Post by WeNeed3 on Sept 17, 2010 7:49:38 GMT -5
Standing up for special kids
Special needs PTA working to give classrooms resources they can't afford
September 17, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Social worker Sebastian Oros has seen his students benefit from the efforts of the Indian Prairie Special Needs PTA.
Using video equipment he purchased with a grant from the PTA, he has been able to teach students through video self-modeling. Students who have a social concern are recording performing the task correctly. Later, the student will watch the video of himself or herself, and then actually repeat the action afterwards.
"There's nothing more profound really than watching yourself do something appropriately and trying to emulate it afterwards," Oros said.
If a student is having difficulty transitioning from the classroom to the gym, Oros could use the flip camera to record the student performing the task appropriately. Then, he can send an e-mail of the video to the classroom teacher, who can show it to the student before he or she leaves for the gym.
Oros can also create copies of the video to give parents a DVD with their child performing the social skills correctly so they can reinforce the skills at home, he said. If the student is going to a birthday party but has difficulty saying hello to peers, she or he can watch the DVD of himself or herself performing the task on the way there.
At the time he wrote the grant request, Oros worked at Gombert and Clow elementary schools. He now works at Gombert and Kendall. But the idea of video modeling has caught on and is used at other elementary schools throughout the district. Without the grant and the PTA, Oros said he wouldn't have been able to purchase the video equipment.
"This was kind of on the wish list, and because of the grant I was able to do it," Oros said. "And now it's really started a trend in the district."
The PTA's Special Needs Teacher Grant program receives money from fundraisers held by the organization, and this year the proceeds from the second annual Special Needs Resource Fair will also help fund the grants. The fair will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. This fair focuses on resources designed for those caring for, working with or teaching special needs children.
Last year the first resource fair was held with 18 vendors and a strong turnout of visitors.
"We knew right then we'd do it again," said Lori Price, president of IPSN PTA.
The Teacher Grant program is IPSN PTA's way of giving back to teachers and staff of special education programs in District 204, Price said.
"If we can help offset the out-of-pocket costs, that's our way of giving back to those who give so much to our kids," she said.
Special education staff members from District 204 can apply for one or more grants that will enable them to help students with special needs by utilizing specific programs or ideas in the classroom.
"We had one teacher that applied for a grant for a sewing machine so they could make their own weighted vests," Price said.
The vests are used by students with sensory issues, but are very expensive. Using a specific type of sewing machine, the teacher could make them for less than $20, Price said. With the grant, the teacher was able to make a number of vests, and has taught others how to make them as well.
Organizations or businesses specializing in offering services to special needs families, caregivers and educators that are interested in participating in the resource fair should contact Wanda Malone at 630-803-8471 for fair registration information or go to the IPSN PTA website at www.ipsd.org/ipsn to download a copy of the registration form. The registration fee is $45.
The resource fair is just one of the many programs offered by the special needs PTA. During the school year, the group meets monthly and hosts guest speakers. Meetings are typically held the third Tuesday of the month during the academic year at 7 p.m. at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora.
In the winter the PTA also hosts Sibshops, which are workshops for siblings of children with special needs.
"Those siblings of those kids get it, and they understand," Price said.
The children participate in different activities such as crafts and conversation, but the main goal is to just have a connection with someone else who understands, she said.
Now the organization is reaching out to let the community know it is here.
"Despite our best efforts, there are still people out there that don't know we exist," Price said.
Last year the PTA ended the year with 174 members. When Price became president four years ago, there were 58 members. There are about 3,500 students in the district identified with special needs.
"It just speaks to the fact that people don't know about us or for whatever reason haven't joined," she said.
The IPSN PTA was the first special needs PTA in the state, and is also the largest. The organization helped Plainfield schools start its own version, Price said.
"Our PTA is more of a support group than a traditional PTA," Price said. "We don't tend to re-create a lot of programs that school PTAs put on."
The group is a place where parents can ask others for advice on a variety of topics such as finding a pediatrician or dentist who frequently works with special needs children
"Those parents were just so helpful and had a lot of resources and information to pass on," Price said of when she joined. "Nobody understands what it's like to raise a special needs child other than those with special needs children."
The PTA often hears from families who are just moving into the district, or who are considering moving into the area and had questions about special education services in the district.
"The district has always been very supportive of the PTA," Price said of District 204.
Price had one mother call from Kansas City and say she was considering Indian Prairie when her family moved to Illinois. Based on what she heard, her family moved into the district.
"When I moved here, this was such a valuable resource," Price said. "It's one of the most gratifying things I've ever done."
