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These scholarship opportunities are listed in chronological order, based on their application deadlines. The list includes scholarships that are specifically aimed at Latinos and students with disabilities. The scholarships listed here include scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies. Most of them are available nationwide. If the deadline for a scholarship has already passed, but the scholarship is a good fit for you, follow the link to its website and get more information about it. These scholarships are awarded annually, and you may be able to apply for it next year.

The House Education and Labor Committee voted Thursday to pass the bill known as the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act by a vote of 34 to 10. Now, the measure must be considered by the full House and it must be taken up in the Senate before it can become law.

Mental-health care for thousands of Montanans covered by group health insurance plans will be more affordable in 2010 thanks to a new federal law. Congress passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in October 2008 as part of the multibillion-dollar federal bailout package. The law, which took effect Jan. 1, prevents insurance plans that cover treatment for mental illnesses and addictions from placing stricter limits on those services than on other covered services. It does not require plans to cover treatment for mental health and substance abuse.

Many pediatricians score high on screening their patients for developmental delays, but barely make a passing grade in referring children with suspected delays for further testing or treatment, according to a study from Johns Hopkins Children's Center and other institutions to appear in the February issue of Pediatrics. Because screening is only effective if followed by referral and treatment, pediatricians need two separate formalized systems in their practices — one for screening and one for referral — the investigators write in their report available online Jan. 25.

By Kandis Peterson In this world of ours, we often feel like we are just dust in the wind. Sometimes feeling like we are important to someone is what keeps us going. The world moves fast and time passes quickly. I realize the importance in people in our community … maybe more so this month than in others. All across our nation in March, Developmental Disability Month is being celebrated. The purpose of this awareness is to help educate the general population about individuals with these disabilities and the issues that are important to them.

After years of debate, a health overhaul is finally becoming a reality. Now what?

Many big provisions don't kick in until 2014, including the mandate for most folks to have health insurance and many new requirements for health-plan designs. Before then, you'll see a mishmash of other things go into effect at various times—and of course some of the changes depend on the Senate passing the House's so-called sidecar, or reconciliation, bill of changes.

Here are some ways you can start dealing with the new health-care landscape.

HELENA — A legislative committee will meet April 26-27 to learn how health care legislation passed this year by Congress may affect Montanans.

What: Now 620 nonprofits strong and growing, MNA is the voice for charitable nonprofits in Montana. In the true spirit of association, join together with MNA and your colleagues for this great event and celebrate the vital role that nonprofits play in community and civic life. All activities are free of charge except the afternoon workshop. Participants may attend any and all activities.  At Nonprofit Day, MNA will unveil our new Nonprofit Sector Report – details and analysis that will help legislators, the general public, and your donors better grasp the scope and scale of our sector and its importance to the economy in our state. Please pass this message along to others in your networks – it is critical that we have a strong showing for the 2011 Nonprofit Day on January 27 in the Rotunda.  In previous years, our day at the Capitol has had the largest number of attendees of any professional Association.  Term limits have made it increasingly important that we band together and speak with a common voice as we work to protect nonprofit rights in Montana and the US Capitol. And, don't forget to send us photos of your organization that we can share in our Nonprofit Showcase presentation in the Rotunda. Send photos that exemplify your nonprofit's mission in action to: Patty White (pwhite@mtnonprofit.org). Who: Montana Nonprofits When: Thurs, January 27, 2011 Time: 9:30 am-12:30pm & 1:30pm-4:30 Where: Capitol Rotunda in the morning and afternon workshop at the Downtown Holiday Inn, Helena Cost:  Morning session at the Capitol is FREE; afternoon workshop cost is $45 for members, $90 for non-members. You must register for either event.

Robbie also wrote a letter to all members of the Virginia House of Delegates, which passed HB 2467 on the floor just yesterday.  His mother, Marybeth, forwarded his letter to Autism Speaks and Robbie’s words resonated in such a way with us that we are eager to share them with the entire community.

