WNY
FASD Support Group
Calendar and Weblog
| March
2008 |
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Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
March 19, 2008
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
TOPIC:"No Child Left
Behind"-problem or possibility?
SPEAKER: Julie Schwab, Program Coordinator of the Parent
Information Resource Center at EPIC (Every Person Influences
Children)
Ever get the feeling it's your child who is being "LEFT
BEHIND"?
Join us to find out about this much hyped federal program
and learn what questions to ask to keep your child from being
the one who is left behind.
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The
Drink That Lasts a Lifetime: The Challenges of FASD
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Presented
by Helen Weinstein
For parents and providers
Tuesday April 1, 2008
7:00-9:00pm
Sponsored by Parent Network & EPIC
1000 Main St. (near High)
Parking behind the building
Call 332-4170 to register
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"To
Drink or Not To Drink?"
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Save
the Date
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For
the next Meetings:
April 16 • May 21
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| February
2008 |
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Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
February 13, 2008
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
SPEAKERS: Linda Grear, & Jean Gustafson, Attorneys-at-law
with the firm of Hogan & Willig
TOPIC: "Everything you want to know about disability
law and didn't know who to ask!"
Our topic title may be a bit of an over-statement for a two-hour
meeting, but it's a great place to start! This is a "must
attend" for anyone who has ever had a question about
applying for benefits or the complex issues related to disability
law. Our guests are attorneys who specialize in this field
and will provide information about a variety of relevant topics
including:
• Your child's rights under current disability law
•
Applying for SSI
and other benefits
•
Guardianship
•
Trusts and estate
planning….and more
|
The
time to start exploring this is NOW!
Don't let your child be left behind!
Please RSVP to Helen at 831-2298 x19 or helenw@eccpasa.info
Refreshments will be served
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| January
2008 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
January 16, 2008
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
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Save
the Date for A Very Important Meeting!
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Wednesday,
February 13th at 7:00 pm
The February support group meeting will be a "must attend"
for anyone who has ever had a question about applying for
benefits or the complex issues related to disability laws.
Our guests will be Linda Grear and Jean Gustafson, attorneys
with Hogan & Willig. Their specialty is disability law
and they will provide information about and answer your questions
concerning issues such as
• Disability laws
• Applying for SSI and other benefits
• Guardianship
• Trusts and estate planning
So mark your calendar
and join us on February 13th. If you have any questions
you would like our guests to address, please call Helen
at 831-2298x19 or email them to helenw@eccpasa.info
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| November
2007 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
Wednesday,
November 14, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Topic: Future Directions for
the FASD Family Support Group
Please Join Us…
Many families have not yet had the opportunity to touch
base since the start of school due to low attendance at the
September and October meetings. I would like to encourage
everyone who can to come this month and share experiences
and ideas, support each other, and enjoy being together with
other families who understand what it's like to raise a child
with FAS/FASD.
Questions
or suggestions?
Contact Helen at 831-2298 or helenw@eccpasa.info
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Congratulations
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Congratulations
and best wishes to the Enzinna Family on the birth of their
son and brother, Anthony Christian.
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Strike!
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"Buffalo
Excels" is sponsoring a bowling league for children with
disabilities. It meets at 11:00 on Saturday mornings at Kenmore
Lanes. For more information, call Robin at 510-0317.
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From
EI and Beyond...
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Our
friend and colleague, Linda Caley, would like to share some
information with you about an exciting new study she is conducting
to better help families as their children move on from early
intervention (EI) services to preschool.
If you have a child
between the ages of 22 and 35 months, and like to shop at
Target, please look on the back for details about participating
in this project.
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| October
2007 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
October 17, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
View a brief PowerPoint presentation
that gives teachers, counselors and other school staff a clearer
understanding of the educational needs of a child with FAS/FASD.
Save the date!
for the next support group meeting November 14th.
Questions or suggestions?
Contact Helen at 831-2298 or helenw@eccpasa.info
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As
Winter Approaches…
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If
a meeting has to be cancelled due to weather, a message will
be left at 831-2298, ext. 19. If there is a driving ban or
snow emergency in Buffalo, the meeting will be cancelled.
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| September
2007 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
September 19, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Catch up after the summer!
Look ahead to the new school year!
