Monday Message: September 28, 2020

We hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. This week, the Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting (ASEAC) will hold its first meeting on Tuesday evening, and we are looking forward to welcoming Celebrate Calm’s Kirk Martin back to Arlington on Wednesday. Details and registration links are below.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
As September’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month draws to a close, Arlington County will offer a final September event later this week, and there are also a number of helpful resources that are always available:

Check out these new resources logo

Did you miss last week’s NOVA Disability Support Services Informational webinar? View it now on the PRC Videos page!
NOVA Disability Support Services Informational Webinar for Dual Enrolled Students

Arlington Aquatics: FAMILY SWIM PODS
According to Virginia Forward Phase III Guidelines, indoor swimming pools may allow use by Family Groups (Household groups). These groups must be assigned to an area of the pools and maintain 10-foot physical distancing from other groups. Based on these guidelines, APS Aquatics has scheduled several opportunities for families to enjoy the pools. Families of up to 2 adults and 3 children (or 1 adult and 4 children), who are current residents of Arlington may make a reservation for a 45-minute swim session.  The cost per Family Pod is $12.50.
Sunday’s Family Pods are reserved for children with special needs and their families.
More

Arlington County Parks and Recreation 

Arlington County Parks and Recreation is offering a variety of programs and activities this fall. Don’t forget to check out what our amazing friends at Therapeutic Recreation are up to this Fall! Visit their Facebook page and explore the TR website.

Additional Parks & Recreation Information:

Upcoming Events

Arlington Public Schools and Parent Resource Center Sessions and Meetings

Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC)
September 29: Virtual Meetings on Zoom:  7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Register Here
Please note that the business portion of this meeting will be recorded through Zoom.
Meeting Agenda:
7:00 – 7:20 pm Welcome, New Member Introductions and Public Comments (Signup for Public Comments can be done through the registration form)
7:20 – 7:25 pm School Board Liaison
7:25 – 7:40 pm ASEAC 101
7:40 – 8:00 pm OSE Update on 1st month of return to school (Questions can be submitted in advance through the registration form)
8:00 – 8:15 pm OSE Updates and Response to June 2020 Public Comments
8:15 – 8:30 pm ASEAC Updates
ASEAC monthly meetings are open to the public and address a range of issues of importance to the disability community. A public comment opportunity at each meeting provides members of the community the opportunity to bring issues to ASEAC’s attention. Meetings also include focused briefings and presentations to identify, discuss and share information pertaining to areas of need and progress. By attending meetings, you:

  • Receive information that will assist you in becoming a partner in a student’s education;
  • Network with other parents of students with disabilities, as well as education professionals; and
  • Help inform the policy and program decisions regarding special education and related services in Arlington Public Schools.

ASEAC welcomes 3 minute comments from the public during the first 15 minutes of each meeting. ASEAC members use comments to inform recommendations and to advise the School Board. Comments can be made in person or by emailing ASEAC.mail@gmail.com.

  • Public comments will be included in meeting minutes and posted on ASEAC’s website. Comments may be recorded anonymously upon request, but note that our email address is subject to FOIA regulations.
  • Neither ASEAC nor APS staff responds to public comments at the time they are given, but staff is requested to provide a response by the next meeting.

Any person who needs an interpreter or disability-related accommodation to provide public comment should contact the Parent Resource Center at 703.228.7239 or prc@apsva.us at least 7 business days in advance of a meeting.

Parenting Through a Pandemic: How to Stop Defiance, Disrespect & Power Struggles
Wednesday, September 30, 2020: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Register now
Arlington Public Schools Parent Resource Center and Celebrate Calm invite parents, teachers, friends and the community to one dynamic, practical, laugh-out loud funny Virtual Parenting Workshop.  “Calm Coach”, Kirk Martin will provide strategies that work with kids ages 2-22 to:

  • Get kids to listen the first time.
  • Stop defiance, disrespect and yelling.
  • Stop whining, tantrums and sibling fights.
  • Get kids off video games/screens without a fight.
  • Create stress-free mornings, homework time and bedtime.

Questions? Email Casey@CelebrateCalm.com or call 888-506-1871.
Visit www.CelebrateCalm.com to listen to FREE podcasts and join the newsletter.
View event flyer

Arlington County Events

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Tuesday, September 29th at 6:00 pm: Cracked Up: The Darrell Hammond Story Film Screening & Discussion Panel
Presented by Arlington County’s Child and Family Services Division

Ticket to Work – Virtual Event
October 8, 2020: 3:30 pm EST
Presented by Emily Hoban, Arlington Employment Center
Register
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

  • Are you interested in receiving support to return to work or find a new job?
  • Would you like to improve your professional skills, learn how to get ready for interviews or understand the impact your earnings have on your Social Security disability benefits?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this workshop is for you! Workshop attendees will be provided with an overview of the resources available to job seekers through the Arlington Employment Center (AEC), with a special focus on the Ticket to Work program.

A proud partner of the American Job Center network, the AEC has a variety of services to help community members obtain employment and also provides resources for career advancement including assessments, career counseling and continuing education programs. The AEC offers the Ticket to Work program to individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits who are interested in becoming financially independent and self-sufficient. This workshop will give an overview of the Ticket to Work program, explore the work incentives available to SSI and SSDI recipients and discuss the impact earnings can have on each program. This event will have captioning.Please contact Elizabeth Kumar at elizabethk@ecnv.org for additional accommodation requests.

Community Webinar/Virtual Learning Opportunities/Meetings

CHADD of Northern Virginia and DC (NOVA DC CHADD) Annual Resource Fair
Tuesdays, October 6 – October 27, 2020: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
LEARN MORE
NOVA DC CHADD announces its 2020 Resource Fair, which is a series of lectures via Zoom to celebrate ADHD Awareness Month.  The theme is: “Strong Minds, Healthy Lives: Strategies to Empower People Affected by ADHD”.