September 30, 2026 Meeting Minutes - Upcoming Training, Methods of Connection, Upcoming Changes to Medicaid/Medicare
PALS Meeting Minutes
September 30 , 2026 9:30 a.m.
Virtual Meeting using Zoom
Open Forum
Open Forum allows participants to share experiences, ask questions, and provide resources in a mutually supportive setting.
Upcoming PEAL Center Training
PALS is delighted to host an upcoming PEAL Center training with Family Resource Specialist Courtney Richardson, during our regularly scheduled October 28, 2026 monthly virtual meeting. Regardless of age, grade, and whether or not your student has ever faced disciplinary action at school, this training is packed with great information that may help you or someone you know now or in the future.
Training
Behavior and Discipline Guidance for Students with IEPs
Outcomes
• Be able to describe exclusionary practices, Informal Removal, suspension
• Empower parents to go to meetings with examples of patterns of exclusionary discipline, use Section 504 to help determine appropriate placement.
• Provide multiple ways of supporting a student’s mental health needs, and alternatives to exclusionary discipline.
Methods of Connection
There are so many ways humans communicate beyond verbalization, yet typically the social structures around us see it as THE way, making it a goal to be obtained for people with speech apraxia and selective mutism. There are many ways to provide support and allow for communication skills to develop. It is important to reduce pressure, accept alternative methods of connection, and create a safe, predictable environment for children to hone these skills.
The difference in Speech Apraxia and Selective Mutism
Speech Apraxia is a neurological motor speech disorder where the brain knows what it wants to say, but cannot properly plan or sequence the physical movements of the lops, jaw, and tongue required to produce clear speech.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): Present from birth or early development, not caused by muscle weakness, affecting a child's ability to coordinate the complex mouth movements needed to form sounds, syllables, and words.
Acquired Apraxia of Speech (AOS): Occurs in adults or children who already learned how to speak, typically resulting from brain damage caused by a stroke, head injury, tumor, or other neurological illness.
Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder in which a child who can speak in comfortable settings is unable to speak in certain social or unfamiliar environments. This is not a willful or deliberate choice not to talk.
It may look like:
unable to speak
stiff posture, freezing, or an inability to move
blank expression
avoiding eye contact
avoiding social interactions
not asking for things needed or wanted
disruptive behavior to avoid talking
using noises and understood sounds instead of words
passing notes or pointing
using facial expressions, nodding, or shaking head
slowed response
single-word responses
mumbling, stuttering, whispering, or changing tone or pitch
It may be relate to:
Social Anxiety Disorder
Phobias
Neurodivergence (ASD, PDA, ADD, ADHD, etc)
Separation Anxiety
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Speech / Fluency Disorder
Strategies for Connection
Accept non-verbal cues: Allow the child to use nods, head shakes, pointing, blinking, or written notes without demanding spoken words.
Practice patient wait-times: Count (silently) to ten after asking a question or making a statement to give your chid extra time to process information and respond without feeling rushed.
Use alternative tools: Introduce Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) devices, picture boards, or communication cards to help them express basic needs and choices.
Follow the child's lead: Join in during play activities without giving instructions or asking direct questions to build joint engagement and lower stress.
Remove pressure to speak: Avoid putting the child on the spot in group settings or drawing unwanted attention when they are silent. Praise all brave communication efforts rather than focusing only on verbal speech.
Additional Resources
Meet a child where they are using The Communication Bridge from SMart Center
Changes in Medicare / Medicaid
Preparing for upcoming changes to Medicare/Medicaid can be overwhelming. Multiple organziations are ready to help with free webinars. Any additional webinars will be posted on our Calendar.
In addition, the annual Mission of Mercy event is coming up!
Meeting Topic Survey
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PALS Calendar of Events
PALS shares notices for many in-person and virtual events from local, regional, and national organizations, including webinars, support groups, research opportunities, and activities for children and teens. Updated weekly, the PALS Calendar is a valuable resource. Please email your additions to palsfcinfo@gmail.com.
Next Meeting: October 30, 2026 9:30 a.m. Virtual Meeting using Zoom.
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