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Article content provided by Dr. Irma Rosa-Cains & Abigail Raines As we get into the fall season festivities, these are some important recommendations to consider: Provide ONGOING supervision to your children. They should never be by themselves when attending fall festivals and/or collecting candy in the neighborhood. Limit your phone use to emergencies. YOU need to be alert to all your surroundings! Always be aware of the traffic. Vehicle accidents could happen even when events are held in a parking lot. Establish rules with your children and practice them at home BEFORE attending any fall event (i.e., if you get lost, if a stranger approaches you). Some parents opt for writing their own name and phone # on the child’s wristband. Others take a picture of their child before entering the event. Bring basic cleaning items in case of an accident (i.e., hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, or any other item you prefer to use). Bring sunscreen and plenty of water, if applicable. Make your children aware of tripping hazards (i.e., cords around inflatables, electrical cords, sandbags) Alert your children not to consume any pieces of candy, baked goods, drinks, etc. until you approve. Large fall events can be overwhelming for children. Visuals can help children communicate their thoughts and can help with establishing expectations during unfamiliar outings. Below are some links to visuals that can help your child during fall festivities. AAC Visuals for fall festivals: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/AAC-Trick-or-Treat-Bracelet-Switch-and-Bucket-labels-4909023 Social story for trick or treating: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZofiDjtXrO9VrvYWueF_x4PKV6_pe-fT/view

The week of December 4th we celebrate Inclusive Schools Week, and it is particularly fitting that the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services recently released a renewed commitment and urgency policy update that young children with disabilities should be included in high-quality early childhood education programs alongside peers without disabilities. In a nation that values equality, educational opportunities for one in six children with disabilities continue to be lacking. The Civil Rights movement of the 60’s was a precursor to legislation protecting the rights of children with disabilities to access public education. Unfortunately, even today many people assume that the best place for children with disabilities is in a special school or classroom, separated from their peers. Many students with complex learning needs have been denied access to opportunities which foster academic success, based upon the erroneous assumption they could not benefit from traditional instruction. Students with disabilities continue to be educated isolated from their peers and communities. However, experts and people with disabilities themselves are united in their beliefs that inclusive education offers the best outcomes for all students.   These experts believe that a disability should not diminish ones right to right to fully participate in society in meaningful ways and live a life without limits. For over twenty years, UCP Charter Schools has been creating opportunities for students with and without disabilities to learn and thrive together. The culture of inclusion starts in early childhood programs where children don’t see each other’s differences but just another friend to play with.   Isn’t it wonderful if you ask one of the kids what’s different about your friend (who happens to be visually impaired) and their lack of ability to see doesn’t even make the top ten of what’s different.   It’s a great  culture that is being created – led by our children who will grow into high school leaders who will go out of their way to stop bullying or when they are future bosses, they will remember that the smartest kid in their 3rd grade class was the student in a wheelchair.  And won’t think twice when someone in a chair comes in an interview. Research shows that inclusion is beneficial both to children with and without disabilities.  For students with disabilities (SWD), this includes academic gains in literacy (reading and writing), math, and social studies — both in grades and on standardized tests as well as better communication skills, and improved social skills and more friendships. Their peers without disabilities also make greater academic gains in reading and math when in inclusive classrooms.  Research also shows the presence of students with disabilities give their peers new types of learning opportunities with their teachers providing instruction in a wider range of learning modalities (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), which benefits their students without disabilities as well. Studies show they have a more positive perception of children with disabilities and differences and better social skills, such as communication and cooperation, and fewer problem behaviors as a result of peer-mediated interventions in inclusive settings. These students in inclusive classrooms also demonstrate greater compassion and empathy and treat everyone with respect and kindness and isn’t that the type of children we all want our kids to be? Article Published on the Orlando Sentinel Author: Dr. Ilene E. Wilkins is the CEO of UCP of Central Florida/UCP Charter Schools Publication Date: 12/06/2023 Source: Orlando Sentinel URL: www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/12/06/inclusive-education-environment-is-better-for-all-students-commentary/

Did you know that every year in November, there is an exceptional day for people who like science, technology, engineering, art, and math? It’s National STEM Day (and National STEAM Day too) celebrated on November 8th. UCP students across all of our campuses were assisted by Math/Science Team Member Leads and given the opportunity to carry out STEM challenges using the engineering process. The Leads were provided STEM kits that included all the materials and directions necessary to carry out the STEM challenges. Other teachers were provided with ideas of STEM challenges that could be carried out with minimal materials. STEM is critical for students' learning process as it helps them with:​ Asking questions​ Connecting the dots​ Problem-solving Thinking creatively​ Being innovative​ Celebrate 28 Days of STEM activities HERE

