What:
Great Falls Friends of Autism presents Simple Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders with Brett Gilleo When:
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Mountain Where:
Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute
1117 29th St.
Great Falls, MT 59405
(In the Guy Tabacco room) Cost:
Free of charge

What:
Great Falls Friends of Autism presents Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders with Brett Gilleo When:
Thursday, April 11, 2013
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Mountain Where:
Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute
1117 29th St.
Great Falls, MT 59405
(In the Guy Tabacco room) Cost:
Free of charge

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What:
Does your ADHD kid have frequent outbursts and a tendency to argue, ignore requests, and engage in disruptive behavior? ADHD is often found in tandem with oppositional defiant disorder making discipline a challenge. Expert Ross Greene, Ph.D., author of The Explosive Child, will provide answers to your questions about calming your defiant child, how to "reason" with your ODD child and strategies to help your kid manage frustration and problem solve. When:
Thursday, April 11, 2013
11:00m am Mountain Cost:
Free of charge

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What:
Facilitated collaboration for researching American Indian and Montana Indian resources to meet identified Montana Common Core Standards (MCCS). Work with others to identify appropriate resources to substitute or sup-plement into classrooms that will assist implementing IEFA in your school/district AND meet the MCCS. Friday morning will be a round table discussion of IEFA additions in the MCCS. The afternoon and all day Saturday will be work sessions in grade level sub-groups. When:
April 19, 20, 2013
9:00 am - 3:00 pm Mountain daily, lunch provided. Where:
Gallatin Gateway School
100 Mill St.
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
Phone:(406) 763-4415 Cost:
Free of charge, 12 OPI renewal units available

Download the registration forms and document packet

What:
The Board of Directors of the Montana Indian Education Association invites you to join them at this year's conference, "Leading the Change in Indian Education: Our Culture and Traditions are our Strength" which is dedicated to investigating issues and best practices as we share frustrations and innovative approaches to ensure that Indian students at all levels of the educational system receive a high quality education that prepares them for the future they envision. Some topics include innovative approaches to meeting Indian Education For All, school reform, common core standards implementation, dual enrollment for high school students, and changes in Higher Education and Public School funding.

When:
April 11 - 13, 2013

Where:
Holiday Inn Grand Montana
5500 Midland Rd.
Billings, MT 59101 Cost:
Adults: $250.00 Elders (60+): $150.00 see registration form for details on early registration discounts.

To Register contact the staff at (406) 932-6300 or email christikon@aol.com What:
The session is for adults who are at least 18 years old. The camp offers opportunities for enjoyment of the mountain setting and growth in caring relationships. Included are hiking, group recreation, crafts, work projects, shared responsibilities, sharing of talents, music, etc. Christikon staff people reside in the cabins with the campers, and provide program leadership. Restrictions:
Because the camp is located o a mountain side and has many steps and barriers, people who use wheelchairs or whose mobility is severely limited would have a great deal of difficulty participating in the program. Campers should also be continent in toilet habits. Transportation:
Bus transportation is offered to and from camp on the first and last days from Billings, Laurel, Columbus and Big Timber. When:
June 16 - 19, 2013 Where:
Christikon lies along the Boulder River in the mountains just north of Yellowstone National Park. Costs:
$175.00 per person, bus fee is between $40.00 and $46.00 depending on pick up location. Ask about scholarship funding.  

What:
The Special K Ranch annual dinner is a wonderful way to learn about daily life at the ranch and to catch up on recent developments of the program. the evening will begin witha  silent auction ad social hour with residents, staff and friends of Special K Ranch. Be A Sponsor:
You or your business has the opportunity to be recognized as an event sponsor with a gift of $500.00 or more. Sponsors are recognized at the event, in the SKR newsletter and on their website. Be A Table Host:
To learn more about becomeing a table host contact Brenda at (406) 322-5520 or email info@specialkranch.org When:
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Doors open at 5:00 pm Mountain, Dinner served at 6:00 pm Mountain Where:
Holiday Inn Grand Montana
5500 Midland Rd.
Billings, MT 59101 Cost:
$20.00 per person

View the flyer for this event
You must register with Kelly Melius 657-9728 as space is limited.

What:
Join Easter Seals Parent Support Group for Children With Special Needs for a night out at In Good Glazes where you can relax, create, and talk with other parents. If you are interested you must register,

When:
Thursday, April 4th, 2013
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Mountain

Cost:
Free of charge

Register for this webinar What: There is some great content about Augmentative and Alternative Communication on YouTube. This webinar will help you find some gems that you may want to know about; videos that show what is possible with AAC for young people with a range of disabilities, including autism, down's syndrome, and cerebral palsy. If you want to learn about AAC, teach someone else, or post related content on YouTube yourself, join us for a discussion the very best cilps. When: Thursday, April 25th, 2013 11:00 am Mountain Cost: Free of charge

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What:
Higher education presents a challenge for students with learning disabilities. It often requires more reading, greater interaction with text, multiple ways of organizing information, and critical writing. The system-wide director of disability services at Alliant University will share tools and tips they are using to enhance success for graduate students.

When:
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
12:00 pm Mountain

Cost:
Free of charge

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Computers have evolved from from the salvation for people with disabilities to the cause of many disabling conditions. Our current computer-laden work and school environments have the potential to significantly damage our bodies. It is critical that we establish new "rules of engagement" with computers. This Healthy Computing webinar will explore the reasons and tools for taking regular breaks from the computer. This webinar is for people who work extensively on computers, or who work with clients/students who do. Some applications for Windows & Mac will be covered. 

