weConnect- August 27, 2020

UPCOMING SIBSHOP

Saturday, September 12, 10 AM - 1 PM

Dunham Park West Shelter House, Sioux Falls

Sibshops are a FREE program designed for brothers and sisters (ages 6 to 12) of children with special needs or disabilities. Sibshops are a time to meet other brothers and sisters of children with special needs, build friendships, have fun, do recreational activities, enjoy lunch together, and share feelings with others who really know what it is like to have a sibling with a disability.

** Please note: We will be doing our very best to make this a fun and safe event for all sibs and volunteers. There will be facilities for hand washing, sanitizer will be available, materials will be individually packaged, etc. If you have any concerns, please let us know at time of registration.

Registration Required: Online, call SDPC at 1.800.640.4553 or email

SCHOOL RE-ENTRY RESOURCES

Parent Education Series for

Back to School After School Closures

SD Parent Connection and the Department of Education, Special Education Programs are hosting a Parent Education Series to help you get ready for re-entry into school.

Session 1: Getting Ready for Re-Entry

Lunch & Learn - Starting Well 2020:

Special Education Consideration s

State Special Ed Director, Linda Turner, discusses guidance for schools and families on specific considerations for students with disabilities as we prepare to begin the new school year. She addresses what IEP teams may want to discuss at the start of the year and the difference between school in the home due to flex learning, homebound, and homeschool.

Lunch and Learn: Starting Well 2020: Considerations for Special Education

SD Department of Education

Families and caregivers will play a crucial role in ensuring that schools open for face-to-face learning throughout the 2020-21 school year. The SD Department of Education has created a Starting Well 2020: A Guide for Special Education, a Toolkit for Schoolsand a Toolkit for Families

Disability Rights South Dakota

My student with disabilities usually receives services at school through an IEP or 504 Plan. What are some steps I can take to preserve their rights while school is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic? COVID-19 & Educational Rights of Children with Disabilities handout gives parents some steps they can take to aid school staff with educating their children.

Adjusting Your Child’s IEP or 504 Plan for Distance Learning

Your child’s IEP or 504 Plan was not designed for distance learning. But here we are. And now it falls on parents and educators to make new accommodations for students when they’re outside the classroom. This article discusses common challenges in 2020, and advice from learning expert and advocate Susan Yellin, Esq.

ONLINE FAMILY SIGN LANGUAGE CLASS

The South Dakota School for the Deaf Outreach is offering a 6 week functional sign language class for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families via Zoom on Thursday evenings beginning September 17th from 6-7 PM CT. This class will cover functional signs that can be used in the home and school.

Click here for flyer & sign up

For questions or more information, contact Kami Van Sickle at 605-275-7539 or email kami.vansickle@sdsd.sdbor.edu

TROUBLESOME BEHAVIORS

Understanding, Identifying & Managing Personality Disorders

Join this FREE virtual training held on September 9th from 1:30-5:00 PM CT. This training will present a practical, bottom-line summary of the condition “Personality Disorder and a guide to the methods of managing them that have been shown to be effective.

Click here for flyer & registration information

For questions or more information, contact Shayna Ebben or Bernie Grimme

Items to donate include:

· School Supplies

· Travel Size Hygiene Products

· Sanitizer/Wipes

BASIC NEEDS DONATION DRIVE

The Basic Needs Donation Drive will run through August 31 at various locations throughout the Sioux Empire, Brookings County, and the Black Hills. Helpline Center Volunteer Connections invites individuals, businesses and families to donate basic need items.

All donations will be donated to nonprofits to distribute to those they serve.

For more information call 211

ADULTHOOD AHEAD!

The transition to adulthood is a roller-coaster ride — for teens and their parents, too. We worry incessantly about their future, and never know when to intervene or pull back. Read the article here to learn how parents can strike a balance that actually empowers their teens.

This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M140021 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H84MC07994, Family to Family Health Information Center, $96,750; and approximately 5% financed with non-governmental resources. The contents should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by US Department of Education, HRSA, HHS or the Federal Government.