Family Bi-Weekly Update
Family Bi-Weekly Newsletter April 21, 2023
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Getting to Know the Association of Parents & Staff (APS)
Heather Remien, Glenbrook HS 225
My husband, Jerry, and I have lived in Northbrook since 1994. We have three children: Jerry (25), Ashlyn (22) and Ryan (19). All three attended school in Districts 28 & 225 and Ryan is what brought us to TrueNorth. Ryan has Autism and is about to complete his first year in the TrueNorth Transition program in Highland Park. I have been a member of the APS Board since Ryan was in his early years of elementary school. I am grateful for the APS Board for not only the exposure to all the information and resources available, but just as important the many valuable relationships that have formed because of it. I have particularly enjoyed the opportunity to witness the transformation that has taken place with NSSED evolving into TrueNorth. In my free time I enjoy spending time in the summer with family in Wisconsin, gardening, photography, and paddle tennis.
If you would like to connect with your district representative or have questions for our Parent Engagement Facilitator, Nicole Magesis, please email us at apsnewsletter@truenorth804.org
Advocacy Opportunity!
Engage with your legislators by sending a letter or completing a witness slip indicating your support for the wage increase for Direct Support Professionals (DSP)
Support SB2026 and HB3569
What is the IDD community seeking in FY24?
SB2026 and HB3569 would implement a $4 per hour DSP wage increase beginning 1/1/24.
The ask is $88.5M in addition to the Governor’s Introduced Budget.
They Deserve More is moving forward assertively with state legislators to advocate strongly for a $4 per hour wage increase for the dedicated Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Once again, it is so important that legislators hear from you -- their constituents -- about why this increase is so critically needed to support people with disabilities, their families and the staff who provide day services and 24/7/365 residential care.
Tell your legislators to implement a $4 per hour raise increase for DSPs.
Click the link below to learn more and send a letter to your legislator. Encourage your friends and family to do the same!
Send a Witness Slip to the Senate Committee that you support higher wages for DSPs!
HERE IS WHAT YOU DO!
Take this Link to Access the General Assembly Witness Slip Site
- Click on the "Create Witness Slip" button";
- Complete all information for "I. Identification"
- For "II. Representation" indicate if you are an individual with a disability, parent/family, staff at a provider agency, etc.;
- For "III. Position":
- click on the <Select Subject Matter> drop down box and select "SB 2026"
- select "Proponent"
- click on the "Add Position" button
- For "IV. Testimony", select "Record of Appearance Only
- Click on the box next to "I Agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement"
- Click on the box in the lower right corner "Create (Slip)."
You have indicated directly to the Senate Committee that you support higher wages for DSPs!
Social, Recreational & Learning Opportunities
The TrueNorth Foundation STAR Campaign - Staff, Teacher Appreciation & Recognition! /Próximamente: la campaña STAR de la Fundación TrueNorth - ¡Apreciación y reconocimiento del personal y los maestros!
It’s hard to believe but the end of the school year will be here before we know it. Why not get started thanking your child’s teacher, assistant, therapist, bus driver, or other staff member today?
Please complete your STAR application by TODAY (Friday, April 21) to guarantee delivery the
week of May 8-12 (Teacher Appreciation Week)!
The TrueNorth Foundation is here to help! Please consider making a donation to the TrueNorth Foundation in honor of that special staff member and we’ll do the rest!
The individual(s) you honor will receive a letter with your personal message included and a special certificate. This recognition will be shared with their Supervisor and the TrueNorth Superintendent. Your donation will help support the important work our Foundation does such as funding grants for programming that benefits our students and staff and awarding scholarships to students and teaching assistants.
Use the following link to submit your application and payment online: https://forms.gle/iA8y2qkce87ZcEFV6 or print, complete and mail the attached form.
Please contact truenorth804foundation@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you for your support!
JCC Northbrook presents Teen-Made Film About Mental Health: The Stigma
Film Screening, Panel Discussion & Mental Health Resource Fair for Teens 6-12th Grade
Ari Braun and Eden Gunsberg, 8th graders at Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park, wrote, directed, and acted in this short film, The Stigma, about a teen, who is silently struggling with mental health issues and finds an unlikely connection with another teen dealing with their own mental health challenges. 6th–12th graders can watch the film, participate in a discussion and learn about mental health resources.
