On 5/1/2012 at Mankato City Center Hotel from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Exhibits open from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Workshop Description: This FREE workshop will help parents of children with disabilities understand how to use the special education transition process to help plan for life after high school. Parents of students in the 9th grade and beyond are encouraged to attend.  Click here to register.

Transition is an important step in preparing students with a disability for life after high school.  Between the ages of 14-22, parents and students are encouraged to start thinking about life after high school.  SMILES Transition Program provides a bridge between the security of school and the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life by offering resources in areas of post secondary schooling, employment, housing and other areas of need.

SMILES offers Independent Living skills training to students within the school and community to assist with the transition process. We are currently working with students in the both Wells and Fairmont High Schools.  Staff members have been teaching students how to advocate for one self, develop employment skills, and budget money for living on your own after high school.

SMILES collaborates and networks with many organizations that provide a variety of services for students with disabilities by serving on local Community Transition Interagency Committees (CTIC) within our service area.  The committees consist of parents, students and staff from your school district and members from service agencies in and serving the county you reside in.

Look for the SMILES booth at the Mankato CTIC Open House preceding the PACER Workshop: Transition: Pathway to the Future on Tuesday, May 1^st from 6-7 pm at the Mankato City Center Hotel.

Participants in the workshop, which runs from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, will learn how to help students achieve their dreams and goals.  Parents of students in the ninth grade and beyond are encouraged to attend.  Workshop topics will include:

• Using the Individualized Education Program (IEP) to develop transition services
• Having high expectations
• Understanding the age of majority and transfer of rights to the student
• Identifying required transition areas for planning
• Learning about adult services

 Register for this workshop

Baseball Youth League Open House in Waseca tonight at the SMILES office in  505 South State Street.  Call Jane at 507-345-7139 or toll free at 888-676-6498 for more information or to sign up if you can’t make it to the Open House.
Open House events have been held in Mankato and New Ulm.  SMILES Baseball team is for students aged 9 through their graduation year.  Call Jane if you have questions or concerns about the age for signing up to play.  Get your Game ON! and sign up for Baseball Youth League today!

Because Baseball Registration starts today!

We have several Open House events planned so you can join the SMILES Baseball League from your community.  The Mankato Open House is Thursday, March 22nd, from 5 – 7 pm at  709 South Front Street.  In New Ulm, our Open House is Thursday, March 29th, from 5 – 7 pm at 1618 S. Broadway.  The Waseca Open House, on Tuesday, April 2nd, is from 5 – 7 pm at 505 S. State Street. 

This is your chance to sign-up for Baseball, meet the coaches and be part of the team!  Call Jane Chindvall at 507-345-7139 or toll free 888-676-6498 for more information, directions or to get a registration or scholarship application. Download and print this flyer: 

And you know what else is coming up: the 7th Annual Springtime Electronics Recycling Event!  Back at popular Madison East Center, on the parking lot near Adams and Victory, the event runs the first weekend of May; Friday May 4th from 10 am – 6 pm and Saturday May 5th from 9 am to 1 pm. 

Green Tech Recycling is our partner this year, and … new this year…. we will be accepting air conditioners and mini refrigerators!  We don’t take large household appliances, but we do take microwaves, computer equipment, phones, radios TV’s — even the old ones!  So don’t trash your electronics, recycle them green and legal for 55 cents/pound.  Call Howard at 345-7139 with questions.

Look for the SMILES sign:    at all our events and you’ll be sure to find us! 

Meet us at 5:00 today in the SMILES Mankato Office and find out what you need to know about self determination! 

SMILES is your place to get information, learn about things that matter to you and have fun!  You can use our interactive calendar to find out what’s going on at SMILES, call or get on our email list to stay connected.

Tonight we start a new Self Determination Workshop series.  Each month, on the third Thursday, we will discuss a topic of interest to people who like to make up their own mind.  We will be learning about how to decide for yourself, how to get the skills to do what you want, and live the life you want for yourself!

