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!

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!

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.