Parent to Parent of NYS
500 Balltown Rd
Schenectady, NY 12304
(518) 381-4370, fax (518) 393-9607
December 10, 2013
Dear Interested Parties,
Parent to Parent of NYS is currently seeking applications from family members of individuals with disabilities to participate in the annual Intensive Lay Advocacy Training. This time, we will be holding a day and evening session to accommodate all families. Participants are required to attend all training sessions. Having both day and evening sessions will allow participants greater choice and more flexibility in meeting this requirement. What this means is that if you are unavailable for a morning session, you can participate in the evening group or vice versa.
The training is designed to provide knowledge about special education regulations and policies related to disabilities. Participants will develop advocacy skills and become more competent in advocating for their child and other children. The overall intent of the training is to teach ways to become a more effective advocate, to give participants a better knowledge base of the laws regarding disabilities and to improve communication skills.
Should you attend, there is a general commitment to be willing to educate families in your county. If requested, you may be asked to assist up to three families in your county over the course of the year. Examples of your participation might include talking to another parent about education advocacy, helping another parent problem solve about their child’s education, or helping a parent learn about special education laws. It is not an expectation for you to attend CSE meetings.
Participants are required to attend all training sessions, with each session being five hours long. Some sessions will require homework. Session topics include:
· Parent to Parent Overview Laws, Regulation, Policies
· Evaluations
· Individualized Education Plans
· Least Restrictive Environment
· Communication
· Early Intervention/CPSE
· Section 504
· Transition
· State Complaints
· Mediation
· Resolution Session
· Impartial Hearing
Sessions will be held at OD Heck Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Schenectady. Participants must reside in one of the counties served by this office. The counties are Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington. Selection will be based on the responses to questions in the application. There is no charge for this training and all training materials will be provided.
Day session will be held in the Conference Center, building 3 from 9:30am – 12:300pm and evening sessions from 5:30pm – 8:30pm in building 10.
The dates of the DAY trainings are:
Jan 29, 2013, Feb 12, 2013, Feb 26, 2013, March 12, 2013
March 26, 2013, April 9, 2013, April 23, 2013, May 7, 2013
May 21, 2013, June 4, 2013.
Evening dates are:
Feb 6, 2013, Feb 20, 2013, March 6, 2013, March, 20, 2013
April 3, 2013, April 17, 2013, May 1, 2013, May 15, 2013
May 29, 2013, June 12, 2013
ATTENDANCE AT ALL SESSIONS EITHER DAY or EVENING IS MANDATORY.
Applications must be received by January 23, 2013 for the day sessions and , January 30, 2013 for the evening sessions. Faxed applications are acceptable with a cover sheet. The Fax number is (518) 393-9607.
Applicants who are selected will receive a confirmation call. If you have questions about the application or the Lay Advocacy Training please contact us at:
Parent to Parent of NYS
(518) 381-4370 or (800) 305-8817
Sincerely,
Tina Beauparlant
Regional Director / Education Specialist
Holly Bartczak
Educational Advocate
* Funding for this training is provided through the Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC) project administered by The Advocacy Center, Rochester, NY
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