PSE NEWS YOU CAN USE Pittsburgh Public Schools Program for June 1, 2017 Students with Exceptionalities (PSE) Volume 1, Issue II INSIDE THIS ISSUE Summer Activities Pgs. 1, 2, 3 Vision Support Update Pgs. 4, 5 Emotional Support Reminder Pg. 5 Article Pgs. 6, 7 Assistive Technology Pg. 8 Parent Information Website Pg. 8 Looking for Summer Fun?? • Finding Events Around Pittsburgh (with Accessible Playground Listings) • Playgrounds for Children With & Without Disabilities to Play Togeth- er: http://www.accessibleplayground.net/united-states/pennsylvania/ • The New August Wilson Park is Designed with Accessibility in Mind: https:// www.pittsburghparks.org/august-wilson-park • North Park Playground: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yournorthhills/ yournorthhillsmore/4314789-74/playground-playgrounds-park • Playgrounds at Play Pittsburgh : http://playpittsburgh.com/playgrounds/ • Boyce Park's Accessible O'Block Playground: http:// www.playgroundsforeveryone.com/playground/oblock-playground-at-boyce-park- pittsburgh-pa.html • Family Support Center Hazelwood : http://www.alleghenycountyfamilysupport.org/ hazelwood-family-center-celebrates-grand-opening/ • Allegheny County Family Support Centers : http:// www.alleghenycountyfamilysupport.org/contact-us/contact-a-center/ • Learning Express Bakery Square Kids' Events : http://www.kidsburgh.org/event/ toddler-art-2/2017-06-07/ • Rx Parks: Activity Sheets for Local Playgrounds: https://www.pittsburghparks.org/rx • Pittsburgh Parent Event Calendar : http://www.pittsburghparent.com/Things-To- Do/ • Pittsburgh Macaroni Kid Event Calendar : https://cityofpittsburgh.macaronikid.com/ events 1 Summer Fun Activities Continued... • Free Movies in the Parks • Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park: http:// pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/cinema-in-park • Movies in Allegheny County Parks: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/ special-events/movies-in-the-parks.aspx • Free Concerts • WYEP Summer Music Festival: https://www.showclix.com/event/ wyep-smf-2017 • Final Fridays: http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2017/04/20/ WYEP-Summer-Music-Festival-Final-Fridays-Black-Joe-Lewis-Strand -of-Oaks-Cloud-Nothings-Marcus-King-Band/stories/201704200193 • Bach, Beethoven and Brunch: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/bach- beethoven-brunch • Mellon Square Summer Concerts: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/ mellon-square-concerts • Allegheny County Summer Concert Series: http:// www.alleghenycounty.us/special-events/summer-concert-series.aspx • Broadway at the Overlook: https://pittsburghmusicals.com/shows/ overlook/ • Take A Break From the Heat, Places to Cool Down! • Spray Parks: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/spray-parks • Water Steps at the Riverfront: http://riverlifepgh.org/riverfront- guide/north-shore-riverfront-park-trail/ • PPG Place Water Feature Downtown: http://www.ppgplace.com/ directory/plaza/ • Fountain at South Side Works: https://www.southsideworks.com/ • Library Activities • Combat Summer Slide with Summer Meals at the Library: http:// www.carnegielibrary.org/combat-the-summer-slide-with-summer- meals-at-the-library/ • Other Library Events for Libraries in Allegheny County: http:// www.eventkeeper.com/cham/a/acla/ek_acla.cfm 2 Summer Fun Activities Continued... • Free Festivals & Museums • Open Streets Pittsburgh: http://openstreetspgh.org/ • Kids' Day at Schenley Plaza: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-day- at-schenley-plaza-tickets-34082264972?aff=es2 • Riverview Park Heritage Day: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/ riverview-heritage • Picklesburgh: http://www.picklesburgh.com/ • Celebrate America Pittsburgh July 4th: http:// celebrateamericapgh.com/#how-much-does-it-cost • First Fridays at the Frick: http://www.frick.org/programs/ first_fridays • Highmark's Italian StrEAT Festival: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/ includes/calendar-of-events/Highmark-s-Italian-StrEAT- Festival/27432/ • Three Rivers Regatta with Kids' Entertainment: http:// yougottaregatta.com/entertainment/ • Pittsburgh Grand Prix: http://www.pvgp.org/race-week-events/ • Time to Eat! • GrubUp Pgh: http://www.grubuppgh.com/ • Citiparks Summer Food Service: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/ summer-food-service • Produce to People: https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/ producetopeople/ • Citiparks Farmers Markets: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/farmers -market • Sports/Physical Fitness Camps & Activities • Citparks Swimming Lessons: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/ swimming-lessons • Pitt's Kids Summer Camp: http://www.cll.pitt.edu/?page_id=129 • Free Bowling for Kids: http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/state.php? state=PA Disclaimer: Content is for information only and the PSE program will not pay for these activities or assume responsibility if your child participates in activities listed in this newsletter that have a cost. The resources listed on these pages are not intended as a recommendation, referral, or endorsement of any provider or re- source. 