Special Kids Connect

REACH CULINARY! To say we all have fallen in LOVE Reach Culinary is an understatement. Our Ambassadors have been rockstars, our participants are quite the chefs, and the Soledad Family Resource Center staff have been beautiful hosts for this program. We have watched skills improve, friendships grow, and most importantly every family getting to share in yummy (edible) dishes their child made when they get home! The heart of the home is most often the kitchen, and to see our participants thrive in the kitchen and asking their parents to do more cooking at home makes all of the dishes at the end of the class more than worth it!

We have only a few spots left! Bring hour family for this fun game night. Adults are $5 each and kiddos are FREE.

REGISTER TODAY _ https://loteria_specialkidsconnect.eventbrite.com

Let's talk AUTISM this month with Dr. Mary Coleman, MD, MPH. As Monterey County's only developmental-behavioral pediatrician Dr. Coleman is a sought-after expert on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). REGISTER with the questions you want her to answer.

English link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcuuurj0pG9wGBB3GWVuSOvXOJiIy-wOp

Spanish link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vcOmtrzsuHdOfhY32FdJGqrmfkCZEwKQr

Special Kids Connect will be there! Come see us!

GET READY for the 2024 NMCUSD College and Career Fair! -The College and Career Fair is happening September 18th, 2024. Plan your path with NMCUSD! -If you have any questions, please visit our Website - nmcusd.org...

REGISTER TODAY _ https://loteria_specialkidsconnect.eventbrite.com

Sharing from our friends at Padres Unidos Especiales in Gonzales. Special Kids Connect will be presenting on IEPs. Come see us!

COME VOLUNTEER!!!

APPLY HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6duaeSC0j7xhH4krySqZ3WRTStDmWtiXNFwcPjEi4G6haBw/viewform

Developmental screenings consist of simple questions for parents to answer about their child's development. Do you have a child, age 0 to 5, without a diagnosis? Do you have a 0 to 5 year-old sibling of a child with a disability/delay who has not been screened?
If so, this opportunity is for you -- and answering screening questions could be worth $100! Register to have your child screened at https://forms.gle/Ny9G9wz27DwDSSBH9. Register NOW and we'll call you to set up a phone appointment for screening in September. Questions? Email [email protected] or call (831) 372-2730.

Our friends at NAMI Monterey County have released a very full fall calendar. For families and people who have a loved one living with a mental health condition, NAMI's Family-to-Family 8-week program and Family Support Group monthly drop-in offerings start in early September. For those who are living with a mental health condition, NAMI offers a Peer-to-Peer 8-week program and other peer-led support groups. Offerings are available in both English and Spanish. For more information, visit www.namimonterey.org or call (831) 422-6264.

Let's learn about your child! Special Kids Connect is offering developmental screenings to children ages 0 to 5 who do not already have a diagnosis. Screenings are done by phone and take about 35 minutes. Register for a screening (https://forms.gle/Ny9G9wz27DwDSSBH9) by August 31 and be entered to win a $100 gift card.

JUEGA + PREPÁRATE - Preparación para emergencias con mamás, papás, y pequeños!

PLAY + PREPARE - Emergency preparedness for moms, dads, and little ones!

AGES: 0-5 years old

Registrate: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xejUtBB5OyjuHGdItESzYSKnfH4RO1s83dI0Q5jlQaY/viewform

Join us for a fun family night of LOTERIA!!! All ages welcome. $5 per adult, 17 and under are free! Prizes & a pizza dinner included.

Register here: https://loteria_specialkidsconnect.eventbrite.com

BOXING REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!

Register here: https://REACH_boxing_2024.eventbrite.com

Come join in the fun and volunteer with Special Kids Connect for the REACH Culinary program on Tuesdays starting August 27!
Must be 13 or older to volunteer.

Registration: https://forms.gle/Vbo1jhrgQx2u9jVq8

Sharing from our friends (and neighbors) at Breakthrough Behavior California. Social Skills groups will begin the week of September 3. For more information, visit www.behaviorconcierge.com.

Sharing this sibling opportunity!

📅 CALIFORNIASIBS: Virtual September Meet Up: SibConnection – Real Conversations 🌟

We’re thrilled to invite all Sibs to our virtual September Meet Up, SibConnection – Real Conversations! Join us for a morning of inspiration and connection as we delve into stories that truly matter.

🎤 This Month’s Spotlight: Meet three incredible Sibs: Alison, Nestor, and Teresa. They will share their personal journeys and the powerful insights they’ve gained along the way. Their stories are sure to be both moving and thought-provoking.

💬 Engage in Real Conversations: After our spotlighted stories, we’ll open the floor for a genuine and engaging dialogue. This is your chance to connect with others, ask questions, and dive into meaningful discussions.

🗓️ Date: Saturday, September 7th
🕒 Time: 10:00 am PT
📍 Location: ZOOM, link with registration.

Register here: https://www.meetup.com/californiasibs/events/299455320/?eventOrigin=group_featured_event

Don’t miss out on this opportunity for genuine connection and shared experiences. Mark your calendar and be part of an evening that promises to be both enriching and memorable.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The CaliforniaSibs Team

TOMORROW! Join us at our Back To School Special Education Conference at Hartnell College. (Register at https://forms.gle/tXhixCfVCZsqTWzY8). We've got 8 workshops, over 20 resource agencies, 2 professional panels, child care, and lunch for all. Join us at 8 am for Starbucks and muffins. (You will be entered into a raffle if you get there before 8:30 am.)

