Marianne Lesko is Our New PAC Consultant

Marianne Lesko, a current member of the group and parent of a teenager with a disability, will be leading the PAC group by coordinating and facilitating events, gathering data on attendance, group interests, etc., and thinking of new ways to grow this network.

Marianne has already been hard at work, setting the dates for the 2017-2018 PAC meetings and lining up some great learning opportunities. You’ll see that the PAC meetings will follow a very similar format to last year. See the schedule below:

September 27, 2017
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
SST8 – ODE Updates and Effective Communication (Parent-Teacher Partnership): SST8 staff will share the latest information from ODE including: ESSA updates, HB 410, 2017-18 Graduation Requirement changes, Alternate Assessment updates and more.
Jenine Sansosti – SST8 Director
Helen Brophy – SST8 Special Ed Consultant/Transition Specialist
Kathryn Vuchak – SST8 Special Ed Consultant

October 25, 2017
9:30 am-1:30 pm
Executive Functioning: The Dog DIDN’T Eat My Homework: Gain some familiarity with executive function skills that help the brain organize and act on information, including self-regulation, and how to support difficulties at home and in school.
Wendy Szakacs – Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)
Tracy Mail – SST8 Consultant

November 15, 2017
*Field Trip
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Weaver Industries: Their mission is to maximize the independence and personal fulfillment of individuals with disabilities through vocational training and employment opportunities.
Denise Balko – Weaver Industries

February 14, 2018
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Recreational Opportunities: Come hear from a variety of providers who offer recreational programming for persons with special needs and disabilities.
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 –1:30 pm
What’s New in Ohio? In this open forum you will learn about legislative issues, waivers, changes and updates in DD and Medicaid services, and anything else you wanted to know or ask.
Gary Tonks - Executive Director of Arc of Ohio