Parent to Parent of NYS- Upstate Parent Group: For families residing in Western New York, Central New York, Northern New York:
2024-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Are you a parent navigating the unique journey of raising a child with special needs? Join Parent to Parent of NYS for their monthly Online Parent Group. Parent to Parent of NYS is dedicated to creating a warm and inclusive environment where parents of children and adults with special needs can connect and support each other. If you’re a parent or caregiver navigating the journey of raising a someone with special needs, we invite you to join.
Register here.

Parent to Parent of NYS- Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) virtual Parent Group and learning series
2024-05-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-06-12 19:00 - 20:30
Are you a BIPOC Parent of a child with special needs of any age? (BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) Like you, I understand the realities of parenting our children with special needs while walking that tightrope of living on the margins struggling to be seen! Let’s address the high pressure reality on us as BIPOC parents so we may begin to re-energize ourselves, re-focus on what’s most important, and re-up our enthusiasm to increase our effectiveness in our roles. As we share our paths forward together, the better off we will be for our journey ahead, emotionally and physically, and the better off our families will be. Join me, Melanie Baker, for an honest conversation as we consider where we have been, where we are now, so that we may see our way forward.
Register here.

Let’s Take a Crash Course on Understanding How to Read an IEP - webinar
2024-05-16 12:00 - 14:00
Please join Tina Beuparlant,Regional Manager, Education Specialist for this training on Let’s Take a Crash Course on Understanding how to Read your child’s IEP. Does your child have an IEP (Individualized Education Program)? We’ll walk through the different sections of the IEP and discuss how to advocate for supports to make sure the IEP reflects your child’s abilities and needs. Because states and local school systems may include additional information, forms differ from state to state and may vary between school systems within a state. The IEP, Individualized Education Program, is a written document that’s developed for each public-school child who is eligible for special education. The IEP is created through a team effort and reviewed at least once a year. This training will teach you how to read the IEP so you can understand what should and can be in the IEP. If you are a Parent, Grandparent, Family Member or guardian then this training is for you!
REGISTER HERE.

Guidelines for Determining the Need for a One-to-One Aide
2024-05-16 18:30 - 19:45
Please join Namita Modasra, Education Advocate, Parent to Parent of NYS as she presents this wonderful webinar: Guidelines for Determining the Need for a One-to-One Aide Let’s explore what the IEP team needs to consider, supplemental aids, services and program modifications for all students with disabilities. A key question for the IEP team is to consider whether the student with a disability does or does not require one-to-one support to make meaningful progress toward annual goals in the IEP in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
REGISTER HERE.

Communicating with the CPSE / CSE through Letter Writing - webinar
2024-05-21 18:30 - 19:30
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.

A Guide for Families to Understanding Supports & Services Administered by OPWDD
2024-05-23 11:00 - 12:30, 2024-06-04 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.

Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Regulation
2024-05-29 13:00 - 14:15
Tune in to learn research updates on blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Regulation.

The speakers:
Noor A. Hussein, PhD is a pharmacology scientist.
“My experience as a researcher has taught me to seek out new perspectives for exploration and discovery. As a dedicated biological and pharmacological researcher with over 7 years of experience with models of diseases such as cancer both in vitro and in vivo. During my masters and Ph.D. studies, I mastered lots of molecular biology techniques, including cell culture, cytotoxicity assays, western blot, quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry. I utilized my skills to design experiments finding solutions to common problems in the biomedical field, especially cancer experimental and molecular therapeutics.”
Ayan Mondal, Ph.D. is a third-year post-doctoral research fellow in Prof Elizabeth Mellins’ laboratory at Dept of pediatrics, Stanford University. “I completed my graduation from University of Calcutta, India, in 2017. I have conducted 1.5 years of research on molecular medicine following graduation and joined as a post-doctoral researcher at the Arnold School of Public health, University of South Carolina, in the year 2019. During the training, I studied neuroimmune signaling mechanisms in the gut-liver-brain axes in mouse models of metabolic disorders and military-deployment-associated disorders. My studies elucidated the mechanism of neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction mediated by specific proteins that are elevated in blood during these disease conditions. In my post-doctoral research with Prof Mellins, I am studying changes in BBB function in PANS. I am focusing on elucidating the mechanisms of action of novel modulators of BBB that are relevant to homeostatic maintenance of the BBB and other novel modulators that increase BBB permeability during flares of PANS. My proposed experimental strategies include transcriptomic and proteomic approaches in cell types of the CNS neurovascular unit.”
Register here.

