PTRC E-Newsletter 10-28-2020

RECRUITING for the Special Education Advisory Committee!​  Click to Join Us

​Focus for the 2020-2021 school year:
Invite input and engagement from all stakeholders;
Support continuous improvement in policy and practice;
Work with the Director of Special Education to build capacity, communication, and community!
Be a voice for change!!  Meetings open to the public.  
Please take a moment to complete the survey below.  Your input is valuable and appreciated!  Federal Programs Survey
  The Federal Programs Department is beginning a comprehensive needs assessment across 5 grants, Title I, II, III, IV & McKinney Vento.  This is a requirement from the VDOE with the purpose of identifying county needs and prioritizing the allocation of funds.  

Military Family Symposium –
Saturday, November 14, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m     
All participants must pre-register using the following link: Military Symposium November 2020. Upon acceptance of registration, attendees will receive an email with additional login information to access the Symposium on November 14, 2020.    
All Parents: 

• Review Supporting Students With Complex Learning Needs

  Students with disabilities often have complex needs regarding accessing the curriculum. The purpose of this document is to help families identify ways they can work with educators to provide instruction and support to students with complex needs. Family-school collaboration is critical to remote learning. 

• A Parent’s Guide to Virtual Learning: 4 Actions to Improve Your Child’s Experience With Online Learning

  Here are four things that you should know, and actions you can take, to guide your child’s journey through these unusual and unprecedented times.

• Google is introducing new technology designed to help people who are nonverbal communicate with those around them while also making strides toward more inclusion at the company. While still tweaking, the goal of the Android app called “Action Blocks” is to make it a more seamless experience for people with disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication.

• Great Resource!

  PEATC’s Bi-Weekly E-News Blast is a space for parents, professionals, and youth to stay up-to-date with upcoming PEATC events and workshops happening around the state of Virginia as well as other “news you can use!” 

ADHD/Learning Disabilities:

• How to Help Kids With Dyscalculia

  There are a number of ways you can support a child with dyscalculia – both in school and out. Join Dr. Laura Phillips for tips on how to spot and support when a child is struggling to understand, learn, and perform math and number-based operations.

Mental Health:

• Social Wellness Podcast by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

  In this podcast, DBSA staff discuss the challenges individuals who live with depression and bipolar might face in terms of their social wellness. Also, discussed is the grief associated with changing plans due to COVID-19. Allowing ourselves to grieve social loss, and have conversations with loved ones about loss, gives us a chance to connect and create plans that support our wellness.

Deaf / Hard of Hearing:

• The Hamilton Relay Scholarship application period is now open. This scholarship helps provide an opportunity to graduating high school seniors in Virginia who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking to assist in their goals of continuing their education. See the attached application. For more info contact Eric Alvillar at eric.alvillar@hamiltonrelay.com. Please note the deadline for applications is January 31st of 2021. 

Autism Spectrum:

• ASCV Conference Series – Building a Spectrum of Opportunity

  This started yesterday with the opening keynote by Dr. Jed Baker on “Managing Overwhelming Frustration and Anxiety in the New Normal”.  Don’t worry if you missed it. You can register today and catch the recording! Also, don’t forget, this is just the BEGINNING. There are still 8 live presentations left! 

Resources you need to know:
Caroline County Schools Special Education Department  Stay updated!
Caroline County Schools Transition Program  Check out the latest activities our students are participating in. 

• Paragon Autism Services   

•   For more information contact Joshua@paragonautismservices.com

• Autism Society-Central Virginia (AS-CV)

  Whether you’re new or have been involved in the ASD community for a while the AS-CV is the #1 resource for you and your family. They offer a wealth of information and resources, as well as, social, support and sibling opportunities. Becky Boswell, Bradford Hulcher, Tammy Burns and the rest of the team are committed, knowledgeable and passionate about helping you and your family. Be sure to check out their ‘meetings and events’ page.

• Community Services Board (CSB)

  The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides prevention, treatment, employment and support services for Caroline citizens and families with mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities. They work collaboratively with schools, law enforcement, and social services. They can also assist you with case management, counseling, crisis services, and general parenting education.

• Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)

  The department offers a wide array of specialized services, supports, resources and programs for Virginia residents of all ages who are experiencing significant visual disabilities. The DBVI is committed to providing quality services to assist Virginia’s citizens who are blind, deafblind or vision impaired in achieving their maximum level of employment, education, and personal independence.

• Department of Social Services (DSS)

  and the CSB work very closely together to serve you, your child and your family. They help to ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have access to the best services and benefits available to them, such as: Financial Assistance, Medicaid Waivers, Health Financial Assistance, Family & Individual Services, Services for Children, and Services for Adults.

• disAbility Resource Center – 409 Progress St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401  540-373-2559

  A Center for Independent Living working to enable people of all disabilities of all ages to reach their greatest potential of independent living. 

• Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond (DSAGR)

  DSAGR is a wonderful resource. They strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome and their families by providing access to current and accurate information on Down syndrome and by fostering programs that focus on education, community services, public awareness, medical issues, research, advocacy, legal issues and parenting.

• The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)     PEATC builds positive futures for Virginia’s children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. They offer FREE information, assistance, and support via email or phone, as well as, FREE workshops, presentations and training for both parents and educators. Call 1-800-869-6782. 

• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) can assist you with many things. They collaborate with schools in providing Transition Services. They offer Employment Services help people with disabilities get ready for, find, and keep a job. We have a residential training and medical rehabilitation center known as Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, and they process disability claims for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Disability Programs.

• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)

  This department manages Virginia’s public mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services system. Services are provided for children, families, and adults with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities or substance abuse disorders, as well as, for veterans. For more information call 804-786-3921 or visit