SPIN - Special Parent Information Network

02/06/2026

Aloha SPIN ‘Ohana!
Our 40 & Fabulous SPIN Conference is right around the corner, and you know what that means… it’s time to celebrate the shining stars in our community with the SPIN Awards! ✨
Every year, we get the chance to honor the parents and professionals who go above and beyond for our keiki with disabilities here in Hawai‘i. These are the quiet heroes, the fierce advocates, the steady guides — and we need your help to spotlight them.
We’re now accepting nominations for three fabulous award categories:
🌺 Family Choice Award
For that extraordinary professional who has walked alongside families, helping them navigate services and supports with heart, patience, and aloha. This award honors someone who may not influence the larger system, but makes a world of difference in their own community.
🌈 Parent of the Year Award
For a parent of a child or young adult with a disability whose advocacy, leadership, and generosity have lifted up other families. The kind of parent who inspires us all.
🌟 Professional of the Year Award
For a professional whose work has significantly improved services for children or young adults with disabilities and their families — a true changemaker.
The nomination form can be found on the conference website: https://spinconference.org/2026-spin-conference/ — please feel free to share it with your networks, parent groups, and anyone who knows someone deserving of a little extra sparkle this year. Nominations are due to SPIN by February 25th via email, fax, or mail.

Save the Date! For the 40th annual SPIN Conference for parents who have a child with a disability living in Hawaii, and the professionals who work with them. This year, we are celebrating 40 years of providing awesome workshops, networking with families, and creating family-school-community partners...

02/06/2026

Join Hawaii Autism Foundation for a fun evening of dancing with your
favorite cupids, a photo booth, face painting, Tuukkaa the Therapy Dog,
and lots of grooving to the beats of a live DJ performance by DJ Ray!

DATE: Friday February 20th
TIME: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
LOCATION: Le Jardin Academy, 917 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Kailua, HI 96734, lower school, Wang Auditorium

For ages 13+

Please RSVP here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8tnmj7k

02/06/2026

Please join LDAH - Leadership in Disabilities and Achievement Hawaii - for our Learning Labs. Building Leaders in Parents creates a community of voices. Be part of the solution for your child receiving specially designed instruction under IDEA

DATE: Wednesday, February 11
TIME: 5:00 - 6:00 pm - We will have the zoom room open at 4:45pm for questions/talk story
LOCATION: Zoom
TOPIC: Organizing Your Records: Know the Papers, Keep the Proof, Protect your Child- Special Education Organized Records-Empowered Advocacy

To register: call our office at 808-536-9684, QR code on flyer or this registration link below:

https://forms.gle/N3n17WsZgLvrb2Jf7

02/04/2026

Navigating special education includes learning new acronyms at different ages and stages of your child's academic journey. Here are 3 acronyms to know if you are are concerned about your child's behavior. Take this with you to your next IEP meeting to talk about the different plan and assessment options to support your child. For more infographics, visit: https://spinhawaii.org/infographics/

02/04/2026

Ohana Support Services, a program of Child and Family Services, is hosting Virtual Nurturing Families Parent Support Groups in February.
For more information and questions, call 808-681-1438

"Nurturing as a Way of Life: Embracing Parenthood with Compassion and Growth"

Session #1:
DATE: Thursday February 5, 2026
TIME: 10:00 - 11:00 am
With: Char
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91726065842?pwd=tbe6FYC7VqR21hklbKFSPreDga8MUv.1

Session #2
DATE: Saturday February 14, 2026
TIME: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
With: Kawai
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99195606605?pwd=tzgW4iTxsrktZkRhblNvp1MW6QxoVQ.1

"Praising Your Keiki: Cultivating Positive Reinforcement & Encouragement"

Session #1:
DATE: Tuesday February 17, 2026
TIME: 1:00 - 2:00 pm
With: Char
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91726065842?pwd=tbe6FYC7VqR21hklbKFSPreDga8MUv.1

Session #2:
DATE: Wednesday February 25, 2026
TIME: 9:00 - 10:00 am
With Kawai
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99195606605?pwd=tzgW4iTxsrktZkRhblNvp1MW6QxoVQ.1

02/03/2026

Hey Westside Oahu is having a transition fair! Woo Hoo!

02/03/2026

Aloha SPIN Network!

The January SPIN News is now posted on our SPIN Hawaii website, along with an accessible Word doc with links. :)
Want to know about the workshop topics at this year's SPIN Conference? Read all about it here: https://spinhawaii.org/newsletter-download/

01/28/2026

Hawaii Children's Action Network invite you to attend Central Oahu's Parent Power Hour.

Our families are struggling! Our children are being left behind! We know raising a keiki in Hawaii is hard. Now is the time to come together! It takes a village!

Parents have the power to create change!! We want to hear from you! What's working in your community? What would you like to change? Let's create a future where Hawaii is the best place to raise a keiki!

All are welcome who live in Mililani, Mililani Mauka, Waipio Acres, Launani Valley, wahiawa and Whitmore Village - keiki, ohana, neighbors!

Dinner will be provided.

DATE: Friday February 27, 2026
TIME: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Leilehua High School Library

Win raffle prizes!

To register: https://bit.ly/pph_26

01/28/2026

Now is a good time to start thinking about ESY (Extended School Year) for the summer break. Ask your team what kind of data they need to collect or observations made, so you can discuss ESY at an upcoming IEP meeting. Your child does not have to meet all 6 Factors and Special Circumstances, just one. And you can create specialized IEP goals for ESY, focusing on just 2 or 3 goals like communication, self care, social skills and academics. Bring this infographic to your next IEP meeting so everyone has a clear understanding of what ESY is and is not. You can find the ESY Guidelines on the SPIN website's infographic page: https://spinhawaii.org/school-collection/.

01/26/2026

Can you believe it?! SPIN is turning the big 4-0! That’s right — our 40th annual SPIN Conference is coming your way, and we’re throwing it back to where it all began: 1986!
So tease that hair, dust off those leg warmers, and grab your favorite neon — because this year’s theme is “SPIN is 40 and Fabulous!” We’re celebrating four decades of parent empowerment, family-school partnerships and Aloha — with a totally rad birthday twist! 🪩✨
The registration form is now available on https://spinconference.org/2026-spin-conference/
📅 Save the Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
🕶️ Time: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Location: UH Mānoa Campus Center
It’s going to be a totally tubular day — full of learning, laughter, and a whole lot of birthday love.
Until then… stay awesome, stay healthy, and most of all — Rock On! 🤘

01/24/2026

The PLAAFP is the first section of the IEP and is very important! The tests, assessments and observations recorded in the PLAAFP are what helps create the goals, objectives, accommodations, modifications and services, including minutes. For more helpful infographics, visit: https://spinhawaii.org/infographics/

01/23/2026

ACEing Autism is a weekly 1-hour program which uses tennis as a vehicle to foster social connections among children and youth with autism. Trained volunteers are paired up with athletes to support their individual needs.

DATES: Sundays on January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1
TIME: 4:00 - 5:00 pm
WHERE: Makakilo Community Park, 92-1140 Makakilo Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707
AGES: 5 - 18+
COST: FREE

REGISTER: https://aceingautism.org/programs/honolulu-hi/