Middle to High School Transition (In-person event)
2024-05-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Clarence High School, 9625 Main St., Clarence, NY, 14031, United States
New building, new teachers, new responsibilities, new opportunities.
Let’s talk about the changes that come with Middle School. We will talk about how to prepare for the first day, discuss the challenges that we may see and some strategies to have transition success for students with disabilities.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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In collaboration with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), Parent to Parent of NYS presents “Introduction to the Roles of Direct Support Professionals for Families” - webinar
2024-05-29 18:30 - 20:00
n collaboration with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), Parent to Parent of NYS presents “Introduction to the Roles of Direct Support Professionals for Families” This webinar will discuss and describe the DSP code of ethics as it relates to the family. In addition, this webinar will help to define the specific role of the DSP not only in certified residences but in community-based settings as well as the family home. This discussion will also include the Standardized Occupational Classification which is hopefully forthcoming from the United States Department of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This classification will further elevate the value and role of direct support professionals. Direct Support Professionals are at the core of care for those with disabilities along with their families. This presentation aims to provide more understanding of each member’s role in supporting the individual receiving services and how all parties can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Register here.

Parent to Parent of NYS presents: The role of Direct Support Professionals, an introduction for families - Via Zoom
2024-05-29 18:30 - 20:00
In collaboration with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), this webinar will discuss and describe the DSP code of ethics as it relates to the family. In addition, we will discuss the specific role of the DSP not only in certified residences, but in community-based settings as well as the family home.
This presentation aims to provide more understanding of each member’s role in supporting the individual receiving services and how all parties can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Register here for this free virtual event.

Statewide- Virtual Special Education Parent Chat Group
2024-05-30 18:30 - 20:00
Come join Parent to Parent NYS for their Special Education chat group. As a parent’s of children with special needs, we know firsthand how hard it is to advocate for our children in school. Sometimes we feel helpless, exhausted, and lonely and let’s face it advocating for our kids is complicated! If you’re a parent, grandparent, caregiver of a child with special needs, and struggling with special education school related issues. Come join for an opportunity to share what’s happening while engaging in great conversation, sharing your knowledge, ideas and resources with other parents in the community who are dealing with the same issues. All from the comfort of your own home.
REGISTER HERE.

Recreation Festival at Cazenovia Park in Buffalo, NY - FREE event
2024-06-01 10:00 - 14:00 | Cazenovia Park, West Seneca, NY, United States
Parent Network of WNY is thrilled to host their Recreation Festival on Saturday. June 1, 2024, once again at Cazenovia Park across from the Casino. The festival will run from 10am – 2 pm, and there will be representatives from local organizations serving children, teens, and adults, as well as visits from superheroes and princesses, face painting, and other community groups, including a fire truck! Every family that attends will receive an inclusive Recreation Guide to take home, as well as opportunities for prizes.
Learn about recreation programs and services in WNY for individuals with all abilities. FREE activities and games for all ages and abilities.
Click here for more information.

CPSE to CSE for Parents
2024-06-04 14:00 - 15:30
Parents will understand the process of transitioning their child from Early Intervention to the Committee on Preschool Special Education.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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Autism and Trauma - webinar
2024-06-05 13:00 - 14:15
Connor Kerns, PhD, discusses emerging research on the relationship between trauma and autism.
The Speaker
Dr. Connor Kerns has conducted and published studies on broad array of topics including the role of paternal age in ASD risk, the co-occurrence of childhood psychopathologies, and differential predictors of CBT efficacy for child anxiety. Her present research focuses on the overlap, assessment and treatment of anxiety and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Her ongoing projects aim to explore the varied presentation and phenomenology of anxiety in ASD and the implications of this variation for effective anxiety measurement and treatment. Dr. Kerns is also preparing to extend this work to the understudied area of traumatic events and their sequelae in youth with ASD. Another area of interest is the use of technology to facilitate the dissemination of empirically based treatments. Dr. Kerns is currently working to develop cost-effective, computer-assisted CBTs for youth with ASD and anxiety, interactive social stories to improve skill generalization in ASD, and video-enhanced ASD screening and educational tools. Her long terms goals include developing a parsimonious model of psychiatric co-occurrence to inform the design and dissemination of cross-diagnostic assessments and treatments that will improve child wellbeing and development.
REGISTER HERE.

