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School Age Matters E-Newsletter
September 2018
How to Organize Your Child’s IEP Binder
By Amanda Morin
Making an IEP binder is a great way to keep information organized and at the ready when you need it. An IEP binder can help you prepare for IEP meetings and stay up to date on your child’s progress. This powerful tool can also help you communicate and collaborate with teachers and your child’s IEP team. Here’s what you need to get started:
A three-ring binder
Six tabbed section dividers
A three-hole punch
Organizing an IEP binder with your child’s evaluation reports, IEP, report cards and other paperwork may
sound like a lot of work. But this guide walks you through what to gather and where to put it.
Start With the IEP Binder Checklist
Print this IEP binder checklist and put it in the very front of your binder. The checklist has details about what you can put in each of the tabbed sections in your IEP binder.
The checklist has another very important purpose: You can update it as you add
new paperwork. As your binder grows, this checklist will help you see what you’ve
updated and when you updated it.
Label the Tabbed Section Dividers
Label the tabbed dividers for each of the sections of the
checklist: Communication, Evaluations, IEP, Report Cards/Progress
Notes, Sample Work and Behavior. Keep in mind that if you’re just starting the
special education process, you may not have much to put in each of these
sections yet. Over time, here’s what you’ll be putting in each section—and why:
Joanie Elfers
School Age Matters
Coordinator
Tab 1: Communication
Print and fill out a school contact sheet and put it in the front of this section. The contact sheet will help you
quickly find and reach out to key people with questions or concerns.
Next is the parent-school communication log. Print one out and use it to help you keep track of
meetings, phone calls, emails and other important interactions you have with your child’s teacher and school.
As you fill out each entry, be sure to note what was discussed and what was decided.
The rest of this section is for letters and important emails. Put the newest ones on top, behind the
communication log. Why keep printed copies of emails? Having a paper version in your binder means you’ll
have it on hand for meetings, so you can easily find and reference what was said.
As you file letters and emails in this section, remember to include a brief summary of each one in the
communication log.
Tab 2: Evaluations
Start this section with the request or referral for evaluation. After that put in your consent to evaluate. Keeping these two documents together can help you see if the school completes the evaluation in a timely manner.
Next comes the school-based evaluation report. (It’s handy to have this in the same section as your request for evaluation, so you can match up each request with the evaluation results.) If your child has had
a private evaluation, include that here too.
Down the road, your child might have another school-based evaluation. If so, file it as a trio that includes the new request or referral and the new consent form. Put this new set of documents on top of the previous set.
Also, in this section, you may want to consider flagging key information with paper clips or sticky notes.
Come up with a system that can help you quickly find what you want to discuss with the IEP team.
Tab 3: IEP
It’s a good idea to start this section of your IEP binder with a copy of your rights and procedural safeguards the school gives you. That’s because whenever you go to an IEP meeting, the IEP team will offer another copy. It’s important information. But if you show the school you already have it, you can avoid taking home another big stack of paper!
In this section, file your child’s IEP and the prior written notice for each meeting related to the IEP. Many schools attach meeting notes to the prior written notice form. Keep those notes here as well as your own notes from the IEP meeting.
The IEP needs to be updated annually. But you may have more than one meeting a year. And if changes are
made to the IEP, put the newest plan and prior written notice on top, behind the procedural safeguards.
Download all IEP binder resources (View / Download). Click here to read the full article
Saturday, September 29
8 AM - 12 PM: Outdoor Sessions (Lindner Park, 2726 Cypress Way
Cincinnati, OH 45212)
9 AM - 3 PM: Indoor Sessions (DSAGC Office, 4623 Wesley Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45212)
*sessions last 10 minutes
Join us for a FREE photography event! This is an opportunity for you
and your family to get pictures taken by a professional local
photographer. You receive all the photos digitally at no cost to you.
Click here to sign up!
**Sign-ups close on September 23rd!
If sign-ups are full, contact Emma Ganiban to be placed on
the waiting list: [email protected]
Fearless Photography!
Sunday, December 2 | 1-4pm Oasis Conference Center, 902 Loveland-
Miamiville Rd, Loveland, OH 45140
The Down Syndrome Association of Greater
Cincinnati celebrates the holiday season every
December by bringing together our families for a
visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts,
holiday decorating, gifts and more.
It’s also a time to honor individuals who have
championed our mission and who have served as a
constant source of celebration of individuals with
Down syndrome. This is a free event, but families
that wish to attend must register.
Holiday Party
Register
Embracing Advocacy 101 Webinar
Friday, September 21 | View at your own leisure
Presented by Mariclare Hulbert, DSAGC Outreach Coordinator and members of the DSAGC Government Affairs Committee
In this webinar, you will learn about government advocacy best practices, easy ways to stay up to date about
legislation that may affect you or your loved ones, and how to build positive relationships with the elected
officials that represent you. This is a great educational webinar for parents, self-advocates, siblings, and
anyone who cares about advocating for people with Down syndrome.
