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STEP’s is a new parent lead group that is committed to advancing, involving and including Darien’s residents with disabilities in all facets of our community. STEP’s was originally The Darien Council for Special Education that was established more than 18 years ago by parents with children with special needs. The main goals of the council were providing enrichment opportunities, advocacy and representation for their children’s needs in the community. Responding to these needs, the Darien YWCA began a new program called Funbusters, which was a fun and recreational program for children and young adults. Funbusters is one of the most successful programs provided by the YWCA today. The youth groups meet at the community’s teen facilities, the Depot and the SHAC at the Noroton Presbyterian Church. Members of the young adult groups also gather for outings and special events. In 1995, the Council was incorporated and developed a resource center at the YWCA and the Darien Library and eventually came under the auspice of the YWCA.
The Council, now known as STEP’s, remains under the auspice of the YWCA and encourages parents with children with special needs and any other interested people to join the group. the group encourages anyone to attend our meetings where program development, ideas for future speakers, and activities are parent driven in collaboration with resources available in Darien and surrounding communities as well as resources at the State and local levels. STEP’s looks forward to a full schedule of events and educational panels. To find out more about STEP’s, please call the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 extension 61. You can also reach them at YWCASTEPSDarien@optonline.net.
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2005-2006 platform. Look what we did!
Presentations held at the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT, 9:30am-11:30am
September 27, October 11, 18 & 25: Tuesday evenings. 6:30 – 9:00 PM. UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL EDUCATION. Parents and Educators Planning Together. The Parent to Parent Network, the Birth to Three Local Interagency Coordinating Council of Lower Fairfield, the Y.W.C.A. Darien/Norwalk S.T.E.P.S. and the Darien Board of Education is pleased to offer the U.S.E. course on four evenings. This course is offered to parents and professionals to learn more about special education. (CEUs are Available) It will consist of four evening workshops and will highlight some of the changes in the reauthorization of IDEA 2004, the IEP process and document with an emphasis on inclusion. Attendees will participate in a variety of skill-building activities and develop a file for maintaining their child’s educational documents. Trainers are Lolli Ross and Ginger Spiers. In order to register, you must attend all sessions. There are a limited number of parent stipends to help with childcare costs that you arrange on your own. Please register by September 14, 2005, by calling Suzanne Ford at (203) 629 –1880 ext 100 or by email: ford@arcgreenwich.org. Held at the Middlesex Middle School Library, 204 Hollow Tree Ridge Rd, Darien, CT 06820. Funded by: The Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities. Sponsored by:A.J. Pappanikou Center for Developmental Disabilities. Supported by:ARC Greenwich; Parent to Parent Network of Lower Fairfield County, Y.W.C.A. DARIEN/NORWALK S.T.E.P.S. & Darien Board of Education.
October 20: 7:00 pm, Thursday. Nancy Schwartz, Ph.D., speech and language pathologist with extensive experience working with children and teens on the autism spectrum, will discuss Relationship Development Intervention (RDI): TheStages and How to Get There. RDI is an approach to intervention for children on the autism spectrum that confronts the core deficits of autism, i.e., the establishment of a dynamic system of information processing. It is a developmental and systematic approach through which children develop relationships with other people by learning emotional referencing, social coordination, declarative language, flexible thinking, relational information processing, foresight and hindsight. Sponsored by STEPS of Darien. Held at the Darien YWCA. To RSVP or to find out more about STEP’s, please call the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 extension 27. You can also reach them at YWCASTEPSDarien@optonline.net. We are supported by the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT.
November: Roundtable with SPED administration and staff
December: Coffee
January 25: 9:15-11:15am. Wednesday. The Darien Special Education Department will present information about the reading curriculum currently used by the Darien school district. Presenters: Shannon Converse: Guided Reading/Comprehension, Sari Grant-Langlois & Christine Clark: PAF (Preventing Academic Failure) and Merrill and Joan Stolfi: Wilson Reading. Held at the Darien YWCA. To RSVP or to find out more about STEP’s, please call the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 ext. 27. You can also reach them at YWCASTEPSDarien@optonline.net.