When I heard that Steve Jobs had passed away, I was boarding a train from New York to Philadelphia to visit my son. A friend phoned and then text-messaged me the news before I could read it on Twitter. It felt, I said later, as if someone had torn the hair out of my head. When I did tweet, the first semi-coherent thought I was able to write about Jobs was also about my son: I’m on my way to PHL to see my son, who uses a device Steve Jobs invented to help him talk. He will never know. He will never know.

Kelly Camel comes to a halt, and the halls of the Adams Center fall silent. Stretching his arm toward a poster on the wall, he points at a member of the 1996 men's basketball team. "J.R.," he says, in his rudimentary speech.  It's the legendary J.R. Camel, whose athleticism and leaping abilities as a Grizzly were without parallel. His uncle. Kelly can't be like J.R.  He can't run.  He can't jump.  He can't make a shot or pass to a teammate.   But he spends every men's basketball game tucked at the end of the bench. He cheers for the team. He yells at referees. He mimics the gestures of head coach Wayne Tinkle. "He is like a little Energizer Bunny for us," junior forward Derek Selvig said. And although the basketball season is finished, the team's proudest fan is just getting started. Soon, Montana's biggest and most beloved supporter, known to all by his first name, will make fandom his business, opening his own company called Kelly Gear. Kelly was born on Jan. 3, 1978, 3 1/2 months early. He weighed 1 pound, 6 ounces. His chances of survival were one in 100.

Webinar - All About Apps for Education: Just the Apps and Nothing but the Apps Thursday, May 5, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mountain – Web-Based Training, register Discover the wonderful world of apps for education. This webinar will help you navigate and maximize your use of the iPod/iPad. The presenters will take you on an app adventure and share a variety of apps in such categories as early childhood, literacy, autism, communication, organization, and more. Funding for this webinar is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education. The source of funding is from federal award, Grants to States-Special Education CFDA 84.027, P.L. 108-446 Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. Basic Vocabulary Organization in PRC Devices Monday, May 16, 2011, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mountain – PACER Center, Bloomington, MN, register This free workshop is for parents and professionals to learn more about Unity vocabulary organization included in all Prentke Romich Company PRC Communication or AAC Devices.  Participants will be introduced to the vocabulary options available.  This workshop will be held in the PACER computer lab where participants can bring their own device or use computer emulation software (Vantage Lite PASS software version 5.02).  The training will include hands-on experience to become familiar with how Unity supports creation of spontaneous novel communication, and to teach basic device operations such as customizing messages, changing icons, hiding keys, and backing up the device. The presenter is PRC Regional Consultant Helen Canfield.  The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Classroom Suite Version 4 Foundations Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain - PACER Center, register This workshop is designed for educators, SLPs, OTs, AT specialists, paraprofessionals and parents who are new to (or have limited experience with) Classroom Suite V.4. The goal of the Foundation Workshop for Classroom Suite V.4 is to enable educators to use Classroom Suite to teach early concepts, reading, writing, and math to students struggling because of learning difficulties or access issues. This workshop is sponsored by Cambium Learning Technologies. Registration fee $225. Kurzweil 3000 Version 11 Foundations Thursday, May 19, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain - PACER Center, register This workshop is designed for educators, SLPs, OTs, AT specialists, paraprofessionals and parents who support students with learning disabilities and are new to (or have limited experience with) Kurzweil 3000. This workshop is sponsored by Cambium Learning Technologies. Registration fee $225.00. Putting LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) to Work: AAC Strategies to Promote Communication Friday, May 20, 2011, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain – PACER Center, Bloomington, MN, register Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) is a therapeutic approach based on neurological and motor learning principles.  The goal is to give individuals who are nonverbal or have limited verbal abilities or speech a method to independently and spontaneously express themselves.  This workshop is for parents, professionals, and SLPs and will give an overview of the LAMP treatment approach, discussion of the components of LAMP and how and why children with autism would benefit from using a voice output AAC device, and discussion of features that are beneficial for teaching language to children with autism and other disabilities.  Lunch will not be provided.  A one hour lunch break will be taken and maps to area restaurants will be provided.  This free workshop will offer 0.5 ASHA CEUs.