Upcoming Trainings

ATTENTION: THIS IS A PRE-RECORDED WEBINAR.

Based on feedback from parents & districts that the WI Special Education Mediation System (“WSEMS” for short) surveyed about what worked & what could have been improved in IEP meetings, this workshop provides practical tips & techniques that can increase the productivity of an IEP meeting. Implementing these ideas can help districts & parents have forward-looking and creative IEP meetings which can set the stage for a constructive relationship that can continue throughout the student’s educational program.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand feedback from parents and districts in Wisconsin about what worked and what didn’t work in IEP meetings.
• Participants will receive constructive and practical tips and techniques to increase the productivity of an IEP meeting.
• Participants will receive suggestions for developing strong parent/educator relationships through the IEP process.

Presented by: Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System

After the annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting, changes can be made to the IEP in certain situations.  This module of the IEP Series covers: what reasons could be for revising a child’s IEP, who can request the revision, making changes to an IEP without an IEP meeting, and consideration of Extended School Year services (what they are and what determines if a child needs them).

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify reasons for revising a child’s IEP, including who can request a revision.
• Participants will be able to recognize when IEP revisions can be made with or without an IEP meeting.
• Participants will be able to relate when and how the need for ESY services is determined and written in the IEP.

Presenter: Bonnie Vander Meulen is WI FACETS’ Training Coordinator. Also, she is a licensed professional counselor with more than 40 years of counseling experience. She has worked extensively with students and families on all levels of the educational spectrum. She has previously served as the technical advisor for a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant through Pathways to Independence entitled Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Professional Positions. Previously, Bonnie completed her responsibilities as the primary facilitator for a Dept. of Education grant at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater’s Center for Students with Disabilities. The mother of a young adult with multiple disabilities, Bonnie advocates for children with special needs.

Participants will:

• experience what Wisconsin’s Vision of an Equitable Multi Level System of Support looks like while being implemented in schools/districts
• examine how to apply an equity mindset to existing Family Engagement practices
• explore resources on how school/districts can make their Family Engagement practices more equitable.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand where Family Engagement fits within Wisconsin’s Vision of an Equitable Multi Level System of Support.
• Understand how you can’t do authentic Family Engagement without an Equity Mindset.
• Explore Wisconsin resources that improve Family Engagement in your school and/or district.

Presenters: Jennifer Grenke, MSEd, has been with the Wisconsin RtI Center since June 2011, as a North Regional Technical Assistance Coordinator, a PBIS Tier 1 trainer and a Family Engagement statewide team member. She enjoys assisting Wisconsin schools to develop and sustain an Equitable Multi-level System of Support to ensure the success for all students. This is Jennifer’s 34th year in education, with a passion for developing strong partnerships between schools and families.

Dan Seaman is a regional technical assistance coordinator for the Wisconsin RtI Center. He serves the East region (CESAs 6, 7, 8) and has an emphasis on academic implementation of a multi-level system of supports. He also is part of the Family Engagement and Continuous Improvement teams at the Center. This is his tenth year with the Center and prior to this role, he was a nationally certified school psychologist for 10 years.

Este entrenamiento le proporcionará información sobre los derechos de los padres en el programa de nacimiento a 3. Los programas de nacimiento a tres están ordenados a través de leyes y reglamentos federales, así como leyes estatales. Dentro de cada una de estas leyes se explican los derechos de las familias que participan en el programa. Durante esta presentación vamos a repasar estos derechos.

Objetivos del taller:
-Entender las leyes Federales y Estatales que gobiernan el programa de nacimiento a tres.
-Entender los derechos de los padres dentro de las leyes del programa nacimiento a tres.

