CHAPTER MEETING

"Ask Amy" Part 2

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

• 6:30 – 8:30 PM
• Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
  17010 Pomerado Road
  San Diego, CA 92128
• Driving Directions

Speaker: Amy Langerman, Special Ed Advocate

Amy will answer some of the most common questions that have come up during her years of practice as a special education advocate. Make sure you come early. This is our most heavily attended meeting of the year.

Amy Langerman, local advocate, licensed (AZ) special education attorney, and special education parent will come and share her thoughts about how to work in the new, one-sided, under-funded, and parent unfriendly special education system. Amy will tailor her comments to help both the parent new to special education and seasoned veterans alike. She will discuss specific ideas for how to work cooperatively with IEP teams, what is a meaningful IEP (and how to write one), and pitfalls for the unwary (particularly related to the software problems asserted by districts as limiting their ability to write full and complete IEPs). She will discuss when to allow districts to test your child and when to decline (and whether private testing is then indicated). Amy will be available to answer general questions concerning parental rights, special education and IDEA.

UPCOMING CHAPTER MEETING

Adolescents On the Autism Spectrum

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

• 6:30 – 8:30 PM
• Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
  17010 Pomerado Road
  San Diego, CA 92128
• Driving Directions

Speaker: Chantal Sicile-Kira

Adolescence is a difficult time for everyone, neurotypical or not, as a person transitions from being a child to a young adult. To become as independent in adulthood as possible, teenagers of all different ability levels must learn self-care, appropriate behaviors, modesty, sexuality, self-regulation and self-advocacy. Areas to be covered include: explaining about puberty and changing bodies, hygiene and self-care and how to problem-solve difficulties in teaching self-care routines, the importance of modesty, and what to do about masturbation. For safety reasons and in preparation for adulthood in the community, all teenagers need to learn about relationship boundaries, sexuality. Ideas for teaching self-regulation, and preventing bullying and abuse will be discussed, as well as the necessity and some ideas for teaching self-advocacy through the IEP process.

Chantal Sicile-Kira, is an award-winning author, speaker and autism advocate known for her practical advice on raising teenagers and the transition to adulthood. Her son Jeremy, severely impacted by autism, graduated from high school in 2010 with a GPA of 3.75. Chantal was appointed by the California Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders to serve as Co-Chair, South Counties Autism Regional Taskforce. Chantal dispenses guidance and information on her webinars and in her books: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, Autism Life Skills, and 41 Things to Know About Autism. For more information, go to www.chantalsicile-kira.com

How TACA Helps San Diego Families

TACA does not charge admission to the meetings, nor does it assess annual membership fees for families it supports. Meetings feature:

• Free TACA Autism Journey Guides (over 300 pages of collective knowledge gathered from experienced paraprofessionals and parents) are offered to all parents of who are attending their first Chapter meeting.
• Speakers on topics ranging from traditional therapies, integrated medical treatments, education, and legal support.
• TACA's Parent Mentors - one-on-one access to experienced families who have successfully navigated the challenges of finding appropriate treatments and educational opportunities for their children, who receive additional education from TACA's Foundation Office.