MPACT ENews
 

September 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.Top
MPACT Awarded Federal PTI Grant for Missouri

MPACT is pleased to announce that we have again received the Federal Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center award for the state of Missouri! MPACT has been the proud recipient of this award for the past 26 years. This five year award cycle will run through September 2019. MPACT will continue to offer the invaluable services we always have to families throughout the state such as free training and one-on-one special education process support. 

 

MPACT wishes to extend its thanks to our very dedicated, hard-working Staff, Board, and Mentors who go above and beyond in order to empower families to advocate for themselves so that children with special educational needs can reach their full potential in education and life - through support, training, and education.

 

We appreciate the support of all of our MPACT allies and friends as we continue to expand and improve our services and training options!
 

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In This Issue
MPACT Awarded Grant
MPACT Seeking ED
MPACT is Hiring!
MPACT 2014 Transition Summit
Relationship with Your Child's Teacher
Missouri Parent Website
Decoding Dyslexia-MO
Missouri Connections
Mentor Spotlight Program
MPACT Mentor Program
MPACTs First Steps Webpage
MPACT Online Trainings
Upcoming Trainings
Give the Gift of Knowledge
Quick Links
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Surveys- How are we doing?
MPACT Seeking Applicants for Executive Director

MPACT is currently seeking applicants for the position of Executive Director.  The ideal candidate will possess a deep knowledge of Missouri's special education
process and disability-related processes and system, MPACT's core programs and be thoroughly committed to MPACT's mission.  Personal or professional
experience with children with disabilities and special education issues is
strongly preferred.
 

For more information about the position and how to apply can be found on the MPACT website by clicking on "Employment" at the top of the page.  Question about the position can be directed to the MPACT Board of Directors by emailing [email protected].

 

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MPACT is Hiring!

MPACT is currently accepting applications for a Parent Advisor for the St. Louis area which includes  St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and Warren County. This is a part-time position that may work into full-time.  For more information about the position and how to apply, please visit the MPACT website and click on "Employment" at the top of the page.
 

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!

 

Build a Relationship With Your Child's Teacher
Most schools in Missouri have started the 2014-2015 school year.  A new school year usually means that your child has a new teacher.  Parents often wonder how to build a positive relationship with the adults who work with their child at school.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has posted an article on their website written by Geri Coleman Tucker called, "8 Ways You Can Build a Good Relationship With Your Child's Teacher".  This informative article includes suggestions such as giving your child's new teacher a copy of the most recent IEP written for your child.  While, as parents, we assume that the school has given the teacher all of the records for all of the children in the class, taking this step ensures that the teacher has gotten the IEP and provides a reason to talk about your child's individual education program.  Starting the conversation about these issues with your child's teacher early can help avoid problem with the way the IEP is carried out later.  Find the entire article here
 
Missouri Parent Website

The Missouri Parent website is sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is a free service for all Missouri parents and others who have an interest in public education. The goals of this website are to:

  • Provide accurate and timely information directly to the public school parents that will help their children be successful in school;
  • Provide information on education funding and legislative issues that impact public education;
  • Provide information on Missouri's new MSIP 5 accountability system to parents;
  • Provide a greater understanding of the public education system; and
  • Generate support for local schools and public education.

To learn more, visit the Missouri Parent website.
 

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Decoding Dyslexia Missouri

Decoding Dyslexia-MO is a grassroots movement driven by Missouri families and educators who recognize the need for conversations with school districts and policy makers regarding dyslexia. The group strives to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children, and improve resources for students with dyslexia in Missouri schools.
 

 The group is made up of families with children who have dyslexia. They offer other parents and educators the benefit of their collective experiences. They encourage parents to connect with one another, tell the story of their child, meet with school officials and their local policy-makers and ask for policies and legislation to identify and support dyslexic children in our schools.
 

Decoding Dyslexia-MO hopes to create a collective voice in Missouri with one mission - to improve awareness and educational resources for students with dyslexia. To learn more about Decoding Dyslexia-MO visit their website.
 
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Missouri Connections

Missouri Connections is a comprehensive, online, career development and planning program that is provided free of charge to all Missouri citizens. Funded by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, this program supports the career development efforts of schools, community organizations, and adult job seeker programs.


 Missouri Connections helps individuals learn about their talents, skills, and interests and helps them make the connection between planning for continued education and the work world. Missouri Connections promotes lifelong learning and includes assessment, career and college planning and financial aid resources. It is appropriate for middle schools, high schools, post-secondary institutions, as well as for agencies serving adult populations, such as employment offices, vocational rehabilitation programs and correctional facilities.


 

 To learn more about Missouri Connections visit their website.


