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Event Calendar

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

To request ADA accommodations and/or language interpretation for a Parent Resource Center event, please contact us at 703-228-7239 or prc@apsva.us at least 7 days prior to event.

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Arlington SEPTA logo

Arlington Special Education PTA (SEPTA) EventsArlington SEPTA Fundraiserthumbnail of 2024ShoppingNight
Wednesday, March 20th 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Scout & Molly’s Boutique
Mosaic District, 2920 District Ave. #135 Fairfax, VA
Join Arlington Special Education PTA (SEPTA) for an evening of fun, friends, and shopping for a cause. Spruce up your spring wardrobe and Scout & Molly’s Boutique will give 20% of sales to SEPTA. Shopping Night www.arlingtonsepta.org Beverages and snacks provided. No purchases are necessary. RSVP: https://forms/gle/FEBWYn8WT2AoSEPh9

 

SEPTA Monthly Meeting
Save the Date: April 11, 2024
Syphax Education Center 2110 Washington Blvd., Room 454, Arlington, VA 22204 or by Zoom
RSVP link – coming soon.

2024 Annual SEPTA Awards for Excellence in Special Education thumbnail of 2024 Nominations Flyer
The nomination period is open and will close April 17, 2024.  Parents, educators, staff, and administrators can start thinking about who within their school communities have made an outstanding contribution to the APS special education community. Visit here for more information about each award and to submit your nominations: https://www.arlingtonsepta.org/programs/excellence-awards/

  • Turner Award: Outstanding administrator
  • Crawford Award: Outstanding educator
  • Howie Award: Outstanding volunteer, parent or community member
  • Nannini Award: Outstanding student advocate
  • Antuon Townsend Award: Outstanding aide, assistant or support staff
  • McBride Award: Outstanding school or program
  • Exceptional Ally Award: Outstanding student ally

The Award Reception & Ceremony will be held on May 15, 2024 at 6:30pm at Kenmore Middle School. It is a way for us as a district to commend all our nominees for laying the foundation and advocating for equitable learning for every student. We know they are always paying their utmost attention & they work tirelessly. Please help us celebrate Arlington teachers, staff, volunteers, and students who have gone above and beyond to help Arlington students succeed.


ASEAC logoArlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC) Meeting
March 20, 2024: 7pm to 9pm
2110 Washington Boulevard, Room 456, Arlington, VA 22204 or via Zoom
Use this link to register for the meeting

Topic: IDEA Special Education Annual Plan Application
Please join the Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC) for its next meeting.
The March meeting will focus on the IDEA Special Education Annual Plan Application that APS will submit to the Virginia Department of Education in May that provides some additional grant funding. Additionally, the OSE will share some high-level take-aways from APS proposed budget and what community might want to advocate for at the County level.

The Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC) is a group of parents and community members appointed by the Arlington school board to gather information and advise the school system about how to improve education for students with disabilities.
During every meeting, ASEAC welcomes comments from the community about issues affecting students with disabilities. Interpretation and captions will be provided in multiple languages.


Understanding Section 504
Thursday, April 18th: 12pm to 1pm
Use this link to register for the session
Join us as we welcome Jenny Lambdin, Ed.S., NCSP, an APS School Psychologist, Section 504 Coordinator and Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. Jenny will share information on Section 504, a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. Learn more about the Section 504 eligibility process, and how Section 504 plans can provide accommodations to eligible students with disabilities. Section 504 image

 

 

 

 

 


Autism logo

April is Autism Acceptance Month
Autism Disclosure: How, When & Why to Talk with Your Child about Autism and How it Affects Them
Wednesday, April 24: 7pm to 8pm
Use this link to register for the session
Although we know that understanding one’s disability – and its accompanying strengths and potential challenges – can be empowering for students, many families struggle with how how to introduce their child to their autism classification. Join our Autism/Low Incidence Disability Specialist Team for an important session that will provide tips and strategies for talking with your child about their autism classification, and help build self-advocacy and self-determination skills in students.


Understanding Depression in Adolescents: Essential Information for Parents/Caregivers
Tuesday, May 14, 2024: 7pm to 8pm
Use this link to register for the session.

Join us for a virtual event on Tuesday, May 14th where we will come together to address the experiences faced by parents/caregivers dealing with teenagers with depression. This interactive online seminar is designed to equip caregivers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify depression, understand the prevalence of major depressive disorder, explore elements of recovery and treatment strategies, and provide proactive guidance to support the well-being of the teen.

