The Iowa City Autism Community has been given a generous grant from the Pilot Club! We’re very honored to be awarded this gift. We thank the Pilot Club for this and for everything else that they do for our community! Our hope is to continue serving individuals on the autism spectrum and their families as long as we can and this grant will help us continue our mission. Look for more programs and events in the near future!
Belin Blank now enrolling for WINGS –
The Weekend Institute for Gifted Students (WINGS) consists of half day enrichment opportunities for elementary and junior high students (grades 2-8) that take place on The University of Iowa campus. Classes in S.T.E.M., arts, and the humanities will cultivate students’ interest and enliven their curiosity!
Students do not have to be in a gifted and talented program to participate in WINGS. Also, students are not required to participate in the Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS). However, we encourage all high ability students to participate in BESTS in order to learn more about readiness for academic challenge.
Read more here – https://www2.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/wings/
From Superintendent Steve Murley –
The Iowa City Community School District is committed to the safety and well-being of all of our students and staff. The District is committed to discontinuing the use of temporary seclusion rooms (sometimes referred to in the general public as “isolation boxes”) within our schools by the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. The District recognizes the role of restraint and seclusion in providing a Free and Appropriate Public Education for all students in a Least Restrictive Environment within our schools and is seeking ways to improve our practices. The District also recognizes that students with a formal safety plan developed in coordination with parents/guardians may have needs that differ and the District will work with parents to meet their student’s needs. The District has been reviewing each site and the student needs within each school using the recommendations of the Restraint and Seclusion Task Force. The District has completed the work to eliminate 7 temporary seclusion rooms within our schools and we plan to eliminate the remaining temporary seclusion rooms throughout the District by the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. We will provide continuous updates as we move through the process, including working with parents, students, and staff.
Sincerely,
Stephen Murley
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District
News regarding updates to ICCSD Restraint and Seclusion procedures –
From ICAC Contributor Rosemary Moore –
As a member of the University Autism Committee and contributor to what follows, I’m happy to advertise this First Year Seminar at UI this spring:
New FYS offered Spring 2018
“Finding Your Comfort Zone: Secrets to Success”
Who: Please share with any students you feel might benefit. (We had students with ASD in mind as we created the course, but it also is applicable to anyone who struggles with transitions and/or executive functioning skills.) We also hope to draw students who might be allies for this population on campus.
Course Overview: This course is designed to help students explore what they need to be successful and happy at the University of Iowa. Insights into the unwritten “rules” of college life will be shared, such as how to make friends, connect with faculty or staff on campus, and engage with resources that may help foster positive learning experiences and provide support.
The course has a seminar format. The goal of the class is for you to have your questions answered about how to navigate the college environment. Students will leave the course with more confidence about how to gain a worthwhile learning experience and enjoy college life.
Weekly Topics:
• Starting a new semester – Finding my Comfort Zone
• Finding my comfort zone on campus
• Finding my comfort zone with instructors
• Finding my comfort zone with peers
• Finding my comfort zone in the residence hall / apartment
• Finding my comfort zone in the community
• Finding my comfort Zone with transitions
• Knowing myself
“Secrets to Success”
• Case Scenarios – In the Classroom
• Case Scenarios – With my peers
• Case Scenarios – In the campus community
• Summer plans
Please contact Pam Ries (pamela-ries@uiowa.edu) with additional questions.