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MPACT Mentor Spotlight

MPACT Mentors give their personal time to help families navigate the special education process.  We appreciate their commitment to expanding their knowledge and expertise.

Stephanie Briscoe is one of MPACT's certified Mentors. She was willing to share a bit with us about her experience.

When did you first learn about MPACT?  I first learned about MPACT when my son was around 4 and a half-years-old. My husband and I had learned that Salvatore had autism. We had begun to struggle with the school system for appropriate services and accommodations when a friend of mine told me of an agency that could, not only train me on the rights of my sons disability, but that also had individuals available to help guide me through the process.

When did you decide you wanted to become an MPACT Mentor? As I began my journey advocating for the rights of my son, I saw that many other parents had the very same struggles as I did. As I would talk to other parents, I would hear the cries and frustrations that families had just trying to collaborate with various school districts in the hope of simply attaining a basic education for their child. I had seen the needs of the parents and families for their children, and that is the heartfelt motivation that began this journey as an MPACT mentor.

What do you do outside of volunteering your time to MPACT? When I am not working with families through MPACT, I am doing a private practice helping families on various levels dealing with schools and understand their rights. My skills and goals center around advising families and with schools on how to work with parents to achieve positive outcomes for people with developmental disabilities. My passion, of course, is advocating for changes to be made in our state regarding services and the rights of all individuals with developmental disabilities. My other hobby is participating in French activities and going to special dinners with my other French-speaking friends.

Share a little about your own child(ren) and how your relationships with MPACT helped you to advocate for their needs.  MPACT taught me the skills and the importance of advocating for the rights and equalities that belong to each American citizen, including those with disabilities. I have used the skills introduced to me by MPACT almost daily in advocating for my son and the rest of my family

In your experience, what is one of the biggest barriers parents of children with special needs face in the education system?  Budget cuts are usually a core issue of every public school, and serve as a hurdle for service hours, classroom time, and assistive technology. The other barrier I've experienced is parent/school misunderstandings about what will best serve the needs of the individual students.

You've served countless families as an MPACT Mentor.  Can you share one of the most memorable and/or most rewarding situations you've experienced?   Some of the most memorable and rewarding experiences that I've ever had have been when parents and schools districts are struggling to agree on what services and accommodations a particular child may need. When I receive a call from MPACT and am able to help the parents and child work out their differences with that particular school district, this is what is so memorable and rewarding. Unfortunately, there are times when the parents and school cannot, for some reason or another, solve the issues at hand and the relationship continues to be strained. This results in the tragic misfortune of many parents just giving up and the child being caught in a "cookie-cutter" system of education that hinders their potential.

If you could share one piece of advice with your fellow MPACT mentors and families, what would it be? My advice to other mentors is to always present yourself in a professional manner while attending IEP meetings. Get a feel for the parent/school relationship by asking the parents a lot of questions. Then stay calm while helping parents, initiating positive strategies and feedback during times of, what can be, intense negotiations. Staying calm during school meetings is also good advice for families and it is infinitely more difficult for them to do because their child's future is on the line.

MPACT would like to thank Stephanie for all the hard work she does guiding families through the special education process.  Our Mentors are the back bone of our service delivery in Missouri.

Read on to learn more about the MPACT Mentor Program.

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MPACTMentor

MPACT Mentor Program

MPACT Mentors are available to offer support and guidance to parents of children with disabilities throughout the IEP process.  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 Mentors.
 

If your school district has had a MPACT 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 MPACT Mentor Program.

For more information about MPACT or if you have questions regarding the status of a 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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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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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.

 

Art of Effective Advocacy

Bullying Prevention; What Parents Can Do

Disagreement Resolution Processes

How to Write Measurable Annual Goals
 
IDEA Boot Camp

9/15/14  Springfield

10/3/14  St. Louis

 

McKinney-Vento Act Overview

9/10/14    Caruthersville

12/11/14   New Madrid

 

Positive Behavior Interventions

9/17/14   St. Louis

  

Special Education Law

9/9/14   Joplin

10/23/14   Monett

11/20/14   Kansas City

12/17/14   St. Louis

 

Special Education Mediation

10/18/14   Chesterfield

 

Special Education: What I Need to Know

9/16/14   Mt. Vernon

10/16/14   New Madrid

 

Steps to Success: Effectively Communicating Your Children's Needs

12/13/14   Chesterfield

 

Steps to Success: IDEA Part C to B

8/20/14   St. Louis

 

Understanding ADHD

11/15/14   Chesterfield

 

Understanding the IEP Process 

9/17/14   LIVE On-line training You must have internet access and pre-register

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 [email protected] to find out how to bring MPACT training to parents located near you.

 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.

 

 

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.