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PIER History

PIER was established in 2000

We are an evolving resource that works to meet the needs of families, schools, and communities who care for or work with:  Children, Youth, and Adults who have special needs.

Thank you to those of you who donated your time and talents to give back and/ or "pay it forward!!!!"

              "Building Community Connections!"

PIER Supported/Sponsored Trainings  ~
         How do  we used your monetary donations?  

We bring speakers, activities and networking opportunities to you!  We have NO paid staff - families like yours volunteer their time, talents and connections to help you connect ......

2017
       February Workshops - Creating a Successful   
            Future - Marshfield
       Topics:
       Sensory Overload and the Behavior Reducing  
                  Guideline   Dr. Glenis Benson  
       Dyslexia Simulation: a dyslexia perspective:  
          Information and resources on working with   
                   someone who struggles with reading!   
       Children's Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin

      Understanding the New IEP Forms
       Importance of Parent Involvement to obtain  
            the goals and needs of the child.
       Career Ready IEP's (Transition from High
             School) and Parent Involvement  
             Cheri Sylla from WSPEI

          Sign Language Classes - Marshfield
                 2/21/17 to 5/23/17
                 9/19/17 to 12/5/17

           Blu Play - Parent Networking and Sensory
                appropriate Play.....  Wisconsin Rapids 
                           Monthly - 2 times

2016
Parent Networking at Blu Play Wis. Rapids
    2nd Tuesday & 3rd Sunday
     Partnering with Central Wisconsin Autism.

Creating a Successful Future Series - 
     April  - "Helping Struggling Readers"                        
                    Alternative approaches - 
                    Mental Health ~ available support services.
                   
     February - Take a deep breath and count to five."  
                         Regulation Techniques/ stress and 
                         anxiety​*Family Engagement - and the 
                          IEP.   
Daniel Parker, Ed. Consultant, DPI.
                     *Available Services that assist families in
                       caring for their child with delays or
                       disabilities at home  and in the                  
                       community   *Partnering with
             your physician in your child's medical home​-
Julia Stavran: Northern Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
            *Importance of Autism Safety: ​
             *Equine therapy and social &Interaction:               
Displays at:
            Stevens Point Clinic
            WR Children's Festival
             Marshfield Children's Festival

2015
Anger Me Not Foundation opportunities (Msfld United Way  – PIER Partnership)

Tiffany Kula from Mikan mental health in young
      children and  young adults along with strategies that
      can be used to help prevent or lessen the impact of
      those behaviors.  
Autism Safety Presented By Harry Dolan 
Disability/Sensory Friendly Swim at the Marshfield 
Davis Method of Learning with children who have
       Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD and Autism
       Anne Mataczynski 
Bob Kulp ​Representative
Brain Gym
Autism and the Seeds of Change: Anne Mataczynski 
Sensory Friendly Movie event at Roger's Cinema in Marshfield. 
New Visions Wilderness in Medford
 
Displays - Outreach
           Nekoosa Developmental Days
           Children's Festivals – WR & Msfld
           Healthy People Wood County – Mental Health
                 Conference 
Printing Outreach:
            Healthy People Wood County – Bike path  to
                  Mental  Health services
                  School Flyers
Parent Coffees – WR/MFLD/Nekoosa –
       
Family Leader Partnership

Caring Hands Presentations-Kathie Snitker building
     understanding, hope & resiliency in children,
     families, and your agency
     Caring Connection / Wo Co. Health
      Partnership/WRPS/MSTC Childcare Advocates
      Council
Msfld Sign Language Class – Msfld School District
      Partnership
PIER e-news and website outreach – Information –
          resources – educational opportunities!
Helping Families attend workshops – speaker –
          conference opportunities
RE- Start of WR Autism group

2014
Caring Hands - ABC's of Behavior 132 participants
Kathie Snitker-Magin, MEd, Community Outreach Coordinator, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health - Relationships Matter: How our interactions with young children impact their development (ChildCaring, Healthy People Wood County Partnership)

*Puberty Workshops for Pre-Adolescents with Cognitive Disabilities  *Bodies, Boundaries, & Sexuality: A Workshop for Parents - Addressing sexuality issues for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities   (GDCW Partnership) 

*TEEN SIB Day - for teens who have a sibling with disability            (DSAW/GDCW Partnership)


Marshfield Sign Language Class (MSTC/Msfld School District Partnership)2012/2013/2014/2015

Dyslexia Speaker - Susan Barton (Anger Me Not Foundation Partnership)

Dyslexia - Learning Disability Tutor - Darlene Larson - Barton Tutor (Anger Me Not Foundation Partnership)

Paula Bauge - Wisconsin Family Ties - Working with behaviors.  The Families Role - Community Resources

Caregiver and Provider Gathering! Finding and Funding Respite Providers.(Respite Care Wisconsin, New Horizons North/Lifespan Respite Care Northern Network, Aging and Disability Resources Center, Community Care of Central Wisconsin, Consumer Direct,  Midstate Independent Living, Consumer Direct, Wood County HS Partnership)
      
Barb Katz  Family Voices of Wisconsin-            A "Did You Know? Now You Know! 

