Just Marilyn Welcome back from what I hope was a wonderful Summer! For our family it was another excursion to the Maine coast, camping and eating lots of lobster. However, one highlight of our trip was a visit to the Museum of disABILITY, located in Buffalo, NY. This museum is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. The exhibits, collections, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery. If you are ever visiting Niagara Falls, this is must-see gem. For those new to the school district or new to Special Education, I am the liaison between families of children with special needs and the administration/school district. I have thrived in this role for almost twenty years. My grant is funded by the State of Ohio which the Worthington School District requested. I am the parent of three children, two of which were on IEP’s from pre-school through high school and beyond. If you have any questions regarding your children and special education my contact information is included.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” - Joseph Campbell “Hope” is the thing with feather that perches in the soul.” – Emily Dickinson

Parent Mentor Newsletter

Marilyn Van Gilder Fall 2015

CONTACT INFORMATION

Marilyn Van Gilder Worthington Education Center

200 E. Wilson Bridge Rd. Worthington, OH 43085

(614)-450-6044

mailto:mentor@worthington.wscloud.org

MEETINGS AND EVENTS SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT GROUP Thursday, October 22, 2015 “Accessing the World & Education with Technology” facilitated by Jake Guthrie, District Intervention Specialist Consultant. 7 – 8:30 PM, Worthington Ed. Center, Rm 101A Contact Marilyn Van Gilder for details at mvangilder@wsc.org or 614-450-6044 October 7, 2015 – 6:30-8:00 PM – College Fair for Students With Learning Differences @ Gahanna Lincoln HS October 8, 2015 – 6-8 PM - A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the Process to Determine Assistive Technology, www.sst11.org October 16, 2015 – 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM – Dr. Paula Kluth will be presenting “Don’t We Already Do Inclusion?”, Xenos Conference Center, 1340 Community Park Drive, Columbus OH 43229. For more information and to register, go to www.dsaco.net October 17, 2015 – 10 AM – Noon – Halloween Hop! Trick or Treat fun for kids of all abilities, Happy Halloween from Columbus Speech & Hearing Center, 510 East North Broadway in Clintonville, www.columbusspeech.org

October 17, 2015 – 10 AM – 2 PM – SIBSHOP BOO BASH!, For brothers and sisters (ages 6 and up) who have a sibling with Autism, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, 187 W. Schrock Rd., Westerville OH 43081, Cost is $20 for the day, pizza lunch included, Register at 614-355-0662 October 21, 2015 – Transition Night Resource Fair, Hilliard Darby HZZS, 4200 Leppert Rd., Hilliard OH 43026 November 12, 2015 – 6-8 PM A Parent’s Guide to Early Literacy with Melanie Peloquin, www.sst11.org November 26, 2015, 4th Annual Turkey Trot, Behind the Meijer’s in Delaware, OH raising money for Autism Society, Central OH, http://delawareturkeytrot.com/index.html December 10, 2015 – 6-8 PM, What Parents Should Know About 504 Plans with Joe Farry, www.sst11.org

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OPPORTUNITIES Worthington Academy – Worthington Schools launched a new and exciting opportunity for students starting the 2015-2016 school year! Worthington Academy provides an additional education setting for Worthington high school students that are credit deficient and/or looking for a different education environment. Worthington Academy creates a safe, respectful environment that integrates technology, personalized instruction and supportive relationships. It is housed at Phoenix MS. Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation – The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency (OOD) is the state agency that partners with Ohioans with disabilities to achieve quality employment, independence and Social Security disability determination outcomes through its Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) and Division of Disability Determination (DDD) An individual can complete an application for services by visiting our website at www.ood.ohio.gov or 800-282-4536. Family Advisory Counsel (FAC) has new leadership. Kim Weimer is the new Family Liasion replacing Peggy Martin who retired in the Spring. Her role is to advocate for you, our families, when DODD is making policy and program decisions, and to be there as a resource for you. Contact Kim at 614-466-8359 or Kim.Weimer@dodd.ohio.gov

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The Parent Mentor serves as the liaison between the parents and the teachers of special needs

children.