The Special Needs Newsletter – August

 

Disability.gov

If you've tried to look for information on government agency websites, you know how confusing it is.  The U.S. Department of Labor launched Disability.gov to connect those with special needs with disability information from 22 federal agencies and state and local governments.  Look up info on benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, health, housing, technology and transportation.

 

One Place for Special Needs

The disability information network has a new FREE local resource directory of services and programs.   You can do a quick search for those who make house calls and offer employment to those with disabilities.  Disability groups can search for speakers and those who offer meeting space for support groups.  Parents can also recommend programs and services for other families.

 

Back to School links

It seems like we were just looking forward to summer and already it's almost over.  Here are some Back to School links to help your child make a smooth transition.

 

Accommodations – Over 100 web links on classroom accommodations including articles, strategies and visual supports.

 

Back to school social story – Links to social stories, school success tips and preparing your child and school.

 

Graphic organizers – Nearly 40 organizers (Word or pdf) in English and Spanish for time lines, predicting, writing, math and more.  From Pomperaug Regional School District 15

 

How to prepare for the first day of college – In this video, Watchmojo tells you the top 10 things to do at the beginning of the school year.

 

School drills – Links to videos, lessons and other activities for fire, earthquake and tornado drills.

 

School rules – Links to lessons, social stories and other activities on many different rules for bus, classroom, cafeteria and more.

 

Transitioning to middle school – Series of links to help your child make the transition to middle school

 

Transitioning to high school – Links to help your teen make the transition to high school

 

See the full newsletter along with Accommodations reminder t-shirts for tactile, visual, kinesthetic and auditory learners.