xMinds Special Education Basics Series 2022-23 

Our Special Education Basics Series is designed to provide foundational information about how to navigate special education services in Montgomery County.

There's no cost to participate — all xMinds events are free!  Join us for any presentations that interest you. You can find the recordings for ones you miss on the Past Events page or on our YouTube channel.

See our schedule below, and register where indicated to receive a Zoom link. 

Schedule 

• Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 @12 noon to 4:00 PM.  xMinds Annual IEP Clinic. For MoCo parents/guardians of an autistic student, we provide free 20-minute consultations with professional education advocates or attorneys. Also, two panels of parents and students discuss the most common MCPS programs where autistic students are placed. (Not recorded.) See Past Events Page.

• Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 @ 7:00 – 8:30 PM.  Navigating Special Education for Autistic Students in Maryland.  Special Education Advocate, Monica Martinez provides a practical overview of the IEP process, with a focus on navigating special education in MCPS. See Past Events Page for recording and presentation slides.

• Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 @ 7:00 – 8:30 PM.  Assessments, Testing, and Understanding.  Dr. Rebecca Resnik addresses common myths about testing and describes evidence-based assessment procedures so parents can select what is right for their family. Presentation and Q&A. See Past Events Page. for recording and presentation slides.

• Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 @  7:00 – 9:00 PM.  IEPs vs. 504 Plans vs. Service Plans, and Accommodations vs. Modifications: What Supports are Right for Your Child?  Presentation and Q&A by Marci Skigen, Rachel Sushner, and Naomi Rubinstein clarify the different plans and the supports they provide. You can follow up for more information with a Lunch and Learn on Executive Functioning Challenges for ASD Students on Friday, Jan 13, @ 12 to 1:00 PM, with Executive Functioning Coaches Marci Skigen and Rachel Sushner. See Past Events Page. for recording and presentation slides for both these presentations.

• Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 and Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 @ 7:00 – 9:00 PM.  Primer on MCPS Placements for Autistic Students.  Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 7, to hear about Preschool Programs or Middle and High School programs where autistic students are commonly placed. The two panels will be running simultaneously in separate meetings.  Join us on Thursday, Feb. 9, to hear about the Elementary School programs where autistic students are commonly placed. Presentation and Q&A. Register here for any of these presentations. 

• Tuesday, March 7, 2023 @ 7:00 – 8:30 PM.  Your Student’s IEP Explained – Section by Section. Presentation by Stacy Ganz Kahn and Donna Sagona of The Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington.  Q&A will follow. Register here. 

• Tuesday, April 18 @ 7:00 – 8:30 PM.  How to Write SMART IEP Goals. Presentation and Q&A. Register here. 

Note: Meeting dates are generally the first Tuesday of each month, but will be adjusted as needed for holidays. Please check the xMinds events calendar or the registration links above for upcoming dates.