Free Webinars and Training P.16
TIMES
MAGAZINE
Exceptional
What's Going ON?
From the Executive Director, Mary Jacob Yes, You Can! P.4
ISSUE 06
AUGUST 2018
A Mom & SONS Journey to help others with special needs P.10
COVER STORY
EXCLUSIVE
MISSION The Mission of Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans is to educate and connect children and adults with disabilities, and their families to resources, services, and supports to attend school, work, and thrive in their communities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gregory Brenan, CPA, CCIFP, CGMA Lisa Gennusa Ledet Jo Ann D. LoRusso, Ph.D. Denise Barrera, MPH, MSW Judith Otto, LOTR, CDRS Debra Dixon M.Ed.+30 Jedidiah Jackson Ashley Bourg
OUR TEAM Mary Jacob, Executive Director mjacob@fhfofgno.org Ext. 207 Bebe Bode, Executive Assistant bbode@fhfofgno.org Ext. 226 Nicole Desroche, Information & Training Specialist ndesroche@fhfofgno.org Ext.218 Liz Dumas, Administrative Assistant ldumas@fhfofgno.org Ext. 202 Laura S. Nata, Programs Supervisor lsnata@fhfofgno.org Ext. 209 Thuy Nguyen, CSHS Parent Liaison tnguyen@fhfofgno.org 504.896.1340 phone | 504.896.1360 fax Steven Nguyen, CSHS Youth Liaison snguyen@fhfofgno.org 504.896.1340 phone | 504.896.1360 fax Denise Sweatman, Finance Manager dsweatman@fhfofgno.org Ext. 203 Sharon Blackmon, Community Outreach Consultant sblackmon@fhfofgno.org Jessica Rodrigue, Lead Training Specialist jrodrigue@fhfofgno.org

700 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 504.888.9111 800.766.7736 504.353.2350 fax info@fhfofgno.org fhfofgno.org
Contents
04 From the Director - Yes, You Can! 05 YOUTH Vote 06 Success Story 07 Disability and #METOO: Part 4 08 Governor's Office of Disability Affairs - 2018 Inclusive Art Contest 09 GODA - 2018 Inclusive Art Contest Registration 10 COVER STORY: A Mom & Sons Journey to Help Others with Special Needs 11 Parent Participation in Early Intervention 14-15 Families Helping Families Centers Retreat 16 What's Going On? August 2018 18 Healthy Blue Back to School Giveaway 19 Resources for FAMILIES 20 E-Learning Mini-Modules 21 Advertise your Company in the Exceptional Times Digital Magazine
At our recent Families Helping Families Statewide Retreat, our first presenter, Kia Scott challenged us to come up with something we would never do and then ask a partner to convince us to do this. I was charged with convincing my partner and fellow FHF of Northeast Executive Director, Stacey Guidry, to bungee jump. Stacey stated there is no way she would ever consider bungee jumping due to her fear of heights. I didn’t have much time to come up with a plan. The entire exercise was less than five minutes – but I knew I had to come up with something quickly. So I figured baby steps. If I could convince Stacey to jump off the chair, maybe she would. If she was successful at that, maybe I could then convince her to jump off the table. Little by little, maybe I could get her on a cliff one day with her ankles strapped to a bungee cord and ready to make the biggest jump of her life. I could completely empathize with her since I also have a fear of heights and agree – bungee jumping is not something you’ll find me signing up to do anytime in the near or far future. I took away a couple of things from this very simple and quick exercise. First, as a parent of children with disabilities, it reminded me of when I first got involved in advocating for my daughters and thinking I don’t have the skills to advocate effectively. But then as a parent – NOT employee, Leah Knight, a former FHF of GNO employee took my hand and walked me through the process in baby steps. Second, it reminded me of how parents often think the same exact thing and often give up or try to convince others to do it for them. Nobody knows your child like you do. Nobody is or will ever be a constant in your child’s life like you. Repeat after me: NOBODY will EVER be able to advocate for your child with the same passion that you have as a parent. In this month’s issue of ET, you will read about Anne Delery McWhorter and her son Michael and their idea to create a sensory therapy room at the Red Cross Shelter at the River Center during the Baton Rouge Flood of 2016. A need was recognized and Anne shifted into gear and made it happen. Rather than telling her son no or she didn’t know how to proceed – she told him she’d try. She not only tried but succeeded. We need more Anne’s to believe in their ability to do great things. It doesn’t have to be for others – but agree you can make great things happen for YOUR child. Most of us learn almost everything through baby steps. Take Brittany Wheeler, our success story mom. When the Wheeler family contacted us, they were looking for help understanding their son Ja’bore’s 504 Plan for school. Through many meetings and conversations over a course of several months, the family was able to understand their own power by being knowledgeable of the laws and regulations. This resulted in their son successfully passing and moving onto the next grade level. As an agency, we love supporting parents – but our mission is to EMPOWER you to be the best advocate YOU CAN BE. Let us support you by empowering you with the knowledge you need to be the best advocate your child deserves. All the kiddos will be returning to school this month and they will need their parents on their side when challenges arise. Register for one of our many webinars this month and learn how to be the best advocate you can be. If you don’t do it – who will?
