The Connection

We are all looking forward to spending time with family and reflecting on the blessings of the past year. In this edition of The Connection you will find some fun ways to connect with family during Thanksgiving as well as great information for parents on the eligibility process for an IEP, how to apply for SSI and getting a jump on holiday shopping!

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!

Is it hard sometimes to get your child talking about their day and to share with you? These are some great ways to get conversation started whether on the ride home or at the dinner table.

1. What was the funniest thing that happened today?
2. Which one of your teachers is the best and why?
3. What's one thing you learned today that was really unexpected?
4. What was the worst thing you ate at lunch today?
5. What's the weirdest thing you saw today?
6. If you could take back one thing you or somebody else said today, what would it be?
7. If your life had a rewind button, what would you change about today?
8. If you could have used a superpower today, what would it have been and how?
9. To whom would you have liked to talk today but were too shy?
10. What would you like to do differently tomorrow than you did today?

• from BoysTown

Instead of:

• "No" - try this - "First do this...., then...."
• "No hitting" - try this - "Use gentle hands"
• "No, you can't have that" - try this - "Here is what's available"
• "No throwing!" - try this - "Try it like this"
• "No, you can't do that" - try this - "Would you like to do ... or ...?"
• "No, I can't" - try this - "I need 10 minutes"
• "I said 'no'!" - try this - "No, thank you"

@parenting_fairly

Looking for a simple, fun way to help your kids practice gratitude this month? Take a pumpkin and have each family member write down something they are thankful for right now! This would be a great way to make a simple, but meaningful centerpiece for Thanksgiving. Or a great pre-dinner activity on Thanksgiving!

Read more about this tradition and fun activity at this blog post at Coffee and Carpool!

Understanding the evaluation and eligibility process for your student through your school district can be a confusing process. One of the important things to remember is that "there are 13 disability categories outlined in the IDEA that may qualify a student for special education services. "

"The 13 categories are:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Deafness
• Deaf-blindness
• Emotional Disturbance
• Hearing Impairment
• Intellectual Disability
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Specific Learning Disability
• Speech or Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impairment(including Blindness)
• Multiple Disabilities

To eligible, the child must meet both eligibility criteria:

1. The child must have a disability that adversely affects their educational performance.

2. The school must determine that, as a reult of the disability, the child needs special education services to make progress in school and learn the general education curriculum.

It's important to remember that a doctor provides a diagnosis. Educators determine eligibility and cannot provide a diagnosis. "

This is why it is important to pursue both an evaluation through the school district and a medical diagnosis through the appropriate medical provider.

**Information shared from Stephanie DeLussy's book, The Intentional IEP.

"Are you a parent of a child with a disability and have questions about SSI? Is your child currently getting TEFRA Medicaid and between the ages of 17 and 19, and not yet getting SSI? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then this training will help clear the air. This training will focus on how to apply for SSI, how the definition/criteria of disability is different between a child and an adult, and what happens when the child turns 18."

Can your kiddo be hard to shop for sometimes? Are you looking for a sensory toy, or an educational toy that is lots of fun? You can visit Hakabohu, Florence's local Toy Shop, and find all kinds of unique gifts to meet those needs. Feel free to bring your child with you to play and check out all the fun!

Find them at:

670 Senior Way

Florence SC 29505

Monday-Friday, 10-6

Saturday 9-6, Closed Sunday

843-664-8383

hakabohu.com

You can shop online and they have a great catalog too!

They will help you find the perfect gift to meet your child's unique needs and have lots of great sensory-friendly items.

Best of all they will gift wrap!

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