Parent to Parent NYS Presents a Statewide Webinar: Understanding LGBTQ+ Individuals with Disability
2024-06-05 19:00 - 20:00
LGBTQ+ individuals living with disabilities are often overlooked. Approximately 30% of adolescents that identify in the LGBTQ+ population also have disabilities. Join us for a discussion with Self Advocate Pauline Bosma from MASS (Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong ) as they explain the challenges of being transgender and disabled, and what parents need to know.
REGISTER HERE.

Charla Con Nosotros Grupo De Apoyo via Zoom
2024-06-06 18:30 - 20:00
¿Eres padre de un niño/a que tieneuna discapacidad o sospechas quetengan una discapacidad?
DISCUCIONES YPERSPECTIVAS
OBTEN APOYO
Consigue información práctica,constructiva, y útil.
CONECTA CON OTROS
Consigue información práctica,constructiva, y útil.
Aprende mas sobre como manejar con susproblemas a través de experienciascompartidas.
EXPRESATE
Tén un espacio seguro para compartirsus experiencias y dificultades.

Primer Jueves de cada mes. 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

REGISTRACIÓN
www.parentnetworkwny.org/events
Mas Información
716.332.4170 o
info@parentnetworkwny.org
Registración es necesaria para recibirel enlace de Zoom.
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Get Outdoors & Get Together Day - Saturday, June 8, 2024
2024-06-08 10:00 - 14:00
OPWDD is partnering with NYS State Parks, DEC, and the Department of Veterans Services this year on Get Outdoors & Get Together Day, happening on Saturday, June 8. Fun and accessible outdoor events will be held at select parks and DEC sites across the state! They are sharing a general flyer with you about the event to use to spread the word and encourage people with and without developmental disabilities to attend and join in on the fun. Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic lunch with them as concession is not available at every location.
At DEC sites, attendees can discover new skills and enjoy a range of introductory-level outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, nature walks and hikes, birding, archery, camping, paddling, and more. Activities will vary at State Parks and range from lawn games to accessible hikes to arts and crafts. Most events will run from 10 am until 2 pm. Events running at slightly different times are noted below.
State Park Event Locations
All State Parks-hosted events run from 10 am until 2 pm
• Sunken Meadow State Park (Suffolk County)
• Buffalo Harbor State Park (Erie County)
• Darien Lakes State Park (Genesee County)
• Allegany State Park (Cattaraugus County)
• Chenango Valley State Park (Chenango County)
• Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (Montgomery County)
• Taughannock Falls State Park (Tompkins County)
• Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (New York County)
• Lake Taghkanic State Park (Columbia County)
• Sterling Forest State Park (Orange County)
DEC Event Locations
Most DEC-hosted events run from 10 am until 2 pm, *exceptions noted below
• Hempstead Lake State Park (Nassau County)
• Mount Loretto Unique Area (Richmond County)
• Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County) *Event time is 9 am until 2 pm
• Norrie Point Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County) *Event time is 11 am until 1 pm
• Kenneth L. Wilson Campground (Ulster County)
• Catskills Visitor Center (Ulster County) *Event time is 10 am until 4 pm • North-South Lake Campground (Greene County)
• Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (Albany County)
• Ausable Point Campground (Clinton County)
• Lowville Forestry Demonstration Area (Lewis County)
• Mendon Ponds Park In conjunction with the ADK Outdoor Expo (Monroe County) *Event time is from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm
• Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (Erie County)
OPWDD hopes to see you at Get Outdoors & Get Together Day! For the most up-to-date information about the event, click here to visit their website.
If you have questions about the event or wish to be put in touch with the local event coordinator in your region, email OPWDD at communications.office@opwdd.ny.gov.

