NCSS Special Education Department

08/27/2026

‼ UPCOMING PARENT WORKSHOP SERIES‼

Join us as for a free monthly Behavior Series focused on practical, family-friendly strategies to better understand and support children’s behavior. Each session will cover helpful information and strategies that families can use at home and in everyday situations.

These virtual Microsoft Teams sessions will be held the 4th Tuesday of each month from 9:30-10:30 AM. There will not be a session in November or December.
We hope you’ll join us!
Please use these links to register for each session:

Sept. 22 - What is the Function of the Behavior?
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Oct. 27- Sensory Play at Home
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Jan. 26- Verbal De-escalation
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Feb. 23- Positive Reinforcements +Token Economy
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Mar. 23- ADHD
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Apr. 27- Sensory Friendly in the Community
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08/25/2026

08/25/2026

Skills 4 Life is back this fall! ❤️🐴🌱

Skills 4 Life is a faith-based farm enrichment program designed for individuals ages 12 and up with special needs who are looking for community, purpose, and meaningful experiences in a supportive environment.

Each Friday, participants enjoy hands-on activities that encourage learning, growth, and connection, including:

🐐 Animal care and interaction
🎨 Creative arts and expression
🌻 Gardening and nature exploration
🧩 Sensory enrichment activities
🛠️ Life and vocational skill-building
✝️ Christ-centered encouragement

- Fridays | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Starting September 4 through November 20

Classes may be booked individually through our website: masterstouchriding.com/events

OR - participants can enroll for the full semester. Send us a message to learn more or begin the enrollment process.

If you know someone with special needs who would thrive in a peaceful farm setting surrounded by caring mentors, we'd love to welcome them to Skills 4 Life!

08/23/2026

🎓 Parents & Guardians: Let’s plan for what comes next!

Newton County Schools’ College & Career Readiness Team invites parents and guardians of students in ALL grade levels to join us for our College & Career Readiness Parent/Guardian Webinar!

📅 Wednesday, August 26, 2026
⏰ 6:30–7:30 p.m.
💻 Virtual Webinar

Learn more about:
📌 Upcoming events
📅 Important dates and deadlines
🎓 Post-secondary pathways and resources
🤝 Support and guidance available to students and families

Whether your student is just beginning to explore future possibilities or actively preparing for life after high school, it’s never too early to start planning!

➡️ Register today:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes5y8uvnGidbYgsAK5bH8nuJIFTEKSyLcj3HeOTNxnCRDBDg/viewform

08/22/2026

Life skills don’t always develop automatically—and sometimes the hardest part is simply figuring out what to work on next.

These four free tools can be helpful for parents, educators, and other professionals looking at independent living skills, autonomy, and transition readiness:

🔗 Casey Life Skills Toolkit - https://www.casey.org/casey-life-skills/

🔗 PEATC Independent Living Life Skills Checklist -https://peatc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Independent-Living-Life-Skills-Checklist-Booklet-ENGLISH-Interactive.pdf

🔗 Adolescent Autonomy Checklist -https://worktogethernc.com/wp-content/uploads/Adolescent-Autonomy-Checklist-updated.pdf

🔗 Community-based Skills Assessment (VCU/Autism Speaks) - https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/community-based-skills-assessment

And if you’re thinking about how to turn assessment into actual skill development at home, I wrote more about that here:

🔗 Intentionally Developing Life Skills at Home
https://kelleychallentransitions.substack.com/p/intentionally-developing-life-skills-5f3

You don’t have to tackle everything at once. Sometimes a good checklist is simply a place to start!

08/20/2026

Project Intersect is hosting a free virtual 6-week Caregiver Workshop beginning August 27th! All caregivers, birth parents, and foster parents are invited to join this fall workshop designed to provide tools, support, and trauma‑informed strategies to better understand and guide the children in your care navigate through trauma and daily challenges. Learn how trauma impacts behavior, ways to reduce parenting stress, and nurturing skills to support children who’ve experienced trauma. 🔗 Register today by using the QR code or visiting https://tinyurl.com/ProjIntersectFall2026Workshop

🗓 Thursdays | 6:00–7:30 PM
💻 Virtual on Zoom
💲Free to attend
🎓 Earn up to 12 training hours

08/20/2026

Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming education and employment for people with disabilities!

Join us on September 17 at 2:00 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar that explores practical AI tools, accessibility considerations, privacy and bias concerns, and responsible use in K-12 and workplace settings. Learn how AI can support reading, writing, organization, productivity, and independence while gaining insight into both the opportunities and challenges it presents.

CEUs and CRCs will be offered. Register today: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/3DqKmy2MRr

08/19/2026

Using AI in Everyday Life

AI may seem complicated—or even a little scary—but using AI can be as easy as asking a question!

Join us for Using AI in Everyday Life, and individuals with disabilities can discover practical, meaningful ways to use AI in your everyday life. We’ll share examples of how AI can help with everyday questions, tasks, and problem-solving, along with tips for asking questions that will help you get great AI answers.

And this isn’t just a presentation! We’ll have a live demonstration using prompts from our participants, making this a fun and interactive experience for the whole family.

Meet Our Presenter: Suzanne Feit

Our presenter, Suzanne Feit, is a mother of an adult with Down syndrome, an educator, and an Assistive Technology Specialist with 35 years of experience. Suzanne has trained many teachers and families in practical ways to use technology to make everyday life easier and more accessible.

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM
💻 Virtual Webinar

Come with your questions and curiosity—we’ll show you just how simple AI can be!

Register today:

https://tinyurl.com/AIWEBINARSF

08/19/2026

🎯 Transition planning starts with a conversation—and the earlier, the better!

Starting early gives young people and their families more time to explore goals, learn about available services, ask questions, and build a team that supports their vision for the future.

In this episode of the YETI podcast, Janet and Cesar talk about the importance of starting transition conversations early and share ways adults can help make IEP and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) meetings more welcoming, inclusive, and meaningful for young people.

When youth feel comfortable participating and sharing their voice, they can take a more active role in planning for what comes next. 💙💚

🎥 Watch the video podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJxHv7rgsrc&list=PLQn__lKjkRaA&index=3

08/19/2026

This weekend! Check out the instructions on how to register!

🦖🐾 The pups are back, and this time they’re headed on a dinosaur-sized adventure!

Join us for A Theater For Me: Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, a sensory-friendly movie experience designed for individuals with autism from childhood through adulthood, along with their families and caregivers.

📅 Saturday, August 22, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM sharp (little to no previews)
📍 AMC Conyers 16 | Conyers, Georgia

This is a free event; however, there is a $7 refundable ticket deposit per person. Each attendee, whether the participant on the spectrum or a caregiver, will need their own ticket.

Once you’ve checked in at the event or canceled at least 48 hours beforehand, your deposit will be fully refunded within a few business days.

🍿 Snack options are available when reserving tickets (for individuals on the spectrum only).

We can’t wait to create another fun, welcoming, and inclusive movie experience for our community. Our sensory-friendly showings are for individuals with autism of all ages, from children through adulthood. 💙

Register here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/paw-patrol-the-dino-movie