Just click on the following links. The publications and newsletters are in PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader to download.
Parent Mentor Newsletters:
Parent Mentor newsletter, December 2011
Parent Mentor newsletter, November 2011
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, Oct 2011
Parent Mentor newsletter, Fall 2011
Parent Mentor newsletter, May 2011
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, April 2011
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, February/March 2011
Parent Mentor newsletter, January 2011
Parent Mentor newsletter, Sept. 2010
Parent Mentor newsletter, May 2010
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, March 2010
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, February 2010
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, January 2010
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, December 2009
Parent Mentor transition newsletter, October 2009
Parent Mentor newsletter, September 2009
Parent Mentor newsletter, Feb. 2009
Parent Mentor newsletter, Jan. 2009
Parent Mentor newsletter, Oct. 2008
Parent Mentor newsletter, Jan. 2008
Parent Mentor newsletter, Oct. 2007
Parent Mentor newsletter, May 2007
Parent Mentor Publications:
Parent Mentor brochure for Middletown City Schools
Individualized Education Program (IEP): What Parents Need to Know (created by Linda McDowell for families) gives basic easy to understand information on the IEP. A must have for families who may be attending their first IEP meeting. The brochure discusses what information should be included in an IEP such as goals, present levels of performance and services. There is also a list of questions parents can ask at the IEP meeting to make sure they clearly understand their child's educational plan.
The Evaluation Process: What Parent's Need To Know list the 5 general steps involved in getting your child evaluated to see if there are eligible for special education services as a student with a disability according to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
Step Ahead at Age 3 (updated) is a booklet that explains the movement from Help Me Grow or Birth to Age 3 Services to Preschool or Special Education Services. Created by Linda McDowell, Parent Mentor for the families of Middletown City School district. To make the booklet, fold the pages in half with folded edge on the right. Place pages in order (page 1, 3, 5). Staple 2 -3 times on left side of booklet. Do not staple on folded edges.
Moving On is a guide for parents and students that talks about the transition from high school to the adult world. It was developed by Linda McDowell, Parent Mentor for the families of Middletown City School district . To make the booklet, use 2 sheets of paper. Using the first sheet of paper copy pg. 1 and pg. 2 back to back. Fold in half with folded edge to the left. On the second sheet of paper copy pg. 3 and 4 back to back. Fold in half with folded edge to the left. Insert folded edge pg 3 and 4 into pg. 1 and 2 so page numbers are in order as you turn them. Staple folded side of booklet.
Transition Recordkeeping and Resource Binder was created by Linda McDowell for Middletown High School families . It is a system for parents and students to organize documents and resources that will be needed as a students leave high school and move into the adult world. Section A,B,C includes Personal and Family History, Medical and Related Services Information, and Educational Information. Section D, E, F include Agency Information, Employment and Work Information and College Information. Section G, H, I include Community/Independent Living Information, Legal and Financial Information and References and Resources. Files, forms and instructions can be downloaded and inserted into a 4 -5 binder to create your personal record keeping system.
Special Education Services: Education vs Medical Models of Services is a brochure that clearly explains services that schools can offer and how they may differ from private therapy/doctor services. Many thanks to the members of the Regional Autism Advisory Council’s Warren County Task Force who developed this brochure for others to use.
Adults Services and Supports includes information for Middletown families on seven specific areas related to transition: cash benefits and household supports, employment and career development, transportation, medical and mental health, education and further training, housing and emergency services.
Middletown High School Transition Contacts includes contact information for the main agencies involved in transition planning.
Whose Idea Is This? A Resource Guide for Parents explains a parents rights and responsibilities under Individual Disabilities Education Improvement Act, June 2010 edition
Whose Idea Is This Spanish Version? A Resource Guide for Parents explains a parents rights and responsibilities under Individual Disabilities Education Improvement Act, April 2010 edition
Operating Standards for Ohio Agencies Serving Students with Disabilities explains the rules and regulations for how special education is delivered in schools
Understanding The Special Education Process a parent guide
Annotated Guide for IEP'S by the Ohio Department of Education explains how to write and conduct an IEP
Annotated Guide for Evaluation Team Reports (ETR) by the Ohio Department of Education explains how to write and conduct an evaluation.
IEP Toolkit for Parents created by the National Center for Learning Disabilities documents how to create a standards based IEP.
IEP checklist created by the National Center for Learning Disabilities
Alphabet Soup: What Do The Letters Stand For created by Ohio Legal Rights (OLR)
Negotiation Skills for Parents: How To Get The Special Education Your Child With Disabilities Needs created by Ohio Legal Rights (OLR)
Guide To ADHD Basics created by Schwab Learning
ADHD brochure created by National Institute of Mental Health
ADHD booklet created by the National Institute of Mental Health
Identifying and Treating ADHD, A Resource for School and Home created by US Department of Education
Ohio's Guide To Autism Spectrum Disorder created by OCALI for parents (268 pgs.)
Autism: Reaching for a Brighter Future created by Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
Autism Speaks:100 Days Toolkit for Autism provides critical information for families in the first 100 days after an autism diagnosis
Autism Speaks: 100 Day Toolkit for Asperger or High Functioning Autism provides critical information for families in the first 100 days after an autism/asperger diagnosis
Autism Speaks Transition Toolkit assists families on the journal to adulthood
Students With Traumatic Brain Injury: Thriving Beyond Injury created by Ohio Legal Rights (OLR)
Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss created by US Department of Education
LD checklist provided by National Center for Learning Disabilities
Behavior and Learning Disabilites, a parent toolkit talks about behaviors linked with LD
Cincinnati Autism Expo Yellow Pages: This booklet contains local agency, service and program information for families of children with autism. This is a large file and will talk awhile to download.
Taking Charge of Your Life: Know About Guardianship created by Ohio Legal Rights (OLR)
Guardianship in Ohio created by Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
Estate and Future Planning created by Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
Mapping Your Dreams: Employment created by the Pacer center
Mapping Your Dreams: Home Living created by the Pacer center
Mapping Your Dream: Education created by the Pacer center
Mapping Your Dream: Community created by the Pacer center
Mapping Your Dream: Recreation created by the Pacer center
Provider Selection Guide created by Butler County Developmental Disabilities Board (describes how to select adult service providers)
Click here for additional transition resources available on the secondary transition page
Enhancing Parent and Family Involvement: A Resource Guide for Ohio School District and School Leaders created by Hamilton County Education Resource Center, Hamilton County Family and Children First Council and Strive Family Engagement Student Success Network
Guide to Reading Basics created by Schwab Learning
Guide to Behavior Basics created by Schwab Learning
Guide to Problem Behavior created by Schwab Learning
Guide to Psychological Problems created by Schwab Learning
Making No Child Left Behind Work created by Schwab Learning
Developmental Checklist for Children birth through 6 created by The Arc
Mental Retardation and Grief Following a Death Loss created by the ARC
Helping Your Child Become a Reader created by US Department of Education
Helping Your Preschool Child created by US Department of Education
Helping Your Child Succeed in School created by US Department of Education
Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence created by US Department of Education
Helping Your Child with Homework created by US Department of Education
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