TWO DAYS until our amazing Back to School Special Education conference. REGISTER NOW at https://forms.gle/1VmukT31XpN22sVG9. In addition to professional panels and workshops, here is a sampling of the amazing resources that will be on hand. Child care is available.

Our Back to School Special Education Conference this Saturday, August 17 is jam-packed with amazing presenters, covering topics for every age group. Register at https://forms.gle/TdAbdUrRpzLQLato8. Here is a sampling of what's in store: Kacey Rodenbush, LMFT & Margarita Covarrubias, MSW on Supporting your Child's Mental Health · Dr. Jennifer Zeidberg on Sexual Health for Special Populations · Rossana A. Barajas on Managing Challenging Behaviors at School · PLUS...Jennifer Lucas, State Council on Developmental Disabilities · Jose Cruz, Department of Rehabilitation, Ivett Vasquez, San Andreas Regional Center · Patti Bangs, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, Monterey County SELPA · Heather Cheatham, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District · Yesenia Hernandez, Monterey Peninsula College Instructional Specialist · Alejandra Saldana, San Andreas Regional Center · Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Mary Coleman, MD, MPH, and more!

SUPER EXCITED to have Corporate Kids Events, Inc. providing child care for parents who attend this year's Back to School Special Education Conference this Saturday at Hartnell College. Kids will get crafty, play games, and enjoy a pizza lunch from 8 am until 2 pm -- all for $10/child. (Financial aid available.) Sign up for the conference (& child care) with this link: https://forms.gle/Qux1cht87GkGPnv19.

Got your seats? This year's Back To School Special Education Conference on Saturday, August 17 at Hartnell College is going to offer even more workshops than last year! We are covering IEPs, Mental Health, Sexual Health, Journey to Adulthood, Challenging Behaviors and more. Join us for a day of parent learning and child fun (we've got a very fun childcare agenda, too!). OH! And we are providing lunch for everyone.

Click https://forms.gle/AbRPmKzB7bM6bA2G8 to register or visit www.specialkidsconnect.org. Questions? Call (831) 372-2730.

Our 2nd Annual Back to School Special Education Conference on Saturday, August 17 at Hartnell College is going to be bigger and better than last year's (and last year's was pretty great!). Register at https://forms.gle/zQ8EQFBpKkiaGDnZ7. (Space is limited.)

Whether you have a young child entering into the world of special education or you have a teen who is exploring options after high school, this conference is for you. (Child care is available by pre-registration only!)

Special Kids Connect is thrilled to be collaborating with Monterey County SELPA in offering our 2nd Annual Back to School Special Education Conference on Saturday, August 17 at Hartnell College. There will be something for every parent who has a child between the ages of 3 and 22 with special education needs. Workshops will cover topics including IEPs, transitioning to adulthood, mental health, developing successful behavior plans, sexual health among special populations, and more! AND, we'll have resources on hand for you to get additional information. Did we mention that lunch is also included? (Oh, yeah!) To register, visit www.specialkidsconnect.org.

Hip hip hooray for REACH Bowling 2024!! We had our last session on bowling and it was bitter sweet. We had participants bowling strikes left and right, scoring over 100 points! We celebrated such a great time with pizza and awards, not forgetting to thank our Inclusion Ambassadors. Each REACH program, we hope to find ways of growth and that was certainly seen in the tools we created for communication support. We loved seeing new and returning friends and are excited for REACH Culinary in Soledad later this month. There are only 3 SPOTS left, so don't hesitate to register today: https://REACHculinary2024.eventbrite.com

Looking to VOLUNTEER? Click here to apply: https://specialkidsconnect.org/get-involved

Sharing from our friends at Coastal Kids Home Care! Their super-fun 10th annual Touch-a-Truck event is happening Saturday, August 25 at the Salinas Rodeo grounds. Tickets are $5 per person and proceeds benefit Coastal Kids Home Care. Learn more and get tickets at https://givebutter.com/tatsalinas.

We have been so happy to see new faces at our REACH Bowling program this summer! Every program, our Ambassadors (Teen Volunteers) are asked to learn new tools for Inclusion. For bowling, our Ambassadors found the need for communication tools with images. As a team we crated Conversation Bingo Cards based off facts parents shared with us about their child. They were a big hit and will now be a tool at every REACH Program. It jumpstarted conversations from every participant, regardless of their communication style. Do you have any tips or tools for communication that you feel would be helpful for our Ambassadors?

This week the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities - Central Coast Office is beginning a 5-week series on Behavioral Health co-occurring with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Space is limited and priority for Zoom seats will be given for families in the Central Coast region. The first in this series takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, July 23 at 4 pm. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIoceGsqDoqGdHsIfpweSqJN-TmygBqRxiB #/registration. All of the workshops in this series can be found on the Community Events page at www.specialkidsconnect.org.

Our first-ever "Picnic in the Park" was loads of fun on Friday. In fact, it was SO much fun that we forgot to get a picture of everyone together. Several families had already left by the time we took this photo but, as you can see, the weather cooperated and a good time was had by all.

to our last REACH Culinary in 2018! We are so excited for REACH Culinary to be back this August in Soledad. Registration is NOW OPEN- https://REACHculinary2024.eventbrite.com - We only have 7️⃣ SPOTS LEFT!