Miami Valley Spina Bifida Organization

kid in wheel chair celebrating

Miami Valley Spina Bifida Organization (MVSBO) Newsletter

August 2014

You can read the August newsletter below, access the PDF version, or send future newsletters straight to your inbox by entering your email address in the 'Connect with us' box on the right side of this page.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful summer!! Now it's time to switch gears for back to school, fall will be here before we know it.

Upcoming Events

Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Below is a helpful article originally published at http://www.ldonline.org/article/38406/

A new school year means a new grade, new teachers, new goals, and maybe even a new school! In order to help you and your child with special needs be as successful as you can be, we've put together a list of eight helpful back-to-school tips that we hope will make the transition into a new school year a little easier for you and your child.

Organize all that paperwork

In the world of special education, there are lots of meetings, paperwork, and documentation to keep track of. Try to keep a family calendar of school events, special education meetings, conferences, etc. Setting up a binder or folder to keep your child's special education documentation, meeting notices, and IEPs in sequential order can also help you stay organized.

Start a communication log

Keeping track of all phone calls, e-mails, notes home, meetings, and conferences is important. Create a "communication log" for yourself in a notebook that is easily accessible. Be sure to note the dates, times, and nature of the communications you have.

Review your child's current IEP

The IEP is the cornerstone of your child's educational program, so it's important that you have a clear understanding of it. Note when the IEP expires and if your child is up for reevaluation this year. Most importantly, be sure that this IEP still "fits" your child's needs! If you're unsure, contact the school about holding an IEP review meeting.

Relieve back-to-school jitters

Just talking about the upcoming year and changes can help reduce some of that back-to-school anxiety! Talk to your child about exciting new classes, activities, and events that they can participate in during the new school year. If attending a new school, try to schedule a visit before the first day. With older students, it is sometimes helpful to explain the services and accommodations in their IEP so that they know what to expect when school begins.

Keep everyone informed

It's important that you and the school communicate early and often! If there is anything (concerns, changes, questions about the IEP) that you feel is important to share with the staff working with your child before school starts, or during the year, don't hesitate to contact them! The more proactive and honest you are, the better the school staff will be able to meet your child's needs.

Establish before- and after-school routines

Discuss and plan the changes in you and your child's daily routine that will happen once school starts. You can even begin practicing your new schedule, focusing on morning and evening routines, and begin implementing them well in advance of the first day of school.

Stay up to date on special education news

Being knowledgeable about your child's IEP and their disability can help you become a better advocate for your child. Try to keep up-to-date on new special education legislation, news, and events. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to navigate the world of special education and successfully advocate for your child!

Attend school events

Take advantage of Open House, Back-to-School Night, and parent-teacher conferences to help you and your child get a feel for the school and meet the teachers, other staff, students, and families. Share the positives about working with your child, and let the teacher know about changes, events, or IEP concerns that should be considered for children in special education.

For more information about starting the year off right, please visit LD OnLine's back to school section.

6th Annual Golf Outing

The golf outing this year was a success. We had a beautiful day and a great turnout of golfers!! Thank You to Linda who put everything together and all others who helped out with this event. to next year’s event.

Come Join Us at Young's Jersey Dairy

If you have not been, you will be in for a treat! There is so much to do! They have batting cages, putt-putt golf, a corn maze, driving range, a chance to feed the goats and much more. Each person will receive a wrist band which will allow access to everything for the entire day.

When: Saturday September 27th - Noon til ?

Time: We will be at the shelter near the putt-putt and driving range at 12:00 noon. Lunch will be served first. Then you are welcome to stay as long as you like. The wristbands are good all day, so feel free to try everything out!

Where:
6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
YoungsDairy.com

RSVP: We will need to get a count of how many adults and kids will be attending from each family. You can RSVP by calling the SBO phone at 937-236-1122 or by emailing us. Please RSVP by September 19th, 2014.

Cost: MVSBO will gladly pay for the immediate family.

***There are a limited number of tickets available so reserve your tickets ASAP***

Corvette Troy 31st Annual Corvette Drawing

It's time to order your tickets for the September 26th, 2014 Corvette-Troy Benefit Drawing for the Miami Valley Spina Bifida Association and other Dayton area charities.

Drawing to be help Friday, September 26th, 2014 at 7:00pm at the Tipp City Mum Festival Car Show. Visit www.Corvette-Troy.com/Charity_Event.htm for more info.

Lending Closet

Our organization sometimes has items which have been passed along or donated for members of our organization. If there is anything from this list which you find you could use please give us a call at 236-1122 or email us we can get them to you at no charge.

Wheelchairs, etc.

Seat Cushions

Catheters

Equipment Assistance Request Form

If you need assistance with obtaining Spina Bifida equipment, please download the Equipment Assistance Request Form.

Previous Newsletters

You can access PDF versions of previous issues of the Miami Valley Spina Bifida Newsletter here: