Raising Special Kids

It is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:

This September, we shine a light on the incredible bravery of children battling cancer and the unwavering strength of their families. At Raising Special Kids, we are honored to support these amazing families during their toughest times.

We are here to provide essential resources, valuable information, and connect families to others who have walked this path before them.

Chicanos Por La Causa Parenting Arizona hosts free vision and hearing screenings for children age 1-5 on Saturday, September 14 from 10am-3pm at the KROC Center. Screenings are offered in English or Spanish. Every child receives a free book for participating!

KROC Center is located at 1375 E Broadway Road in Phoenix. For information or to register, email: [email protected].

The Facilitated IEP is a no-cost dispute resolution option available to parents of children in public or charter schools.

Learn more by watching the Raising Special Kids Quick Connect about Facilitated IEPs: https://youtu.be/KkWBvvCO84o

At Raising Special Kids, we pause to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11th, as well as the brave heroes who stepped up to help. Our thoughts are with all who lost loved ones on this day.

Disability Voting Rights Week - Read about this and more in this edition of Connecting Weekly at

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. The triennial theme for World Su***de Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Su***de," with the call to action, "Start the Conversation." This theme aims to raise awareness about encouraging open conversations to prevent su***des.

Su***de is a major public health challenge, with more than 700,000 deaths each year globally. Each su***de has far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences, and deeply affects individuals and communities worldwide.

The call to action encourages everyone to start the conversation on su***de and su***de prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society.

For more information, visit the World Health Organization: https://who.int/campaigns/world-su***de-prevention-day/world-su***de-prevention-day-2024.

Pictured below is staff from our State Department of Education, State Early Intervention Program, and our State Parent Training and Information Center coming together in Washington DC to show how, in Arizona, we work together with a common interest toward a common purpose, to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, youth, and young adults with disabilities. We are honored to be a part of such amazing work!

Happy Grandparents Day!

To all of the grandparents out there, we see you and appreciate all that you do! Whether you’re raising your grandkids full-time or supporting them in other ways, your role is vital and your impact immeasurable.

Raising children with disabilities is a journey that requires extra patience, understanding, and resilience. And as grandparents, you’re not just offering a helping hand—you’re providing a foundation of love and stability that means the world to your grandkids and their parents.

Remember to take moments for yourselves, too. It’s okay to lean on others, to seek support, and to celebrate your own triumphs and challenges. Your well-being is just as important as the care you give. Raising Special Kids is here to help you navigate all systems of care and we also wanted to share a wonderful resource called Duets that supports grandparents that are raising their grandchildren. Whether it is offering support or putting together events for families, Duets is there to support you in your journey.

https://duetaz.org/grandparents-raising-grandchildren/

The US Surgeon General recently issued an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents. Over the last decade, parents have been consistently more likely to report experiencing high levels of stress compared to other adults.

The Surgeon General’s Advisory calls for a shift in culture, policies and programs to ensure all parents and caregivers can thrive. It also provides recommendations for several stakeholders that can help reduce stress for and better support the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers through policy changes, community programs and individual actions.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/fbEK50ThXQA.

Do you have questions about the upcoming election? Check out two upcoming events!

Disability Rights Arizona, VoteRiders and the Clean Elections Commission present online Voter Education Training on Wednesday, September 25 and Wednesday, October 9 from 2-4pm. They will discuss voting rights, voter ID laws and propositions on the November ballot. Choose a session and sign up here: https://bit.ly/3Xv9bwc.

Disability Rights Arizona also hosts an all-day, in-person voting information session on Thursday, September 26 from 8:30am-3:45pm at the Desert Willow Conference Center. Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/242386529139162. You can also request to watch a livestream of this event.

It is Read A Book Day and we have exciting news for Arizona families! 🎉 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is now available in many communities, offering free books to children from birth to age 5! 📦❤️

This fantastic program sends a new, age-appropriate book each month right to your mailbox, fostering a love for reading and supporting early literacy.

Check if the program is available in your area on the Arizona Department of Education website:
https://www.azed.gov/ece/dpil

The Social Security Administration recently announced an upcoming update to the process of applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income and resources.

The initial change will establish a simplified online application process with updates based on user-tested, plain-language questions, prepopulated answers where possible and more. The updates aim to reduce time spent applying, as well as processing time for initial claim decisions.

More information about these changes is here: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/ #2024-08-27.

Raising Special Kids and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) have partnered to create a new, extended Positive Behavior Support (PBS) training. PBS is evidence-based and promotes empathy, sensitivity, person-centered care and inclusivity for members.

This training is offered to caregivers and families of members enrolled in DDD at no cost. It's offered in English on September 14 from 9am to 4pm and in Spanish on September 26 and 27 from 9am-1pm both days.

Sign up here: https://raisingspecialkids.org/events/.

We want to thank The Guile Family Foundation, Capstone Health and Arizona Community Foundation for your generous donation! Director of Outreach and Tribal Programs, Trudy Billy and Family Support Specialist Sarah Dorman, were excited to meet with these wonderful agencies to accept this amazing gift. Your support enables us to continue making a positive impact in our community. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

D1$*tY is Not a Dirty Word - Read about this and more in this edition of Connecting Weekly- https://mailchi.mp/raisingspecialkids/connecting-weekly-2024-0901

Fresh Start hosts a free event, Law Day for Women, on Saturday, September 7 from 9am-2pm. This event is open to all women in the community. Volunteer attorneys can answer questions about disability, bankruptcy, employment, wills/trusts and more.

