Buzz from the Hub

Twice a month, the CPIR shares news and resources with the Parent Center network and others via our e-newsletter the Buzz from the Hub.

Each Buzz spotlights an issue of importance to Parent Centers, identifies resources on the network’s 14 priority topics, and includes resources Parent Centers can share with the families they serve.

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Buzz from the Hub Archives

(Archive is listed reverse chronologically)

Buzz from the Hub | IEP Resources for Sharing and Training

Sep 16, 2019

The IEP is one of the crown jewels in the education of children with disabilities and the primary vehicle for each child's individualized program. CPIR has a large number of IEP resources that your center can use in capacity building, meetings with families, and workshops for families and professionals, we've put together this Buzz to make it easy for you to find those resources. Most are available in English and Spanish.

Buzz from the Hub | Back to School We Go

Aug 19, 2019

It's that time of year again for most of us--back to school. You're probably up to your neck already in resources to use and share, so we focused this Buzz on materials and information that both families and Parent Centers can use right now and continue to use throughout the school year. Best of beginnings to you!

Buzz from the Hub | Looking After Our Own Well-Being

Jul 31, 2019

Consider this Buzz as a messenger enticing you to pursue whatever you find fun, relaxing, exciting, or restorative. It's not selfish to carve out moments to take care of yourself. And there are so many creative ways to do so!

Buzz from the Hub | Everyone in the Pool!

Jul 15, 2019

Nice fantasy, isn't it? All you hard workers lounging by the pool, in the pool, anywhere near a pool! While you're there, we thought we'd revisit several key issues of our network and pass along updates and resources that you might find useful now or in the near future.

Buzz from the Hub | Summer Fun and Sun

Jun 30, 2019

Everyone's heard about the "summer slide" that can erode student progress and key skills. This Buzz highlights resources families can use to help children and youth slide into fun this summer instead, while keeping them learning and engaged. Find suggestions and perspectives on how to keep our children up and running--and ourselves, too. Enjoy this summer!

Buzz from the Hub | Who’s at Risk?

Jun 17, 2019

This Buzz focuses on resources and recent data that Parent Centers, community organizations, and social service agencies may find useful in planning their outreach to and services for populations that are at risk: namely, young children, students of color, Native communities, and students with disabilities. What is being done--and what can we ourselves do--to support the most vulnerable children, youth, and adults?

Buzz from the Hub | Parent Centers in Action

May 29, 2019

This Buzz shares resources about Parent Centers and the tremendous work you do, resources for Parent Centers (did you miss the OSEP webinar on FERPA and IDEA Privacy Requirements?), and resources that Parent Centers can use with the families you serve.

Buzz from the Hub | At Home and in the Community

May 13, 2019

This Buzz shares tools that families can use in supporting their children's well-being at home, at school, and in the community. You'll also be pleased to know there's a new learning module available on writing high-quality IEPs that meet the much higher standard set by the Supreme Court in the 2017 Endrew F. decision. Great for staff training!

Buzz from the Hub | Fostering Self-Determination Skills

Apr 22, 2019

This issue of the Buzz shares resources to help foster young people's self-determination and self-advocacy skills. Self-determination skills are important to us all; they are a vital part of making choices, setting goals, and speaking up for ourselves. This is certainly true for our children with disabilities.

Buzz from the Hub | Considering Employment

Apr 10, 2019

This Buzz shares a variety of resources that youth, families, schools, and Parent Centers can use to explore the world of work with youth who have disabilities, both during high school and as they prepare to graduate. Knowing the resources that are out there can help ease the way and smooth out potential bumps in the road ahead. Starting early is highly recommended!

Buzz from the Hub | Here’s to High-Quality Resources

Mar 30, 2019

This Buzz shares recent resources that received a Highly Rated review from CPIR's teams of Parent Center reviewers. We're pleased to spotlight six such resources--3 from CPIR itself and 3 from other organizations.

Buzz from the Hub | Accommodations to Support Student Learning and Assessment

Mar 14, 2019

This Buzz spotlights resources of high priority to Parent Centers, families, schools, and students themselves: supporting student learning and performance by providing accommodations in the classroom and during state assessments; and promoting school safety by ensuring that school resource officers (SROs) in our schools are appropriately trained and clear about their roles and the limits of their authority.

Buzz from the Hub | New to Children with Disability?

Feb 27, 2019

This issue of the Buzz spotlights three resources you may find appropriate for sharing with parents, family members, and professionals who are new to the disability journey that begins when a child is born with or diagnosed at some point as having a disability. What to do? Who to call or turn to for guidance?

Buzz from the Hub | Videos, Photo Libraries, and Disabilities

Feb 15, 2019

As Parent Centers, we are always looking for tools and information that will help us create trainings, conduct workshops, understand current trends and the people we serve, and share valuable disability information with families. So this Buzz is dedicated to sharing resources that will hopefully support you in the great work you do to educate and connect others.

Buzz from the Hub | Adding to Your Tool Chest

Jan 31, 2019

New tools for a new year! Not all the resources mentioned in this Buzz are shiny new, but you may not have heard of them, ever used them, or signed up to receive them. These tools are there for all of us to use in shaping how ESSA is implemented; in engaging families in advisory roles; in identifying OSEP-funded projects in each state and across the nation; and more

Buzz from the Hub | The Unexpected Rewards of Updating

Jan 15, 2019

CPIR has been updating many resources housed in the Hub library. Amid the tedium of checking links and removing resources that are out of date or no longer available, we've discovered unexpected rewards: New resources! Ones we hadn't heard about or realized were available. We're pleased to share 5 of these with you.

