Early Intervention

Early Intervention staff have continued to carry out home visits virtually, starting from the beginning of the COVID crisis.  We were able to move pretty smoothly into this method of delivering services, after coping with a few technology glitches in the beginning!  Families have made the adjustment and we have found that the majority of families have chosen to continue to participate in this new situation.   Our model of Early Intervention services is based on coaching families and caregivers so they can provide interventions for their child, so though we are not there personally, we are still able to carry out our mission, which is to support families and provide them with the tools they need to help their child develop in all areas.  Team members continue to support each other and provide consultations via virtual joint visits, and we continue to meet with school districts and help children transition into the services they will need after age three.    We are anxious to get back out into homes, but at this point we don’t know when that will happen!  Until then, we will continue to do the best we can to support the families and children in our program from birth to age 3.

Wood Lane School Students

Teachers, specialists, and classroom staff all worked hard to put together lesson plans and activities for each of our students to see them through the end of the year, and these have been sent home to families along with supplies and many suggestions for ways to work on the goals and objectives of their IEP.  Teachers and specialists are in regular phone and/or email contact with families and caregivers to provide support, check on progress, and to share in the problems and successes involved in trying to provide distance learning to children with special needs.  We have also continued to work on assisting families to obtain needed equipment, and problem-solve about a multitude of issues.

All staff are available to families if they need support or are just looking for new ideas.  Classrooms have been working on ways to remain connected with their students, including reading stories via YouTube video and setting up class meetings that all students can join so they can see their peers.

We love it when families send photos of students working on the lessons we have sent home!  Caregivers and families of many students have sent in photos of their students doing things like counting, sorting, painting, using switch toys, language skills, and working on cooking skills at home.   With communication through virtual meetings, pictures, and videos, families are supported in many areas in addition to educational activities by teachers and specialists, such as positioning and activities of daily living.

As part of getting ready to transition to life after school, our older students have been participating in virtual meetings with their classroom staff at least weekly, and in some cases more depending on the student’s preferences and needs. One student is participating in a cooking project alongside her teacher via video.  They are also reading stories, counting, sorting laundry and talking about different vocational tasks that can be done at home that are related to daily living skills as well.   All of our staff are working hard to help students adjust to their “new normal, and help them understand that their peers and classroom staff are all at home too as they work on their school activities.  In addition, Wood Lane School has also supported families by delivering meals and other needed items like masks, books, and classroom materials on a regular basis.

This school year, the Happy Day School elementary aged students in Room 14 have been doing random acts of kindness.  Prior to COVID19, Room 14 had partnered with one of Ravenna Public School’s elementary classroom.  Our students would visit Ravenna’s school monthly to socialize and experience what a public-school classroom was like through reading, music and art.  One of the random acts of kindness activity we did with our Ravenna friends was making heart shaped bird food feeders to hang outside at our homes and schools.  Since COVID19 has closed the schools, our classes have not been able to socialize, but the students in Room 14 through a ZOOM meeting, created thank-you cards to send to nurses and doctors.  Our next random act of kindness, again through a ZOOM meeting, will be making dog biscuits for our own dogs and our neighbors’ dogs, since the dogs have been sharing their daytime space with us.  Room 14 students and staff are planning to continue our random acts of kindness even when we cannot physically be together.  Their teacher’s motto is to do a random act of kindness daily.

From John Avouris, OEA LRC:

Here is what’s happening at the Portage DD in terms of what our PCEADD-Unit A members are doing:

Here are the things that the Community Provider Relations Department is doing;

• Calling providers to see if they need assistance and providing PPE and cleaning supplies to providers and DSP’s (Direct Service Providers).
• Highlighting athletes on our facebook page.
• Holding zoom meetings with providers.
• Holding advocacy zoom meetings.
• Providing COVID19 information to providers.
• Weekly virtual exercise and fitness tips for clients.
• DSP of the month, we have an application on our website for anyone to nominate a DSP of the month. They are recognized during the monthly Board Meeting.

