Special Education Family Resources
February 2024 Edition
Welcome to the FISD Parent Trainers' Resource Newsletter!
Visit the Special Education Family Support website for an assortment of resources, including visuals, strategies, training videos, community supports, and programming information.
"Like" us on Facebook, where we post events, resources, and celebrations.
Did you miss our recent training on safety? You can access the video here. Use access code nC.=rfx7
SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES GRANT
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES): $1,500 (single award) grants are available for eligible students served by special education. Funds can be used to obtain educational materials and resources and/or additional therapy/services.
The SSES application will be closing on March 15th 2024
and will re-open next school year on February 3, 2025.
For additional information, please click here.
To access the application, please click here.
MARCH EVENTS HOSTED BY FISD
Siblings (ages 8+) of students with disabilities are invited to join us on Tuesday, March 19th from 5:30pm - 7:00pm! *Please note- this program is for siblings.
RSVP is required; additional information and registration can be found here.
If this is your child's first Sibshop, please complete the registration form linked here. Also, the parent survey linked here. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Goushey: gousheyk@friscoisd.org
Join STAR Autism to learn practical ways to teach play & social skills in the home & community! This virtual learning event will be held on Wednesday, March 27th from 12pm-1:30pm. Access information will be emailed to your registered email address prior to the event.
RSVP is required; register here.
Calm Parenting Podcast and Celebrate Calm Founder Kirk Martin has provided nearly 1,000,000 parents and teachers in 19 countries very specific, practical strategies to stop yelling, defiance, and power struggles. Kirk will be returning to Frisco for the first time in six years to share new tips & tricks to create calm within your home.
Join us on Wednesday, March 27th at the Frisco ISD Administration Building. RSVP here.
Join STAR Autism to learn practical ways to teach self-help and toileting skills in the home & community! This virtual learning event will be held on Wednesday, April 3rd from 12pm-1:30pm. Access information will be emailed to your registered email address prior to the event.
RSVP is required; register here.
The FISD special education leadership team enjoys sharing coffee & conversation with our families throughout the year. Please join us to learn more about department happenings, share celebrations, and brainstorm ways to partner with one another. Our final Coffee Conversation of the 23-24 school year will be on April 24th from 9:30am-10:30am at Wortham Intermediate.
Please let us know you're joining us! RSVP here.
PARENT SANCTUARY & LENDING LIBRARY
Our new conversation area, sensory items and gross motor activities
Selection of books on a variety of topics, emotional regulation tools, timers, and more
Social skills, fine motor activities, teaching tools, & additional sensory items
The Parent Sanctuary is located at the Early Childhood School (10330 Red Cedar Drive Frisco, TX 75035). Parent Trainers are available on Fridays from 9am-2pm. You will need a valid physical ID to gain entry to the school. Once inside, let the staff know you're there to visit the Parent Sanctuary.
We can't wait to welcome you in!
Bonus opportunity: to meet the needs of staff and working families, the Parent Sanctuary will open on March 26th from 4pm-6pm. Families will enter through the doors to the right of the main entrance.
COMMUNITY EVENTS/RESOURCES
SAVE THE DATE- CONNECTING THE DOTS RESOURCE FAIR: We are SO very lucky to serve as a host for the Region 10 Connecting the Dots Expo! Finding the right information, resource, or person to meet your family's specific needs can be both challenging and frustrating. Join us at Connecting the Dots to learn about the resources available in our community. RSVP is optional; RSVP here.
MIRACLE LEAGUE ADAPTED SPORTS LEAGUES: Miracle League of Frisco is a wonderful resource for our community that was created to ensure that everyone has a chance to PLAY! They offer several different sports with varying levels of support. Registration is currently open for football, cheer, and baseball. You can find more information here.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS MONDAY FUNDAY: Community Connections is an amazing local nonprofit that hosts free programs for children with special needs & their siblings. Join them for "Monday Fundays" through March 18th from 6-6:45pm at Stonebriar Church in Frisco. Learn more/register here.
NTPA/JASMINE'S BEAT ADAPTED DANCE: Join Jasmine's Beat for a dance workshop where you are the star! Students will be guided through a choreographed dance routine that will end with an informal performance during the last class. They are seeking enthusiastic dancers who are interested in various forms of dance! This class will be held in Frisco on Tuesdays, 5:30pm-6pm from through April 23rd. It is open to youth and adults and designed for individuals with various disabilities. Learn more/register here.
A CHANCE TO HIKE: Lewisville Parks & Rec is hosting FREE guided nature walks for members of the special needs community on third Saturdays through May 18th, 10am-12pm. The walk will take place along the wide and level crushed granite surface of the Cottonwood trail. Learn more/register here.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ADAPTIVE TENNIS: Community Connections is an amazing local nonprofit that hosts free programs for children with special needs & their siblings. Join them for tennis lessons through April 23rd from 5 - 5:50pm. Learn more/register here.
PARTNERS RESOURCE WEBINARS: Partners Resource Network's PATH Project is 1 of 4 federally funded Parent Training & Information Centers. They are hosting a variety of helpful webinars & events this month!
- March 6th: Evaluating Children for the Presence of a Disability
- March 7th: Human Socialization Skills
- March 20th: Organizing Special Education Paperwork
- March 21st: Special Needs Planning- Medicaid Waivers, SSI Eligibility, & Preserving Benefits
- March 21st: March Youth Hangout
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PROJECT SKILLS PARENT PROGRAM: Project SKILLS is a workshop series aimed to address some of the very unique concerns of families of children with Autism. Webinars on the following topics are currently offered in English with Spanish captioning: Facilitating Communication in Children with Autism using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Taking Care of Yourself, Shared Book Reading: Opportunities for Language Learning, Project SKILLS X Genetics, Transition to Adulthood: Policies and Procedure, Feeding and Autism, and Understanding Problem Behaviors Displayed by Individuals with ASD. Webinars are also offered exclusively in Spanish. Learn more/register here.