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Free
Parent Workshops
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The
Parent Network and EPIC (Every Person Influences Children)
are again offering the "Parenting Today" series.
All workshops are held at the EPIC Building located at 1000
Main St. near High St. Childcare is available with 1-week's
notice. Call 332-4170 to register.
|
| Thursday |
September
20
10am-noon |
How
to resolve
conflicts |
Discover
causes of conflict and learn conflict
management and resolution strategies . |
| Tuesday |
September
25
6pm-8pm |
Helping
your adolescent succeed in school |
Exploring
ways parents can help their children succeed in school. |
| Thursday |
October
4
10am-noon |
Developing
respect & caring in young
adolescents
|
Explore
helping young children develop positive
traits and care for themselves and others. |
| Tuesday |
October
9
6pm-8pm |
Asset
building |
Helping
young people grow up healthy, caring
and responsible through 40 developmental assets. |
| Thursday |
October
18
10 am-noon |
What
to do with all that paperwork |
Learn
how being organized can help you advocate
for your child. Bring your paperwork and get a
FREE binder. |
Save
the date for the next support group meeting on October
17.
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| June/July
2007 |
|
Free Workshops for Parents & Caregivers
|
Parent
Network of WNY
1000 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
"OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THROUGH SERVICES"
Tues. July 17, 6:00-8:00 pm
For parents/families who participate in the Medicaid Waiver
Service
• What is "OPTS"?
• Who is eligible?
• What is the process?
"AN OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL EDUCATION"
Tues. August 7, 9:30 am-2:30 pm
For parents, caregivers, and professionals
• Understanding the special education system
• What to expect at a CSE/CPSE meeting
• Developing an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
• Being an effective member of your child's school team
Call 332-4170 to register
"The more you know the better you can advocate for your
child." |
| April
2007 |
|
Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Luther Robinson!
|
Wednesday,
April 18, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office 1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Pizza and salad will be served
RSVP by Monday April 16 to Helen, 831-2298 or helenw@eccpasa.info
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| March
2007 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
Wednesday,
March 21, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Speaker: Davina Moss-King,
VESID Counselor
Topic:
Planning for the Future: Vocational & Educational Services
Information all Parents need to know:
•
At what age can students access VESID services?
• What are transition services?
•
Does
everyone need a transition plan?
•
How
is this included on the child's IEP?
•
What
is the role of the VESID counselor?
•
Who
is financially responsible?
•
How
are parents involved?
Bring your own questions...
"The mission of the Office of Vocational and
Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID),
is to promote educational equity and excellence for students
with disabilities while ensuring they receive the rights
and protection to which they are entitled; assure appropriate
continuity between the child and adult services systems;
and provide the highest quality vocational rehabilitation
and independent living services to all eligible persons
as quickly as those services are required to enable them
to work and live independent, self-directed lives."
Please join us-refreshments will be served.
Save
the Date: Next meeting Wed. April 18
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| February
2007 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
Wednesday,
February 21, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Speaker: Christine Oddo, Director
of Client Services, Center for Assistive Technology
Topic:
Assistive Technology
Ms. Oddo is an Occupational Therapist who will discuss the
availability of assistive technology devices, when these
devices are appropriate and how to decide if this is something
that will be useful for your child.
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive
Technology (AT) is any kind of tool that can be used to
help a person with a disability to be more independent.
Students with a 504 plan or an IEP can be considered for
AT services provided by the school district. Eligibility
is decided by the student's educational team and must then
be included in the 504 plan or IEP.
Examples of Assistive Technology:
Use of a computer
Automatic page turners
Audiotapes of textbooks
Adapted pencil grips
Page turners
Tape recorders
Calculators
Please join us-refreshments will be served.
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Parent
to Parent
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Our
January speaker discussed Parent to Parent, a program that
links parents with a trained support parent of children with
the same or similar disability or healthcare need. Currently
they have no support parents of a child with FASD. Interested
in being trained to be a support parent?-Contact Lorraine
Blum at 517-3448.
