Preparedness:
Disasters and Severe Storms happen.  Get prepared!
Looking for preparedness tips and content to share throughout the year?  We’ve got plug and play content with calendar reminders and important dates to use online for your agency, community group, organization, place of worship, or to make your own personal planning easier throughout the year.  Please help us spread the word! https://www.ready.gov/calendar

Addiction:
Tuesday, January 24 at 7 PM, Tim Holzer, Director, Caroline County Recovery Community Center will be presenting:  Effects of Drugs and Alcohol. This is helpful to understand why a friend or loved one behaves the way they do. We are faced with a growing problem that affects more than the person with the addiction. Tim will be speaking at Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green. For more information on this or “Families Anonymous” call David at 804-633-6488  or Tim at 804-632-6015.  www.FamiliesAnonymous.org

Anxiety and ADHD:

• Do you wonder…Does my child have ADHD or Bipolar Disorder?
  Diagnosing children who may have bipolar disorder can be very difficult because there are so many symptoms that overlap with ADHD. For example: irritability, trouble sleeping, outbursts,  heightened activity, distractibility. Caroline Miller from The Child Mind Institute has written an article that you may find extremely insightful and may help you when discussing these symptoms with your child’s physician.
• Caroline Miller has also posted on this topic:
  How Anxiety Leads to Disruptive Behavior – Kids who seem oppositional are often severely anxious.
  We know that anxiety drives a lot of symptoms in the school setting that are easily misconstrued as ADHD or defiant behavior. This makes accurately identifying what’s going on with your child even harder. BUT, knowledge is power…so, read up, power up, and keep looking for ways to help your child if they are struggling.

Seizure Disorders:

• Having a seizure disorder can greatly impact your school day. The Epilepsy Foundation has some good resources for parents and students on their home page epilepsy.com. I also found this article to be very helpful: What Can Parents Do to Prepare for School?
  
• If you are new to seizures and epilepsy, you should consider downloading the Epilepsy and My Child Toolkit (available in English and Spanish). It’s filled with great resources and info.

LD/ADHD:

• Save-the-Date for the  Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association’s (VBDIA)Annual Conference
  Dyslexia: Strategies and Beyond
  Saturday, April 29, 2017 at JMU
  Registration opens for this event on March 1st. Keep checking the VBDIA’s website for updates.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Sensory friendly movie at the Byrd Theater on Cary Street
  The Princess Bride will be showing Tomorrow, Saturday, Jan 21, 2017
  Movie starts at 2:00 pm – Box office opens at 1:30. Tickets are $1.99.
  This sensory friendly movie experience provides an accepting and safe environment for families to enjoy a movie. The lights are turned up and the sound is turned down. Popcorn, candy, soda and water are available to purchase. Those with special dietary needs may bring their own refreshments
• Commonwealth Autism is advertising two new events for parents–
  A Financial Planning workshop and a free luncheon to share information about the Courage to Succeed college program – Charterhouse’s college program for students with neurological differences, including high functioning autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury.
  Need to know more about Diploma Options?Friday, February 3, 2017 from 7 to 8:30 pm
  This presentation will focus on the diploma options available for all students, as well as, credit accommodations for students with disabilities. The discussion will also provide participants with information about the Applied Studies Diploma, including an overview of the curriculum map and progress on additional initiatives. The presenters will be staff from Va Dept. of Ed (VDOE). Hosted by the Autism Society Central VA at River Road United Methodist Church, 8800 River Road, Richmond.
• 2017 PEAK Autism Educator Conference
  March 15 and 16, 2017 in Springfield, VA
  This conference is full of info and strategies for teachers, service providers and parents. Click the above link for complete details. Early Bird registration rates go away after Feb 3rd. Focus will be on social skills and relationship building and problematic behaviors

• 13th Annual Family Fair – Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Caroline Middle School – SAVE THE DATE!! Accepting Presenter proposals and Vendors
• Autism Society-Central Virginia (AS-CV)
  Whether you’re new or have been involved in the ASD community for a while the AS-CV is the #1 resource for you and your family. They offer a wealth of information and resources, as well as, social, support and sibling opportunities. Becky Boswell, Bradford Hulcher, Tammy Burns and the rest of the team are committed, knowledgeable and passionate about helping you and your family. Be sure to check out their ‘meetings and events’ page.
• Community Services Board (CSB)
  The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides prevention, treatment, employment and support services for Caroline citizens and families with mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities. They work collaboratively with schools, law enforcement, and social services. They can also assist you with case management, counseling, crisis services, and general parenting education.
• Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
  The department offers a wide array of specialized services, supports, resources and programs for Virginia residents of all ages who are experiencing significant visual disabilities. The DBVI is committed to providing quality services to assist Virginia’s citizens who are blind, deafblind or vision impaired in achieving their maximum level of employment, education, and personal independence.
• Department of Social Services (DSS)
  and the CSB work very closely together to serve you, your child and your family. They help to ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have access to the best services and benefits available to them, such as: Financial Assistance, Medicaid Waivers, Health Financial Assistance, Family & Individual Services, Services for Children, and Services for Adults.
• Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond (DSAGR)
  DSAGR is a wonderful resource. They strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome and their families by providing access to current and accurate information on Down syndrome and by fostering programs that focus on education, community services, public awareness, medical issues, research, advocacy, legal issues and parenting.
• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
  DARS can assist you with many things. They collaborate with schools in providing Transition Services. They offer Employment Services help people with disabilities get ready for, find, and keep a job. We have a residential training and medical rehabilitation center known as Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, and they process disability claims for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Disability Programs.

For more information on any topics addressed in this email, please contact the Parent Resource Center.