FETA Group Sacramento MEET & GREET - DATE CHANGE February 6, 2016

The From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA) Group Sacramento, Special Education Survival Guide discussion group meet-up is long overdue!

MEET & GREET

Join other parents and caregivers for an afternoon chat and resources to support the educational rights of students with disabilities.

**DATE & VENUE CHANGE**

Saturday, February 6, 2016
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library7340 24th Street Bypass, Sacramento, CA 95822

A variety of resources will be shared as well as snacks and treats! There is plenty of room to bring your children for this informal meeting and we will have a craft activity. There will not be childcare, so parents will need to keep an eye on the children in the same room.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SHARING: Advocates...Please bring and share information and resources that will be helpful to other parents and advocates. Everyone will have floor time to speak. 

FETA Group also studies and discusses information from "Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy, Special Education Survival Guide" and other special education advocacy books and resources.

Key terms: 
Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Specific Learning Disability (SLD), Supplementary Aids and Services, Transition Services, State Eligibility, Assessment, Highly Qualified Personnel, Child Find, Mandatory Medication Prohibited, Consent, Educational Placement, Evaluation, Independent Education Evaluation (IEE), Individualized Education Programs (IEP), IEP Team, IEP Team Attendance, Measurable Goals, Children who Transfer Schools, Parental Concerns, Due Process, Procedural Safeguards, Discipline...

If you have the book, please select a section that you would like to discuss with the group. 

Check out the FETA Web on Wrightslaw for additional information and related articles on these chapters. http://www.fetaweb.com/expert.htm

We welcome parents who have children with special needs to attend as well as advocates. Unfortunately, due to privacy and to make this a safe sharing space, this meeting is not open to employees or representatives from school districts, CDE, or attorneys representing school districts/CDE. 

There is no cost to attend, other than purchasing the book. 

RSVP on Facebook or by emailing Angie Sutherland at angiesutherland2@yahoo.com | (916) 862-8091 | Blog: http://fetagroup-sacramento.blogspot.com/ | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FETA.Sacramento

We will utilize "Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy, Special Education Survival Guide"

Other books by Wrightslaw

Event on Facebook

Check out the FETA Web on Wrightslaw for additional information and related articles on these chapters. Very helpful! 

Hope to see you there!

FETA Group - Study/Discussion Group - Section 4 Special Education Law - Sunday, October 26, 2014

The From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA) Group Sacramento, Special Education Survival Guide discussion group meet-up is long overdue!

Join other parents and caregivers for an afternoon chat about Special Education Law and how to support the educational rights of our students with disabilities.

**Date Change from October 19 to October 26, 2014**
Sunday, October 26, 2014
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Espresso Metro
2104 11th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95819

We are continuing our study of "Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy, Special Education Survival Guide", Section 4, Special Education Law (chapters 13-20). This section reviews the various statutory and regulatory laws for special education (IDEA, ADA, and NCLB). 

Key terms used in this section:

FETA Group Sacramento - Next Meet-Up is December 8, 2013.

Join FETA (From Emotions to Advocacy) Group, Sacramento - The Special Education Survival Guide discussion group for the next monthly meet-up!

Connect with other PARENTS WHO GET IT!!

Often the most beneficial supports a parent of child who receives special education services can have is getting together with other parents. Parents who understand can help each other by sharing their experiences and giving real life examples that will help others in their situations. 

Join the event on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/449169331855060/

Sunday, December 8, 2014
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Espresso Metro
2104 11th Ave. (at Freeport Blvd.)
Sacramento, CA 95818
Neighborhood: Curtis Park
Map

This group is open to the public. There is no cost to participate other than to buy your own book.



Espresso Metro

Developing a Master Plan For Your Child's Future

Why A Master Plan?

In Chapter 2, we focused on the MASTER PLAN. If you want your child to grow up to be an independent adult, think about what he/she needs to learn before leaving the public school system,

Typical *Transition Plans through the school district often happen too late (age 14-16). Start building towards that plan now! Modify the plan as the child grows and matures.

Whether a child has special needs or not -- this is one of the most important things a parent can do for their child.

You can do this whether or not you are participating in the FETA cohort study group. We will provide some tools below. 

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide, 2nd Edition, by Pam Wright and Pete Wright was published in January 2006 (ISBN: 978-1-892320-09-4, 338 pages, perfect bound, $19.95).

