PA Education for All Coalition Annual Meeting
Saturday, February 2, 2008 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
at all three PaTTAN offices across the state. PEAC is a partnership of parents, educators, related professionals and others who believe that children of all backgrounds and abilities should be successfully educated together in their neighborhood schools within the general education curriculum.  Watch For Information: http://www.paedforall.org

Down Syndrome Update: What's New in 2008

February 6, 2008,  6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dr. William Cohen, director of the Down Syndrome Center of Western PA, will discuss the new guidelines that are being developed by members of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest group, as well as the new endeavors that seek to improve the health and well being of individuals with Down syndrome.  ACHIEVA, 711 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15203 – For more information, call 412-995-5000.

"Extended School Year --Southwestern Local Task Force Monthly Meeting 

February 7, 2008,  10:00 AM -- IU 1 Central Office.  Intermediate Unit Dr., Coal Center, PA  n 15423 l 1-800-328-648  n  ext. 205  -- www.iu1.org

To all organizations and parents: Please post this notice and pass along the information to anyone you can think of who may benefit from attending these meeting.  The SWLTF is here to serve to protect the rights of students with special needs; encourage cooperation among public and private agencies; accentuate the positive; and act as a catalyst to enhance collaboration in education,  This LTF needs PARENTS!!  Please consider attending. 

In case of Inclement weather please call 1-800-328-6482 x 205 or check the website www.iu1.org for cancellations. 

State Task Force: 1-800-360-7282, Parent Information: 724-942-0209

 

All Abilities Camp Fair 2008, presented by ABOARD at The Mall at Robinson, 100 Robinson Drive, Pittsburgh, PA  15205—  

February 9, 2008,  10:00 AM 3:00 PM –Camps for typical children and those with disabilities, Inclusion friendly camps, Full and half day programs, School and preschool age camps, Information regarding extended school year (ESY).  Some of exhibitors include: Baierl Family YMCA, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Children’s Institute, Computing Workshop, Milestones Community Healthcare, Inc., SPEAK Program, UCP Kids, The Watson Institute, Wesley Spectrum School Therapeutic ESY, Wesley Spectrum Services, Family & Child Development Center,  Therapeutic Creative Arts Program, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.  For more information or if interested in being an exhibitor please contact: 

Advisory Board on Autism & Related Disorders, Inc., 1-800-827-9385 or e-mail:  support@aboard.org  

Health Care Needs of Adults with Down Syndrome 

February 11, 2008, 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Arc of Greater Pittsburgh, Beaver Office, Stone Point Landing, 500 Market Street, Ste 200A, West Bridgewater, PA  15009 - Presenter: Peter Bolova, MD, Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Bolova will discuss the specific health care issues of adults with Down syndrome, including sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, obesity, heart disease and respiratory problems.  Participants will become familiar with the Down Syndrome Preventive Medical Check List.  Act 48 credits available.  There is a $10 processing fee. Please bring a check payable to Temple University.  RSVP: (724) 775-1602 x10 or Email: Karen Vodenichar-- kvodenichar@achieva.info 

 

Linking Language, Literacy and AAC: Expanding and Advancing Abilities and Interests Now for Success Later 

February 12, 2008, 6:30  to 8:30 PM --“What we say can be written and what is written can be read.” Words make sentences and sentences make stories. Making this connection is the first step down the exciting road to literacy! This workshop is a 2-hour introduction to understanding the major barriers for the AAC user and ways to melt them away using AAC tools. Educators and parents are both responsible for literacy progress and are both welcome to this presentation. Presented by Linda Doernberg, MA, Ed, Reading Specialist. 

ACHIEVA, 711 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15203 -- To register contact Kathy Lesko – 412-995-5000 x509 or email klesko@achieva.info 

 

Gaskin Settlement Agreement Advisory Panel Public Hearing 

February 15, 2008, 10:00 AM– 2:00 PM - The Advisory Panel wants to hear from parents, teachers, special education directors, people with disabilities and other stakeholders.--   Mellon Independence Center,  (formerly Lit Brothers Building), 701 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

 

Speaking times will be allotted on a “first come first served” basis.  Speakers do not need to register in advance.  You are invited to submit a written copy of your testimony on the day of the hearing.  Time for each person will be allocated according to the number of people present.  The current agenda may offer each person 5 minutes.  Please feel free to expand on any comments in your written summary.   If you cannot attend the hearing but wish to submit written testimony, please send it to Paula Quinn, The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 Waterfront Drive E, Homestead, PA. 15120 or electronically to Paula.Quinn@aiu3.net and mark it:  Attn. Cathy Taschner -- Gaskin Advisory Panel. 

