Jan La Belle Scholarship Program 

Family Network on Disabilities is proud to announce the creation of the Jan La Belle Scholarship Program. The Program was created to honor Jan La Belle, Executive Director of Family Network on Disabilities from 1995 to 2005, for her passion and dedication to individuals with disabilities and their families.
 
We at FND are grateful for her service and wish to recognize her dedication by helping ensure that each person, regardless of ability or disability, is able to pursue their own hopes and dreams and to do so as independently as possible. This Program is created to allow any qualified individual with a disability with dreams to better themselves and give back to the community.
 
Awards will be made annually, up to $15,000. They will be targeted at individuals between the ages of 16-24 who have a disability and who are pursuing higher education or additional training as a first-time student. Their school of choice may be academic or vocational.
 
Applications will be accepted beginning September 15, 2010. Winner(s) will be notified by March 30, 2011.
 
Please visit the FND website for additional information at www.fndusa.org.

SPARC 2010 Conference

Saturday, September 11, 2010
8:00am - 5:00pm
Fitzgerald Middle School
6410 118th Ave N
Largo, FL 33770
 
The goal of this educational conference is to provide parents, teachers, therapists and other professionals with resources that will help their children make achievements in all aspects of life. While the focus is on children with special needs, these resources are just as valuable to any child. There will be something for everyone, for one day only, in one place!
 
This is a Statewide Conference with federal and state exhibitors in attendance. Some of what you will find at the conference:

• 60 different breakout sessions

• Resource and exhibitor area with over 100 display booths

• State, regional and local organizations on hand for information and questions

• Catered lunch

• $100 travel/gas reimbursement drawing

• Door prizes galore . . . therapy sessions, evaluations, software, dinners, movies, shows, gift baskets, and much more, including a Dell laptop computer
  

Information and registration is available on-line at www.standadvocates.org. If you have questions, please contact Melissa Tremblay, STAND-Pinellas at melmom@tampabay.rr.com or 727-784-8493.

POPIN Regional Conference

Saturday, September 18, 2010
9:00am - 4:30pm
Howard Bishop Middle School
1901 NE 9th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
 
The POPIN (Parents of the Panhandle Information Network) Regional Conference will provide information and workshops on a variety of special education and disability topics such as IDEA, IEP, Transition, and more.
 
Our 25th Anniversary Celebration will continue on September 19, 2010 at Albert "Ray" Massey Westside Park located at 1001 NW 34th St, Gainesville, FL 32605 (MAP).
 
We'll be there from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. There will be food, fun, children's activities, and helpful information for your family from local organizations.

25th Anniversary Celebration in Safety Harbor

We had the 6th in the series of 25th Anniversary Celebrations in Safety Harbor last week. The Celebration in the Park was held on Saturday, August 28. The rain that had plagued us for a week stayed away on that day and everyone was able to enjoy a great day in the sunshine.

We would like to thank Catalina Marketing Charitable Foundation, Starbucks, Crisper's, Galley Pizza, Applebee's, Cello's Charhouse, Chick-Fil-A, Louis Pappa's, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Moe's Southwest Grill, Chuck E. Cheese, and Cody's Original Roadhouse for their donations and support in making this event a success.

Speaker James Williams

The Family Care Council, IYC, PEACE, Exceptional Student Education, FDLRS, and TiAnViCa present James Williams. As a young adult with Autism, James has been speaking all over the country about his experiences in an effort to help families and educators better understand how to help children with Autism.
 
Parent Session: Are You There, World?  It's Me, Autism
(9:30am - 11:00am)
Teacher Session: The Importance of Critical Thinking
(1:00pm - 2:30pm)
Q&A will follow each session
 
Monday, September 13, 2010
Jim Miles Professional Center (MAP)
5204 US Highway 98 S
Lakeland, FL 33813
Cypress and Citrus Rooms
 
For parent registration please email Nikki Torres at nikki73170@aol.com or call 863-686-1221, ext. 228. Educators register on the Professional Development System.

Teaming with Heart Southern Regional Conference

Saturday, September 25, 2010
8:00am - 4:00pm
Sugarloaf School (MAP)
255 Crane Blvd
Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042
 
The PEN (Parent Education Network) Southern Regional Conference will have a full day of workshops on topics ranging from Early Childhood through Transition.

Workshops will be presented in English, Spanish and Creole.
 
Special Guest: Roger Mills, Senior Attorney for the Office for Civil Rights, will be presenting a full day on Section 504!
 
Free FunCamp for Kids! (pre-registration is required)
 
For more information or to register for the conference, please contact Family Network on Disabilities at 800-825-5736 or email fnd@fndusa.org.