Our areas of focus continue to be education and advocacy. Our voices will continue to be used in a positive, organized effort to help parents and professionals convey information and experiences to leadership, to support the Department of Special Education in their goals, and to advise the Board of Education and top-level decision makers in Baltimore
County Public Schools.
Our meeting topics will remain fluid this year so that we can be responsive to the needs of BCPS families during these unprecedented times. We hope you will consider joining us for any or all of the scheduled SECAC meetings below.
Registration is not required. All meetings are open to the public.
Join us for an eye-opening Autism 101 training designed for our community. PFA will also show how to navigate their website to get the resources you need.
To register for this workshop, please email the PRC at prc@ccps.org.
Contact Name : Cecil County Public Schools’ Parent Resource Center For Special Education
1 in 52 children in Maryland are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Undoubtedly, you are interacting with someone with Autism whether in your home, your neighborhood, your school or your workplace. Understanding ASD is one way to improve your interactions with someone on the spectrum. Our presentation will provide a practical and experiential opportunity for you to learn strategies and tips for success. Presented by Trish Kane, Deputy Director & Neal Lichter, Program Director Pathfinders for Autism.
PPMD's 30th Anniversary: Open House School Age Children
November 17, 2020 –
Join us in celebration of PPMD’s 30th Anniversary and learn about issues affecting school age children from PPMD professionals.
You are your child's best
advocate! Children progress at different rates. They have many different abilities, interests and personalities. But there are some common milestones many children reach from ages 6 to 12
CASA ABIERTA DEL 30 ANIVERSARIO DE PPMD FAMILIAS DE HABLA HISPANA
November 18, 2020 –
Únase a nosotros para celebrar el 30 aniversario de PPMD y conozca cómo servimos a las familias de habla hispana.
¡Usted es el mejor defensor de su hijo! Venga y escuche cómo podemos ayudarlo en cada etapa de la vida de su hijo. Desde la primera infancia hasta la transición a adultos, estamos aquí para apoyarlo y prepararlo para el proceso.
Interactive Online Workshop: Toilet Training Children and Adolescents with ASD: A Guide for Parents and Practitioners
November 18, 2020 –
Becoming toilet-trained is a critical step towards personal independence and has a direct impact on the quality of life for both the individual and their caregivers. For individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, toilet training may be challenging and often occurs at a later stage in life. It is important to understand the skills required for toilet training and how to successfully break down and teach those skills. Developing a plan that is relevant to your child is a critical component to the success of toilet training at any age.
Join Brittany Rader, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Vice President, Clinical Services of Behavioral Framework as she discusses this important topic.
The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Prior to the fair, a Zoom link will be sent to you.
The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee works with the school system to support the needs of students with disabilities. We collaborate with other community disability advocacy groups to improve special education and the lives of our students in Howard County. SECAC meets once a month during the school year. This year’s meetings will be virtual via Zoom, if you are on the SECAC mailing list you will get the link directly, or email secacchair@gmail.com for the link.
If you're a Maryland employer who's looking for a uniquely talented pipeline of talent and who's committed to diverse hiring practices, join us on November 19 @ 830 AM to learn about HCAS's innovative Autism Hiring Program. Free to attend, but registration required.
In this one-hour session, you will:
- Learn how to get started and what's involved
- Get to know some of our talented candidates
- See how we ensure successful placement through upfront and ongoing supports
- Hear from an employer about his experience hiring employees with autism and other disabilities
Why hire adults with autism:
Eighty-five percent of college graduates with autism are unemployed. The Autism Hiring Program was established to change that. The program simultaneously addresses the needs of adults with autism through skills assessment, interview preparation and social navigation coaching, and the needs of Maryland employers by providing access to a uniquely talented, untapped pipeline of talent.
PPMD's 30th Anniversary: Open House Transition Age Youth
November 19, 2020 –
Join us in celebration of PPMD’s 30th Anniversary and learn about transition from PPMD professionals.
Transitioning to adulthood is a big step for youth, and takes preparation and self-advocacy. In this workshop, parents/caregivers will learn what transition is and the steps they can take to support and prepare their youth and young adult throughout the process.
Being a parent is among the most difficult jobs in the universe. We are called to teach, model, love, support, comfort, advise, and give discipline. Sometimes these roles conflict with each other and we are pulled in opposing directions. Add in our fast-paced environment and the impact of social media and this job can be monumentally difficult. Parent coaching provides guidance to parents and helps families consider what is going well and what challenges need to be addressed. All kids want to be successful, and parent coaching can give parents the tools to teach kids the skills and resilience they need.
Parenting a child with autism, anxiety, ADHD, and other neurological challenges adds another layer of complexity. Despite the best advice from friends, family, and others, sometimes additional tools and strategies are needed.
Lighthouse is pleased to offer parent coaching one Saturday a month. These 45-minute sessions can stand alone as one-time supports or can be on-going coaching sessions. Prior to the first session, our Social Learning Coordinator, Jolene Farmer, sends a skills inventory for parents to complete. Together with Jolene, parents will prioritize goals and decide on an action plan designed especially for their family.
Our next available session is October 20th. There is one remaining slot available on this day at 1:15pm. The next upcoming dates for coaching sessions is 11/17 from 10am to 2pm.
Please contact Jolene Farmer to schedule
Jolene@lighthousemd.org
Contact Name : --
Contact Email : --
Location: Lighthouse, Inc 60 Mellor Avenue Catonsville, MD 21228
Interactive Online Workshop: Promoting Social Skills and Pragmatic Language in Children
November 21, 2020 –
Dr. Isava will provide an overview of the socialization process in children, as well as some common barriers and trends when children socialize. He will review why direct training of social skills and the teaching of pragmatic language is important for child rearing. Dr. Isava will discuss the key and necessary components when teaching social skills to children, and present concrete and direct ways to teach both social skills and pragmatic language. There will be an opportunity at the end of the presentation to address how to integrate social skills training when parenting children.
This webinar is a collaboration between Talbot County Schools, Queen Anne’s County Schools and Pathfinders for Autism.
The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Prior to the webinar, a Zoom link will be sent to you.
Melody McCune, ACPS School Psychologist, will give tips on how to manage in this very different year. The holidays bring so much joy, but also a lot of stress. There are so many things to figure out this year; from explaining to your child how visiting with Santa won’t happen, to deciding how to safely have family gatherings, to trying to keep fun traditions, and even to managing money.
BCPS SECAC Meeting
1 in 52 has Autism . . . Who do you know?