Worcester Special Education Parents Advisory Council on Facebook

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Our Friends at Sped Child Mass
  
Spedchildmass.com have many statewide listings of events

Currently recruiting for study beginning in Feb 2010

 

Recruiting Teens Age 12-17  with Moderate ASD for Physical Activity Program

Supporting Physical Activity and Recreation in the Community (SPARC): A Research Study
SPARC is a no-cost 16-week community-based walking and physical activity program for teens ages 12-17 with Autism Spectrum Disorders with moderate needs.
SPARC includes support and supervision provided by trained staff (1 staff per 2 teens); an individualized SPARC plan; and an opportunity to meet new people and have fun!

SPARC starts on February 21, 2010 and runs to June 10, 2010 twice a week at two different sites.
Malden YMCA – Sunday 12:30-2pm and Wednesday 4:30-6pm
OR
West Newton YMCA – Sunday 3-4:30pm and Thursday 4:30-6pm

For more information about SPARC, and to see if your child qualifies for participation, please call Renee at UMass Medical School/E.K. Shriver Center - 781-642-0259; or email: shriver.study@umassmed.edu

UMMS IRB Docket # H-13332

Sensory Friendly Films – ongoing monthly (see schedule below)

Framingham, MA 

 

AMC Theatres Framingham 15

 

In partnership with the Autism Society of America, we bring AMC Sensory Friendly Films to families affected by autism on a monthly basis to select communities.

 

The program provides a special opportunity for families to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment. The auditoriums dedicated to the program have their lights up, the sound turned down and audience members are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing!  You are also allowed to bring your own snacks.

 

Please make sure you check with the Framingham theatre if you have questions and before the show to make sure it has not been cancelled or rescheduled.

 

Upcoming Sensory-Friendly showings* include:

April 24 – Oceans
May 22 – Shrek 4
June 16 – Toy Story 3
July 10 – Despicable Me
August 7 – Cats & Dogs 2
September 25 – The Guardian of Ga’Hoole
October 9 – The Zookeeper

All shows are at 10:00 am.
*Dates and films are subject to change.

Click here for locations

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Winter fun of adapted sport programs

Visit the Universal Access Program http://www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access/a_events.htm

Sled Skate on Your Own:  Use ice sleds on your own during public skating hours at state rinks in the following cities and towns: Auburn, Boston, Brighton, Brockton, Cambridge, Franklin, Greenfield, Holyoke, Hyde Park, Medford, Milton, Newburyport, North Adams, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester. Call Universal Access at 413-545-5758 for information about rink locations or visit www.mass.gov/dcr/skating.

 

Fill out a waiver in advance: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access/docs/waiver.pdf
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Special Olympics

 

The Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA) new, state-of-the-arts headquarters in Marlborough, offers sports programs to those with intellectual disabilities sports programs. 

 

The new facility includes: 

• High-tech training rooms for coaches, volunteers, athletes, medical professionals.
• A full court gymnasium and athletic fields.
• Space for public and private special events.
• SOMA will also to continue to offer in all areas of Massachusetts year-round sports training and athletic competition for all persons with intellectual disabilities, including equestrian activities, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, soccer, cheerleading and flag football. To find a program in your part of the state, visit:
  
  

http://www.specialolympicsma.orgy/north

http://www.specialolympicsma.orgy/south

http://www.specialolympicsma.orgy/west

For more information about SOMA, please contact 508-485-0986 or visit http://www.specialolympicsma.org
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Monthly meetings usually held the first Wednesday of the month

 

Monthly Conversation for Those Whose Lives
Have Been Touched by Spina Bifida
7:00p-8:30p
This gathering is a space to share challenges and learning’s, celebrate accomplishments and provide mutual support with others who “get it”
– individuals who are impacted by Spina Bifida from a variety of viewpoints

400 TradeCenter, Suite 5900 (5th Floor)
Woburn MA 01801
Space is Limited. Please RSVP 1 week in advance by contacting Marianne DiBlasi at 781-729-3143 or marianne.diblasi@gmail.com

 

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Opportunity ongoing

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE CARROLL SCHOOL

"Breaking Through" is an original production performed by talented Carroll
School middle school students which heightens awareness of language-based
learning disabilities -- bringing a message of courage, perseverance, and
hope to students and teachers alike. The musical provides information about
dyslexia from a kid's point of view, while spinning a tale about a young
girl living with this learning disability.

"Breaking Through" has inspired, entertained, informed, and charmed students
and teachers at 30 area schools, receiving excellent reviews. After one
recent performance a teacher said, "It was a privilege to have the musical
performed at our school. Teachers across the board were blown away."

To learn more about bringing a performance of "Breaking Through" to your
school, please call Ann French at (781) 259-8342 x 3032 or e-mail at
afrench@carrollschool.org

For further information, please visit:

http://www.carrollschool.org/educators/ccil-breakingthrough.html

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Ongoing once a month

 

TOUCH THE FUTURE: CAREER FOUNDATION FOR BLIND YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS
 
OUR SPACE OUR PLACE INC. OFFERS AN EXPLORATION CAREER PROGRAM
 This program begins:
Date: Saturday October 17, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM – 12 Noon
Location: The Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont Street, Roxbury, Ma.
 
Blind students ages 11 – 18 are eligible to participate.
The program meets once a month on the third Saturday of each month
 For parents, the program meets twice
The program will focus on:
• Identifying interest and skills
• Matching interests and skills with possible careers
• Meeting professionals
• Role of parents
• Developing skills needed to search for a job, interview, and to acquire and to keep a job
• Experiencing work
To sign up for this program Please call (617) 459-4084

http://www.ourspaceourplace.org/

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Monthly, 2^nd Tuesday

 

SPEDWatch Workshops

http://spedwatch.org/files/registration_sped_advocacy_101.pdf

"After the Special Education Advocacy: 101 workshop, I came home feeling
informed, invigorated, and wanting to hear more!"
Gina Marie Drakos, Danvers

Basic Rights: Denied
You've been to all the workshops. You know about special education laws and
procedures. But what do you do when a child's special education rights have
been violated? It is an unfortunate fact that schools are frequently in
noncompliance with special education law, and enforcement of the law is
alarmingly lax. This presentation teaches participants how to use law,
policy, and basic advocacy techniques to recognize and address the most
common problems and regulatory violations that occur at each stage of the
special education process: referral, evaluation, eligibility determination,
IEP development, and placement. The material is easy to understand, yet
substantive enough to make a real and immediate difference for children.
Prior attendance at a special education rights training (such as Special
Education Advocacy: 101 above) is suggested but not required. See schedule
below.

"The Wachusett Parent to Parent Support Group was the very lucky recipient
of SPEDWatch's Basic Rights: Denied workshop. It was just incredible.
Fantastic information. Fantastic presentation. Everyone loved it! I urge
you to book this workshop for your own groups. You will be very thankful
that you did."
Julianne Kelley, Rutland
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The Worcester Special Education Parents Advisory Counsel lists these events as a courtesy to the community.  We are in not responsible for event changes or cancellations.  Please verify times and dates with the hosts before attending and check the listed web sites for any updates.  **to list your event on this page please email the information to worcspedpac@worcesterspedpac.org