AJE Special Education Thursdays

Offering a better understanding of DC special education in a “bite-size” format

These 30-minute sessions, available online at: join.me/AJEparents give parents and professionals: information, education and a better understanding of DC special education issues in a “bite-size” format. Special Education Thursdays are provided FREE for parents and professionals to answer your questions about special education in DC, where to go for help, and to learn how to advocate for a child with a disability or learning need.

Special Education Thursdays are hosted by longtime DC special education parent advocate, Molly Whalen, who asks the questions that parents want to know and makes Special Education Thursdays a very lively and “chatty” 30 minutes that gives you a little bit more information about special education in DC.  It is like a virtual coffee-chat with professionals and stakeholders in DC who are working in special education and schools.  Listen to ALL recordings below on your computer or phone anytime!

Easy to access live – simply go online to: join.me/AJEparents to join us on scheduled sessions, or join by phone at: (202) 602-1295, access code: 399-428-506#  ALL Recordings are posted for past events.  You can access via the Join.me app too!

Questions?  or suggestions for topics?  Email: information@aje-dc.org  Contact our host: Molly L. Whalen

Schedule of Topics:

Recordings from 2019:

April 3, 2019: ALL ABOUT RE-EVALUATIONS: HOW & WHEN YOU ASK FOR THEM  Guest: Maria Blaeuer, AJE’s Director of Programs & Outreach   Recording Available

April 3, 2019: WHAT ARE MDRs? MANIFESTATION DETERMINATION REVIEWS! AND THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW! Guest: Maria Blaeuer, AJE’s Director of Programs & Outreach  Recording Available

May 15, 2019: SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: What parents need to know Guest: Barrie Lynn Tapia, Special Education Attorney  Recording Available Note: due to a technical issue – some of the slides did not appear on this recording – use this link to access the full slide deck: School Discipline

May 16, 2019:UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL TRANSITIONS FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES  Guests: Samhita Ilango and Dan Beck, GOT Transition Recording Available

May 29, 2019: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHARTERS AND SPECIAL ED; CONTACTING OR MAKING COMPLAINTS THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD (PSCB)  Guest: Patrick Pope, Public Charter School Board   Recording Available

June 13, 2019: UNDERSTANDING THE BIG PICTURE AND KNOWING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES Guest: Eric Jorgensen, Special Needs Advisor, Planning Across the Spectrum   Recording Available

June 26, 2019: MEDICAL AND LEGAL FACTS ABOUT VACCINES  Guests: Maria Blaeuer, AJE and Leah Shoval, Mary’s Center   Recording Available

July 2, 2019: UNDERSTANDING HSCSN AND YOUR RIGHTS AS A FAMILY  Guest: Zenia Sanchez-Fuentes, Attorney, Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLP  Recording Available

Sep 12, 2019: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE AS A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY   Guest: Laura Brown, Executive Director, First Shift Justice Project  Recording Available     additional resources/presentation from First Shift

Recordings from 2018:

Jan 11, 2018 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING DC’S STUDENT ADVOCATE OFFICE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS A PARENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION  Guest: Faith Gibson Hubbard, Chief Student Advocate Recording Available

Jan 25, 2018 at 12:00pm – WHAT PARENTS SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHEN EXPLORING A CERTIFICATE VS. A DIPLOMA FOR A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY Guest: Dr. Lauren Lestremau, Licensed Psychologist and Director of Ivymount School’s Multiple Learning Needs Program  **note 30 minutes early**  Recording Available

Feb 8, 2018 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING DC’S OMBUDSMAN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS A PARENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION  Guest: Joyanna Smith, DC Ombudsman for Public Education  Recording Available

Mar 15, 2018 at 12:30pm –WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING AT A SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL OR NONPUBLIC PLACEMENT FOR A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY Guest: Piper Phillips, CEO of PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families  Recording Available

April 5, 2018 at 12:30pm –WHAT IS THE VALUE OF INCLUSION AND WHY DOES THE LAW FAVOR IT? Guest: Jennifer Halper, Special Education Policy Professional – have questions for Jennifer?  Email: ourkidsconsulting@gmail.com   Recording Available  

May 11, 2018 at 1:00pm **change of time** WHAT DC PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION  Guest: Francis Nugent, Disability Rights DC – University Legal Services   Recording Available 

June 7, 2018 at 12:30pm –LEARNING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS IN THE DC LIBRARY: INCLUDING THE SUMMER CHALLENGE READING PROGRAM  Guest: Rebecca Tanen, Children’s Librarian, DC Public Library-Center for Accessibility  Recording Available 

July 19, 2018 at 12:30pm –UNDERSTANDING THE CIEP OFFICE IN DC FOR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHO MAY HAVE A DISABILITY  Guest: Brigid Cafferty, DCPS   Recording Available 

Sep 27, 2018 at 10:30am **change of time** –NEED A 2ND OPINION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATIONS? LEARN ABOUT INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL EVALUATIONS Guest: Stacey Eunnae, AJE Staff Attorney   Recording Available

