Information for Families of Students with Disabilities - October 22, 2021

Virginia Department of Education sent this bulletin at 10/22/2021 02:10 PM EDT

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Information for Families of Children with Disabilities - October 22, 2021

Below, please find valuable information and resources for families of students with disabilities.

October is Disability History and Awareness Month (DHAM) in Virginia!

Over a decade ago, a committed group of youth with disabilities requested that Virginia officially recognize October as Disability History and Awareness Month (DHAM). The youth also developed a credo: “Disability history education and awareness will promote positive attitudes in schools creating a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and equal opportunities for all.”

Please refer to Superintendent's Memo #279-21 for information on multiple resources that promote and highlight DHAM in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) encourages communities to have conversations with their school and neighborhood partners, local and/or state Special Education Advisory Committees, and Parent Resource Centers (PRCs) about the importance and value of inclusive practices.

If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Marianne Moore, Secondary Transition Specialist, via telephone, at (804) 225-2700, or via email, at Marianne.Moore@doe.virginia.gov; or Jack Brandt, VCU Inclusion Project Coordinator, via telephone at (804) 828-1365, or via email, at brandtj@vcu.edu.

Autism Society of Central Virginia (ASCV) Conference Series: Building a Spectrum of Opportunity

The ASCV Conference Series, Building a Spectrum of Opportunity, returns this Fall and will feature twice-weekly virtual presentations on critical autism-related topics for self-advocates, caregivers, and teachers or other professionals interested in learning more about how to better serve and support our autism community. These presentations will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from October 19, 2021 - November 18, 2021.

Featuring an Opening Keynote from Dr. Ross Greene on Collaborative & Proactive Solutions: Fostering the Better Side of Human Nature in Classrooms and Families and nine presentations on additional topics including Learning From Autistic Authors and Allies, Tips for Navigating the Complex World of Autism and Mental Health, The Neuroscience of Community, Rethinking the Ways We Identify, Understand and Support Autistic People of All Genders, and much more!

Register for the ASCV Conference Series today!

Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE's) Family Literacy Night Recordings On-Demand

The VDOE held its first annual Family Literacy Night on August 31, 2021. We kicked off the 2021-2022 school year while engaging families and communities in fostering a love for literacy!

All of these valuable trainings are available now, any time, on-demand. Choose from a variety of informative sessions hosted by Virginia Department of Education specialists and coordinators, as well as educators and community groups from across the Commonwealth. Gain resources and supports that will allow literacy and learning to flourish at home and throughout your community.

You can find all of these recordings on the VDOE's Family Literacy Night webpage.