Monthly News - November 2022
IU 29 Special Education Events and News
Training and Consultation (TaC) Staff
The Training and Consultation (TaC) Staff program is a service that provides technical assistance and training to assist the local school districts in building the capacity to meet the educational needs of all students.
TaC staff supports districts in achieving these major goals:
- To assure that an array of services are available and used effectively in each school.
- To provide initial screening and direct intervention for students before they are referred for multidisciplinary evaluation.
- To successfully integrate students identified as having disabilities into regular classrooms and community settings.
Assistive Technology Support & Low Incidence
Cindy Studlack, Assistive Technology Consultant contact info: studc@iu29.org or 570-544-9131 x2379
Do you have a student who may need AT? Are you considering AT tools for a student? Would you like help brainstorming AT options for your student? If you said yes to any of these questions, request a SETT framework for your student. Learn more by clicking the link below: https://forms.gle/946doeRi4gXWQT6o6
Deaf/HH Repository Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/j2snc-pattan-dhh-repository-update?ref=email
Several times a year, the DHH Initiative from PaTTAN sends out newsletters with items that may interest anyone that works with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Teachers, administrators, speech language pathologists, audiologists, interpreters, paraprofessionals, or anyone interested are invited to sign up and receive the highlights. Click here to sign up to receive the newsletters directly to your inbox. or copy and paste this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRGI1Jj5Cxosd2GHoQSbtkoH5gmyVGwQt3CERlUDAWn2IyZg/viewform
PATF: Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation: A non profit that helps finance: hearing aids, smart home technology, adapted vehicles, barrier free showers, tablets & computers, scooters and wheelchairs, adapted sports equipment
Contact information:
888-744-1938
My Voice Program: My Variety Children’s Charity
Learn more here: https://www.varietypittsburgh.org/my-voice/overview/
What is My Voice?
to provide a communication device to eligible children living with a communication disorder to give them a voice at all times. (iPad with 1 communication app)
Autism Initiative Support
2022 National Autism Conference: Dates: August 1-4, 2022 Session recordings will be available via this link
(Virtual) Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference: Dates November 1-3, 2022 More information and registration is available via this link
VB Mapp App- training is available online at https://www.vbmappapp.com/
Essential For Living - training is available online at https://www.eflapp.com/training *Live EFL Training will be at IU #29 on December 15, 2022, more information will be available soon.
For more information about ASD check out: https://sites.google.com/view/iu29autism/home
BrainSTEPS - Return to Learn After TBI/Concussion
To replace or add a new team member to school/district CMT (Concussion Management Team): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/newCMTmember.
BrainSTEPS in Pennsylvania can help schools identify academic support for any student who experiences issues with learning due to prolonged symptoms of COVID-19.
Make a referral at www.brainsteps.net
Inclusive Practices
October Inclusive Practices Newsletter
Inclusive Practices Website
November 7th Networking opportunity for teachers supporting Life Skills, Autistic Support, and students with Multiple Disabilities.
Contact: Elizabeth Ciavarella, ciave@iu29.org
Interagency Coordination
- QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention/Awareness Training and Student “Save a Life” Suicide Prevention/Awareness Presentation are available through the Suicide Prevention Task Force: Contact Larissa Russell (russl@iu29.org) for more information.
- Reminder to use the most updated CASSP referral form. Schuylkill County CASSP Referral (Tara Mercuri is on maternity leave. If CASSP Meeting is requested, contact Larissa Russell or Cara Tran.)
- School Social Workers Meeting - Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 8:30am - STC South Conference Room
Contact: Larissa Russell, russl@iu29.org
Local Task Force
IU29’s Local Task Force (LTF) works in conjunction with the State Task Force (STF) to assist in providing information for improving, strengthening, expanding and monitoring programs and services for persons covered under Intellectual Disabilities Services.