Robyn Morris Wisconsin Statewide Parent Education Initiative - Resources for Dyslexia and other Learning Differences.
(WSPEI, CDRC Partnership)

Leslie Lewison - WRPS - When Behavior Impacts Learning

Katie Miloch - SW HI Legal Services/APS- Coordinator, Wood County Human Services - When do we call Crisis vs 911?

Daniel Parker - Department of Public Instruction
Writing Behavior Plans Sensitive to a Childs Needs

Along with: Information and Education - Networking - For Parents and  Professionals  in Nekoosa, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield.

Past  PIER  Supported/Sponsored Trainings

*Understanding Special Education Funding
*Building a Stronger Community and School
*Understanding an IEP and the Parents Role
*Writing IEP Goals and Objectives
*Transition – Creating the Vision…
         How to prepare for your Youth’s future 
*Community Resources for Students who are transitioning
          from High School
*Bullying – Sticks and Stones
*Transition from Birth to Three program
*Lifesaver is a personal tracking device for children and
           adults who are at risk of wandering away from their 
           parents or care providers.
*Child Alert is a way to identify your child with
           emergency personal.
*Emergency Preparedness – Will your child’s needs be
           met in a community emergency?
*Connecting Parents-to-Parents
*Understanding Medicaid
*New Unified Services Program
*Manager/Developmental Disabilities
*Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
*S.A.F.E. Safety Awareness for Empowerment
*Are your kids driving you NutZ? How can we help you? 
             Connecting and Communicating…..
*SOS Kids in Crisis - What can we do?
              Resilient youth vs. youth that struggle
*How can parents work with schools to write an IEP
*Understanding the Child and Adolescent Brain 
               Why do Kids to what they do?...
*High school to Life Beyond
*IEP Product and Process –
* Mental Health Issues in Elementary Children
*What is Family Care?
*IEP and IDEA 2004
*Mental Health Services in Wood County
              for Individuals, Children and Families
*Transition and the IEP/Services/Funding
*Medical Home
*Did you Know – Now you Know”
*Faith – and raising a child with special needs
*Family Care
*Understanding Bullying – 
             Recognizing and learning ~ What to do!
*Communicating clearly
*Needs and opportunities for Parents of Aspies
*What do parents need to know about:

• Guardianship
• Power of Attorney
• Wills
• Special Needs Trusts
• Estate recovery

*Success in school for children with a learning, physical,
              cognitive, developmental, mental health
              and/or behavioral disabilities/issues, to be
               successful in school environments
*Communication – What’s important?
*Understanding  Epilepsy/Seizures
*People First/Community Care How's it going? SDS

PIER Information and Resources

This web site is compiled by being linked to a variety of list serves including but not limited to: 
     Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
     Family Assistance Center for Education Training and Support
                                   (FACETS)
     Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)
     Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA)
     Wisconsin Statewide Transition Initiative (WSTI)
     Waismen Center Healthy Ready to Work
     Agencies - Liaisons - Parents
     Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
     DAWN - Disability Awareness Wisconsin Network
     National Center on Secondary Education and Transition E-News
             and link to  http://www.ncset.org/enews/.
    Family Resource Centers
    NICHCY - National Dissemination for Children with Disabilities
    United Ways  2-1-1

Wisconsin Children and Families - WisKids Journal - which publishes e-newsletters on a variety of specific issues, including health care, early education, economic support, juvenile justice and other youth issues, and budget and tax matters.  Please consider signing up for one or more of these email bulletins -  http://capwiz.com/wccf/mlm/signup/

The Catalyst Center is a national technical assistance and research center dedicated to work with states and stakeholder groups on improving health care insurance and financing for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).
                   For more information   http://hdwg.org/catalyst/.

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition E-News,
                  which can be found at http://www.ncset.org/enews/.

PIER is an informational site.  It is not a legal services agency and cannot provide legal advice or legal representation.  Any information contained on this site is not intended as legal or medical advice but only as an informational resource.   This web site was created to inform and educate. The content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, recommendations, diagnosis or treatment.

You are encouraged to confirm all information with other sources and a physician. If you have health concerns, please call or see a qualified health care provider without delay. . 

We do not endorse any treatments, providers, or product information in this site.    

As with any program - we strongly encourage you to thoroughly check out references.