Accommodations and Modifications in the Classroom Setting
Sunday, October 21 | 2-3:30pm
DSAGC Hatton Foundation Community Room
Presented by Caitlin Smith, Intervention Specialist,
Kings School District
The presentation will focus on three topics:
What accommodations and modifications
terms mean and the difference between them
The kinds of work for different types of
learners
How you can advocate for things that your child
will need in the school setting
**Bring along your child’s IEP for an interactive discussion to share what accommodations/modifications have
worked.
Caitlin is going into her eighth year of teaching this year. Her and her husband have decided to start their
family by adopting a child with Down syndrome, and have been in the process for two years. Caitlin serves as
an Intervention Specialist by trade, but has also served in an advocate role for families of children with
disabilities. She is involved in disability ministry within her church and is always finding ways to become more
involved with the disability community.
21 Series
Register
Register
Empowerment Classes Gymnastics (ages 6-12)
October 3-November 28 (no class on 10/31 or 11/21) | Wednesdays 6:15-7pm
Powell Crosley YMCA, 9601 Winton Road Cincinnati, OH 45231
Instructed by Kristin Gallo, YMCA
This beginner’s gymnastics series will focus on movement, education, skills on the vault, balancing skills on
the beam, and other beginning gymnastic skills. It will be led by two gymnastics coaches at the Powell
Crosley YMCA. There will also be up to 4 volunteers with experience in gymnastics who will be present to
assist the coaches and children.
Cheerleading (ages 7-18 or up to age 22 if still in school)
Practices will be held in October/November.. Exact
times and dates TBD
Coached by Debbie Schroeder (former Ben-Gal),
Joanie Elfers (DSAGC Coordinator) and Dianna
Rafferty Coley (former cheerleader)
Join our squad and learn the basics of cheerleading,
as well as a dance routine, which will be performed all
over the Greater Cincinnati area! After practice
sessions conclude, we perform at several high school
basketball half-time shows with the high school
cheerleaders. These performances are optional and
Coach Schroeder will announce them at a later date.
Each cheerleader will receive their own set of pom-
poms that they get to keep. They will also be provided
with a uniform, which will be turned back at the end of
the season.
Holiday Crafting (ages 16 & up)
Sunday, November 11 | 1-3pm
DSAGC Hatton Foundation Community Room
Join us for an afternoon of preparing gifts for families attending DSAGC Holiday Party! This is a great
opportunity for adults with Down syndrome to give back and have fun at the same time.
Register
DSAGC Family Resources
Support at Every Age
Community Participation Fund
Hospital Care Packages
Community Groups
Our School Age Matters Coordinator, Joanie Elfers, is available to assist parents and help provide direction
as they learn about the IEP process, effective teaching strategies and making social connections. She can
serve as an advocate at any school or IEP meetings your child has throughout the years. She can be reached
Joanie and our Outreach Coordinator, Mariclare Hulbert, are available to deliver “Peer Presentations” in the
classroom setting to enhance both the student and teacher’s understanding of Down syndrome. You can also
access our “More Alike Than Different” video here.
We have a limited amount of scholarships available for individuals with Down syndrome to participate in
community activities (such as camps, soccer, swim lessons) and therapies. There is also funding available
for parents to attend educational meetings or conferences. We pay half of the request (up tp $200 per
year). You must live within our 12 county area to be eligible. Please contact Lisa Steele
at [email protected] for more information.
Is your child (18 years and younger), with Down syndrome, spending three or more days in the hospital? The
Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati would love to support you during this difficult time. Click
here to receive a Hospital Care Package.
The vision of the ‘Community Groups’ is to provide support, connections, information, and be a resource to
families while creating a warm, welcoming, empathetic environment. A Community Group is designed to
create opportunities for families that have children with Down syndrome to network and share common
interests, concerns, challenges, and information.
Each Community Group is considered an extension of the DSAGC, but autonomy and decision making
authority is given to the groups so they can effectively meet their unique purpose and goals for serving
families and individuals in their community. Click here to see a full list of Community Groups.
DSAGC Teen Club: Serving teens ages 13 - 18 through social opportunities and networking
Research Studies
$5.7 million NIH Research Funding to
the Thomas Center and Colleagues The Thomas Center for Down Syndrome at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is proud to
announce receipt of two federal research grants supporting children with Down syndrome. Both grants were
awarded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Anna Esbensen, PhD, Research Director of the Thomas Center, received a 5-year, $2.6 million grant to
continue her work on evaluating cognitive outcome measures for children 6-17 years with Down syndrome. If
you are interested in more information, please contact us as 513-803-3641 or email Emily Hoffman at
[email protected] (see information flyer below). Dr Esbensen is also collaborating with Angela
Thurman, PhD, at the University of California-Davis MIND Institute, on a 5-year, $3.1 million grant to evaluate
language outcomes in children 2-8 years with Down syndrome. More information will be coming soon on how
to participate in this project.
Dr. Susan Wiley, co-director of the Thomas Center for Down Syndrome, also partnered with Drs Raouf Amin
and Stacey Ishman from the Divisions of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine/Sleep Medicine and Pediatric
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. They received funding to expand
their current study on the neurocognitive and school performance effects of removal of adenoids and tonsils
for snoring to focus on children with Down syndrome. This study will enroll children with Down syndrome
undergoing tonsil and adenoid removal for snoring or sleep apnea. This study includes 7 centers across the
U.S. (Philadelphia, Cleveland, Dallas, Boston, Ann Arbor, Norfolk, and Cincinnati). If you are interested in
more information, please contact us at 513-636-0607 or email Belinda Carter at [email protected].
