Autism Society Western New York

Communicating with the CPSE / CSE through Letter Writing - webinar
2024-10-17 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Please join Namita Modasra, Education Advocate, Parent to Parent of NYS, as she presents a webinar on Communicating with the CPSE/CSE through Letter Writing. Letter writing can be a very effective method of communication and advocacy for parents of children with disabilities. This training assists parents, guardians, grandparents how to clearly and effectively express concerns, ideas or suggestions to the professionals involved in their child’s special education program.
REGISTER HERE.

Section 504, Students with Disabilities in Public & Private Schools via Zoom
2024-10-22 13:00 - 14:15
Please join Tina Beauparlant, Regional Manager, Education Specialist, Parent to Parent of NYS, as she presents a webinar on Section 504, Students with Disabilities in Public & Private Schools.
This training will introduce you to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This training is designed to provide you with an understanding of the law, how it applies to educational programs and to students with disabilities. Children who qualify under this law receive services and/ or accommodations in the public-school system without being classified under IDEA/IDEIA and their school district’s Committee on Special Education. If you are a Parent, Grandparent, Family Members, or just interested in this topic then this training is for you!
REGISTER HERE.

Is Guardianship the Only Option? An overview of Guardianship and the Many Alternatives
2024-10-23 12:00 - 14:00
Come join Michele Juda, Ex. Director Parent to Parent of NYS, Tina Beauparlant, Regional Manager / Education Specialist as we explore: Is Guardianship the Only Option? An overview of Guardianship and the Many Alternatives.
Let’s face it nothing keeps parents up at night more than thinking about who will care for our child/children when we are no longer able to care for them. This workshop will increase the knowledge of families of individuals with disabilities about the options besides legal guardianship for adults with disabilities. If your adult child does not need full guardianship, there are other options that we will explore in this presentation. We will also discuss guardianship and the legal requirements.
Register here.

Disordered Eating and Autism – Obesity (webinar)
2024-10-23 13:00 - 14:15
Disordered Eating and Autism – Obesity

Tune in to learn research updates on co-occurring disordered eating and autism, including emerging findings to a higher risk for obesity.

The speaker:
Francesca Solmi, PhD, is a senior epidemiologist serving as a principal research fellow at University College London, with over a decade of experience researching risk factors for adolescent psychiatric disorders. In her research, she uses extensive general population cohort study data, population registers, linked electronic health records, and epidemiological designs for causal inference in observational data. She has published scientific papers in high-impact factor journals, informing policy and scientific funding priorities.

Register here.

Traveling with Your Special Needs Child/Adult
2024-10-29 11:00 - 12:30
Come join Parent to Parent NYS for this NEW Presentation on Traveling with Your Special Needs Child/Adult. Have you dreamed of going on a vacation with your child or adult with special needs? Does your child express a desire to go visit grandparents or a friend? Does he/she want to go on a field trip? Are theme parks or cruises a wish? Does the thought of even planning a trip make you nervous? Whether it’s a day trip or a long vacation, get tips and tricks for planning and implementing a trip with your family member with special needs. Learn how a trip can benefit all of your family members.
Register here.

What Does Advocacy Mean in Special Education - webinar
2024-10-29 18:30 - 19:45
Please join Namita Modasra for this training on What Does Advocacy Mean in Special Education. Not everyone starts out by being a good advocate. Many parents, guardians and grandparents have faced challenges in getting their child’s education needs met. Parents, guardians, grandparents, must learn the skills they need to become good advocates for their children. Participants will learn that communicate effectively with teachers and other school personnel is one of the best ways to ensure that your child’s school is creating a good learning environment for your child, and to ensure that your child’s school is providing your child with the services or programs that he or she needs to succeed in school. If you are a Parent, Grandparent, Family Member or just interested in this topic then this training is for you!
REGISTER HERE!

What Is An Individualized Education Program For Families Of Preschool Students via Zoom
2024-11-05 18:00 - 19:30
Participants will:

Gain an overview of the process for developing an IEP at the preschool level.
Review the components of the preschool IEP and the information that families can share with the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) regarding their child’s performance and disability related needs.

*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Improving Clinical Understanding of Autism - webinar
2024-11-06 13:00 - 14:15
Applying Neuroscience to Improve Clinical Understanding of Autism
Learn about emerging research on improvements in clinical understanding that can be gained by applying findings from the neurosciences field.
About the Speaker:
James McPartland, Ph.D., is the Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center. He is a neuroscientist and practicing child psychologist who directs the Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic. Dr. McPartland is also a founder and director of the Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health and the Principal Investigator of the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials, a US-based effort to identify biological indices to enhance intervention research in autism. Dr. McPartland’s program of research investigates the brain bases of neurodevelopmental conditions to develop biologically-based tools to improve clinical care and quality of life for autistic people and their families.
REGISTER HERE.

