Past: "Rule 4500 Restraint, Seclusion, and Exclusionary Discipline: A Conversation with Families on their Experiences with the Process" The Agency of Education is interested in hearing from parents/families who have interacted with the AOE because of their child experiencing a restraint, seclusion, or exclusionary discipline. VFN has been asked to bring together a virtual meeting […]

Join us on April 11 for our VFN 2023 Annual Conference - Inclusion and Well-Being. Registration is open! Visit our Annual Conference page for more details including an agenda and to register.

Watch the recording for "Introduction to Vermont Developmental Disabilities Services" here. This workshop is intended to explain how someone applies for developmental disabilities in Vermont. We will also review the eligibility criteria is for these services and what types of supports are available to people with developmental disabilities. Presenter: Melanie Feddersen, DDSD Services Specialist Supervisor

Watch the recording of "Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 1 - Rule Change Implementation" here. This is session one of three in the VFN/Agency of Education Virtual Town Hall Sessions where the July 1, 2023 Special Education Rule changes are discussed. Topics include the nature of the Rule changes, adverse effect, functional skills, and […]

Watch the recording of "Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 2 - Adverse Effect and Functional Skills Changes" here. This is session two of three in the VFN/Agency of Education Virtual Town Hall Sessions where the July 1, 2023 Special Education Rule changes are discussed. Topics include the nature of the Rule changes, adverse effect, […]

Watch the recording of  "Building and Empowering Ourselves Through the Youth Advocacy Council" here. Learn about the Youth Advocacy Council and the leadership and advocacy opportunities it helps create for youth and young adults with disabilities in Vermont. This webinar covers the history of the council since it was formed in 2018, membership opportunities for […]

Watch the recording of "Special Education Rule Changes Series Part 3 - Specific Learning Disability Changes" here. This is session three of three in the VFN/Agency of Education Virtual Town Hall Sessions where the July 1, 2023 Special Education Rule changes are discussed. Topics include the nature of the Rule changes, adverse effect, functional skills, […]

Please join us on Zoom for another Advocacy and Policy Committee meeting where we will provide a wrap up of the legislative session as well as hear more from our Executive Director, Jacqui Kelleher about the conversations she has been having with legislators.

Watch the recording of  "Understanding and Building Youth Resilience" here. If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we’ll send you a link to the recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time. This workshop will begin with a brief introduction to trauma/trauma responsive care. During the majority […]

Watch recording for "Transition Mapping" here. This workshop is for individuals with disabilities, family members and anyone that supports transitions. We will explore how mapping helps with navigating transitions. We will go over features of maps and transitions in general and then apply mapping to the context of transitions. There are many types of maps […]

Watch the recording of "Vermont ABLE - How to Save for Disability-Related Expenses" here. Almost 1000 Vermonters are taking advantage of this special program. Vermont ABLE allows individuals and families to save for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing federal benefits like Medicaid and Social Security Income. This presentation will review the basic structure of the program […]

Watch the "HireAbility Vermont Services for Youth with Hearing Loss - Core Transition Services and Regional Counselor for the Deaf Services" recording here. The goal of this workshop is to help families figure out which services are appropriate for their child once they matriculate to high school. HireAbility VT will outline the difference between the […]