October 2020
CISD Booster for Special Programs News
Save the Date for our 1st Brown Bag Lunch
November 19, 2020 12:00 pm - 1:00 p.m.
followed by Parent Session 1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Resiliency
(Stress Level, Anxiety, Coping Strategies)
by CISD Psychology Services Team
Membership is our #1 Fundraiser
$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. 

Did you miss one of the Fall Parent Virtual Training Sessions?
Watch the Zoom Recordings!
Technology Help
Check Out Our Website Resources
and Submit Resources to Add
It's Fall Cleaning
4 T-Shirts... First Come First Served Free
3 Adult XS, 1 Adult Large
Last 3 pair of pink/white leather
Dragon Mascot tennis shoes. Unisex Child Size 3 (qty 2) and 4 (qty 1) $10
Sooner Works Information Sessions
Sooner Works is a 4-year program for students with an intellectual disability on the University of Oklahoma campus. The purpose of this program is to develop job skills, social skills, and independent living skills which lead to meaningful employment and full community integration for participating students. 

If you want to learn more about Sooner Works, please join us for one of the upcoming informational sessions.
If you have any questions email Soonerworks@ou.edu or call (405)325-4543
Aggie Achieve
Exciting News!
We are pleased to share that we have been awarded the TPSID (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant will provide approximately $2.2 million in funding over the next five years to support our staff, students, research, program expansion, and outreach efforts to other schools across Texas. Read more about it here.  
P.A.C.E. at NLU Midwest Virtual College Fair
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 
IDD Council Webinars
Get the Latest Info Follow us on Twitter!
@CISDboosterSP
Social Media Chair:
Quarterly Meeting Notice
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.
Empower: Resources for your Success.
Virtual Fair
North Texas SNAP
SNAP PROGRAMS!!
We are so excited to start in-person programs. Most of SNAP's programs are in person unless stated other wise. If you can't meet in person ALL our in-person programs will be streaming live on the SNAP Member Facebook page.

Please read the following guidelines for in-person programs:
1.  ALL Members and Volunteers must wear a mask at all times
2.  If you, anyone in you house or if you have been round any one that isn't feeling well, has been sick, PLEASE stay home.
3.  MUST RSVP for the program you are wanting to attend as we have 15 spots available for each in person program and won't be able to accept walk-ins.
4.  Upon entry to the main meeting room each member/volunteer will need to check in and have their temperature taken before they can enter the room.
5.  For the health of each person, we will social distance each person 6' apart. Sanitizer will be provided. We won't be sharing items for the safety of our members. 
6.  Thanks to MARKET STREET we will have bottle waters and prepackaged snacks for our members. These will be passed out versus members getting them on their own. 
7.  Volunteers needed to help in each program to make sure things run smoothly, help with cleaning and social distancing. Please Sign up!!! 

Friday, October 23rd:
Men's Club Meeting #1: 
(NO Pizza this month)
6:30-8:30
In person and streaming Live via Facebook
(3-4 Volunteers needed)
RSVP by October 19th

Monday, October 26th:
Facebook Live with Paula Baker:
11:00am -11:30am

Girls Night Out Meeting #1:
 6:30-8:30
In person and streaming Live via Facebook
(3-4 Volunteers needed)
RSVP by October 21st

Tuesday, October 27th:
Zoom Book Lovers Book Club:
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington
6:30-8:30
(1 volunteer needed)
Meeting ID: 858 9599 2446
Password: 7wWHh1

Wednesday, October 28th:
Girls Night Out Meeting #2: 
6:30-8:30
In person and streaming Live via Facebook
(3-4 Volunteers needed)
RSVP by October 23rd
Please RSVP to only one of the GNO meetings. If we don’t have enough signed up, we will not be able to have the second session.

Friday, October 30th:
Men's Club Meeting #2:
(NO Pizza this month) 
6:30-8:30
In person and streaming Live via Facebook
(3-4 Volunteers needed)
RSVP by October 23rd only you haven't attend the first meeting.
We will not have the second meeting unless there is enough signed up.


Any questions or to RSVP, email Paula Baker @ paularbaker@gmail.com
Upcoming Events
2020-2021 Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Dates
  • Thursday, November 19, 2020 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Booster members and parents may remain on the Zoom from 1:00-1:15 p.m.
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!