Celebrate Differences Disability Awareness Center Celebrate Differences Bringing Attention To The Cause! October 2013 Issue 6 Celebrate Differences is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities in reaching their fullest potential by providing positive resources and information to families, communities and health care providers while promoting a competent level of awareness and understanding. Mission October is a month to educate the public and shine a light on many different causes. Did you know that October is Down syndrome Awareness Month, Spina Bifida Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month? What are you doing to raise awareness in your community? For national Disability Awareness Month, visit the US Department of Labor website and check out the list of what you can do. http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/ Need ideas for Spina Bifida Awareness Month? Visit http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org. And for Down Syndrome Awareness, check out http://www.ndss.org. Continued on Page 2
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Celebrate Differences Disability Awareness Center
Celebrate Differences
Bringing Attention To The Cause!
October 2013 Issue 6
Celebrate Differences is committed to supporting
individuals with disabilities in reaching their fullest potential by providing positive resources and
information to families, communities and health care providers while promoting a
competent level of awareness and understanding.
Mission
October is a month to educate the public and shine a light on many different causes. Did you know that October is Down syndrome Awareness Month, Spina Bifida Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month? What are you doing to raise awareness in your community? For national Disability Awareness Month, visit the US Department of Labor website and check out the list of what you can do. http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/ Need ideas for Spina Bifida Awareness Month? Visit http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org. And for Down Syndrome Awareness, check out http://www.ndss.org. Continued on Page 2
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Chesterbrook Academy Preschool of Oswego is Giving
Back!
Thrivent Financial Event on Social
Security
Make Every Drop Count!
The Chesterbrook Academy Preschool, located at 750 Fifth St, in Oswego, is hosting a yard sale to benefit Celebrate Differences. The event will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the preschool. The preschool will be accepting donations of gently used items. Donated items may be dropped off at the preschool beginning on Monday, September 30th. The preschool hours are M-F from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. We will have more details available as the date gets closer.
Join Thrivent Financial for dinner and
learn about Social Security at the same time.
You are invited to Meson Sabika
On October 23, 2013 6:30-8:30 pm
Meson Sabika is located at 1025
Aurora Ave, Naperville, Il
This is a FREE adult only dinner and presentation.
Follow us on Facebook to have all the latest news, updates and
to get in touch with us.
Throughout the month of October, we invite you to learn more about these causes and take this opportunity to get involved and raise awareness. Firehouse Pizza and Pub of Oswego is a great example of how businesses can get involved. They have invited 15 children with Down syndrome to come to the restaurant and make their own pizza. The event will take place on October 14th, at 11:00 am in Oswego. They are located at 65 West Washington St, Oswego, IL 60543. You must RSVP for this event. Please RSVP to [email protected].
All programs take place at the center unless otherwise stated. Be sure to visit our
website at celebratedifferences.org or our Facebook page to see more details about
each event.
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Toilet Training Workshop
October 22, 2013 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Join Denise McCance as she teaches strategies for developing a toilet
training program for a child with special needs.
Every child needs to learn to be toilet trained. Don’t worry! Denise has assured us that this workshop would be beneficial for any parent or
caregiver or school personnel, wanting a child to become independent with using the toilet.
Denise McCance has a B.S. in Physical Education from Northern Illinois University and a M.S. in Education Administration from Western Illinois
University. She has taught Physical Education, Health Education and coached for over 20 years. Denise is also a certified Red Cross instructor. She lives with her husband and 4 children in Montgomery. Her youngest son is a 9 year old
Autism Grant Autism Family Foundation (AFF) is going to be awarding Grants to local families. Income Verification is NOT required to qualify and deadline extended until 10/11. See the attached or visit http://www.autismfailyfoundation.net/ for the application.
Dads of Special Needs Children
The vision of this group is to offer a casual environment to meet other dads of special
needs children, discuss the challenges of raising kids with special needs and how to
become better advocates for our children.
The group is open to all dads, father figures, grandparent and caregivers of special needs
children.
