Community Connections: Septmeber 2004 newsletter

The Community Connections Communicator -- September 2004

In this Issue:

The theme of this month’s issue is Getting Ready for a Successful School Year.

	Tip Sheet:Homeschooling Your Special Child: Ten Tips
	Although this tip sheet is written specifically for families who have chosen to home school, the tips are invaluable for all children.
	Article: School Accommodations and Modifications
	This article provides information on how to ensure children have a successful school year. Accommodations and modifications are defined and recommended for such areas as classroom environment, curriculum and transition. Both educators and parents will benefit from this article.
	Spotlights of the Month:
	Prince George’s County Memorial Library & Howard County Library Systems You can continue to enhance your child’s learning by visiting the library, participating in story time and checking out the reading lists for these counties.
	Recommended Websites:
	*PBS Misunderstood Minds* Check out this website offered by PBS that has great ideas and techniques for working with children in most subject areas. You will find information on how to provide accommodations, what activities to use to increase skills and readiness, and how to motivate children to succeed. Click on the link to view the website. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/
	*Learning Disabilities On-Line* LD On-Line provides valuable tools for children, parents, and teachers. You can view hundreds of articles and tips that will enhance your child’s learning and school year. Check out the link below for further information. http://www.ldonline.org/
	Spotlight a Welcoming Business: Community Connections would like to “Spotlight” businesses who are welcoming to children with disabilities and their families. If you would like to spotlight a business, please click on this link and we will post it free of charge on our website. Thank you.

Homeschooling Your Special Child: Ten Tips

LD online has an array of resources for children with learning disabilities. Terri Lynn Bittner provides ten tips entitled Homeschooling Your Special Child, which gives great tips for all families, such as becoming knowledgeable about your child’s disability, talking to your child about his disability and mastering the basics in reading and math to ensure a good foundation. This tip sheet is great for families and can also be given by educators to their classes. Remember, whether or not your child is in a public school setting or is home schooled, a continuum of regular learning at home will only enhance their chances of school success. To view the entire tip sheet, please click on the following link: http://www.ldonline.org/article.php?max=20&id=868&loc=l5

School Accommodations and Modifications

This article provides families with information on how to incorporate appropriate accommodations and modifications for their child’s educational program. The FAPE organization provides this article on their website which can be used by both families and educators to help with accommodations in the areas of curriculum, books, classroom environment, assignments and transitions. Most importantly accommodations and modifications are defined well enough that parents and educators are aware of what’s needed for the child. You can also find examples of how to include such accommodations and modifications in a child’s 504 plan or IEP. To view the entire article, please click on the following link: http://www.fape.org/pubs/FAPE-27%20School%20Accomodations%20and%20Modifications.pdf

Spotlights of the Month!

Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
Story-time and Other Activities
http://www.pgcmls.info/

For children ages newborn and up, the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System provides daytime and evening story times, book clubs, and home school groups, at many of the libraries throughout the county. Check out these great events that will help your child develop early literacy skills as well as make new friendships.

Please note, the library system provides accommodations for persons with disabilities, which include sign language interpretation for library programs, wheelchair access, large print books, and other resources. For further information on these programs and services, please contact the administrative office at (301) 699-3500, or click the following link: http://www.pgcmls.info/

Howard County Library System
Story time and Adapted Toy Lending Program
Central Office Children’s Librarian
Cari Gast
(410) 313-7825
http://www.hclibrary.org/

Howard County Library System provides an array of story times and programs that can suit just about every family. With advance notice, the library system can provide sign language interpreters for story times and other scheduled programs. They also have devices available for persons with visual impairments. In addition, Howard County Library has a Disability Information Specialist on staff. If you have a little one with a disability, the library system has put together an adapted toy lending program. This program allows you to check out fun adapted toys to try at home with your child. If you would like to gain further information about the programs and services provided, please contact Ms. Gast, the Children’s Librarian, at the Central Office at (410) 313-7825 or visit the link below:
http://www.hclibrary.org/

We currently offer training and technical consultation to businesses, churches, and other community organizations to help make them more welcoming to families and children with special needs. If you know of a business or other organization that would like to take advantage of these services, please e-mail us at: communityconnections@umd.edu
OR
If you know of a business that is already welcoming to children with special needs and their families and you would like to share this information with other families and professionals, please send us your name as well as the name and contact information for the business with a brief description of why you believe they are welcoming to families. If appropriate, we will post the business on our website and we may even feature it as a 'Spotlight if the Month'. E-mail your submissions to: communityconnections@umd.edu

*Questions or Suggestions about our newsletter? Have an idea you would like to submit? Please feel free to contact us at communityconnections@umd.edu

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Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, all referenced articles are available at no charge to you. Community Connections provides this for informational purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by linked sites. The opinions and views expressed at these web sites do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Community Connections. Any personal information requested by any of the web sites will be governed by the privacy policy at the site, and any questions you have related to the sites' use of information should be directed there. The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to make any offer or commitment to purchase, subscribe to, provide or sell any service or product or to provide any recommendations on which readers should rely.

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Helping to Facilitate the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Community Settings

The Community Connections Communicator -- September 2004

In this Issue:

Homeschooling Your Special Child: Ten Tips

School Accommodations and Modifications

Spotlights of the Month!