February 22, 2006: 9:15 A.M. to 11:15 A.M., Wednesday. First we learn to read; then we read to learn. Kristen Viesselman, M.A., a special education teacher and Clinic Director of Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, Darien, will discuss Literacy Skills for School Success. As Clinic Director, Ms. Viesselman conducts learning ability evaluations, manages the clinical instruction, diagnoses learning challenges and conducts professional development workshops. In this workshop, she will examine three sensory-cognitive functions that affect oral language comprehension and expression, retention, spelling, decoding, reading comprehension and written language: concept imagery, phonemic awareness and symbol imagery. Students with reading, spelling and/or comprehension difficulties may exhibit weaknesses in any or all of these essential underlying cognitive functions. Held at the Darien YWCA. To RSVP or to find out more about STEP’s, please call the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 ext. 27. You can also reach them at YWCASTEPSDarien@optonline.net. We are supported by the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT.
March 29: 9:15-11:15am. Speaker is Eileen Luddy. Held at the Darien YWCA. To RSVP or to find out more about STEP’s, please call the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 extension 27. You can also reach them at YWCASTEPSDarien@optonline.net. We are supported by the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT.
April 26: 9:15-11:15am. Speaker is Ann Majure. Held at the Darien YWCA. To RSVP or to find out more about STEP’s, please call the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 extension 27. You can also reach them at YWCASTEPSDarien@optonline.net. We are supported by the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT.
May 31: Educated, Empowered, Effective: Being a Better Advocate for Your Child.
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2004-2005 platform Look what we did!
Presentations held at the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT, 9:30am-11:30am
September 29, 2004
The New Dynamics of The PPT: An Insiders Update on What’s Going On In Today’s PPT Meetings and Why The Stakes Have Never Been Higher.
Speaker Noreen J. O’Mahoney, C.S.W., S.D.A. Director, Collaborative Advocacy Associates.
October 27, 2004
The Six Principles of IDEA: Focus on FAPE and LRE
Speakers are special education attorneys Nora Belanger and Anne Eason of 10 Wall Street in Norwalk, CT. The six principles of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) are free appropriate public education (FAPE), appropriate evaluation, individualized education program, least restrictive environment (LRE), parent and student participation in decision making, and procedural safeguards
December 8, 2004
Round Table - Special Education in Darien
Please join Robin Pavia, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, Tori Chiluisa, Assistant Director of Special Education, Elementary level, Ann Paul, Assistant Director of Special Education, Secondary level, and Kathy Nutley, Preschool Coordinator and Assistant Principal Hindley Elementary School for a roundtable discussion and overview concerning special education in Darien.
February 23, 2005
Dr. Eileen Luddy, educational consultant
Creating Independence: What every parent needs to know. Dr. Luddy is a Educational Consultant and Disability Specialist. This presentation will provide parents an opportunity to learn strategies that will encourage more independence in their children at home. These strategies will also help with generalization of skills from school to home. Group discussion, simulations, and handouts will be shared. This presentation applies to children of all ages.
March 30, 2004
STEPS of Darien Networking Brunch, privately hosted. Call for details.
April 27, 2005
Rae Suba, OTR/L. Therapeutic Listening, An introductory discussion.
This lecture will introduce the concept of “modulated” or “gated” music for use in home and clinic based sensory programs. Therapeutic Listening offers wonderful sensory benefits for children and adults of any age with Sensory Integration issues, learning disabilities as well as children on the autistic spectrum. Results include positive change or improvement in the areas of regulation, sensory integration, attention, play, fine and gross motor skills. A brief overview of alternative music programs will also be given.
May 25, 2005
Understanding the Changes in IDEA 2004.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 makes important changes to the current federal special education law. IDEA 2004 changes the development and content of the IEP document, the discipline rules for special education students, and several due process rights. There is discussion of when prevailing school districts can recover attorneys fees from parents. It adopts pieces of the No Child Left Behind Act. Make sure you understand these new legal changes! Attorneys Nora Belanger, Anne Eason, and Eve Kessler will provide you with an overview of many of the new requirements.
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2003-2004 platform Look what we did!
