SEPAC Minutes for Jan 19.

I was able to attend the SEPAC meeting last week.  The scheduled guest speaker, Sue Bertram, had to cancel because of a family emergency.  I believe she is now at least tentatively planning to speak at the next meeting on February 16.  Her topic will be "Ten Successful and Assertive Steps for Working with Professional."

Much of the first half of the meeting was spent going over the details of the spring SEPAC newsletter, which should be heading your way in February.

New Online Screening Tool
Heidi, SEPAC vice president and member of this group and Great Start, mentioned a tool called ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) that is now available online for free screening of children from birth to age five.  Do pass this information on to any parent you know who has concerns about how their young child is developing.  They can complete the questionnaire online and track their child's development over time.  As I understand it, the results are also forwarded to Early On staff who can direct families to further evaluation and, if a need is determined, available resources. All of these services-- the screening, the evaluations, the Early On resources are free to parents. 

Family Fun Night
SEPAC is once again planning a family fun night at the YMCA that will be free to all special education students and their families.  This year's event will be on March 18 from 6-8 pm.  My daughter and I attended last year, and my daughter had lots of fun-- she loves the play gym and of course the pool.  The event was well organized and their was plenty of pizza for all.

Special Ed Conference
Luanne Peterson, Special Education Superintendent for MARESA, let us know that registration for the Special Ed Conference is now online.  The conference will be held at NMU's Bottom Center on February 23-24.  On Thursday, Barb Nelson will be part of a talk on Asperger's Syndrom.  I was able to attend just one afternoon of the conference last year and found it worth while.   Both days of the conference are free to parents.  Register online and learn more about the conference at http://www.maresa.org .