What is a master plan?

A MASTER PLAN is like a strategic plan and generally contains the same types of elements. Many of us follow strategic plans everyday where we work, and we know that we have to in order to be successful in our jobs. Most of us fail to plan in our personal lives. Having a plan with strategies and goals can help our families get to where we want to be in life. Imagine also weaving in long term life plans for your child into your family's master plan. This is different than the status quo, simply going from year to year, thinking about short term annual IEP goals and hoping for the best. 

Wrightslaw refers to the five main components of the master plan:

1. VISION STATEMENT
2. MISSION STATEMENT
3. GOALS
4. STRATEGIES
5. TIMELINES

How to fill in your plan:

Learning More About Your Child's Rights and Disability!

The end of the school year is approaching quickly. I know many of us are cramming to get in an IEP meeting.

Don't panic. Parents, don't let yourself feel rushed, especially about agreeing on a plan that is not right for your child. It is important to be familiar with your child's needs and rights!

Prepare, prepare, prepare by learning more about your child's rights and disability!

Next FETA Group Meeting - Sunday, May 19 - Planned Activity "About Me" Flyer

FETA Group - Sacramento Meeting

Sunday, May 19 (3:00-4:30 pm)

Starbucks, 1401 Alhambra Blvd. (at N Street)

Sacramento, CA

Join us for a special education study and discussion group meeting for parents and caregivers.

 

FETA Group utilizes the Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy, Special Education Survival Guide. We are on Section 2 - Advocacy 101 (chapters 4-7). Check out the FETA Web on Wrightslaw for additional information and related articles on these chapters. Very helpful! http://www.fetaweb.com/101.htm.

PLANNED ACTIVITY: 

About Me Flyer

As a follow up activity to making a master plan for your child's education, we will work on creating an "About Me" flyer, showing strengths, interests, challenges, needs, and strategies for helping your child to be successful. Keep this flyer handy to present to new care providers, teachers, school staff (e.g., yard duty), and school volunteers. 

Did you know that not everyone at school sees the IEP (Individualized Education Plan). It is essential for parents to take the lead in communicating IEP information with all relevant parties. The "About Me" flyer is a quick reference, but make sure the teacher, and any others who work with your child regularly at the school, have a full copy of the IEP and ask to meet with them to review it.

Goals of the activity: Create a tool to promote greater understanding and awareness about your child. Enable individuals who are interacting with or working with your child to better understand and assist them. May be helpful for utilization in social, recreational, family, and healthcare settings, as well as at school.

Great FETA discussion group meeting with awesome parents sharing IEP experiences and encouragement!!

The FETA Group Sacramento recently got together for a truly great meeting.

A few HIGHLIGHTS:

 (1) Being an effective parent advocate = PREPARATION. Always go to the IEP meeting as prepared as possible. If you feel that your child's IEP meeting was rushed, you can meet again with the IEP team. You do not have to sign the IEP document at the meeting. Don't feel pressured. If you have any hesitation, tell your team you need more time to review everything. You also have the right to receive copies of all assessments and IEP goal progress reports to review prior to the meeting so that you are fully prepared for the meeting. Be sure to put your request in writing.

(2) Parents often feel frustrated with a lack of communication about how their child is doing in school. As a parent, be actively involved in monitoring and observing your child's progress. Parents also reported that the more involved they are at school, the better the communication is, as well as (Read more....)

The Informed Advocates Are Here!

November 18, 2012 marks the kickoff Meet & Greet of the very first cohort for FETA Group  Sacramento, a new study and support group for parents, care providers, and others who are advocating for and with students in special education.

This was an informal gathering to get to know members and discuss the format for the group.

To join the group, there is still time. Contact the FETA Group Sacramento organizer, Angie, for more information.

One of the highlights of the meeting was an an activity that brought to focus the role of an advocate and what members view as their adovacy job descriptions.

