Early On of Barry County

02/03/2026

Regulate First, Teach Second

A child’s behavior is often the body’s way of communicating unmet needs.

Hunger, thirst, fatigue, or overstimulation can quickly dysregulate a child’s nervous system.

When biological needs aren’t met, the brain shifts into survival mode.

In that state, listening, learning, and impulse control become much harder.

Before correcting behavior, pause and ask: Is my child hungry, tired, or overwhelmed?

A snack, water, movement, or rest can do more than a lecture ever could.

Meeting basic needs helps bring the nervous system back into balance.

Once the body feels safe, the thinking brain can come back online.

This is when guidance and boundaries actually stick.

Responding this way teaches children to notice and care for their own needs.

Regulation begins with compassion, not correction.



The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy

02/02/2026

🥳Registration Open!

We are thrilled to finally open registration for our Play & Learn community. Starting March 5, groups will take place each week on Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 am.

Our Play & Learn groups bring together children with disabilities or who need developmental support and their caregivers in a small, welcoming space. Caregivers connect, children play, and each month a guest expert helps address common questions and concerns.

Space is very limited! Visit https://www.theabilitycollective.org/play-learn for more details (pardon our dust- our website is under construction 🔨)

👶Who: Children 6 mo-7y old who might benefit from extra developmental support or who have a disability, and their caregiver(s)
📍Location: The Ability Collective of Barry County office, 118 W. State St, Hastings, MI
⏰When: 9:30-10:30 am, every Thursday. You will be able to sign up for weeks once you've registered to join the community.
📋Register: We strongly encourage registration. Our space is limited, and we may need to turn families away if we reach capacity. Registration also helps our team prepare for the best experience possible.

Email hello@theabilitycollective.org for questions 🫶

This program is made possible by the generous support of Barry Community Foundation and our community.

02/02/2026

The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs is excited to share the launch of our new and improved website.

Please visit Michigan.gov/familycenter

Our new website design includes a brand-new look and layout. It has more information about our core programs and supports, including dedicated pages on:

Community Resources
Peer Support
Learning Opportunities (includes links for upcoming webinars)
Family Engagement
Camp and Conference Scholarships
Current and past editions of the MI Family Connections Newsletter
Sibling Support and Sibshop Grants

We invite you to come browse our website and learn more about the exciting things taking place at the Family Center!

01/18/2026

Sensory Processing affects how the brain processes sensory information. Sensory information includes things you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch.

What might that look like?
🧥 clothes feels too scratchy or itchy
💡 lights are too bright
🔊 sounds seem too loud
🥣 sensitivity to food textures
🚶‍♀️ poor balance or seem clumsy
😨 afraid to play on the playground
😖 react poorly to sudden touches, loud noises, movement

When sensory disorders are looked at as non-compliance or bad behavior - that can cause problems with social skills, self-regular, and daily life. When parents and schools have a better understanding of how SPD is impacting a student, those needs can be addressed.

🔗Join us on two Fridays -- January 23 & 30 for this two-part online Sensory Processing workshop with Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/4byxsx9h

Visit our website calendar to see more topics www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/

01/18/2026

This free, four-part series of online workshops will help parents
understand the important role they have in positions of leadership.

As a parent, there are many opportunities to add your voice,
knowledge and experience to local, county and state boards that
support families of children with disabilities.

• Leadership opportunities on local, county and state boards
• Learn your leadership style
• Discuss the importance of early childhood Inclusion
• Your mission: taking your involvement to the next level.

Who should attend? Parents of children birth to 8 years old who:
• receive or have received Early On® services
• current Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC)
representatives
• are interested in serving on local, county, and state boards

If you require accommodations or materials in an alternative format, please let us know two weeks before the event.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/_mKM1xTISN-XYacfp-p0kQ...

Questions? info@michiganallianceforfamilies.org

01/05/2026

Recognizing Self-Gaslighting in Parenting

As parents, it’s easy to unconsciously gaslight ourselves—questioning or dismissing our own feelings and the feelings of our children.

We might think, “I shouldn’t feel this frustrated,” or “They’re overreacting; it can’t be that bad,” even when both emotions are valid.

This internal dialogue can be even stronger when parenting a child with disabilities or chronic illness, where stress and uncertainty are constant.

Parents may dismiss their own exhaustion or worry, thinking they “should handle it all” or “not burden anyone with their feelings.”

Similarly, children may be told, directly or indirectly, that their feelings aren’t real or justified because of their condition.

When emotions are minimized, both parent and child can feel misunderstood, isolated, and less confident in expressing themselves.

Recognizing and naming these feelings—“It’s okay that this is hard,” or “I see that you’re frustrated and that makes sense”—is the first step toward healing.

Validating emotions fosters resilience, self-awareness, and healthy coping strategies for both parent and child.

For children with disabilities or chronic illness, feeling heard and understood can reduce anxiety and improve trust in their caregivers.

Parents who acknowledge their own feelings model emotional honesty and strength, showing that it’s okay to struggle and seek support.

By breaking the cycle of self-gaslighting, families create a safer, more compassionate space for emotions to be expressed and processed.

12/18/2025

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Empowered Parent IEP Course, three Mondays at 4:30pm starting January 26. Registrations accepted 12/17 - 1/8 (or when full)

This IEP Course provides action steps to apply the information to your own child’s IEP. Together, we’ll learn how to:

✔️Speak up confidently in your child’s IEP meetings
✔️Understand your rights and the IEP process
✔️Collaborate effectively with the school team
✔️Address concerns in a productive, positive way

🔗 Parents whose children receive special education services are invited to register for the Empowered Parent IEP Course at https://tinyurl.com/IEP2026Winter

Can't make this session?
Mark your calendar to join us for the final IEP Course of the year on May 5, three Tuesdays from 9:30am–11:30am. Registration opens 4/8.

Visit our website calendar for full details, easy registration, and additional webinar topics. https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/

12/09/2025

11/21/2025

10/29/2025

NAVIGATING EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION (PRESCHOOL)
WITH KELSEY BISWANGER

OCTOBER 30, 2025
12:00PM-1:00PM

Heading off to preschool? Students with disabilities should attend preschool with non-disabled peers. But navigating preschool is different than kindergarten or the Early On program.

Join this free, online workshop to learn more about preschool options that are available for students with an IEP (Individualized Education Program), and how special education and related services work for preschoolers.

In this workshop you will learn more about:

Researching preschool options
Least Restrictive Environment and the benefits
Rights and protections
Supports and services available

There will also be time set aside to ask questions.

Who should attend? Families with a child in or getting ready for preschool with a disability or developmental concern

Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/4zmc42aw

If you require accommodations or materials in an alternative format, please let us know two weeks before the workshop.

10/27/2025

A 16-year-old boy with autism was found dead in a Cass County lake after he had been reported missing.