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Save
the Date
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For
the next Meeting
March 21
Services available through VESID (Vocational & Educational
Services for Individuals with Disabilities)
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| January
2007 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
January 17, 2007
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Speaker: Lorraine Blum
Topic:
Parents Helping Parents
The mission of the Parent to Parent Program is to connect
and support families of individuals with special needs. They
help to link parents with a trained support parent who has
a child with the same or similar disability or health care
concern or to help with parenting issues. Ms Blum will share
a wide array of resources that can be useful for obtaining
information on a variety of relevant topics and services.
Parent to Parent is funded by the New York State Office of
Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD).
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Available
at this meeting!
"Planning for the Future"
A Guide for Families & Friends of People With Developmental
Disabilities
Includes
information on government benefits, education, employment,
estate planning, trusts, guardianship, and more....
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|
Eventually
it will snow!
If in doubt due to the weather, call 831-2298, ext19 to check
if the meeting
has been cancelled. If there is a driving ban or State of
Emergency, the meeting will automatically be cancelled.
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Save
the Date!
For future meetings:
February 21
March 21
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| December
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
December 18, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Speaker: Julie McCullough
Topic:
Establishing Guardianship
** This speaker and topic are rescheduled from October
when the meeting
was canceled due to the "Surprise Storm."
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"Oh
The Weather Outside is Frightful!"
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The
October storm caught us all by surprise, but in the future
if there is a driving ban in the city, the meeting will be
canceled. If you are not sure, please call Helen at 831-2298,
ext. 19 and there will be a message if the meeting is canceled.
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Parent
Network Workshops
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Check
out the enclosed schedule of FREE workshops being offered
by Parent Network. Free childcare is available with one week's
notice. The November 9th FASD workshop presented by Helen
Weinstein went very well. 25 people attended.
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| October
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
October 18, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Speaker: Julie McCullough
Topic:
Establishing Guardianship
"So
you think you have rights just because you're the parent?"
You might be surprised at the answer to this question!
Julie McCullough is a high school teacher, a school board
member and the parent of a young adult with a disability.
She will discuss her "odyssey" through the social
service and legal systems in establishing guardianship and
dealing with the tangle of SSI rules and regulations. She
brings insight to these very complicated issues as well as
legal resources to share.
This will be a very important meeting for all families as
your child is not too young for you to become informed of
these issues. For those of you who have already established
guardianship, please come and share your own experiences with
other families-that's what support group is all about!
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| September
2006 |
|
Family
Support Group Picnic
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The
Buffalo Zoo
Sunday, September 10th (Rain or shine)
Noon-3:00 pm
• Zoo admission, sandwiches, chips cookies and beverages
provided.
• Bring a side dish or dessert to pass.
• Meet at the zoo entrance (Parkside Ave.) between 12
noon & 12:30.
• Lunch will be at the "Birthday Tent" area
marked in the center of the map.
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Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
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Wednesday,
September 20, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Save the date: next month's support
group meeting will be October 18
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Free
Parent Workshops
|
|
The
Parent Network and EPIC (Every Person Influences Children)
are again offering a series of free workshops for parents
and other caregivers on a wide variety of topics. Childcare
is available with one week's notice. All workshops are held
at the EPIC Building located at 1000 Main St. near High St.
There is parking behind the building. Note that the workshop
on Thursday November 9 will be given by Helen Weinstein on
"The Drink That Lasts A Lifetime-Facing the Challenges
of FAS."
Call 332-4170 to register.
|
| Tuesday |
Sept.
19
6pm-8pm |
Helping
your child succeed in school |
Exploring
ways parents can help their children
succeeed in school |
| Thursday |
Sept.
28
10am-noon |
No
child left behind |
Learn
about this federal legislation and what it means to your
child. |
| Tuesday |
October
3
6pm-8pm |
ADHD |
Increase
your understanding of ADHD-characteristics, treatment
methods, and ways to help. |
| Tuesday |
October
17
6pm-8pm |
Homework
help |
Learn
to best support your child through the homework process
and reduce test anxiety. |
| Thursday |
October
28
10am-noon |
Drug
trends & Paraphenalia |
Learn
about the newest twists and fads in substance use, including
alcohol. |
| Thursday |
Nov.