Location Updated:

Dear Community,

If you're interested in participating in the "From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA) study and discussion group" for parents and care providers - please join us for a "meet & greet" event:

When?  Sunday, November 18 (3:00pm-4:00pm)
(NOTE: This date was changed from November 25)
Where?  Arthur F. Turner Community Library
1212 Merkley Ave., West Sacramento 95691

Study and Discussion Group

We will be utilizing the book:

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition
- The Special Education Survival Guide
by Peter W. D. Wright, Esq. and Pamela Darr Wright
(ISBN: 978-1-892320-09-4, 338 pages, perfect bound)

Wrightslaw book

This group is facilitated by its participants. We are not sponsored by any outside entities or Wrightslaw. There is no fee to join this group other than the cost of the book. Please provide your own book: http://www.wrightslaw.com/store/feta.html

Contact Angie to RSVP or if you have questions:
corngie@gmail.com
916-862-8091

FETA Wordle

Reducing Resistance in IEP Meetings with Storytelling

Fall is fast approaching, and it's a time when many parents choose to schedule their IEP meetings. It's critical to go into the meeting prepared mentally. Several days or weeks before the meeting, start thinking about what you are going to present to the team and how you are going to say it. How you say it matters tremendously!

One tip that has been helpful for me at my daughter's IEP meetings is using storytelling to communicate my ideas. When I want to propose new goals or changes in services, rather than just coming out and asking for what I want, I tell her story.

Storytelling is an art that increases engagement. It's a key ingredient in communications to teach and to influence. It's a way of reeling people in. We are taught to use storytelling when trying to get buy-in on ideas in the workplace. Preachers use it. Why not in an IEP meeting where the stakes are high?

Storytelling to Persuade

I came across something to support this idea in the FETA (From Emotions to Advocacy) textbook, "Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy." In Chapter 6, page 50:

"The Five Golden Rules for Negotiators. Rule #3 is storytelling." "Storytelling reduces resistance. Make requests by telling the child's story."


I had never realized that I was using a storytelling approach in my IEP meetings. I just felt that telling my daughter's story made it easier for the IEP team to identify with what my daughter was going through. This was highly effective.

FETA online study forum and local Sacramento study group

Dear Parents, Families, Caregivers, and Community,

If you know of anyone who is advocating for a child in the special education realm, please alert them about this new study group in Sacramento, CA and the online study forum!

In this group, we will learn new things and share our knowledge, tips, and strength to help our children receive the free and "appropriate" public education that they are entitled to. Using the  following text as our guide, we will study the material, hold discussions, and ponder the answers to questions to help us complete the follow up research that we need to do, create strategies, and develop action plans that will work in our unique situations. When you talk about doing something, it's an idea. When you write it down and give it a timeline, it becomes tangible and results will happen!

TEXT:  "Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide, 2nd Edition" by Pam Wright and Pete Wright was published in January 2006 (ISBN: 978-1-892320-09-4, 338 pages, perfect bound, $19.95).  Members will need to obtain their own copy of the text to take part in the group.



"Wrightslaw, From Emotion to Advocacy, The Special Education Survival Guide" by Pam Wright and Pete Wright, founders of the Wrightslaw Website

There are possibilities to hold online study forums for each chapter and also have an in-person study group for local folks. Things are starting to take shape! I have begun writing some study questions as I read through and reflect on each chapter. I could use some help reading through the questions to see if they are clear and if they garner what the authors were trying to teach us. The questions should stimulate follow up action to help each person in their advocacy work. Please check out the TABS at the top of the blog, entitled Section 1, Section 2, and so on... Tell me what you think!

I want to be clear that I am not a teacher who is authorized by Wrightslaw or the authors to teach from this book. I am just a parent who wants to learn and help others as well. Parents helping parents! We learn best when we have others to share our experiences and ideas with.

Contact me via comment on this blog, join this site, or email me at corngie@gmail.com for more information. I look forward to hearing from you.

Please pass on this information.

All the best,

Angie

Join our group - FETA Group - Sacramento

Members needed for a new parent support group in Sacramento.

Purpose:

The group will help parents gain knowledge and skills to be effective advocates for their children. As parents learn about the "rules of the game" and SMART IEPs, schools will realize that involving parents benefits them too.

Essentially, it's a study group using the book: Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide, 2nd Edition by Pam Wright and Pete Wright. Published in January 2006 (ISBN: 978-1-892320-09-4, 338 pages, perfect bound, $19.95). We can buy the books through Wrightslaw in bulk for a 40% discount for about $12 for members.

When we obtain enough members, we can establish a meeting schedule and a place to meet that works best.

This group is not sponsored by any public or private organizations. It is member-run.

Contact me if you are interested in learning more. Angie at corngie@gmail.com.

 

How to start a FETA study group: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.feta.groups.htm.