Parent Education Network

Webinar on Telephone for Individuals with Disabilities

Pennsylvania's Telecommunication Device Distribution Program (TDDP) offers appropriate equipment, at no cost, "to eligible Pennsylvanians who have disabilities which impede them from having independent access to telephone services." This program is holding a webinar on June 5, 2013, from 9:30 to 10:30, to discuss a new telephone that supports individuals with hearing impairments and mobility difficulties.

If interested, contact Enable JavaScript to show e-mails. by June 3, 2013 for information on how to participate in the webinar.

Surveys for Exiting Students with IEPs

Are you, or someone you know, a student with an IEP who is graduating or has exited high school 1 year ago? If so, you may be receiving a survey in the future from your school district. School districts in Pennsylvania are required to survey all student leavers (graduates, drop-outs and students who age out) who have an IEP.

These surveys give students the chance to provide feedback about their schooling experience and their activities after high school. This feedback is kept confidential and is used to help improve the education of students with disabilities. As PACER suggests: Be a Superstar—Take the Survey (video), or Sé una Super-Estrella—Toma la Encuesta (video en Español).

Read the document about the student surveys (PDF) for more information.

Scholarship for Philadelphia Students with Disabilities

For individuals with disabilities who reside in Philadelphia, the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities is providing a scholarship opportunity. According to the application, "students attending (or planning to attend) an undergraduate, graduate, technical, or vocational program will be considered for the scholarships."

For the full details and requirements, download the Oliver H. M. Jordan Scholarship Application (Word Document). Applications must be received by September 20, 2013.

Webinar on Individualized Learning Plans

The American Youth Policy Forum, the College and Career Readiness and Success Center, and the Institute for Educational Leadership have organized a webinar on the topic of using Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) to prepare students for college and careers. According to the webinar description, ILPs are "one tool that middle school and high school students can use to define their personal interests, goals, and course choices through postsecondary education and careers." During this webinar, researchers will report their experiences implementing ILPs and their findings on how useful ILPs are at affecting "post-school outcomes."

This webinar will take place on May 29, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. For more information, or to register, visit the web page about the ILP webinar.

Online Dialogue for Transition Outcomes

From May 13, 2013 until May 27, 2013, several U.S. Departments are organizing an online dialogue to gather input about bettering the results of transitioning youth with disabilities. According a description of the event, "[a]nyone with a personal or professional stake in supporting the aspirations of youth and young adults with disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their communities is invited to register and participate."

To participate, register at the Federal Partners in Transition page. After registering, participants will be able to create, rate and comment on ideas.

May 2013 ODP Employment Focus Groups

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), part of Pennsylvania's Department of Public Welfare, is holding a second series of focus groups around Pennsylvania. These focus groups are intended for individuals with disabilities, and their families, to "discuss how [ODP] can promote employment for people with disabilities in Pennsylvania."

To learn more, read the focus groups flyer (PDF). Visit the focus group registration page to register for a May 2013 meeting, or call Jeffrey Wheeler, OCS, at (800) 446-5607, extension 6881.

NCDB and NFADB Webinars 2013

For families, the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) and National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB) have been holding a webinar series. According to an e-mail, there are two remaining webinars scheduled as part of the series:

• All Children Can Read: A Literacy Website Parents Need to Visit - May 23, 2013 from 2:30 to 4:00 PM EDT or 7:30 to 9:00 PM EDT. This webinar will cover "Strategies, Resources and Examples that can be used at home, at school and in the community."

  To connect to the webinar, you will need to visit http://hknc.adobeconnect.com/nfadb-1/ on the day of the meeting. You will then be asked to type in your name and enter as a guest. After entering, you will need to type in your phone number as the "call back number," and you will receive a call from Adobe. If your phone has an extension, call 1-866-244-8528 and use Participant Code 219009.

• Improve Transition Outcomes for Your Children: Learn About Customized Employment - August 2013

Registration is not required to attend. For more information, contact the NCDB or contact the NFADB. One of the prior webinars in the series has been archived: Using Social Media to Increase Family Leadership.

Programs for Adults with Disabilities

On May 29, 2013, at 6:30 PM, the program titled "The Next Steps: Finding and Securing Disability Programs for Individuals who have Graduated High School" will be held at Manheim Township Library. According to an e-mail message from Sue Schaffer, the contact for the program, this program is intended for "parents of adult children and those who have recently aged out of the system." This program, a dialogue, will discuss the services that already exist for adults with disabilities, ideas for creating more services and who would participate in a group on the issue of adult disability services.

To find out more, read the flyer for "The Next Steps..." (PDF) or contact Sue Schaffer ( Enable JavaScript to show e-mails. ) to register.

Spring 2013 PEN Newsletter Released

Spring 2013 PENews

The Spring 2013 edition of PENews, the Parent Education Network (PEN) newsletter, has been released. This newsletter features an article about services for children who are eligible for special education under the "Emotional Disturbance" category of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It also mentions some recent news, including changes to the amount of parental consent needed for agencies accessing a child's insurance or public benefits. Further, the newsletter covers a few resources for parents and individuals with several disabilities, such as deaf-blindness and eating disorders.

To learn more, check out the Spring 2013 Newsletter (PDF). There is also a Spanish (en Español) translation of PENews (PDF).

Mental Health Recovery Sharing Workshops

The Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) and the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association (PMHCA) are sponsoring three Recovery Sharing Workshops. People recovering from mental health conditions, family members, professionals and community members are invited to attend. The events will discuss the "I’m the Evidence/Mental Health Campaign", mental health advanced directives and being a leader through recovery.

The remaining workshop will be held on the following day and location:

• June 4, 2013 - Days Inn (240 S. Pugh Street, State College)

For more information, including scholarship and lodging opportunities, view the details and registration for the Recovery Sharing Workshops (PDF).

Sports Jamboree in June 2013

Like the previous Sports Jamboree in 2012, the 2013 Sports Jamboree provides a weekend of events for participants who use wheelchairs or have visual impairments. The events are scheduled from Friday to Sunday, June 21 to 23, 2013.

For more information, see the page on the 2013 Sports Jamboree.

About Us

PEN is part of a national system of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs), serving South Central, Northeast, Southeast and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We are a non-profit funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 2009 marked our 25 year anniversary of service to parents of children with disabilities. PEN is a coalition of professionals and parents of children representing a range of disabilities and ages. We are committed to serving parents of all special needs children birth to adulthood; including parents of children in general education classes, educational/residential placement, adult systems and those children not yet identified as needing service.

PEN provides technical assistance, information, skill development trainings, workshops and referral services to parents to help children reach their full potential in educational, vocational and community settings. Much of the information included in this site is designed to support Pennsylvania parents of children with special needs, but information and links are included on Federal Special Education, National Disability Issues and Resources and Special Education Legal links that will also pertain to parents and individuals with disabilities in other states. We hope you find the following information helpful.

Since our primary objective is to support parents, please feel free to call us for further information or assistance. Parents within Pennsylvania may reach us at our toll free number, 1-800-522-5827 or 1-800-441-5028 (Español). Thank you for visiting.