When:
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
10:00 am Mountain

Cost:
Free of charge

Register and view full itinerary for this conference What:
Twenty years ago, telling a parent that their child suffered from Attention Deficit Disorder or Bipolar Disorder most often resulted in grief, denial, or even outrage. Today, studies show that parents diagnose their own children with mental disorders at a much higher rate than psychiatric experts. Schools are often caught between shrinking resources and increasing demands, as more children are identified as mentally disabled. Over two days, this workshop will help clear away some of the confusion and controversy surrounding mental health issues that most often affect school-age children. You will learn in practical terms, how a child with ADHD thinks, what motivates an oppositional child, which kids might actually have Bipolar Disorder, and which are simply moody. You will learn how psychiatric medications work to help, and sometimes to hurt. You will learn about the warning signs for violence in children and adolescents. Lastly, you will have a chance to ask advice about specific mental health issues in your school. In short, this workshop is designed to help you understand, teach, and advocate for your students with mental illness.

When:
June 3, 4, 2013
8:30 am - 4:30 pm Mountain

Where:
Mansfield Health Education Center
2900 12th Ave N # 30W
Billings, Montana 59101
(406) 237-8600

Cost:
MASP Members preregistration: $145.00, General Public preregistration: $165.00, University full time student preregistration: $85.00 - Verification of student status may be requested

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What:
Autism Awareness Month IDEA Partnership Autism Collection Webinars! Join the IDEA Partnership staff and organization leaders in learning about Using the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Collection. A webinar on Using the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Collection will be offered every Thursday during the month of April. All are welcome. The webinar will be limited to 50 participants.

When:
April 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2013      
11:00 am Mountain

Cost:
Free of charge

Register for this webinar What:
Individuals with autism have complex needs. This webinar will provide a preview of the top apps that promote a wide range of skills for individuals with autism: communication, social skills, behavior, and more. In addition, you will learn about uses of apps that therapists and parents are finding useful in meeting the unique challenges of indidviuals with autism. Participants will be able to identify three apps, two apps that support literacy and writing skills, one app that tracks behavior for behavioral support and two apps that provide organizational supports, visual supports or task completion.

When:
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Mountain

Cost:
Webinar fee - $49.00

Register for this webinar What:
The power an iPad holds for those who can benefit from it are game changers. Apps will be shared and demonstrated, as well as learning how to set the built in iOS accessibility features to meet the individual's needs. Apps that will be focused on are those used for language development, early learning, daily living, navigation and writing with special attention to speech to text apps to assist the individual in composing for a variety of purposes. App Search tools will also be demonstrated to assist the participants in finding apps for specific skill areas. Participants will be able to implement iOS Accessibility features for visually impaired and blind individuals, identify iPad apps for various need areas, and learn how to search for apps for specific skill areas.

When:
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Mountain

Cost:
Webinar fee - $49.00

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What:
In this webinar, award-winning author Professor Richard Birke will help illuminate the ways to use neuroscience and psychology to improve the ways we make decisions and also to better understand the reasons why our clients, partners, opponents and colleagues think and act the way they do. This webinar will attempt to be at once practical and theoretical, informative and interactive. Please join Professor Birke as he helps us understand why it is difficult to get someone to change their mind, how best to persuade others, how the brain can be lured into accepting or rejecting an offer based on how the offer was phrased, how to recognize and avoid traps associated with formulating or evaluating proposals, and more.

When:
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm Mountain

Cost:
Free of charge

Download Special Needs Expo Flyer

What:
An all-day extravaganza featuring speakers on a variety of topics pertaining to the special needs community. We will have 3 breakout sessions with choices of classes to attend. Chad Berg, the Bozeman Special Ed Director, will be giving a keynote address. There will also be a resource fair with agencies from the community. Free breakfast, lunch, and child care will be provided.

When:
Saturday, April 20, 2013
8:30 am - 3:30 pm Mountain

Where:
Irving Elementary School
611 S. 8th Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715

Cost:
Free of charge

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What:
This session of Grand Rounds will examine how immunization has helped reduce infectious disease disparities among U.S. children, reducing infectious disease burdens in children from racial/ethnic populations, and how immunization has, as a result, contributed to health equity. When:
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Mountain Cost:
Free of charge

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Download Brochure

What:
The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children is a conceptual framework of evidence-based practices developed by two national, federally-funded research and training centers: The Center for the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) and The Technical Assistance Center for Social Emotional Intervention (TACSEI). Most recently, TACSEI developed a family coaching approach for implementing the Pyramid Model with caregivers in homes. This approach was developed to support home visitors who are working with caregivers of infants and toddlers with or at-risk for disabilities. The approach focuses on supporting home visitors in the use of evidence-based family coaching strategies to enhance caregivers' capacity to promote their infant or toddlers' social emotional competence. This presentation will describe the family coaching approach to implementing the pyramid model. When:
June 13 & 14, 2013
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Mountain both days
Registration 8:30 am Where:
MSU Billings
College of Education Building, Room 122
1500 University Dr.
Billings, MT 59101 Cost:
Free of charge

Register for this webinar online

What:
The Reading Clinic is thrilled to have Shannon Des Roches Rosa present a webinar on gratitude for parents of autistic children. She will discuss "Thinking about what we do have, what we get to do, and recognizing the poisonous futility of dwelling on what we don't." When:
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Mountain Cost:
Free of charge