Sara Marie School Puppet Presentation
2023-03-23 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Kindness puppet program generously sponsored by DePaula Chevrolet

Fair Haven Grade School Puppet Presentation
2023-03-30 08:00 - 17:00
Generously sponsored by Ross Hometown Chevrolet

Kindergarten Conference Puppets in Education Workshop
2023-04-04 08:00 - 17:00

Cambridge Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-04-05 08:00 - 17:00
Abuse Awareness Puppet Program

Register for: VFN 2023 Annual Conference - Inclusion and Well-Being
2023-04-11 09:00 - 13:00
Join us on April 11 for our VFN 2023 Annual Conference – Inclusion and Well-Being. Registration is open! Visit our Annual Conference page for more details including an agenda and to register.

Lanesborough Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-04-13 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness Puppet Program generously sponsored by Bedard Bros. Chevrolet

Weathersfield Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-04-20 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Puppet Program and Anxiety Workshop

COTS Puppet Presentation
2023-04-22 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Puppet Program

Coxsackie Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-04-26 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Puppet Program generously sponsored by Sawyer Chevrolet

Hardwick Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-05-03 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Puppet Program generously sponsored by Vermont Department of Mental Health

Watch: Introduction to Vermont Developmental Disabilities Services
2023-05-03 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording for “Introduction to Vermont Developmental Disabilities Services” here.
This workshop is intended to explain how someone applies for developmental disabilities in Vermont. We will also review the eligibility criteria is for these services and what types of supports are available to people with developmental disabilities.
Presenter:

Melanie Feddersen, DDSD Services Specialist Supervisor

Brookside Primary School Puppet Presentation
2023-05-10 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness Puppet Program

Watch: Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 1 - "Rule Change Implementation"
2023-05-17 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of “Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 1 – Rule Change Implementation” here.
This is session one of three in the VFN/Agency of Education Virtual Town Hall Sessions where the July 1, 2023 Special Education Rule changes are discussed. Topics include the nature of the Rule changes, adverse effect, functional skills, and specific learning disability changes.
Each session covers a different area and links to the recording can be found on our website and YouTube channel.

Part 1 – “Rule Change Implementation”
Part 2 – “Adverse Effect and Functional Skills Changes”
Part 3 – “Specific Learning Disability Changes”

Presenters:
Representatives from the VT Agency of Education and VFN

Greenwich Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-05-18 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Puppet Program generously sponsored by MAG Chevrolet of Greenwich

Champlain Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-05-24 08:00 - 17:00
Generously sponsored by Creative Labels of Vermont

Watch: Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 2 - "Adverse Effect and Functional Skills Changes"
2023-05-24 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of “Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 2 – Adverse Effect and Functional Skills Changes” here.
This is session two of three in the VFN/Agency of Education Virtual Town Hall Sessions where the July 1, 2023 Special Education Rule changes are discussed. Topics include the nature of the Rule changes, adverse effect, functional skills, and specific learning disability changes.
Each session covers a different area and links to the recording can be found on our website and YouTube channel.

Part 1 – “Rule Change Implementation”
Part 2 – “Adverse Effect and Functional Skills Changes”
Part 3 – “Specific Learning Disability Changes”

Presenters:
Representatives from the VT Agency of Education and VFN

Watch: Building and Empowering Ourselves Through the Youth Advocacy Council
2023-05-25 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of “Building and Empowering Ourselves Through the Youth Advocacy Council” here.
Learn about the Youth Advocacy Council and the leadership and advocacy opportunities it helps create for youth and young adults with disabilities in Vermont. This webinar covers the history of the council since it was formed in 2018, membership opportunities for youth and young adults ages 15-25, and an overview of the work the council does each year.
Presenters:

Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie, Ph.D. (she/her) – Independent Living Coordinator at VCIL
Kara Haynes, LICSW (she, her)- Transition Program Associate Manager at HireAbility VT
Members of the Youth Advocacy Council

Watch: Special Education Rule Changes Part 3 - "Specific Learning Disability Changes"
2023-05-31 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of “Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 3 – Specific Learning Disability Changes” here.
This is session three of three in the VFN/Agency of Education Virtual Town Hall Sessions where the July 1, 2023 Special Education Rule changes are discussed. Topics include the nature of the Rule changes, adverse effect, functional skills, and specific learning disability eligibility.
Each session covers a different area and links to the recordings can be found on our website and YouTube channel.

