Children with disabilities are workshop topic

Parents, teachers, administrators and social workers can learn more about resources available for children with disabilities at a workshop being sponsored by University of Illinois Extension in Kane County.

The "Children with Disabilities" workshop will be held Jan. 9 at Hope Wall TMH Center, 449 W. New Indian Trail Court in Aurora. The times for the workshop are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lunch being served; or 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. with light refreshments served. The workshop is free.

"Regardless of children's disabilities, they can learn," said Debra Buffett, special assistant, children with disabilities, University of Illinois Extension.

"We want to provide resources that will help the learning process be easier for children with disabilities."

The workshop will focus on the topics of transition education, guardianships and insurance for children with disabilities.

Transition education helps disabled students as they move from one grade level to the next, or from lower school to post-school environments.

This topic will be presented by Marva Campbell-Pruitt, Illinois Department of Human Services, division of rehabilitation services; and Charlene Bennett, chief executive officer of Individual Advocacy Group.

Guardianship topics will include understanding who qualifies to become a guardian, and the responsibilities involved with being a guardian. This topic will be presented by Thomas Gardiner, a partner with the law firm Gardiner, Koch and Weisberg in Chicago.

Insurance issues will be explored and types of insurance children with disabilities qualify for will be identified. Michelle Lawrence, Illinois Department of Human Services, division of rehabilitation services/work incentive planning and assistance program, will be the presenter.

Continuing education hours are available for teachers, administrators and social workers.

The workshop is being presented by Buffett.

To register for the conference, call Doris Hillman, principal of Hope Wall TMH Center, at (630) 299-7906; or Marsha Brewster of School District 131 at (630) 299-7906.

For information on the workshop, call Buffett at (708) 638-8270.