September 2020
CISD Booster for Special Programs News
Not Too Late to Join!
$25 family - $5 teacher
The CISD Booster for Special Programs is district wide organization that supports Special Programs for all eleven campuses. We are a federally recognized non-profit 501(c) 3. 
MEMBERSHIP is our #1 fundraiser. 

Fall 2020 Parent Virtual Training
Last Session, Thursday, October 8th!
Check out the presentation links on slide 2!
Parent Information and Fun Fair Night
General Presentation Link
Key Speaker: Dr. Temple Grandin
Texas Workforce Commission
TWC - Texas Workforce Commission is a Texas state agency that offers programs to students/adults with disabilities including Special Education and 504 at no cost. I wanted to let you know about the programs they are currently offering for the 2020-2021 school year and summer of 2021. They are split into services for students 14-15 years old and services for students 16 and older. Please review them and see what they have to offer that might be of benefit to your son/daughter. It is always good to start learning pre-employment skills early! If your son/daughter is 13, you can see what they can do when they turn 14.
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services for students 14-15 years

  1. Career exploration counseling
  2. Work-based learning experiences which may include in-school or after-school opportunities, or experiences outside the traditional school setting (including internships) that are provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible
  3. Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or post-secondary educational programs at institutions of higher education
  4. Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living
  5. Instruction on self-advocacy, including peer mentoring
Orientations every Tuesday at 5:00pm and Thursday at 10:00am starting September 1st. The link for the meeting is below along with the phone number and ID number they enter to access the meeting by phone. If you cannot attend on Tuesday or Thursday, call Natacha my cell 682-347-7445 or email Natacha.mendenhall@twc.state.tx.us. If students attend they will learn about why they should start career exploration so early, what the 5 areas of services we can provide and how to get signed up. The meeting also has a call in feature if you want to call in instead of downloading the app.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
+1 737-222-7115  United States, Austin (Toll) 
Conference ID: 719 675 627#
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services for students 16 years old and up
-SEAL 5 week summer paid work experience with job trainer
-12 week Paid Work Experience with job trainer
-Unpaid Work Experience (if for some reason student does need or want to get paid) with job trainer
-Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT) Preparation courses to teach soft skills, job readiness etc
-UNT Summer Camps
-Stem Summer Camp
-Other Summer Camps that come available
-Vocational Evaluations/ Psychological Evaluations to help gain more information about student disability and build realistic vocational goals/ strategies for them to reach goals.
-Driving Evaluation/ Driver’s Training for disability needs through Texas Health Arlington if needed for a job
-ABA therapy or ASD supports
-College/Vocational training if deemed appropriate goal (based on household income)
-Job Placement or Supported Employment Services to help with long term employment for a student when they are close to graduating or graduated 
-Assistance with adaptive technology for job, wheelchairs etc/prosthesis. 
-Engage Program for neurodivergent students at the University of North Texas
 
For students 16 years old and older contact Patrick Jenke at richard.jenke@twc.state.tx.us for more information and to see what paperwork is required.
 
If Natacha Mendenhall or Patrick Jenke can’t answer your questions, email Karen Donegan, CISD Transition Specialist at karen.donegan@southlakecarroll.edu 
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Opportunity to Share Your Story Through November 1st:Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) Seeks Input from Self-Advocates and Family Members
The Arc of DFW Area
The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University would like to offer training at no cost to Texas parents and caregivers of children up to age 22 with core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents and caregivers will learn how to improve their child's communication skills. This service is provided by a grant project entitled "Coach to Communicate (C2C)," sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The training includes a 1-hour self-paced webinar that teaches behavioral strategies to increase communication use in children with ASD. Once complete, there is also the option to be paired with a coach for a more intensive 12-week training specific to their child’s communication needs (again, at no cost to parents). Coaching is offered in English and Spanish.

 
Educators and service providers are also invited to complete free modules to learn evidence-based strategies for autism and behavior, with the option to earn CEUs. To see training modules available, enroll at https://prep.catalog.instructure.com.
Protecting and Advocating for the 
Rights of Texans with Disabilities since 1977
Project Independence
North Texas SNAP
IN PERSON PROGRAMS ARE BACK!!!
We are so excited to announce we will be starting in person SNAP programs on October 5th!!! We will have limited seating to maintain social distancing. For those who aren't able to make it to the in-person program(s), we will be streaming each program LIVE via Facebook Live on the member's Facebook page. We want to make sure all can participate either in person or from home.
Thank you again for your ongoing support for SNAP! If you have any questions please email Hannah Willoughby @executive.director@ntxsnap.org
2020-2021 Officers

President Angela Kwentus 
Treasurer Jacolyn Lieck
Secretary Rebecca Paredes
Fundraising Holly Birnbach
Communications Flora Sanders with help from Student Assistant, Cole Sanders
Social Media Bonnie Pendergrass
CISD Booster for Special Programs | 501(c)3 | 817-889-1278 || www.cisdboostersp.com
HAVE A GREAT YEAR!