ORLANDO, Fla. (November 1, 2023) — The U.S Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education recently awarded UCP Charter Schools a $5.1 million three year grant for a new initiative to help increase learning gains for students by ensuring access to highly effective and diverse teachers and other school leaders. UCP Charter Schools was the only awarded applicant from Florida. The UCP Charter Schools network of inclusive public schools has outperformed in learning gains for a disproportionate number of lower-income students with disabilities compared to similar student populations. The three-year grant, entitled Project ELEVATE (Elevating Learning by Empowering and Valuing Advancement of Teacher and other Educators), will provide funding to address multiple challenges associated with achieving higher outcomes including: Recruitment and retention of effective teachers and leaders in high need schools Building capacity in teacher leadership through development and implementation of TeachMastery (a customized targeted and job embedded professional learning program) Additional teacher mentor/coaching with master teachers and model classrooms Development and implementation of the KEY Program (Key Engagement for Yay-Worthy – a gamification incentive program) Principal Academy and Principal Resident program Building Instructional Leadership Teams (ILT) “I am thrilled to announce the funding for Project ELEVATE, a significant step towards strengthening our education system,” said Dr. Ilene Wilkins, Superintendent of UCP Charter Schools. “Teachers and school leaders are the backbone of our schools, shaping the future of our nation. With these grants, we aim to provide essential support to retain and empower these dedicated professionals. This initiative reflects our commitment to addressing teacher shortages, fostering educator leadership, and ensuring the highest quality of teaching and learning. Together, we can create an environment where educators feel valued, supported, and motivated to continue their vital work for our students.” About UCP of Central Florida: UCP of Central Florida is a non-profit (501(c) (3)) organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children of all abilities in Central Florida. For more than 60 years, UCP of Central Florida has provided support, education and therapy services for children and families touched by disabilities. As one of their programs, UCP operates a consortium of charter schools for students with and without disabilities and is considered a national leader in inclusive education. For more information about UCP of Central Florida, visit www.ucpcfl.org

UCP of Central Florida is always looking for opportunities to serve our families and children. One of the areas that many of our parents inquire about is healthy sleeping habits. Here are some basic guidelines to share. Benefits when kids get enough sleep Reduces stress Better problem-solving skills Improves memory Improves immune system Increases Creativity Improves Mood and Social Skills Good Sleep Routine Hygiene Establish a predictable and smooth routine. Set regular wake and sleep times. Modify the bedroom environment, including noise, light, temperature, and bedding. Help the child wind down and prepare for sleep. Typical Sleep Schedule Infants 4-12 months need nine to 12 hours of sleep at night Children 1-2 years/Toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep each day Children 3-5 years/ Preschoolers should sleep 10-13 hours each night Children 6-12 years need 9-12 hours of sleep each night American Academy of Pediatrics How can Occupational Therapy Help? Occupational therapists also focus on increasing coping skills and self-regulation to ease the child’s capacity to relax for sleep onset. For any questions, please contact Dr. Bautista-Harris at kristy.bautista@ucpcfl.org

UCP Annual National Backpack Awareness is September 20th, where we recognize and ensure our students wear backpacks safely. Improper use can lead to back pain or injury and can impact learning. Did you know? Heavy loads carried by more than 79 million students across the U.S. can cause low back pain that often lasts through adulthood According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2013, nearly 22,200 strains, sprains, dislocations, and fractures from backpacks were treated in hospital emergency rooms, physicians' offices, and clinics A backpack should weigh no more than 10% of the child's body weight Remember: pack light and wear it right! You can find more safety tips from www.aota.org/backpack