Monday, May 1
7-8:30 PM
Bernard Weinger JCC
300 Revere Drive, Northbrook
After the film screening attendees will have the option to participate in a panel Q/A with the student filmmakers and mental health professionals, and get resources from local mental health organizations. This will be a powerful and exciting event for teens and adults in their lives.
Questions? Contact Sam Savin at ssavin@jccchicago.org
DPS109 Parent/Guardian Webinar Series with Dr. Doug Bolton
District 109 is excited to announce that, in partnership with PPS109 and Dr. Doug Bolton, we will be hosting a series of virtual parent/guardian/community workshops this Spring.
Understanding Development (4/13)
Addressing The Greatest Worries of Parents & Guardians (4/27)
Understanding Children’s Hardest Moments (5/4)
The Basics of Childhood Resilience (5/11)
Collaborative Problem Solving (5/18)
Please click here to access the zoom link for all of the upcoming events. Each webinar will begin at 7 p.m. No sign-up is required ahead of time, and the sessions will be recorded and distributed for anyone that cannot attend.
Blaze Buddy Baseball
Glenview Blaze Buddy Ball has been played in Glenview for the past 20 years free of
charge for individuals who have physical, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. This is NOT limited to Glenview residents.
Blaze Buddy Ball plays a 6-game season on Sunday afternoons from 4:00-5:00 in May
and June at the Crowley Park baseball field in Glenview. Our Glenview Blaze Travel
baseball players team up as a "buddy" with each player, working on hitting, running
the bases to fielding and throwing. Blaze Buddy Ball Jerseys and hats are also provided. Dan Neppl, John Ruddy and Greg Neppl coach our teams.
Go to https://www.glenviewblazebaseball.com/ click on Teams and Buddy Ball to register.
For more information, please contact Jim McManus at jimmcmanus2727@gmail.com
Lurie's SAILS (Supporting Adolescents with Independent Life Skills) Program
Lurie Children's SAILS (Supporting Adolescents with Independent Life Skills) program offers a six-week curriculum to teach teens to prepare for their future in work, college and managing their healthcare. There are also sessions for parents for more information and support.
Madame ZuZu's Karaoke Night
Everyone is welcome to join us for our monthly meetup with TotalLink participants and friends at:
Madame ZuZu's Karaoke Night
Dates:
May 18
Time:
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Location:
Madame ZuZu’s Cafe
1876 1st St.
Highland Park, IL
Register HERE
Kohl Children's Museum - Everyone at Play
Kohl Children's Museum Everyone at Play
Sunday, Apr 23, 2023, 02:00 PM
2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, IL 60026, USA
Protected Tomorrows Parent University
Class 5: Social Programs: Where Are They Hiding?
Date/Time
Date(s) - May 11, 2023
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Speaker: Mary Anne Ehlert, President & Founder, Protected Tomorrows, Inc.
Description:
Friends are an important part of everyone’s quality of life. Recreation and relaxation with friends is often the key to our happiness. Where to we find programs and services to help us? How might you start to think about the process to build a social circle for your child, utilizing the technology and other resources available to us?
Mary Anne Ehlert will host this online Zoom class on:
May 11th, 2023
12:00pm – 1:00 pm CDT
Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD)
Chicago’s Metropolitan Area Parent Training and Information Center!
SIX PRINCIPLES OF IDEA /SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAINING
Family Movie Night: Black Panther Wakanda Forever
April 22 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Bring the whole family and your own movie snacks for our FREE Family Movie Nights.
- Doors will open 30 minutes prior to show time.
- These are FREE events; advance registration is required.
- Please note that NSSRA staff will not be available to supervise participants.
All Ages
FREE
Date: 04/27/2023 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Online Webinar
Curt's Cafe...the place to be!
Looking for a warm and cozy place to hang out on a Monday morning, either by yourself or with friends? Come by to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and fresh scone while you support TrueNorth Transition students demonstrate their amazing job readiness skills at this job training site. We're open for business every Monday that school is in session, from 9-11 am. Curt's Cafe is located at 1766 2nd Street in Highland Park.