Presentations held at the Darien YWCA, 49 Old Kings Highway, Darien, CT, 9:30am-11:30am
Monday - September 29, 2003
The ABCs of Effective IEPs: How to Read and Write a meaningful Individualized Education Plan
This lecture will help both parents and school based staff make and IEP that is a comprehensive and meaningful contract between themselves and their district.
Noreen O’Mahoney, C.S.W., S.D.A., Director, Collaborative Advocacy Associates.
Monday - November 17, 2003
Bring Your Child’s IEP! (Individualized Education Program)
The purpose of this lecture is to assess and understand your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and to plan strategies for developing a comprehensive IEP especially with regard to goals and objectives. The presenter will also talk about the importance of being team players on the part of all PPT (Planning and Placement Team) members.
Eileen Luddy, Ph.D., Director of Luddy & Associates, an Educational Consulting Agency that provides training & support on behalf of students with significant learning needs.
Monday - November 24, 2003
Special Education Round Table
This Discussion will focus on Special Education in Darien.
Dr. Mary Jo Kramer, Superintendent; Ms. Mary Capwell, Assistant Superintendent – Elementary Education; Mr. Donald Fiftal, Assistant Superintendent – Secondary Education; Ms. Robin Pavia Director of Special Education and others
Monday - January 26, 2004
Writing and Using Social Stories for Instruction (Part I) and Stories from the real World:
First Person Accounts (Part II)
Part I: In 1993 Carol Gray introduced Social Stories as an instructional strategy to help students (particularly students with autism) understand and respond to social situations. Social Stories are short narratives that describe a situation in terms of relevant social cues and common responses, providing a student with accurate and specific information regarding what occurs in a situation and why. Learn the basic steps in writing and using social stories. Part II: More and more people with disabilities are telling us their stories, what works for them and what doesn’t. To begin to understand what we need to do to support people with disabilities, we need to go directly to the source and really listen to the people who are the recipients of our support. Listen to what a few people have to tell us about living with a disability
Ann Majure, Ph.D., Educational and Behavioral Consultant, has over 25 years experience working with children and adults with a range of developmental and emotional issues. She has a Doctorate in Special Education and a Masters in Clinical Social Work. She is also a certified Brain Gym Consultant. Currently, Ann is in private practice providing consultations to individuals, families, school personnel and other service providers.
Monday - February 23, 2004
Sensory Integration Strategies for the Home/Classroom
This discussion will briefly introduce Sensory Integration Dysfunction and help promote awareness, understanding and training for those who work with children that have these difficulties. Also provided will be therapeutic strategies, activity ideas, environmental and equipment recommendations that can be implemented to support any child in the educational and home environments.
Rae Suba, OTR/L is a certified pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in Sensory Integration Dysfunction and other developmental disorders. She is director and owner of the Child’s Play clinic in Westport where she provides private therapy to children. She serves as an adjunct professor of Pediatric Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University, has contributed her professional expertise to articles for Parents Magazine and various other family-oriented publications, and has lectured extensively.
Monday - March 29, 2004
Evidence-Based Practices for Teaching Reading to Children with Disabilities
The focus of this topic is early literacy instruction for children with disabilities, particularly children with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Whitbread will give a brief history of reading instruction for children with disabilities, followed by a description of the components of effective reading instruction for all children based on the most current research, as well as research specific to children with intellectual disabilities. The presenter will talk about current practices in Connecticut in teaching children with disabilities to read, and what needs to be done to change those practices so we can all raise the bar for children with disabilities. Finally, the presenter will talk about modifications and adaptations to help older, less able readers to access the general education curriculum.
Kathleen Whitbread, Ph.D., University of Connecticut Center on Disabilities
Monday - April 26, 2004
Integrated Related Services and the Role of Staff in Inclusive Programs
This lecturer will focus on collaboration of staff to provide integrated related services to children with disabilities in regular classrooms. Models of integrated related services will be reviewed. The rational for using an integrated model, as well as misconceptions about integrated services, will be discussed.
Deborah Richards, M.S. CCC SLP - Education Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education and Pupil Services
Monday - May 31, 2004
This lecture will discuss ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
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2002-2003 platform Look what we did!