If you can’t attend the meetings and are interested in joining the group send your contact information to Matt Latourette [email protected] or call 650-930-0263
We will be meeting from 7pm-9pm on the following dates:
• Thursday October 3rd Location : Aurelios Pizza,1975 Springbrook Square Dr , Naperville
Topic: Rubin Law will presenting Special Needs Trusts
• Tuesday November 5th Location : Tommy Nevins Pub Naperville Topic: What is an advocate and how they can help you. Karen Belcher- Special Education Advocate • Tuesday December 3rd Location : Tommy Nevins Pub Naperville
Topic: IEPs, setting goals, compliance and making changes Dr. Kate A Foley Associate Superintendent Naperville Community Unit School District 203
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Flyer for Training, Version 2, 9/9/13, Page 1 of 1
Parent Training About Affecting Legislative Change
The training will be held on:
October 25th from 8:30am to 11:30pm AND
November 1st from 8:30am to 11:30pm The training will be held at:
Easter Seals Dupage and the Fox Valley Region
830 S. Addison Avenue Villa Park, IL 60181
**You must attend both training sessions**
To register for the training, please contact Meghan Burke at:
312-413-5557. UIC is conducting research on this training to determine its effectiveness. The training also has a research component including: a focus group, two surveys, videotaping your stories to share with legislators, and a follow-up questionnaire. Your participation will provide important feedback that can potentially help guide, expand, and strengthen special education policy. Your participation is voluntary and your responses will be kept confidential.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates the services children with disabilities receive from the school system. IDEA will be reauthorized soon; it is critical that parents voice their concerns to legislators so students with disabilities can receive better services. The University of Illinois at Chicago is offering free training for parents of students with disabilities. Parents who participate in this training will be able to:
1. Participate in the legislative process to change special education policy.
2. Become more comfortable speaking to legislators and sharing concerns.
Training will cover: • The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act
• The reauthorization process
• How to speak to legislators about your
concerns
The training is FREE. Parents will be reimbursed $5 for their attendance and
will receive food at the training.
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The Kendall County NEXT STEPS team invites you to an informational meeting addressing IEP’s and transition planning for individuals with disabilities. We understand the transition planning process can be difficult and confusing. If you have a child with a disability in school, this meeting is one you don’t want to miss. In Illinois, when a child with a disability turns 14 ½, a transition plan is added to the IEP. Using a copy of the Transition Plan from the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative, we will cover the different components of the transition plan and terms you will hear at your child’s IEP meeting starting at age 14 ½. Our goal is to educate families on the transitioning process and how the transition plan impacts a child’s education and future goals.
The information from this presentation may ease the transition planning process and help you and your family advocate for appropriate services, identify resources in the community, and help your child be as independent as possible starting today and continuing throughout your child’s life.
Please know that you are not alone during the transitioning planning process. Parents of students in elementary, middle, and high school are encouraged to attend.
It is never too early to start planning for your child’s future.
Transition Planning Transition Plans:
Roadmaps to the Future
Phone: 630-553-5833 www.nextstepsillinois.org
201 Garden Street Yorkville, IL 60560
NEXT STEPS Kendall County
Empowering and Educating Parents, Families, Professionals, and Individuals with Disabilities on Effective Transition Planning
Date: October 19, 2013
Time: 9:00 am—11:00 am
Place: Oswego Fire House
3347 Woolley Rd
Oswego, IL 60543
KENDALL COUNTY NEXT STEPS
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Assistive technology: getting to know what type of assistive technology tools to ask for to support your student through an IEP or 504 plan
October 11th, 2013 at 10AM Location: 95th Street Library
Jennifer Duffy, assistive technology specialist, will be joining us on Friday October 11 from 10-11:30 at the Naperville 95th street library location. Mrs. Duffy will be sharing useful technology
tools to support students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, organizational challenges, and other learning difficulties. Please register in advance for this event!
Registration is required by e-mailing the address below: [email protected]
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Emotional Effects ofSocial Media on Teenagers
Do your children spend more time onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram thanthey do tossing balls, scrapbooking andplaying checkers? Have LOL and OMGbecome a normal part of your dialoguewith your teenager? If you feel like youare losing your child to social media,then please invite your BFF and joinLorna London, Ph.D., ClinicalPsychologist, for a dynamic presentationon the emotional effects of social mediaon our youth, and learn about ways tohelp buffer your children against thesometimes negative effects of socialmedia.
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2013
Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Place: Kendall County Health Dept.
811 W. John Street
Yorkville, IL 60560
For more information about this program, please call RaeAnn VanGundy at 630-553-8064.
Emotional Effects ofSocial Media on Teenagers
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M.O.R.E. is coming!
We have heard many parents say there are not enough activities for
their child to do after high school. We have heard there are not
enough opportunities for socializing and making friends. We are
listening and we are hearing you want more!
Our M.O.R.E. program is coming! Our program will offer more outreach, more recreation and
hopefully more employment opportunities!
M.O.R.E. for adults 22 and over!
Coming soon!
Please watch our future newsletters for more details.