The New
Normal? Not!
By Laurie Hopkins MS, OTR/L
Spectrum Services OP/PT/APE Department Head

Who could have imagined at this time last year, as we anticipated the holiday season, that a year later, our situations would become so radically different, such as to cause the coining of the term “New Normal?” A term now used with great frequency in describing day-to-day life situations that feel anything but “normal.”

As I mulled over what to include in this installment of “Ask the Experts” (and who among us could claim to be a New Normal expert?), I knew it would be essential to reference some of the constantly shifting, and highly stressful circumstances related to the impact of Covid-19; being followed by an exploration of the wisdom of sensory processing strategies, which could then...
It's Only a Matter of Time
As winter approaches, we need to be prepared for inclement weather delays and closings.

Our schools follows the school district in which they are located. In Kingston, we follow the Saugerties school district, and in Ellenville, we follow the Ellenville school district.

If school is delayed, remote sessions will start at the time of opening. If school is closed, there will be no remote services that day, and we suggest playing outside, warm cookies, and hot chocolate.

Sometimes your home school district may have an inclement weather closing for the day, even if Spectrum Services is open. If this happens, then there will be no bus transportation provided. If you feel it is safe to drive, you may transport the child to/from school on these days.

Notifications are covered by most local news sources, and our webpage has a notification bar at the top of the page on days we're delayed or closed. They're also texted and emailed out to those parents on School Messenger. Please be sure we have your most current info.

If you're not signed up to receive our texts and emails, please contact your Family Service Coordinator.

Also Important Reminder – we are using School Messenger to send out the weekly health screenings as well as critical information about school closings and health alert. Again, if you are not receiving these notification, please let your Family Service Coordinator know immediately. 

It is a parent's responsibility to complete the Health Screenings on a weekly basis. Thank you.
Check Out Our eNewsletter Back Issues!
Have you missed issues of our Spectrum Services eNewsletter? Fear not, you can see them all on our website.

Tips from our professionals, upcoming online trainings, links to useful videos, and more! Click Here!
Spectrum Service Calendar Highlights
November 25th – 27th School Closed
Thanksgiving Recess

Kingston Parent Discussion Group
Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30pm

Ellenville Parent Discussion Group
Wednesday, Dec 16 at 1:30pm

December 24 - January 1,
Winter Recess

Check out our online calendar by Clicking Here!
Professional Development and
Parent Seminars
Live Stream
 
New York State Regional Centers for Autism Spectrum Disorders is offering three live stream seminars that are directed towards school professionals, community professionals, and parents, who live or work with individuals on the autism spectrum.

These sessions will not be recorded.
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD Albany) offers these seminars AT NO COST to participants living in New York State through a grant from the New York State Education Department.

The funding is administered by The Research Foundation for SUNY.
Registration is required to attend. Click Here for the online flyer.
New York State Travel Policy Changes
In response to increasing rates of Covid-19 transmission, on November 3, 2020, NYS Department of Health issued Interim Guidance for quarantine restrictions related to travel in and out of NYS. Click Here to review the document.

Basically, this document provides new information on quarantine related to travel, which is especially important with the upcoming holidays. If your family travels for more than 24 hours in a non-contiguous state (meaning any state outside of MA, VT, CT, NJ, PA), you must quarantine for 14 days upon arriving back to New York.

However, the new state policy allows individuals to “test out” of having to quarantine by doing the following:

You and your child must…
1.Take a Covid-19 Test three (3) days prior to returning to NY that proves negative.
2.  Then, quarantine for three days upon returning to NY.
3. Finally, take a Covid-19 Test on the fourth day after quarantining, which also proves negative. Proof of two negative test results is required prior to your child returning to school.

Spectrum Services students who will be out-of-state for less than 24 hours do not need a COVID test prior to reentering NY, nor will they need to quarantine upon arrival. However, you must fill out the State’s Traveler Form upon your reentry into NY, and you and your child will be required to take a Covid-19 test 4 days after being back in NY. Proof of the negative test result is required prior to returning to school.

During the upcoming holidays, families are asked to let their Family Service Coordinator know, by tomorrow, Tuesday, November 24, if they are planning to travel to a non-contiguous state for more than 24 hours.

We ask for this information so we can plan appropriate staffing for the days following the Thanksgiving holiday. For example, if your family travels out of the contiguous states and returns on Sunday of the holiday weekend, your child may not be able to attend school in-person the following week if there are not enough days for the second Covid-19 test results).

If you have questions about this policy, email our Covid-19 Safety Coordinator, Dan Uttendorfer, RN bu Clicking Here, or call him at 336-2616 X 128.
Speaking About
Covid-19 Testing

Tiffany Francese-Sears of our Clinical Deptment produced a "Covid-19 Test Prepping" video for our students who might have to take a test. If you're having to take your child to get tested, have them watch: Click Here!
Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs Statewide Project 
Westchester Institute for Human Development is working with Local Health Departments across New York State to positively impact the lives of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and their families. 

They are recruiting families to participate in discussions about how to best support families in NYS who have a child or youth (0-21) with special health care needs (intellectual, developmental, physical, emotional, etc.). 

You can take part in:
  • A 90-minute in person group discussion, or
  • A 90-minute virtual group discussion (accessible by your phone or computer), or
  • A 60-minute individual phone interview.

Discussions will occur from June 2020 to June 2021. Individuals, parents and family members will be reimbursed:
$100 for the in person group discussion,
$75 for the virtual group discussion, and
$50 for the individual phone interview.

All conversations will be audio-recorded for use only among the project team. Responses will be kept confidential.

Click Here for details.
Mindful Moments Resource
Our staff have found what they call an incredible resource for our families. A number of our Family Service Coordinators have shared some of the mindful videos with our parents during Parent Groups. The Mindful Moment videos are priceless. Click Here!
Wide Open School Website
The website Wide Open School offers numerous educational, fun and emotional support activities-free for families. 

You can sign in as a family, pick a grade (preschool-Grade 5 or Grades 6-12) and then pick from a variety of topics. 

One that is particularly helpful (preschool-Grade 5) is the Back to School Guide with Parent Tips and Tricks for Remote Learning. 

There is also a Watch Now link with a CBS Nightly News clip: Kids Edition (August 11, 2020) that includes talk of how school might be different this year and what students need to know, with students asking questions and getting answers from educators and physicians across the country.
Parent Training Series Modules
For the first six months of remote learning, our Clinical Team had been providing a course of study for our staff via online PowerPoint trainings. Knowing how important this information can be to our parents and families (many of whom are well-versed in ASD theories and best practices), we’re opening these trainings up so parents can continue their education as well.

These trainings are produced by Leah Siuta and Tiffany Francese-Sears, with narration from one of our Clinical Staff embedded in the PowerPoint. We will be providing these using an online version, so you do not have to have PowerPoint installed on your PC or laptop to view them.
"If they can't learn the way we teach,
we teach the way they learn."

Dr. Ivar Lovaas, Clinical Psychologist, Co-Founder Autism Society of America
70 Kukuk Lane, Kingston NY 12401 - 4 Yankee Place, Ellenville, NY 12428