Presentations held at the Darien Library, Leroy Road, Darien, CT, 9:30am-11:30am
Monday – October 7, 2002
Bring Your Child’s IEP! (Individualized Education Program)
The purpose of this lecture is to assess and understand your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and to plan strategies for developing a comprehensive IEP. The presenter will also talk about the importance of being team players on the part of all PPT (Planning and Placement Team) members.
Eileen Luddy, Ph. D, Director of Luddy & Associates, an Educational Consulting Agency that provides training & support on behalf of students with significant learning needs.
Monday – November 4, 2002
Positive Behavior Supports
Most of us want to “behave” appropriately most of the time. Some of us may have particular challenges that make it difficult to understand at times what we are suppose to do and not do. This presentation will discuss 1) ways to assess and understand the reasons some behavior challenges occur and 2) ways to develop personalized strategies to help the person with behavior challenges as well as those who support him or her.
Ann Majure, Ph.D., Educational and Behavioral Consultant
Ann Majure has over 25 years experience working with children and adults with a range of developmental and emotional issues. She has a Doctorate in Special Education and a Masters in Clinical Social Work. She is also a certified Brain Gym * Consultant. Currently, Ann is in private practice providing consultations to individuals, families, school personnel, and other service providers.
Monday – January 6, 2002
How to promote Pre-writing & Handwriting in the Young Child
This discussion will focus on the components necessary for a child to be successful when coloring, drawing and writing. Creative and fun home activities will be provided. Also explored, is how occupational therapy can help child who has difficulty in this area. A brief introduction to “Handwriting Without Tears” a multi-sensory program designed by Jan Olsen OTR/L will also be included.
Rae Suba OTR/L is a certified pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in Sensory Integration Dysfunction and other developmental disorders. She is director and owner of the Child’s Play clinic in Westport where she provides private therapy to children. Suba serves as an adjunct professor of pediatric occupational therapy at Quinnipiac University, has contributed her professional expertise to articles for Parents magazine and various other family-oriented publications, and has lectured extensively.
Monday – February 3, 2003
Person Centered Planning
This lecture will cover some of the various planning tools used to assist all team members with a child who has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan). Planning tools discussed will be: COACH (Choosing Outcomes and Accommodations for Children), MAPS (Making Action Plans), PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) and Circles of Friends.
Michele Schneider, MS, Founder and Director of the Pound Ridge Learning Center in Pound Ridge, NY, Advocate, MS in Special Education, Orton-Gillingham Practitioner and Donna Franchini Sparago, Family Case Management, Case Management Supervisor, DMR (Department of Mental Retardation) Southwest Region.
Monday – March 3, 2003
Brain Gym®.
Brain Gym® is an educational program which uses quick and enjoyable physical activities to enhance learning, expression, and movement abilities in children and adults. Learn a few of these simple movements and how to use them to improve a range of skills such as memory, math, reading, writing, concentration, and communication. Take away with you some valuable tools that anyone can use. Ann Majure, Ph. D. Ann is an Educational and Behavioral Consultant with over 25 years experience working with both children and adults. She is a certified Brain Gym® Consultant.
Monday – April 7, 2003 RESCHEDULED TO MAY 19!!!
Transitions: Elementary School to Middle School and Middle School to High School and Beyond…
Transitions are a part of life. As a student grows older and advances in grades these transitions sometimes can be a challenge for any student, particularly a student with special needs. This topic will discuss these transitions and the need for careful planning with all PPT (Planning and Placement Team) members for success. The concentration of this topic will be on the transition requirements under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) which require transition planning to begin at age 13.
Karen Halliday, Education Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education and Pupil Services, Christopher D. Librandi, Community Resource Coordinator, DMR (Department of Mental Retardation) Southwest Region and Fred Fachner, Vocational Councilor, BRS (Bureau of Rehabilitation Services).
Monday – May 5, 2003
Individual Supports - Living Options for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Individual supports are individually tailored which assist people to live in their own home, family home, or other home in the community. Individual supports include self directed supports (self determination) or enhanced family supports such as personal assistance, self advocacy, skill development, social and leisure services, support planning and collaboration, adaptive equipment and supplies and other individually determined supports based on the individual support plan and individual budget. Funds are flexible, portable, and the person, usually with the assistance of their family, decide how those funds will be spent. The speakers will also cover the issues families face when their child turns 18 such as guardianship, benefits, creative use of respite providers to build skills and to prepare for independent supports and how to start preparing for adulthood.
