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July 15, 2014
Celebrating 26 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.
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| The MPACT Family Fun Night is Almost here! |
Have you gotten your tickets yet for the MPACT Family Fun Night at the Magic House? Hurry before they are gone!
The MPACT Board of Directors are holding a fundraising event on Saturday, July 19th, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Magic House; St. Louis Children's Museum. This nationally acclaimed children's museum offers hundreds of hands-on educational exhibits for kids from one to 101. You and your family will create life long memories exploring the Children's Village, Star-Spangled Center, Jack and the Beanstalk Climber and more.
Enjoy beverages and snacks while participating in other activities for kids. The evening will also feature goodie bags, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing and a silent auction. Check the MPACT website for a current list of auction items. Proceeds from this evening's events will benefit MPACT.
Ticket information is now available on the MPACT website. The price is $10 for one individual and $15 dollars for two. When you buy 4 or more tickets, each ticket is just $5! Bring some friends for an evening of low cost fun. Hurry! We expect to sell out.
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Twyla Morgan Meritorious Advocacy Award
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Carrie Ragsdale, MPACT Regional Coordinator for the Southwest area of Missouri, was honored by Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living(MERIL) on June 25, 2014 with The Twyla Morgan Meritorious Advocacy Award. The award was presented in recognition of Carrie's outstanding advocacy and leadership for and with Missourians with disabilities.
The Twyla Morgan Meritorious Advocacy Award is awarded periodically to honor the distinguished 15 year service of MERIL Board Member Twyla Morgan. Twyla's incredible contributions through her own unique advocacy for and with people with disabilities is noted far and wide. This award is designed to recognize people for their outstanding work in the disability arena and IL with regards to advocacy, resources provided, empowerment and systems change. This Award will go to an individual who is recognized as an advocate, and who supports the Independent Living Philosophy. This is a person who upholds and defends the civil rights of people with disabilities, who has a history of substantial commitment to the principles of consumer control, empowerment, access, and the value of a cross-disability approach. In short it is a person with eyes, ears and hearts open for the needs of those of us with disabilities.
Statement from Jayme Voss, Lead IL Specialist
I would like to recommend Carrie Ragsdale for the Twyla Morgan Advocate of the Year. Carrie did some onsite training with us and really goes above and beyond for and with parents, children and youth within the school system primarily to get their needs met. She is very patient with parents and really puts the ball in their court as to leveling the playing field of knowledge. She speaks in a way that they can understand and arms them with the school "lingo" and testing needed to qualify for certain programs. She is a wonderful advocate and really seems to be a trailblazer in this field.
Statement from JC Dollar, CEO
Commenting on his phone interview with Carrie, JC stated that in addition to her professional role at MPACT, Carrie has chosen a lifestyle of service to others 24-7 by choosing, through adoption, three incredible children to parent.
Congratulations, Carrie! MPACT is proud and honored to have you as an important part of our team!
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| Has Your Child Been Bullied? MPACT wants to hear from you...... |
MPACT is looking for families willing to share the story of their child's battle with bullying, prejudice and discrimination for an upcoming interview with USA Network.
USA Network is interested in both boys and girls who have a disability and have struggled with the issue of bullying. They have requested that those interested in being considered for this interview meet the following criteria;
- Child must be between the ages of 10 and 17
- Live within an easy driving distance of Kansas City
- The child does not have a father or male role model living in the home.
If your family is interested in pursuing this opportunity or know a family that might be, please contact us right away as interviews will be held before the end of July. Email us at info@ptimpact.org or call us at 573-646-5275.
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| Making the Outdoors Accessible for Everyone |
The Missouri Department of Conservation is hosting their Youth Hunter Education Challenge on September 6, 2014 at Lake City Range in Buckner, MO. This event will introduce kids with disabilities to the many outdoor activities through education, hands-on opportunities, and assertive technology so that they may choose to participate at their own ability level.
Skills that will be introduced during this day long event include rifle, bow and muzzle loader shooting at life-sized targets, wildlife identification, and map-and-compass orienteering.
For more information and to register, Click Here.
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| Let's Move! Let's Read! |
The Corporation for National and Community Service has again implemented the summer United We Serve: Let's Read! Let's Move! initiative. By encouraging Americans to serve, the Corporation is addressing summer reading loss and childhood obesity by engaging youth in summer reading and physical activity, as well as providing information about healthy, affordable food.
GET INVOLVED
To learn more about the initiative and ways to get involved, visit the United We Serve website. Back to top
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| Youth Action Council on Transition (YouthACT) |
Do you know a youth, age 12 to 25, who wants to develop leadership and advocacy skills and become a leader in the community who improves leadership opportunities and transition services for all youth?
Are you a professional or organization who wants to increase youth voice, youth leadership opportunities and youth-adult partnerships within your organization and community?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, consider the Youth Action Council of Transition (YouthACT). Applications are currently being accepted to participate in a national multi-year project for teams of emerging youth leaders, adult partners and sponsoring organizations. Don't delay! The application deadline is July 31, 2014.
To learn more about this opportunity visit the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) website.
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| MO Commissioner of Education Nicastro's Video Message - July 2014 |
Missouri Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro discusses Missouri's Summer reading program, the Normandy Schools Collaborative and the School Administrators Conference. Please watch via YouTube or webstream.
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| Save the Date! MPACT 2014 Transition Summit |
The MPACT 2014 Transition Summit will be held on October 29 in Jefferson City. In past years, transition aged youth, their parents and the professionals who work with them have heard from national speakers on topics like planning for the future and self determination.
Mark your calendar today! Details will be posted on the MPACT website as soon as they are available.
Students, tell your parents and your teachers! Parents, tell your student and their teacher! Teachers, talk to your administrator as soon as possible about taking your students to this valuable and educational event!
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| MPACT is now on Twitter! |
MPACT has joined the Twittersphere! Follow us today to keep up on MPACT events and news.
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| Does Your Child Receive First Steps Services? Visit MPACT's First Steps Page | |
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MPACT Parent Mentor Program
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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 info@ptimpact.org. You can also view the MPACT website at http://www.ptimpact.org.
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FREE Online Trainings offered through MPACT
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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
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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 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.
Art of Effective Advocacy
Bullying Prevention; What Parents Can Do
Disagreement Resolution Processes
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Give the Gift of Knowledge - Donate to MPACT
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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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or contact the MPACT State Office at 1-800-743-7634.
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Empowering families to advocate for themselves so that children with special education needs can reach their full potential in education and life -
through support, training and education.
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