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Let’s get reconnected and renew our support for each other and other area families. What better time than Autism Awareness month to come and say hello and check out the YMCA facilities where we will be having our monthly meeting. You’ll also get to see the preschool room where we will be providing childcare (This won’t exclude older children. We will have activities for them as well!). Plus, we can talk about our plans for summer activities as well as get ideas from you for additional activities.

Click here to register for this webinar What: Join Occupational Therapist and Inclusion Advocate Ingrid M. Kanics, OTR/L for this enlightening webinar. Participants will learn about the seven senses as well as how the brain integrates and uses this sensory information in everyday activities. The webinar will provide participants with activities in each sensory area that can be used to help children explore and integrate sensory information in their daily lives. When: June 1, 2011 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Mountain Cost: $30 per person (free for Lekotek affiliates) Special-FREE for all caregivers of children with disabilities (just email domahen@lekotek.org to resgister) Presenter Bio: Ingrid M. Kanics, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist who has worked for 10 years helping communities create and run amazing places where all children can play together. She was senior consultant on the national advisory team for the Center for Creative Play, Pittsburgh, PA. During that time she worked with numerous communities and children's museums helping them expand their understanding of Universal Design and the importance of Sensory Play in every childs' development. She continued this work as Therapy Director at Hattie Larlham, Mantua, OH, where she oversaw therapy and recreation programs for children of varying abilities. She now owns her own consulting business focusing on great play spaces in communities. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on the topics play, sensory integration and Universal Design. Conferences include the Association of Children's Museums, American Occupational Therapy Association, Parents As Teachers, and National Association of the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC).

The four-day on-campus experience, Movin' On in Montana, will include a several seminars, a campus tour, campus experiences, and community activities. Seminars may include topics such as self-advocacy skills, career/college interest exploration, disability accommodations, student resources, basic communication/soft skills, and a class lecture. Campus experiences and community activities will be unique to each summer location (e.g., UM’s planetarium, Missoula’s Big Dipper, or Kim Williams Trail hike). Students will also get first-hand experience living in a dorm room and with on-campus dining.  

One Book - One Bozeman is a community-wide read program to promote community building and literacy through reading a common book. The Bozeman Public Library is partnering with MSU Summer Reading/Convocation, Bozeman Schools, and local businesses to bring a successful and comprehensive program into the our community.

What: This conference will provide information and hands-on training in the latest technology being used to enhance communication and social skills for individuals living with autism. This conference is for everyone who loves and works with children and adults with autism every day. This year we will highlight Communication and iOS devices - iPads, iPods and iPhones. Today’s technological advances offer highly interactive tools that can be used to help build communication skills. During our event you will learn how to choose applications appropriate for your needs, whether you are a parent, educator or practitioner. Through demonstration and actual hands-on training you will be introduced to a variety of applications that use interactive text, illustrations, painting, animation, voice recording, stories, songs and speech/language based activities that may be helpful in developing communication abilities of children and adults on the Autism spectrum. Practitioners can use these devices to help people with cognitive-behavioral needs through applications that target social skills and executive functioning like planning, organization, attention and memory.  We will also benefit from meeting and hearing from people of all ages who are navigating through life on the spectrum. Their stories will inspire, educate and bring us closer as a group as we take action to improve the lives of individuals with autism. This conference is for everyone who loves and works with children and adults with autism every day. Join us as we continue our work for Montana families living with autism. When: July 27 & 28, 2011 8:00am - 5:00pm (both days) Where: MSUB Main Campus - Library Room 148 Billings, MT Register: Call 406-896-5890 to register for this event; visit http://www.msubillings.edu/autism/ for more information.

Some of this year's workshops include: Writing, Bollywod Dancing, Understanding Money, Dance NIA, DIY Fashion, International Culture, Intro to College, Japanese Drumming, Taekwondo, Personality Exploration, Sustainable Energy, Cooking and more!What:Keynote speaker and President of Montana State University, Dr. Waded Cruzado is the first woman and first minority to serve as a university president in the state of Montana. Her commitment to teaching and volunteer service is certain to be an inspiration for all Montana girls. History of GFAC:Girls for a Change is a grass-roots initiative designed to empower girls to embrace their future--confident in their individuality, supported by friends, parents and mentors, and secure in their ability to lead and achieve self-sufficiency, fulfillment, balance and success. Founded in 1997 by sixteen girls and their female mentors, Girls for a Change (GFAC) is a signature program of Thrive devoted to supporting and encouraging the successful development of girls.GFAC Activities:Each year GFAC plans an annual conference, does one local and one international community service project, participates and facilitates workshops and attends a retreat. GFAC participants also meet and facilitate activities with international visitors resulting in an ongoing dialogue about girls' and womens' issues in different cultures. Outcomes of GFAC:Girls feel confident about themselves and their ability to succeed--Girls gain public speaking skills--Girls are empowered to accomplish their goals and dreams--Girls learn what strengths they already possess and how to build on those strengths--Girls learn that there are all different kinds of beauty--Girls gain exposure to other girls from different social, cultural and international backgrounds--Girls learn to work together as a team. When:Saturday, February 25, 2012 Where:MSU Strand Union BuildingBozeman, MTContact:Email: gfac@allthrive.orgPhone: (406)587-3840Website: allthrive.org

Click here to download the PDF flier for complete information!What: Hello Everyone - Attached is the ever popular FREE OR FAIRLY CHEAP COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES newsletter that Early Head Start has compiled for January through mid-February.  If you didn't find this on the Forum's electronic Bulletin Board, here it is.  Thanks again to Early Head Start! When:January - Mid-February 2012Where:See attached flier for information on locations!Contact:Mary-Glynn Cromwell, Program Manager Phone: 251-9410, ext. 302Email: maryglynnc@ravalliheadstart.orgKaty Griffith, AmeriCorps Phone: 251-9410, ext. 319  Email: americorpsehs@ravalliheadstart.org

State government is hosting activities on Friday, July 23, 2010, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the capitol rotunda, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ADA.