Ken Cabral, Individual and Family Support Resource Manager, DMR (Department of Mental Retardation) Southwest Region and Donna Franchini Sparago, Family Case Management, Case Management Supervisor DMR (Department of Mental Retardation) Southwest Region.
Monday – May 19, 2003
Transitions: Elementary School to Middle School and Middle School to High School and Beyond…
Transitions are a part of life. As a student grows older and advances in grades these transitions sometimes can be a challenge for any student, particularly a student with special needs. This topic will discuss these transitions and the need for careful planning with all PPT (Planning and Placement Team) members for success. The concentration of this topic will be on the transition requirements under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) which require transition planning to begin at age 13.Karen Halliday, Education Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education and Pupil Services, and Fred Fachner, Vocational Councilor, BRS (Bureau of Rehabilitation Services).
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2001-2002 Platform - Look what we did!
Tuesday - May 22, 2001 MOCK IEP Meeting
Come witness a “Nightmare IEP” (Individualized Education Plan) and then a “Dream IEP”. Tips for a successful IEP meeting will be discussed. Become empowered with knowledge to be an effective advocate for your student. Mary Campbell, Ph.D., New Canaan Public School District School Psychologist
Monday - September 17, 2001 Prepare for the Special Needs Journey – Navigating the Special Education Maze!
A practical step-by-step workshop for parents of children with special needs on how to get organized and stay organized in order to be an effective partner in planning for your child’s educational needs and IEP meetings (Individualized Education Plan)
Noreen O’Mahoney: CSW, SDA, Collaborative Advocate, The New Learning Therapy Center, Westport, CT
Eve Kessler, Esq.: Council on Developmental Disabilities; Federal Office of Special Education Programming’s Self-Assessment
Steering Committee for Special Education in Connecticut
Wednesday - October 10, 2001 The History of the Civil Rights Movement for People with Disabilities
This lecture will focus on the history of people with disabilities and the journey that has been made. David C. Shaw, Esq.
Monday - November 19, 2001 Understanding Standardized Testing and How to Interpret the Results)
This lecture focuses on the various tests school district uses to assist & evaluate students. Robin Lawler Pavia, Asst Dir, Spec Ed, Darien
Sunday - December 16, 2001 - 5pm-8pm Holiday Party at Joanna Templeton’s Home
5 Tanglewood Trail, Darien
Wednesday - January 9, 2002 Using the IEP Process to Achieve Inclusion
This seminar is designed to help parents and professionals understand the law (IDEA ’97) and develop an IEP that enables students with disabilities to succeed in their neighborhood schools. Inclusion at any level can be achieved using collaborative planning, instructional strategies, accommodations, adaptations, related services, and other appropriate supports.
Anne Eason, Esq., Coordinator of SPED*NET New Canaan; Michele Schneider, MS, Dir. of the Pound Ridge Learning Center in Pound
Ridge, NY, Advocate, MS in Spec Ed; Orton-Gillingham, Practitioner; Kathy Whitbread, PhD, Educational Consultant, PhD in Educatio
Wednesday - February 13, 2002 Extended School Year Services (ESY)
This presentation will focus on ESY services. Bruce Garrison from the Office of Protection and Advocacy
Wednesday - March 13, 2001 Recent Developments in Special Education Law
This presentation will cover the recent developments in special education law. Andrew A. Feinstein, Esq.
Wednesday - April 10, 2002 Designing instruction and adapting curriculum
The purpose of this meeting is to learn how effective teams design instruction for students with special needs in the regular classrooms. The presenter will share examples of instruction for a variety of students, and teach parents how they can influence and support the instructional strategies. Eileen Luddy, Director of Luddy and Associates, an Educational Consulting Agency that provides training and support on behalf of students with significant learning needs.
Wednesday - May 8, 2002 Special Needs Trust
The purpose of this lecture is to inform parents of the importance of having a special needs trust for their child with a disability.
Matthew Lefevre, Esq.
Wednesday - June 12, 2002 STEP’S 1st Annual End of School Year Luncheon
Venue to be determined