The Northwestern Illinois Association

The Northwestern Illinois Association

A Regional Special Education Cooperative

Workshops / News

Workshops:
	2007-2008 School Year Inservice Opportunities (Click here)
NIA News:

	The NIA Regional Autism Training and Technical Assistance team recently offered Autism Make-n-Take workshops in the St. Charles and Rockford offices. The Make-n-Take workshops provide an opportunity for district and cooperative staff, parents, and community agencies a chance to design and make individualized visual supports for students with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities. The visual supports provide students who are visual learners with an additional strategy for receptive and expressive communication, social skills, activities of daily living, for developing independence in a variety of settings and so much more! Workshop participants can browse the resource library, use Boardmaker and other software programs, make visual supports, write social stories, create work systems, and take photographs of the many visual support samples. The NIA Autism Team hopes that additional Make-n-Takes can be hosted in the satellite offices.

	Autism Series 2008-2009 Click here for further information!

	Illinois State Ocular Report for Persons with Visual Problems is now available for download. This form requires 8 1/2 X 14 (legal size) paper. Click here to download the Ocular Report Form.

	Nuestro Web site ahora tiene acoplamientos a los recursos para Autism en español. Visite por favor nuestra página provechosa de las conexiones del Web. Our web site now has links to resources for Autism in Spanish. Please visit our Helpful Web Connections page.

	New Comprehensive Transition Resource for Students with Visual Impairments

		To view a summarized list of the Transition Resource websites, click here. To view the comprehensive Transition Resource packet, click here.

	Problem solving Opportunities with the NIA Autism/PDD Training Team

		Do you work with a student with Autism/PDD? Would you like to problem solve with the NIA Autism/PDD Training Team? Call (815) 964-0937 x10 today, to find out how you and your team can meet with the NIA Regional Autism Training and Technical Assistance Team. We can share ideas, brainstorm a specific need, develop an adaptation, identify relevant teaching strategies, materials, and resources for a particular student. For more information: Contact your local special education director regarding the referral process and cost. Call Tammy Boyer at (815) 964-0937 X10 (Consultation slots fill fast!)

	*Tech Fair Returns...* *Expanded...New Exhibitors!!!* Coming to Rockford - November 6, 2008! Special Education Resources Event Tech Fair 2008 Every two years, NIA and the Northern Illinois Center for Adaptive Technology (N.I.C.A.T.), along with member school districts and special education cooperatives, host an assistive technology show/special education resource fair in Rockford Illinois. School staff, family members, consumers, and other community members across the NIA region have the opportunity to browse products and resources from more than 40 exhibitors. There is no fee for this day-long event, and participants may attend within a time frame which is convenient for them.