The Connection

We hope you had a nice Labor Day break! It's always a treat having an extra day for the weekend. In this edition of The Connection you will find info about a couple of very helpful and important resources, the Dept of Disabilities and Special Needs(DDSN) and TEFRA, which is Medicaid based on disability, not income. If you find you need help applying for either of these resources, make sure to reach out to Erika Chapman, the F1S Parent Liaison. You can set up a time to meet with her in-person, virtually or by phone.

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!

Do you have questions about resources and supports for your child through the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN)?

DDSN serves people in 7 different categories of eligibility.

• Intellectual Disability
• Related Disability (i.e., a disability related to an Intellectual Disability)
• High Risk Infant
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Head Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Similar Disability (i.e., a disability similar to a head [traumatic brain] or spinal cord injury)

There is now an incredibly helpful site that is easy to navigate and understand that will help answer your questions.It explains how to apply, overview of services, waiver information, Employment First, case manager communication and more! Please check it out and share with others!

Overview of SC DDSN Services

Applying for Services

If you think your student might be eligible, call the eligibility line at 1-800-289-7012 and explain you student's disability and ask if they are eligible.

Call Erika Chapman if you have questions at 843-292-1008 or email at echapman@fsd1.org.

Dr. Susan Thomas, retired Special Education Director, provided a comprehensive introduction to the Individual Education Program (IEP) during the October 3, 2023, training, Understanding Your Child’s Individual Education with Family Connection SC. The video above outlines steps of the special education process and key terms, gives an overview of roles of all members of the IEP team and shares tips to increase parents’ knowledge in order to become an active participant in their child’s IEP meetings.

Medicaid is South Carolina’s aid program by which the federal and state governments share the cost of providing medical care for people who meet certain eligibility criteria. Even if you don't qualify for Medicaid financially, your child may qualify for a type of Medicaid that is based on a student's disability.

TEFRA/Katie Beckett is a category of eligibility for Medicaid coverage for children under age 19 who meet the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) childhood disability definition and level of care and can be provided care at home more economically than in a hospital or community home. This eligibility is based on the child’s income and resources, not family income.

To download an application for TEFRA go to this link or contact Erika Chapman at echapman@fsd1.org or 843-292-1008. She can assist you in filling out the application or with any questions you may have regarding the process.

You are invited to join us for this free webinar for parents

and caregivers of autistic children. Register today by clicking the link below!

Empowering Connections through Family-School Partnerships

Thursday, September 26, 2024

5:15pm - 6:30pm EST

This is the first of a 10-month webinar series provided virtually by experts at the National Autism Center at May Institute. Please stay tuned for future webinars.

ABOUT THIS WEBINAR:

Family school partnerships benefit everyone—students, parents, guardians, and teachers alike. When families get involved, children do better in school, graduate more often, develop positive behaviors, and have better mental health. However, there can be some challenges to overcome in this important collaboration. It’s crucial for schools and families to team up to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

In this webinar, we will share:

1. Why families and schools need to work together
2. How to make strong partnerships between families and schools
3. Challenges that might arise

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Emily Baton, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA
Post-Doctoral Fellow May Institute

Register Here!

Once you register, you will receive an email to confirm your attendance

and more information about the training.

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 September? 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