Loss, Grief, and Adjustment for Parents of Children with Special Needs
2024-11-06 18:00 - 19:00
Please join Barb Hoffman, Regional Coordinator, Parent to Parent of NYS, as she presents on Loss,Grief and Adjustment for Parents of Children with Special Needs. Powerful and intense feelings are natural and common responses to parenting a child with exceptional needs. This training will provide an overview of common emotions experienced by parents and discuss how by sharing and acknowledging these emotions parents can find the inner strength needed to face and embrace their role as a parent of a child with special needs.
REGISTER HERE.

Getting Started with the Residential Process: Tips, Tricks, and Information via Zoom
2024-11-07 18:00 - 19:15
Where Do I Begin?
The process of pursuing residential placement can be overwhelming. This presentation will help you organize your needs, preferences, and documents to help you navigate the process.
REGISTER HERE.

Student Involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for Families via Zoom
2024-11-12 12:00 - 14:00
This workshop will help promote and encourage student and family involvement in the IEP development process and Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

General Information Session to Learn More about SDMNY via Zoom
2024-11-12 17:00 - 18:00
These Information Sessions are held on Zoom and are for anyone who wishes to learn more about supported decision-making (SDM), and the SDMNY facilitation process. Appropriate for Individuals who are considering creating their own SDM agreement, or for parents, guardians, service providers and others who wish to learn more. Includes time for Q&A.
RSVP required. Click here to RSVP.

Education Records Organizer via Zoom
2024-11-12 19:00 - 20:00
This workshop is where parents, guardians and advocates of children who receive 504, CPSE and CSE special education services take their educational records and organize them into a record-keeping binder. This workshop will assist in being more organized in planning a child’s education, and in the CPSE/CSE process.
REGISTER HERE.

Understanding the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Part 200 Students with Disabilities - webinar
2024-11-13 10:00 - 11:30
Please join Parent to Parent of NYS, Tina Beauparlant for this in-depth presentation on Understanding the Regulation of the Commissioner of Education Part 200 Students with Disabilities. This training will take you through the NYS Special Education Regulations step by step. Parents will learn the role they play on the CSE, learn the chain of command regarding the CSE, learn how to request information regarding your child’s IEP and gain an understanding how to communicate with your child’s teachers & administrators. After this webinar parents will have more knowledge about the educational laws to advocate for their child/children.
REGISTER HERE!

Autism Health and Nutrition
2024-11-13 13:00 - 14:15
About the Speaker:
Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN, is the Director of the Nutrition Clinic at The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development. She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, with over a decade of experience working with nutrition in children with autism and related disorders. At the Johnson Center, she directs a team of dieticians and nutritionists that has served over 3000 children through this practice. Ms. Barnhill also serves as Co-Vice Chair of ARI’s Board of Directors and sits on ARI’s Scientific Advisory Board.
REGISTER HERE.

Special Education 101: Training a Parent Member via Zoom
2024-11-13 15:00 - 16:00
Special Education 101: Training a Parent Member
Learn about the Special Education Process and the Individualized Education Program!

Gain understanding about procedures, NYS regulations, and strategies to promote a parent’s understanding and participation in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting.
This course is required to receive a Parent Member Certificate to support a parent of a child with a disability in an IEP meeting.

Instructions will be sent via email on how to access and complete the Part 1 online videos and activities.
Part 1: Online videos & activities-Complete at least 1 day prior to Virtual Session
Part 2: Wednesday, November 13th @ 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (VIA ZOOM)
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE TODAY! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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Diploma and Credential Options for Students with Disabilities via Zoom
2024-11-13 16:00 - 17:00
What does it mean to get a Regent’s diploma? A Local? A CDOS or Skills Credential? What can you do? What can you not do? How much effort does it take? Can your child do the work?
This session explores the options and outlines and any updates to NYS regulations.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

How to Prepare for a Successful CPSE/CSE Meeting - webinar
2024-11-18 18:30 - 19:30
Please join Parent to Parent of NYS, Tina Beauparlant, Regional Manager/Education Specialist, as she presents this wonderful presentation on How to Prepare for a Successful CPSE/CSE Meeting. This training is to help parents, who approach IEP meetings with fear and dread. If this is you, attended this training and we have some suggestions to help you feel more at ease and participate as a full member of the team that plans your child’s special education program. If you are a Parent, Grandparent, Family Member, or guardian, then this training is for you!
REGISTER HERE.

Preventing Parent Burnout for Parents of Children with Special Needs via Zoom
2024-11-19 10:00 - 11:00
Preventing Parent Burnout for Parents of Children with Special Needs. Extraordinary parenting responsibilities create extraordinary pressures on parents. At the same time, parenting a child with special needs requires energy, focus, and enthusiasm to be effective in our role. The better off we are emotionally and physically, the better off our families will be. Join us for this webinar on Preventing Parent Burnout and discover positive ways to cope with and effectively manage stress.
REGISTER HERE.

Research Updates: GI Symptoms & Behavior - webinar
2024-11-20 13:00 - 14:15
About the Speaker:
Dr. Bradley Ferguson, PhD is an Assistant Research Professor, MU School of Medicine. He is currently studying the association between immune, endocrine, and psychophysiological markers of stress and gastrointestinal disorders in those with autism spectrum disorder. He is also leading the psychophysiological biomarker assessment for predictors of response to medications, and also the relationship to aberrant behaviors.