Oct 4, 2018 at 12:30pm –WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RSA/DDS DURING SECONDARY TRANSITION Guests: DDS/RSA Staff (Christoper Nace, Yufanyi Nshom)   Recording Available

Nov 29, 2018 at 12:30pm –HOW DC PARENTS CAN SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE RSA IN DC FOR THEIR TRANSITIONING YOUTH Guest: Margaret Hart, Disability Rights DC at ULS Staff Attorney   Recording Available

Recordings from 2017:

January 26, 2017 at 12:30pm – LEARNING DISABILITIES – What are they are what should parents know? Guest: Bob Cunningham, Learning and Attention Issues Expert at www.understood.orgRecording Available

Feb 23, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING and alternatives to Guardianship, Guest: Morgan Whitlatch, Legal Director, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities Recording Available 

Mar 9, 2017 at 12:30pm – WHAT IS A SPEECH THERAPIST and how do they work in special education?  Guest: Deanna Longino Camp, PhD., School Speech Therapist Recording Available — Have questions for Dr. Camp?  Email her at:  camp.ed4kids@gmail.com

Rescheduled!  New date is:  Mar 30, 2017 at 12:30pm – AUTISM & THE CLASSROOM – how parents can work successfully with their school, Guest: Yetta Myrick, Community Outreach Coordinator, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders Recording AvailableHave questions for Yetta? Email her at: ymyrick@dcautismparents.Org

Apr 6, 2017 at 12:30pm – MANAGING MEDICATIONS IN STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES – when is it right and when is it not? Guest: Dr. Dan Shapiro, Developmental Pediatrician   Recording Available — Check out Dr. Shapiro’s parent training program (pay as you go!) at: www.parentchildjourney.com 

Apr 20, 2017 at 12:30pm – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN IEP AND A 504 PLAN  Guest: Maria Blaeuer, Special Education Attorney Recording Available

May 4, 2017 at 12:30pm – WHAT IS A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER and how do they work in special education?  Guest: Lindsay Damon, School Social Worker  Recording Available  Additional resource: Who Are School Social Workers

May 18, 12:30pm – TRANSITION FROM OSSE EARLY INTERVENTION TO EARLY STAGES Part C to Part B?  Guests: Elizabeth Rihani, Child Find Manager, Early Stages and Andres Alvarado, Director for Early Intervention, OSSE-Strong Start  Recording Available

Jun 1, 2017 at 12:30pm – SPECIAL EDUCATION ELIGIBILITY CATEGORIES – How teams make determinations  Guest: Mauria Uhlik, Director of Evaluation, Early Stages  Recording Available

Jun 15, 2017 at 2017 at 12:30pm – WHAT IS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT) AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) Guests: Shenaz Hussain, PT and Shayna Stoogenke, OT Recording Available

Jun 29, 2017 at 12:30pm – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MEDICAL VS. EDUCATION AUTISM DIAGNOSIS Guests: Dr. Sharron Williams, School Psychologist and Andrea Handscomb, SLP Recording Available Additional resource: Differences Between Educational Identification and Medical Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders

July 13, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING READING EVALUATIONS AND READING INTERVENTIONS Guests: Laura Green, Director, Lindamood Bell-Washington DC Center  Recording Available

July 27, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS DEFICITS IN STUDENTS: AND HOW TO DEVELOP GOOD IEP GOALS Guest: Dr. Lauren Kenworthy, Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Health Systems  Recording Available

Sep 7, 2017 at  12:30pm – WHAT DOES SOCIAL SKILLS INSTRUCTION LOOK LIKE AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT IN THE CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Guest: Monica Adler Werner, author of “Unstuck and On Target: Curriculum to Improve Flexibility for Children with Autism”  Recording Available

Sep 21, 2017 at 12:30pm – SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CHARTER SCHOOLS: WHAT A PARENT SHOULD KNOW Guest: Julie Camerata, Executive Director, DC Special Education Cooperative  Recording Available

Oct 5, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING INCLUSION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS Guest: Monica Lesperance, Lead Instructor of INCLUDE DC   Recording Available

Oct 19, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING ABA IN THE CLASSROOM AND WHO ARE BCBAs Guest: Brittany Frey, BCBA Additional Resource:Autism Speaks on ABA  Recording Available

Nov 2, 2017 at 12:30pm – WHAT DO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THINK ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SELF-ADVOCACY? Guests: Sarah Grime, SchoolTalk DC, Jeremiah Islar, Elijah Lee, Student Advocates, Recording Available

Nov 16, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING THE DC PUBLIC SCHOOL LOTTERY WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, Guests: Catherine Peretti and Aryan Boquet, MySchoolDC Common Lottery  Recording Available

Nov 30, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING EDUCATION PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND REPORTS Guest: Alexis A. Pittenger, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist Recording Available

Dec 14, 2017 at 12:30pm – UNDERSTANDING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Guest: Antonio (Tone) Carter, RestorativeDC and SchoolTalk DC  Recording Available  Additional resources: DC Restorative Justice Community of Practice (next meeting Jan 9, 2018) and Video: Why Restorative?