GLEAN START Coaches Newsletter
February 2019
Parent Resources
Michigan ASD Support and Service Providers
Michigan Alliance for Families is a statewide resource to connect families of children with disabilities to resources to help improve their children’s education. We help facilitate parent involvement as a means of improving educational services and outcomes for students with disabilities. Michigan Alliance for Families can assist you in knowing your rights, effectively communicating your child’s needs, and advising how to help them develop and learn.
Easterseals Michigan is a leader in providing comprehensive, emerging and evidence-based treatment for individuals and their families. We offer innovative therapies as well as training, support, and education services to create life-changing solutions for those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.
Genesee Health System uses a relationship-based model of care to empower the people we serve and all members of our community to be the drivers of their own health and wellness goals. We will support those who need it with highly-qualified caring professional teams able to respond to needs across all spheres of life: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. We believe that recovery is possible, worthwhile, and achievable for everyone.
The mission of The Arc Michigan is to ensure that people with Developmental Disabilities are valued in order that they and their families can participate fully in and contribute to their community.
Disability Network/Michigan represents the collective voice of Michigan’s 15 Centers for Independent Living (CILs). Our focus is on leadership development, relationship building, effective communication and mobilizing around issues that will have the greatest impact on delivering high-quality independent living services to people with disabilities.
Early On Michigan offers early intervention services for infants and toddlers, birth to three years of age, with developmental delay(s) and/or disabilities, and their families.
Research has shown that by addressing delays early on - especially between birth and age 3 - we can more effectively impact a child's development, even into adulthood.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) established the Michigan Autism Program in 2013 as part of the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration to support the:
- Medicaid coverage of Behavioral Health Treatment, including Applied Behavior Analysis, services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders State Plan
- Autism Council
- Autism services provided throughout Michigan
The Statewide Autism Resources & Training Mission: To work with schools, community partners, and families to support students with ASD to become active, engaged members of their schools and local communities, and successfully move into adulthood as independent individuals with many choices and opportunities.
Coaches Corner
Haas Elementary
The team at Haas Elementary in Genesee Schools has worked really hard this year, meeting monthly, using the CETA and implementing visual strategies. Their target student has made tremendous progress thanks to a committed team, led by coaches Natasha Kubiak (SSW) and Kelsey Johns (speech).
Swartz Creek
The team worked together to develop these calm down cards for a 5th-grade student with ASD to identify what helps calm him at each level (1-10). He wears a set at school and also a set that was sent home for him to use. At the beginning of this year, the student and teacher teamed up to do a presentation for peers on what ASD is and what his cards mean. This way all individuals who interact with the student know how to react (e.g. the green smiley means I'm okay and can talk, red angry face means do not approach, I need time).
Grand Blanc High School
The LINKS students presented their final projects at GBHS and had a number of creative project ideas. They presented on how their relationships are developing and what the experience means to the LINKs students.
Don't Miss Out!
Countywide START Professional Development
Please see the course catalog for details, course descriptions, and registration at www.geneseeisd.org.
Peer to Peer Supports for Students with Autism
February 21, 2019
Working with Students with ASD for Paraeducators
March 5, 2019
Additional START Professional Development Opportunities
School districts and START trainers across the state are opening up START training sessions to educational staff in other counties. If you are looking for a topic that is not being offered locally in Genesee County, check out other training opportunities across the state. Many are free or low cost! Winter Events: https://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/upcoming-rcn-trainings-events-301.htm
Genesee ISD Teacher Consultants
If you have changed buildings or districts, please let your TC know so we can update our records.
Barb Olszewski
Angie Grindel
Laura Henry
Kelli Pierscinski
GISD's Regional Collaborative Network (RCN) has partnered with Livingston ESA to strengthen our resources and collaborate to bring your MORE amazing things from START. We were previously known as CAN4GCA but will now be GLEAN (Genesee-Livingston Educational Autism Network).