You may also submit testimony directly to Cathy Taschner: inclusion@dejazzd.com. Questions?  Call Marianne Roche at 215-805-4527. 

Display tables will be available for advocacy organizations to offer their materials. For a map and to obtain directions: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=&city=Philadelphia&state=PA&zipcode=19106%2d1538&country=US&geodiff=1 

There are parking lots around the perimeter of the block. 701 Market is adjacent to the SEPTA stop at the Gallery, and on the SEPTA bus route.  


Focus on the IEP – “Ask the Advocate” Night – Pittsburgh Local Task Force on the Right to Education 

February 26, 2008, 6:00 PM, at Achieva, 711 Bingham St., South Side, Pittsburgh.  All meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the Month.  

 

PA Department of Education Annual Conference-  Indicators for Success: Improvement, Performance, and Results 

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 5:00 -8:30 PM

Monday, February 25, 2008, 9:00 AM -  4:30 PM 

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 9:00 AM -  4:30 PM 

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 8:30 AM -  3:30 PM

 

Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania --  Audience: General education and special education administrators and teachers, career and technical education administrators and teachers, preschool administrators and teachers, parents, paraeducators, school psychologists, speech and language pathologists, teachers of the gifted, higher education faculty, and professional development staff are encouraged to attend. This conference offers a range of effective interventions to assist in meeting the needs of all students. The preconference session will provide information on resiliency among children and adults, and the opening keynote will illustrate characteristics of inclusionary schools that are responsive to student diversity. Individual conference sessions will address the follow­ing: collaborative planning and teaching; vocabulary instruction; peer-assisted learning strategies; building number sense; effective writing instruction; writing legally defensible Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); statewide assessments for students with disabilities; student engagement and dropout prevention; effective teaching practices; a university based mentor­ing program for high poverty youth; peer support strategies for vocational and secondary settings; inclu­sion for preschool; preschool practices that ensure learning for all; Response to Intervention in the preschool setting; closing the achievement gap; traumatic brain injury; syndromes in educational settings; access to the core curriculum for students with severe disabilities; universal screening for behavior for elementary and secondary schools; autism; Response to Intervention; higher education policy and reform; 504 Plans; and serving special populations in career and technical education. Informational sessions will cover the following topics: homebound and instruction in the home; Power Teaching; standards aligned math; Athena Classroom; Gaskin update; Elements of Reading; Soar to Success K-2; big ideas in math; Access and IEP Writer; State Personnel Development Grant; Indicators 13 and 14; Query Master for IDEA and NCLB; Saxon Math; Safari Math; and Destination Math. Gifted education sessions will include topics such as twice exceptional; underachieving students who are gifted and talented; and, ways gifted students cope with disabilities. The closing keynote will provide information on creating and sustaining an emotionally safe school environment free from bullying, cyber bullying, and harassment. For details and to register visit:  www.pattan.net. 

 

Indicators for Success: Improvement, Performance, and Results, PA Department of Education Annual Conference

February 24--27, 2008

Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania  

 

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition State Leadership Team invites all interested persons to submit proposals to present at the 7th  Annual Pennsylvania Community on Transition Conference, Building Leadership to Promote Successful Outcomes.

July 23 – 25, 2008

Penn State Conference Center and Hotel - 215 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803-- Proposal Submission Requirements:  Deadline January 18, 2008.  The sponsors of the conference are the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education and the PA Training and Technical Assistance Network, in collaboration with other members of the PA Community on Transition including:  PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Transition State Leadership Team, PA Youth Leadership Network and Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program, The George Washington University.  The primary purpose of this conference is to expand the capacity of schools and community partners in promoting the successful transition of youth/young adults with disabilities to post-school outcomes of employment, post-secondary education and training, community participation and healthy lifestyles.  

Proposal Submission Requirements:  Deadline  January 18, 2008

 

Please forward proposal electronically in Microsoft Word format on this Presentation Proposal Form to paconf@pattan.net.  Please rename and save your document on your computer prior to submission, so that it reflects the title of your presentation.  For Additional Information  Contact  Michael Stoehr -- Phone: 412-826-6864; TTY:  412-826-2338; FAX:  412-826-1964; Email: mstoehr@pattan.net 


.