MPACT ENews
 

January 15, 2014

 

 Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence

Serving Missouri Families!

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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.Top
Advocating for Your Child
Parents know their children best.  This should mean that they are best at communicating what a child needs to receive a free and appropriate public education.
 
Learn about special education law and build the skills needed to work with your child's school district.  Read on for our current training schedule or visit our website to find a training near you.
Predictors of Post-secondary Success

Have you ever wondered what student skills, behaviors, and other characteristics predict future academic and workplace success? How early can these skills and behaviors be developed? This article looks at research and information on the development of skills that can put students on a path to post-secondary success as early as prekindergarten and throughout their academic career. 

 

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In This Issue
Happy 2014!
Post-secondary Success
SOAR 2014
Special Heath Care Needs
PBS and RTI
Disability Disclosure
MPACTs First Steps Webpage
Parent Mentor Program
MPACT Online Trainings
Upcoming Trainings
Give the Gift of Knowledge
Quick Links
Surveys- How are we doing?

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward getting financial aid for college, career school, or graduate school. The FAFSA not only gives you access to the $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds that the federal government has available, but many states, schools, and private scholarships require you to submit the FAFSA before they will consider you for any financial aid they offer.

 

The FAFSA is free and only takes an average of only 23 minutes to complete.  Still not sure that you want to take the time?  Read about common FAFSA myths and see if the information doesn't change your mind.

 

Still have questions about filling out the FAFSA for yourself, or helping your child fill out the FAFSA?  The Federal Student Aid website has answers.

 

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RSB & SRC Public Forum

Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (RSB) and State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (SRC) invite you to a Public Meeting on Feb 6, 2014 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Ramada Oasis Convention Center, 2546 N. Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, MO 65803.

They would like to hear your comments and concerns regarding the services provided Missourians who are blind and visually impaired. 

You may participate via conference call by calling 1-877-820-7831 and using the required pin number 35666479#

To contact RSB or SRC please call (800) 592-6004 

 

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Ensuring Discipline that is Fair and Effective

The U.S. Department of Education (ED), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), released on January 8th a school discipline guidance package that will assist states, districts and schools in developing solutions to enhance school climate, and improve school discipline policies and practices. 

 

The resource package contains A Dear Colleague guidance letter describing how schools can meet their legal obligations under federal civil rights law to administer student discipline without discriminating against students on the basis of race, color, disability or national origin.

  

The other resource package components include a document of Guiding Principals and an overview of the Supportive School Discipline Initiative.  The entire resource package is available on the ED.gov website.

 

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Missouri State Plan for Special Education - Discipline
Are you interested in how Missouri is handling the issue of Discipline for students with special needs?  The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has a section of their website devoted to this topic.  

 

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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

Be Determined

3/07/14  Maryville

 

Bullying Prevention: What Parents Can Do

Disagreement Resolution Processes 

2/21/14  Mt. Vernon

4/01/14  Liberty

 

How to Write Measurable Annual Goals 

3/03/14  St. Louis

 

IDEA Boot Camp

2/17/14  Kansas City

4/10/14  Grant City

 

Positive Behavior Interventions 


Special Education Law 
 
Special Education Mediation
 
Student-Led IEPs 

Understanding ADHD

Understanding the IEP Process 

 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.