9
10am-noon |
The
Drink that Lasts for a Lifetime - Facing the Challenges
of FAS |
Learn
about the lifelong challenges children with FAS and their
families face along with strategies to help the children
succeed in school, at home, and in life. |
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| August
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
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Wednesday,
August 23, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
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| June
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
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Wednesday,
June 28, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
**There will be no regular support group
meeting in July
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Overview
of Special Education Workshops for Parents and Caregivers
|
The
Parent Network of WNY and the Commission on Quality Care are
sponsoring free all-day workshops outlining a child's civil
rights under the special education laws, including the latest
updates to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
Come and learn about the special education process, what information
to share with professionals, where a student's rights come
from, and developing a partnership through good communication
with your child's school.
|
WHERE:
Parent Network of WNY
1000 Main St.(near High)
Buffalo, NY
14202
|
WHEN:
July 18th OR August 15th
9:30 am-2:30 pm
registration begins at 9:00 am
|
• Free childcare with 1 week's advance notice
• Parking available behind the building
• Lunch and refreshments provided
CALL 331-4170 to register
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| May
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
|
Wednesday,
May 24, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Topic:
"'Summertime and the livin' is easy -- or is it?"
**Save the date for the next support
group meeting on June 28th.
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Congratulations
to Dr. Luther K. Robinson
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Dr.
Luther Robinson has been honored by NOFAS, the National Organization
on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, for his "invaluable contribution
to FASD diagnosis and research." To read the tribute
to Dr. Robinson, refer to the Hall of Fame section on the
website, www.NOFAS.org.
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| March
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
|
Wednesday,
March 22, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Topic:
"'No Child Left Behind'-problem or possibility?"
What does this federal legislation mean to you and your child?
Learn what questions to ask your child's school.
|
|
Free
Parent Workshops
|
|
The
Parent Network and EPIC (Every Person Influences Children)
are again offering a series of workshops for parents and other
caregivers on a wide variety of topics. There is no charge
for these programs and free childcare is available with one
week's notice. All workshops are held at the EPIC Building
located at 1000 Main St. near High St. There is parking behind
the building.
|
| Tuesday |
March
21
10am-noon |
Choosing
Childcare |
Learn
what to look for when choosing childcare. |
| Thursday |
March
30
10am-noon |
Homework
Help |
Learn
how to best support your children through the homework
process and to relieve test anxiety. |
| Thursday |
April
27
10am-noon |
Loving
Discipline |
Practical
suggestions on discipline, avoiding power struggles, preventing
and handling tantrums. |
| Thursday |
May
11
10am-noon |
Parent
Involvement |
This
workshop explores ways that parents can help their children
succeed in school. |
| Thursday |
May
25
10am-noon |
Planning
for the Summer |
Explore
summertime activities for children and families that are
free or low cost. |
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| February
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
|
Wednesday,
February 22, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
Topic:
"Waivers, Respite, Support-Are We Eligible?"
GUEST SPEAKER: Kevin Penberthy, Intake Coordinator WNY Developmental
Disabilities Services Office
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS IMPORTANT MEETING!
We are very pleased that Mr. Kevin Penberthy of the Western
New York DDSO will be our guest at this month's meeting on
February 22. DDSO offices throughout the state are operated
by the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD). Their goal is to improve the quality
of life for individuals with developmental disabilities by
providing housing, employment, and family support services.
Although numerous valuable services are available through
the DDSO, the "system" can be very confusing and
overwhelming at times. Mr. Penworthy will be discussing what
services are available, how to access these services, how
eligibility is determined, and how does FAS/FASD fit into
the DDSO system.
This will be an excellent opportunity to have questions answered
and gain important information. Please join us!
Save
the date!
For future Support Group Meetings:
•March
22
•April26
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Spring
Workshop Announced
|
|
The
Clarence Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association
(SEPTSA) is sponsoring a free workshop on Saturday, March
25, from 8:30AM to 1:30PM at Clarence High School. Please
see the back of this newsletter for program details and registration
information.
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| January
2006 |
|
Monthly
FAS Family Support Group Meeting
|
|
Wednesday,
January 25, 2006
7-9 PM
At the ECCPASA Office
1625 Hertel Ave. (between Parkside & Starin)
• Copies of the College Guide for Students With Disabilities
will be available at the January Support Group Meeting.
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Advocacy
Issues - Do you know the
difference between Section 504 and IDEA?
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