Special Programs & Services News

Something I look forward to as I am visiting classrooms in LISD is hearing our student voices. Student voices, in all ways they communicate, are the best voices! I enjoy seeing them engaged in learning, connecting with their passions, collaborating with peers, meeting goals during small group instruction, and hearing the progress they are making in communicating with others. There is so much to celebrate and learn from our students. I am often asked how we can get students to share more about their day at home. Hearing from your child about what is going on at school gives a view into the classroom and their daily experiences. But, how do you get them to share? The Best Questions to Ask Your Kids About Their Day at School offers suggestions and advice for you to try. As alternatives to responses offer 2-3 choices, allow them to draw or let them point to pictures. Thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us and for giving the opportunity for them to share their voice!

Kimberly Waltmon

Executive Director of Special Programs and Services

The October Newsletter contains information about Parent Education Nights, Goal-Setting, Parent Resources, AAC and Dyslexia Awareness Month, White Cane Day, and SEPTA.

Be sure to save the below dates for this month's meetings! We will send out weekly reminders in our Special Programs Remind classes. This month, we are introducing Coffee Chat Recaps! Are you unable to attend one of our meetings? Our monthly Coffee Chat Recap is your chance to find out what was discussed and ask some questions! Representatives from all of our meetings will be available to chat. It'll be held virtually from 10am -11am. All other meetings are from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

• Wednesday, October 6th AAC Family Chat
• Wednesday, October 13th Parent Education Night - Child Find
• Thursday, October 21st Transition to Adulthood
• Tuesday, October 26 Medically Fragile Support Group
• Wednesday, October 27th Autism Parent Education Training
• Wednesday, November 3rd AAC Family Chat
• Friday, November 5th Coffee Chat Recap

The purpose of Child Find is to locate, identify and evaluate children from birth to 21 years of age for their possible need for special education and related services. Child Find is a free referral and information service available through local education agencies and Service Center Region XIII. Referrals can be initiated by parents, educators, physicians, and outside agencies (ex. therapists, ECI, etc.). Once the referral has been initiated, Child Find or LISD staff meet with the family and have an evaluation scheduled. Following the evaluation, the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee will meet to determine if special education services are needed for the student. At that time, appropriate placement and service decisions will be determined for the student. Join us during this month’s Parent Education Night to learn more about the program and ask questions.

If you are concerned your child may be learning, playing or interacting differently from others, please call our office at 512-570-0350 or fill out this form. You may also learn more about the process by visiting our website.

October’s self- determination skill of the month is Goal Setting. It is important for students to be able to set achievable, realistic goals to follow through. This can be completed by making small steps such as setting goals that can be achieved in one week. While setting short term goals, it's important to identify at least 3 action steps that can help the student achieve that goal. Identifying action steps will allow them the opportunity to monitor their progress on the goals and celebrate successes. Goal Setting helps promote leadership skills and responsibility. View the flyer to learn more ways that you can assist your child in setting goals. To learn more about self-determination and other skills visit the Transition Planning webpage.

You can practice goal setting with simple tasks such as chores around the home. There’s a way for students of every age and ability to help around the home. Allowing students to participate in household duties help build skills needed for independence, self-care, self-advocacy, and employability. You can introduce new chores by demonstrating how to complete the task. Depending on the needs of your child, you may need to break one task down into smaller steps to work on skill mastery. You can also utilize YouTube or reading material to help engage students in learning how to complete these tasks appropriately. Take a look at this list for a few ideas!

Do you want to learn more about SELF and 18+ Transition Services? Starting this month, you’ll be able to take a tour of SELF locations. Parents, students, and staff are all welcome to join. The first tour will take place on October 28th, 2021. View the flyer for more information.

Please reach out to denise.geiger@leanderisd.org with any questions.

Able2Learn.com is a great website with lots of FREE resources. They have such cool things like visual recipes, social stories for older student topics, and already made picture schedules. Resources like this make it so easy to incorporate communication skills in your home through engaging and motivating activities. Take a look!

Parents of AAC communicators, if you would like to purchase a communication application for a home device, October is the time. Many communication applications go on sale for 50% off this month. Check out the flyer created by SLP, Lauren Enders, to view specifics.

October is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month and we need your help to connect AAC communicators and spread the word about AAC. We are asking LISD Educators, SLPs, Parents, and/or Students to use this Flip Grid to record a short video message telling others about what makes your communication style or your child's communication style unique. Click here to access the Flip Grid. You will sign-in as a guest with the password: AACAwareness2021

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects 15-20% of the population. According to the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), Dyslexia refers to a cluster of characteristics, which result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, such as reading. spelling, writing, and pronouncing words. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives; however, its impact can change at different stages in a person’s life.

Research has shown that wiring in the brains of people with dyslexia is different. Many believe that this different wiring of the brain allows people with dyslexia to see problems in different ways that can support innovation and success. Therefore, it is important to empower and foster a student’s strengths and gifts. For additional information, you can refer to the article 7 Ways to Empower Children Who Have Dyslexia - Foster the Gifts!

For additional information and/or related resources, you can visit LISD Dyslexia Services website.

The President of the United States annually recognizes White Cane Day by the Blind Americans Equality Day Proclamation on October 15th to acknowledge the abilities of people who are blind and to promote equal opportunities as any other American. The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities, to celebrate the abilities and successes achieved by blind people in a sighted world and to honor the many contributions being made by the blind and visually impaired. Texas will celebrate White Cane Day on Wednesday October 13, 2021 virtually.

Click here to learn some quirky facts about White Cane Day.

Our Special Education PTA members in LISD primarily work to connect families and students with the resources and information needed to reach the best path forward on services from start to finish in Special Programs and Services (ages 3-21). If you are interested in joining, fill out this form! We are always welcoming new members.

Website: https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/lisdtransitionservices/special-programs?authuser=0
Twitter: @LISD_SPROG