Autism Society Western New York

OPWDD FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION - ENGLISH
2024-01-16 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
ATTEND A FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION TO LEARN ABOUT SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
The OPWDD Front Door Information Sessions outline the process of how you can become eligible for supports and services, the types of supports and services available and where you can go to get assistance.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Register here.
If you need assistance, please contact Anaya Warner at 518-388-0398 or Anaya.E.Warner@opwdd.ny.gov.
All sessions are presently offered remotely by WebEx. The session length is two hours.
Upcoming Front Door Information Sessions can be found on the OPWDD website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/get-started/information-sessions.
Registration for a session is required. Once you have found the date and time that works best for you, please click the link to register for the session.
All Regional Offices offer translation services for the language that best fits your needs. If you require a session in a language other than English, Spanish or Chinese, including American Sign Language (ASL), please contact your local Front Door Office. Front Door contact numbers may be found on the OPWDD Website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/contact-us#access-services-through-front-door.

Traveling with Your Special Needs Child/Adult
2024-01-16 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.

Let’s Take a Crash Course on Understanding How to Read an IEP - webinar
2024-01-17 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Sensory Considerations for Social Communication - webinar
2024-01-17 13:00 - 14:00
PRESENTER
Vanessa Rentschler, Au.D., CCC-A, C.A.S. is a clinical audiologist and owner of Audball Paradigm, LLC (private practice). Regular honorarium received for facilitating a bi-weekly friendship group for autistic youth (Autism Society of Oregon). She is the parent of an autistic child, is active in her local autism, community and identifies as neurodivergent, herself (ADHD). Dr. Rentschler offers neurodiversity-affirming assessment and treatment for auditory processing difficulties, provided in a sensory-friendly environment. Therapeutic techniques also helpful for those who wear hearing aids and cochlear implants.
REGISTER HERE.

Family Guide to Transition (In-person event)
2024-01-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Albion High School, 302 East Avenue, Albion, NY, 14411, United States
Families will learn:

The transition planning process starting at an early age, although focusing primarily on high school to postsecondary
The transition process, which will help them to support students in establishing measurable postsecondary goals and annual goals, based on their preferences and interests
Utilize resources embedded in the Guide to further enhance their understanding of each of the topic areas.

*Certificate of completion available upon request*
Location: Albion High School, 302 East Avenue, Albion, NY 14411
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS 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:
2024-01-17 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
2024-01-17 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.

What Is an IEP For Families of School-Age Students: FREE 2-Part Series via Zoom
2024-01-18 10:00 - 12:00
Caregivers will gain an understanding of the entire IEP process, your role in the process, and identify the different components of the IEP.
January 18, 2024 (Part 1) – Discussion of Present Levels of Educational Performance (PLEP) & continuation of services.
January 25, 2024 (Part 2) – Supplemental support, test accommodations and transition planning information.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Communicating with the CPSE / CSE through Letter Writing - webinar
2024-01-18 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.

Section 504, Students with Disabilities in Public & Private Schools - webinar
2024-01-23 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.

What Does Advocacy Mean in Special Education - webinar
2024-01-24 11:00 - 12:00
Please join Tina Beauparlant 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.

Child Development Questions: Next Steps Workshop (In-person event.)
2024-01-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Lancaster Public Library, 5466 Broadway Street, Lancaster, NY, 14086, United States
Join the Parent Network of WNY and Help Me Grow for an informational workshop to answer questions about the next steps when there are concerns about your young child’s development.
Registration required.
Register: https://buffalolib.libcal.com/event/11640160 or call 716-683-1120.

Getting Started with the Residential Process: Tips, Tricks, and Information via Zoom
2024-01-24 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.

Understanding Autism: A Place to Start (Attend in person or via Zoom.)
2024-01-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Cuba Circulating Library, 39 E. Main Street, Cuba, NY, United States
Regardless of where you may be on your journey of understanding autism, this workshop by Parent Network can help you explore the basic of autism and neurodiversity. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or professional, we will give an overview of the topic, and allows time for questions to be answered.
Local resources will be provided.
People can join us virtually with the Zoom link or can attend in person at the Cuba Library.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER TODAY! FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Preventing Parent Burnout for Parents of Children with Special Needs via Zoom
2024-01-24 19:30 - 20:30
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.

