SST8 Family Newsletter – September 2017 
All About Reading Mentoring
 During the Spring of 2017, State Support Team Region 8 was fortunate to host the “All About Reading Mentoring”, sponsored by SST8 and the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.  This free training was offered to any parent/grandparent who had a struggling student reader within Portage, Summit or Medina counties.  
The parents/grandparents were given the www.Readinga-z.com materials and access, and instructed on how to use them at home.  These materials included resources to support Alphabet Knowledge and Identification, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, High Frequency Works, Comprehension and Fluency work for their student reader.  In  addition, the parents/grandparents were shown the www.M4RA.org website and instructed how to find the correct pack level to work with their student.  
The participants were able to make their own books, shown how to use the tutoring and mentoring pack, and correlate these to the needs and pace of their own student.  A special thanks goes out to Amy Freeman, OCECD Reading Mentoring Director and Debby Ambroza, OCECD Reading Mentoring Specialist, who served as our wonderful Trainers.  

Another AARM Training Opportunity 
State Support Team Region 8 and the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities are excited to announce that they will hold another All About Reading Mentoring training on September 26, 2017 at Streetsboro Elementary School Library from 5:30 pm—8:00 pm.  Use the entrance by the office at 8955 Kirby Lane, Streetsboro, OH  44241.  
Surrounding area districts’ parents and grandparents of children with disabilities or struggling with reading are welcome to attend!  
To register contact Alice Doyle at 330 929-6634 extension 511232 or email her at                  aliced@sst8.org.     Deadline for registering is September 19, 2017.  Light dinner will be provided for registered participants!

Agency Spotlight
The Brain Injury Association of America was founded by individuals who wanted to improve the quality of life for their family members and patients who had sustained brain injuries.  
Their mission is to advance the awareness, research, treatment and education and improve the quality of life for all individuals living with brain injury, their families, and the professionals who serve them. 
A central purpose of the Brain Injury Association of Ohio is to promote the prevention of brain injury and to advocate for response to the unmet needs and concerns of individuals and families impacted by disabilities and challenges associated with brain injury.   
Their mission is reflected by their action through:
Stimulating public and professional awareness of the incidence, causes, and consequences of brain injury as well as methods of prevention.
Contributing statewide network of resources to expand the capacity of Ohio communities to improve the availability of appropriate services and supports for individuals with brain injury throughout the state.  
Actively advocating in the public policy arena for measures to implement prevention strategies and programs as well as development of services and funding sources. 
Contact information:
Brain Injury Association of Ohio      																	     PO Box 213
Columbus, OH  43221
(614) 481-7100
National Brain Injury Information Center (for brain injury information only).
Phone:  800 444-6443
http://www.biausa.org/Ohio  

PAC Meetings for 2017-2018 School Year     
September 27, 2017  9:30 am—11:30 pm  - SST8—ODE Updates and Effective Communication (Parent-Teacher Partnership) - Jenine Sansosti, Helen Brophy, and Kathryn Vuchak 
October 25, 2017  9:30 am - 1:30 pm  -  Executive Functioning:  The Dog Didn’t Eat My Homework - Wendy Szakacs and Tracy Mail
November 15, 2017  Field Trip   9:30 am -  1:30 pm  Location TBD  Weaver Industries -  Denise Balko
February 14, 2018  9:30 am -  1:30 pm  -  Recreational Opportunities - Speakers from:  All Star Training Club, Buddy Up Tennis, Camp Huddle, Empower Sports, Solon Blue Ribbon Programming, and Special Olympics of Ohio.
April 18, 2018  9:30 am - 1:30 pm  -  What’s New in Ohio?  -  Gary Tonks
All meetings (except the November Field Trip) will be held at the Summit Educational Service Center:  420 Washington Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221.  Questions?  Please contact SST8’s PAC Consultant, Marianne Lesko (PAC@sst8.org), or 330 929-6634 ext. 513927.
All meetings require an RSVP—lunch is provided for all registered participants (except Field Trip).  To register, please call Alice Doyle at 330 929-6634, ext. 511232 or email at :  AliceD@sst8.org .  Dates, times, and topics are subject to change.  Flyers will be sent out prior to each meeting with more details.  

Contact us
Give us a call for more information.  
State Support Team 8
420 Washington Ave. 
Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221
(330) 929-6634    sst8.org 
IDEA Disclaimer Notice
This document/product/software was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, (Award #H027A150111, CFDA 84.027A, awarded to the Ohio Department of Education). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, and no official endorsement by the Department should be inferred.