Long Beach Special Education Community Advisory Committee

Tomorrow sunday July 30th
Only $20 for 2 hours.
Another great Hero Squad event!

Always great insights!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=657903759714017&id=100064831955612&mibextid=ZbWKwL

These days, I'm an excellent autistic/neurotypical translator. But when I was in my 20s, I wasn't aiming to be a translator- I was just aiming to be like everyone else. It didn't work any better than forcing myself to become French. But I'm *much* better at translating now that I'm doing it from a place of authenticity.

I tell a lot of audiences that "I wish people had spent more time teaching me how *people* work, rather than just the academic stuff". And yes, teaching social skills to autistic young people is obviously a good thing. BUT- only if it's done without encouraging the child to pretend to be non-autistic.
And this isn't always the deliberate aim, by the way. The world is full of well-meaning people who truly believe in doing the best for their autistic students, but see neurotypical behaviours as positive learning rather than forced masking.
Chris Bonnello - Autistic Author

[Black text on faded background of me holding a microphone at a speaking event. Text reads:
“When we teach social skills to autistic kids, it needs to be like teaching French.
When we teach children how to speak French, we’re not forcing them to become French. We’re teaching them how to communicate with French people, and function well in French society. We don’t force them to get rid of their own identity and invent a new French identity for themselves.
So when we offer social skills classes for autistic children, we should NOT be trying to turn them neurotypical. We just need to teach them how neurotypical people communicate and how to function socially among them. Their authentic autistic self doesn’t have to be compromised or destroyed in order to do this.”]

Excellent examples of appropriate IEO goals.

https://www.facebook.com/100064831955612/posts/646395017531558/?mibextid=Nif5oz

When I was four, the psychologist 's report about me moaned about how different I was from my peers.
I do wonder how many of my autistic strengths and qualities would have been stamped into the ground, never to be recovered or celebrated, if the adults around me had tried changing me into a second-rate version of all those other four-year-olds who didn't seem to like me anyway.
As I often say (it's pretty much becoming my catchphrase now)- "human progress relies on diversity of thought". When you make an autistic child indistinguishable from their peers, you are removing from the world, not adding to it.

And seriously, take a moment to flap right now. It's quite nice. -Chris

[White text on blue faded background of me speaking at an event. Text reads:
"I’m sick and tired of therapies that boast about making autistic children ‘indistinguishable from their peers’.
Teaching them to wear a non-autistic disguise is NOT a valid replacement for meaningful support with daily tasks.
Want to know my opinion on how to make autistic children indistinguishable?
MAKE THE NON-AUTISTIC KIDS FLAP TOO.
Seriously, flapping’s great. You should try it."]

Sunday June 25th! https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=564809412498508&id=100069083616611&mibextid=CDWPTG

Kicking off summer at Sunday, 6/25 from 9am-11am. Join us as we celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer.

☀️ Sunday, 6/25 from 9-11am at Sky Zone Cerritos
☀️ Party room #1: meet other families, set your stuff down and shoes. Free beverages, snacks, coffee, LBCHS swag and fidget toys.
☀️ $20 for 2 hours of jumpy fun. Use discount code: HeroSquad at checkout.
☀️ Link in bio or https://www.skyzone.com/cerritos/lbcherosquad

This is a workshop exclusive for families serviced by Harbor Regional Center. Call or email to be added to the attendants list.

Narrating our daily lives, as well as our thinking process as we go about daily tasks, can help tremendously to a brain that does things differently.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=633918285437370&id=100064576130912&mibextid=Nif5oz

This Saturday!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=654529580024707&id=100064030119809&mibextid=Nif5oz

Special Olympics Southern California returns to Long Beach for 1st time since 2020

Higher Ed guide for students with disabilities. Keep this one handy!

We made some brand new resources for the campaign including this overall guide to which explains who can go, how college is different from high school, how to select a college, and more-- check it out! https://buff.ly/3BVT4wn

[Image of the cover of the Think Higher Think College Resource Guide for Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability.]

Coffee anyone???

This Saturday! We are hosting a Coffee Meet-up for moms with children of all ages with disabilities and unique needs, who want to connect! ♥️

Interested or questions please email [email protected].

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=637995618356961&id=100064395862909&mibextid=Nif5oz

We're excited that SB 445 (Anthony Portantino) passed the Senate 40-0! Disability Rights California, Educate. Advocate. , and Innovate Public Schools sponsor . The bill requires a student’s individualized education program (IEP) to be translated into the parent's native language within 30 days of an IEP meeting.

Currently, families are put in the unfortunate predicament of having to sign a document they cannot truly understand or wait months to receive a translation. This can result in missed support and services for students with disabilities.
-
¡Estamos entusiasmados de que la SB 445 haya sido aprobada por el Senado 40-0! es patrocinado por Disability Rights California, Educate Advocate, Innovate Public schools y requiere que el programa de educación individualizada (IEP) del estudiante se traduzca al idioma nativo de los padres dentro de los 30 días de una reunión del IEP.

Actualmente, las familias se encuentran en la desafortunada situación de tener que firmar un documento que realmente no pueden entender o esperar meses para recibir una traducción. Esto puede resultar en la pérdida de apoyos y servicios para los estudiantes discapacitados.

LBUSD IEP zoom presentation. Link here👇

This Thursday, June 8, 2023
5:00 pm - 6:00pm
Zoom: The IEP and You

https://lbusd.zoom.us/j/85616855705

Next Tuesday June 13

Monday May 22nd! Zoom link here.

