MPACT ENews
 

January 2, 2014

 

 Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence

Serving Missouri Families!

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Happy 2014!
The MPACT staff would like to wish all of our friends and supporters a Happy New Year.  Our hope is that you and your family have a prosperous and fulfilling 2014.
 
Learning about special education law and the skills needed to work with your child's school district to ensure that they receive a free and appropriate public education is one step you can take this year.  Read on for our current training schedule or visit our website to find a training near you.
Positive Behavior Support and RTI

Dr. George Sugai describes RTI (Response to Intervention) as an approach for establishing and redesigning teaching and learning environments so that they are effective, relevant, and durable for all students, families, and educators. In this article, Dr. Sugai details how applications of the RTI framework are also represented in the implementation of Positive Behavior Support practices. Learn how RTI, through its emphasis on prevention and continuous monitoring, can enhance student learning by effectively addressing behavioral problems. 

 

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In This Issue
Happy 2014!
PBS and RTI
Disability Disclosure
Special Heath Care Needs
Supporting Academic Success
SOAR 2014
MPACTs First Steps Webpage
Parent Mentor Program
MPACT Online Trainings
Upcoming Trainings
Give the Gift of Knowledge
Quick Links
Surveys- How are we doing?
411 on Disability Disclosure Video
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD) have posted a video of youth with disabilities who discuss how the decisions to disclose their disabilities have affected them at school, at work, and in social situations.  
 
This video is a companion to the publicationThe 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities.  NCWD has additional publications dedicated to the issue of disablity disclosure on their website.
 

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Youth with Special Health Care Needs

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) works to influence national policy and promote effective workplace practices to ensure that today's - and tomorrow's - workforce is inclusive of all people, including people with disabilities. As a result, one important policy focus area is youth transitioning from school to adulthood and the world of work. 

 

ODEP's work in the youth arena is based on the Guideposts for Success developed by NCWD. The Guideposts represent what research and practice has identified as key educational and career development interventions that make a positive difference in the lives of all youth, including youth with disabilities.  

 

A recent study outlined in the publication, Healthy Transitions: A Pathway to Employment for Youth with Chronic Health Conditions and Other Disabilities Policy Brieflooked at the interdependence of health and wellness, and the transition to work for youth with disabilities.

 

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Supporting Academic Success

The U.S. Department of Education has resources that parents can use to support their child's academic success.  The "Help My Child With Mathematics" series features activities  that parents can do at home with their preschool through fifth grade children.  The "Helping Your Child Become a Reader" series looks at things families can do with infants to children who are 6 years old.

 

Additional parent resources that focus on topics such as helping your child learn, special education and paying for college are also available on the site.

 

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Lighthouse for the Blind is currently accepting applications for SOAR 2014.  The Summer Orientation & Mobility and Adapted Living Resource program (S.O.A.R. - St. Louis) is a highly intensive, structured, residential training program that provides specialized instruction to youth ages 15-21 who are legally blind.

 

S.O.A.R. - St. Louis is specifically designed for individuals who intend to live independently, seek competitive employment and/or attend a vocational training program or college upon graduation from secondary school. S.O.A.R. - St. Louis provides three weeks of accelerated training in adapted living techniques that include cooking, kitchen management, self-care, clothing management, money management, and home maintenance. The emphasis on independence also fosters expectations related to independent travel skills, interpersonal relationships, post-secondary transition, organizational skills and career exploration.  

 

This 3 week residential program is offered to students for FREE!  S.O.A.R 2014 will take place from June 8-28, 2014.

 

All applications are due NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2014.  

 

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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 

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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. Click here to view the list of current MPACT Parent Mentors.
 

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 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.  

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FREE Online Trainings offered through MPACT

Our free online trainings will help parents  to understand the special education process in the state of Missouri. You can access the MPACT online trainings listed below by going to the Training page  on our website and clicking on Online Training. 
  • 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

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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.TrainingSchedule

 

While registering for a live 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.

 

The Art of Effective Advocacy

Bullying Prevention: What Parents Can Do

Disagreement Resolution Processes 

2/21/14   Mt. Vernon

 

How to Write Measurable Annual Goals 

1/10/14   Lebanon

 

IDEA Boot Camp

 

Positive Behavior Interventions 


Special Education Law 
 
Special Education Mediation
 
Student-Led IEPs 

Understanding ADHD 

Understanding the IEP Process 

  

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 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 on our website's donation page. Individual donations of $50.00 or more will be added to our Friends of MPACT list. Donations may be made by credit card through PayPal on our website 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.   

 

MPACT Donation Letter

 

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

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