operators and first responders are already "in the know" when called for an emergency. By giving residents the option to voluntarily "flag" their address in the system, the 911 Call Center has first-hand knowledge that an individual with autism resides at a given address and that he or she may be nonverbal, oversensitive to sirens, unaware of danger, prone to elope, or exhibit other noteworthy behaviors. This information is forwarded to first responders prior to their arrival on the scene. Find out more here.
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Section 504 and IEP Comparison Chart
School can be a stressful environment for the child and a time of vulnerability. Appropriate accommodations and modifications can reduce stress and can assist in achieving and maintaining educational success.
Understanding how Section 504 and IDEA work with each other and complement each other allows you as the parent to better assist your child's educational team in ensuring your child's right to a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) is provided allowing for maximum educational success.
View the entire chart on the National Center for Learning Disabilites website.
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Yes I Can! Awards
Nominations are open for Council of Exceptional Children's Yes I Can! Awards. The Yes I Can Awards honor children and youth with exceptionalities who shine. CEC has recognized the accomplishments of thousands of students since the program started in 1982. The deadline for nominations is October 18, 2013. Visit the CEC website for more information.
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Accessible Playgrounds Database Available
National Public Radio has debuted a community-edited accessible playgrounds database on its website. An accompanying article, For Kids with Special Needs, More Places to Play, discussed the effects of new federal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act for equipment, materials, and designs to provide play opportunities for all children.
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