PRESENTADORA: La Sra. Vélez llega al proyecto B-3 RESource con una amplia gama de educación y experiencia que ha respaldado su trabajo con niños de desarrollo típico y excepcional y sus familias. Su educación incluye una Maestría en Ciencias en Educación Infantil Excepcional con énfasis en Cultura y Diversidad Lingüística, 24 horas de posgrado para completar una Maestría en Diagnósticos Educativos y, finalmente, una Licenciatura en Ciencias en Patología del Habla y el Lenguaje. Melissa ha brindado capacitación y asistencia técnica para los programas de intervención temprana de la Parte C en WI, así como para programas de cuidado infantil grupal y familiar bajo el programa WI Youngstar. Melissa también brinda capacitación y apoyo técnico para la evaluación del niño de la Guía 3 de Portage y el Programa de Credencial de Servicio Familiar. Melissa también fue capacitadora y consultora de desarrollo de materiales para el Centro Nacional de Alfabetización Familiar de Head Start, el Centro Nacional de Capacidad de Respuesta Cultural y Lingüística y el Centro Nacional para la Salud.

Both state and federal special education laws give parents certain rights, called Procedural Safeguards, that are designed to protect the rights of parents and their child with a disability.  This module of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Series includes: the purpose and contents of the Procedural Safeguards Notice, understandable language, when a parent must receive this Notice, confidentiality, prior written notice, parental consent, and options for resolving disputes that may arise.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe the purpose of the Procedural Safeguards Notice.
• Participants will be able to relate when written notices and parent consent are required.
• Participants will be able to recognize the dispute resolution options found in the Procedural Safeguards Notice.

Presenter: Bonnie Vander Meulen is WI FACETS’ Training Coordinator. Also, she is a licensed professional counselor with more than 40 years of counseling experience. She has worked extensively with students and families on all levels of the educational spectrum. She has previously served as the technical advisor for a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant through Pathways to Independence entitled Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Professional Positions. Previously, Bonnie completed her responsibilities as the primary facilitator for a Dept. of Education grant at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater’s Center for Students with Disabilities. The mother of a young adult with multiple disabilities, Bonnie advocates for children with special needs.

It is important for parents and school staff to resolve IEP-related issues quickly when they arise. Mediation is one helpful way to address an impasse or dispute. This workshop includes information about the free mediation services available from the WI Special Education Mediation System (“WSEMS” for short); federal and state laws related to mediation, when and how to request mediation, who are the mediators; participation in mediation; and more.

Learning Objectives:

• Create a better understanding of the Wisconsin Special Education System and how to access the system’s services.
• Create a better understanding of what mediation is and what types of situations it is best for.
• Create a better understanding of what a mediation participant can expect from the beginning of the process to the end.

Presenter: Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System (Pre-Recorded)

As parents of children with special needs, self-compassion can become an essential skill that allows us to show up day after day with sustained compassion for our kids. Mindful Self-Compassion practices support our capacity to become our own inner ally when facing the complexities of parenting. In this presentation, learn some of the basics of Mindful Self-Compassion, and leave with some practical skills you can immediately begin to use in your daily life.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how the combined skills of mindfulness and self-compassion can become an essential inner resource inyour daily life for remaining balanced and resilient.
• Discover how to care for yourself at the same time thatyou provide support for your child with special needs.

En este taller aprenderán los diferentes servicios y beneficios que ofrece la oficina del seguro social para familias con integrantes con alguna discapacidad. Le explicaran como se califica para los servicios y como aplicar para ellos. Habrá oportunidad para hacer preguntas al final de la presentación.

Objetivos de aprendizaje:

1. Los diferentes tipos de beneficios del Seguro social
2. ¿Usted califica para estos beneficios?
3. Como aplicar para los beneficios
4. The different types of Social Security Benefits
5. Do you qualify for these benefits?
6. How to apply for benefits

Presentadora: Sra. Elida Elizondo es la especialista en asuntos públicos de la administración del seguro social en español para el área sureste de Wisconsin y el norte de Illinois.

This session is a walk-through of the IEP process using the IEP checklist, a new resource developed by WI FACETS for families. We will present information on timelines, rights, preparation and more.

Learning Objectives:

• The proper timeline for each step of the IEP process
• The roles and responsibilities of IEP team members
• Helpful hints for meaningful preparation and participation