Art has many benefits, especially for young people who are just discovering who they are and how to express themselves. For young individuals who are living with a developmental disorder, different creative outlets can also offer a welcome boost of confidence and independence. For some, finding an aptitude within an art can be life-changing if they have difficulty in other subjects. Parents can help their children experiment with different creative methods at home by offering the right tools and providing guidance on how to use them, but it’s important to remember that there are many different ways to be creative, and not all of them are right for every individual. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep an open mind and be ready to introduce more than one option. Here are a few ideas from UCP of Central Florida that you can try, along with information about how they can benefit your child. Dance Dance is a wonderful form of expression, but it’s also a great way to stay physically fit. For young people who have challenges with their motor skills, dancing is an outlet that allows them to work on coordination while having fun. Additionally, it’s a form of independence because it allows the individual to create their own moves and manipulate their body in ways that make them feel good rather than doing it because they’re being told to. If your child is interested in dance, set up a safe place for them to move around that’s free of furniture or trip hazards. It might also be helpful to set up a large mirror so they can see the moves they’re making. Different dance and music genres can be incorporated to increase creativity. Making Music Like dance, making music is a confidence booster and a wonderful form of expression for young people. Whether it’s through homemade tools or an instrument such as a piano, creating songs require imagination and thinking outside the box. It has also been shown in studies by the Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) at USC to help kids do better in school because it incorporates literacy, memory, and math skills. Not only that, it can help young people become more social if they’re able to continue with music while in a school setting. Playing an instrument, singing, and engaging with digital music tools are all great ways to help your child get started on their musical journey. Visual Arts Another great outlet for students with developmental disorders can be found through engaging in visual arts. Visual arts offer a great way to express oneself, and there are many different ways to do it so. Painting, drawing, sculpting, and crafting are just a few types of mediums your child can use, and these can all help boost communication skills and self-esteem. Provide your child with a few simple tools to start with, such as oil pastels or watercolors, and work your way up to paint and clay in order to prevent them from feeling overwhelmed. You can also look for photos of famous works of art and online tours of museums to show your child; you might encourage them to do a master copy in their chosen medium just for fun. DIY projects are also awesome tasks that increase feelings of fun and accomplishment. Develop a Creative Space If your child shows a marked interest in one or more creative arts, you can help foster their interest by setting aside a room in your home to serve as their studio. This can be a boon to their skill development. If you do some work to a room to ready it for use, be sure to save the receipts. You’ll want to have a record of changes with before and after photos. Improvements like these can potentially raise your home’s value. Join Your Child and Consider Starting a Business Whether it’s through dancing, painting, or making music, it can be extremely beneficial for both you and your child if you join them in the process of creating. Not only are these stress-relieving activities, The Conversation points out that they can promote a healthy bond for you and your teen. You might even find that you have an aptitude for a specific activity that leads to a new career; many people have turned to starting their own business in recent years by monetizing a hobby. Just make sure you separate your business and personal finances from the beginning in order to avoid any issues with the IRS. Consider forming an LLC to protect your assets, garner tax benefits, and lend your business legitimacy. Read up on how to start an LLC Florida for more information. A guide can walk you through the major steps to establishing your business. A formation service can even take care of the filings, saving you time and money. If your child has a developmental disability, getting them involved in a creative art can offer them many benefits. It can be empowering for their independence, and it may even offer them an avenue to a career. Remember to consider the benefits of the arts, create a creative space for them to blossom, and even form your own LLC. UCP of Central Florida provides education, support and therapy services to more than 3,500 children and their families each year. Contact us today to learn more at 407-852-3300.

Raising a special needs child can be extremely rewarding, however, it presents unique challenges. Parents may worry about affording their child's care or stress about their future. The stress this brings is significant. For instance, one study indicates that mothers of autistic adolescents or adults actually have stress hormone levels comparable to those of Active Duty soldiers. Your fears may become even more profound as your child gets older and starts to carve out a life of their own. You want to ensure your kid is making healthy life decisions as they get older. UCP of Central Florida understands that parents never stop learning, so they are happy to present you with some additional tips and tools to help give your teen the tools they need to make healthy everyday choices. Create a Healthy Home Environment Healthy habits start at home. Create a soothing space filled with positive vibes where your entire family can feel at ease. One can start by removing clutter, which Mayo Oshin notes can incite feelings of anxiety, and adding more greenery. Plants are proven to reduce anxiety and can help clean the air and reduce stress levels. Ensure to explore non-toxic options so that you don’t have to worry about any incidents. Keeping stress levels low at home can be challenging, especially when we're juggling multiple responsibilities. However, using an online tool to design a weekly schedule can help to stay organized and reduce stress. By mapping out our tasks and assigning specific times for them, we can prioritize our workload and ensure that we have enough time for self-care activities as well. Whether it's work-related tasks or household chores, having a clear plan in place can make all the difference in terms of productivity and stress management. So why not give this a try? There are numerous free online tools available that can help you create a customized weekly schedule that suits your needs and preferences. Make Healthy Eating the Norm in Your Household Special needs children often face nutritional challenges. As Abilities.com explains, kids with limited mobility due to conditions like Down syndrome may struggle with obesity.Moreover, kids with Autism may have negative reactions to foods with certain textures. Navigating your child's relationship with food while ensuring they get the nutrients they need is tough. Try setting family meal guidelines and making nutrition a collaborative effort. You can prepare recipes together. To help make healthy eating an easier choice, look into adding some cooking tools and gadgets to your kitchen. Just be sure to check out unbiased online reviews first. You can find great ideas for things to help you out at home. Find Ways to Make Exercise Fun Exercise is essential for people with special needs. Physical activity can support healthy weight loss, boost energy, and enhance mental health. Motivating your teen to get moving isn't always easy. The key to success is finding a form of exercise they love. Encourage your child to try different styles of exercise. Kids with physical disabilities might be able to take part in modified baseball, soccer, or flag football, or other sports. Discuss Temptations Like Drugs and Alcohol Your teen will inevitably be confronted with drugs and alcohol. Don't try to shield your special needs child from this reality; instead, talk openly about drugs and alcohol and the negative impact they can have on your child's health. This is especially important if your child takes any kind of medication that could interact negatively with drugs or alcohol. Discussing these tough topics with teens requires special handling, but if you go at it properly, you can see positive results. It’s best to bring the subject up sooner rather than later. Avoid making accusations, don’t catch your child off-guard, and avoid scare tactics. Give Your Child Positive Role Models Giving kids positive role models is a great way to inspire them to make healthy life choices. Look specifically for role models for differently-abled kids-- covering both real-world personas and people portrayed in film and television shows. You can also connect your child to resources that might put them in contact with role models, such as the Special Olympics. Try discussing your child's role models and having them identify what qualities they admire. Speaking of role models, don’t forget that you yourself can be the best role model your child will ever have, whether that’s demonstrating good day-to-day behaviors or pursuing lofty goals like going back to school for that healthcare degree you always wanted. If it’s something that you always intended to do but didn’t make time for it, look for a program that offers flexibility so you can meet your other obligations. There are online colleges that allow you to do anything from becoming an IT professional to earning your accounting degree. Look for opportunities to show your child that with perseverance, it can be done. Watching your special needs child become a teen can be bittersweet. However, knowing you've given them the tools they need to make healthy life choices can bring you peace of mind. Follow the above tips to get started, and remember -- you can do this!

