Families Together, Inc.
      Encourage               Educate               
 
 
Students in a southeast Kansas high school's special education class are gaining extra preparation for their futures by running their own manufacturing and sales business. Members of the enterprise dubbed 323 MFG, for their Riverton High School classroom, "MFG" for manufacturing custom-make greeting cards on hand-crafted paper. 

 

Read more at SE Kansas special ed students running own business. To learn more check out the Family Employment Awareness Training(FEAT) close to you.

Oral Health Care for Children With Developmental Disabilities
  

Children with developmental disabilities often have unmet complex health care needs as well as significant physical and cognitive limitations. Children with more severe conditions and from low-income families are particularly at risk with high dental needs and poor access to care. In addition, children with developmental disabilities are living longer, requiring continued oral health care.  This clinical report describes the effect that poor oral health has on children with developmental disabilities as well as the importance of partnerships between the pediatric medical and dental homes. To read more click here.

A Tale of Two IEE's

 

 
How does a parent, who doesn't have a degree in their child's suspected disability, fight for the proper amount of services when the school specialist is recommending something less than the parent thinks is necessary.

 

The parent could always get a private assessment done and submit the results to the IEP team, but not all parents have the means to pay for a private assessment.  This is why IDEA allows parents to ask for an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense.  The only way a school district can stop from paying for an IEE is to file for due process and convince a hearing officer that their original assessments were proper. To read more click here.

13 Tips for Starting Preschool 

 

Is your child entering a preschool program for the first time? Use these tips to help both you and your child make a smooth transition.

  1. Visit your local library during a read-aloud time so your child gets used to hearing someone other than Mom, Dad, or Grandpa read aloud book in a group setting.
  2. Establish a routine of "early to bed" and "school wake-up time" several weeks before school begins so your child has time to adjust to the new schedule.
  3. Find out about the toileting procedures at the new school or center so you can review the situation with your child and make sure she is comfortable.
To read more check out NAEYC for Families 

Changing Expectations: Changing Lives

2014 Kansas Employment First Summit


April 30 - May 1, 2014

Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention, Topeka, KS

 

Three keynotes speakers, 24 break-out sessions, vendor fair, on site assistance with benefits specialists, mobile Kansas Works unit and more! Don't miss out on everything that the 2014 Employment First Summit has to offer individuals with disabilities, families, providers, educators, advocates and other professionals.

 

$50 registration fee -- refundable upon attendance. For information on registration check out Employment First Summit.

Frequently Asked Question 

 

The IEP team says they only include academic skills in a transition plan. I didn't agree. Is this correct?


No. All decisions about transition services must be individualized. If your child needs daily living, problem solving, and survival skills, teaching these skills should be in your child's transition plan.

For transition services, team members need to think creatively. 
For more information on transition plans click here.

Contact Us

All toll free numbers are for Kansas parents & education advocates.

 

Garden City Parent Center

(620) 276-6364 or (888) 820-6364
(913) 287-1970 or (877) 499-5369
(800) 499-9443
Topeka Parent Center                        

(785) 233-4777 or (800) 264-6343   

Wichita Administrative Center

(316) 945-7747 or (888) 815-6364

Wichita Parent Center                

(316) 945-7747 or (888) 815-6364

 www.familiestogetherinc.org 



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Upcoming Events

February 4, 2014

Kansas City

 

Family Enrichment Weekend

February 14th-15th, 2014

 Garden City 


March 1, 2014

Wichita

 

Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT)

Part I: March 29, 2014

Part II: April 4, 2014

Emporia

 

Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT)

Part I: April 5, 2014

Part II: April 26, 2014

Garden City

 

Family Enrichment Weekend

April 25-26, 2014


Part I: October 18, 2014
Part II: October 24, 2014

Part I: October 4, 2014
Part II:  October 17, 2014
  
This Week's 
Featured Partner
 

 

 Saint Francis Community Services, Inc. (SFCS) is a community-based service provider embracing the Episcopal tradition of service.  Since 1945, Saint Francis has worked to strengthen families. 

 

30 Years 

 

Serving Kansas families and their sons and daughters for more than 30 years. 

 

Families Together, Inc. is the statewide organization that assists parents and their sons and daughters with disabilities. Our program's mission is to encourage, educate, and empower families to be effective advocates for their children.

 

Click here to view our archived publications! 

 

  

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