These projects could not have been funded without the strong collaboration between families, the DSAGC
and the Thomas Center. We are honored to work in a city with so many dedicated families, a strong Down
syndrome association, and a wonderful partnership in advancing research to support positive outcomes for
individuals with Down syndrome.
This 90-minute webinar provides with practical tips and techniques for managing challenging
behaviors in community, residential and educational settings. Topics to be covered include:
Defining Behavior Modification, Behavior Management, and Positive Supports
Positive Behavioral Supports & Functional Assessment Overview
Behavior and Medical Conditions (physiological causes of behavior challenges, barriers to treatment)
Practical, Tried and True Methods for Responding to Challenging Behaviors.
Effective De-escalation techniques.
Dates and times to choose from:
Friday Sept 14, 2018 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday Sept 15, 2018 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY – ONLY $19.00
All confirmed participants will receive a certificate of participation documenting 1.5 contact hours.
Payments for all Seneca webinars are securely processed through TicketTailor using PayPal, Visa,
Mastercard, AMEX, or Discover. Electronic invoicing is available when purchasing 5 or more slots.
Please visit http://buytickets.at/senecainstitute for a full listing of our upcoming webinars.
If you can’t find a day or time that fits into your schedule, just let us know and we can set one up
when it is convenient for you.
Community Opportunities The DSAGC does not endorse, recommend or support any particular regime,
therapy, activity, camp or treatment. We welcome articles and information from
parents, professionals and other interested parties.
CHROMOSOME 21
September 28th, 2018, 6:00pm
SCPA-Mayerson Theatre
Vitória is a girl like all the others. She goes to college, she plays the piano and practices swimming. The
only difference is that she has one more chromosome and this caused her to be born with Down Syn-
drome. In her path, she crosses with the dreamy Afonso, a boy without Down syndrome. Their involvement
awakens the girl’s independence and passion, and in society a questioning about the involvement of this
“couple out of standards.”
Click here to learn more and to purchase your tickets!
Booster sessions are intended to provide information on the transition from school to adult
life for youth with disabilities. Families, individuals with disabilities, educators, and other
professionals are invited to attend these sessions at no charge.
Booster sessions are two hours long and take place in the evening.
DISABILITY TECH FESTIVAL CINCINNATI
Our inaugural one day disability technology festival will be held on October 15th, 2018 in Cincinnati
at the American Sign Museum!
Several short Ignite-style presentations/demos, disability technology expert sessions, "innovation-
storming", food trucks, games, massage, and whatever else we dream up.
Come join us for a day of fun, learning, collaboration, and inspiration in the most unique laid back
environment....this is not a typical conference.
Or, drum roll please, you can attend by web or Facebook Live! You'll miss the in person event but
get to see most of the content.
This event was designed specifically for:
- Provider agency employees
- Case managers
- Guardians/family members
- Other disability professionals
- Self-advocates
- Anyone interested in disability services
LOCATION:
American Sign Museum
1330 Monmouth Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45225
DATE & TIME:
October 15th, 2018
9:00am - 5:00pm
Click here for more
information and to register!
September Calendar
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2 3 4 5
Team
Conner
Buddy Walk
Fundraiser
6
Butler/
Warren -
Ladies Night
Out
7 8
Buddy Walk
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
OWN (ages 18
& up)
AAFN -
Meeting
16 17 18
Westside -
Moms Night
Out @
SOMM
19 20 21
21 Series -
Embracing
Advocacy
101 Webinar
22
23 24 25 26 27 28
Golf Outing
for Jaxie
Baby
29
CGL Meet Up
Fearless
Photography!
30
Butler/Warren
- Fall Family
October Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
Healthy Relationships (ages 18 - 30)
3
Gymnastics
(ages 6 - 12)
4
5
Eastside -
Oktoberfest
6
7 8 9
Healthy
Relationships
(ages 18 -
30)
10
Gymnastics
(ages 6 - 12)
11
12 13
Keys for Little
Ones (ages 0 - 2)
Keys for Little
Ones (ages 3 - 5)
AAFN - Harvest
Fest
14 15 16
Healthy
Relationships
(ages 18 -
30)
17
Gymnastics
(ages 6 - 12)
18
Early Matters
Pogo Play!
19 20
Keys for Little
Ones (ages 0 - 2)
Keys for Little
Ones (ages 3 - 5)
Eastside - Fall
Fun on the Farm
21
21 Series –
Accommoda
tions and
Modification
s in the
Classroom
Setting
22 23
Healthy
Relationships
(ages 18 -
30)
24
Gymnastics
(ages 6 - 12)
25
Halloween
Party (ages 18
& up)
26 27
Keys for Little
Ones (ages 0 - 2)
Keys for Little
Ones (ages 3 - 5)
28 29 30
Healthy
Relationships
(ages 18 -
30)
31