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The Why_ What_ and How of the Special Education Evaluation Process - Pathfinder Webinar
Webinar - The Why, What, and How of the Special Education Evaluation Process

Pathfinder Services of ND is providing a series of webinars for parents and educators that focus on the special education process implemented in North Dakota schools.

On April 25, please join us for the second in our webinar series, "The Why, What, and How of the Special Education Evaluation Process". This interactive webinar will provide participants with answers to question such as: 
  • Why is a special education evaluation completed? 
  • What are the key components of an accurate, individualized, and comprehensive special education evaluation? 
  • How are the Individuals with Education Act (IDEA) evaluation requirements embedded within the North Dakota special education evaluation process?
The webinar will be presented on April 25, 2018, at 3:30pm.

For more information and to register, please refer to our website.
News from the Department of Education
US Department of Education logo
Department of Education Issues Q&A on Free Appropriate Public Education following Supreme Court Decision

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District Re-1, which clarified the scope of the free appropriate public education (FAPE) requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

In this decision, the court held that "to meet its substantive obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a school must offer [a child] an IEP [individualized education program] reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances."

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has released of a 9-page Question and Answer (Q&A) document addressing the Endrew F. decision. OSERS has issued this Q&A document to provide parents and other stakeholders information on the issues addressed in Endrew F. and the impact of the Court's decision on the implementation of IDEA.

Read the Q&A here:

April 
2018
In This Issue
Quick Links
Library Spotlight
Everybody Is Different cover
Everybody Is Different
by Fiona Bleach

This book is specially designed to give answers to the many questions of brothers and sisters of young people on the autistic spectrum. As well as explaining the characteristics of autism, it is full of helpful suggestions for making family life more comfortable for everyone concerned.
Pathfinder Services of ND - Experienced Parent Program
Experienced Parent
Program

Experienced Parents provide support services to other families through one on one conversation, group activities, planning meetings, facilitated parent connections, discussions with services providers, and more.

Learn more:

Getting Them Off to a Good Start
Early Childhood Education From Birth to Age 7
A baby and a young boy playing with toys
Learn the Signs, Act Early -  Developmental Milestones Checklists

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child's development. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. The CDC has created a site that offers checklists of developmental milestones for ten different age groups (2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years). Each checklist notes 'What Most Children Do at this Age' and 'What You Can Do for Your Child' at that age.

Visit the site here to find the checklist for your child:

Raising Elementary Students
5 steps written on a Post It note
Five Options, 1-2-3

There are times when parents and schools simply do not agree on some issue affecting a child's education. They may try informal approaches to resolving the conflict, such as reviewing and revising the child's IEP or holding a facilitated IEP meeting (an approach emerging in the field). When these don't result in agreement on what represents an appropriate education for a child, the law (IDEA) provides several approaches that parents and schools can use to help resolve the dispute.


This information in Spanish | Esta información en español: http://www.parentcenterhub.org/resolver-disputas/

Life With Teens
CLA - Community Leadership Academy
Community Leadership Academy Registration

Independence Inc. is launching Community Leadership Academy (CLA). The program provides an interactive training experience for people with disabilities interested in enhancing personal leadership skills and creating change in the community. 

CLA is comprised of six sessions. Training curriculum will focus on important topics such as board functions, community engagement, professionalism, disability history, advocacy, and networking. Through this initiative, participants will gain the knowledge and confidence needed to effectively serve on non-profit boards, government committees, and coalitions.

They are currently accepting applications for Summer 2018 enrollment. For more information and to apply, visit their website:

Disability Spotlight
Autism with puzzle background
April is Autism Awareness Month!

April is designated Autism Awareness Month, and to recognize this we would like to highlight a few of the autism awareness activities going on across the state this month.



Light It Up Blue 2018
Hosted by BisMan Autism Families Community
   
When: April 7, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Horizon Middle School, 500 Ash Coulee Dr,  Bismarck, ND
   
Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness Month! This is a FREE community event where kids and families of all ages are invited to come out and celebrate. Inflatables, face painting, informational booths with fun games, and so much more! https://www.facebook.com/events/658945741129499/ 

Minot Walk for Autism
hosted by Caleb's Clubhouse

When: April 7, 10:00 am
Where: Oak Park, 1300 4th Avenue NW, Shelter #7, Minot, ND 

Join Minot Center for Pediatric Therapy and Caleb's Clubhouse for the 1st annual Minot Autism Walk. Start a team, join a team, or come on your own. Either way, this is going to be a fun family event, connecting and raising autism awareness.

Autism Awareness & Spring Carnival
hosted by Dakota Family Solutions

When: April 10, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm 
Where: The Williston ARC, 822 18th St E, Williston, ND

This event is designed for families of children with autism. 

Autism Awareness Evening Event 
sponsored by Anne Carlsen Center

When: April 12, 10:00 am
Where: Moorhead High School Cafeteria, 2300 4th Ave S,  Moorhead, MN 

This event is free and features a presentation, "Innovations, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Finding Solutions to Difficult Behaviors". 

AuSome Evening 2018
hosted by North Dakota Autism Center

When: April 27, 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: DoubleTree West Fargo, 825 E. Beaton Drive,  West Fargo, ND

The AuSome Evening is a business formal attire event that is designed to motivate, rejuvenate, and inspire our guests! Enjoy an adult-night-out with dinner, a program speaker, games & silent auction while benefitting the AuSome Kids Day Program. 

 
For additional information on autism spectrum disorders, head to our resource page on autism spectrum disorder here: View Resources

Training Opportunities & Upcoming Events

TrainingWhenWhereCostLink
Free Early Development Screenings from Anne Carlsen Center
April 6
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
TNT Fitness
2800 Main Ave
Fargo, ND
FreeMore Info
Minot Walk For Autism
April 7
10:00 am
Oak Park
1300 4th Avenue NW, Shelter #7
Minot, ND
FreeMore Info
Light It Up Blue 2018
April 7
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Horizon Middle School
500 Ash Coulee Dr
Bismarck, ND
FreeMore Info
Autism Awareness & Spring Carnival
April 10
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
The Williston ARC
822 18th St E
Williston, ND
--More Info
2018 Mind Matters Conference
April 10-11Holiday Inn Fargo
3803 13th Ave South
Fargo, ND
VariesMore Info
Autism Awareness Evening Event
April 12
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Moorhead High School Cafeteria
2300 4th Ave S
Moorhead, MN
FreeMore Info
Assistive Technology that Supports Independent Living for Young Adults with Disabilities (PACER Webinar)
April 12
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Online
FreeMore Info
2018 Early Childhood Education Spring Conference
April 12-13Baymont Inn & Suites
2611 Old Red Trail NW
Mandan, ND
VariesMore Info
Getting and Keeping the First Job (PACER Webinar)
April 24
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Online
FreeMore Info
50th Anniversary NDRA Reading Conference
April 26-28Legacy High School
3400 E Calgary Ave
Bismarck, ND
VariesMore Info
AuSome Evening 2018
April 27
5:30 pm to 10:00 pm
DoubleTree West Fargo
825 E. Beaton Drive
West Fargo, ND
VariesMore Info

All listed times are in Central Time.
Pathfinder Services of ND | 701-837-7500 | info@psnd.co | http://pathfinder-nd.org
Town & Country Center, 1015 S. Broadway, Suite 42
Minot, ND 58701