Click here to download the Annual State Application Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2012 What: This is a Public Notice that the State of Montana has its Annual State Application under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for the Federal Fiscal Year of 2012 available for Public Notice and Comments. The document will be available for review from January 30, 2012 to March 28, 2012. The comment period for the application will be open from February 27, 2012 until March 28, 2012, during this comment period there will be 5 public meetings held within communities around the state.

Click here to download registration form (PDF) What: Being a parent is a hard job. This seven week training is designed to help you find the answers to questions like: "How do I get them out of bed in tiem to catch the school bus?" "How can I stop my children from bickering and fighting?" "How do I get my children to help with the chores without and argument?" " Is there a way to discipline my toddler in public without creating a scene?" "How can I get my teenager to come home at the agreed-upon time?" "How do I get him to stop spitting his peas and whining at dinner?" And many other day-to-day parenting challenges... The cost is $8 which includes a workbook participants keep and a commitment to attend on a weekly basis.  It is a 7 week class for 1.5 – 2 hrs. Click here to register or contact Lance Isaak at 406-755-4622 for more information. When: Fridays beginning January 6, 2012 6:30-8:30pm Where: Serious Juju 1896 Airport RD Kalispel, MT

Click Here to Register for this Webinar What: How do we plan meaningful work experiences for students with disabilities in rural areas? This webinar will address how to gain the most information out of each work experience: how to identify skills, abilities, and support needs that we can assess on each site and new skills and strategies to teach the student. Creative strategies to identify opportunities through networking, tapping into social capital and exploring self-employment will all be shared. When: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 1:00pm - 2:30pm Mountain

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) | Click here to register What: Join us as we explore useful technology tools for the classroom. Each month we will explore technological tools that can enhance the educational experience for educators and students. This “hands on” opportunity will use technological tools available in everyday activities: personal computers, cell phones, iPods, iPads, and much more! Free downloadable programs to broaden the educational experience through such sites as Wiki, and Google will be explored. The goal of these sessions is to provide useable and practical technology for educators in such a way that it puts the “fun” back into education. November’s Technology Tuesday will be a “show and tell” of useful technologies that Trina finds useful within the classroom setting. It will also be an opportunity to share the technology that others use in their classrooms. This “sharing” of technology will build the foundation of future Technology Tuesdays. When: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 5:00pm - 7:00 pm Mountain Where: Fromberg Elementary Bldg (Use the North Door)Room 301 Fromberg, MT Contact: John Keener by phone 406-657-1743 or email john.keener@msubillings.edu Debra Miller by phone 406-657-2072 or email dmiller@msubillings.edu

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) | Click here to register What: Join us as we explore useful technology tools for the classroom. Each month we will explore technological tools that can enhance the educational experience for educators and students. This “hands on” opportunity will use technological tools available in everyday activities: personal computers, cell phones, iPods, iPads, and much more! Free downloadable programs to broaden the educational experience through such sites as Wiki, and Google will be explored. The goal of these sessions is to provide useable and practical technology for educators in such a way that it puts the “fun” back into education. November’s Technology Tuesday will be a “show and tell” of useful technologies that Trina finds useful within the classroom setting. It will also be an opportunity to share the technology that others use in their classrooms. This “sharing” of technology will build the foundation of future Technology Tuesdays. When: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 5:00pm - 7:00 pm Mountain Where: MSUB College of Education Building Room 122 1500 University Dr. Billings, MT Contact: John Keener by phone 406-657-1743 or email john.keener@msubillings.edu Debra Miller by phone 406-657-2072 or email dmiller@msubillings.edu

Click here to register for this webinar What: The rapid growth in adoption of "Response to Intervention" across the nation's public schools, sparked in large measure by changes to IDEA's identification procedures for specific learning disabilities, is raising issues of compliance with IDEA's Child Find mandate.   Specifically, under IDEA (2004), school districts are no longer required to use a discrepancy model when determining eligibility, but instead, may use alternative means (e.g., response-to-intervention (RTI) or processing deficit approaches) to identify students. Consequently, significant variability among states in the SLD identification criteria now exists. The implementation of new criteria - particularly RTI - may result in delay or failure to properly identify students as eligible for IDEA services.   This Webinar will present the latest information on RTI adoption across states and the use of RTI for SLD identification. It will review recent challenges, including litigation, and provide guidance on an array of practical advocacy options that can be used to capitalize on the RTI process-to help struggling students regardless of whether they are suspected of having SLD-and deal with the delay or denial of access to special education potentially posed by RTI.  Time will be provided for questions from participants. When: Wednesday, November 2, 2011  12:00pm - 1:30pm Mountain