Part 1 – “Rule Change Implementation”
Part 2 – “Adverse Effect and Functional Skills Changes”
Part 3 – “Specific Learning Disability Changes”

Presenters:
Representatives from the VT Agency of Education and VFN

Advocacy and Policy Committee Meeting
2023-06-01 18:30 - 20:00
Please join us on Zoom for another Advocacy and Policy Committee meeting where we will provide a wrap up of the legislative session as well as hear more from our Executive Director, Jacqui Kelleher about the conversations she has been having with legislators.

Watch: Understanding and Building Youth Resilience
2023-06-15 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of “Understanding and Building Youth Resilience” here.
If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we’ll send you a link to the recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time.
This workshop will begin with a brief introduction to trauma/trauma responsive care. During the majority of the presentation we will focus on defining resilience, understanding the current trends and statistics, and how do we build/increase resilience in children and youth. The presentation will also cover care of self for the adults who care for or work with youth.
Presenter:
– Kheya Ganguly, M.A., Director of Trauma Prevention and Resilience Development at the Vermont Department Of Mental Health. Kheya has experience in higher education working as a writing tutor, academic advisor, financial aid and scholarship consultant, as well as experience teaching undergraduate courses in Counseling and Human Development. She also has experience as a school psychologist, crisis worker, grant writer, and in community mental health. She also worked as a dissertation consultant, specializing in qualitative research methods, analysis, and application. The majority of her career has been focused on work with children, youth, and families.
A Graduate of the University of South Florida, Kheya has a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She is the recipient of an ALANA award recognizing excellence as a minority student and a University Fellowship for academic achievement. Her research interests include Trauma and Resilience; Social Equity work; Gender and Equity Studies; and Child, Family, and Adult Development.
Born in India, and raised in both India and the United States, she has traveled extensively over the world. She speaks Bengali and English.

Watch: Transition Mapping
2023-06-22 10:00 - 11:00
Watch recording for “Transition Mapping” here.
This workshop is for individuals with disabilities, family members and anyone that supports transitions. We will explore how mapping helps with navigating transitions. We will go over features of maps and transitions in general and then apply mapping to the context of transitions. There are many types of maps and many types of transitions. Let’s explore how to develop and use maps as tools for our transitions.
Presenter:

Jayson Capobianco (he/him) is a Family Resources Consultant & Postsecondary Transition Consultant for the Vermont Interdisciplinary Team (VT I-Team). The VT I-Team is a project at the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (CDCI) at the University of Vermont (UVM). He has supported individuals and teams with transitions from professional roles in developmental services and public education within Vermont. While the majority of his transition experiences revolve around the postsecondary transition for young adults with disabilities, in this workshop he attempts to take a broader viewpoint toward all transitions.

Watch: Vermont ABLE - How to Save for Disability-Related Expenses
2023-07-10 11:00 - 12:00
Watch the recording of “Vermont ABLE – How to Save for Disability-Related Expenses” here.
Almost 1000 Vermonters are taking advantage of this special program. Vermont ABLE allows individuals and families to save for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing federal benefits like Medicaid and Social Security Income. This presentation will review the basic structure of the program and discuss the latest changes to federal rules for the program.
Presenter:

Kirsten Murphy is the Executive Director of the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council where she has worked since 2013. She began her career in non-profit management in the 80’s developing programs for high risk youth in New York City and Boston. Her interests turned to disability rights and community inclusion when two of her children were diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Kirsten founded a family support program, ARCH, serving the Upper Valley region of NH and VT, directed the New Hampshire Autism Council, and is credited with securing equitable insurance coverage for NH children who experience the interfering symptoms of autism. She is a 2010 graduate of the Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (LEND) through the University of New Hampshire. Now a resident of Montpelier, VT, she brings over three decades of experience in public policy, systems thinking, and advocacy.

Register for: The Restart of Vermont Medicaid Renewals
2023-07-27 13:00 - 14:00
Register for “The Restart of Vermont Medicaid Renewals” here.
Please note: This workshop WILL NOT BE RECORDED and must be watched live.

Beginning again for the first time in three years, Vermonters with Medicaid will be reviewed on an annual basis. The restart of these reviews is already underway. Upon review, some Vermonters will no longer be able to receive Vermont Medicaid. This presentation will explain the renewal restart process and what steps Vermonters should take to ensure they have continuous health insurance coverage.
For who? This presentation is oriented toward current Medicaid customers, their families, or caregivers. This presentation will also include information helpful to providers and other community organizations.
Presenters:

Stacy DeSisto – Assister Program Manager. Stacy oversees in-person and digital outreach and education activities.
Bethany Ledoux – Assister Program Trainer. Bethany provides training and support to Assisters and other key stakeholders.