STUDIO MOVIE GRILL SENSORY-FRIENDLY MOVIE SCREENINGS: Screenings are shown with the lights on and the volume lowered; children are free to move around, talk, or even dance in the aisles during the movie. The sensory-friendly screenings are free for children with disabilities and their siblings. Adult tickets are available at a reduced price. Their next screening will be "Kung Fu Panda" on March 16th at 11am. For more information, please visit their website.
LONE STAR ABILITIES FAMILY DINNER NIGHT: Bring your family & your appetite to family dinner night on Thursday, March 21st from 5:30-7:30pm at 54th Street in Frisco. This is a come & go event as they know families’ schedules and needs vary. Meet some new friends who "get it"! For more information about Lone Star Abilities, please visit their website.
FREE WEBINARS: ADDitude is hosting "Toxic Relationship Red Flags & Interventions for Teens with ADHD" on March 21st at 12pm, "Building a College-Readiness Timeline for Teens with ADHD" on March 28th at 12pm.
ACE BOARD GAME NIGHT: Adaptive Community Experience (ACE) invites you to Board Game Nights at Starbucks! ACE's inclusive and engaging events provide opportunities for individuals with special needs to connect with peers, develop social skills, and experience the joy of board games. Their next event will be hosted on March 23rd in Allen from 5pm to 7pm. This events is free; registration is required. Ages 16+.
SENSORY-FRIENDLY THEATRE PERFORMANCE: The Dallas Children's Theater's next sensory-friendly performance will be "Life Doesn't Frighten Me!" on March 23rd at 1:30pm. General production adaptations include leaving the house lights up a few levels higher than a standard performance and reducing the sound level. They also offer a "Quiet Room" for children who need a break and a social story to prepare for your visit (found on their website) Tickets are heavily discounted to $5 per person. To purchase tickets, please call the DCT Box Office at 214-740-0051. For more information, please visit their website.
SENSORY SUNDAY AT CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE: Join Crayola on Sunday, March 24th from 10am-12pm for Sensory Sunday! Enjoy the attraction adapted for those with sensory needs. For more information, please visit their website.
STARCATCHERS THERAPEUTIC ARTS/THEATRE: Starcatchers is an absolute family favorite! They are committed to making sure everyone can perform! If your child may be interested in joining a production, they offer a free workshop to explore the experience. Learn more/register here.
POWER WHEELCHAIR SOCCER: If you are looking to be part of the exciting sport of power wheelchair soccer, North Texas Fully Charged is looking for players of all ages, volunteers, and sponsors. For more information, please reach out to Team Manager, Kristin Villegas. Phone: 972-951-3028 Email: info@NTFullyCharged.org You can also visit their website.
IT'S A SENSORY WORLD: It's A Sensory World hosts classes, seasonal camps, and access to a sensory gym. To learn more, please visit their website.
SENSORY-FRIENDLY PLAY TIME: We Rock The Spectrum (Dallas) offers private play options with enhanced cleaning measures. Children are welcome to come in and enjoy the same activities that are offered during private sessions and private parties. This includes full use of the gym with all equipment, and an arts & crafts section that has: beading, painting, lanyards and much more. Please visit their website for additional information.
KIDZANIA: KidZania is a dynamic, real-life city built to inspire, educate and empower children through immersive learning experiences. This is great for practicing life skills, inspiring new leisure activities, and exploring career possibilities! To learn more, please visit their website.
PLANO ADAPTED RECREATION: Plano Adapted Recreation offers classes and activities for individuals with disabilities from age 3 through adulthood. They have a range of options from gymnastics to teen/adult dance nights. For a list of current classes & activities, please click here.
AMC SENSORY-FRIENDLY MOVIE SCREENINGS: AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where lights are up, and sound is down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! The Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Wednesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. For more information, please visit their website.
SENSORY SENSITIVE SUNDAYS AT CHECK E CHEESE: Chuck E Cheese locations open two hours early on the first Sunday of every month, specifically for families of children with disabilities. Each location reduces lighting/sound and trains staff to support unique needs.
GYMMIE KIDS: Gymmie kids is a gymnastics program tailored to each exceptional child's particular needs. It is goal directed towards gaining strength, improving gross motor skills, and increasing confidence while learning gymnastics skills at the same time. In order to enroll in the program, you will need to attend an in-person evaluation. There are several levels of support available at the Plano West location, so the evaluator will be best able to place your child. For more information, visit their website.
RISE ADAPTIVE SPORTS: RISE's mission is to assist those with physical challenges to Recover, Inspire, Succeed, and Empower themselves and others by providing inclusive adaptive recreational sports programs. There are programs like handcycling, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, and rugby offered several times each month. Visit their website for current events and registration information.
MARCH SPOTLIGHT: SENSORY
We have a HUGE variety of items to support sensory needs in the Parent Sanctuary. All of these items (& so much more) can be explored and borrowed to use at home or in the classroom. Come see us!
We also have a variety of sensory regulation tools that are perfect for use when you're on the go!
Sensory Resources:
The Frisco ISD Special Education Family Support website hosts a variety of sensory supports that can be accessed/downloaded; explore those here.
These articles may be helpful in supporting your child's sensory needs:
Sensory play that encourages development
Understanding sensory-seeking & sensory avoidance
Ideas for using sensory play to encourage development
Strategies to support sensory processing