Quick Tip:

Have difficulty with a student hitting the home button on their iPad to escape the app you want him or her to work in? Use Guided Access. Guided Access limits your device to a single app and lets you control which features are available. This is especially helpful for those students who want to exit an app rather than complete the requested task. Here are the instructions:

How to set up Guided Access:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility, then turn scroll down to Guided Access. Turn Guided Access on.

2. Tap on Passcode Settings, then tap set Guided Access passcode.

3. Enter a passcode, then re-enter it. Make sure and write down the passcode so you have it to refer to if you or other staff members forget it.

Start a Guided Access session:

1. Open the app that you want the student to use. Triple-click the home button.

2. If you want parts of your screen to stop responding to touch, use one finger to circle those areas. You can move or resize the circle, or tap the X to remove it. If you need training in

these or other higher level function of Guided Access contact AT for training.

3. Tap Guided Access, then tap Start.

To end a Guided Access session:

Triple-click the home button, enter the Guided Access passcode, then tap End.

I want to provide information on two local resources for stuttering. Houston Stutter Social for Kids hosts a free get-together once a month for ages 6-17. The activity for December is gingerbread houses. It will be held this upcoming Sunday the 8th in Stafford: More event details are below. There are limited spots available for the December activity, but this is a good resource to keep on your radar for the upcoming year. There is strong evidence that supports the benefits of people who stutter meeting and interacting with other people who stutter. If I could only give one tip that would have the greatest positive impact, it would be for children who stutter and their parents to become involved with the stuttering community. To help achieve this at school, I prioritize scheduling group stuttering therapy, so that the students can learn from each other and validate each other's lived experience.

Additionally, I'm excited that the Houston area will be hosting a FRIENDS One-Day Conference this year. This is a great opportunity for parents and students to get connected with the stuttering community, receive support, and learn more about stuttering. Adults who stutter and speech pathologists are also welcome to register. This event is NOT free, but it is a transformative experience for many who attend. Families can apply for financial assistance through the FRIENDS website. The One-Day Conference is set to be held on February 22nd in Deer Park ISD Educational Resource Center. I will share a website link once they have posted the event on their website.

Chuck E. Cheese (1st Sunday of the month)

Chuck E. Cheese strives to make sure that all of their guests with special needs, including autism and sensory issues, have a fun time at the restaurant! Chuck E. Cheese is now celebrating Sensory Sensitive Sunday on the 1st of every month, where they open two hours early to accommodate those children with special needs. On Sensory Sensitive Sunday, they turn down the music and reduce background noise for those who need it most so everyone can enjoy themselves without distractions from other patrons around them.

AMC Theatres (3 Houston locations)

The Autism Society has partnered up with AMC Theatres to bring you a one-of-a-kind experience. AMC is dimming the lights and turning down sound so that people on any spectrum can get up close and personal (or as personal as they dare) while watching their favorite movies! This new Sensory Friendly Film program will be available on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month. Be sure to check out their upcoming schedule to see what movies will be showing soon.

MORE DETAILS: https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films

We Rock the Spectrum – Houston

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym is committed to providing an environment where children can explore their world without fear. When it’s time to have some fun, We Rock the Spectrum is there for you with plenty of sensory-safe equipment and activities for your special needs children; all the way to providing you a “break” with multiple levels of child care involvement for both parents and kids.

MORE DETAILS: https://www.werockthespectrumkidsgym.com/locations

Nasa – Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston is now a CERTIFIED Autism center! Space curators have implemented special training for staff along with inspections and improvements to accommodate children, adults, and families of all abilities. One of the coolest things about Space Center Houston is its reduced sensory areas where visitors can experience science and space exploration without feeling too overwhelmed by their surroundings. These calm, dark spaces make even loud noises like rockets easy to handle for those who have trouble processing information through touch or sight!

MORE DETAILS: https://spacecenter.org/event/sensory-friendly

You're Invited to Montgomery County Food Bank's
2025 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala

Presented by Huntsman Corporation
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center

As the Food Bank's signature fundraising event, the gala offers the community a vital opportunity to support local families, children, and seniors facing hunger. Every $1 raised provides up to 4 meals.

This year’s gala, titled A Ruby Celebration: 40 Years of Feeding Hope, draws inspiration from the ruby—a symbol of 40th anniversaries—to celebrate the Food Bank’s remarkable four-decade journey.

Led by
Jim Wolf, Chairman of the Montgomery County Food Bank Board of Directors
Kristine Marlow, President & CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank

Honorary Chair
Justin Kendrick, Senior Vice President and CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital and a member of the Food Bank’s Board of Directors

Gala Chair
Angela Storseth-Cooper, Senior Director of Government Relations & Public Policy at The US Oncology Network and a member of the Food Bank’s Board of Directors

To learn more about the 2025 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala,
please visit mcfoodbank.org/gala

Believe Dental provides care across the whole spectrum of neurodiversity. We offer cleanings and exams for neurotypical and high-functioning patients; for those who require behavior modification or sedation, we offer a variety of treatment options.

In addition to serving individuals with I/DD, we provide comprehensive, compassionate dental care for patients who suffer from dementia, fear, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions, as well as their family members.

For more information

https://believedental.com/

MiddleGalaxy is a fun, video-game-like experience for students to explore different careers. This is through Texas OnCourse and all students have free access.

Texas Career Check - Explore Careers and Education- Be sure to do interest profiler under career section- https://texascareercheck.com/

Texas Gear Up High School- explore jobs- Click High School Resources

https://www.txcte.org/resource/gearup-resources

Roadtrip Nation- Explore jobs- Films and Videos of different job fields

https://roadtripnation.com/

CareerOneStop – Interest assessment with career exploration resources

https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/interest-assessment.aspx

O*net Interest Profiler- find a career that interests you

https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip

My Next Move- explore Careers

https://www.mynextmove.org/

Texas Reality Check- can you afford your lifestyle

https://texasrealitycheck.com/

Texas Transition Network- Resources for Students and Parents

https://www.texastransition.org/

Additional Resources

· Get Ready for College: A Resource for Teens with Disabilities – https://centerontransition.org/getReady self-paced virtual course for high school students with disabilities interested in college;

· National Center for College Students with Disabilities Clearinghouse - https://www.nccsdclearinghouse.org/prospective-college-students.html;

· Think College: resource for developing, expanding, and improving inclusive higher education options for people with intellectual disabilities www.thinkcollege.net;

· Understood: 7 Things to Know About College Disability Services: https://www.understood.org/.

· Apply Texas- used to apply for all schools in Texas https://www.applytexas.org

· FAFSA- Used to apply for financial aid for school https://studentaid.gov

Prof Sp Ed/Parent Liaison

Special Education

M-F from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Email: parentresourcecenter@conroeisd.net
Website: www.conroeisd.net
Location: 701 North 3rd Street, Conroe, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-8209

The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.

For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.

The resources shared in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and do not constitute approval by the Parent Resource Center, Conroe ISD.