Stay connected! This page is updated regularly with news, events, resources, and supports for family and community engagement.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities would like to invite your students to their Trades Fair!
This event is not sponsored by State Support Team 9 but is provided for your information.
Here are the details:
When – Wednesday May 6th 2026 from 9:00-12:30
Where – Eric Snow YMCA - 420 3rd St. NW, Canton, OH
Who- Any student on an IEP who is graduating from a construction or trades program. Any student on an IEP who is a sophomore or junior who is exploring a current construction or trades field. Any current student with an IEP, regardless of whether or not they have an open OOD case, is invited.
What – Currently, there are over 10 union trades with confirmed attendance, with more expected to commit!
More details will be coming soon!
Virtual Sessions Sponsored by OCECD and SST9
2025-2026 Lunch and Learn
Presenter: Penny Moody - Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Target Audience: Parents, Family members and Community agency partners. These sessions are free and designed to support in learning about special education services, state and federal regulations and parent rights.
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
March 3, 2026 – Understanding the Evaluation Process under IDEA 20024, Part One
March 24, 2026 – Understanding the Evaluation Process under IDEA 20024, Part Two
April 7, 2026 – Understanding an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Part One
April 28, 2026 – Understanding an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Part Two
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Please click HERE to register.
PLEASE NOTE: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing details on how to join the virtual session(s).
Any questions, contact Deb Bates by email - debbie.bates@starkesc.org - or by calling her at 330-492-8136 Ext. 1552.
Virtual Sessions sponsored by OCECD
Understanding Graduation Pathways and
Student Participation in Transition Planning
Understanding Graduation Pathways and
Student Participation in Transition Planning
March 4, 2026 | 6:00-7:15 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free | Registration is Required
Register HERE
The Office for Exceptional Children and Office of Graduate Success at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) will present an overview of Ohio’s graduation pathways and how students with disabilities can actively participate in these opportunities. This session will explain graduation requirements, including options based on IEP Team decision, and the alignment between graduation and IEP Transition planning.
Participants will also learn how student voice, strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals are incorporated into the IEP. Families and professionals will gain practical guidance on supporting meaningful student involvement in both graduation decisions and transition planning to help ensure a successful path to graduation and beyond.
Virtual Sessions sponsored by OCECD
Support Parent Training Opportunity
Support Parent Training Opportunity
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Are you interested in providing support to other families who have a loved one with a disability or special healthcare need? Who was that person for you?
Apply to become an Ohio P2P Support Parent!
Ohio P2P is an evidence-based statewide parent support program that matches parents, siblings, self-advocates, foster parents, grandparents, etc. who have family members of any age, with a disability or special healthcare need, to an experienced, trained, volunteer support parent.
Training is comprised of two one-hour Zoom sessions and a set of four online modules to complete on your own during the weeks in between. Total time commitment for the training is around 4 hours, including the Zoom sessions.
The two one-hour Zoom sessions are held on the first and fourth Thursdays of each month (except December). You may choose the time that best fits your schedule, either 12 pm-1 pm OR 6:30 pm-7:30 pm.
Please join us as we build this network. No one should feel alone. Ever.
Apply at: Ohio P2P Support Parent Trainee Application Questions?
Contact us at
OhioP2P@cchmc.org
513-636-1245
https://www.ucucedd.org/ohio-parent-to-parent-p2p/
At the Table: Family Engagement Network
We invite you or your building leadership team to join SST 9’s At the Table Family Engagement Network, designed to support districts and school teams in strengthening meaningful, sustainable family engagement practices across all grade levels. Participants gain access to high-quality resources, collaborative networking, and structured support to enhance family–school partnerships.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 24 | 8:00–9:00 AM | Virtual
Click here to register!
Stark/Tuscarawas County ASPIES Events
Stark/Tuscarawas County ASPIES Events
The Stark/Tuscarawas Counties Branch of ASPIES is hosting a full lineup of family-friendly, homeschool-inclusive, and acceptance-fueled events over the next five months. Please feel free to share these flyers and events with anyone you feel may benefit.
The best way to stay up to date with everything happening at ASPIES is to sign up for our email listserv at aspies.org or by reaching out directly to brittney@aspies.org.
Here’s what’s coming up:
March
Parent Support Meeting
“Holding It All Together: The Mental Load of Autism Parenting”
March 3 | 6–8 PM
Faith Baptist Church, BolivarLEGO Event
March 4 | 6–7 PM
NCPLOh, the Books You’ll Take!
(Celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birth month)
March 21 | 1–3 PM
Faith Baptist Church, Bolivar
April
Homeschool LEGO Group
April 1 | 1–2 PM
NCPLCelebrate You
An Autism Acceptance & Awareness Family Dinner
April 24th| 5–7 PM
Faith Baptist Church, Bolivar
May
LEGO Event
May 6 | 6–7 PM
NCPLSTEM & Creativity Day
May 30 | 1–3 PM
Faith Baptist Church, Bolivar
Click here to access a folder with a flyer for each upcoming event.
Family Engagement That Makes an Impact:
Ohio Network of Partnership Schools
Ready to strengthen family engagement beyond one-time events? Join this webinar to learn how schools across Ohio are building sustainable, school-wide family engagement systems using a research-based framework from the Ohio Network of Partnership Schools (ONPS).
Participants will learn how to:
Lead school-wide family engagement efforts
Form Family Engagement Action Teams
Create a one-year action plan aligned to school improvement goals
Use continuous improvement practices to monitor impact
This session also highlights the no-cost ONPS membership, including access to tools, self-paced learning, professional development, and statewide collaboration.
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 10:00–10:45 AM EST
Location: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Register by: February 26, 2026 | Register Now
Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy, what is it and how can you start practicing advocating for yourself? The video, Self-Advocacy Is for Everyone by the Exceptional Children's Assistance Center, illustrates how individuals can learn to speak up for themselves, make informed decisions, and actively participate in shaping their own lives.
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