The Connection

The leaves are changing colors and we are finally experiencing some refreshingly cooler temperatures! I hope you and your family are able to enjoy some fun fall activities! In this edition of The Connection you will find two very helpful parent training opportunities, Autism 101:Understanding Your Child's Behavior. This training will be in person on Thursday, November 7th at 10 am. As well as, What to Know as Your Young Adult Turns 18 by Family Connection SC. This is a virtual training on Tuesday, November 12th at 6 pm. You can register for both below.

There is also helpful information on using visual supports at home to help support positive behavior and a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt. There is tremendous value in teaching children the power of choosing gratitude!

We hope you'll take some time to read through these resources, and don't forget that if you need a question answered or just aren't sure where to turn, you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at 843-292-1008 or echapman@f1s.org. She would love to connect with you!

Have you heard about Medicaid Waivers and want to know more?

Join us on

Thursday, November 14th at 10 am or 6 pm

for a virtual parent training!

South Carolina offers eight Medicaid waivers for specific populations, including children and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs, to receive specialized services beyond general Medicaid coverage. This session will cover resources and services Family Connection of SC provides to families of children with disabilities, including helping parents understand process of applying for waivers.

Register here: https://forms.gle/XbAjjh6RgA9ANcb86

Contact Erika Chapman, F1S PEC Parent Liaison with questions at echapman@fsd1.org or 843-292-1008.

Visual supports can be used to increase understanding of language and assist with expressive communication.

Benefits of using visual supports

Increases: Understanding, Flexibility, Independence

Decreases: Behavior, Anxiety

Visual supports can assist with:

• making choices
• developing concepts of time
• supporting comprehension
• preparing for changes

Everyone uses visual supports!

Visual supports help to make abstract informaiton more concrete. Some forms of visual supports that we use everyday are:

• to-do lists
• calendars
• road signs

There are many types of visuals that can support language and learning.

These include:

• emotion symbols
• choice boards
• timers
• key phrases "I want"
• safety
• schedules
• labels
• first/then statements
• task sequence

Remember to make visual supports protable, durable, and easily accessible. Pair visuals with verbal language for a multi-sensory approach.

Don't forget: Teach students to use the visuals by modeling expectations and reinforcing desired behaviors!

Below you can see some examples of Visuals that can be used at home AND school. If you would like some more resources and help getting set up with using visuals like these at home reach out to Erika Chapman at 843-292-1008 or echapman@fsd1.org.

There is such value in teaching our children the power of gratitude! Enjoy this Gratitude Scavengar Hunt with your kids this month!

What to Know As Your Young Adult Turns 18

Tuesday, November 12

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

This virtual session, with guest speaker Amber Lydford from SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD), will provide information and support for young adults with disabilities who are approaching turning 18. In this session, participants will learn about their rights and resources, including navigating health care services and transitioning from TEFRA Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), employment opportunities and more. Attendees will also learn more about what’s available through SCVRD and how to access services in their communities. Young adults over 17, parents with children of all ages and professionals are welcome to attend!

Register!

The F1S Transition Fair for the 2024-25 School year

will be on November 12, 2024

from 9am-1pm

at the McClenaghan Annex.

Parents are welcome to attend from 1-2pm!

Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare) provides non-emergency transportation to medical appointments, including to pick up prescriptions. This service is provided to individuals that have Healthy Connections Medicaid.

If you want to provide your own transportation you can also request gas mileage reimbursement. So if your child has Healthy Connections Medicaid, including TEFRA, you can contact Modivcare by phone at 1-866-445-9954 or online at www.modivcare.com.

To schedule a pick-up or request gas mileage reimbursement you must provide:

- A Medicaid number

- The pick-up address and phone number

- Appointment date and time

- Doctor's name, address and phone number

When requesting gas mileage reimbursement, download and fill out this form. Take it to your appointment and have your provider sign it, then mail it in to Modivcare. They will verify the appointment and mail you a check for your gas mileage reimbursement.

This is a great way to help with the costs of travel to doctor's appointments, especially those in other cities. This kind of travel can be a difficult added expense. Taking just a few minutes to use Modivcare can help tremendously financially.

Erika Chapman is the Florence One Schools Parent Liaison for our Program for Exceptional Children. Erika serves as a liaison between teachers, parents, students, support staff and the community regarding educational programs, services and student issues in areas of Programs for Exceptional Children.

You will receive our PEC parent newsletter, The Connection, twice a month. It's full of helpful information, announcements and the dates for all upcoming parent training events. Erika can help parents/guardians to connect to resources both within and outside of the district; as well as get connected to agencies like DDSN, fill out paperwork for Medicaid and understand your child's IEP.

The Parent Liaison website also has lots of helpful resources for families. On the website you can find all past PEC newsletters and helpful webinars on Understanding Your Child's IEP and All About Resources in the Florence area. Check it out!

Please feel free to reach out to Erika if she can assist you in any way! Her email is echapman@fsd1.or and her phone number is 843-292-1008.

Do you want to know what your student's school is offering for breakfast and lunch during the month of November? Find out here!

We would love to hear from you! If you have a question or comment you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at echapman@f1s.org or 843-292-1008 or visit the Parent Liaison website for helpful resources.

You also can contact us at exceptionalchildren@f1s.org or at 843-673-1161.

Email: exceptionalchildren@f1s.org
Website: f1s.org
Phone: (843) 673-1161