There are a few important life skills that children can learn through play. If you have kids on the spectrum, you can turn fun games into teaching strategies that will help them with socialization, interaction, and communication. Here are five activities you can do with your young ones to keep them entertained and educated while you’re at home. Play Pretend Entrepreneur Get your kids’ minds active and engaged by asking them to come up with an original idea for a small business. They can use free online tools to help you design an eye-catching logo, create infographics detailing their company’s activities, and make flow charts explaining the ins and outs of their processes. Pretending you’re in business is great for your children to learn the basics of entrepreneurship, leadership, managerial skills, and finance. And who knows? Perhaps you’ll decide to pursue their business idea together! Imagine how excited your child would be to learn that their idea had value in the real world. Create a Comic Strip Have your children think up a storyline and turn it into a comic strip or mini graphic novel. Start by engaging them in a brainstorming session so they can come up with a setting for their story, the characters involved in the plot, and the events that will be unfolding. You can find some comic strip templates online, but you can also easily create your own with a few pieces of paper, a ruler, and pencils. Character development and storytelling will help your child hone their socialization and communication skills as they develop their own scenarios and resolve conflicts between their imaginary characters. Write and Play Silly Songs This entertaining activity is also great to introduce new words into your child’s vocabulary as you both try to come up with funny rhymes, gestures, and dances for your silly song. If your child is passionate about a subject, let that be the theme of your new opus, whether it be cars, trains, computers, or dinosaurs. You don’t have to be a musical prodigy to come up with a catchy tune, and you will create wonderful memories as you and your child work together to craft the most perfect - or funniest - ode to their favorite topic of interest. Solve Puzzles and Mysteries Develop your child’s problem-solving skills by having them solve jigsaw puzzles and arrange blocks following a certain pattern. If your child has a hard time interpreting facial expressions and other nonverbal language cues, you can play imitation games where your little one will mimic you, which can also help him or her master daily tasks and routines. You can also play charades to help them build on their nonverbal communication skills. Or play a fun round of Pictionary and have them interpret what they see, which will help with their social and emotional skills. Get Your Hands Dirty Slime is a sensory activity that the whole family can partake in. Just like you would experiment with a new dinner recipe, you and your kids can mix an assortment of ingredients and make slimes of different colors and textures. Modeling clay is also very popular among kids of all ages. Modeling compounds allow your children to unleash their creativity as they come up with fanciful sculptures, and these playful doughs will keep them entertained for hours. If you live in a walk-friendly neighborhood (a Walk Score over 70 is ideal), you can also throw on some galoshes and go for a walk in the rain. Lots of things change during a storm! As you explore your neighborhood, encourage your kids to touch things like tree trunks, worms, mud, and fences to see how they are different in the rain. Get Creative and Have Fun! Rainy days don’t have to be dreary for children stuck at home. There are many activities that will keep them engaged and even teach them some new skills, and you probably already have most of the materials you need at hand. Whether you’re writing a play, researching business ideas, or taking a walk in the rain, you can enjoy some creative fun together! UCP of Central Florida is dedicated to empowering children with disabilities. Learn more about our events, programs, and services.

