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What:Research provides strong evidence that organizations with a high degree of trust among employees are far more likely to make and sustain the kinds of changes that help them reach their goals and outcomes – than those organizations where there is little or no trust among staff. This session will describe both empirical and conceptual research related to trust types. We will explore the various types of trust as they relate to social and organizational life. In addition, we will make connections between trust, trust types, relationship, communication and increased effectiveness in mediation and ADR outcomes.  About Dr. Cathy Fromme: Dr. Fromme began her journey as an educator 32 years ago, as a first grade teacher in California. She is currently the Principal of TrustWorks. Prior to establishing TrustWorks she held district, regional ESD and state department positions in Washington. While at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction she developed Washington’s statewide Special Education Mediation System, chaired the statewide Commission on Student Learning Accommodations and Alternate Assessment committees.Cathy was also the Diversity Manager for the Washington Department of Natural Resources where she facilitated, positive/inclusive working relationships and diversity in the workplace for 1,300 DNR employees. She has consulted, written and presented extensively in the areas of trust, change management and work force diversity in schools and organizations. She received her B.S. from UCLA, M.S. from San Jose State University, and doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Washington. Though, her proudest achievements in life are her two grown sons. The youngest is an EMT in the US Air Force and the oldest is the owner/operator of a courier business in San Francisco.Meeting Details: To participate in this webinar you must call in and log in from your computer. Conference Number(s):  1-888-447-7153 Participant Code: 473502 To join the meeting, please click on the link below and enter as guest: http://tadnet.adobeconnect.com/cadre/When:March 14, 201212:00 pm - 1:15 pm MTContact:Marshall Peter, Director CADRE (541) 686-5060 (v) (541) 686-5063 (f) mpeter@directionservice.org www.directionservice.org/cadre

Click here to register for this event What: Montana state government is hosting a one-day disability employment seminar for state employees and others interested in promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Jim Marks, Director, Disability Transition Programs, Department of Public Health and Human Services, will kick off the event at 9 a.m. The featured keynote speaker, Lois McElravy, will speak from her personal experience illustrating how the complexities of brain injury cause confusion and chaos with the simplest of tasks, like writing notes and making lists. Participants will gain a better understanding of how they can partner with employees with disabilities to identify accommodations needed to create a productive work environment. Other sessions include small-group exercises based on complex workplace issues, a presentation on reasonable accommodations by Anne Hirsch, Job Accommodation Network, a presentation on People without Limits, by Paul Gelderloos, People without Limits, and a panel of local experts will address commonly asked questions through locally developed case studies. The expert panel includes: Marieke Beck, Montana Human Rights Bureau Jim Marks, Department of Public Health and Human Services Anne Hirsch, Job Accommodation Network Michelle Pickell, Job Opportunity Based Services When: Thursday, May 26, 2011 9:00am - 4:00pm Mountain Where: Gateway Conference Center 1710 National Avenue in Helena, MT Registration: $50 and includes breakfast and lunch. You can register online at http://pdc.mt.gov/default.mcpx or call (406) 444-3871.

"Ten Employment Myths" Many employers misunderstand the Americans with Disabilities Act and are reluctant to hire people with disabilities because of unfounded myths. This seventeen-minute video responds to concerns expressed by employers, explaining the ADA in common sense terms and dispelling myths about this often overlooked pool of well-qualified employees.

"My Country" In this one-hour documentary, symphony conductor James DePreist, who contracted polio as a young man, profiles three people with disabilities whose lives have been shaped by the struggle for equal rights. Mr. DePreist is the nephew of African American contralto Marian Anderson, who in 1939 was prevented from singing at Constitution Hall. He draws parallels between racial barriers and the barriers faced by people with disabilities.

Ten Small Business Mistakes This thirteen-minute video identifies common mistakes that small businesses make when trying to comply with the ADA and addresses the importance and value of doing business with 50 million people with disabilities. The video features statements by store owners expressing their doubts or misunderstandings about the ADA followed by responses from the Assistant Attorney for Civil Rights and other Department of Justice employees explaining the law in common sense terms.

The Obama administration moved forward today to implement provisions in the health care law that would make it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. The provisions of the Affordable Care Act also would make it easier for consumers to compare health plans and employers to promote and encourage employee wellness.