From the
Mary Jacob
Executive Director
Yes, You Can!
continued on p.12
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How do I register to vote? To register to vote in Louisiana you must: be a U.S. citizen; be 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the registrar of voters office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles), but must be 18 years old to vote; not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony; not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights; and reside in the state and parish in which you seek to register. All voter registration information and applications of persons who are sixteen or seventeen years of age are confidential. For all other registered voters, the following information is confidential: driver's license numbers; social security numbers; day and month of voter's birth; mother's maiden name; email addresses; mobile phone numbers; text message services; and if voter is entitled to assistance in voting. Register Online Apply online to register to vote or make changes to your registration. Register in Person Apply in person to register to vote at any registrar of voters office. You may also register in person at any of the following locations: Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles; Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services; WIC offices; food stamp offices; Medicaid offices; Offices serving persons with disabilities such as the Deaf Action Centers and Independent Living Offices; or Armed Forces recruitment offices. If registering in person at a parish registrar of voters office, you are required to prove age, residency and identity. You must submit your current Louisiana driver's license, if you have one, or your birth certificate or other documentation which reasonably and sufficiently establishes your identity, age and residency. If you have no picture ID, you may bring a utility bill, payroll check, or government document that includes your name and address. If registering at a mandated site, no further proof of identification is required other than whatever proof is required for services received that you have applied for at the public agency. Register by Mail Apply by mail by downloading the Louisiana Voter Registration Application, completing it and mailing it to your local registrar of voters office. Please note that the list of offices for registrars is also included on the form. Faxed voter registration forms are not accepted. The voter registration form should be addressed and mailed or hand-delivered to the appropriate registrar of voters in the parish in which you are registering. Deadlines requiring receipt in the registrar of voters office may be missed if you do not mail directly to the registrar of voters in your parish. You must be registered 30 days prior to an election to be eligible to vote in that particular election. The registrar of voters mails a verification mailing card to verify the address you have provided when registering by mail. If you do not receive a mailing from the registrar of voters within two weeks of registering, please contact their office. For more information on voting in Louisiana, please visit GeauxVote.
YOUTH Vote!
Brittany Wheeler gave me this response when I asked her how she felt about the support she received at Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans (FHFofGNO). “When learning of (FHFofGNO) I was dubious at first to visit their office. After a few months, I realized the information and support I received was very helpful to my child and me emotionally and educationally. With a positive attitude, behavior, and character displayed my child can and will succeed!†Usually, families call our office because someone referred them to us. Sometimes, families call not fully understanding what kind of services we provide. With that said, once they call and find out all the support and knowledge staff at FHFofGNO has regarding education, service delivery systems, and first-hand experience they are always grateful for the referral. When the Wheeler Family contacted us, they were looking for help understanding and navigating their son, Ja’bore’s, educational 504 plan. I sat down with them, began reviewing his plan, and helped them understand each part. I then showed them resources online as well as gave them physical reading materials to better familiarize themselves with 504 accommodations and the school systems responsibilities. The final thing I did with the family was provided them with some pointers on things to look out for and things to ask for with the school. As time progressed, the Wheeler family kept in contact with me and always provided me with updates on Ja’bore. If they needed clarification or had questions regarding their son’s accommodations, I provided them with support and they always stayed on top of things with the school. With the appropriate accommodations in place, Ja’bore was able to do well in school, passed second grade, and moved on to third. This is so exciting for the family! I am so happy to have been able to help Ja’bore get the accommodations he needs.