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2718082,6_1_NA17_PTA_S1-100917.article
Special needs PTA working to give classrooms resources they can't afford
September 17, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Social worker Sebastian Oros has seen his students benefit from the efforts of the Indian Prairie Special Needs PTA.
Using video equipment he purchased with a grant from the PTA, he has been able to teach students through video self-modeling. Students who have a social concern are recording performing the task correctly. Later, the student will watch the video of himself or herself, and then actually repeat the action afterwards.
"There's nothing more profound really than watching yourself do something appropriately and trying to emulate it afterwards," Oros said.
If a student is having difficulty transitioning from the classroom to the gym, Oros could use the flip camera to record the student performing the task appropriately. Then, he can send an e-mail of the video to the classroom teacher, who can show it to the student before he or she leaves for the gym.
Oros can also create copies of the video to give parents a DVD with their child performing the social skills correctly so they can reinforce the skills at home, he said. If the student is going to a birthday party but has difficulty saying hello to peers, she or he can watch the DVD of himself or herself performing the task on the way there.
At the time he wrote the grant request, Oros worked at Gombert and Clow elementary schools. He now works at Gombert and Kendall. But the idea of video modeling has caught on and is used at other elementary schools throughout the district. Without the grant and the PTA, Oros said he wouldn't have been able to purchase the video equipment.
"This was kind of on the wish list, and because of the grant I was able to do it," Oros said. "And now it's really started a trend in the district."
The PTA's Special Needs Teacher Grant program receives money from fundraisers held by the organization, and this year the proceeds from the second annual Special Needs Resource Fair will also help fund the grants. The fair will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. This fair focuses on resources designed for those caring for, working with or teaching special needs children.
Last year the first resource fair was held with 18 vendors and a strong turnout of visitors.
"We knew right then we'd do it again," said Lori Price, president of IPSN PTA.
The Teacher Grant program is IPSN PTA's way of giving back to teachers and staff of special education programs in District 204, Price said.
"If we can help offset the out-of-pocket costs, that's our way of giving back to those who give so much to our kids," she said.
Special education staff members from District 204 can apply for one or more grants that will enable them to help students with special needs by utilizing specific programs or ideas in the classroom.
"We had one teacher that applied for a grant for a sewing machine so they could make their own weighted vests," Price said.
The vests are used by students with sensory issues, but are very expensive. Using a specific type of sewing machine, the teacher could make them for less than $20, Price said. With the grant, the teacher was able to make a number of vests, and has taught others how to make them as well.
Organizations or businesses specializing in offering services to special needs families, caregivers and educators that are interested in participating in the resource fair should contact Wanda Malone at 630-803-8471 for fair registration information or go to the IPSN PTA website at www.ipsd.org/ipsn to download a copy of the registration form. The registration fee is $45.
The resource fair is just one of the many programs offered by the special needs PTA. During the school year, the group meets monthly and hosts guest speakers. Meetings are typically held the third Tuesday of the month during the academic year at 7 p.m. at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora.
In the winter the PTA also hosts Sibshops, which are workshops for siblings of children with special needs.
"Those siblings of those kids get it, and they understand," Price said.
The children participate in different activities such as crafts and conversation, but the main goal is to just have a connection with someone else who understands, she said.
Now the organization is reaching out to let the community know it is here.
"Despite our best efforts, there are still people out there that don't know we exist," Price said.
Last year the PTA ended the year with 174 members. When Price became president four years ago, there were 58 members. There are about 3,500 students in the district identified with special needs.
"It just speaks to the fact that people don't know about us or for whatever reason haven't joined," she said.
The IPSN PTA was the first special needs PTA in the state, and is also the largest. The organization helped Plainfield schools start its own version, Price said.
"Our PTA is more of a support group than a traditional PTA," Price said. "We don't tend to re-create a lot of programs that school PTAs put on."
The group is a place where parents can ask others for advice on a variety of topics such as finding a pediatrician or dentist who frequently works with special needs children
"Those parents were just so helpful and had a lot of resources and information to pass on," Price said of when she joined. "Nobody understands what it's like to raise a special needs child other than those with special needs children."
The PTA often hears from families who are just moving into the district, or who are considering moving into the area and had questions about special education services in the district.
"The district has always been very supportive of the PTA," Price said of District 204.
Price had one mother call from Kansas City and say she was considering Indian Prairie when her family moved to Illinois. Based on what she heard, her family moved into the district.
"When I moved here, this was such a valuable resource," Price said. "It's one of the most gratifying things I've ever done."
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2718082,6_1_NA17_PTA_S1-100917.article