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November 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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| MPACT has a YouTube Channel! |
MPACT has launched a YouTube Channel! We currently have two videos available for viewing. The first is the PowerPoint Presentation that was shown during lunch at our recent Transition to Adult Life Summit in Jefferson City. The second video contains footage taken the day of that event which includes interviews of some of the youth who attended the Summit! Check them both out today and be sure to subscribe to our channel.
If you have ideas about other videos MPACT should consider making, please contact Lori Williams, our Training and Resource Coordinator at (800) 743-7634 or lwilliams@ptimpact.org. We are excited about this new way to get information out to families.
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Board of Directors Applicants Wanted
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MPACT (Missouri Parents Act) is looking for enthusiastic individuals to help develop a diverse community-based board of directors. We seek members with a broad variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and experience, people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, people with experience with other children's issues, people simply interested in child education, people with fundraising expertise, business professionals and educators.
For more information and to apply, please download our Board Member Application packet.
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| Quick Links | |
Volunteer
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MPACT is Hiring
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MPACT is currently seeking a Regional Coordinator for the Southeast Region of Missouri. This area includes Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard and Wayne Counties.
Download the job description for full details on duties and qualifications. Our employment application is available on our website.
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| Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) |
Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) strives to increase access to assistive technology for Missourians with all types of disabilities, of all ages.
In the Missouri State Fiscal Year 2013, MoAT delivered 6435 assistive devices and provided support services to 20,281 Missourians with disabilities.
- 897 ETC (Equipment Technology Consortium) devices loaned
- 3,294 Device Demonstrations provided
- 2,764 TAP (Telecommunications Access Program) for Telephone, adaptive telephones provided
- 936 TAP for Internet, adaptive computer equipment provided
- 15 KAT (Kids Assistive Technology) devices provided
- 179 ATR (Assistive Technology Request) devices provided
- 53 Show Me Loans provided
- 1,591 Device Re-Utilization used items transferred
- 10,552 Individual information and assistance provided
To learn more about MoAT and the services that they offer, visit their website.
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2015 Partners in Policymaking
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The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) is accepting applications for the 2015 Partners in Policymaking class through December 12.
Partners in Policymaking is a leadership training program designed for self-advocates and parent of young children with developmental disabilities. It is based on a national model and the goal is to develop productive partnerships with people who need and use services and those in a position to make policy and law.
To learn more and download the application visit the MODDC website.
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2nd Annual Youth Leadership and 23rd Annual Inclusion Awards
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The Governor's Council on Disability promotes full participation and inclusion of the nearly one million Missourians with disabilities in all aspects of community life by educating citizens, businesses, schools, universities and others of their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Youth Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding Missouri youth (age 18-30) with a disability that has demonstrated exemplary leadership by making a difference in their community. More information about the award and how to submit a nomination, click here.
The Inclusion Award is presented annually to recognize and honor a Missouri resident, organization, business or state/local government division that illustrates excellence in leadership for the "best of the best inclusion practices." Innovative universal design and assistive technology concepts that incorporate people with disabilities may also be submitted. The nomination form and criteria are available here.
The deadline to submit nominations is December 1, 2014 for both the Youth Leadership Award and the Inclusion Award.
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2015 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum Dates Set!
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The 2015 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum will be July 26 - 30. Please mark your calendars and help recruit new youth leaders. Applications for the 2015 Forum will be online by Thanksgiving.
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| Missouri Commissioner of Education's Video Message |
Missouri Commissioner of Education, Chris Nicastro, discusses the recent HB 1490 hearing, Missouri's ESEA Flexibility waiver and a Missouri teacher who won a prestigious award. Watch via YouTube or webstream.
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| 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 info@ptimpact.org. 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
Families new to First Steps are often unsure what to expect. They need families who have been in First Steps to Share their stories! 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
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Our free online trainings will help parents 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
- Mediation
- IDEA Transition Requirements
- Connecting Goals to Coordinated Activities and Services for Transition
- Transition Resources - Disability Disclosure
- Soft Skills
- Solving the Employment Puzzle
UPDATED as of November 2014!
- Special Education: What I Need to Know
- Steps to Success: Family Record Keeping
- Steps to Success: Effectively Communicating Your Child's Needs
- Steps to Success: Understanding First Steps Parental Rights
- Steps to Success: Understanding the IFSP
- Steps to Success: Transitioning from First Steps to ECSE
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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
How to Write Measurable Annual Goals
IDEA Boot Camp
McKinney-Vento Act Overview
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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Shop Online and Support MPACT!
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Help MPACT every time you shop online! You and your friends can support our cause. There will be one $1,000 winner, and two $500 winners. All you need to do is try the iGive Button through January 15, 2015. No purchase necessary! So, help us by joining iGive!
Learn more about how to help MPACT every time you make an online purchase!
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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 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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Help MPACT every time you shop on-line by joining iGive.
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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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