Our last meeting of the school year!   Don’t forget the Teacher Tea!
Date: Monday May 14, 2012
Time: 6:30 PM
Where: Boyd Community Center
1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Helen Sims, financial advisor, and Jillian Zacks, an attorney, will be sharing their knowledge with us tonight. They are committed to helping families and individuals with special needs and disabilities to plan for current as well as future care.

Topics to be addressed include:

• Understanding the interplay between government benefits and age of majority
• Powers of Attorney and Guardianship
• Financial considerations and planning
• Wills, Trusts and Estate planning
• Role of Trustee in Special and Supplemental Needs Trusts
• Care coordination

This program was designed to aid in understanding strategies that can be used to plan a secure future for an individual with special needs.

Date: Tuesday April 17, 2012
Where: Boyd Community Center
1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Time: 6:30PM
Raising a child with ADHD can be a challenge for parents. The most important tool you bring to the parenting process is a desire to learn about the condition and how to best support your child’s development and success. Susan Lieber, Certified Organizer Coach and parent of ADHD children will present:

• An overview of ADHD – it’s more than distractibility and impulsivity
• The different ways it can impact a child’s life
• Strategies for dealing with some of the common challenges
• Local and internet resources

Ample time will be given at the completion of the talk for Q&A as well as resource sharing.

This year’s event will be held May 31st from 4-6PM.  Download the form via the link below and send it in ASAP!  Parents are encouraged to register and attend as well.

This year’s PALS’ Teacher Assistance Grant is awarding two $250 Teacher Assistance Grants. Recipients are Crystal Eastly, at Dorseyville Middle School, and Rose Cipollone, at Hartwood Elementary School. The Grants will purchase an Apple cable for HD TV connection and Apps for DMS and a writing stylus for iPads and drawing Apps for Hartwood. These purchases will help many students in support and regular education classes in writing and Language Arts for years to come.

We are extremely fortunate in the Fox Chapel School District to have so many inspired and dedicated educators /mentors who strive to help our children learn skills that will help them to achieve confidence and independence. Thank you for all that you do each and every day.

PALS looks forward to the opportunity to award this grant again in the 2012-2013 school year. The application form will be distributed in the fall to all schools and will also be available on the Fox Chapel Area School District website. We encourage all classroom and support educators to apply.

Date: Tuesday March 20, 2012
Where: Panera – Waterworks Plaza
Time: 9:30 AM (Meeting Room)

Please join us for an informational meeting this month.
Have questions about the special education process? Want to discuss your child’s needs? Are you struggling with the implementation of your child’s I.E.P?

Do you need additional resources or help for your child?

Wesley Spectrum is an excellent resource in our community. Our guests from Wesley Spectrum will present information about the various services and programs available including Extended School Year, Creative Arts Therapy, Summer Programs, and Wonder Kids Social Skills Group Programs.

Date: Tuesday Feb 21, 2012
Time: 7 p.m.     Where: Boyd Community Center
1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

“Think dramatically!”
Children use make-believe in play for thinking.

“Let’s SQUiNK about it!”
Children read & think and think & read.

Honor all children’s thinking.  They will make more meaning of text.
Read, talk, and tell stories.  Parent involvement always makes a difference.

PALS welcomes Kenda L. Hammer, M.Ed.,
Early Literacy Specialist–Fox Chapel Area School District

Kenda’s experience as a kindergarten teacher, researcher, and writer began with degrees in child development, early childhood education, and elementary education.  Since 2003, upon opening the Fox Chapel Area School District Family Literacy Center, she works as the director and teacher, parent educator, professional development presenter/facilitator, and early childhood transition coordinator.  Kenda also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

Tuesday January 17, 2012, 10AM
Cooper-Siegel Library – Lower Level Entrance
403 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Lori Breen – Teacher, Mother, Lawyer for children with special needs.

When one of Lori’s children was diagnosed with developmental delays, she used her “insider” knowledge of insurance companies and the legal profession to fight for services that had been denied to her child. As she went through the process she met other parents whose children had been denied treatment by an insurance company or who needed assistance with a school issue or an IEP.

In addition to her law degree, Lori is a teacher and has taught in several Pittsburgh area middle and high schools and did her student teaching in the Gateway School District. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Economics at CCAC. In this capacity, Lori routinely provides differentiated instruction and makes adaptations and accommodations for her disabled students.

Lori frequently lectures on topics regarding special needs issues and on special education law. She is a member of many organizations that work on behalf of individuals with disabilities and serves on statewide parent panels. She advocates for inclusive practices and early intervention.

Date: Tuesday Nov 15, 2011
Where: Boyd Community Center
1220 Powers Run Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Time: 7:00 PM

PALS welcomes Pam Cook M.Ed., ABC Advocacy Consultant.

Pam will talk about the role of an advocate. What you can expect from an advocate? Should the advocate be an attorney or a psychologist or both? Pam will answer your questions about finding and hiring an advocate.

Pam is a former teacher with a masters in special education, has authored guides related to special education and disability issues, has advised and served on many boards including the Education Law Center and various disability organizations.

Come join us for an evening of enlightenment.

Date: Tuesday October 18, 2011
Where: Panera – Waterworks Plaza
942 Freeport Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Time: 9:30 AM (Meeting Room)

Have questions about the special education process? Want to discuss your child’s needs? Are you struggling with the implementation of your child’s I.E.P? Do you need additional resources or help for your child? Please come and talk to us. Our sole purpose is to offer support to parents with children with learning differences.

Thursday, September. 15, 2011
7 PM, Fox Chapel Area High School – LGI Room
611 Field Club Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

PALS is kicking off the 2011-2012 school year with a technology workshop. Educators Stephanie Abriatis (Kerr), Rose Cipollone (Hartwood), Crystal Eastly (DMS), Kerrie Barnett (FCHS), Nancy Rofey (FCHS), and Laura Jenkins (district wide) will be demonstrating the use of the iPad, various applications (apps) and other technology.

The iPad assists the educators in targeting specific needs of the students (of all abilities) in the classroom and is also a source of fun and learning at home too.  The various apps provide versatility to reach both academic and social needs. The demonstrations will be conducted in small groups to provide the parents with closer inspection and hands-on opportunities.

Opportunities to meet and network with members of PALS, Fox Chapel School District instructional support educators as well as other parents will be available throughout the evening.