Community Forums on Transition

Mayor's Office For People with Disabilities LogoMayor's Office For People with Disabilities LogoANNOUNCING
Community Forums on Transition

What is Transition? Transition is change. Transition is movement.
For our children who have disabilities, transition means moving from SCHOOL TO ADULT LIFE!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mayors Office for People with Disabilities, MOPD, 2102 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612

If you are the parent, guardian or representative of a student with an IEP or a diagnosed disability in a secondary school in Illinois, you should attend this important community event to learn about resources available to help your child prepare for life after high school.

Representatives from the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation
Services (DRS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and the Division of Mental
Health (DMH) along with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will be available to share information, listen to your concerns and help answer questions. This is an opportunity to engage in a dialogue and have your voices heard so please plan to attend a meeting in your area:

For more information or to request an accommodation, please contact:Darlene Loydrake at Darlene.Loydrake@illinois.gov, 312.814.3871 (V) 888-440-8994 (TTY)

2-day In-Person Educational and Support Opportunity to Primary Caregivers

Shriners Hospital 2-day In-Person Educational and Support Opportunity to Primary Caregivers 

Shriners Hospital in Chicago is offering a 2-day in-person educational and support opportunity to primary caregivers (i.e. parents) of youth with spinal cord injuries ages 7-12. Youth must have sustained their injury at least one year ago and both the primary caregiver and child must speak fluent English. All travel, hotel accommodations, and meals will be taken care of by us.

Unfortunately, we must limit this to one caregiver (the “primary” caregiver) of each child for this study.

This program (“Parent Forum”) will be offered during two weekends in August:
•August 2-3, 2014 OR
•August 16-17, 2014

Parents/caregivers are only being asked to attend one of these Parent Forums and it’s their choice! Both weekend programs are exactly the same – we’re just offering two weekend options to accommodate busy schedules.

Contact Anne Riordan, MA
Project Coordinator
Shriners Hospitals for Children
2211 N. Oak Park Avenue
Chicago, IL 60707-3392
(p) 773.385.5511
(f) 773.385.5488

Way to Grow:Support Group Meeting

Mothers on a Mission, Inc. & West Suburban Special Recreation
FREE!!!

Way to Grow:Support Group Meeting

Monday, May 19th, 2014
Long Term Planning for Special Needs Situations

Location: The Town of Cicero Community Center- Room 106 & 107
2250 S. 49th Avenue in Cicero, IL
Time: meetings will start PROMPTLY@ 6:00pm until 7:45pm

How to think about it, how to do it and how to pay for it

What resources do we have to work with?
What are some good basic goals for a long-term plan?
What are the basic strategies to work towards your goals?
What is the State of the State of Illinois in adult services?
What is the role of a financial advisor, attorney and other professionals in the long term planning process?

Presented by
Alexandra Baig, MBA
Financial Advisor
Waddell and Reed, Inc.

For more information call: 708-357-4117
Español, por favor llame: Margarita or Eli at 708-656-8340
Specialized Child Care offered by West Suburban Special Recreation Association!

10th Annual Transition Conference “Stepping Stones of Transition”

Stepping Stones of TransitionThe 10th Annual Transition Conference for high school aged students and young adults with disabilities, their family members and teachers, vocational professionals, caregivers, health care professionals, college students pursuing careers in special education and community advocates will be held in Springfield, Illinois on October 27-28, 2014.

The conference, titled “Stepping Stones of Transition” will be held at the Springfield Crowne Plaza and will invite participants to imagine the possibilities for students with disabilities in the areas of independent living, education and training, employment, community integration, health care, mental health, and self-advocacy. Conference sessions will be organized into 4 tracks: Education, Community, Employment and Health.

Monday, October 27, 2014 8:00 AM – Tuesday, October 28, 2014 1:00 PM

Where
Crowne Plaza Springfield
3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois 62703 USA

More Information
View Event Summary

View Event Fees

View Event Agenda

Last Date to Register!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014

MOPD: AccessChicago July 17, 2014

AccessChicagoAccessChicago: July 17, 2014, Navy Pier, Hall A, 10am – 5pm

AccessChicago is the perfect event for people with disabilities of all ages!

  • Test products, services and connect with community organizations to learn about available disability-related social services.
  • Take part in various adaptive sports and recreational demonstrations.
  • Learn about legal rights of people with disabilities.
  • Participate in a free health screening.

Besides exhibitors, AccessChicago brings a host of engaging activities that educate and entertain all ages. From bingo to basketball, petting zoos and magic, arts and craft etc. there’s bound to be something for everyone!  Great family event! Fun activities for children!

New This Year!
Attendees can sign up online in advance via Eventbrite! Click here to sign up for AccessChicago early to avoid lines, enter raffles, sign up for MOPD news alerts mailing lists, and more!
Exhibitors can now sell products and services at Access Chicago!

