Special Education Legal Fund

Thank you to everyone who registered and attended last night's webinar on the transition process to PreK, Kindergarten, and Elementary School! A special thanks to everyone on the panel: special education attorney Dana A. Jonson, special education advocates Anne Munkenbeck and Jane Faherty, and especially moderator Virginia Blum. If you missed last night's webinar, a link to the recording is attached below. https://lnkd.in/e9kiJHHq

Wednesday night we hosted a short webinar answering questions about our grants programs for families: the ATTORNEY grant, which provides $6000 to qualifying families that live in CT or Westchester NY with an IEP to seek the support of a special education attorney, and the ADVOCATE grant, which provides $1000 to qualifying families in CT/Westchester with an IEP/504 Plan to seek the support of a nonattorney special education advocate. Please check out the recording below if you missed it and visit our website for more information about either of the grants programs. https://lnkd.in/ecmVHebJ

Special Education Legal Fund will begin accepting applications for our ATTORNEY and ADVOCATE grants programs for families beginning Tuesday, August 20th, 2024. Interested families should visit our website to review eligibility requirements before the prescreening portal opens on August 20th. For those who have questions about the application process or the programs, we will be hosting a webinar for parents, attorneys, advocates, and other professionals on Wednesday, August 21st at 7pm. This webinar is FREE with registration and interested parties may submit questions in advance to [email protected]. https://lnkd.in/eNC5DCBM

Thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday's School Showcase featuring Winston Transitions! Jeremy Antar and Lauren Kellner provided us with an in-depth look at the Winston Transitions program in New York City, including its employability programs, "adulting" classes, internships, and much more. https://lnkd.in/eaWfCpAp

Join S.E.L.F. on June 11th at 12 noon for our final School Showcase of the year featuring Winston Transitions in New York! Moderated by Christine Lai, this webinar will provide parents and professionals with an indepth look at Winston Transitions (NY) through a virtual tour, presentation, and live Q&A with senior staff and leadership including John Civita (Director of Transitions Programming), Jeremy Antar (Head of Winston Transitions), and Lauren Kellner (Assistant Head/Admissions). Topics covered will include faculty, curriculum, programming, internships, supporting students, communication, school community, and more. This webinar is a must for any parent, professional, or provider seeking special education resources for their child or student in the New York City area. Transitions?is a highly individualized program for students ages 17 to 21+ with learning differences. Each aspect of the program precisely matches the student's strengths and needs. Academic and social-emotional skill-building and employability skill-building further enhance the development of independence and sustainability as an emerging young adult. https://lnkd.in/eCswTvNR

Thank you to our panelists Andrew Feinstein, Jeffrey Forte, and Steven Hernández, Esq. for joining us last night for an important discussion on bullying, special education, and the law. A recording to the webinar is attached below for anyone who missed it. https://lnkd.in/eQMfjixH

Special Education Legal Fund is thrilled to partner with Chapel Haven Schleifer Center and CE Floyd Company Inc on our upcoming Showcase exploring what makes Chapel Haven a community. If you are a parent or professional searching for a caring environment that nurtures growth, independence, and friendship through a supportive framework of educators, therapists and caregivers, join us on May 16th at 12 noon to explore Chapel Haven's community. Learn about how Chapel Haven Schleifer Center uses curriculum, life experiences, community connections, and innovating, state-of-the-art lifestyle-based campus design to help adults with disabilities on their lifelong learning journey to independence and fulfillment. Founded in 1972,?Chapel Haven Schleifer Center (CHSC)?has been changing lives for adults with disabilities for a half-century.?This award-winning non-profit based in the Westville section of New Haven, Conn. teaches adults with developmental and social disabilities to live independent and productive lives through a nationally accredited transitional living program and approved private special education school. Chapel Haven’s mission is to empower adults to live independent and self-determined lives. Our program is truly lifelong. Chapel Haven serves more than 250 adults (18 years of age and older) in the residence and the community with two distinct programs; REACH and Asperger's Syndrome Adult Transition (ASAT) programs. Among the profiles of adults served at CHSC are autism, intellectual disabilities, Down Syndrome, high-functioning autism/Asperger Syndrome and more. Through an intensive, state-approved education curriculum, adults are guided through all aspects of independent living and prepared for a future in which they can live robust and independent adult lives. CHSC is internationally accredited through CARF, state-approved through the Connecticut State Department of Education and licensed through the CT Department of Developmental Services. Fully 80 percent of adults who enroll in the residential transition program graduate and stay on in Chapel Haven’s thriving supported living program. Chapel Haven’s Supported Living Program assists individuals who have made the transition to independent living, but who still need some level of support. A CHSC Support Coordinator is assigned to each client as a guide and mentor, assisting with the process of maintaining a home and accessing community services. Currently, CHSC serves approximately 130 community members.

Thank you to our guests from The Spire School (CT) including Tammy Moscrip, PhD, LCSW, Alyssa Corsaro, and Dede LeComte for joining Special Education Legal Fund for today's School Showcase! Spire is an incredibly unique place and we were so pleased to be able to talk all things Spire with our guests and shine a light on the amazing things happening at the school. Greenwich Education Group Victoria Newman M.S.Ed, CEP https://lnkd.in/eZsiB7wD

Thanks to everyone who joined our webinar last night and learned a little bit about preparing for college for students with IEPs, 504 Plans, or who are enrolled at independent special education high schools. A special thanks goes out to our panelists: attorney Marion Walsh from Littman Krooks LLP, learning specialist Danielle Meyer, M.S. from The Harvey School, and Winston Preparatory School CT Head of School Stephanie Zabar. https://lnkd.in/eH7rMjCN

Please join S.E.L.F. on Thursday at 12 noon for our fourth School Showcase of the year, featuring The Spire School (CT) in Stamford, Connecticut! Meet senior management at Spire including Tammy Moscrip, PhD, LCSW, Dede LeComte, and Alyssa Corsaro for an in-depth and insightful Q&A, virtual tour, and more! A recording of Thursday's webinar will be provided to all registrants so please sign up even if you can't make it! Founded in 2010 and located in Stamford, Connecticut, The Spire School is a private therapeutic day school for college-bound students in grades 8 through 12. By integrating an individualized education with a health and wellness curriculum, The Spire School helps students realize their academic potential. It supports skill development to overcome social and emotional difficulties in a safe and nurturing environment. Our staff are passionate and thoughtful professionals dedicated to transforming the lives of children who may experience school avoidance or refusal, anxiety, depression, issues around gender identity, executive function challenges, bullying, and negative social media influences. Spire is a Connecticut State-Approved Special Education School and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). #fairfieldcounty #westchestercounty #connecticut #connecticutschools #privateschool #privatemiddleschool #privatehighschool #therapeuticschool #therapeuticdayschool #specialeducation #bethelct #brookfieldct #darienct #fairfieldct #greenwichct #reddingct #newcanaanct #norwalkct #ridgefieldct #stamfordct #westonct #westportct https://lnkd.in/eYXfP5Gp