JCC Chicago and JCFS present Raising Emotionally Healthy Children
Marci Kreiner, Pediatric Occupational Therapist from Integrated Pediatric Therapies at JCFS, teaches us about what anxiety is and how it can present in young children. Leave with strategies to help address anxiety for the whole family and ideas to raise emotionally healthy children. Register for this free online event on Weds., May 10 at 12:30pm.
Admitted to the Hospital? Call on Aaron's Coffee Corner for a Free Cup of Coffee
APS board member, Carolyn Koppel is founder of this important non profit organization that provides 24/7 access to free, fresh, quality coffee to the family, friends and caregivers of critically ill children admitted to the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units at Lurie Children’s Hospital. For more information Click Here!
RESOURCES
World Institute on Disability: Disability Benefits 101
Disability Benefits 101 gives you online tools and information on employment, health coverage, and benefits.
You can plan ahead and learn how work and benefits go together.
Disability Benefits 101 - Illinois
Rush Resource Directory
Although the Autism Resource Directory is targeted to families with a family member with Autism many of the resources listed are for individuals with varying disabilities and special needs. For example, dentists or doctors available to families.
Podcasts
Winnetka Voices
Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.
Episode #5: Progressive Education: 100+ Years Strong in Winnetka
Ongoing Support Groups
Dad's Meet-Up Group
All dads are invited to join this meet-up group sponsored by the Special Father's Network and C.I.T.Y. of Support. The group will be meeting on a monthly basis for the purpose of creating a safe place for dads raising children with special needs to learn from one another, discuss issues of concern, and form long-lasting friendships. https://cityofsupport.org/event/dads-meet-up-group-2
Dads who are interested in joining are encouraged to send an email to: hello@cityofsupport.org for sign-up information.
Join us for information, resources, tips and strategies on a variety of topics to empower you in your parenting or caregiving journey with your child with autism. Come to connect and interact with others navigating a similar journey! Parents of newly diagnosed children are strongly encouraged to attend.
Sound Experience: a social experience for families of children with hearing loss
Lurie Children's Sound Experience is a social experience for families of children with hearing loss. We offer Sound Experience four Saturday afternoons throughout the school year at our Outpatient Center in Westchester.
The program aims to provide:
- A network of parents of children with hearing loss who are going through or have gone through similar situations and to share experiences and information
- Information for families about hearing loss and how it affects our children
- An opportunity for children with hearing loss to meet other children with hearing loss
What to Expect at Sound Experience
- Parents informally share information and stories before the formal breakout sessions
- Children and siblings of all ages are entertained with a dedicated staff of volunteers
- Parents meet in an adjoining room to discuss the meeting’s topic
How to Get Involved
To learn more about Sound Experience, ask your audiologist or contact Cara Donahue at 312.227.3061 or cdonahue@luriechildrens.org.
ParentConnect: a family support group offered in partnership with The Chicago Lighthouse’s Virtual Parent Support Group
APH FamilyConnect and The Chicago Lighthouse are pleased to offer this virtual support group for parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired. These monthly sessions are for families to connect with and learn from each other about the joys, challenges, and adventures of raising children with visual impairments and blindness. These sessions are open to families. You only need to register once for this ongoing series. The No ACVREP or professional development credits will not be available.
About the Association of Parents and Staff
The Association of Parents and Staff (APS) is an organization of parents who have children with special needs in any of TrueNorth's 18 member school districts, and the staff who serve them. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of our children with disabilities through advocacy, partnership and support. Together with our staff partners, we hope to heighten awareness and understanding of learning differences, provide ongoing training and education, and offer support and connections to all.
Whether children are enrolled in a TrueNorth instructional classroom or receive services through their local school district, all parents of children with learning differences are welcome.
If you would like to connect with your district representative or have questions for our Parent Engagement Facilitator, Nicole Magesis, please email us at apsnewsletter@truenorth804.org
TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 neither endorses nor sponsors any external organization or activity represented in this material. The distribution or display of this material is provided as a community service.
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