As a parent said yesterday:

(Most likely butchering the quote)
"Don't tell me your mission statement. Show me your budget, your calendar and show me curricula and then I will tell you what your mission statement is"

Well, let's see the budget!



May 22, 2023 –LBUSD Local Plan / Budget Presentation Time: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Via ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://lbusd.zoom.us/j/84032248499?pwd=QmV0R2JCemVqZ1gyNlNGVmI4N2NGZz09

SAVE THE DATE! Last meeting of the year
Aparte la fecha para la ultima reunión del año

We have a great event coming up! Save the date for a great community day at Buffum TLC!

Registration is also open for organizations to table the event.

ESY info is out, but no mention of SEAL programs.

https://lbpost.com/news/long-beach-will-ensure-accessibility-in-disaster-and-emergency-plans-with-help-from-grant?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Long_Beach_Post

Long Beach to ensure accessibility in disaster and emergency plans One way the city will encourage residents with disabilities to share their input is in a series of free zine-making workshops.

CAC favorite, Camp Nugget is back this year! sign up while you still can!

2023 CSULB CAMP NUGGET
SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES

Camp activities include motor skills, health-related
physical fitness, dance, cooperative games, adapted
sports, and aquatics taught by CSULB Adapted
Physical Education students!
https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneti/static/storefront/CSULBCAMPNUGGET/catalog

Questions? Contact Dr. Melissa Bittner or Dr. Amanda Young
[email protected]

This Saturday April 8th

This Saturday! Local Hearts Foundation annual Basket & Pancakes at MacArthur Park (Homeland Cultural Center) from 10am-2pm. We’re giving away 1200 + Easter baskets filled with fun goodies. will be serving pancakes.

We’ll be giving away LBC Hero Squad x Local Hearts Foundation fidget spinners and our Heart of a Hero Calm Strips to be included in the Easter baskets. We will have a separate line from the main line for our neurodivergent kiddos.
No registration is needed.

We’re celebrating Spring Break, Easter, Autism month and the kids in our community! We can’t wait for this event. Thank you Local Hearts fam for including us. We are stronger together than alone. Posse up!




Local Hearts Foundation
The Hood santa

True inclusion should make our kids feel welcome, wanted and loved as they are, without the need to mask their disability for the comfort of others.

Long Beach Unified School District The Long Beach Unified School District has earned a national and international reputation as one of America's finest school systems.

Due to Spring Break, our April meeting is Wednesday 5th. Please SAVE THE DATE, it will be a great meeting!

Let's make April Autism Inclusion month!

Dear CAC community,
Please join us for this zoom meeting where the district will present the STATE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION data.
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 5:00-6:00pm. No registration required, just click on the Zoom link below Wed at 5pm

https://lbusd.zoom.us/j/81932448741?pwd=Q0hXdEQ5VXZNWUgxT2QzdHoyRlNHZz09

Like and share so this post has a bigger audience!

LBUSD IEP zoom presentation

https://lbusd.zoom.us/j/83731506675?pwd=UWJaSG4rc1psQ1hKYzVKTktCTkZVdz09

Meeting ID: 837 3150 6675
Passcode: 123697

No more masking...
It is healthy for people to be just as they are.
Pretending to be "normal" is exhausting, detrimental to their self-esteem and hurting their mental health.

ARTICLE shared by Harbor RC email

Recent Changes In California Law Regarding Special Education
On June 30, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 181 (Chapter 52, Statutes of 2022), an education omnibus trailer bill which became effective immediately. There were multiple changes to California special education laws, but the ones that could directly affect regional center consumers are:

New Pathway to a High School Diploma for Students Taking Alternate Assessments
AB 181 creates an alternate pathway to a high school diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities. With AB 181’s addition of Section 51225.31 to the Education Code, LEAs must exempt eligible students from all coursework and additional requirements adopted by individual LEAs that are beyond what is required by California’s Education Code to receive a high school diploma. A stated intent for easing graduation requirements to include only the state’s minimum course requirements is to increase high school diploma attainment for students with disabilities, thereby potentially increasing their postsecondary and employment opportunities.
A student is eligible for this exemption if their individualized education program (IEP) requires that the student:
Take the state’s alternate assessment aligned to alternative achievement standards in grade 11; and
Complete state standards aligned coursework to meet the state’s coursework requirements specified in Education Code Section 51225.3.
Before a student with an IEP begins 10th grade, the IEP team must determine and notify the parent whether the student may be eligible to receive a high school diploma under this exemption.
Note: eligible students who graduate with a high school diploma under this exemption still have a continuing right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) until they age out of special education, despite their receipt of a diploma.
Independent Study Considerations
AB 181 states students with IEPs may participate in independent study if the student’s IEP provides for independent study. Previously, the law stated that students with IEPs shall not participate in independent study unless provided for in the IEP. This change to the law does not appear to have significant legal impact; however, AB 181 clarifies that an IEP team should not deny a request for independent study based on a student’s inability to work independently, need for adult support, or need for special education or related services. The CDE issued guidance on AB 181 and Independent Study which can be accessed at: AB 181: Special Education and Independent Study – Laws, Regulations, & Policies (CA Dept of Education)

AB 181: Special Education and Independent Study - Laws, Regulations, & Policies (CA Dept of Education) Letter outlining some notable changes related to special education and independent study enacted within Assembly Bill (AB) 181.

Thank you for attending our March general meeting. Today we had great attendance and participation.

We learned and provided feedback about camp Oak for 5th graders, participated on the Equitable Grading focus group and heard a preview about the State of Special Education.

We will be sending the presentations by email by end of week.