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Upcoming Events: Learning Opportunities

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FULL YEAR: Complete calendar of webinars for 2024-2025.

Our goal is to increase the involvement of families in their children’s education. To do this, Michigan Alliance for Families offers  learning opportunities across the state. Most of our events are virtual at this time.  Webinar caption translation available in Spanish, Arabic, and other languages.

For in-person events, the city is noted next to the date and the address is listed on the flyer. Click on the event’s date to view the PDF flyer for complete details. All times are EST.

December 2024

December 3 Understanding Social Security Benefits at 3:30pm. Paving the Way to Self Determination is a series of workshops for families and their children with developmental disabilities (ages birth-12) to develop skills that lead to self-determined lives. Register with Disability Network Southwest Michigan.

December 4 Section 504@School: What Parents Need to Know with Michelle Driscoll & Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mrted8u5

December 5 Math for All: Supporting Your Child with Disabilities in Math with Rachel Tabron from 9:30am-10:30am.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/36yeex69

December 6 & 13 Behavior is Communication (two part webinar) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle from 1:00pm-2:30pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/bwees5ek

December 10 Instilling Disability Pride in Your Child at 9:30am. Paving the Way to Self Determination is a series of workshops for families and their children with developmental disabilities (ages birth-12) to develop skills that lead to self-determined lives. Register with Disability Network Southwest Michigan.

December 11 Disability is Not a Bad Word with Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yckx7z83

December 11 Tools for Supported Decision-Making with Mary Shehan from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/fxxm33fd

December 12 Collaborative Communication in Special Education with Rebecca Kozlow from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/8w4b26xv

December 16 Moving On from Early On with Kelsey Biswanger from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mwkpwc8t

December 17 IEP: A Closer Look with Andrea Beachnau from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/puup6vf6

December 18 Growing Up with Self-Determination with Karen Wang from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5n8p4mta

December 18 The Power of Connection at 6:30pm. Paving the Way to Self Determination is a series of workshops for families and their children with developmental disabilities (ages birth-12) to develop skills that lead to self-determined lives. Register with Disability Network Southwest Michigan.

January 2025

January 7 The Power of Notice with Michelle Driscoll from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mr2cjhwe

January 8 IEP: A Closer Look with Andrea Beachnau from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/586matc2

January 9 Collaborative Communication in Special Education with Taryn Francis from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5n78rd8s

January 13 Transition: What You Need to Know with Karen Wang from 12pm-2pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mp9a8hjb

January 14 Special Education Evaluation and Eligibility with Michelle Driscoll from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/6pk322zd

January 14 Youth Self Determination Series 1, 4-week series for teens with an IEP on Tuesdays from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Limited space, pre-registration required.

January 15 Positive Behavioral Inventions and Supports (PBIS) with Stephanie Nicholls from 9:30am-11:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/muw38va7

January 16 How to Prepare for and Participate in Mediation or Facilitation with Beth Kohler, Taryn Francis, and Rebecca Kozlow from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/c88z248f

January 21 IEP Course – a five week series for parents of students with an IEP.  Tuesdays from 9:30am-11:00am. Registration open January 3-10, or when full.

January 22 FAPE in the LRE with Stephanie Nicholls from 4:00pm-5:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2nax5asb

January 23 Collaborating on Transition with Karen Wang from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3546s2e2

January 24 IFSP: A Closer Look with Kelsey Biswanger from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3ukd87zu

January 29 Disability is Not a Bad Word with Stephanie Nicholls from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yujzut3t

January 30 Rethinking Discipline with Amy Wilhelm from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3ehc5cd6

January 31 & February 7 Sensory Processing (two part webinar) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle from 1:00pm-2:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4hzrn39b

February 2025

February 3 Employment Expectations with Karen Wang from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2k56ryhy

February 5 Supporting Student Mental Health with Margo Pierce from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yzt8mxb2

February 6 Moving On from Early On with Kelsey Biswanger from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/557xysjy

February 7 Sensory Processing  (part two) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle from 1:00pm-2:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4hzrn39b

February 10 The Power of Connection: Peers with Andrea Beachnau from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4spvtbd6

February 11 Youth Self Determination Series 2, a  4-week series for teens with an IEP on Tuesdays from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Limited space, pre-registration required. Register at https://tinyurl.com/YSD22025

February 12 Tools for Supported Decision-Making with Mary Shehan from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/37mdpn8h

February 13 IEP: A Closer Look with Stephanie Nicholls from 4:00pm-5:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3hrxj2jm

February 19 Discipline Protections for Students with Disabilities with Michelle Driscoll from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/33866vfx

February 20 Preschool with an IEP with Kelsey Biswanger from 9:30am-10:30am.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/2p8zn5jp

February 26 Special Education State Complaints with Michelle Driscoll from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4s8ubfvw

March 2025

March 3 Crafting Your Parent Input Statement with Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2p9662e3

March 5 Math for All: Supporting Your Child with Disabilities in Math with Rachel Tabron from 12:00pm-1:00pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/y7z3pus2

March 5 Due Process Complaint and Hearing with Michelle Driscoll from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yeyxu5jk

March 6 IEP: A Closer Look with Stephanie Nicholls from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/vh2bzkrd

March 12 Growing Up with Self-Determination with Karen Wang from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ffv33rcx

April 2025

April 7 Transition: What You Need to Know with Karen Wang from 9:30am-11:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yfyumjeh

April 8 Assistive Technology: More than Checking a Box with Sara Pericolosi from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/4n7n4wc9

April 14 Transition Beyond IDEA with Karen Wang from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2shx45sz

April 15 Intro to Augmentative & Alternative Communication & Resources from 12:00pm-1:00pm with Caitlin Hurban. Register at https://tinyurl.com/sakn2378

April 16 IFSP: A Closer Look with Kelsey Biswanger from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/37fzcs88

April 17 Building Parent Leadership in Early Childhood with Stephanie Nicholls and Victoria Martinez. a 4-week series for parents with young children. Thursdays from 9:30am-10:30am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/BPLSspring2025

April 17 FAPE in the LRE with Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2puk9ebv

April 21 Positive Behavioral Inventions and Supports (PBIS) with Stephanie Nicholls from 4:00pm-5:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4tdf7zxt

April 22 Supporting Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)@Home with Carolyn Parker from 12:00pm-1:00pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/39msvks5

April 23 IEP: A Closer Look with Stephanie Nicholls from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yuyhfpcp

April 25 & May 2 Behavior is Communication  (two part webinar) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle from 1:00pm-2:30pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/53r8nysk

May 2025

May 2 Behavior is Communication (part two) with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle from 1:00pm-2:30pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/53r8nysk

May 6 The Power of Connection: Peers with Andrea Beachnau from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/345tzu67

May 7 Collaborating on Transition with Karen Wang from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/uzycn4z5

May 12 Collaborative Communication in Special Education with Beth Kohler from 11:30am-12:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y5jx2spx

May 13 Supporting Student Mental Health with Margo Pierce from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y76829xd

May 14 Preschool with an IEP with Kelsey Biswanger from 12:00pm-1:00pm.  Register at https://tinyurl.com/5n8h9t5b

May 14 Growing Up with Self-Determination with Karen Wang from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ybh8ytv7

May 19 IEP: A Closer Look with Andrea Beachnau from 2:00pm-3:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4jd3t6zv

May 21 Moving On from Early On with Kelsey Biswanger from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2ymxthtx

May 28 Disability is Not a Bad Word with Stephanie Nicholls from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5xzud6nk

June 2025

June 26 IEP: A Closer Look with Andrea Beachnau from 9:30am-11:00am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yyzz5m83