weConnect- November 24, 2021

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. From lights and music to family gatherings, the season brings many delights that may be overwhelming to some. A little planning can go a long way towards making the holidays an enjoyable experience for everyone in your family.

We have assembled a few articles that we hope will help your family have an enjoyable holiday season:

SD Parent Connection offices will be closed

Thursday and Friday, November 25th and 26th.

JOIN US FOR COOKIES & COCOA - SAT., DECEMBER 4TH

Bring the family and enjoy sensory friendly activities, music and games, photos with Santa, story time, raffles and, of course, cookies and cocoa. Bid on family friendly silent auction packages.

This free event is held at the Museum of Visual Materials at 500 N Main in downtown Sioux Falls from 10:30am to 1pm. See you there!

JOIN THE CAREGIVER COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION IN SIOUX FALLS ON DECEMBER 1ST

The South Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking community input about caregiver services and supports offered to individuals with disabilities across the age span. If you are an elderly individual or a family member who provides support to a child, youth, adult, or senior adult, DHS would like to visit with you.

South Dakota Parent Connection is partnering with DHS to host this listening session. Please join us at 6:30pm on Wednesday evening, December 1st at Independent Living Choices, 4107 S Carnegie Circle in Sioux Falls to share your insights with the Department.

Requests for accommodations are due no later than November 26th. Please contact SD Parent Connection at 800-640-4553 or sdpc@sdparent.org with your request.

CATCH UP ON MISSED LUNCH AND LEARN SESSIONS

When Behavior is a Concern in the School Setting

Join Disability Rights SD for a discussion and review of their new, collaboratively developed Guide to help address behaviors that occur at school. Presenters: John Hamilton and Sean Hegyi, DRSD

SD Special Education Programs (SEP)- Proposed Targets for the State Performance Plan

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires each state to develop a State Performance Plan (SPP) with targets (goals) at least once every six years. States must report against the targets in its SPP in an Annual Performance Report (APR). Join SEP staff as they share information and seek feedback on the proposed targets for the SD State Performance Plan. Feedback invited through November 30, 2021.
Presentation Handout
State Performance Plan: Stakeholder Input webpage.

An Introduction to Teachwell Solutions Co-op

Teachwell Solutions is a community service organization created by South Dakota public schools. Join our session to learn about Teachwell s 30-year history and hear about the fresh ideas were rolling out to support students in post-pandemic learning environments. We'll focus specifically on supporting students with behavior challenges and helping high school students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. Presenters: Joan Frevik, Julie Large, Tyler Anderson and Terri Jensen, Teachwell Solution

View more recorded sessions anytime!

GM-1/Siblings/life threatening Helping Siblings Cope...from the Siblings

SIBLING SUPPORT TOOLKIT

When a child in the family is dealing with medical complexities, the entire family is affected with each member taking on different responsibilities.

Siblings, whether older or younger, have unique and distinct roles which can fluctuate as situations with the child and family change. Understanding siblings of children with medical complexities and how they interact in the family is an important part of the journey.

Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition and Courageous Parents Network have partnered to bring as many resources together as possible to help parents, caregivers, and medical professionals give that special attention to siblings who live and share their lives with a brother or sister with medical complexities. It takes a team to work with a child with medical complexities, and that same sense of teamwork should be extended to support the siblings as they navigate the ups, downs, setbacks, and joys that make up their day to day lives.

Sibling Support Toolkit

JOIN OUR TEAM

Family Advisory Council Member - West River

SD Parent Connection is establishing a new Family Advisory Council to help guide our programs and services for West River families. Please contact us at 800-640-4553 or sdpc@sdparent.org if you are interested in learning more about joining the Council.

This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M2000666 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H328M140021, 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.