SUCCESS Story
By Raquel Castaneda
Ja'bore Wheeler
RAISE Center
Survivor Resources RAINN General info on abuse with resources NPR Series on Disability and Abuse: Abused and Betrayed Podcasts National Domestic Violence Hotline Information and resources The End Abuse of People with Disabilities Webinar Series Webinars and resources
Part 4: Ms. C
Disability And #MeToo: Part 4
I was born with Spina Bifida. When I was four years old my father died. My mother was seven months pregnant. When she was eight months pregnant, my brothers went to stay with our grandmother. My Aunt convinced my mom to send me to her house. She said my grandmother wouldn’t take care of me well enough because of my special needs. My uncle was the one that bathed me. He was hurting me (I was too young to understand what was happening) so I asked my aunt if she would give me my bath. She said no because children get spoiled when they get what they want. I think the timing of the abuse added to the trauma I experienced. I had just lost my father, who was a pretty mean man too. These experiences lay dormant in my mind until I went to graduate school. My mother had moved away from where we grew up, so when my uncle was put in a VA nursing unit, she gave me the job of visiting him. I really didn’t want to do it, but I did. I spoke to the hospital chaplain about what had happened to me because I was trying to think about what I should do with all of this. The chaplain told me it wouldn’t do any good because my uncle couldn’t remember what happened an hour ago, so there was no way he would remember what happened many years ago. So I kept my feelings to myself. I think these experiences contributed to my lack of confidence in my sexuality, but after having a number of successful dating experiences and several years of therapy, I no longer am confused about my sexuality. I never told my mother because I didn’t see any benefit to causing her emotional harm and guilt about something that happened long ago and couldn’t be changed.
This is the fourth and final blog in the #MeToo series in which contributors tell their stories of being people with disabilities who are also victims of sexual abuse. At the bottom of this and each part in the series, you will find resources for assault survivors.
A MOM & SONS JOURNEY TO HELP OTHERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Photographs rileyroo photography
continued on p.13
By Bebe Bode
Like me, one of the many concerns parents or caregivers of children or adults with disabilities have during a natural disaster is staying in a shelter. When you have a family member with a disability, i.e., autism, sensory processing disorders, PTSD, Epilepsy, etc., staying in a shelter can be quite challenging. Unfamiliar surroundings, chaotic circumstances, sounds, lighting, taste, smell and texture can affect each individual with a disability in different ways. This was the case during the most recent natural disaster in Louisiana history, the Baton Rouge Flood of 2016. During this time, I remember reading two separate articles, “Jay volunteers to aid Louisiana flood victims†and “Blue Room Helps Restore Calmâ€, about a mother, Anne Delery McWhorter, and what she accomplished to assist individuals with special needs and disabilities who were in shelter settings. After witnessing children who were struggling with disabilities at the shelter, Anne’s son, Michael, asked his mom to help them by getting the things he uses. Anne’s response to him was that she would try. She not only tried she succeeded in creating a movement within the disaster- relief community. Working with the Red Cross Office of Disability Integration, she educated them on what sensory processing disorders are and how the use of sensory therapy tools help individuals with disabilities. She then set up and managed the first sensory therapy room opened in the American Red Cross River Center shelter, the first of its kind in a mass care environment. The sensory therapy room became a help not only to Red Cross client families and individuals but also to shelter workers. And so, it began. Michael’s idea and continued input along with his mother’s knowledge on safety design and business affairs incorporated into every part of the process, Anne founded the company, Quiet Calm, LLC, and is now shipping sensory kits nationwide. Quite Calm’s mission is to provide sensory solutions during times of need for individuals with sensory sensitive concerns. Through months of prototypes, design, logistics, shipping, a team of people fighting for accommodations, changes are being made to disaster relief operations and more. All thanks to a child’s need to help others, families are being accommodated for sensory needs across the country in shelters, schools, homes, and other uses, all with products conceptualized, designed and tested by self-advocates with sensory needs. All parts of the manufacturing and distribution process have offered employment to people with disabilities or their primary caregivers. At the end of the day, they formed a company that is BY the disability community FOR the disability community EMPLOYING the disability community and SUPPORTING the disability community. Anne shares more about Quiet Calm, LLC. “As a company, we do not measure success in sales or profits, but in families helped. Our kits have helped individuals with PTSD, ASD, Epilepsy, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Currently, our little company has helped over 1600 families nationally. Seven children have spoken for the first time just by being provided the therapy tools they needed. Our goal is to provide employment for the disability community while helping the disability community in the safest way possible. What many families do not realize is that there is NO NATIONAL safety standard for the manufacturing and construction of many therapy materials, and we are working to change that. Everything we ship has been tested for maximum safety at the lowest cost.