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Click here to download the flyer (PDF) When: April 7, 2011 6pm to 9pm, 3 CEUs, $50.00 Where: Summit Medical Fitness Center Community Conference Room 205 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell What: This is an overview of a 15 hour course designed for parents of a child with a brain disorder.  NAMI Basics is a peer education program. Parents and other primary caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness have diverse and complex needs. Education and support for families helps them to live the best life possible while managing the trauma that often accompanies the onset of mental illness. NAMI Basics allows families to connect to one another while learning about brain disorders and empowering themselves to overcome new challenges. It provides information families want and need about their child.  This course is taught by a team of trained NAMI family members and direct caregiver volunteers who know what it’s like to have a child struggling with one of these brain disorders.  Topics covered will be: the ‘no fault’ approach, the biology of mental illness, getting an accurate diagnosis, an overview of treatment options, the impact on family, communication, crisis management, the systems/agencies involved with your child, the importance of record keeping, and advocating and team building for you and your child.  To register:  Contact Stephanie Luehr at stephanie.luehr@pluk.org, or 406-270-1086

When: Monday June 21, 2010 · 1:00-2:30pm Mountain What: This webinar will provide an in-depth presentation of the five-year postsecondary education experience of Micah Fialka-Feldman, a 25 year old student with an intellectual disability, at Oakland University, through the OPTIONS Program. Micah, along with Dr. Shea Howell, one of Micah's college professors, his mother Janice Fialka, and one of Micah's friends and peer tutors will discuss this journey through postsecondary education from each of their unique perspectives. The webinar will present and discuss a range of practical strategies and supports used to enhance Micah's active participation in the classroom, course work, student activities, and dorm living. Critical components which contributed to a successful experience will be shared, such as: the immediate and inclusive participation of Micah on the campus in all domains of student life and learning, the intentional engagement of other students in planning with and supporting Micah, the creation of opportunities for Micah to participate in student activities, and others.

Are you looking for a way to get a jump on those New Year's Resolutions?"Living Well with a Disability" is an eight to ten session workshop designed to take participants on a journey of empowerment through peer support, goal setting and problem solving. "Living Well" helps participants develop goals for meaningful activities that are linked to the development of a healthy lifestyle. For more information or to participate contact Lori Gaustad at LIFFT.Phone: (406) 259-5181Email: lorig@lifft.org

Click here to download the full flyer with registration information (PDF) What: Fun activities, games and a supportive place to share where siblings can meet and talk with peers who have a brother or sister with special needs, for children ages 6-13. When: November 3, 2010 from 1-5 p.m. Where: St. Pius Church 717 18th St. W. in Billings Admission is $5.00 -- Snacks and drinks will be provided

Every child, regardless of income, race, background, or disability can learn and must learn. And, our system of education—spread across 50 states, 15,000 school districts, and 95,000 schools—must embrace this core belief every day in every possible way. If our children are not learning, then we, as adults, have failed. That is why educators, advocates, parents, and policymakers need to make sure that students with disabilities have access to the general curriculum and are held to the same, high standards as their non-disabled peers. We can work toward this by: creating a culture of high expectations; ensuring students with disabilities have full access to college- and career-ready learning opportunities and assessments; and supporting students with disabilities so that they may excel in the general curriculum for college and career success.

A school and community that do not address bullying cannot ensure that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Bullying influences each critical dimension of a whole child approach to education because it compromises students’ physical and emotional health and safety; affects their relationships with peers and adults in the school; creates barriers that prevent them from engaging in learning and connecting to the school and broader community; and affects their academic performance. When bullying goes unaddressed, it can create a negative school culture and organizational patterns that shape students’ learning and development.