Watch: HireAbility Vermont Services for Youth with Hearing Loss - Core Transition Services and Regional Counselor for the Deaf Services
2023-08-14 11:00 - 12:00
Watch the “HireAbility Vermont Services for Youth with Hearing Loss – Core Transition Services and Regional Counselor for the Deaf Services” recording here.
The goal of this workshop is to help families figure out which services are appropriate for their child once they matriculate to high school. HireAbility VT will outline the difference between the two programs and how they work together to best support the high school student with hearing loss. At the end of the presentation, parents will have a better understanding of the types of supports that are available while in high school and how those supports change and expand after graduation.
Presenters:
• Kate Parrish – HireAbility Coordinator and Counselor of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Services
• Joey Dutson – HireAbility Vocational Counselor for the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing
• Kara Haynes – HireAbility Transition Program Manager

Postponed - Milton Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-09-20 08:00 - 17:00
This presentation day will be rescheduled.
Feelings for Grades K-1

Postponed: Understanding When and How to Give Public Comment on the Medicaid Rules that Impact Your Family
2023-09-21 13:00 - 14:00
POSTPONED – New date TBD “Understanding When and How to Give Public Comment on the Medicaid Rules that Impact Your Family.”

If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we’ll send you a link to the recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time.

Description:

This webinar will explain: the rulemaking process that state agencies must follow to create or change regulations, what Public Comment is and what role it plays in the rulemaking process, where to find out when Medicaid Rules are open for Public Comment, how to write and submit your comments, and how public comments are considered in the rulemaking process.
Presenter:

Rachel Seelig (she/her), Esq. is Director of the Disability Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid. The Disability Law Project represents individuals who have legal problems arising out of their disabilities, primarily in the areas of disability discrimination, Medicaid/health care access, special education, and guardianship. As DLP director, Rachel provides community legal education on disability-related laws, engages in policymaker education to bring changes to laws and regulations that improve the lives of Vermonters with disabilities, and supervises investigations of abuse and neglect, as well as individual advocacy for clients in response to around 400 requests for legal help from the DLP each year. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and Wheaton College. Born and raised in Calais, she works in Montpelier.

Postponed -Northwest Primary School Puppet Presentation
2023-09-27 08:00 - 17:00

Postponed - Shoreham Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-09-28 08:00 - 17:00
Bullying Prevention Puppet Program & Workshop

Watch: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Learning to Read
2023-09-28 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of “What Every Parent Needs to Know About Learning to Read.”
Learning to read is a complex process that does not come easily for many children. This workshop will provide you with a basic understanding of how the human brain learns to read. We invite parents and caregivers interested in learning more about reading development to join us for this hour-long workshop. You will leave with a better understanding of what to expect as your child learns to read, signs of early reading trouble, and how to support them when they struggle.
Presenters:

Abby Roy, M.A., NCSP, CAGS, A/OGA, is a nationally certified school psychologist with more than ten years of professional experience working with students from preschool to college. Abby received her Master of Arts and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University. She has worked in public schools as a psychologist and autism and behavior consultant and is currently an evaluator at the Stern Center for Language and Learning in Williston, Vermont. She has expertise in providing individualized, diagnostic assessments and instructional recommendations based on the science of reading. Abby is particularly interested in uncovering language-based learning disabilities that can present as student disengagement. She holds an associate-level certification from the Orton-Gillingham Academy and is currently completing her practicum to obtain her certified-level certification. Abby is passionate about bringing structured literacy to classrooms everywhere and believes that all individuals have the right to read.
Nicole Chick, M.S.Ed, CAS Remedial Reading, began her teaching career in 2005 as a first grade teacher after receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the UCONN NEAG School of Education. Nicole most recently has taught Kindergarten and is a Literacy Specialist with her certificate of advanced study in Remedial Reading and Reading Consultancy. During her tenure as a public educator she has also taught at the university level and has supervised and mentored student teachers. She has completed the Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Training through the Orton-Gillingham Academy and is currently completing her practicum. She has now stepped away from the classroom and has founded Early Literacy Labs, a private literacy instruction and consulting company located in Waitsfield, Vermont. She is also an adjunct professor at Norwich University, teaching a course on teaching and learning strategies. Her passions include advocating for dyslexia awareness and supporting teachers who are making the shift toward the science of reading and structured literacy instruction.

Northfield Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2023-10-01 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet Program & Workshop