Check-in begins at 9am and lawyers will meet with women on a first-come, first-served basis. Childcare is not available for this event. It happens at the Fresh Start office, 1130 E McDowell Road in Phoenix. Support is available in Spanish.

For more information, visit: https://freshstartwomen.org/events/law-day-for-women-dia-de-ley-para-mujeres-5/.

Image courtesy of Fresh Start.

Today, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of individuals across our community, in many different roles. Thank you for ALL that you do. We want to extend a special thanks to all the parents who work tirelessly every day to nurture and support their families. Happy Labor Day to you all!

Celebrate the 4th Annual Yes Day for Autism hosted by SARRC (Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center). Visit us at the Raising Special Kids booth!

It happens Sunday, October 27 from 9am-noon at Tempe Beach Park. For more information: https://autismcenter.org/yesday2024.

Image courtesy of SARRC.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Pediatric Feeding Disorders are two issues that many parents face with their children. It is hard to distinguish between the two of these. Feeding Matters shared this amazing graphic that breaks down the similarities and differences between them, and they can help parents to find the support they need surrounding feeding challenges.
https://www.feedingmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/PFD-ARFID-1.pdf

Did you know that Raising Special Kids maintains a calendar of events in the community? While these events are not coordinated or endorsed by Raising Special Kids, we maintain this calendar as a convenience to families.

Check it out here: https://raisingspecialkids.org/events-training-2/community-events/.

Individuals with disabilities have the right to vote, and equal access and accommodations are protected by federal laws. The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities will host a webinar, Voting Rights and Accommodations for People with Disabilities, on Monday, September 9 at 11am.

This webinar will discuss voting rights, preparing to vote, available accommodations, and what voting looks like in Native communities. No matter where you are in the voting process, come learn how to access your power in the upcoming election!

Register here: https://arizona.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrc-ugpjwjGdwlHWQOwUU_CfRN39QTGX-A #/registration.

Image courtesy of the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

What Is Nonverbal Learning Disorder? - Read about this and more in this edition of Connecting Weekly. https://mailchi.mp/raisingspecialkids/connecting-weekly-2024-0825

It has been proven time and time again that when the school team and the family have a good relationship, it helps the student to succeed. Check out this article from Understood and learn practical tips and strategies for building strong home-school partnerships that support student growth. Together, we can make a real difference in our children’s education!

Read more here: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/family-engagement-and-student-success?utm_campaign=20240821_edu_nl&utm_audience=educator&utm_source=newsletter-en&utm_medium=email&utm_content=send

Family engagement and student success: What the research says Research shows family engagement is a big factor in student success. Find out why a strong parent-teacher partnership helps students.

For Tip Tuesday, here's a flowchart from the Office of Individual and Family Affairs (OIFA) with information about accessing and paying for behavioral health services.

A list of available health plans is provided here: https://azahcccs.gov/Members/ProgramsAndCoveredServices/availablehealthplans.html.

Family Support Specialist, Roxanna Diehl and Parent Leader, Breann Bierman-Vogt enjoyed presenting a Parent Panel last week at Pima Medical Institute with Occupational Therapy Assistant students. This presentation layers together the parent experience and their perspective on working with the IEP team!

The Abilities Expo happens September 6-8 at WestWorld of Scottsdale. The event will include workshops, an inclusive climbing wall, adaptive sports, and more. Learn more about the latest resources, services and technology available to the disability community!

Please register for this event. For more information: https://www.abilities.com/phoenix/.

Throughout August, AZ ABLE – in partnership with STABLE Account – is providing new enrollees an extra boost to their savings journey!

From August 1-31, a new STABLE Account Enrollment Incentive will be available to all eligible individuals who open a new account. Start saving today: az-able.com

In October, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) hosts its second annual Self Care for Caregivers Conference, an event for individuals who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more about community resources and connect with other caregivers.

This event will be offered from 8am-5pm on Thursday, October 3 in Tucson or Wednesday, October 16 in Phoenix. For more information or to register: https://ow.ly/LkGz50T5o9r.

Check out this helpful infographic from the Social Security Administration on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children! It breaks down eligibility, benefits, and more in a clear and concise way. Perfect for anyone needing a quick guide on how SSI can support children with disabilities.
https://www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/materials/pdfs/SSI-for-Children-Infographic.pdf

Virtual Event! Feeding + Eating Psychology Summit from Feeding Matters

Feeding and Eating Psychology Summit: Unpacking a Complex Domain is a 3-hour workshop which dives into psychosocial/psychological management of children who struggle to eat. Experts from each diagnosis will present case studies to reveal an assessment and management pathway followed by a facilitated panel discussion to dive deeper into management of complex Pediatric Feeding Disorders and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) cases.

Date/Time:
Friday, August 30, 2024
9:00am to 12:15pm ET
Cost is $30 for families and $60 for professionals

Register here:

Feeding + Eating Psychology Summit - Feeding Matters The Feeding + Eating Psychology Summit is a 3-hour workshop which dives into psychosocial/psychological management of children who struggle to eat. Experts from each diagnosis will present case studies toRead full post...