Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority

EarlySteps: Start to Finish – EarlySteps is Louisiana’s Early Intervention System that provides services and supports to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. Join us as we navigate the EarlySteps process.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of Greater New Orleans

Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

What Happens When Parents & Schools Disagree? This training session will delve into Louisiana’s Special Education dispute resolution options and what to do when you disagree with the school regarding your child’s special education services. We will discuss:

• Frequently used acronyms;
• Different informal and formal dispute resolutions options offered by the Louisiana Department of Education; and
• How to request a dispute resolution option.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of Greater New Orleans

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Accommodations vs. Modifications – Meeting after meeting, parents and teachers use the words “accommodation” and “modification” almost interchangeably when discussing IEPs and student needs. If understood and used correctly, these words can greatly impact the success of a child’s educational program. Get answers to these questions and more:

• How can accommodations and modifications help my child in the general education classroom?
• How are accommodations and modifications included in IEP?
• Which accommodations are provided for state testing?

Understanding accommodations and modifications can be a game changer for your child.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon,  FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Who Needs a Surrogate Parent? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) gives parents of children with disabilities an active role in planning their child’s educational programs and decision making. However, sometimes the parent is not available and IDEA allows for a surrogate parent to fill this very important role. Join us as we discuss which children are eligible for a surrogate parent, who can be a surrogate parent, and most importantly, who cannot be a surrogate parent.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Acadiana

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Parent Rights in Special Education – Join us as we discuss the rights that parents have when it comes to their child’s special education and related services:

• Parental participation;
• Access to education records;
• Iinformed consent;
• Prior written notice;
• Independent Education Evaluation;
• Your right to disagree with school

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Bayou Land Families Helping Families

Audience:  Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Adult social group (18+ years old)

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 6:00pm

Facilitator: Emily Davis

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: The Online Social Group is designed to help reduce feelings of isolation and increase the opportunity for social interaction with peers as well as connect with people who understand you!  To attend, please sign up below.  Once your RSVP is received you will be sent the meeting link and access code to attend, please do not share the meeting link and access code with anyone. If you have any questions, send ASGNO an email at info@asgno.org.  If you are seeking a more support-group type environment for the serious life issues, check out their Autistic Adults support group. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

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The Tiered Waiver System – Previously, these community-based services, or waiver services, were offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Now, individuals receive waiver offers based on their needs. Join Dr. Amy Greer from the Louisiana Department of Health Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities as she answers your questions about how the tiered system works.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Audience:  Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

The Bridge from High School to Postsecondary Services – In this webinar, we will assist you to understand the Individual Transition Plan (ITP) process as it pertains to postsecondary education and other related services. We will also provide an overview of programs and resources available to your child entering postsecondary education or employment.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of NOLA

Audience: Parents, self-advocates, or professionals working with students with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Caregiver Support Group (English)

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm and the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12:30pm

Facilitator: Stacy Badon

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: Caregivers of individuals with autism face many unique challenges. Life can seem very different and distant from the experiences of many other families. It can be possible to feel that there is no way that they can ask for or expect other people to understand their experiences. This support group is a place for caregivers to share experiences, get information and advice, make community connections, and research opportunities for services and provision for their children. The group is also a safe place for caregivers to have fun and talk about all of the ups and downs of parenting as well as the big and small issues. Sign up below. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now

Anti-Discrimination Laws & Students with Disabilities – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are anti-discrimination laws. They prohibit schools from discriminating against students with disabilities. Join us and learn about your child’s important protections under these laws.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge

Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals working with students with
disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The Basics Educational Plans: IEP’s vs 504 Plans – Students with disabilities will usually qualify for either an IEP or a 504 Plan – but what is the difference and is one better than the other?  This training will take you through the eligibility process of both plans, the laws that regulate both, the differences in the plans and parental rights.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of Greater New Orleans

Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals working with students with
disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans program

How to Write Ambitious IEP Goals – Join us as we discuss some tips to help you focus on making your child’s IEP as complete as possible to ensure good outcomes. During this webinar, we will discuss measurable annual goals and how they are written, your role as an IEP team member and how to create a results driven IEP.

Presenter: Sharon Blackmon, FHF of GNO

Hosts: Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana

Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals working with students with
disabilities or special healthcare needs.

To register, click here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Autistic Adults Support Group

Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM, CST

Facilitator: Emily Davis

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: This group is aimed at providing Autistic Adults with a safe space for compassionate peer support about the more serious topics of life.  Geared towards support discussions, this group aims to provide support for Autistic adults on work issues, interview help, interpersonal relationships, challenges of independent living, relating to coworkers, and anything else that makes day-to-day-life difficult, exhausting, or challenging.  Seek support from people who have been there. If you are seeking a more laid-back social group, please sign up for ASGNO’s Adult Social Group (18+)! See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

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Autism Society of GNO’s Caregiver Support Group (Encargado/Padre/Madre de habla español)

Se reúne el tercer martes de cada mes a las 6:00 p.m., hora central

Facilitadora: Stacy Badon

Organizacíon Anfitriona: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Descripción: Para muchos encarcado de personas con grandes necesidades de apoyo en el espectro autismo, la vida puede parecer muy diferente de las experiencias de otras familias. Puede parecer imposible esperar que otras personas comprendan sus experiencias. Este grupo de apoyo es un lugar para que los encargado compartan experiencias, obtengan información, consejos y establezcan conexiones con la comunidad. El grupo también es un lugar seguro para que los encargado se diviertan y hablen sobre todos los altibajos de la crianza de los hijos, así como sobre los problemas grandes y pequeños.

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Adult social group (18+ years old)

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 6:00pm

Facilitator: Emily Davis

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: The Online Social Group is designed to help reduce feelings of isolation and increase the opportunity for social interaction with peers as well as connect with people who understand you!  To attend, please sign up below.  Once your RSVP is received you will be sent the meeting link and access code to attend, please do not share the meeting link and access code with anyone. If you have any questions, send ASGNO an email at info@asgno.org.  If you are seeking a more support-group type environment for the serious life issues, check out their Autistic Adults support group. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now

Caregiver Support Group (English)

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm and the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12:30pm

Facilitator: Stacy Badon

Host: Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Description: Caregivers of individuals with autism face many unique challenges. Life can seem very different and distant from the experiences of many other families. It can be possible to feel that there is no way that they can ask for or expect other people to understand their experiences. This support group is a place for caregivers to share experiences, get information and advice, make community connections, and research opportunities for services and provision for their children. The group is also a safe place for caregivers to have fun and talk about all of the ups and downs of parenting as well as the big and small issues. Sign up below. See all of ASGNO’s virtual programs by clicking here.

Sign Up Now