CANCELED - Effective And Collaborative Implementation Of Family Engagement Resources - via Zoom
2024-05-08 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York)
Participants will:

Explore meaningful and equitable training resources/tools to support effective family engagement and communication.
Explore the use of critical thinking skills to deepen connection and understanding of the resources to support equitable family engagement.

*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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Know Your Rights: School Discipline and Special Education
2024-05-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Parent Network of Western New York, 1021 Broadway Street, Floor 4, Room 442, Buffalo, NY, 14212, United States
Know Your Rights: School Discipline and Special Education
Do you have a child with an IEP or 504 Plan?
School Discipline Project Supervising Attorney Sam White will discuss the protections for children with disabilities during school disciplinary matters!
In-Person Workshop or Attend Via Zoom
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
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Specially Designed Instruction: A Guide For Families And Caregivers - via Zoom
2024-05-09 10:00 - 12:00
Participants will:

Understand the concepts of SDI
Understand that there is both federal and state regulations around SDI
Be able to examine what SDI might look like in the classroom and in the home
Understand their value as engaged meaningful parent

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

Addressing Sleep Challenges for the Neurodivergent Child via Zoom
2024-05-09 15:00 - 16:00
Join Parent Network and Dr Amanda Hassinger for an informational workshop on addressing sleep issues in neurodivergent children. This could include those with diagnoses or suspected: ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Dyslexia, and more. While this workshop is specific to these needs, good sleep patterns can be disrupted in children for many different reasons, and this workshop may help support any family that has a child with significant sleep disturbances.
Presenter: After working a decade in pediatric critical care, Dr Hassinger went back into training and completed a Sleep Medicine Fellowship. She worked with UBMD Pediatrics to develop the only pediatric-dedicated Sleep Medicine Center in WNY which opened in 2020, which provides both inpatient and outpatient pediatric sleep medicine consultations on a variety of children’s sleep problems. The Center sees patients 0 to 25 years old and has begun partnerships with community providers for neuro-diverse children; developing a multi-faceted program to improve the sleep and CPAP use in children with special needs in WNY.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Chautauqua County Family & Caregiver Support Group via Zoom
2024-05-09 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

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Parent to Parent of NYS-Residential Placement Online Discussion Group- Parents who have a child or adult in a Residential placement
2024-05-09 19:00 - 20:00
For families with children and adults of all ages that currently have children in residential school or a group home. Come join us for an hour of support and conversation.
Register here.

Work-Based Learning (WBL) Updates & Collaboration
2024-05-10 12:30 - 14:30 | Erie 1 BOCES, 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, NY, 14224, United States
Join us in-person for updates around Work-Based Learning!
We will be discussing the family’s role in WBL, updates from the new manual, and have round table discussions around work-based learning and schools.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Au-Some Evenings at Explore & More - The Ralph C Wilson Jr. Children's Museum
2024-05-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Explore & More – The Ralph C Wilson Jr. Children’s Museum, 130 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
Once a month, Au-Some Evenings give children with autism and sensory processing needs, their friends and family an opportunity to play and learn together in an understanding and supportive environment. In addition to a fun night of play with access to the museum space and exhibits, we have special programming for families! The evening features themed Art Studio projects, sensory exploration in our Tinkering Tank, therapy animals from the SPCA and student volunteers from SUNY Buffalo State’s Exceptional Education program. Parent outreach materials including links for social stories, child development resources and play tips are always available. We even provide small giveaways or snacks in the lobby, at the end of the night to help with the transition of leaving the museum. We look forward to having you join us!
To register for the next Au-Some Evening please complete the form, here!

Special thanks to the Exceptional Education department from SUNY Buffalo State for providing volunteers who help support children and families develop language skills, promote social interactions, and facilitate learning through play. Au-Some Evenings was created in 2012 and presented in partnership with: Kathy Doody, Professor in Exceptional Education, and Jana Mertz, The Arc Erie County.

Click here to download our Au-Some Evening flyer!

Questions? Email accessibility@exploreandmore.org.
SPACE IS LIMITED!

Parent to Parent of NYS- Statewide-Virtual Fathers Group
2024-05-13 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.

How to Prepare for a Successful CPSE/CSE Meeting - webinar
2024-05-14 13:00 - 14:15
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 CSE Meeting. This training is to help parents, who approach IEP meetings with fear and dread. If this is, you attended this training then 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.

Getting Started with the Residential Process: Tips, Tricks, and Information via Zoom
2024-05-14 18:30 - 19:45
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.

Growing with Others - Neurodivergent Social Group for high school students
2024-05-14 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

Changes in Autism Symptoms Across Childhood - webinar
2024-05-15 13:00 - 14:15
Tune in to this presentation by Dr. Einat Waizbard-Bartov to learn about how autism symptoms change throughout child development.
The speaker: Dr. Einat Waizbard-Bartov is a post-doctoral researcher working with Dr. Ilan Dinstein at the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research at Ben-Gurion University, Israel. Dr. Waizbard-Bartov completed her doctoral studies at the University of California, Davis, working with Dr. David Amaral at the UC Davis MIND Institute’s Autism Phenome Project. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist trained in autism assessment and play-based and cognitive-behavioral therapies with children. Dr. Waizbard-Bartov is especially interested in assessment and measurement of autism symptoms, developmental trajectories across the life span and how these translate into individual needs, and the female autism phenotype.
Register here.

Behavior as Communication: Addressing Neurodivergent Needs (In-person event)
2024-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Cloverbank Elementary School, 2761 Cloverbank Rd., Hamburg, NY, 14075, United States
Join Parent Network to learn about Behavior as Communication for Neurodivergent Needs. Children and young adults with diagnoses or suspected diagnoses that fall underneath the neurodivergence umbrella such as autism, ADHD, learning differences, and tic disorders, to name a few, typically need supports in additional ways. This may mean adjusting how parents and caregivers work with challenging behaviors. This workshop is appropriate for parents/caregivers and professionals!
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

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
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
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
Download Flyer

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
Download Flyer

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.
