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SAVE THE DATE!

Please make plans to join us for Maine Parent Federation’s Fall Fundraising Event:

“Family Walk 2015”

Saturday, October 24, 2015 Starting at 9:00 AM

484 Maine Avenue in Farmingdale, ME

MPF will be hosting a walkathon on the Kennebec Rail Trail starting from our Central Office location. Direct access to the Rail Trail is across the street. Come as a family, team, or by yourself and don’t forget to bring your dog along for the walk! Join us for this fun event that will include games and food for everyone and prizes for the best child, adult, and dog costumes! For more information E-mail us at parentconnect@mpf.org, call us at (800) 870-7746, or visit our website: http://www.startingpointsforme.org. Proceeds from this event will help support the free services we provide to families of children with disabilities or special health care needs.

Maine Parent Federation, Inc. PO Box 2067, Augusta, ME 04338-2067

(800) 870-7746 - (207) 588-1933

E-mail: parentconnect@mpf.org Web: www.startingpointsforme.org

Central Office:

484 Maine Avenue, Suite 2D Farmingdale, ME 04344

Summer 2015

Published Quarterly

Prizes for the Best

Halloween Costume -

Child, Adult, and

Dog!

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What’s New in the Information Center at

MPF?

Maine Parent Federation has informational packets available on more than 200 topics. These packets contain researched information, tips, local and national resources, and a list of related lending library material available here at MPF. The following information packets have recently been updated: Disability/Disorder Related Topics:

• DYSGRAPHIA

• INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM

• LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT

• SIBLINGS: Having a Brother or Sister with a Disability

• TRANSITION PLANNING FOR EMPLOYMENT

…. and many more!

If you would like to receive any of our information packets, or would like information on another topic, please contact MPF by:

• Phone: (800) 870-7746 (Ask to speak with a Parent Information Specialist) • E-mail: parentconnect@mpf.org

(Please provide mailing information) These materials are offered free of charge!

Check it out! We now have some of our Information

Packets available on our Website at www.startingpointsforme.org

(Information packets are located under publications!)

The contents of this newsletter were developed, in part, under a grant from the US Department of Eduction, #H328M110002. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Information contained in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of Maine Parent Federation, nor does it imply endorsement of a product or service.

Have you received help from one of MPF’s Information Specialists or Regional Coordinators, attended a training, or visited our website for

information? If so, we would like to have your feedback.

Just visit our website, www.startingpointsforme.org and click on the survey link at the top of the page. It’s that easy! We appreciate your input.

The Brain Injury Association of America has a New Maine Chapter!

BIAA – Maine Chapter 60 Western Avenue, Suite 3, Box 221 Augusta, ME 04330

Toll-Free Info Line: (800) 444-6443 E-mail: biaa-mainedivision@biausa.org Web: www.biausa.org/state-affiliates/maine

Maine DOE Seeks Surrogate Parents to

Support Students with Disabilities The Department’s Surrogate Parent Program was established to provide surrogate parents to children with disabilities whenever the natural parents or guardian of a student with a disability cannot be identified, located or when the student is in the custody of the state. Surrogate parents are given the rights of the natural parents for educational matters including consent for evaluation and placement, authorization for release of information, and request for due process proceedings. The intent of the surrogate parent program is to ensure that all children with disabilities are provided with equal educational opportunities. Over 200 students in Maine currently need a surrogate parent appointed to assist them with their educational program and rights. For more information, visit www.maine.gov/doe/special/programs/surrogate/index.html, or contact Sue Nay of the Maine DOE Office of Special Services at (207) 624-6774 or E-mail: sue.nay@maine.gov.

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Family Support Navigator Program

MPF is accepting referrals to our Family Support Navigator (FSN) program. If you are a parent that needs help or knows of a family that needs help, FSN’s can:

• Help organize and fill out paperwork

• Provide information and help locate resources and services

• Lend a confidential ear to listen to you and your family

• Attend meetings with you at your school, doctor, or service provider to offer support

Contact the Regional Coordinator in your county to receive an application to be matched with a FSN in your area: Carrie Woodcock (207) 229-2006, E-mail: cwoodcock@mpf.org Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford, and York Counties Veronica Boucher (800) 870-7746, E-mail: vboucher@mpf.org Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, and Waldo Counties Robin Levesque (207) 538-0866, E-mail: rlevesque@mpf.org Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, and Washington Counties

Aroostook Autism

Support Group Monthly support group meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month, 6:00 PM at TAMC. Contact Lisa Brewer, (207) 227-0601 or Maeghan Swanson, (207) 554-0482 for more information.