Statewide- Virtual Special Education Parent Chat Group
2024-01-25 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.

OPWDD FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION - ENGLISH
2024-01-26 13:00 - 15:00
ATTEND A FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION TO LEARN ABOUT SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
The OPWDD Front Door Information Sessions outline the process of how you can become eligible for supports and services, the types of supports and services available and where you can go to get assistance.
Friday, January 26, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Register here.
If you need assistance, please contact Richard Labonte at 585-241-5842 or Richard.S.Labonte@opwdd.ny.gov.
All sessions are presently offered remotely by WebEx. The session length is two hours.
Upcoming Front Door Information Sessions can be found on the OPWDD website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/get-started/information-sessions.
Registration for a session is required. Once you have found the date and time that works best for you, please click the link to register for the session.
All Regional Offices offer translation services for the language that best fits your needs. If you require a session in a language other than English, Spanish or Chinese, including American Sign Language (ASL), please contact your local Front Door Office. Front Door contact numbers may be found on the OPWDD Website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/contact-us#access-services-through-front-door.

Positive Solutions for Families: The Pyramid Model Parent Training (A 6-week series) - via Zoom
2024-01-30 18:00 - 20:00
A 6-week series where you’ll meet other parents/caregivers and learn new ways to be a positive parent/caregiver.

Identify the importance of building positive relationships with children.
Link building relationships, using positive comments/encouragement, and play to children’s behavior.

When: Tuesday, January 30th, Tuesday, February 6th, Tuesday, February 13th, Tuesday, February 20th, Tuesday, February 27th, and Tuesday, March 5th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

What Does Advocacy Mean in Special Education via Zoom
2024-01-31 11:00 - 12:00
Please join Tina Beauparlant 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.

Effective Coping Strategies for Sensory Differences and Executive Function - webinar
2024-01-31 13:00 - 14:00
Tune in to for this presentation by Drs. Greg Wallace and Goldie McQuaid as they share their research on strategies autistic adults develop to compensate for non-social challenges they experience, including sensory sensitivities and executive function differences.
SPEAKERS
Greg Wallace, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at The George Washington University. His research focuses on neuropsychological and structural brain development in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan and their impacts on real-world outcomes. He is also particularly interested in eating-related behaviors and their cognitive and neural correlates in typical and atypical (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) development. Dr. Wallace has published extensively and presented his work widely on these and related topics.
Goldie McQuaid, Ph.D., is research faculty in the George Mason University Department of Psychology. Before joining the JackLab, she received her Ph.D. in Theoretical Linguistics from Georgetown University, followed by post-doctoral training in developmental neuroimaging at Georgetown University Medical Center and the Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute at George Washington University. She is a 2020-2022 Fellow in the Society for Neuroscience Neuroscience Scholars Program. Her research focuses on sex, gender, and the transition to adulthood in autism, with a particular focus on how alexithymia and camouflage impact well-being in autistic adults. Currently, she holds a National Institutes of Health K01 award that will allow her to conduct research related to emotion processing, gender identity, and risk for anxiety and depression in autistic adults.
REGISTER HERE.

Special Education 101: A Parent Member via Zoom (A two-part training.)
2024-01-31 18:00 - 19:00
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.

CTLE Credits Available
Part 1: Online videos & activities. Complete at least 1 day prior to
Part 2: Virtual Session. Wednesday, January 31st from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT.
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Education Records Organizer - webinar
2024-01-31 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.

