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Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 143: Springtime Planning for Transitions
On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.
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 A Note from Nicole: Slower Pace
Idea of the Week: Monkey Mix
Feature Article: Springtime Planning for Transitions
The Horizons Team Recommends: Learning as we Grow
Allergen-Free Recipe of the Week: Lemon Berry Bars
Upcoming Events: Workshops/Conferences
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Hi Everyone,
It’s Spring Break here in our area, and I know that my kids were ready for it (and I’m sure their teachers as well)! The stretch between the holiday break and spring break is so long, and that coupled with the long winter months makes all of us feel like a change of pace is needed. It tends to feel like a ghost town in our community during this week, as many families head out of state for the break. Our family is hanging out at home and enjoying a slower pace of life for the week. Hopefully we’ll get some sunny days to enjoy time outdoors.
Speaking of Spring, Courtney’s article this week is about planning for end of the school year transitions. It may only be April, but the end of the school year is right around the corner. Her article provides some valuable tips for planning related to school decisions. These are definitely some important things to be thinking about at this time of year. If you want to get even more information, strategies, and ideas for supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental issues in school settings, be sure to check out our featured resource this week !
Make it a great week!
Looking to the horizon,
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Monkey Mix
 Combine these ingredients together and enjoy this tasty treat:
1 1/4 cup dried bananas, 1 cup dried papaya or dried mango, 1/4 cup sliced almonds, 1/4 cup coconut and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips. You can even add other things to the mix that you think would taste good. Just watch out that no one climbs into trees while eating! |
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Springtime Planning for Transitions
By: Courtney Kowalczyk, M.Ed.
The sun is beginning to shine, and the fresh smells of spring are upon us. This time of year is always a favorite of mine, whether I am at school working with my students or walking through the park with my son. As a special educator, this time of year is always busy in the school systems. Special educators, parents, and support staff alike generally meet together for an annual Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for the coming school year. For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, IEPs are usually completed in the spring for students receiving special education services. When preparing for IEPs, it is essential for parents and educators alike to think about the conclusion of the current school year and the beginning of the next, and how they will support the child during this time.
During moments of transition from grade to grade, classroom to classroom, or school to summer, many children with disabilities begin to feel uncertain about what is to come for them in the future. This uncertainty can lead to increased in anxiety, which can be manifested in many different ways. As educators and parents, it is very important to plan not only for the upcoming school year, but also for the transitions in between. Here are several suggestions to make those transitions easier and less stressful for everyone involved:
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Communicate with the child that the school year is coming to an end, and that summer will be approaching. This is a good time to discuss moving on to a new teacher, saying good-bye to the current teacher, and ways for maintaining friendships over the summer.
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Learning as
we Grow
You’ve Been
Asking For It – The Resource for Applying Principles of Remediation in
School Settings is Finally Here!
This long-awaited book is written for parents and
professionals who want to be more effective in their work with students
who have neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
You will learn how to:
- Identify the core features of neurodevelopmental disorders
that create communication, learning, and relationship challenges for
your students
- Shift from a mindset of working around deficits
(compensation) to correcting the root issues that create obstacles for
your students (remediation)
- Modify your communication to promote your students’
communication and thinking abilities
- Identify the unique strengths and obstacles of each student
in order to determine appropriate placement and programming
- Achieve meaningful outcomes for students that allow them to
reach their greatest potential
For more information, click here
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Lemon Berry Bars
(Recipe and picture from Allergy Proof Recipes for Kids by Leslie Hammond and Lynne Marie Rominger page 194)
Whether you have just started a special diet with your child or you have been following one for years, it can be difficult to come up with what to serve. We decided to try to make that just a bit easier by providing you with a new allergen free recipe each week. While it is impossible to meet every person’s unique food sensitivity needs, we hope you will find these recipes helpful and delicious. Please feel free to adapt the recipes to meet your needs and taste buds; we do it all the time. In addition to the weekly recipes, we will be highlighting a specific allergen free product of the month. Enjoy!
 Lemon Berry Bars
My aunt loves lemon bars, and she totally approves of these! Berries add not only flavor, but also nutritional value.
For Crust:
1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon (1.7 g) lemon zest
1/2 cup (100 g) vegetable shortening
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Please join us!
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On the Horizon
is a weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child¹s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.
Our mailing address is:
Horizons Developmental Remediation Center
3120 68th Street SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
Our telephone:
(616) 698-0306
Our email address:
info@horizonsdrc.com
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