banner_EPicture of Young Man

MPACT ENews

May 22, 2013

 Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence

Serving Missouri Families!

Greetings!

Did you miss an issue of the MPACT ENews? Delete it by mistake? Wish you could find a past article? Well you can! To view current and past issues of the MPACT ENews visit our website at http://ptimpact.org/News.aspx
 
The Top 5 Things High School Students with LD Should Do Before Graduation

This web-based resource from the National Center for Learning Disabilities offers 5 good tips for any graduating senior who has a disability. Follow this link to make sure your grad is prepared for success in their post-high school educational journey: 5 Tips for Graduating Seniors

 

Children's Mental Health - New Report 

Mental health is important to overall health. Mental disorders are chronic health conditions that can continue through the lifespan. Without early diagnosis and treatment, children with mental disorders can have problems at home, in school, and in forming friendships. This can also interfere with their healthy development, and these problems can continue into adulthood. On May 16, a new CDC report was released that describes, for the first time, federal activities that track U.S. children's mental disorders. Find out about children's mental health and what we have learned.

Join Our Mailing List!
In This Issue
Top 5 Things High School Students with LD Should Do Before Graduation
Children's Mental Health - New Report
New Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to be Released
10 by 20 Missouri Proud
Missouri Learning Standards
National Center on Intensive Intervention
MPACTs First Steps Webpage
Parent Mentor Program
MPACT Online Trainings
Upcoming Trainings
Give the Gift of Knowledge
Quick Links
Surveys- Let us know how we're doing.
Contact Us!
New Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to be Released

For the first time in more than a decade, a new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will be unveiled this weekend and with it comes major change to the way autism is diagnosed.

The American Psychiatric Association is releasing the fifth edition of the DSM at its annual meeting beginning Saturday in San Francisco. The new version marks the first major update since 1994 of the so-called psychiatric bible which is relied on by everyone from mental health professionals to researchers and insurers to determine what symptoms merit a diagnosis.

For more information read the related article from Disability Scoop here.

 

10 by 20 Missouri Proud

The statewide Top 10 by 20 Missouri Proud initiative is well underway, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a monthly electronic newsletter to keep Missourians informed about Missouri public education and the state's progress toward becoming a top 10 state nationwide by 2020. A message from Commissioner Chris Nicastro will be a regular feature of the Top 10 by 20 UPDATE.  To subscribe to the newletter, go to this link: Communications  

 

If you would like to view Missouri Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro discuss the Common Core State Standards, progress on the state's model Educator Evaluation System, 2013 Gold Star Schools and Missouri educators inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, click here

 

Missouri Learning Standards

The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need to succeed in college, other postsecondary training and careers. The standards include the Common Core State Standards, a set of academic expectations for English language arts and mathematics.

 

The Common Core State Standards were created through a state-led initiative and have been adopted by more than forty states, including Missouri.  Parents, teachers, education organizations and businesses support the implementation of the Standards. 

 

The standards:

  • Establish consistent learning goals for all students - regardless of where they live.
  • Provide a clear roadmap of academic expectations at each grade level.
  • Are relevant to the real world and prepare students for post-secondary education and a globally competitive workforce.
  • Were developed by a diverse team of educators, researchers and parents from across the country, including Missouri, to be academically rigorous, attainable for students, and practical for teachers and districts.
National Center on Intensive Intervention

The Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network (TA&D Network) is a network of approximately 45 Centers funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). These projects provide information and technical assistance to states, schools, educational professionals and families on topics such as autism, deafness, disproportionate representation, dispute resolution, learning disabilities, parenting children with special needs, positive behavior support and transition.   

 

The National Center on Intensive Intervention is one of the TA &D Network's centers. Their mission is to build district and school capacity to support implementation of data-based individualization in reading, mathematics, and behavior for students who require intensive interventions. Check out their Resources page for monthly webinars, Ask the Expert videos, and other Tools and Publications.

