The Connection

We are ready for another excellent semester with our students! We hope you had a wonderful holiday and we are glad to see you back! In this edition of The Connection you will find some fun winter snacks you can make with your kiddos to keep them busy on a cold day, registration information for our AAC Family Engagement Group, information about resources available through Community Long Term Care and check your knowledge of autism vocabulary!

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!

If your student uses a communication device, AAC (augmentative & alternative communication), to communicate then we would love for you to join us!

We have monthly virtual Family Engagement Groups where we share tips and training for parents to assist them in helping their child develop their ability to communicate effectively using their device.

We have many students in our district that use a communication device. Come to our Engagement Group to meet other parents and learn from Deanna Torres, our F1S Assistive Technology lead!

Register here: https://forms.gle/fJeLjmxcWAQtf8uf9

Join us for our Project SEARCH Information Night! Project SEARCH is our F1S Transition-to-Work Program currently offered through a collaboration with Florence One Schools and Mcleod Health.

Project SEARCH teaches employability and marketable work skills through a series of internship opportunities.

The eligibility criteria is:

• must be 18-20 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023
• in a non-diploma track course of study

Current F1S families and students interested in applying to the Project SEARCH program for the 2023-24 school year are encouraged to attend.

When: January 24th, 2023 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Mcleod Plaza

1st Floor Auditorium

800 E. Cheves St.

Florence, SC 29506

Questions?

Contact F1S Office of Transition at 843-292-1005.

Kandee Shelor, F1S Transition Coordinator

kshelor@fsd1.org

Are you looking for something fun to do with your kids because it is too cold or wet outside to play? Check out these fun and simple snacks from Sheryl Cooper you can create and get your kiddos involved!

17 Tasty Winter Snacks for Kids

Do you know the definition of these 8 autism related vocabulary words? Kaelynn Partlow is an autism advocate, who herself has autism. She explains in the video below what each of these terms mean.

Meltdown

Elopement

Prosody

Scripting

Perseveration

Stimming

Expressive/Receptive Language

Executive Functioning

You can follow Kaelynn on IG @kaelynnvp or on YouTube @kaelynnism to learn more! She shares her experience and understanding of the world around her as someone with autism and learning disabilities.

Community Long Term Care (CLTC) offers programs to assist students that have chronic medical conditions or ongoing support needs. If your student has Medicaid and is found eligible, they may be able to receive incontinent supplies (diapers/briefs), personal care attendant services or nursing care.

You can submit an online referral here: https://phoenix.scdhhs.gov/cltc_referrals/new

or call the intake line at (888) 971-1637.

If you have questions please reach out to Erika Chapman, the F1S Parent Liaison for Programs for Exceptional Children, at echapman@fsd1.org or at 843-292-1008.

Come to the Family Day and make Winter Color Creations at the Florence County Museum on Saturday, January 14th from 1-3pm. Participants will create colorful snowflakes and paintings using the motion of marbles.

Free of charge and no registration required. Toddlers through grandparents welcome!

Do you want to know what your student's school is offering for breakfast and lunch during the month of January? 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