UCP Charter Schools have created a new kind of learning community where everyone has access to individualized learning and every student is encouraged to participate in our community learning model! Inclusive education is the practice of educating students with disabilities and students without disabilities side-by-side. The practice is based on the idea that students with disabilities can be full participants in their classrooms and their community. Some students are accelerated learners and some students may need more time or strategic intervention. We strive to engage all learners through an inclusive model that focuses on the potential of each individual child. The mainstream instruction model doesn’t always work for every child. We recognize that every child learns and retains information differently. Therefore, our inclusion model utilizes individualized education inside the inclusive classroom environment to provide each student with the necessary support to unlock their potential. OUR INCLUSION MODEL UCP of Central Florida’s first venture into academic inclusion was bold. We challenged the idea of the special education classroom by raising expectations drastically. We began with a philosophical belief that ALL kids deserve a high-quality and accessible education. Studies show that there were benefits for both sets of students in an inclusive classroom where 50 percent of the students had disabilities and 50 percent of the students did not. The most obvious benefits from this setting were the removal of preconceptions about students with disabilities and the addition of a compassionate learning culture. However, the success of the model did not end there. The inclusive education model also broke down preconceptions about learning in general. When learning takes place in an inclusive setting it is no longer solitary, boring, and stressful. Instead the learning becomes communal. Learning takes on a whole new power when a child realizes their knowledge can be shared with others, when a gifted child is able to teach a peer they begin to cultivate a more well-rounded connection to their instruction, when a child without a disability and their colleague in a wheelchair prepare for a book report they are more efficient, collaborative, and begin to learn at a level of maturity that is not passive, but immersive and practical. BENEFITS OF INCLUSION There are many benefits to an inclusive classroom environment, including: a positive view of individual worth, a sense of belonging, social skill development for all students, and increased awareness of needs and diversity. Inclusion also helps students without disabilities engage in tasks at a higher and deeper level.

At UCP Charter Schools, we use a combination of arts (visual, performing, music and dance) to reinforce and enhance learning for all students! Arts integration is an innovative teaching strategy that fuses the arts curriculum—dance, music, visual arts—with standard curricula. Visual and Performing Arts Integration Specialists work collaboratively with our education staff to develop and implement projects that utilize art to reinforce the academic core standards of the age & grade level of our students. Research shows that rich art experiences can lead to increased academic, social, and functional skill development and knowledge. For all students, knowledge and skill development gained through the arts can play a crucial role in their overall success. Beyond skill development, arts integration is a powerful tool to help engage all learners in our learning community. Children need to be engaged in ways that can hold their attention. One effective way to do this is to make learning fun and interesting! Our local art community also gets to interact with our students through various partnerships with local partners, VSA Arts, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and other art groups! Artists-in-Residence are placed at the school to work with all students and broaden their exposure to a variety of art forms. DID YOU KNOW? Research shows there’s a positive relationship between arts education, particularly in drama, and young children’s literacy and language development. Dramatic play provides pre-readers and writers an active context for learning about literacy, using literacy skills, and exploring new and abstract concepts. In addition, drama instruction where students act out a structured plot increases success in measures of oral language development and contributes to word fluency - keys to early literacy. Studies have found that music skills correlate with phonological awareness and reading development. Young children who participate in arts instruction, specifically music and dance, are better able to self-regulate their emotions compared to those who do not participate in arts programs. *Work cited: Anvari, Trainor, Woodside & Levy ,2002 | Catterall, 2009; Deasy, 2002 | Hillier, Greher, Poto, & Dougherty, 2012 | Podlozny, 2000

The community-based learning experience that our schools have created for our students is unique to UCP Charter Schools in Central Florida. In comparison to traditional schools, our smaller class sizes with lower student-to-teacher ratios allows the instruction to take place in a community setting. Our classrooms mirror the real-world learning model where knowledge and innovation happen by engaging with the world around you, collaborating with colleagues, and leaning into things that we do not know. The community-based learning experience that our schools have created for our students is unique to UCP Charter Schools in Central Florida. In comparison to traditional schools, our smaller class sizes with lower student-to-teacher ratios allow the instruction to take place in a community setting. Our classrooms mirror the real-world learning model where knowledge and innovation happen by engaging with the world around you, collaborating with colleagues, and leaning into things that we do not know.