News & Resources for North Dakota Parents & Professionals |
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Launch My Life
Transition Workshops
January 23, January 30, & February 13
Life Launch is a three-session series for youth and young adults with disabilities and their parents, presented by Pathfinder Services of ND's North Dakota Secondary Transition Project.
In these workshops, you will:
- Learn about Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Centers for Independent Learning (CILs)
- Get information for accessing the supports and services you need
- Hear stories of people with disabilities who are living the lives they choose
- Leave with next steps for adult life, career planning and job support
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 Introducing our new Family Support Specialist / Experienced Parent Program Director My name is Mistie Boully and I have recently accepted the Family Support Specialist position, as well the Experienced Parent Program Director position, with Pathfinder Services of ND.
I was first introduced to Pathfinder several years ago when I served as a Board member. I sat on the board as a parent of a child with special needs. While trying to navigate the world of special education and IEPs I gained a great respect for the work and passion that happens at Pathfinder Services of ND.
My family and I moved to ND 6 ½ years ago where I started working for Child Care Aware of ND as a Parent Services Specialist where I was able to help families around the state find child care while also helping to maintain a statewide data base. In the past I have also worked as a Child Care Center Director, taught preschool, and owned my own in home childcare program in Idaho.
I am excited to be a part of the team here at Pathfinder Services of ND and equally excited to learn more about the ways I can help and serve children in our state.
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Farewell Note from Cassie
Hello and Farewell,
It is with mixed emotions that I say farewell to my co-workers and friends at Pathfinder Services of ND. I have enjoyed my time here and learned so much from not only my fellow staff, but many great people and agencies across ND. During this time however, I have discovered that my heart is truly in the early childhood world and I have decided to return to my roots.
I will forever be grateful for my time with Pathfinder Services of ND. The passion and motivation to support families across ND by the people at Pathfinder Services is inspiring and I know everyone here will continue to do great things.
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2019. May it be a year of fresh starts and new beginnings. Here's to hoping it is your best year yet!
Cassie
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Would you like support through the early intervention process?
Follow the link below to get support or to refer a parent to the program.
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 Library Focus
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Different... Not Less
by Temple Grandin, PhD
This book is a compilation of success stories from adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Each shares what helped them during their childhood and young lives that made them the independent adults they are today.
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 Cups of Kindness Winter Fundraiser Come and join us for our "Cups of Kindness" seasonal fundraiser for Pathfinder Services of ND! Proceeds go to support our mission of helping North Dakota children and youth with learning differences and challenges.
"Cups of Kindness" is a very special kind of fundraiser for Pathfinder Services of ND. It is unique because we are selling one of a kind ceramic mugs that have been individually decorated by the children and students that we serve. The cups have been adorned with designs of what kindness means in their hearts. These cups will be filled with a delicious meal from our sponsors, so you will enjoy a great meal, in an original collectible cup, while supporting us in our mission, all at once!
Our First Event will be on January 10 between the hours of 11am-2pm. Panera Bread will be sponsoring our first Cups of Kindness event.
Events will be located in the Town and Country Center Trinity break room. (Just past our office, suite 42).
For more information:
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News from US Department of Education
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 Understanding the Every Student Succeeds Act: A Parents' Guide to the Nation's Landmark Education Law The Department of Education recently released a new parents' guide for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Federal education law. This guide aims to help parents understand the flexibility provided to States and school districts in ESSA.
Get the guide here:
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 Early Childhood |
 ND Early Childhood Awareness Day You are invited to the ND Early Childhood Awareness Day on January 11, 2019. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CT in the Memorial Hall and Legislative Hall of the Capitol Building in Bismarck. Participants will include early childhood agencies and advocates. Their audience will be legislators, public officials, lobbyists, and the general public.
The goals of ND Early Childhood Awareness Day are:
- To provide an opportunity for all early childhood entities and advocates in ND to build awareness of early childhood issues that impact the well-being of ND families.
- To help policymakers understand the importance of proposed early childhood legislation through personal visits with early childhood advocates.
- To promote a unified voice for early childhood policymakers and the general public.
- To serve as a networking opportunity for early childhood advocates and agencies.
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 Elementary Students |
Homework Anxiety: What You Need to Know
Does your child seem to spend more time worrying about homework than actually doing it? Homework anxiety can eat up a lot of time and energy. Stress or anxiety can block learning by shutting down the parts of the brain that need to do the work. Homework anxiety can start in the earliest years of grade school. It can affect anyone, but it can be an especially big issue for kids with learning and attention issues.
Find out why some kids get so anxious about homework, and what parents can do to help.
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 Youth & Young Adults |
 Rethinking College Rethinking College is a 25-minute film produced by Think College that explores the growing movement to include students with intellectual disability in higher education. Through the perspectives of parents, educators, advocates, policy leaders, and (most importantly) students, this film illustrates how colleges and universities can provide a setting for all students to grow, learn, and build toward better futures. This film was made by Think College, a national project based at the ICI. You can stream the movie for free on the Think College website.
Watch Rethinking College here:
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 Training Opportunities & Upcoming Events |
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Event
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When
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Where
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Cost
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Link
| APPy Hour : Take Control of Your New Year's Resolutions - Apps to Track Habits, Get Reminders, and Stay Healthy (PACER Webinar)
| Jan 8
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Online
| Free | More Info | Self-Care Strategies for Families with Children with Disabilities (CADRE Webinar)
| Jan 9
12:00 pm to 1:15 pm | Online
| Free | More Info | Cups of Kindness - Pathfinder Fundraiser
| Jan 10
11:00 am to 2:00 pm | Town & Country Center
Trinity Break Room
1015 S Broadway
Minot, ND
| Varies | More Info | ND Early Childhood Awareness Day
| Jan 11
8:00 am to 1:30 pm | Memorial Hall and Legislative Hall
Capitol Building
600 E Boulevard Ave dept 110
Bismarck, ND
| Free | More Info | Sibshop - Fargo
| Jan 12
10:00 am to 1:00 pm | Anne Carlsen Office
4152 30th Ave S, Ste #102
Fargo, ND
| $10 | More Info | An Evening with Dr. Temple Grandin
| Jan 17
5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | DoubleTree by Hilton
825 East Beaton Dr
West Fargo, ND
| $60 | More Info | Self-Advocates Find Empowerment Training (NDCPD)
| Jan 17
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Carlson Library
2801 32nd Ave S
Fargo, ND
| -- | More Info | Life Launch: The Road to a Good Life (Pathfinder Workshop)
| Jan 23
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | TBA
| Free | More Info | Life Launch: The Road to Careers and Employment (Pathfinder Workshop)
| Jan 30
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | TBA
| Free | More Info |
All listed times are in Central Time.
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Pathfinder Services of ND
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The contents of this newsletter were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H328M110021. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
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