Buzz from the Hub | ‘Tis the Season…for Holiday Tips

Dec 16, 2018

Gift-giving, travel, parties, dinner with the family... This issue of the Buzz from the Hub brings you multiple tip sheets on handling the chaos that the holiday season can bring, especially if you have a disability, a child with a disability, or a loved one with special needs.

Buzz from the Hub | Disability Info for You and Your Families

Nov 30, 2018

This issue of the Buzz from the Hub brings you several disability-related resources--namely, information on the behavioral disorder called DMDD; an article focused on how to build the conversational know-how of young people with disabilities that affect social skills; and a guide to toys for children with special needs. Also, for those concerned about the accessibility of the PDFs they create and share, we end with a helpful resource on this oft-perplexing challenge.

Buzz from the Hub | All New Treats for You

Oct 30, 2018

This issue of the Buzz brings you news that we've been refunded for another 5 years! Thanks to all who wrote in our support. The Buzz returns with new resources (Halloween treats!) for you, including a resource collection on trauma-informed care to inform your work with children and families. We are also pleased to share 4 fact sheets on ESSA newly translated into Spanish.

Buzz from the Hub | Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Sep 27, 2018

This is the "final" issue of the Buzz from the Hub in CPIR's current 5-year project cycle. While we await news of refunding, we find it a fine time to look back to where we have been and what the Parent Center network has accomplished in the past 5 years.

Buzz from the Hub | Planning Ahead

Sep 17, 2018

This issue of the Buzz is about looking forward, planning ahead, and being as ready as possible for life’s roller coaster ride of slow climbs, sudden plunges, and wild turns. Perhaps the resources below can help!

Buzz from the Hub | Data Talks

Aug 1, 2018

The theme of this Buzz is the data of the day, which tell a story of "now" but also help us prepare and plan for where and how to bring our parent voices to bear on shaping the educational and community landscape in which we live.

Buzz from the Hub | Working with Youth with Disabilities

Jul 15, 2018

This issue of the Buzz brings you resources focused on taking care of children and seeing to their well-being. From addressing physical development delay, to the basics of social and emotional development, to the impact of trauma on the brain, to helping children cope with disasters, these are resources you can share with families.

Buzz from the Hub | The Impact and Value of High Expectations

Jun 30, 2018

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. ~Henry Ford The theme of this Buzz is the enormous impact that our expectations have on the outcomes we achieve. Research has more than adequately shown that high parental and teacher...

Buzz from the Hub | Supporting Our Children’s Well-Being

Jun 15, 2018

This issue of the Buzz brings you resources focused on taking care of children and seeing to their well-being. From addressing physical development delay, to the basics of social and emotional development, to the impact of trauma on the brain, to helping children cope with disasters, these are resources you can share with families.

Buzz from the Hub | Fun for Summer

May 30, 2018

Long stormy spring-time, wet contentious April, winter chilling the lap of very May; but at length the season of summer does come. ~Thomas Carlyle Summer is upon us. To kick off the season, we've put together several resources that might be considered "fun and games"...

Buzz from the Hub | Disability-Specific Resources

Apr 30, 2018

We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond. ~Gwendolyn Brooks We have another information deluge for you--this time featuring resources about specific disabilities: autism, deafness, and speech and hearing. You'll...

Buzz from the Hub | The Power of Reflection

Apr 18, 2018

Preparing our annual continuation reports gives us a refreshing opportunity to look at the challenges and accomplishments of the past year. This is where we’ve spent so much time and energy, this is what we achieved, who we helped, and why. With that in mind, this Buzz centers around self-reflection and its many benefits to us all.

Buzz from the Hub | It’s Raining Resources!

Mar 31, 2018

The cure to information overload is more information. ~David Weinberger We hesitate to say TMI (too much information), but there's a deluge of resources to share with you in this issue of the Buzz. So many, in fact, that we've divided the newsletter into two parts:...

Buzz from the Hub | Resources for Parent Centers and Families

Mar 15, 2018

  Sharing will enrich everyone with more knowledge. ~Ana Monnar This first issue of the March Buzz brings you resources for your Parent Center knowledge base and three resources that can be readily shared among staff and with the families you serve. Our best to...

Buzz from the Hub | Protecting Our Children

Feb 28, 2018

Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children. ~Sitting Bull We are united in our mutual commitment to the well-being of children--our own children, those of others, the little ones we see in our daily travels and doings, and those with...

Buzz from the Hub | Resources in Spanish

Feb 15, 2018

No somos perfectos pero juntos somos un gran equipo. ~Anonymous Issue 1 of the February Buzz brings you materials in Spanish to share with the Spanish-speaking families you serve. We also connect you with two new resources on IDEA and ESSA (in English) and a link to...

Buzz from the Hub | Looking Sharp in 2018!

Jan 30, 2018

Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress. ~Charles Kettering We are fully launched into a new year that promises to be full of growth, challenge, learning, and doing the work that we care deeply about. May the...

Buzz from the Hub | Tackling Hot Topics

Jan 16, 2018

There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and that all of them are good. ~H.L. Mencken We're off and running, skiing, slipping, and skating into 2018. It may be cold outside, but there are plenty of issues bubbling on the stove. This...