Of course,  Bowling with SMILES is going on EVERY TUESDAY at the WOW! Zone now through March 27th from 4:30 – 6:00 pm. $5 per night includes shoe rental!  Bring your friends and family to bowl at the same $5 rate!

Contact us for more information and sign up to be connected so you know what’s going on at SMILES!

Jane Chindvall

SMILES has a new team-member!  Jane Chindvall is now part of SMILES and is already making fun happen all around us!

Jane brings a lot of energy to the programs at SMILES.  She is the new “FUN and ACTIVITIES” person, organizing parties, recreational events and running the adaptive ski program with volunteers and Mankato Area Adaptive Ski Program partners ACCESS and Mt Kato.

Skiing is still going on through March 4^th, and Jane hosted a Valentine’s Party last week in Mankato. Wow! What a turn out!  We want to thank everybody who came and helped us have a good time with face painting, crafting mobiles, pizza for supper, bingo and a lot of fun.

We asked Jane what she thought of her new experience at SMILES and she said “SMILES’ Recreation Program is an untapped resource!  Many more people need to find out about it so they can come and do recreational activities with us.”

Jane is already working on getting the Baseball season organized, because registration for our two baseball teams starts March 1^st and ends April 3^rd.  Anyone in school from 1^st grade to getting ready for graduation can be on a SMILES Baseball Team.  The season starts Thursday, May 4^th, and ends Thursday, June 28^th, with weekly practice and games from 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm.   Call Jane at 345-7139, (888-676-6498 toll free) or use this form to contact her (hotlinked to your email).

Jane is looking forward to building SMILES Volunteer coordination for coming events like baseball, and the Fairmont Fishing event on June 2^nd, water skiing and the Block Party, which will be on Tuesday, August 21, 2012.  Jane says volunteering is a huge part of the SMILES program.  She is looking forward to getting to know our SMILES volunteers and their interests and needs for volunteering.  She says, “the value of volunteering is all about making it work for both SMILES and the volunteer.  Minnesotans are very generous with their time and desire to help people. That’s what makes volunteering so rewarding.”

Jane is committed to the success of SMILES volunteers’ experience.  She is holding a volunteer Open House Wednesday, June 6^th at 5:00 pm for people to learn more about volunteering with SMILES and get connected with an opportunity that makes them happy.

What makes Jane happy?  “Having a full life is important,” she says, “and that’s different for everybody.  Knowing the person you work with and what they want and need is what makes me happy.”  We are happy to welcome Jane to SMILES.

Today at SMILES was fun.I learned many new things. For an example, I didn’t know we had a center for independent living. I’m glad I came today.

“The first thing,” Jerry said, “is to protect yourself so you don’t get too cold.  You have to know how to prevent things like frostbite and hypothermia, which can happen if a person gets too cold.”

Jerry says a person can protect themselves from dangerous weather by dressing properly and paying attention to what’s going on with the weather.  Heavy snow, ice and wind chill conditions are dangerous for everybody, and especially so for people with disabilities.

“You don’t notice it right away,” he says, “but it can sneak up on you!  You don’t really find out what it’s like until it happens.”

Jerry has been caught outside during a winter storm when the power was knocked out and he couldn’t get in at home.  He learned the hard way what not to do if you get frostbite.

Jerry will be sharing more of his lessons and tips at the Winter Workshop on Thursday, December 8^th at SMILES Mankato office in the Boardroom from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Join us to find out what you should do prepare for if you are affected by a winter storm.  We’ll talk about what to do when you are outdoors, if you have car trouble or get stuck in the snow.  There will be handouts such as lists for what should be in your emergency kits and a free personal safety kit for the first 20 people who come to the workshop.

We asked Jerry what his best advice was: “If you’ve got a phone, you should call for help.”  Then he thought a moment and said, “Even better – don’t go out in severe weather!”

There’s still time to sign up.  Just call 345-7139 and let us know you want to come to the Winter Workshop on Thursday.  See you there!    Winter Workshop

What a great organization!

SMILES provides to those most in need.

We are very happy to assist this wonderful organization in our Mankato, MN community.

The employees of SMILES are dedicated to their mission in good times and bad.

Thank you all so much!