 

Does Your Child Receive First Steps Services? Visit MPACT's First Steps Page

For more information regarding First Steps services, how to qualify, First Steps online training, or MPACT First Steps resources follow this link:  

http://ptimpact.org/PartC/PartC.aspx  

 

To share your story regarding First Steps services that your child has received click this link: http://ptimpact.org/PartC/OurStory.aspx

MPACT Parent Mentor Program

MPACT Parent Mentors are available to offer support and guidance to parents of children with disabilities throughout the IEP process.  Parent Mentors are volunteers who receive 24 hours of initial training, ongoing monthly training, and technical assistance from MPACT staff with regard to special education law, the IEP process, conflict resolution, and effective communication.  Their goal is to help parents build a collaborative partnership with the school district so their child may receive an appropriate education.  To view the list of current MPACT Parent Mentors, go to
http://ptimpact.org/Volunteer/MentorList.aspx.

 

If your school district has had a MPACT Parent Mentor in attendance at an IEP meeting, please take a moment to complete a brief online survey located at http://ptimpact.org/Surveys.aspx if you have not already done so.  A separate survey should be completed for each mentor who has provided services to parents in your district.  These surveys assist MPACT and DESE with identifying and addressing areas of success and improvement with the Parent Mentor Program.

For more information about MPACT or if you have questions regarding the status of a Parent Mentor, please contact MPACT by telephone at (800) 743-7634 or by e-mail at [email protected].    You can also view the MPACT website at http://www.ptimpact.org.

FREE Online Trainings offered through MPACT

This month's featured online training is:
Extended School Year
This free online training will help parents  to understand Extended School Year guidelines for the state of Missouri. You can access Extended School Year or any of the other MPACT online trainings listed below by going to our Training page and clicking on Online Training, or CLICK HERE. 
  • Extended School Year
  • Special Education: What I Need to Know
  • IDEA Transition Requirements
  • Transition to Post Secondary Experiences (Part 1 & 2)
  • Connecting Goals to Coordinated Activities and Services for Transition
  • Transition Resources - Disability Disclosure
  • Soft Skills
Free MPACT Trainings
MPACT trainings are provided free of charge to parents of children with disabilities. To sign up for an upcoming training, follow the links below, then click on the 'SIGNUP' button located next to the training name. Fill in your name, email address, phone number, the name of the training you wish to attend and the date it is being offered.

 

While registering for a training is not mandatory it does ensure that the trainer has an adequate amount of handouts. This also allows MPACT to contact you should a training need to be cancelled or rescheduled. To view a comprehensive list of all trainings provided by MPACT go to http://ptimpact.org/Training/Training.aspx

 

Please be sure to double check the website training pages for any updates or changes to trainings offered.

 

Updated - Special Education Law
06/19/13   Camdenton

Understanding the IEP Process  

The Art of Effective Advocacy

 

UPDATED - Disagreement Resolution Processes

06/19/13   Camdenton

07/10/13   Cassville

 

How to Write Measurable Annual Goals

09/23/13   St. Louis

 

NEW - Bullying Prevention: What Parents Can Do

12/02/13   St. Louis

 

Positive Behavior Interventions  

  
NEW - Student-Led IEPs 
Journey to Adulthood

  

Writing Post Secondary Goals for Students with ASD
10/07/13  St. Louis

  

 Give the Gift of Knowledge - Donate to MPACT

MPACT welcomes donations in any amount and will acknowledge all donors in our Annual Report and on our MPACT Facebook page. Agency, organization and business donors making a contribution of $200.00 or more will be recognized by placing their name and logo in our monthly e-news letter and on our website's donation page. Individual donations of $50.00 or more will be added to our Friends of MPACT list which will appear in an edition of our monthly e-news letter and on our website. Donations may be made by credit card through PayPal on our website - http://ptimpact.org/Store/Donations/Donations.aspx; or by sending a check to the state office: MPACT, 8301 State Line Rd., Ste. 204, Kansas City MO, 64114. Every donation will receive a receipt for tax purposes.

 

Please help us to continue to provide the support that families of Missouri's children with disabilities are requesting by making a donation to MPACT. MPACT is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.   

 

2012 MPACT Donation Letter

 

Question? Comments? Suggestions? Send them to [email protected] or 

contact the MPACT State Office at 1-800-743-7634.