3 Vision Department Updates: Students from Pittsburgh Public Schools hosted their annual Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Meet and Greet at BVRS, Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh on Monday May 8, 2017. Pittsburgh Obama alumnus, Tylik Griffin and Mrs. Erin Kelly, Social Worker Pittsburgh University Preparatory School (UPrep) spoke to the students about their vision. They discussed their personal experiences with using vision tools and vision strategies. Students ranged from grades 4-12 and represented the following Pittsburgh Public Schools: Allderdice, Brashear, Carmalt, Conroy, CAPA, Colfax, Conroy, Greenfield, Obama, PCA, South Brook, and Sunnyside. Also in attendance were alumni from Pittsburgh Public Schools who had received vision support ser- vices. Current students participated in all phases of planning the event such as sending the invitations, creating the activities and menu, ordering/ shopping and planning the route to travel to BVRS Pittsburgh. They had an opportunity to share their suc- cesses from this school year, learn about BVRS Pittsburgh, talk with the guest presenters and socialize. The graduating seniors were honored during the program. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) is the practice of instructing in- dividuals with blindness and/or visual impairments to travel safely in all indoor and outdoor environments. The purpose of the O&M Meet & Greet is to provide the opportunity for students from across Pittsburgh Public Schools to meet and discuss their unique needs as related to their visual impairments. Many of the students may be the only student with blindness/visual impair- ment in their school. The O&M Meet and Greet gives them an opportunity to practice their O&M skills, learn more about their peers who are experiencing the similar challenges and take ad- vantage of the independence that O&M instruction provides. 4 Vision Department Continued... The Vision Program is under Program for Students with Excep- tionalities (PSE) within Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS). http:// www.pps.k12.pa.us/Page/4550 It consists of nine Vision/ Orientation & Mobility Specialists providing both itinerant and re- gional resource room support (K-8 room at Sunnyside and 9-12 room at Brashear High School). The vision staff provides instruc- tion to students identified in need of these services and helps to screen and/or evaluate students who may be need services for all grade levels across PPS schools including the City Connections Programs. Emotional Support Program Reminder: If your child is enrolled in a therapeutic program or receiving out- patient therapy through the school-based mental health provider, we want to remind you that mental health services are available during the summer months. We encourage you to continue indi- vidual and/or family services over the summer. Continuity of ser- vices greatly enhances the outcomes of therapy. If you are interest- ed in services for your child or family over summer break, contact your classroom or school-based therapist for more information. 5 Want to Raise Successful Kids? Neuroscience Says Read to Them Like This (but Most Parents Don't) Read to young children in this way, and they'll develop greater intellectual empathy -- and become more successful. By Bill Murphy Jr. Executive editor of operations, Some Spider, and founder, ProGhostwriters.com@BillMurphyJr CREDIT: Getty Images If you're like most parents, you'll do just about anything you can to increase the odds that your kids will be successful. So, what if I were to tell you there's a simple thing you can to do to make it more likely that they'll be successful in life -- specifically by increasing the likelihood that they'll learn to read other people, and even predict how they'll react? What's more, while this parenting practice might be a bit more time-consuming than some alternatives, it can also be a lot of fun and increase your bond with your children. We're talking about the way that parents read to their young kids. Neuroscientists say there's a trick that can make the daily bedtime ritual (one my wife and I enjoy with our daughter, and that you might well enjoy with your kids, too) far more effective and beneficial. Here's the background -- plus how it works and why: First off, of course, read to your kids. Let's start with the basics. Pediatricians have been preaching this for a while, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has been officially recommending it since 2014: Parents need to read to their children from the earliest ages. Infants, even? Yep. While the youngest babies might not understand your words, the impact of your reading aloud to them is thought