AccessChicago is FREE…and open to the public. So bring your family and/or your friends and make it a fun-filled day!

Testing and Related Education Forums

Wednesday, April 23, 7 – 8 pm:

Good Morning Mission Hill film screening
Francis Parker School, 330 W Webster, followed by a panel discussion on democratic education.

Thursday April 24, 6 – 9 pm:

DePaul School of Education Spring Forum,
DePaul Student Center, Room 120, 2250 N Sheffield.
Imagine a public school with a portfolio-based constructivist approach to teaching and learn, staff based decision-making and governance, modeled on democratic and progressive education principles, fostering active and engaged learning, with a broad and rich curriculum.

Saturday, April 26, 10 am to noon,

Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division St.:
A Quality Education for Every Child, a Talk with Pasi Sahlberg
Raise Your Hand is sponsoring a talk by Pasi Sahlberg, the author of Finnish Lessons:What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland

Tuesday, April 29 at 6 pm

 More Than a Score testing forum, Changing the Stakes on Testing. Union Park, 1500 W Randolph.More here: http://pureparents.org/?p=21250

FRCD on CAN TV

Tune in every Thursday at 4pm -4:25pm for our a live call-in  talk show FRCD on CAN TV,  where we discuss special education rights, parent advocacy and resources for families of children with disabilities.

Want to ask a question on-air live ?

Call 312-738-1060 during the show and ask your questions.

15th Annual Spring Fling for Autism Awareness Resource Fair

To kick-off Autism Awareness Month, FRCD on CAN TV host, Paula Wills, interviewed Chicagoland’s Autism Connection CAC, Executive Director, Paul Butler, about CAC services and the 15th Annual Spring Fling for Autism Awareness Resource Fair on FRCD on CAN TV.

REGISTER

2014 “Spring Fling for Autism Awareness” Resource Fair
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Time: 8:00 AM-12:30 PM Chicago, IL
Bogan Computer Technical High School
3939 West 79th Street Chicago, IL 60652
http://www.chicagoautism.org/#sf

When you arrive at Bogan High School, please enter through the solid orange parking lot door located on Springfield Avenue (east side of the building) and report to the registration table.

2 Courses offered in Spanish this year!
CPDU CREDITS OFFERED FREE FOR EDUCATORS AND PROFESSIONALS- YOU MUST REGISTER!!

Autism Awareness Month: 7 Autism Events You Don’t Want to Miss.

Aside

April Autism Awareness MonthApril welcomes spring and Autism Awareness Month.  In recent news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1 in 68 American children have Autism and that number is expected to grow. In fact, Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S. Below are some upcoming  events and workshops that will help you understand Autism and parent advocacy.

Chicagoland Autism Connection

2014 “Spring Fling for Autism Awareness” Resource Fair
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Time: 8:00 AM-12:30 PM Chicago, IL
Bogan Computer Technical High School
3939 West 79th Street Chicago, IL 60652
http://www.chicagoautism.org/#sf

Autism Awareness Month Sensory Friendly Movie.

Saturday, April 5, 2014
Time: 11 AM–2 PM
810 Main Street, Highland, IL, United States

Sensory friendly movies have their lights up, sound turned down and audience members are welcome to move about and make noise. Regular concessions are also available. For more information call the UCP Heartland center for autism: 618-288-2218. To purchase tickets online or download a social script for going to the Lory please visit http://www.thelorytheater.com/autism-awareness-month-sensory-friendly-movie/

Easter Seals
Autism Awareness Event: Open House

Tue, April 8, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Easter Seals, Barney Drive, Joliet, IL, United States
Please contact Valerie Lentz with any questions at 815-927-5465

Family Resource Center on Disabilities

Navigating the IEP Process (Registration Required)
Time: 10 AM-1 PM
Saturday, April 12, 2014
11 E. Adams St. Suite 1002, Chicago, IL 60603
https://frcd.org/workshop_posts/test-workshop/

Autism Awareness Egg Hunt & Fun Activities

Saturday, April 12,2014
Time:1pm – 3pm
Kiwanis Park Road, Charleston, IL,
This event is for all children with autism and their siblings wish autism.
For more information please contact: Cheryl Sowers at cherylsowers@ctfillinois.org 217-348-3869 x206

Autism Society of Illinois/ CU Autism Network
Safety, Resource & Fun Fair

Time: 11:30 AM
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Hessel Park in Champaign, IL
http://www.autismillinois.org/events/event/autism-society-of-illinois-cu-autism-network-safety-resource-fun-fair/

Family Resource Center on Disabilities

Transition Series: Moving On: Life in the Community
Time: 10 AM-1 PM
Saturday, April 26, 2014
11 E. Adams St. Suite 1002, Chicago, IL 60603
https://frcd.org/workshop_posts/transition-plans-roadmaps-to-the-future/

 

.