Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority

Parent Rights in Special Education – Join us as we discuss the rights that parents have when it comes to their child’s special education and related services:

• Parental participation;
• Access to education records;
• Informed consent;
• Prior written notice;
• Independent Education Evaluation;
• Your right to disagree with school

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families at the Crossroads

Audience:  Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

All About Tests and Assessments – In this webinar, Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans will answer some frequently asked questions regarding assessments and testing, such as when to have your child evaluated and how to interpret those assessment results.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Audience:  Parents, caregivers, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

What Happens When Parents & Schools Disagree? This training session will delve into Louisiana’s Special Education dispute resolution options and what to do when you disagree with the school regarding your child’s special education services. We will discuss:

• Frequently used acronyms;
• Different informal and formal dispute resolutions options offered by the Louisiana Department of Education; and
• How to request a dispute resolution option.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of Greater New Orleans

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

The Basics Educational Plans: IEP’s vs 504 Plans – Students with disabilities will usually qualify for either an IEP or a 504 Plan – but what is the difference and is one better than the other?  This training will take you through the eligibility process of both plans, the laws that regulate both, the differences in the plans and parental rights.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of Greater New Orleans

Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals working with students with
disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

Top Tips for Effective IEP Meetings – In this webinar, we will break down the IEP meeting preparation into three steps: before, during, and after the meeting. Implementing our top five tips in each of these steps should result in a better IEP experience.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families NOLA

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Education and Young Children with Exceptionalities: So Many Questions! – Caring for a young child with a disability is already overwhelming, and then they begin their education journey and even more knowledge and responsibility is required. This webinar can lighten the load a bit as we learn about:

• Transitioning from EarlySteps to school services;
• Evaluation requirements and timelines;
• Who qualifies for special education;
• Evaluation requirements for students in private schools;
• What to do if your child is struggling in school;
• How to handle bullying in school, and more!

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Audience: Parents, caregivers, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Caregiver Support Group (English)

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm and the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12:30pm

Facilitator: Stacy Badon

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: Caregivers of individuals with autism face many unique challenges. Life can seem very different and distant from the experiences of many other families. It can be possible to feel that there is no way that they can ask for or expect other people to understand their experiences. This support group is a place for caregivers to share experiences, get information and advice, make community connections, and research opportunities for services and provision for their children. The group is also a safe place for caregivers to have fun and talk about all of the ups and downs of parenting as well as the big and small issues. Sign up below. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now

Adult social group (18+ years old)

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 6:00pm

Facilitator: Emily Davis

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: The Online Social Group is designed to help reduce feelings of isolation and increase the opportunity for social interaction with peers as well as connect with people who understand you!  To attend, please sign up below.  Once your RSVP is received you will be sent the meeting link and access code to attend, please do not share the meeting link and access code with anyone. If you have any questions, send ASGNO an email at info@asgno.org.  If you are seeking a more support-group type environment for the serious life issues, check out their Autistic Adults support group. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now

Introduction to Special Education – Do you suspect your child could benefit from special education and related services, or is your child newly evaluated? This overview of special education and related services will give you a strong foundation on which to build future knowledge. You will learn about the philosophy of special education, the laws, the evaluation process, and some information about the IEP.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge

Audience: Parents, caregivers, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Autism Society of GNO’s Caregiver Support Group (Encargado/Padre/Madre de habla español)

Se reúne el tercer martes de cada mes a las 6:00 p.m., hora central

Facilitadora: Stacy Badon

Organizacíon Anfitriona: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Descripción: Para muchos encarcado de personas con grandes necesidades de apoyo en el espectro autismo, la vida puede parecer muy diferente de las experiencias de otras familias. Puede parecer imposible esperar que otras personas comprendan sus experiencias. Este grupo de apoyo es un lugar para que los encargado compartan experiencias, obtengan información, consejos y establezcan conexiones con la comunidad. El grupo también es un lugar seguro para que los encargado se diviertan y hablen sobre todos los altibajos de la crianza de los hijos, así como sobre los problemas grandes y pequeños.

Regístrate Ahora

The next quarterly Council meeting will be held April 19-20, 2023 at 5615 Corporate Blvd. Suite 500A, Baton Rouge, LA.

All Council meetings are open to the public. If you require accommodation in order to fully participate in any Council meeting, please inform the Council of your specific request 3 business days prior to the meeting via email to Anne.Montelaro@la.gov or call 225-342-9006 or 800-450-8108.

For more info., visit https://laddc.org/council-meetings/2023-meetings/ .

The Bridge from High School to Postsecondary Services – In this webinar, we will assist you to understand the Individual Transition Plan (ITP) process as it pertains to postsecondary education and other related services. We will also provide an overview of programs and resources available to your child entering postsecondary education or employment.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

No More Summer Slide – Summer is the perfect time for students of all ages to relax, but it’s also a time when learning loss and regression can occur. The “summer slide” can happen when children do not engage in educational activities during the summer months. This training will provide you with strategies and fun activities you can do over the long break to help prevent the summer slide.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana

Audience: Parents, caregivers, and professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Autistic Adults Support Group

Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM, CST

Facilitator: Emily Davis

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: This group is aimed at providing Autistic Adults with a safe space for compassionate peer support about the more serious topics of life.  Geared towards support discussions, this group aims to provide support for Autistic adults on work issues, interview help, interpersonal relationships, challenges of independent living, relating to coworkers, and anything else that makes day-to-day-life difficult, exhausting, or challenging.  Seek support from people who have been there. If you are seeking a more laid-back social group, please sign up for ASGNO’s Adult Social Group (18+)! See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now

The Importance of Inclusion – Why is the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools, classrooms, and communities important? This webinar answers that question. It explores what inclusion is and is not, who are involved in making meaningful inclusion successful, and its underpinnings in federal law.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge

Audience: Parents, caregivers, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Public Invited

Dates:
April 25, 2023
July 25, 2023
October 24, 2023

Meetings are 2:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

5001 Westbank Expressway, Suite 200 (Training Room), Marrero, LA 70072

Please send any questions or comments to jpddrac@gmail.com

Caregiver Support Group (English)

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm and the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12:30pm

Facilitator: Stacy Badon

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: Caregivers of individuals with autism face many unique challenges. Life can seem very different and distant from the experiences of many other families. It can be possible to feel that there is no way that they can ask for or expect other people to understand their experiences. This support group is a place for caregivers to share experiences, get information and advice, make community connections, and research opportunities for services and provision for their children. The group is also a safe place for caregivers to have fun and talk about all of the ups and downs of parenting as well as the big and small issues. Sign up below. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now

Adult social group (18+ years old)

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 6:00pm

Facilitator: Emily Davis

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: The Online Social Group is designed to help reduce feelings of isolation and increase the opportunity for social interaction with peers as well as connect with people who understand you!  To attend, please sign up below.  Once your RSVP is received you will be sent the meeting link and access code to attend, please do not share the meeting link and access code with anyone. If you have any questions, send ASGNO an email at info@asgno.org.  If you are seeking a more support-group type environment for the serious life issues, check out their Autistic Adults support group. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now