Speaker: Chana Engel, CRNP (she/her/hers) is a Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who completed her BS/MS in nursing with a focus on Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health at Columbia University and her undergraduate degree in Studies in Neuroscience, from Boston University. Chana has worked within the Emotion and Development Branch (EDB) of the NIMH since 2010. Her work in the Branch has included screening and diagnostic assessments of children and adolescents, coordinating and conducting inpatient and outpatient research treatment for patients and families, facilitating clinical training across the Branch, and mentoring research assistants. She has diverse expertise in pediatric mental health, particularly in bipolar spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, chronic irritability, developmental disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Her research interests include identifying treatment mechanisms and novel treatments for depression and anxiety in youth.

COMMUNITY PARTNER WEBINARS/VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES and MEETINGS

The events included below are shared for informational purposes, and listing may not be inclusive of all available community learning opportunities and inclusion of opportunities does not reflect endorsement by Arlington Public Schools.   

I am Able flier image I AM ABLE – Documentary Film
Thursday March 21, 2024: 6:00 to 8:00PM
Arlington County Central Library Auditorium
1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA
To register, email hgardner@arlingtonva.us No later than 5pm on March 15, 2024

Arlington County’s Developmental Services, in celebration of “Including Individuals with Developmental Disabilities” Month, invites you to a showing of the documentary film, “I am Able,” produced by Fresh Films.
PIZZA, POPCORN, & DRINKS WILL BE SERVED
For questions, contact Heidi Gardner at hgardner@arlingtonva.us
View event flier


TR Family Night Out – Pajama Movie Night
Saturday, March 23, from 5:30-7:30 pm
Lubber Run Center
TR Movie Night Migration image Get ready for the coziest event in town! TR Family Night Out proudly presents Pajama Movie Night. Slip into your favorite PJs and join us for a screening of Illumination’s 2023 animated film Migration in our gym, transformed into a cinematic wonderland with a massive inflatable movie screen! Bring your blankets, beanbags, and all things cozy to make this movie night unforgettable. Register now for just $4 (Activity #: 922214-05) to secure your spot and enjoy fresh popcorn on us.

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  • Transition Lunch & Learns
    Planning for the transition from school to adult services can be an overwhelming task. Once your child exits the school system, adult services are based on eligibility criteria and funding availability. These small group sessions are an opportunity to begin creating a plan for the future. Learn what kinds of employment and meaningful day support services are available, how to explore post-secondary options, what transportation supports exist, how to help your child make decisions and advocate, when to apply for SSI and manage benefits, and what recreation activities are available. It’s never too early to plan; you don’t have to wait until your student is close to graduation. Also, these Lunch & Learns would be a great way for families who started the process but got overwhelmed or stuck to find the motivation to restart the process and press forward. These are virtual meetings on Zoom. Remember, all of our webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.

    • If you have questions, please email Diane Monnig, Transition Manager at dmonnig@thearcofnova.org.
      Additional Dates

      • Mar 20, 2024 12:00 PM
      • Apr 3, 2024 12:00 PM
      • Apr 17, 2024 12:00 PM
      • May 1, 2024 12:00 PM
      • May 15, 2024 12:00 PM
      • May 22, 2024 12:00 PM
      • Jun 5, 2024 12:00 PM
  • Lunch. Learn. Inspire.
    Virtual Group Sessions
    Thursdays, 11am – 1pm
    Facilitated by Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.
    Use this link to register

    • May 9, 2024
    • August 8, 2024
    • November 14, 2024

Join The Arc and advocate Gary Shulman for one or all of The ARC’s 2024 two hour sessions where you can share issues and challenges you’re facing as a parent or caregiver to someone with a developmental disability.
Learn more at this link

On-going Information & Education Opportunities:

On-going Information & Education Opportunities:


 

CHADD Logo

Talk Saves Lives:Preventing Deaths from Suicide
Featuring Steven Schonfeld, MD
Thursday, March 21 | 6:30 PM ET 

Presented by CHADD Southern Regional Center

Many people struggling with feelings of depression and hopelessness might think about ending their own lives. Sadly, this is a big reason why many people die in the United States, even though it could have been prevented. It doesn’t matter who you are, people across all demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds, can be at risk, including both adults and children with ADHD and other co-occurring disorders.
Steven Schonfeld, MD, will discuss in this special webinar the risks and protective factors associated with suicide. He’ll explain what things might make someone think about suicide, as well as signs that someone might be feeling this way. He’ll also give advice on what you can do if you’re worried about a friend or family member, even if they are a young child. Dr. Schonfeld will also talk about how certain situations and health problems can make someone think about suicide. It’s important for parents to know that things like underage drinking and taking dangerous risks can make it worse.
This event is going to be a safe space for talking about suicide prevention. It’s okay if you don’t want to appear on camera or share your name. This talk will not be recorded.


Arlington DADS’ Group
Tuesday, March 19: 7pm to 9pm
Just a reminder for busy dads, the next meeting is Tuesday, March 19th, at Ireland’s Four Provinces in Falls Church.  Dads of students with disabilities will gather for dinner and conversation between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Reply to George Buzby at: gbuzby@aol.com


Formed Families Forward logo

 

 

Formed Families Forward is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs.