Parents Night in Presque Isle and Houlton

Monthly meetings, support, and training offered at both locations. Sponsored by the Northern Lighthouse. Contact Cory Tilley, (207) 425-3880 to register or to answer any questions.

If you are looking for a support group for Lyme disease, visit the MAINELYME website at: http://www.mainelyme.org/patientsupport/supportgroups.

To learn more about Lyme disease, visit http://www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-quickfacts.php to read their Quick Facts about Lyme disease.

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Don’t have time to read a book? How about watching a DVD to learn more on a specific topic? The MPF Lending Library has these DVD’s available for loan: 1-2-3 Magic: Managing Difficult Behavior in Children 2–12 Asperger Syndrome: A Different Mind Autism is a World - Academy Award Nominee for Documentary Short Subject Beyond F.A.T. City: A Look Back, A Look Ahead – A Conversation about Special Education Bullies are a Pain in the Brain – a DVD for children Diagnosing and Treating Tourette Syndrome Discipline: Teaching Limits with Love by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton Endless Dreams: Building Educational Support for Youth in Foster Care Facing Fear Without Freaking Out – a DVD for children How Difficult Can This Be?: The F.A.T. City Workshop on Understanding Learning Disabilities Getting Kids in Sync: Sensory-Motor Activities to Help Children Develop Body Awareness and Integrate Their Senses I Have Tourette’s But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me: Dispelling the Myth One Child at a Time In the Shoes of Christopher: A Story About a Bully and a Boy with OCD Lyme Disease: Awareness and Prevention Making Our Way: A Documentary on Autism Military Youth Coping with Separation: When Family Members Deploy Misunderstood Minds: Searching for Success in School More 1-2-3 Magic: Encouraging Good Behavior, Independence and Self-Esteem Mr. Poe & Friends Discuss Family Reunion after Deployment Once a Potty for Her – Designed to help kids understand, and use, their new potty and offers advice for parents on toilet training Once Upon a Potty for Him – same as above The Period of Purple Crying: A New Way to Understand Your Baby’s Crying Stop Bullying Now: Take a Stand, Lend a Hand – A toolkit Surviving Due Process: When Parents and the School Board Disagree Tough Times/Resilient Kids – A Documentary on Problems Facing Today’s Youth Young Children on the Homefront: Family Stories, Family Strengths – Coming Together around Military Families To borrow any of these materials, call the library at (800) 870-7746, or E-mail dnewcombe@mpf.org. Visit our website for a complete library list at www.startingpointsforme.org or call us for a printed copy.

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Ideas for Parents to Help Promote Summer Learning

With summer just ahead, parents are often looking for ideas to help their children learn. Summer brings lots of sun and fun, but also many opportunities for parents to spend time with their children in meaningful, everyday activities that promote play and learning. Here are a few activities that you can try with your family, either indoors or under the sun!

This summer, you and your child can:

Talk - Enjoy the beautiful summer weather with a walk or a visit to a local park. Use this time to talk to your child about everything you see along the walk; describe the color, shape, and size of the sun and trees.

Read - Travel to new places and different worlds through books. Summer is a great time to visit and explore your local library. In one sitting, you and your child can take a walk down Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends” or travel as far as “Where the Wild Things Are.”

Sing - Sing a song about summertime! Celebrate summer with sing-a-longs. You can build your child’s vocabulary by talking, reading and singing. Play - Explore sensory play outdoors. Imagine the outdoors as a grand experiment for your child’s senses. Play with water and ask your child how it feels when water trickles between his or her fingers--is it cold or does it tickle? Rub grass between your palms and describe the texture and smell. This type of sensory play can have big benefits for your little one!

Finish with a summer reading challenge - Challenge yourself and your child to see how many books you can finish together this summer. Reading aloud together, even for just http://www2.readaloud.org/importance 15 minutes a day, is a great way to bond with your child while supporting his or her development. Watch your child’s vocabulary change and grow from the start to the end of summer.

For more tips and ideas on summer activities, see below:

• Budget-friendly summer activities from PBS Parents, http://www.pbs.org/parents/summer/free-or-almost-free-summer-fun-ideas/

• Ideas for local outings from NAEYC, http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and- development/music-math-more/museums-and-libraries-summer-fun-and- learning

• A list of children’s books about summertime fun from the NAYEC, http://www.naeyc.org/content/childrens-books-about-warm-weather-fun

Adapted from “Five Activities to Help Parents Promote Summer Learning”, Too Small to Fail, www.toosmall.org