Free, virtual workshops for families who have children with disabilities, professionals who work with them

A series of free, virtual workshops designed to inform and educate parents who have children with disabilities and professionals who work with them will be hosted online by Parent Network of WNY throughout April.

Parent Network of WNY provides one-on-one support and education through resources, free workshops and support groups to assist families of individuals with disabilities to understand their disability and navigate the support service system.

The following workshops are offered free of charge, but do require advance registration online at https://parentnetworkwny.org/events/.  

•April 4 – Down Syndrome Parents Support Group (7 p.m.): Providing a welcome environment for parents, family members, and other caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome to meet, share experiences, ask questions, and receive support.

•April 7 – “How to Protect My Child Through Guardianships, Wills & Trusts” (6-8 p.m.): Planning for the future is especially important when one has a child with a disability. This workshop provides parents or caregivers with an overview of things to think about: guardianship, wills and trusts. The workshop will help them to understand options as they begin to think about plans for their special needs child.

•April 20 – “Speak Up! Skills for Effective Advocacy & How to Prepare for Meetings” (7-8:30 p.m.; CTLE credits available): This workshop is for parents, caregivers and individuals with disabilities who participate in various meetings with professionals throughout a school year. The workshop will provide tips on how to be prepared and organized. Learn how to be a powerful advocate (someone who speaks up).

•April 21 – Chautauqua County Family & Caregiver Support Group (6:30 p.m.): Receive support while connecting with others and expressing oneself for parents, family members and caregivers of children with special needs.

•April 26 – “Parent & Family Engagement with the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) & Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) Process” (6-8 p.m., CTLE credits available): Gain an understanding of the regulations, the process, and the roles of the families and the school.

•April 27 – “Bullying & Promoting Well-Being for Students with Disabilities and/or Mental Health Challenges” (6-7:30 p.m.): In this workshop, parents, caregivers or educators of children with disabilities learn to recognize the signs of a bullying situation and how to talk to a child. Learn about the supports and services that can be built into the individualized education program (IEP) to promote social growth and well-being.

•April 28 – “Introduction to Pyramid Model: The Foundation for Building Social-Emotional Success at Home & School” (7-9 p.m.): Participants will be able to describe the relationship between children’s social emotional development and challenging behaviors. Participants will have a basic understanding of what the pyramid model is, as well as be able to assess their readiness to implement in their program.