What can we do as parents if our children with disabilities are getting bullied in school?  If you feel the School did not take action to correct the situation in an acceptable manner and the bullying continues, then talk to an attorney about writing a “Gebser letter” to your school.  In a 1998 Supreme Court decision for Gebser v. Lago Vista School District the court concluded that in order to receive damages under a Title IX discrimination suit you must prove that the school district actually knew about the offense and refused to take action to correct it.  Thus, the term “Gebser Letter” was coined to mean a letter notifying a school district employee with authority about the discrimination or bullying.

A Washington, D.C. newspaper is facing rebuke after an editorial written by its own staff criticized federal efforts to hire more people with disabilities. The opinion piece from The Washington Times editorial board focused on a recent U.S. Department of Justice memo informing employees about the agency’s plan to hire more people with so-called targeted disabilities including cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness and severe intellectual disability. “Most employers would balk at even minor mental disabilities in hiring a lawyer, let alone severe ones. But the policy states that the Cabinet department run by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. must ‘achieve a work force from all segments of society,’ which includes those who are teetering on the edge of sanity,” The Washington Times said in its Aug. 22 editorial. The commentary is drawing strong backlash from disability advocates who say the criticisms are baseless and rely on untrue information. “While the Times editorial suggests applicants with disabilities would be fast-tracked into jobs at the DOJ without due screening and assessment, the DOJ memo clearly states otherwise,” said Jonathan Young, chair of the National Council on Disability. “To mischaracterize the DOJ initiative with fear-mongering and hyperbole misses the point.”

An advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Justice seeking the public release of a report the group says may show that people involuntarily committed to the Montana Developmental Center are at risk of abuse or neglect. The Independent Record reported Saturday (http://bit.ly/yuwhOD) that Disability Rights Montana filed the lawsuit. The report comes from a 2010 Department of Justice investigation by the into allegations of that six female Developmental Center clients were sexually assaulted by male employees.

A quiet decision by a federal agency this spring has generated a lot of noise this week within the autism community because of its real and potential impact on the ability of families all across America to access Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for their children. Since the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) made the case for health insurance coverage for ABA for the nation’s eight million federal employees, retirees and their dependents, reactions across the autism community have ranged from celebration to concerns over how the decision could impact existing services.

MISSOULA - A new software at the University of Montana and affiliated campuses will make a big difference for students with learning disabilities this spring. The Read and Write Gold software will allow students and employees to have whatever is on the computer screen read to them out loud. The Disability Services for Students department originally wanted it for students with learning disabilities and barriers to print - but found it all UM students could benefit from the program.

A new software at the University of Montana now allows students and employees to highlight text with their cursors and have it read out loud. Read&Write Gold became available for students, faculty and staff Jan. 8th.

The third annual Transitions Conference was created for students in Springfield Public Schools' Business Associated Student Education program. BASE helps high school special education students gain employable skills by, among other things, job shadowing employees.

The field of accessible technology has changed enormously in the last 30 years. Yet, people with disabilities and those that work with them still struggle to identify the appropriate technologies that will improve their lives, or the lives of family members, employees, or clients. The ATC will meet this need by providing up-to-date information online, where it is accessible to everyone. Check out our website at: www.atcoalition.org

This three-hour training is intended to identify, explore and develop awareness and a basic understanding of the Best Practice in Gifted Education.  This general introduction and overview will also highlight how Gifted and Talented education is an integral part of a comprehensive Response to Intervention (RTI). Materials are provided and the following topics will be addressed: Identification Curriculum and Instruction for high-ability/high potential students Management Social/Emotional Professional Development Support Services Program Development There are no fees for this training but registration is required. Mileage reimbursement will be paid for those outside of the Billings area. SCHEDULED TRAININGS: At MSUB, College of Education Building, Room 122: February 22, 2011 (9:00AM to noon) March 15, 2011 (9:00AM to noon) At Lincoln Center (415 N. 30th Street), Room 213, Billings: (If not an employee of the Billings School District please check with Gail Surwill at surwillg@billings.k12.mt.us for space availability before registering.) March 8, 2011 (4:00 to 7:00PM) March 21, 2011 (4:00 to 7:00PM) April 5, 2011 (4:00 to 7:00PM) MORE INFORMATION: http://www.msubillings.edu/smart/training/giftedtalented.htm REGISTER ONLINE: http://www.msubillings.edu/mcdregister/GTregistration.htm If you would be interested in scheduling or attending a training session on Gifted and Talented contact John Keener, MRESA3 Coordinator, at john.keener@msubillings.edu or call 657-1743 for more information or to schedule a training.  There is no fee for this service.