Click here to register for this event What Mark your calendars for Friday, November 18 and plan to attend the 2011 Prematurity Summit! This educational conference will feature sessions on Post Partum Depression and PTSD relating to premature birth, a parent panel on the effects of prematurity, and the importance of waiting until 39 weeks completed gestation for delivery. This conference will provide a luncheon, light snack and materials, and CEU’s will be available! Seating is limited, so make sure to reserve your spot early! When: Friday, November 18, 2011 11:00am - 5:00pm Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel 3rd Floor, Ballroom C 27 North 27th Street Billings, Montana

What: Please mark your calendar and join us at the 2012 Parent Involvement Conference. This year's conference will take place at the Doublewood Inn, in Fargo, ND on April 26th, 27th, & 28th (until noon).  The conference is jointly hosted by the Pathfinder Parent Center, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Human Services - Part C and the Anne Carlsen Center. Parents, educators, social workers, & therapists are all invited. The Anne Carlsen Center is hosting several technology speakers and keynotes. There will be a joint registration that opens right after the new year. Email dpage@nd.gov and we will send you a link when the registration is ready. Stipends will be available for parents living outside of the Fargo area through a grant from the ND State Council on DD.  Details will be available when registration opens.  If you would like to be considered as a presentor for the conference, contact cathyh@pathfinder-nd.org or call 1.800.245.5840 When: April 26 - 28, 2012 Where: Doublewood Inn 3333 13th Ave S Fargo, ND

Click here to register for this event What: The Center for Autism and Related Disorder will host a CARD Montana Autism Conference on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the University of Montana. The one-day conference will take place from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in the University Center Theater, located at 32 Campus Drive in Missoula. The conference is free and designed especially for parents, caregivers, students and practitioners. Attendees will learn about applied behavior analysis (ABA) and how it can be used to effectively to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), as well as strategic and effective treatment programs for children with ASDs. Attendees also have the opportunity to meet Joe Mohs, who has recovered from autism and is living proof that recovery is possible. Where: University Center Theater 32 Campus Drive Missoula, MT When: Saturday, November 19, 2011 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Contact: For questions, contact Marcia Kmetz at drkmetz@hotmail.com.

Click here to register for this webinar What: Going to college is both an exciting and scary step for everyone. If you are a young adult who happens to have a disability or chronic health condition, that transition can add a whole other list of things to think about- but it doesn’t mean that you can't have a great experience!  Tune into this episode of Got Transition Radio as hosts Mallory Cyr and Eileen Forlenza offer their insight about what high school students- with and without special health needs- might think about as they begin the college transition process. During the show, they will be asking their listeners to share personal lessons learned as well as taking their comments and questions. Don't miss this chance to hear and share your own adventures with college transition. When: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 1:00 - 1:30pm Mountain

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) Who We Are: Family Solutions is a group of parents and caregivers of children with mental health issues who meet once a month for the purpose of confidentially supporting one another and sharing resources. All are welcome to join with us and share experiences and lessons they’ve learned along the way. When: October 28, 2011 6:00pm - 7:30pm Where: The Summit (Conference Room 2) 205 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell MT Who to Contact: If you have questions, contact Kristy Negri by phone at 406-261-2440 or by e-mail at kristy.negri@pluk.org. Additional Information: A light dinner will be provided. Please RSVP Kristy, either by phone or e-mail, if you will be attending.

Click here to download full brochure (PDF) What: This workshop is designed for parents, educators, tutors, and aides working with children with autism in an ABA and/or Verbal Behavior Program. Participants will be able to identify examples of verbal operants, identify methods for developing and maintaining motivation, identify effective data collection, and how to teachchildren both in the classroom and in the natural environment. This workshop is designed for parents, professionals and paraprofessionals to learn how to implement behavioral teaching strategies. Participants will not only be shown how to implement a variety of teaching procedures, but will also practice those procedures and receive individualized feedback on the implementation of the techniques. The workshop will also cover the behavioral analysis of expressive language (Verbal Behavior), the basic principles of behavior, and an analysis of motivational strategies to keep the learner actively participating in the learning activities. When: November 2-4, 2011 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Where: Hilton Garden Inn 2520 14th Street SW Great Falls, Montana 59404

