The Connection
Programs for Exceptional Children, April 4, 2022, 36th ed
Enjoy the Sunshine!
We're so glad you're checking out this edition of The Connection! We're excited to share about the Hoppin' Around Flo-Town City-Wide Easter Egg Hunt as well as how to dye Easter eggs using Cool Whip! In this edition you'll also find some great parent training opportunities and an April OT Activities Calendar where you can find some ways to practice fine and gross motor skills at home in honor of Occupational Therapy Month!
We hope you'll take some time to read through these resources, and don't forget that if you need a question answered or just aren't sure where to turn, you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at 843-292-1008 or echapman@f1s.org. She would love to connect with you!
Bright Spot
Helpful Things To Know
Hoppin' Around Flo-town!
City-Wide Easter Egg Hunt
April 8th-10th
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Free Self-Guided Activity
The City of Florence Recreation Services Division is hosting a city-wide Easter egg hunt! Solve clues provided on our Facebook page (@FloTownRec) and at www.CityofFlorenceRecreation.com. Find the egg at each listed location, scan each egg's own unique QR code with your phone and enter to win! One entry per family per location.
Just For Fun!
How to Dye Easter Eggs with Cool Whip!
Find out how to do it at Passion for Savings!
Virtual Resource
Family Connection of SC 2022 Hopes & Dreams Conference
Supporting the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Needs of Our Children, Youth and Families as a Result of the Pandemic
April 6-7, 2022
Join Family Connection of SC for the 2022 Hopes and Dreams Conference. The virtual trainings will focus on topics related to new diagnosis, early intervention, elementary and secondary education, advocacy, transition, and mental and behavioral health. Participants will explore these issues and challenges, gaining valuable information that can be incorporated into their everyday life.
*We have a limited number of parent scholarships!*
To learn more and register go to the Family Connection SC website.
Behavior Basics
Have you tried to Flip the Script?
"Have you tried to flip ↪ the script🗒 when talking about challenging behavior?
Children engage in challenging behavior when they don't have a safer, faster, or more effective way to get their needs met.
This can be hard to manage, especially when the behaviors are relatively minor in intensity but seem to occur ALL THE TIME.
Somewhere along the line, those behaviors are being reinforced, and by doing so, they remain a persistent part of that child's repertoire."
Learn more great tips from Dana Howell at BIAS (Behavioral Interventions and Strategies) and you can find her on IG @biasbehavioral.
Training Resource
National Converge Autism Summit in Greenville, SC in April 2022
This summit is dedicated to all the unsung heroes who fight and search every day for answers and support. There is nothing that makes providers, teachers, therapists, and parents feel more helpless than not being able to communicate or respond effectively when a child or adolescent with autism is acting out or exhibiting maladaptive behaviors. Converge is dedicated to providing an educational forum to help further competency, understanding, research, and support to help those involved with children and adolescents with autism, and improve the quality of life for the individual and their families.
Our speakers represent a variety of fields including Adolescent Therapy, Advocacy, Behavioral Analysis, Special Education, Family Therapy, and Youth Psychiatry. There will be separate tracks tailored to parents, professionals, and educators
To register go to ConvergeAutism.com.
Related Services Corner
April is Occupational Therapy Month!
"OT helps people be more independent in daily tasks (like self-care, hygiene hobbies, or anything we do all day long) so that they can do these things despite illness or disability."
Does your student receive occupational therapy at school? To learn more about OT and some of the skills your student may be working on check out this article from the OT Toolbox.
And for some fun, simple activities you can do with your students at home, check out the April OT Activities Calendar below.
Parent Resource
Have you heard of Camp Spearhead?
AN ENVIRONMENT OF UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
Camp Spearhead is more than just a camp. It’s a place where children and adults with special needs are able to escape the social isolation they often experience; in this extraordinary place, they are understood, included, appreciated. Here, our campers intuitively sense they belong. Camp Spearhead offers opportunity, choice, self-determination and delivers experiences we all value and treasure – challenges to try new and exciting things, the development of new friendships, and the chance to “get away from it all” for a few days.
Founded in 1968, Camp Spearhead offers 8 one-week-long residential camp sessions in the summer and two different seasons of The Weekend Program throughout the school year. The camp facility is nestled in beautiful northern Greenville County off scenic highway 11 and was specifically designed to meet the wide-ranging needs of our campers. Check out the website for details!
Looking for the menu for your child's school?
Have a question?
You also can contact us at exceptionalchildren@f1s.org or at 843-673-1161.
Email: exceptionalchildren@f1s.org
Website: f1s.org
Phone: (843) 673-1161