OPWDD FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION - English
2024-02-01 09:00 - 11:00
ATTEND A FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION TO LEARN ABOUT SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
The OPWDD Front Door Information Sessions outline the process of how you can become eligible for supports and services, the types of supports and services available and where you can go to get assistance.
Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Register here.
If you need assistance, please contact Kelli Smith at 845-695-7344 or Kelli.L.Smith@opwdd.ny.gov.
All sessions are presently offered remotely by WebEx. The session length is two hours.
Upcoming Front Door Information Sessions can be found on the OPWDD website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/get-started/information-sessions.
Registration for a session is required. Once you have found the date and time that works best for you, please click the link to register for the session.
All Regional Offices offer translation services for the language that best fits your needs. If you require a session in a language other than English, Spanish or Chinese, including American Sign Language (ASL), please contact your local Front Door Office. Front Door contact numbers may be found on the OPWDD Website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/contact-us#access-services-through-front-door.

Diploma And Credential Options For Students With Disabilities via Zoom
2024-02-02 09:00 - 12:00
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

Specially Designed Instruction (SDI): A Guide For Families And Caregivers via Zoom
2024-02-05 17:00 - 18:00
Participants will:

Understand the concepts of SDI
Be able to examine what SDI might look like in the classroom and in the home

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

OPWDD FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION - ENGLISH
2024-02-06 10:00 - 12:00
ATTEND A FRONT DOOR INFORMATION SESSION TO LEARN ABOUT SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
The OPWDD Front Door Information Sessions outline the process of how you can become eligible for supports and services, the types of supports and services available and where you can go to get assistance.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Register here.
If you need assistance, please contact Richard Labonte at 585-241-5842 or Richard.S.Labonte@opwdd.ny.gov.
All sessions are presently offered remotely by WebEx. The session length is two hours.
Upcoming Front Door Information Sessions can be found on the OPWDD website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/get-started/information-sessions.
Registration for a session is required. Once you have found the date and time that works best for you, please click the link to register for the session.
All Regional Offices offer translation services for the language that best fits your needs. If you require a session in a language other than English, Spanish or Chinese, including American Sign Language (ASL), please contact your local Front Door Office. Front Door contact numbers may be found on the OPWDD Website here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/contact-us#access-services-through-front-door.

Is Guardianship the Only Option? An overview of Guardianship and the Many Alternatives
2024-02-06 18:00 - 20:00
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.

Navigating Adult Services: Learn About ACCES-VR, OPWDD, And Others via Zoom
2024-02-07 12:00 - 12:45
The Amherst School District Family Support Center and Parent Network are partnering to provide families with three informative lunch and learn sessions about transition!
Do you have a child that is entering high school, or you just want to learn about services out there for special education students? Does your child have an IEP or a 504 Plan?
Professionals are also welcome to learn more.
*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
Download Flyer

Gender and Autism - webinar
2024-02-07 13:00 - 14:00
Learn about emerging research suggesting that a lack of understanding and recognition of the female autistic phenotype, and a predisposition to associate males with autistic traits, could lead to structural inequalities that hinder the identification of autistic females.
SPEAKER
Gray Atherton, PhD, has a BSc in Child Development from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s in Counselling from University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Individual Differences from University of Houston. She has previously lectured at University of Houston and the University of Wolverhampton. Prior to entering academia, Gray was a counselor for adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions. “I am interested in understanding how people with autism spectrum condition see the social world. Specifically, I explore individual differences in social processing and how these differences often found in people with autism also exist in the general population. I also investigate anthropomorphism, or seeing the human in the non-human, and how this relates to social processing in autism. To investigate this, I am developing virtual reality techniques that allow for anthropomorphic experiences. My other research interest lies more broadly in embodied social processing. I am particularly interested in how movement can affect the way we see ourselves and our social partners, and how this can be used to understand special populations.”
REGISTER HERE.

New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA): Essential Information for Families of Students with Disabilities
2024-02-07 18:00 - 19:30 | John F Kennedy High School, 305 Cayuga Creek Rd., Cheektowaga, NY, 14227, United States
Participants will learn:

The criteria for NYSAA eligibility
The type of assessments used to measure a NYSAA student’s performance and how often
How a NYSAA determination affects graduation options and plans for life after high school

*Certificate of completion available upon request*
REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
This is an in-person event.
Location: John F Kennedy High School, 305 Cayuga Creek Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14227
Call: 716-332-4170 | Email: info@parentnetworkwny.org