Click here to pre-submit a question and to join on the day of the webinar What: Mean, cruel and/or bullying behavior is a problem in many schools in the United States -- in urban, suburban, and rural areas. And, it can also take place outside of school. Unfortunately, children who have learning disabilities (LD) are especially vulnerable to it. In support of National Bullying Prevention Month this October, guest expert, Jonathan Cohen, Co-Founder and President of The National School Climate Center (NSCC), will discuss: Signs that your child may be bullied (or may be bullying others) Steps parents can take if they suspect their child is being targeted How parents can work with the school to address the problem How to help a child cope with verbal, physical, or emotional insults Learn more about Jonathan Cohen When: Thursday, October 6, 2011 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Mountain

Today, the Obama Administration outlined how states can get relief from provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – or No Child Left Behind (NCLB) – in exchange for serious state-led efforts to close achievement gaps, promote rigorous accountability, and ensure that all students are on track to graduate college- and career-ready. “To help states, districts and schools that are ready to move forward with education reform, our administration will provide flexibility from the law in exchange for a real commitment to undertake change. The purpose is not to give states and districts a reprieve from accountability, but rather to unleash energy to improve our schools at the local level,” President Obama said. What this means for you:   For Teachers: A collaborative learning culture where teachers can target instruction towards the needs of students and offer a well-rounded curriculum. Fair and responsible evaluations that are based on multiple measures including peer review, principal observation, and classroom work.  For Principals: Greater flexibility to tailor solutions to the unique educational challenges of their students and recognition for progress and performance.  For Parents: Accurate and descriptive information about their children’s progress and honest accountability that recognizes and rewards success – where schools fall short – targeted and focused strategies for the students most at risk.  For Students: A system that measures student growth and critical thinking to inspire better teaching and greater student engagement across a well-rounded curriculum. For more information on how this flexibility package may affect you, read our blog post: What NCLB Flexibility Means for You

Click here to download the full flyer with registration information (PDF) What: This academy is intended to give the paraeducator knowledge and skills specific to the use of instructional strategies and methods. The academy bases teaching upon the belief that paraeducators must be constantly involved in the dynamic process of analyzing the teaching environment and individual student needs for the partic-ular level of support; degree of adaptation/accommodation or modification, and instructional method that would best facilitate learning. The academy is designed to provide these skills for use by paraeducators supporting students in inclusive classrooms, resource rooms, or in self-contained settings. When: October 20, 2011 8:00am - 5:30pm Where: Marias River Electric Coop Shelby, MT

Click here to register for this webinar What: Come and learn about the many low ($1-15) and mid-priced ($20-60) iPad apps out there to meet the needs of people with communication difficulties. These apps range from simple to complex, from word-based to icon- or picture-based. They are designed to facilitate communication for users of various ages and in various settings, including home, school, the community, and medical settings. See them, hear them, and hear what we think of them so you can make more informed choices about which to try for your particular situation. Learning Objectives: Gain an understanding of current accessible technologies avialable for people using an iPad or iTouch Learn the features of several low- and mid-priced communication apps Understand different considerations to make informed purchasing decisions When: Monday, October 17, 2011 12:30pm - 1:30pm Mountain Audience: K-12 Teachers, Therapists, AT Specialists and Anyone working with individuals using alternative forms of communication.

Click here to register for this event What: The M-Enabling Summit, Global Summit and Showcase for Mobile Applications and Services for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, is the first global program solely dedicated to participants in the emerging ecosystem for mobile accessible and assistive technologies, applications and services. Unlike any other conference or exposition, the M-Enabling Summit brings together all facets of the industry. Key stakeholders from across the globe that develop, market, create policy, and deploy the initiatives that are setting new frontiers for Mobile Accessible and Assistive Solutions will be in attendance. Participants at M-Enabling Summit will be able to: Network and exchange ideas with peers and experts from industry, service providers, and organizations of seniors and persons with disabilities Learn about the latest developments, innovations, market drivers and emerging opportunities Share perspectives with global policy makers and regulators See the latest products, services and applications in a showcase featuring companies and organizations driving innovation with accessible and assistive mobile technologies solutions Gain new insights from case studies by service providers, and public and private sector organizations experienced in marketing and services for seniors and persons with disabilities Who Should Attend: Mobile service providers Accessibility experts Organizations of seniors and persons with disabilities Application developers Telecom regulators Emergency response officials IT professionals Corporations using mobile communications with their customers Federal agencies and local government Academia and research centers When: December 5-6, 2011 Where: The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center Washington, D.C.