†“Because we have seen success nationally, our next focus is to see this expand into Louisiana through community partnerships. Children here should not have to use untested materials produced without safeguards or quality control because of cost prohibition. Children here should not have to wait for a natural disaster to have therapy materials. If this can be implemented in shelters, mass care facilities and meet the safety requirements, than other places like hospitals, homes, schools, and churches should offer places where accommodations can be designed and implemented. Designing accommodations are easy. We have shown success in one of the most challenging environments possible, a disaster shelter. What has been difficult is obtaining funding and permission to implement those designs.†ABOUT MICHAEL Many people do not see Michael’s disability when they meet him. He is in all-inclusive classes with minor sensory accommodations. His nickname at camp is the “Little Politicianâ€, which is accurate, as he has met with legislators to show what early intervention can do, and what is needed for future efforts. My beautiful son in the bow tie and suspenders who speaks animatedly and knowledgeably on varieties of topics, (His current favorite is the airplanes of WWII.) is more than I ever dreamed could happen. What people do not see is the hours and hours of therapy. When he makes eye contact or shakes hands, laughs, or grins, they are seeing a culmination of success from a team of therapists. At its height, my son was receiving hours of sensory therapy at home, sensory-based OT, in-home ABA therapy, ABA Aquatics, ABA Art, and equine therapy. He is proof that early intervention can do unimaginable things. Michael has a brightness that is impossible to describe coupled with a keen intellect, which is good because he has 12 years to finish learning the process so that he can take over the business we started, and I am merely shepherding until he reaches majority. Even at eight, he is involved in almost every part of the process. Michael's goal this year is to meet Governor John Bel Edwards.
Parent Participation in Early Intervention
Families, most particularly parents, are vital participants in early intervention. Your contributions are invaluable: at the individual level where you are intimately involved in determining the services that your own child will receive; and at an organizational level determining policies and scope for EI programs. The resources below have been identified because they address the many dimensions of parent involvement, including the parents’ right to be involved in decision making regarding their child and the early intervention services he or she receives. Early intervention: What it is and how it works. Quick overview, in English and Spanish. Watch a video | All about early intervention and parents’ involvement. Providing Hope, Realizing Dreams will acquaint you with all aspects of the Birth to Three System in Connecticut, from the first point of contact through the evaluation, program planning, and service delivery phases. You’ll be introduced to three families who share their experiences and describe what Birth to Three supports and services have meant to their families. While the video is specific to the Connecticut system, it generalizes very well to how early intervention works in other states. Early intervention parental rights, in English and Spanish. From the My Child Without Limits website, short and sweet and to the point. Your child’s development: Age-based tips from birth to 36 months. This set of age-based handouts include a “what to expect†chart for each age range, frequently asked questions, a research summary, and information about common parenting challenges for each age and stage. From ZERO TO THREE, the National Center For Infants, Toddlers and Families. Developmental screening. Well-child visits allow doctors and nurses to have regular contact with children to keep track of - or monitor - your child’s health and development through periodic developmental screening. Developmental screening is a short test to tell if a child is learning basic skills when he or she should, or if there are delays. Developmental screening can also be done by other professionals in health care, community, or school settings. Read more about when and why developmental monitoring and screening is important, and what your role as a parent is in the process. Find out about your rights in your state. The ECTA Center offers this webpage of links to state specific materials on early intervention. Parents on the early intervention team. The ECTA Center also offers several on-point Practice Guides for families on being involved with the team of early intervention professionals working with your child and family. Among these guides are how to partner with the team evaluating your child, how to support learning at home, sharing what you know with the team, and working with the team along with other family members.