Online Learning Courses Open Now!
Learning Your Way is Formed Families Forward’s free online learning portal for parents, caregivers, youth and professionals. Registration is now open for Spring 2024, and it’s FREE! Enroll and access the interactive courses at your own pace. The Spring window is open through June 2024. Certificates of completion are available.
Learning Your Way includes six Courses on:

  • Special Education 101
  • Constructive Communication and Collaboration
  • Trauma Basics
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Kinship Care
  • Other Health Impairments

Formed Families Forward Support Groups

    • Parents and Caregivers: Details at www.FormedFamiliesForward.org

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Parent Group

What is SPACE?

  • It is an approach to treating anxiety in children and teens
  • Uses a parent-only model
  • Parent group with 8 weekly virtual sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00PM
  • Exact Dates:To Be Announced

Through SPACE, you will:

  • Increase supportive communication
  • Decrease the need for accommodations
  • Improve daily functioning
  • Become a part of the solution

For more information or to register,please contact:
Laney Park, LCSW-C-jpark@JSSA.org
Claira Winget, LMSW- cwinget@JSSA.org


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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Arlington Parent Support Groups
Still Meeting Virtually
This group is geared to parents whose child is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, including: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, mood disorders and more. No diagnosis is required to participate. Participants are given the opportunity to share their story, experience support, and glean guidance (as desired) from group members regarding both community and school resources. Confidentiality is respected.

School Age Students and Teens (PK-12)
Sundays, 7pm – 8:30pm

  • April 7
  • April 21
  • May 5
  • May 19
  • June 2
  • June 16

Register at: bit.ly/PSGArlingtonbit.ly/NAMIPSGArlington

Questions?? Contact:
Michelle Best
Sandy Minners
Robin Pentola


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Transition University
February 12, 2024 – April 8, 2024

Join us for Transition University! This FREE 5-session self-paced online course focuses on providing parent-friendly transition information to help make transition planning easier. This course is designed for parents/caregivers of elementary, middle, or high school students that receive special education services, and the professionals that support them. The goal is to share factual information on transition services and to help make the transition from school services to the adult services world less confusing. A certificate of completion for 7.5 hours will be provided for all who complete the training.

Ins and Outs of IEP Meetings
March 25, 2024 | 6:30 p.m.
This presentation will help prepare parents for what to expect in the IEP meeting and how to have a productive, student-focused meeting. From pre-planning before the meeting to working together afterwards, this presentation will help participants learn how to build relationships while focusing on the needs of the student.
Presented by PEATC in partnership with Kids, Kin, ‘N Caregivers, Inc. as part of their KinCare 101 Education/Empowerment Series. This webinar will be presented via Zoom. It will not be recorded.

Turning 18 in Virginia: What Individuals with Disabilities Need to Consider
April 10, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Turning 18 is a big deal. An 18-year-old is legally considered an adult in Virginia and can make their own legal, financial, medical, and educational decisions. For some individuals with disabilities, this will not be an issue. Others may need support. This workshop will share basic information about things that need to be considered as your loved one turns 18.
ASL interpretation, Cued speech transliteration, and captioning available.
Presented by PEATC in partnership with The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. This training will be presented on Zoom. It will not be recorded.


PEATC LATINX
Grupo de Chat para Padres: Únete a nuestro nuevo GRUPO DE CHAT mediante la aplicación de WhatsApp y podrás mantenerte al tanto de todo lo que PEATC Latino está haciendo. Entra al GRUPO: https://bit.ly/2VoU2vw

Serie de Educación Especial
PEATC presenta esta serie de talleres virtuales para padres y profesionales que desean aprender más sobre la educación especial en Virginia.¡Regístrese una vez para asistir a algunos o todos los talleres informativos! ¡Aquellos que asistan a todas o más de tres talleres, podrán participar de una rifa y ganar una tarjeta de regalo de $50!Jueves, Marzo 14: Diez Cosas que Debe Saber Sobre un IEP
Martes, Abril 16: ¡Su Voz Vale!
Cada taller comenzará a las 6:30 p.m. y tendrá una duración aproximada de 1 a 1.5 horas. Estas sesiones no serán grabadas.


STAR Autism Support
Thriving in a Social World
March 19: Please note time zone differences. 
If you would like to attend at 1:30 PST/3:30 CST, please click here to register.
If you would like to attend at 3:30 PST/5:30 CST, please click here to register.

Children with autism and other developmental disabilities benefit from learning and practicing specific skills in order to thrive in a social world. This training highlights important social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as controlling impulses, identifying and interpreting emotions, and self-monitoring behaviors during daily routines. In this session, educators and caregivers will learn how to identify skills to practice SEL skills at home and in the community.