REGISTER HERE.

Education Records Organizer via Zoom
2024-11-20 19:00 - 20:00
Join Parent to Parent NYS for this great workshop.
This workshop is where parents, guardians and advocates of children who receive 504, CPSE and CSE special education services take their educational records and organize them into a record-keeping binder. This workshop will assist in being more organized in planning a child’s education, and in the CPSE/CSE process.
Register here.

Family Engagement: Communication and Culture via Zoom
2024-11-25 17:00 - 19:00
Do you want to improve student attendance and test scores?
Join us to learn how culture and communication intersect to impact student achievement.
This workshop will help ensure that educators are mindful with how they communicate with parents, guardians, and families to ensure that educational sites are culturally responsive and welcoming.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

When You Are Considering a Developmental Evaluation for Your Child: A Parent’s Perspective to Assist Your Visit.
2024-12-02 13:00 - 14:00
This presentation provides an overview of the parent’s perspective when planning for a child’s developmental evaluation. This webinar will not be looking at specific tests or types of evaluations. Instead, we want to share some tips and potential suggestions that we have learned based on our own personal experiences when our children were evaluated. We hope that this provides you with information and ideas when planning for your own child’s evaluation.
REGISTER HERE.

Getting Started with the Residential Process: Tips, Tricks, and Information via Zoom
2024-12-03 18:00 - 19:30
Where Do I Begin?
The process of pursuing residential placement can be overwhelming. This presentation will help you organize your needs, preferences, and documents to help you navigate the process.
REGISTER HERE!

Self-Regulation Strategies for Self-Injurious Behavior (webinar)
2024-12-04 13:00 - 14:15
Self-Regulation Strategies for Self-Injurious Behavior
About the speaker:
Emily Ferguson, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral academic researcher and clinician within Stanford University’s Autism and Developmental Disorders Research Program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara and completed her clinical internship at the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Ferguson’s research focuses on advancing understanding of mechanisms of challenging behaviors in autistic youth and adults to inform treatment development. Her work takes a comprehensive perspective, integrating methods from implementation science to improve the accessibility and quality of clinical care for underserved autistic populations, especially those with higher support needs (or “profound autism”). She is also interested in developing methods to improve self-regulation in individuals with profound autism to effectively manage self-injurious behaviors and aggression. Dr. Ferguson is currently supporting research in the Preschool Autism Lab and exploring profiles of challenging behaviors with the Program for Psychometrics and Measurement-Based Care in a diverse range of autistic and non-autistic youth to inform treatment approaches.
Register here.

Student Involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for Families via Zoom
2024-12-04 16:30 - 18:30
Don’t miss this opportunity to increase graduation rates and student success! Enroll in, Student Involvement in the IEP, to acquire strategies to promote student and family involvement in the IEP development process, along with CSE Meetings.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Traveling with Your Special Needs Child/Adult via Zoom
2024-12-04 18:00 - 19:30
Come join us for this NEW Presentation on Traveling with Your Special Needs Child/Adult.
Have you dreamed of going on a vacation with your child or adult with special needs? Does your child express a desire to go visit grandparents or a friend? Does he/she want to go on a field trip? Are theme parks or cruises a wish? Does the thought of even planning a trip make you nervous? Whether it’s a day trip or a long vacation, get tips and tricks for planning and implementing a trip with your family member with special needs. Learn how a trip can benefit all of your family members.
REGISTER HERE!

How to Foster and Support Self-Determination in All Students via Zoom
2024-12-05 12:00 - 14:00
Participants will be provided with foundational concepts, resources, and strategies to implement and incorporate practices that promote the development of self-determination throughout a student’s day and across all ages- supporting skills for successful students.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Section 504, Students with Disabilities in Public & Private Schools - webinar
2024-12-05 18:30 - 19:45
Please join Namita Modasra, Education Advocate, Parent to Parent of NYS, as she presents a webinar on Section 504, Students with Disabilities in Public & Private Schools. This training will introduce you to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This training is designed to provide you with an understanding of the law, how it applies to educational programs and to students with disabilities. Children who qualify under this law receive services and/ or accommodations in the public-school system without being classified under IDEA/IDEIA and their school district’s Committee on Special Education. If you are a parent, grandparent,guardian,professional or just interested in this topic then this training is for you!
REGISTER HERE.

A Guide for Families to Understanding Supports & Services Administered by OPWDD
2024-12-09 18:30 - 20:00
Please join Parent to Parent of NYS, for this great presentation on A Guide for Families to Understanding Supports & Services Administered by OPWDD.
The purpose of this training is to introduce families to the language of service delivery systems and to define and clarify information about services and supports. Participants will gain an increased awareness and understanding of eligibility criteria and the eligibility determination process. The training includes an overview of Home and Community Based Services Waiver, and Family Support Services.
REGISTER HERE.
