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The National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is sponsoring a free
Family-to-Family Class
The 12 sessions
begin on February 7, 2009 from 9:00 to 11:30 am at Heartland
Community College in Normal
Click on the link
below for class topics & additional information
NAMI Family-to-Family Flyer
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Family Matters is conducting an Autism Training Series
This event is
co-sponsored by Life Cil and the Autism Society of McLean County
Click on the link
below for training series topics & additional information
Training Series Flyer
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Free
Statewide Independent Living Expo
April 27 and 28 Prairie Capital
Convention Center in Springfield
Click on the link
below for the event flyer
ILX 09 Flyer
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FileMaker
Click
on the link below to begin:
FileMaker |
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A message from
Dr. Hartseil
Hello all,
The first half of the year has moved
along quickly. We have been working through a lot of changes
and training staff and parents to address new procedures. I
want to update you on the current activities and talk about
the second half of the year.
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Inclusive practices- We are
continuing to work with staff and parents on educating
youth at their home school or least restrictive
environment. We plan to have the entire plan in place by
2010-11. We will continue to discuss your child’s
placement at annual reviews while we work with staff to
provide appropriate services and interventions. We are
working with school staff and designing training for
people to be able to support students in their home
schools, as appropriate.
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Procedural Safeguards (Parent
Rights)- We have developed and approved new procedures.
It has been necessary to update these in regards to
legal changes. You can view these on the website.
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Legal changes- We just received new
regulations that have gone into effect. They parent(s)
the right to withdraw their child from special education
services. If you desire to do this, you will need to
provide your request in writing to the district.
Services will then be removed (upon an agreed to date)
and your child will then be subject to the same
procedures as all other children in the district.
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Extended school year- We are
planning for the summer and will be having summer
services. Most will occur between the end of June and
the first of August. Your team should discuss this
service at your child’s IEP and determine what services
will be provided.
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Blended classes- We are moving into
a blended approach for serving students 3-5 years old.
We will be combining our Early Childhood and At-Risk
classes to dually serve the students. We have a pilot
site this year and will be expanding that approach for
the upcoming year.
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We are also looking at other
changes that will be occurring. Tiered busing is being
studied on its impact to special education. We will be
looking at redistricting and its impact.
Hope
things are going well in the education of your child and
please feel free to contact me with any questions or
concerns.

Check out
"Bits About Autism"
Bits About Autism is a
new newsletter developed by Unit 5's Department of Special
Education Autism Team. Each issue will offer a
specific topic, in this issue that topic is Using Visual
Supports. You can read all about Visual supports, what
research says about their use, ideas for trying Visual
Supports and where to get additional information.
Check back here for future newsletters. Click above on
"Bits About Autism" to read the newsletter.

Illinois
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services - Illinois
PUNS
The Illinois PUNS is a waiting list of
individuals with developmental delays that have unmet needs.
These individuals are looking for supports or services
within the next 5 years. Supports include in-home or
home based supports, developmental training ("workshop") and
residential services. It focuses on what an individual is
receiving currently, what supports they would like or need
and how soon they are looking for these supports.
Individuals can be added to the waiting list starting at 3
years old, again if supports are needed within the next 5
years. For more information on PUNS, such as how to
complete an application and PUNS criteria please
click here.

New Inclusive Practices in
Unit 5
Click on the link below to view Unit 5's plan to provide
inclusive practices District wide.
Unit 5
Inclusive Practices Plan
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