NEW- Chinese Speaking Family Support Group - Via Zoom
2024-06-08 20:00 - 22:00
Parent to Parent NYS is excited to announce the launch of a new Parent Group tailored specifically for Chinese-speaking parents who have children with a developmental or physical disability. Led by our Fatherhood Engagement Coordinator, Bin Feng, this group is open to parents of children of any age or disability who speak Chinese (Mandarin).
Register here.

The Link WNY’s Family & Caregiver Group via Zoom
2024-06-10 18:30 - 20:00
Are you a parent of a child with disabilities or do you suspect they have a disability?
Do you want to…
– Feel less overwhelmed?
– Feel a sense of belonging?

Get the support you need from Parent Network of WNY, Empower and other group members!
Discuss topics such as Special Education, Sensory Processing Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and more!
REGISTER ONCE FOR MONTHLY EMAIL REMINDERS AND ZOOM MEETING LINKS!
REGISTER HERE.

Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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Parent to Parent of NYS- Statewide-Virtual Fathers Group
2024-06-10 19:00 - 20:00
Parent to Parent of NYS Fathers Group to meet online via Zoom and discuss the role of dads in navigating their children’s special needs. Come join Bing Feng for an informal meeting to share information, resources, and support. Parents of children and adults are welcome.
Register here.

NEW- Teen Parent Group- for parents of teenagers with developmental or physical disabilities
2024-06-10 19:00 - 20:00
Are you a parent of a special needs teenager? You are not alone! From navigating adolescence to managing behaviors and fostering independence, our group provides a safe space for open discussions about all things teen related. Parent to Parent offers parents a place where you can connect with other parents facing similar challenges and share experiences in a welcoming and understanding environment.
REGISTER HERE.

Understanding the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Part 200 Students with Disabilities - webinar
2024-06-11 18:30 - 20:00
Please join Parent to Parent of NYS, Namita Modasra, Education Advocate, 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.

Growing with Others - Neurodivergent Social Group for high school students
2024-06-11 18:30 - 20:00 | North Tonawanda High School Library, 405 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda, NY 14120, NY, 14120, United States
Neurodivergent social group for high school students meets 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Community Connection – Connect with other high school students and build positive relationships.
Develop New Skills – Opportunities to develop skills such as self-awareness, social wellness, coping with stress, and more!
Feel Supported – Discuss feelings, ideas, interests, and goals in a safe and supportive environment.
FACILITATOR
Patty McCalister, LMHC is a licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years in the Human Services fields, working with individuals with intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
If you have any questions, please contact Patty McCalister at patriciamccalisterlmhc@gmail.com or 716-345-5450.
LOCATION
North Tonawanda High School Library, 405 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda, NY 14120

Support for parents of children in Early Intervention - via Zoom
2024-06-11 19:00 - 20:00
Join Parent to Parent NYS’ community of parents navigating the early intervention journey with children aged 5 and younger. Connect with other parents who understand the joys and challenges of parenting young children with special needs. Share experiences, advice, and encouragement in a supportive environment.
Register here.

How To Foster And Support Self-Determination In All Students via Zoom
2024-06-12 12:00 - 14:00
This training provides participants 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 HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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Special Education Mediation For Families
2024-06-12 13:00 - 14:30
Families will become aware of the option of Special Education Mediation to resolve disputes and will be more knowledgeable about its benefits.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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What You Need to Know About Assistive Technology in the IEP
2024-06-13 10:00 - 11:15
Please join Parent to Parent of NYS for this presentation on What You Need to Know About Assistive Technology in the IEP.
This training will teach parents, grandparents, guardians about appropriate Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services how they allow students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from the general education curriculum and to meet Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. For every student with an IEP, federal and state regulations require that the team consider the student’s need for assistive technology devices and services.
Register here.

Chautauqua County Family & Caregiver Support Group via Zoom
2024-06-13 18:30 - 20:00
Receive Support – Connect with Others – Express Yourself
Free Support for parents, family members and caregivers of children with special needs
REGISTER ONCE FOR MONTHLY EMAIL REMINDERS AND ZOOM MEETING LINKS!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org

Download Flyer
