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August 1, 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
Was a Success!
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MPACT's Magic House Event was an enjoyable night of fun for the 300 people in attendance. Nearly 100 items were donated to the silent auction by companies and individuals. Every child that attended received a door prize of their choice and each family received a goodie bag packed full of information and treats. There were plenty of snacks and drinks to go around and we had two lucky winners for the 50/50 raffles. Free face painting was enjoyed not only by the kids, but many of the parents as well! Our face painters hardly got a break as many of the children came back multiple times.
We want to thank our wonderful sponsors who helped to make this such a success. PNC and Leaps & Bounds set up tables to provide information and goodies. Cash sponsorships were received from:
We'd also like to express our thanks to everyone who volunteered their time organizing and working the event!
Everyone seemed to have a great time and the smiles on the kids faces made it all worthwhile.
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RSB and RCB Public Forum
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The Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) and the State Rehabilitation Council (RCB) for the Blind are holding a public forum to get input on stakeholder concerns and comments regarding the services they provide for Missourians who are blind or visually impaired. This information is needed to help them plan for services in the future, as well as to help them better serve the people of Missouri today. In addition, Kevin Hollinger, a Teacher of the Visually Impaired /Orientation and Mobility certified professional in Francis Howell, and an adjunct professor at Lindenwood University, will speak on "Alternative Techniques of Blindness."
Public Forum
August 14, 2014
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
St. Louis Society for the Blind
8770 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63144
For additional information, call 800-592-6004.
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| Are You Ready for Your Child's Next IEP Meeting? |
Summer is almost over and the start of school is almost upon us! The new school year also signals the time for parents to review their child's Individual Education Program (IEP) and make plans to talk to teachers and special education professionals about it.
The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network's (SPAN'S) "IEP Meeting Checklist for Parents" provides an outline of how to prepare and what to expect at the IEP meeting. You may wish to review this checklist prior to starting your IEP meeting; you may wish to send a copy to your team prior to the meeting so they can use it to prepare. As you go through your IEP meeting, check to make sure that each of the issues on the checklist is addressed by your team. If it is not addressed, ask your team to discuss it.
The MPACT website has information on many topics pertaining to the IEP. The Missouri Disability Categories and IEP Components are just two examples of Fact Sheets that may be helpful. You can also call our State Office at 1 (800) 743-7634 and asked to be connected to an MPACT staff member in your area.
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Learn the latest in research, screening, diagnosis and assessment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Training in Interdisciplinary Partnerships and Services (TIPS) for Kids is the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) training program in Missouri. The TIPS for Kids- Online Edition and video conference option bring select presentations and learning opportunities from the intensive training at the Thompson Center and make them available to professionals and family members throughout the state at no cost. Funding is from a Maternal Child Health Bureau training grant. In Missouri, LEND is a collaborative program of UMKC Institute for Human Development, University of Missouri-Columbia and The Thompson Center on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
Who?
This professional development/continuing education is ideal for professionals, family members, and educators.
What?
Professional development that focuses on recent research and best practices. This course is part of Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), an interdisciplinary training program for graduate and post-graduate fellows preparing to work with children with disabilities or special health care needs. Presenters are state and national experts. The following competencies will be addressed:
- Interdisciplinary clinical assessment, diagnosis and intervention strategies that are family centered
- Interdisciplinary leadership training
- Collaboration with parents and families
- Working collaboratively with state and community agencies
- Current research in Autism Spectrum Disorders and their applicaƟon
- Topical areas, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis
There is no cost to enroll and the only prerequisite is an interest in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorders and fully participating.
When & where?
There are 2 options for participating:
- In person. Join the presentations via video conferencing at the UMKC IHD office on Friday mornings from 8:30-11:30, beginning August 29 and ending December 5.
- Online, at your own pace. This is an online professional development course. It is asynchronous - you can go at your own pace between August 29, 2014, and February 28, 2015. The entire course takes approximately 45 hours to complete.
Interested?
Contact Alexis Petri, EdD
Director for Interdisciplinary Training, UMKC Institute for Human Development
petria@umkc.edu
816-235-5872
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| Assistive Tech Innovations: 14 New Apps & Other Tools |
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) hosted a chat on Twitter recently where education apps and assistive technology were the main focus.
We all want to see more innovation in the classroom. Technology has the capacity to bring differentiation of assignments to match student skill to a higher level. Instead of incorporating a few learning styles, technology is allowing teachers to reach all types of learners. It's exciting!
Read the roundup that came from the discussion on the NCLD website.
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| MO Special Education Advisory Panel's Annual Report |
The Missouri Special Education Advisory Panel's Annual Report letter for 2013-14 has been posted on the Office of Special Education's website. The letter contains an overview of the responsibilities and activities of the Special Education Advisory Panel during the 2013-14 school year.
The purpose of the Missouri Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) is to provide policy guidance on special education and related services and to carry out those specific and general functions set forth in the above referenced statutes.
The SEAP members are appointed by the Commissioner of Education. The majority of members appointed are individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities. The panel membership is composed of individuals involved in, or concerned with the education of children with disabilities including:
- Parents of children with disabilities (ages birth through twenty-six (26));
- Individuals with disabilities,
- Teachers,
- Representatives of institutions of higher education that prepare special education and related services personnel,
- State and local education officials, including officials who carry out activities under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act;
- Administrators of programs for children with disabilities,
- Representatives of other State agencies involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities,
- Representatives of private schools and public charter schools,
- At least one (1) representative of a vocational, community or business organization concerned with the provision of transition
services to children with disabilities, - A Representative from the State child welfare agency responsible for foster care; and
- Representatives from the State juvenile and adult corrections agencies.
To learn more about Special Education Advisory Panel and how to nominate an individual to serve on the panel, go to the SEAP page on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.
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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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| New MPACT Training Series in Kansas City Area |
MPACT will begin holding trainings at the State Office location one Thursday a month beginning August 21, 2014. Check out the Free MPACT Trainings section to find out more!
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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
IDEA Boot Camp
Interested in training in your area? We are always looking for groups to host MPACT trainings! Contact Lori Williams, Training and Resource Coordinator, at 800-743-7634 or by email at lwilliams@ptimpact.org to find out how to bring MPACT training to parents located near you.
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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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