For more information about IU29’s Local Task Force, visit our website
To be added to the Local Task Force directory and receive updates and additional information contact Ashley Hess (hessa@iu29.org)
MTSS
IU29 MTSS Consultants are available for on-site support for districts implementing MTSS frameworks
The Pathways to Graduation (P2G) project continues to support Schuylkill county middle schools
PATTAN MTSS Sessions for school teams during the 2022-23 school year
Contact Ashley Hess hessa@iu29.org to request training opportunities and/or onsite support
PBIS
Visit IU29’s PBIS Coaches Site: http://www.tinyurl.com/IU29PBISCoaches
PBIS Tier 2 Training - November 1
PBIS Implementers Forum - November 30-Dec 2
Schools interested in learning more about PBIS implementation - contact Ashley Hess hessa@iu29.org, Annie Grabowski graba@iu29.org, Beth Ciavarella ciave@iu29.org
Paraprofessional & Transportation Training Opportunities
Self-Paced Training Modules for Paraprofessionals - The paraprofessional modules will close on 5/27 and will reopen with the addition of several new modules on 8/17.
For more information, please contact Ashley Hess hessa@iu29.org
Project RENEW
RENEW is a Tier 3 intervention for high school students at risk of dropout.
NEW informational video - https://youtu.be/w6hU-MKd8-o
$4500 STIPEND AVAILABLE for all - new LEAs will get priority but existing LEAs may apply to sustain effort, electronic application will release 10/24/22 with a due date of 11/7. Access application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7LRi9bP2fDmBkx62kf5zbSeQJ9H4PIsJT-Le0xRQIvxr86g/viewform. Questions related to the application process can be directed to Jeanie Hertzler jhertzler@pattan.net.
Supporting Schuylkill Haven Area High School & Tri-Valley High School
Any other high schools interested in learning more should contact Annie Grabowski graba@iu29.org or Doreen Milot dlm@iu29.org
Secondary Transition/Cyclical Monitoring
PA Secondary Transition website - www.pasecondarytransition.com. Please utilize and share with your staff, students, and parents.
Recommend your staff signs up for PA Transition Tidbits electronic newsletter
Transition Council - 2022-2023 Meetings will be in person from 8:30AM-11:30AM on December 9, February 10, and April 21.
Indicator 13 - (TV) - Survey/Interview complete. Pre-Reviews complete. Staff should be working on Schoology modules. Contact Doreen as support/clarification is needed.
Indicator 14 - 2022-2023 School Year
PaPOS Exit Surveys (NS & WV)
PaPOS Post Surveys (MI & TA)
- PARENT SESSIONS:
- Past IU29 Session handouts/recordings can be accessed here: https://www.iu29.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=208
- PA Family Network sessions -https://www.visionforequality.org/events/ During school and evening sessions available. **Great activity for IEP transition grid - searching, finding, and joining sessions that relate to students’ post secondary goals.**
- PEAL Center https://www.pealcenter.org/events/, sessions for families, youth, and professionals
- Agency Information: flyers and brochures from county agencies will be featured here as I receive them: https://www.iu29.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1835
- Act 158 Graduation Pathways: https://pdesas.org/Frameworks/DCEToolKit/Act158PathwaysToGraduationToolkit#ACT158FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS
- Project SEARCH - working collaboratively with OVR to bring this program to our county! Informational videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8juNYG6nP1U and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUv5syliFdE
- Contact: Doreen Milot, dlm@iu29.org or 570-544-9131 x1258
Training Opportunities - www.pattan.net
PATTAN is offering many types of Literacy trainings throughout the year including: Foundations of Reading: Phonemic Awareness at Advanced Levels
See Assistive Tech/Low Incidence section
Family Engagement - https://www.pattan.net/Supports/Family-Engagement
November 14-16 HELIX Conference: https://www.pattan.net/Training/Conferences/HELIX-Conference
November 7 Essentials of IEP Writing: https://www.pattan.net/Events/On-line-Courses/Course-2739/Events/Session-36776
November 10 Secondary Transition and SLPs: https://www.pattan.net/Events/Webinar/Course-3107/Events/Session-37258
Training Opportunities - Schuylkill IU 29
Featured TaC Events are:
- November 1, 9AM-3PM, PBIS Tier 2 Overview: https://tinyurl.com/PBIS2NOV
- November 7, 12PM-3PM, Introducing LINC Low Incidence Networking Community: https://forms.gle/XCAfvS8V2Rqjqg6d7
- November 16, 12PM-3PM, Supporting Diverse Learners: http://www.tinyurl.com/IU29SDL
- December 5, 9AM-3PM, first in series - Structured Literacy Interventions: https://tinyurl.com/slinterventions3