In the early intervention department, we have provided a seamless transition for our families from home based to virtual services. Though some families have chooses to put services on hold, most of our families are continuing services with technology. Using the zoom platform, we are providing coaching to parents to help them improve their child’s development and interactions, as well as provide new play activities with their child within their home. We continue to receive new referrals, complete evaluations, and Individual Family Service Plans. We also continue to help families access needed community services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our school age program will have 3 graduates this year. PCEADD Unit A is sending a graduation sign for the family to display, and union member are planning a drive parade to honor the graduates. Though we miss being in person with our children and families, we continue to provide quality service. We feel our union membership is the key factor in helping us to continue service in this pandemic.

Download the Spring 2020 Newsline – Post Conference Edition.

In this issue:
• OASNP Annual Conference – It was Good!
• Meet your OASNP At-Large Representatives!
• OEA Special Education Workgroup Report
• New OEA Legislative Policies
• Local Focus – Summit County Board of Developmental Disabilities
• OASNP Summer Meeting

UPDATED!

• The OASNP Annual Meeting is open to all OASNP members and was be held Saturday February 29, 2020 at 2:30 PM at the conclusion of the 2020 OASNP Conference at Mohican State Park Resort and Conference Center, 4700 Goon Road, Perrysville, OH 4486.
  
• Constitution and Bylaws Amendments were considered to change the composition of the OASNP Executive Committee to six (6) At-Large Representatives to the OASNP Executive Committee.  The portion of the original proposal to apportion the six seats between local school district membership (2 reps) and CBDD membership (4 reps); was rejected.  The full text of the current Constitution and Bylaws as amended is here:
  
• Constitution & Bylaws (2020-02-29) – OASNP Constitution and Bylaws (2020-02-29)
  
• C & B Amendments (2020-02-29) – C & B Amendments
• OASNP Proposed Bylaws Amendment – Committees  – under development
• Members Only Area – Previous OASNP Constitution and Bylaws

OASNP 2020 Annual Special Education Conference
and General Membership Meeting

This year’s theme: “Leaping Into the Future”

The Ohio Association of Special Needs Professionals Annual Special Education Conference will be Friday and Saturday, February 28-29, 2020, at the

Mohican State Park Resort and Conference Center,
4700 Goon Road, Perrysville, OH 44864.
Directions: http://www.mohicanstateparklodge.com/.

For more information visit our OADDP 2020 Annual Conference page.

The content of the conference will appeal to Special Education staff in Pre-K-12 Districts as well as County Boards of DD.

OASNP – OEA RA Delegate Luncheon

All OASNP members are invited.

Agenda:

• Update on Spring Conference
• Discussion of OEA Special Education Work Group report
• Possible OASNP C&B amendments:
  • Executive Committee
  • Committees

December 6, 2019, during the lunch break

• Ohio Expo, Kasich Hall (formerly Cardinal Hall)
• 717 E. 17th Ave.
• Columbus, OH 43211

Are you a DD employee? Are you a Pre-K-12 educator from NEOEA working with special education students? Then you are eligible to apply for our …

OASNP State Conference Scholarship
offered by the
North Eastern Ohio Education Association

This year’s State Conference of the Ohio Association of Special Needs Professionals will take place at the Mohican State Park Lodge on Friday and Saturday, February 28-29, 2020. NEOEA will make available five scholarships (registration fee and hotel up to $150) for NEOEA members to attend the conference.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must apply to NEOEA by Friday, January 24, 2020. Download the NEOEA – OASNP Scholarship Application 2020. Recipients will be asked to share a written report on their conference experiences.

Winners are responsible for making their own registration and travel arrangements. Look for more information about the OASNP State Conference on our 2020 Annual Conference page.

OASNP 2019 Annual Special Education Conference
and General Membership Meeting

Keynote Presentation: “Advocacy for All”
People First Ohio,  https://www.peoplefirstohio.org/

Friday – Saturday, March 1-2, 2019

Mohican State Park Resort and Conference Center
4700 Goon Road, Perrysville, OH 44864.
http://www.mohicanstateparklodge.com/.

For more information visit our OADDP 2019 Annual Conference page.

The content of the conference will appeal to Special Education staff in Pre-K-12 Districts as well as County Boards of DD.