The Connection

The weather has been amazing! I hope you have been able to enjoy it. In this edition of The Connection you will find 3 different parent trainings: Autism 101:Understanding Your Child's Behavior, What to Know as your Student Turns 18, and the 3 R's of Positive Behavior Support. Make sure you check those out! There is also information on Life Skills to work on at home and How to Avoid or Defuse Power Struggles.

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!

Kelly Long, Autism Coordinator for Florence 1 Schools, will provide a brief review of understanding behavior and strategies to help parents and guardians promote more positive behavior in the home and community.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

10:00am

at McClenaghan Bldg

500 S Dargan St

2nd floor conference room

Register here: https://forms.gle/oyLgY5LQXUcobvw69

Contact Erika Chapman with questions at echapman@fsd1.org or 843-292-1008.

Scale Expectations - Reduce the workload slightly to make it appear easier or more attainable.

Positive Reinforcement - Reward the behaviors you wnat to see happening more often.

Accept Approximations - Recognize any attempt to engage in the desiered behavior.

Visual Supports - Display the information in a concrete format using pictures or words.

Behavioral Momentum - Prsent and reward a few easy tasks before introducing a difficult demand.

Remain Neutral - Use a calm voice and phrase your request as a statement.

Compromise - Develop a plan that encourages everyone to meet in the middle.

Disengage - Pause the discussion and let your child know that you will revisit the topic at a later date.

Controlled Choices - Allow the child to take part in the decision-making process by offering a limited menu of choices.

Offer to Help - Divide the task and assign each person a role or job.

Reframe the Request - Put a positive or creative spin on the original demand.

First/Then Language - Provide access to reinforcement following a less-preferred activity.

From BIAS (Behavioral Interventions and Solutions)

The Francis Marion Freshwater Ecology Center is offering Land and Sea Engineering Design Chalenges, a camp for 3rd-6th graders with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Saturday, November 16

9am - 12 pm

with dropoff starting at 8:45, pickup by 12:15

at 3742 N Williston Rd., Florence, SC

Cost is $25

Come learn about the scientific and design process while working to make the best puff cars and penny boats! How far can your car go? How much weight can your boat hold?

Free registration for the first 10 kids that register. Paid for by FMU's Autism Study program.

Register HERE!

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!

From @lifeskillscreations

• Address an envelope
• Warm up food in the microwave
• Feed a pet on a schedule
• Help pay for a purchase using a debit card
• Wash a load of laundry
• Put groceries away in the correct spots
• Send an email to someone
• Set an alarm as a reminder
• Use the oven to make food
• Order something off of a menu
• Help with yard work
• Read expiration dates on food

There are so many important skills our kids can work on everyday, not just at school but at home! Teaching and gaining independence happens skill by skill, day by day!

The F1S Transition Fair for the 2024-25 School year

will be on November 12, 2024

from 9am-1pm

at the McClenaghan Annex.

If your student is in middle school or high school, watch for a permission slip! If you haven't received one, please reach out to your student's teacher.

Parents are welcome to attend from 1-2pm!

Learn strategies to create a positive home environment in the home that prevents problem behavior and increases the appropriate behaviors. This session will be beneficial for parents and those professionals who work to support parents at home.

Family Connection of SC offers this helpful webinar by Dr. Susan Thomas. Check out the video below!

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 October? 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