Youth Vote - continued from p.5
Yes,You Can! - continued from p.4
Early Intervention - continued from p.11
continued from p.10
Families Helping Families Statewide Retreat - Baton Rouge July 26-27, 2018
Together
became
Learning
Colleagues
Friends
Growing
Free WEBINARS
What's Going On?
A U G U S T 
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Introduction to Special Education - Do you suspect your child could benefit from special education and related services or newly evaluated? If so, this training is perfect for you. This intro to special education will give you a strong foundation to build future knowledge. You will learn the very basics through the philosophy of special education, the laws, evaluation process, and ultimately an IEP. Date: Friday, August 3, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. How to Introduce Your Child to New Providers - Parents rave about our in-house publications All About Me and My Portfolio and the usefulness in introducing their children to a variety of new service providers such as teachers, DSP’s, Therapists and more. Join us for this webinar where we will provide you access to these publications, instructions on how to personalize them for your child, and things you need to think about including in your personalized publication. If you do not have access to a printer, email us your publication, and we’ll be happy to print them out for you. Co-Sponsor: Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana Date: Friday, August 3, 2018 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Basic Rights in Special Education - Whether you’re new to special education or involved for a while, this workshop is for you. This presentation provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities as parents of children with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parents begin to identify dreams and goals for their children, understand laws and learn advocacy strategies that will help them help their children reach those goals. Date: Saturday, August 4, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Understanding the Importance of Inclusion - Why is inclusion of children with disabilities in schools, classrooms, and communities important? This webinar answer that question. It explores what inclusion is and is not, who’s involved in making meaningful inclusion successful, and its underpinnings in federal law. Date: Friday, August 10, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Anatomy of an IEP - Like a biology student, this presentation will dissect the parts of the IEP document and examine their functions individually, learning their meanings and application. It will provide constructive and practical tips to help create an IEP that supports all of the student's needs. We will explore the parent’s role in the IEP process and learn the basics of their child’s right to special education services, the process of developing special education plans, and the parent’s role. Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Introduction to Special Education - Do you suspect your child could benefit from special education and related services or newly evaluated? If so, this training is perfect for you. This intro to special education will give you a strong foundation to build future knowledge. You will learn the very basics through the philosophy of special education, the laws, evaluation process, and ultimately an IEP. Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Basic Rights in Special Education - Whether you’re new to special education or involved for a while, this workshop is for you. This presentation provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities as parents of children with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parents begin to identify dreams and goals for their children, understand laws and learn advocacy strategies that will help them help their children reach those goals. Co-Sponsor: Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana Date: Thursday, August 16, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. IEP Tips - This webinar features tried and true tips on how to positively advocate for your children, strengthen the relationships between parents and service agencies, and help create the appropriate IEP program. This webinar is perfect for families looking for ways to make the IEP meeting a more positive experience for everyone involved. Co-Sponsor: Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2018 Time: 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students Accommodations vs. Modifications - Meeting after meeting, parents and teachers use the words “accommodation†and “modification†almost interchangeably when discussing IEPs and student needs. If understood and used correctly, these words can greatly impact the success of a child’s educational program. Get answers to these questions and more: How can accommodations and modifications help my child in the general education classroom? How are accommodations and modifications included in IEP? Which accommodations are provided for state testing? Accommodations and Modifications can be a game changer for your child. Co-Sponsor: Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana Date: Monday, August 20, 2018 Time: 1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Procedural Safeguards: Do You Know Your Rights? - Since the first federal law dealing with the education of students with disabilities in public schools passed, legal rights for parents has been an important part of the law. These legal rights for parents generally referred to as “procedural safeguards†, are a critical component to The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this webinar is to let parents know they have legal rights and to help them understand these rights and what to do when you disagree with the school. Co-Sponsor: Families Helping Families of Acadiana Date: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
B A C K to S C H O O L G I V E A W A Y
July 28, 2018 | We Rock the Spectrum | Esplanade Mall
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) The office of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) issues extensive guidance for military families with children who have special needs and who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, a free appropriate public education either domestically or overseas. The Branch
The Branch is funded to build the capacity of Parent Centers nationwide to provide effective services to military parents of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities in military families. While the Branch doesn’t provide direct services to families, it is still a good resource of information for military families. Definitely check out the Branch publications on DoD schools, on relocation, and on various healthcare options. Their library is ever-growing! Does My Child Have Physical Developmental Delays? (Also available in Spanish) Parents can use this online tool (developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics) to learn more about physical developmental delays in children ages 5 and under, and see if their child is on-track with milestones in physical development. Accompanied by fact sheets on developmental delay in both English and Spanish. Off to a Good Start
Want to share information about social and emotional development in children? Consider this resource from The Urban Child Institute. It's actually a multi-chapter book made nicely available for reading online. You can also download it as a PDF, to a Kindle, or as an iBook. Look in particular at Chapter 2 (on social-emotional development), Chapter 3 (Factors in the Home), and Chapter 4 (Factors in Child-Care Settings). Being a Helper: Supporting Children to Feel Safe and Secure after Disasters How do disasters affect children's well-being? How children may react to traumatic events? (Lots of suggestions for what parents and others might try, do, or say to help.) This resource also discusses how to support families through crises and the importance of remembering yourself. From the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Supporting Brain Development in Traumatized Children and Youth Early trauma can alter a child's brain development and affect mental, emotional, and behavioral health into adulthood. This 12-page bulletin discusses what professionals can do to promote healthy brain development for vulnerable children and youth and to put families and service providers in touch with the most effective, evidence-based interventions. Suicide Prevention: Facts and Resources
In the wake of many recent high-profile suicides, this SAMSHA 2-pager may be a timely resource for families and professionals alike. It summarizes statistics, lists warning signs, and connects people with key resources of more information or emergency help. Pictured are Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Timothy Donovan, his wife, Paula, and 7-year-old son, Timothy. Photo by Elaine Wilson
Resources for FAMILIES
continued on p.20
e-Learning Mini Modules are formatted for all devices so even if you are at a ball game, dance practice or waiting for your dinner to arrive in a restaurant, you can log onto our website and watch one of our e-Learning Mini Modules in approximately 10 minutes. That's right - you only need about 10 minutes! The following e-Learning Mini Modules are currently available: What do you do when the school calls to pick up your child? What transportation services are available to my child with a disability? How can I prepare for my child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting? Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Basics What is Least Restricted Environment (LRE)? We hope these are useful to you and happy to be able to add additional ways for families to learn relevant information they need in to get their child the most appropriate education they deserve. CLICK HERE to go to our website and learn more about the e-Learning Modules!
Resources - continued from p.19
The 2018 Guide to Summer Fun for Families Louisiana is a wonderful place to live. All year long, there are so many attractions, festivals, parades, arts, museums, and events going on around our beautiful state. There’s never a dull moment! Inside this guide, you will find special needs summer camps and many ideas for things to do and places to visit with your family throughout the summer. From museums, nature centers, and theaters… to activities at home. You will find endless possibilities for enjoyment, learning, and relaxation. This Guide is meant to be an Internet resource. Please review these offerings to determine if they suit the needs of your family. Before you personally visit any of the resources listed, please call or check the website listed for the most current information.
The Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (LaPTIC) is a program of Families Helping Families of GNO and a grant from the US Department of Education; Office of Special Education (OSEP) as Louisiana's official and only statewide federally funded Parent Training and Information Center.
Any information provided by Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans (FHF) and/or Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (LaPTIC), its staff, and/or its volunteers is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Any information expressed or implied is not intended nor should be construed as legal, medical, or other professional advice. FHF and/or LaPTIC does not render legal, medical, or professional advice or recommendations; nor is legal, medical, or other professional advice implied by any information given. Any information provided should not replace consultations with qualified legal, educational, healthcare, or other professionals to meet individual or professional needs. Reference to any program, service, therapy, or treatment option does not imply endorsement by FHF and/or LaPTIC or by its organizational staff/members and should not be construed as such.
The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) has four developmental disability home and community-based waivers, New Opportunities Waiver (NOW), Residential Options Waiver (ROW), Supports Waiver, and Children's Choice Waiver have now been operationalized to a tiered waiver system of service delivery, which will allow for individuals to be supported in the most appropriate waiver. To learn more, click here.
700 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 504-888-9111 800-766-7736 504.353-2350 fax info@fhfofgno.org fhfofgno.org